Patent ID: 8104574
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: E04G

Abstract:
1. A sound barrier assembly, comprising: at least two support columns, a first support column and a second support column; at least two sound attenuating curtain elements, an upper one of said curtain elements being disposed above a lower one of said curtain elements, said upper one of said curtain elements having a lower portion that at least partially overlaps an upper portion of said lower one of said curtain elements, said lower portion of said upper one of said curtain elements generally overlying said upper portion of said lower one of said curtain elements when in a normal and undisturbed condition, but being free to move away from said upper portion of said lower one of said curtain elements when a wind load is imposed thereon sufficiently to permit a substantial amount of incidental wind to pass between said lower portion of said upper one of said curtain elements and said upper portion of said lower one of said curtain elements to substantially reduce total wind load on the sound barrier system; and a stiffening structure disposed between the first support column and the second support column, the stiffening structure comprising: at least one transverse beam configured to extend between the first support column and the second support column, the at least one transverse beam having a right end and a left end; at least two vertical beams, a first vertical beam extending downward from the right end of the at least one transverse beam and a second vertical beam extending from the left end of the at least one transverse beam; wherein the stiffening structure provides lateral support to the sound barrier assembly system; wherein each of the support columns comprises two or more retaining structures, wherein at least a portion of the stiffening structure can be disposed between the two or more retaining structures, the two or more retaining structures limiting the horizontal movement of the stiffening structure relative to each of the support columns; wherein each of the curtains elements is removably coupled to the at least two support columns using at least one ratchet system, the at least one ratchet system is joined to each of the at least two curtain elements near a longitudinal edge of the curtain element, the ratchet system joined to each of the first support column and second support column; wherein the at least two sound attenuating curtain elements are detachably coupled to the at least two support columns.