Patent Application
20200011056
Baffles may be used to deflect or channel sound within a room. For instance, a sound-absorbing baffle may be installed on the walls of a home theater room to channel or diffuse the sound produced by speakers in the room. Additionally or alternatively, baffles may be used to channel light within a room. For example, baffles may be included as part of a light fixture. The light fixture may be simple or ornate, and may include little more than a housing for a light bulb, or may have intricate, multi-faceted designs. Baffles may be used in both commercial and residential settings to provide a desired look and feel to a room, or to provide certain acoustic properties to the room. Baffles may be made in many different styles, and may be made from many different types of materials.
Traditionally, sound baffles and light fixtures have been engineered and manufactured separately. For instance, acoustics for a given room may be determined by a sound engineer. Baffles may then be designed and installed in order to diffuse sounds in a region that is currently producing echoes. Similarly, lighting for that same room or a different room may be evaluated and designed to provide a specified look and feel, accentuating certain parts with light and leaving others dark. Lighting designers may use fixtures to subdue or enhance lighting in any given region of the room. However, by addressing each issue separately, efforts may be duplicated in finding a proper balance for acoustics and lighting within a room.
Embodiments described herein are directed to a sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus and methods of production therefor. In one embodiment, a sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus is provided that includes a structural frame which provides support for a sound-dampening outer layer and a light source. The sound-dampening outer layer is disposed around the structural frame. The sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus also includes a light source disposed on the structural frame. The light source is directionally switchable so that light emanating from the light source points upward, downward or both.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus is provided. The method of manufacturing includes providing a structural frame that supports a sound-dampening outer layer and a light source. The method also includes wrapping the sound-dampening outer layer around at least a portion of the structural frame, and affixing the light source to the structural frame. The light source is directionally switchable such that light emanating from the light source points upward, downward or both.
In another embodiment, a light fixture is provided. The light fixture includes an interior frame that provides structural support for one or more external layers. The light fixture also includes a hanging apparatus connected to the interior frame that allows the light fixture to be hung from the ceiling. The light fixture also has an external sound-dampening layer wrapped around at least part of the interior frame. Still further, the light fixture has lights mounted on the interior frame, where the lights are programmable to cast light in a variety of directions. The light fixture also includes a controller electrically connected to the lights. The controller is configured to direct light emanated from the lights in a specified direction.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features and advantages of embodiments described herein may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the embodiments described herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims.
To further clarify the above and other features of the embodiments described herein, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only examples of the embodiments described herein and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
As noted above, embodiments described herein are directed to a sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus and methods of production therefor. In one embodiment, a sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus is provided that includes a structural frame which provides support for a sound-dampening outer layer and a light source. The sound-dampening outer layer is disposed around the structural frame. The sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus also includes a light source disposed on the structural frame. The light source is directionally switchable so that light emanating from the light source points upward, downward or both.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus is provided. The method of manufacturing includes providing a structural frame that supports a sound-dampening outer layer and a light source. The method also includes wrapping the sound-dampening outer layer around at least a portion of the structural frame, and affixing the light source to the structural frame. The light source is directionally switchable such that light emanating from the light source points upward, downward or both.
In another embodiment, a light fixture is provided. The light fixture includes an interior frame that has ceiling mounts, lighting mounts, and mounts for an external sound-dampening layer. The light fixture also includes an external sound-dampening layer wrapped around at least part of the interior frame. Furthermore, the light fixture includes lights mounted on the lighting mounts of the interior frame, where the lights are programmable to cast light in a variety of directions. Still further, the light fixture includes a controller electrically connected to the lights. The controller is configured to direct light emanated from the lights in specified directions.
Before describing the present disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific parameters of the particularly exemplified systems, apparatus, assemblies, products, devices, kits, methods, and/or processes, which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that much, if not all of the terminology used herein is only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any particular manner Thus, while the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to specific configurations, embodiments, and/or implementations thereof, the descriptions are illustrative only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention.
Various aspects of the present disclosure, including devices, systems, methods, etc., may be illustrated with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments or implementations. As used herein, the terms “exemplary embodiment” and/or “exemplary implementation” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or implementations disclosed herein. In addition, reference to an “implementation” of the present disclosure or invention includes a specific reference to one or more embodiments thereof, and vice versa, and is intended to provide illustrative examples without limiting the scope of the invention, which is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the following description.
Furthermore, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. While a number of methods, materials, components, etc. similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present disclosure, only certain exemplary methods, materials, components, etc. are described herein.
It will be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “column” includes one, two, or more columns. Similarly, reference to a plurality of referents should be interpreted as comprising a single referent and/or a plurality of referents unless the content and/or context clearly dictate otherwise. Thus, reference to “columns” does not necessarily require a plurality of such columns Instead, it will be appreciated that independent of conjugation; one or more columns are contemplated herein.
As used throughout this application the words “can” and “may” are used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Additionally, the terms “including,” “having,” “involving,” “containing,” “characterized by,” as well as variants thereof (e.g., “includes,” “has,” and “involves,” “contains,” etc.), and similar terms as used herein, including the claims, shall be inclusive and/or open-ended, shall have the same meaning as the word “comprising” and variants thereof (e.g., “comprise” and “comprises”), and do not exclude additional, un-recited elements or method steps, illustratively.
Various aspects of the present disclosure can be illustrated by describing components that are coupled, attached, connected, and/or joined together. As used herein, the terms “coupled”, “attached”, “connected,” and/or “joined” are used to indicate either a direct association between two components or, where appropriate, an indirect association with one another through intervening or intermediate components. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being “directly coupled”, “directly attached”, “directly connected,” and/or “directly joined” to another component, no intervening elements are present or contemplated.
Thus, as used herein, the terms “connection,” “connected,” and the like do not necessarily imply direct contact between the two or more elements. In addition, components that are coupled, attached, connected, and/or joined together are not necessarily (reversibly or permanently) secured to one another. For instance, coupling, attaching, connecting, and/or joining can comprise placing, positioning, and/or disposing the components together or otherwise adjacent in some implementations.
As used herein, directional and/or arbitrary terms, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “forward,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “up,” “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “internal,” “external,” “interior,” “exterior,” “anterior,” “posterior,” “proximal,” “distal,” and the like can be used only for convenience and/or solely to indicate relative directions and/or orientations and may not otherwise be intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, including the specification, invention, and/or claims. According, such directional and/or arbitrary terms are not to be construed as necessarily requiring a specific order or position.
To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Furthermore, alternative configurations of a particular element may each include separate letters appended to the element number. Accordingly, an appended letter can be used to designate an alternative design, structure, function, implementation, and/or embodiment of an element or feature without an appended letter. Similarly, multiple instances of an element and or sub-elements of a parent element may each include separate letters appended to the element number.
In each case, the element label may be used without an appended letter to generally refer to instances of the element or any one of the alternative elements. Element labels including an appended letter can be used to refer to a specific instance of the element or to distinguish or draw attention to multiple uses of the element. However, element labels including an appended letter are not meant to be limited to the specific and/or particular embodiment(s) in which they are illustrated. In other words, reference to a specific feature in relation to one embodiment should not be construed as being limited to applications only within said embodiment.
It will also be appreciated that where two or more values, or a range of values (e.g., less than, greater than, at least, and/or up to a certain value, and/or between two recited values) is disclosed or recited, any specific value or range of values falling within the disclosed values or range of values is likewise disclosed and contemplated herein. Thus, disclosure of an illustrative measurement or distance less than or equal to about 10 units or between 0 and 10 units includes, illustratively, a specific disclosure of: (i) a measurement of 9 units, 5 units, 1 units, or any other value between 0 and 10 units, including 0 units and/or 10 units; and/or (ii) a measurement between 9 units and 1 units, between 8 units and 2 units, between 6 units and 4 units, and/or any other range of values between 0 and 10 units.
Various modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Thus, while various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments are contemplated. It is also noted that systems, apparatus, assemblies, products, devices, kits, methods, and/or processes, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include, incorporate, or otherwise comprise properties, features, components, members, and/or elements described in other embodiments disclosed and/or described herein. Thus, reference to a specific feature in relation to one embodiment should not be construed as being limited to applications only within said embodiment. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims.
Turning now to the Figures,
Around the structural frame is wrapped a sound-dampening outer layer 102. The sound-dampening outer layer may be constructed out of substantially any type of sound-dampening material including carpeting, Styrofoam, felted polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, or any other material that has sound-absorbing properties. The sound-dampening outer layer 102 may be wrapped around all or only a portion of the structural frame 101. In
The structural frame 101 further includes elements or features that may be used to link light fixtures together, either mechanically, electrically, or both. For instance connector rods 103 may be affixed to the structural frame 101 in certain positions. The structural frame 101 may also include recesses 104 designed to fit the connector rods 103. Thus, one light fixture 100 may have a connector rod 103, where another light fixture has a corresponding recess 104. Thus, in the light fixture 100 of
Still further, the light fixture 100 may be magnetically connected to other light fixtures via magnetic connection 105. One or more such magnetic connections 105 may be placed on the top, bottom or sides of the light fixture. This allows corresponding magnetic connections in other light fixtures to align and (separably) bind the two light fixtures together. The magnets may be sufficiently strong to bind to each other and hold a firm connection, while not so strong that separation of the light fixtures is overly difficult. Electrical connection 106 may further be used to link two light fixtures. The electrical connection 106 is capable of receiving electricity from a power source and transferring that electricity to a controller and/or to one or more lights. The electrical connection 106 may plug directly into an outlet, or may plug into an electrical connection of another light fixture. Thus, the light fixtures herein may be electrically strung together in sequence.
For example, the light controller 112 may control when the light sources are turned on and off, the degree to which they are turned on, which individual bulbs or LED are illuminated, which strobe patterns are applied (if any), which color is selected (for multicolored lights), and other lighting options. Thus, interior decorators may have a large variety of options when using the light fixture described herein. In the LED light strip 109 of
Still further, in other embodiments, the LED lights (or other light sources) may be affixed to the structural frame, and the diffuser 111 may be placed over the LED lights such that the lights slide up through corresponding cavities in the diffuser. In some cases, the structural frame 101 may include protruding nubs 114 that are affixed to the frame. The diffuser may have separate holes or cavities 113 designed to accommodate these nubs 114. These holes 113, as shown in
The sound-dampening layer 102 may be relatively thin (e.g. 1/16″-⅛″) to relatively thick (½″-¾″), and may be made of a single material or a combination of materials. Indeed, some sound-dampening layers may include wood, metal or plastic portions, in addition to felted PET portions. In some cases, the felted PET portions may be composed of recycled PET. This felted PET may be applied to the side piece 116, as well as to the side portions (102), or to the bottom or top of the lighting apparatus. Additional sound-dampening material works to further reduce standing waves in a room, thus leading to better overall acoustics. The end piece 116 may be separable attached to the structural frame so that, if a user needs access to the electrical connector 106 to attach the light fixture to another light fixture, the user can simply remove the end piece and attach the new light fixture.
As indicated above, multiple light fixtures may be linked together using linkages such as those shown in
Thus, the sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus 100 may take many different forms depending on application or design. Different shapes and sizes of lights may be used within the lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus 100 may have channels or diffusers through which the light provided by the light sources is shined. These channels or diffusers guide or diffuse the light from the light source(s) according to a specified design. The sound-dampening outer layer 102 provides sound-dampening qualities that reduce reverberations, standing waves, noise and other distracting sounds. Thus, in this manner, the sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus 100 may provide both the light of a lighting apparatus and the sound-dampening qualities of an acoustic baffle.
In some cases, light sources in the baffle may include relatively thin diffusers, allowing substantially all of the light generated by the light sources to be emanated. In other cases, the diffusers may be thicker, thereby subduing the light for use in situations where low light is desirable (e.g. restaurants). The baffle may take the shape of a beam or a box, or may be circular or triangular. These baffles may be linked together, physically and electrically. For example, the controller used to control the lights may be linked to multiple different baffles, and may control the lighting features on each baffle, either alone or in conjunction with the group of baffles. When multiple baffles are linked together, this may be referred to as a sound-dampening array or a sound-dampening and lighting array. Such arrays may be used to control the acoustic and lighting properties of a given room. For instance, a user may turn the upward-facing or downward-facing lights on or off, or may use different diffusers or channels to change the mood and/or direction of the light.
The sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus (or an array of such apparatuses) may be positioned in a specified location or in a specified pattern on a wall or ceiling. The apparatus may be hung from the ceiling, or may be attached to a wall or other structure. The apparatus may be, for example, 12, 16 or 24 inches tall. In other cases, the apparatus may be shorter or taller. Similarly, the lighting apparatus may be 6, 8 or 10 feet long, or longer or shorter depending on the room or area into which the apparatus is to be placed. The sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus 100 may include multiple sound-dampening layers that are specifically designed to reduce echoes and reverberations within a room. For instance, a foam layer may be disposed on the inside of the sound-dampening outer layer (i.e. between the structural frame 101 and the outer layer 102). Such baffles trap the sound emanated to them, and thus significantly reduce reverberations within a room.
In one embodiment, a sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus 100 is designed to specifically dampen sounds between 250 and 4000 Hz. This frequency range is the typical range in which a person speaks or sings. Accordingly, it is especially advantageous to dampen sound in this frequency range. If such frequencies are permitted to echo or reverberate within a room, it can be incredibly difficult to understand what a person is saying. As such, the shape of the baffle, the size of the baffle, and the materials and thickness of the sound-dampening outer layer may all be specially selected to provide optimal acoustics within a room.
In some embodiments, a substantial increase in noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is provided by the apparatuses described herein. For example, testing has shown that the NRC is increased from a mere 0.65 for the felted PET fibers by themselves, to nearly 1.0, indicating that the baffle has nearly perfectly absorbed the surrounding sounds. User-controlled or pre-programmed lighting, in conjunction with the sound-dampening properties, allows the apparatus 100 to provide channeled, diffused, or untouched light, in many different directions, while at the same time providing improved acoustics in a room. Using such an apparatus, a user can carefully control both the lighting and sound qualities of a room.
If a single apparatus does not provide the level of control desired by a user, multiple such apparatuses may be linked together using the connectors shown in
Diffusers, such as 111 or 118 of
The lighting apparatuses may be hung from cables or affixed to walls or other surfaces alone or in tandem with other fixtures. For example, as shown in
As noted above, any air space within the sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus 100 (e.g. airspace 120 of
The sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus 100 may be wired to a traditional light switch, such that control of the apparatus is performed using the light switch. Additionally or alternatively, a wireless remote or user's phone or wearable device may be used to control the apparatus 100. Such wireless devices communicate with a wireless radio within the controller 112 that allows a user to switch directionality, intensity, or other properties of the light. If multiple lighting apparatuses are linked together (e.g. via snap-fit linear conduits 125), one controller 112 may be used to control the entire group of fixtures. Such snap-fit linear conduits are designed to substantially align the sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatuses in a particular direction (e.g. in a row, or in a square). Magnets (e.g. 105) may additionally be used to align and hold the fixtures in place.
In one embodiment, as generally shown in
The sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus 100 may be attached to a ceiling mount via one or more support lines 115. A first end of the support line is attached to the ceiling mount (not shown) and a second end of the support line 115 is attached to a mount on the structural frame (e.g. mount 141 on frame 101 of
In another embodiment, a light fixture (e.g. 100) is provided which includes an interior frame (e.g. 101) that provides structural support for one or more external layers (e.g. 102). The light fixture 100 further includes a hanging apparatus 140 connected to the interior frame 101 that allows the light fixture to be hung from a ceiling. The light fixture 100 further includes an external sound-dampening layer 102 wrapped around at least part of the interior frame 101. The light fixture 100 also has lights (110) mounted on the interior frame. The lights are programmable to cast light in a variety of directions. Furthermore, the light fixture 100 includes a controller (e.g. 112) electrically connected to the lights 110. The controller 112 is configured to direct light from the lights in a specified direction (e.g. upwards or downwards, as shown in
The light fixture may include recesses 104 and alignment elements 103. The alignment elements 103 of the light fixture 100 align with the corresponding recesses 104 in another light fixture. Once joined together, the two light fixtures may be held in place in this position until disconnected. The fixtures may be held in place via a snap-fit connection, via magnets (e.g. 105), via screws or bolts or other fasteners. The light fixture may have one or more diffusers, each of which may have cavities that align with LED (or other) lights provided in a light strip (e.g. 109), such that the lights protrude through the diffusers. Reflectors may be used in addition to or as an alternative to diffusers. In some cases, the diffusers may be snap fit into the interior frame, and held in place via protruding nubs (e.g. 114 of
Accordingly, a sound-dampening baffle and lighting apparatus is provided which allows users to control both lighting and acoustics in a room using a single apparatus. Lighting characteristics can be controlled wirelessly via a controller, and sound characteristics can be controlled by appropriately sizing and placing the baffle and lighting apparatus in specified locations within a room. The concepts and features described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from their spirit or descriptive characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/902,731, filed Feb. 22, 2018, and entitled “Felt Baffle with Snap Ends,” which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/508,855, filed on May 19, 2017, and entitled “Felt Baffle with Snap Ends.” The contents of the foregoing patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62508855 | May 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15902731 | Feb 2018 | US |
| Child | 16577636 | US |
