Patent Application
20080023266
The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
Storage shelves 120 can include ridges 122 and ventilation channels 124 to ensure adequate air flow through storage shelves, which can be crucial to musical instrument, equipment, and garment longevity. A suitable storage shelf for use in an acoustic cabinet according to the present disclosure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,265 (assigned to Wenger Corporation), which is hereby incorporated by reference. Shelves 120 and divider panels 118 can be added, removed, and otherwise adjustable to change the size of individual storage units 116, which can be configured to fit virtually any size instrument. For example, larger individual storage units, such as individual storage unit 116A can be used to accommodate larger instruments, such as baritones and bassoons, and smaller individual storage units, such as individual storage unit 116B, can be used to accommodate smaller instruments, such as flutes and clarinets. Individual storage unit 116 sizes can vary or remain constant within a single storage portion 102. Tamper-resistant attachments can be used to secure storage shelves 120 in place to help deter theft and prevent damage to instruments.
Rear panel 112 of storage portion 102 can comprise a sound-absorbing panel and may be made from a sound-absorbing material. Sound-absorbing panels can be comprised of a porous material, such as, for example, fiberglass batting, fiberglass boards, melamine foam, or cotton batting. In general, the thicker the sound-absorbing material is, the greater the sound absorption will be in part because thicker sound absorbing material allows for increased low frequency absorption. However, size constraints of rehearsal rooms and cost considerations will tend to limit the usable thickness. A preferred thickness is 3-4 inches because it provides adequate sound absorption while not taking up an overly large amount of space, but usable thicknesses can be as small as 1 inch. Where desired, acoustic cabinets 100 can be pushed tightly against a wall to reduce the thickness of the material (which reduces low frequency absorption). If a greater material thickness is desired, multiple sound-absorbing panels can be positioned back-to-back to increase overall thickness of the rear panel 112.
Rear panel 112 can include a single sound-absorbing panel that covers the rear of all storage units 116, or can include a plurality of individual sound-absorbing panels that cover a smaller area, such as the back wall of individual storage units 116 or individual rows of storage units 116. Sound-absorbing panels can be hung on mounting frames 126 attached to storage portion, depicted in
Because sound-absorbing panels will typically be made of a material that could be damaged when instruments and other objects inserted into storage units 116 are pushed against rear panel 112, a protective backing element, such as a metal grill or perforated hardboard, can be disposed between sound-absorbing panels and storage units. A protective backing element can simultaneously serve to protect sound-absorbing panels from damage while allowing sound to reach and be absorbed by the sound-absorbing panels. So long as the protective backing element comprises sufficient open area, it will not interfere with the sound absorption of the sound-absorbing panels. Open area of 24% or greater is typically sufficient. Another protective backing that can be disposed between storage units and sound-absorbing panels is steel or aluminum mesh. In addition, an acoustic fabric, such as Guilford or Shaw fabric, can be used to protect the sound-absorbing panels while still allowing sound to reach them.
A door 150 can cover each individual storage unit 116. Alternatively, a full or double full door can cover the entire opening of acoustic cabinet 100. Referring to
Door 150 can have a substantially open, grill-like configuration, including a frame 168 and a plurality of grill bars 170. This configuration allows sound to travel into the open interior of acoustic cabinet, which diffuses the sound and thereby lessens the acoustical impact of the cabinet in the room. This can also allow more sound to be absorbed by the sound-absorbing panels that can be located on the rear of acoustic cabinet. The frame of each door can be formed from a single piece of metal, bent into the desired size and shape and welded together. The individual grill bars can be shaped, the edges beveled to align with the frame, and welded to the frame. The hinges and latch can also be welded to the frame.
The individual grill bars 170 of each door 150 can have a non-linear, curved configuration. This creates “looser” grill bars 170 that have varying stresses on the inside and outside of the curves, which increases the energy required to cause the bars to resonate. Further, because the mass of the grill bars has the greatest effect on the energy required to make the bars resonate, ¼ inch thick diameter grill bars made of metal, for example, can be used to decrease the chance of resonance. Although grill bars thicker than ¼ inch can further increase the energy required for resonance, cost factors may dictate against providing thicker bars and ¼ inch should be thick enough to resist resonance in a typical rehearsal room. Grill bars can also be dipped in vinyl, epoxy, resin or rubber to increase their mass and further reduce the possibility and/or extent of resonance.
Non-linear grill bars 170 can be oriented generally vertically and door 150 can include a horizontal cross bar 172, as can be seen in
Referring to
Acoustic cabinets 100 according to the present disclosure are advantageous because they allow the acoustical performance of a rehearsal room to be enhanced with equipment that must necessarily be purchased anyway in order to store musical instruments. Acoustic cabinets 100 can be strategically placed throughout a rehearsal room to provide for maximum enhancement of acoustical performance. Different materials can also be used in different locations around the room and various non-parallel surfaces can be added. New rehearsal rooms can be designed with the optimum placement of acoustic cabinets 100 in mind. Existing rehearsal rooms can also be retrofit with acoustic cabinets 100 to enhance their acoustic performance. Strategic placement can involve situating acoustic cabinets 100 nearest to instruments that are the loudest and/or produce the lowest frequencies. This approach often results in acoustic cabinets 100 being placed along the back wall and/or the back portion of the side walls of a rehearsal room.
Sound-absorbing panels on the rear of acoustic cabinets 100 can reduce, and even eliminate, the need for wall mounted sound-absorbing panels, which increases the flexibility and interchangeability of a room's sound absorption capabilities. This is also advantageous in smaller rehearsal rooms that would not have space for additional sound-absorbing panels. A door 150 with a grill-like configuration allows sound to reach the sound absorbing panels and also increases acoustical performance by increasing the cubic volume of the room (due to the open interior) and serves to diffuse sound that isn't absorbed. In addition, the grill bars 170 can be configured so as to greatly reduce the resonance of the door 150. Flutter echo is also reduced by use of acoustic cabinets 100. Flutter echo occurs when sound reflects back and forth between two hard, parallel, flat surfaces, such as walls or solid cabinet doors in a rehearsal room. By absorbing sound, acoustic cabinets 100 reduce or eliminate these sound reflections, thereby reducing or eliminating flutter echo.
A combination of an open grill door 150 and rear sound-absorbing panels allows acoustic cabinets 100 to be “net absorbers,” as opposed to “net reflectors.” This means that acoustic cabinets 100 can absorb more sound than they reflect, which greatly enhances the acoustical performance of any rehearsal room in which they are installed.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/833,370, filed Jul. 26, 2006, and entitled “ACOUSTIC CABINET”, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60833370 | Jul 2006 | US |
