Patent Application
20210062506
The present disclosure generally relates to a baffle assembly for coupling with a ceiling support structure and more specifically to a baffle assembly for coupling with a ceiling support structure and having acoustic insulative properties.
Modern office and business floorplans often feature large contiguous spaces, with numerous acoustically reflective surfaces such as window walls, large displays, workstation furniture, and so forth. Without acoustic treatment, such spaces may easily suffer from reverberation, uncontrolled background noise, and reduced levels of speech intelligibility. These effects diminish worker comfort and productivity.
Acoustic treatments are available to lessen the amount of reflected sound along with its undesirable effects. One popular treatment option has been to hang series of panels, often called baffles, made from acoustically absorbent material from the ceiling or walls. These aid in controlling unwanted acoustic reflections and are usually designed and manufactured to have an aesthetically agreeable appearance.
The ceiling baffle systems known in the art generally require intermediate transverse supports, or additional hardware such as clips, hooks, hangers, and fasteners for proper installation. The spacing or positioning of the baffles must also be manually measured, which can be inconsistent and require further additional fixing hardware. These additional elements not only necessitate the additional material cost for their manufacture, but also the increased labor cost of their preparation and installation.
Additionally, such baffle systems are frequently installed as retro-fits, being attached to, or below, an existing suspended ceiling. This may require modification to the existing suspended ceiling supports, or may not offer the desired aesthetic result with the baffles hanging below a differently finished ceiling.
It is therefore desirable to have a ceiling baffle system which may easily be retro-fitted onto a new or existing suspended ceiling support structure, whereby the individual baffle elements may be spaced apart or aligned as desired, without the need for on-site measurement, intermediate support members, or hardware.
The present disclosure generally relates to a baffle assembly for coupling with a ceiling support structure and more specifically to a baffle assembly for coupling with a ceiling support structure and having acoustically absorbent properties.
In one aspect, there is provided a ceiling baffle system having at least one ceiling support member. At least one baffle extends transversely relative to the at least one ceiling support member. The at least one baffle has a baffle body portion with a baffle upper edge portion. At least one receiving slot extends from the baffle upper edge portion into the baffle body portion and receives at least a portion of the ceiling support member therewithin for coupling and suspending the at least one baffle from the at least one ceiling support member. At least one spacer member extends parallel relative to the at least one ceiling support member and has a spacer member body portion and a spacer member lower edge portion. At least one baffle retaining slot extends from the spacer member lower edge portion into the spacer member body portion. The baffle retaining slot receives at least the baffle upper edge portion of the at least one baffle to position, angularly orient, and retain each baffle relative to the at least one spacer member.
The system may further include a horizontal flange portion extending longitudinally along the at least one ceiling support member and at least one longitudinally extending groove in the spacer member body portion for receiving therewithin and engaging by friction fit the horizontal flange portion. The system may include a second horizontal flange portion extending longitudinally along the at least one ceiling support member away from the horizontal flange portion and a cooperating spacer member having a second longitudinally extending groove therewithin for receiving therewithin and engaging by friction fit the second horizontal flange portion, the ceiling support member being sandwiched between the spacer member and the cooperating spacer member. A longitudinal channel may extend between the spacer member and the cooperating spacer member along a downward facing surface of the at least one ceiling support member. A linear luminaire may extend within the longitudinal channel. In another aspect, a coupling wall portion may extend between and couple top edge portions of each of the spacer member and the cooperating spacer member.
The at least one baffle or the at least one spacer member or both may comprise at least one of woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber material, non-woven needle-punched PET fiber material, thermo-formed PET material, thermo-bonded PET material, cast PET material, and any combination thereof. The at least one baffle or the at least one spacer member may include a plurality of material layers. The plurality of material layers may further comprise at least one layer of a PET material and at least one of the layers of the plurality of material layers has at least one of a different thickness and a different density. Further, at least one of the at least one baffle and the at least one spacer member may comprise at least one acoustically absorbent material.
The at least one baffle retaining slot may further include a plurality of baffle retaining slots spaced apart along the spacer member lower edge portion of the at least one spacer for positioning a plurality of baffles in spaced apart position relative to one another.
The ceiling baffle system may include at least one baffle deflection portion extending from the baffle body portion and positioned adjacent the at least one receiving slot. The at least one baffle deflection portion may be deformable for widening an opening of the at least one receiving slot. The system may include two baffle deflection portions extending from the baffle body portion on opposing sides of the at least one receiving slot. The two baffle deflection portions may define therebetween a constricted neck portion of the at least one receiving slot. A transverse slot portion may extend outwardly from an end portion of the constricted neck portion to define the receiving slot as a T-shaped slot.
The at least one ceiling support member may be a longitudinal T-shaped bar having a longitudinally extending vertical web portion and two longitudinally horizontal flange portions extending outwardly from an end portion of the longitudinally extending vertical web portion.
The at least one spacer member and the at least one baffle may be slidable along the at least one support member. The system may include at least one transverse ceiling support member intersecting with the at least one ceiling support member at a ceiling support member intersection. The system may include at least one adjustment notch extending from the spacer member lower edge portion into the spacer member body portion for allowing the at least one spacer member to slide along the at least one ceiling support member and across the ceiling support member intersection. In the aspect wherein the top edge portions of each of the spacer member and the cooperating spacer member are coupled by the coupling wall portion, at least one second adjustment notch continuous with the at least one adjustment notch may extend at least partially across the coupling wall portion between the spacer member and the cooperating spacer member.
The spacer may be configured to cover outwardly visible surfaces of the support member when installed thereon. The at least one spacer member may have a bottom wall portion extending across a bottom surface portion of the at least one ceiling support member and may have a longitudinal channel extending along the bottom wall portion of the at least one spacer member. A linear luminaire may extend within the longitudinal channel.
In one aspect, the at least one ceiling support member includes a plurality of ceiling support members spaced apart and parallel relative to one another, the at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles spaced apart relative to one another, each baffle of the plurality of baffles having a plurality of receiving slots spaced apart for receiving each one of the plurality of ceiling support members, and, the at least one spacer member includes a plurality of spacer members, each spacer member having a plurality of baffle retaining slots for retaining at least the upper edge portion of each baffle therein.
The at least one ceiling support member may be pre-existing, and the at least one baffle and at least one spacer member are retro-fitted thereon.
In another aspect, there is provided a baffle system having a baffle having a longitudinal baffle body portion for extending transversely to at least one ceiling support member, the baffle body portion having a baffle upper edge portion. At least one receiving slot extends from the baffle upper edge portion into the baffle body portion, for receiving at least a portion of the ceiling support member and for suspending the baffle therefrom. A spacer member is provided having a longitudinal spacer member body portion for extending parallel relative to the at least one ceiling support member. The spacer member body portion has a lower edge portion. At least one baffle retaining slot extends from the lower edge portion of the spacer member into the body portion of the spacer member, for receiving at least a portion of the baffle to position, angularly orient and retain each baffle relative to the spacer member.
The baffle or the spacer member or both may further comprise at least one of woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber material, non-woven needle-punched PET fiber material, thermo-formed PET material, thermo-bonded PET material, cast PET material, and any combination thereof. Moreover, the baffle or the spacer member or both may be composed of a plurality of PET materials having at least one of different thicknesses and densities. Further, at least one of the baffle and the spacer member may comprise at least one acoustically absorbent material.
At least one baffle deflection portion may extend from the baffle body portion and be positioned adjacent the at least one receiving slot. The at least one baffle deflection portion may be deformable for widening an opening of the at least one receiving slot. In another aspect, the system may include two baffle deflection portions extending from the baffle body portion on opposing sides of the at least one receiving slot. The two baffle deflection portions may define therebetween a constricted neck portion of the at least one receiving slot. A transverse slot portion may extend outwardly from an end portion of the constricted neck portion to define the at least one receiving slot as a T-shaped slot.
The system may include at least one adjustment notch extending from the lower edge portion of the spacer member into the body portion of the spacer member for allowing the spacer member to slide along the ceiling support member and across a ceiling support member intersection wherein the ceiling support member intersects with a transverse ceiling support member.
The system may further include a cooperating spacer member having a second longitudinally extending groove therewithin for receiving therewithin and engaging by friction fit a second portion of the ceiling support member for sandwiching the ceiling support member between the spacer member and the cooperating spacer member. A coupling wall portion may extend between and couple top edge portions of each of the spacer member and cooperating spacer member in an aspect wherein the top edge portions of each of the spacer member. At least one second adjustment notch continuous with the at least one adjustment notch may extend at least partially across the coupling wall portion between the spacer member and the cooperating spacer member.
The at least one spacer member may have a bottom wall portion and a longitudinal channel may extend along the bottom wall portion of the at least one spacer member.
Exemplary non-limiting embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The present disclosure generally relates to a baffle assembly for coupling with a ceiling support structure and more specifically to a baffle assembly for coupling with a ceiling support structure and having acoustically absorbent properties.
In the aspect shown in
The spacer members 14 thereby provide a means for spacing the baffles 12 relative to one another and also for retaining the baffles 12 in position and angular orientation relative to the spacer members 14. This provides advantage as it facilitates the installation process of baffle system 10 by reducing or eliminating the need to manually measure and align the baffles 12 on-site and during installation.
While
The ceiling baffle system 10 herein disclosed may be configured for installation onto a purpose-built set of ceiling support members 16, or may be retro-fitted onto an existing set of ceiling support members 16. Moreover, although it is preferable that the ceiling support members 16 be suspended from a ceiling prior to installation of the ceiling baffle system thereon, it should be understood that the ceiling support members 16 may first have the ceiling baffle system 10 coupled therewith and then may be suspended from the ceiling.
While the ceiling support members 16 shown in the accompanying Figures are a T-bar support, as is commonly used for suspended or drop ceilings, it should be understood that any ceiling support member or structure of a type suitable for hanging a finished ceiling may be used. Accordingly, it is not required that the ceiling support member has a standard T-bar configuration.
As shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The generally rectangular baffles 12 shown in
The baffle body portion 18 is preferably composed of an acoustically absorbent material. Such materials may include, for example, various types of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material, including woven (PET) fiber material, non-woven needle-punched PET fiber material, thermo-formed PET material, thermo-bonded PET material, cast PET material, or any combination thereof. While the PET materials listed may represent one set of preferable materials, it will be apparent to persons skilled in that art that any material which can be fashioned into a baffle-like structure may be used, including glass or mineral fiber materials, polymer foams, and other suitable materials. The baffle 12 may be constructed of a monolithic single material, or may be composed of a plurality of materials in layers. Where the baffle 12 is composed of a plurality of layers, at least one layer may be composed of a PET material, and at least one of the layers of the plurality of material layers has at least one of a different thickness and a different density from the PET material. Accordingly, the baffle 12 may be composed of materials having the same or different thicknesses and densities.
It is also preferable that at least the portion of the baffle 12 immediately adjacent to the receiving slot 24, and preferably the entire baffle 12, is made of a deformable material which may be twisted, bent or flexed. Preferably, the material from which baffle 12 is made is also resilient so that the baffle 12 may return at least approximately to its original form after having been deformed. Such a material provides for opening and closing of the receiving slot 24 when the embodiment shown in
The embodiments illustrated in
As shown by way of curved arrows A1 in
As indicated by vertical arrow A2 in
It should be understood that the baffle system 10 preferably includes a plurality of ceiling support members 16 and a plurality of baffles 12. The process of receiving a ceiling support member 16 within a receiving slot 24 described above may be repeated as many times as is necessary to couple the remaining receiving slots 24 of the baffle 12, with the remaining ceiling support members 16 in the baffle system 10 from which the baffle 12 is to be suspended. The foregoing process is also repeated for each of the remaining baffles 12 to be installed in the ceiling baffle system 10. It should be understood that the spacing of the receiving slots 24 on the baffle 12 corresponds with the desired, or existing, spacing of the ceiling support members 16, or vice versa, and is preferably predetermined. Since the receiving slots 24 are spaced apart to correspond with the spacing of the ceiling support members, the baffle 12 may attach directly to the ceiling support member 16, without the need for any intermediate structures or fasteners.
There is also included in the ceiling baffle system 10 a spacer member 14 extending transverse to the baffles 12 and parallel to the ceiling support members 16, as illustrated in
The spacer members 14 are preferably manufactured using the same materials and employing the same manufacturing processes as used for the baffles 12. This inherently matches the appearance between the baffles 12, and the spacer member 14. This not only provides aesthetic advantage, but also increases the acoustically absorbent surface area of the ceiling baffle system 10 by covering acoustically reflective surfaces of the ceiling support member 16.
At least one baffle retaining slot 56 extends from the spacer member bottom wall portion 48 into the spacer member body portion 46 toward the spacer member top surface portion 50 and completely between the first and second side surface portions 52, 54 of the spacer member body portion 46. The at least one baffle retaining slot 56 is for engaging and retaining each baffle 12. Accordingly, the baffle retaining slots 56 are preferably sized to allow the spacer member 14 to be slid onto and engage with each of the baffles 12.
For example, the baffle retaining slots 56 illustrated in
The baffle retaining slots 56, are also spaced apart from one another to set the position of each baffle 12 along the length of the spacer member 14. Preferably the spacing between baffles 12 is predetermined. The spacing between baffles 12 may be of uniform or equal distance, or may be a spacing which is aesthetically desirable such as a repeating pattern of different spacing distances, or a spacing which is acoustically advantageous such as a particular set of spacing distances to diminish or break up acoustic room modes. The spacing between baffles may also be of no particular pattern or uniformity.
The baffle retaining slots 56 also preferably serve to establish and maintain the angular orientation B1 of each baffle relative to the spacer member 14 and thereby ceiling support members 16. In the embodiment shown in
It is preferable that the position of the longitudinal groove 64 between the bottom wall portion 48 and the top surface portion 50 of the spacer member 14 is suitable to allow the longitudinal groove 64 to align with and cooperatively engage with one side of the horizontal flange of the T-bar ceiling support member 16 while also allowing the baffle 12 to be engaged with the baffle retaining slots 56. This cooperative engagement is preferably a friction fit or compression fit. Such an engagement may serve to keep the spacer from moving or shifting over time due to vibration, or to more effectively cover the acoustically reflective surfaces of the ceiling support member 16.
In an alternative embodiment, the spacer member 14 may include two independent spacer members 14a and 14b. The spacer member 14a and the second or cooperating spacer member 14b sandwich the ceiling support member 16 therebetween, as shown in
In the embodiment of
As is apparent from a combined reading of the foregoing Figures and description, the completed assembly may form an interlocking grid of a plurality of baffles 12 and ceiling support members 16 rigidly coupled by the spacer members 14. The baffles 12 are fixed along an axis perpendicular to the ceiling support members 16 by attachment thereto via the receiving slots 24 of the baffles 12. The baffles 12 are also fixed relative the spacer members 14, along an axis parallel to the ceiling support members 16, by engagement with the spacer members 14. The spacer members 14 are likewise fixed relative the baffles 12, along an axis perpendicular to the baffles 12, by engagement therewith. The spacer member 14 is however preferably able to slide relative the ceiling support members 16, along an axis A5 parallel to the ceiling support members 16, since in the preferred embodiment, it is only coupled by compression or friction fit with the horizontal flange portions 42 of the ceiling support members 16 by way of the spacer member longitudinal grooves 64.
As such, the entire interlocked ceiling baffle system 10 may be slid or repositioned along the length of the ceiling support member 16 by applying sufficient force to overcome the friction of the compression or friction fit between the ceiling support members 16 and the spacer members 14. The ceiling baffle system 10 is shown in a first position in
In some embodiments of the baffle system 10, the ceiling support structure also includes transverse ceiling support members (not shown) which extend transversely relative to the ceiling support members 16 and form ceiling support member intersections with the ceiling support members 16. In order to permit sliding of the spacer members 14 across the ceiling support member intersections, the spacer member 14 may include at least one adjustment notch 70, as shown in
Allowing for the entire ceiling baffle system to slide relative the ceiling support members is advantageous. For example, it may allow for the position of the ceiling baffle system 10, either partially or completely assembled, to be adjusted into the final desired position without disassembly thereof. It may also simplify future adjustment or modification to the ceiling baffle system 10.
In
While the foregoing description provides what are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other modifications of these embodiments also falling within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
