Patent Application
20150308105
The present invention relates generally to soundproofing devices but more particularly to a reusable soundproofing system for use with partition walls.
Sound proofing a building can be a complicated task depending upon its architecture. More specifically, in a modern high rise, offices are often repartitioned by adding or removing walls. Generally, the office ceiling is a false ceiling or “drop ceiling” made out of acoustic tiles used for hiding ducts and electrical wiring, among other things. Typically, the walls will only reach to the height of the drop ceiling, thus leaving a gap above which is not partitioned and thus can transmit sounds, even though so called “acoustic tiles” are used. There is therefore a need for a practical and reusable way to soundproof the area above a drop ceiling considering partition walls are used more and more often in many office space.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:
To provide for an easy to install, reusable and effective sound barrier for use above a drop ceiling.
In order to do so, the invention consists in at least one elongated upper rail member adapted to be connected to a lower surface of the ceiling; and a plurality of curtain members each adapted to releasably connect at an upper edge thereof to the rail member in side-by-side fashion to one another to thereby form an elongated soundproofing curtain within the space between the ceiling and drop ceiling.
At least one elongated lower rail member is adapted to be connected to an upper surface of the drop ceiling, and wherein each of the plurality of curtain members are adapted to releasably connect at a lower edge thereof to the lower rail member in side-by-side fashion to one another.
Each of the upper edge and lower edge of each of the plurality of curtain members includes a loop material, and each of the at least one upper and lower rail members includes hook material, such that the plurality of curtain members can be easily securely and releasably connected to the rail members for easy installation and removal from the space between the ceiling and the drop ceiling.
One side edge of each of the plurality of curtain members includes a loop material, and an opposite side edge of each of the plurality of curtain members includes hook material, such that each adjacent curtain member can be easily securely and releasably connected to each adjacent curtain member.
Each of the plurality of curtain members are formed having a hole through a center portion thereof and a slit extending from the hole and through one the side edge thereof, to thereby be adapted to allow ducts and pipes running through the space between the ceiling and the drop ceiling to pass therethrough.
Each of the plurality of curtain members are formed having at least one elongated slit within a center section thereof, to thereby be adapted to allow wires running through the space between the ceiling and the drop ceiling to pass therethrough.
Each of the upper and lower rail member is formed having a U-shaped cross section.
The invention is used in combination with a drop ceiling and other conditions.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
a-c Isometric view of the curtains in context and front and side views of a curtain.
a-b Isometric view of pads in context and of a pad with an opening.
a-b Top and front views of curtains attached together.
a-c Isometric, top, and side views of a combination pad and curtain with a wire passing through a curtain.
A soundproofing system (10) for use above a drop ceiling (12) consists in an external envelope (14), and an interior core (not shown) consisting of a padded material known to neutralize the propagation of sound waves.
There are basically two types of embodiment: pad members (18), and curtain members (20). Pad members (18) come in various shapes and sizes but are generally thicker and bigger than curtain members (20).
The curtain members (20) are hung vertically from a concrete ceiling (24) and just above a wall (25), by way of an upper rail member (22) and a lower rail member (22′).
The pad members (18) are laid flat on top of the drop ceiling (12).
Both the pad and curtain members (18, 20) have some models with round openings (26) having a side slit (27) on one side for passing ducts and pipes (30), while other curtain members (20) have slit openings (28) for passing wiring (32). As for pad members (18), the wiring (32) can pass in between them.
Each curtain (20) element is releasably attached to the next by way of hook and loop means (34) located around their perimeter and which also attaches them to the rails (22). One side edge of the curtain member (18) has the loop and the other side the hook so as to attach in that fashion. The rails are preferably “U” shaped in configuration to facilitate a hook and loop connection.
As sown in
The main advantage of this system is that it can be totally dismantled and reusable, as office space changes. Also, it can be used under a floating floor (23) like those used in mainframe computer or computer rackspace locations, for example.
Also, the pad members (18) can be compressed until put in place so that, as they decompress, they fill-in any void that is difficult to fill around pipes and wiring and other such impediments.
The insulating material used inside the envelope (14) uses material that has known sound dampening characteristics such as fiberglass insulation, polystyrene beads, treated and inert organic material such as hay, recycled paper shreds, to name but a few of the possible products.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1407369.6 | Apr 2014 | GB | national |
