Abstract:
The invention provides a method for acoustic closure of an installation of a row of sound isolation modules within a host building encompassing the modules. One or more acoustic absorbing closure panels are mounted to form a partition in front of the row of modules, thus forming two acoustically separate regions. The absorbing panels are comprised of one or more sound absorbing materials between a front and rear surface. The front surface faces the region exterior to the installation within the host building. The rear surface faces the installation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Acoustic enclosures are used in a variety of applications. In particular, modular acoustic enclosures are used as sound isolation modules to insulate sound generated inside the room from the exterior environment and to insulate the interior of the room from sound generated in the exterior environment. For example, many high schools and music schools provide sound isolation modules for music practice, enabling a plurality of music students, each one in a separate module, to simultaneously play his or her instrument without acoustical interference from music generated in another enclosure or from sound generated in an environment exterior to the sound isolation module.  
           [0002]    Each sound isolation module thus forms a separate acoustic enclosure. A plurality of panels, each panel comprising one or more acoustic absorbing materials enclosed by steel or other rigid structure, are assembled to form the enclosure, including a door allowing access thereto. Often, a window is provided to allow one to see inside or outside the module. The modules thus formed are typically placed in a row within a host building, each module having a separate door enabling separate access to each one of them from the exterior environment within the host building.  
           [0003]    When the modules are placed in a row, gaps exist between adjacent modules, between the modules and the ceilings of the host building, and between the modules on the ends of the row and the walls of the host building adjacent to the end modules. To cover these gaps and to provide a uniform, or decorative, finished appearance exterior to the modules a covering is employed formed of partitions referred to as closure panels. The closure panels are usually formed of steel, sheetrock, laminated wood products or other suitable material. In addition to providing a finished appearance, provisions for ventilation can be incorporated into the closure panels to allow air to circulate there through to satisfy heating and air conditioning requirements while still maintaining the same outward appearance.  
           [0004]    Such an installation provides large acoustically reflective surfaces that cause reverberations in the exterior area within the host building. Sound waves will penetrate the closure panels and reverberate against the panels and windows forming the fronts of the modules and will also penetrate the closure panels and reverberate in the gaps between the modules and between the modules and the walls and ceilings of the host building. This results in undesirable acoustic effects which building managers, acousticians and architects seek to minimize in a variety of ways. One commonly employed solution is to mount sound absorbing panels to the exterior of the closure panels. These sound absorbing panels are frequently covered with fabric to provide a more decorative appearance. Unfortunately, such after-applied solutions add to the cost of the installation and are vulnerable to vandalism.  
           [0005]    Thus, there is a need for methods and systems that overcome these and other limitations of the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention provides methods and systems for installing sound absorbing closure panels for sound isolation module installations that overcome prior art limitations.  
           [0007]    According to one aspect of the invention one or more partitions are formed of acoustic absorbing material that provide sound absorbing closure panels to finish the installation of a plurality of sound isolation modules, thus eliminating the need for supplemental application of acoustic absorbing material to the installation.  
           [0008]    The present invention provides a method for acoustic closure of an installation of one or more sound isolation modules within a host building encompassing the modules. One or more acoustic absorbing closure panels are mounted to form a partition in front of the modules, thus forming two acoustically separate regions. The absorbing panels are comprised of one or more sound absorbing materials between a front and rear surface. The front surface faces the region exterior to the installation within the host building. The rear surface faces the installation of the sound isolation modules.  
           [0009]    The front surface of a closure panel is comprised of a material that enables sound from the region exterior to the installation within the host building to penetrate into the panel and be at least partially absorbed by the sound absorbing materials there within. The rear surface may also be comprised of material that enables sound from the installation region to penetrate into the panel and be at least partially absorbed by the sound absorbing materials within the panel. Alternatively, the rear surface may be comprised of a sound-reflecting material that reflects sound, so that sound from the installation region cannot penetrate into the region exterior to the installation within the host building. Ventilation passages may be formed through one or more of the panels to enable air to pass through when such ventilation is required or desirable.  
           [0010]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosure provided herein may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 shows a front view of a typical installation of sound isolation modules within a host building.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a preferred embodiment of the positions of a plurality of sound absorbing closure panels installed according to the methods of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of the placement of sound absorbing closure panels according to the methods of the present invention, illustrating the acoustically separate regions formed by the installation of the sound absorbing closure panels.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 shows a plan view of an installation of modules to which acoustic closure panels are applied according to the methods of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 shows a front view of a typical sound isolation module installation comprising a row of one or more sound isolation modules  100  inside a host building  200 . The module installation is surrounded on the top by a ceiling  210  of host building  200 , on the bottom by a floor  220  of host building  200 , on the sides by side walls  205  of host building  200 , and on the rear by a rear wall of host building  200  not shown. The one or more modules  100  are fitted with doors  105  to allow passage between the interior and exterior of modules  100 .  
         [0017]    In a typical installation, the row of modules  100  will comprise at least one, and usually, a plurality of such modules. The modules may face outward into a passageway of host building  200  or may face a large open room within host building  200 . In between the modules  100  and host building  200  are spaces that are desirably closed by acoustic closure panels according to the methods of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the positions of five acoustic closure panels, indicated by the letters A, B, C, D, and E, employed to form acoustically separate regions, one region being in front of and exterior to the installation region and within the host building, the other region being the installation region itself. The installation region comprises the modules  100 , the spaces between modules  100 , and between modules  100  and host building  200 . Additional acoustic closure panels will be employed when additional modules  100  are included in the installation as can be recognized from the disclosure herein.  
         [0018]    Panel A is bound on the left by host building side wall  205  and has a width sufficient to partially extend past the nearest wall of a module  105 , as indicated by the leftmost vertical dashed line, L 1 . The overlap of Panel A and the front wall of the nearest module allows for the acoustic closure panel to be secured to the front wall of the nearest module. Panel A is bound on the bottom by the host building floor  220  and has a height sufficient to extend near to the top of a module  100 , as indicated by the horizontal dashed line, L 2 .  
         [0019]    Similarly, Panel D is bound on the right by host building sidewall  205  and has a width sufficient to partially extend past the nearest wall of a module  105 , as indicated by the rightmost vertical dashed line, L 4 . The overlap of Panel D and the front wall of the nearest module allows for the acoustic closure panel to be secured to the front wall of the nearest module. Panel D is bound on the bottom by host building floor  220  and has a height sufficient to extend near to the top of a module  100 , as indicated by the horizontal dashed line, L 2 .  
         [0020]    Panel E is bound on the left by the vertical dashed line, L 6 , and bound on the right by the vertical dashed line, L 5 . The overlap of Panel E and the front walls of the nearest modules allows for the acoustic closure panel to be secured to the front walls of the nearest modules. Panel E is bound on the bottom by host building floor  220  and has a height sufficient to extend near to the top of a module  100 , as indicated by the horizontal dashed line, L 2 .  
         [0021]    Panel B is bound on the left by host building side wall  205  and extends to the dashed vertical line, L 3 . Panel B is bound on the top by host building ceiling  210  and is bound on the bottom by horizontal dashed line L 2 . The overlap of Panel B and the front walls of the modules allows for the acoustic closure panel to be secured to the front walls of the module.  
         [0022]    Similarly, panel C is bound on the right by host building side wall  205  and extends to the vertical dashed line, L 3 . Panel C is bound on the top by host building ceiling  210  and is bound on the bottom by horizontal dashed line L 2 . The overlap of Panel C and the front walls of the modules allows for the acoustic closure panel to be secured to the front walls of the module.  
         [0023]    The panels that have a side bounded by a wall  205  or ceiling  210  of host building  200  may be mounted to the that wall or ceiling by sliding the panel into a rail mounted to that wall or that ceiling for the purpose of securing the panel into position. The opposite side of such panel is secured into position by securing it to the front face of a module  100  of which it overlaps, using any convenient securing means such as screws. Other methods for securing the panels, A, B, C, D, and E will readily be recognized by persons of skill in the art, and may, for example, be selected according to the type of structure that comprises host building walls  205  and ceiling  210 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the installation of the row of modules  100  shown in FIG. 2, with an edge of acoustic closure panels B and D in view. As shown, acoustic the acoustic closure panels installed according to the present invention form two acoustically separate regions, denoted F and G in FIG. 3. Region G is the installation region, which comprises the space between the modules  100  and the host building walls and ceiling, and the space between the modules  100 . Region F is the region interior to host building  200  but exterior to the installation region G.  
         [0025]    The acoustic closure panels act to absorb sound that penetrates into them from region F or G. Persons of skill in the art will recognize that a sound absorbing panel of practical thickness will not absorb all of the acoustic energy that penetrates into the sound absorbing panel. If sound penetrates through a front wall  80  of a closure panel from region F, some of that sound will be absorbed and could then propagate into region G or be reflected off the front walls of modules  100  or a rear wall  70  of the closure panel back toward region F. If sound reflects off the front walls of modules  100  or rear wall  70  back toward region F, then some of that sound will be absorbed as it propagate through the closure panel and some of that sound will penetrate through front wall  80  into region F. Note that to reduce reflection of sound from the front walls of modules  200 , panels A, E, and D can extend to cover as much of the front walls of modules  200  as desirable.  
         [0026]    Similarly, if sound penetrates through rear wall  70  of a closure panel from region G, some of that sound will be absorbed and could then propagate into region F or be reflected off front wall  80  of the closure panel back toward region G. If sound reflects off the front wall  80  back toward region G, then some of that sound will be absorbed as it propagate through the closure panel and some of that sound will penetrate through rear wall  70  into region G.  
         [0027]    In certain installations, the ceiling of the host building is so high that it is impractical for panels B and C to extend to the ceiling. In such cases, panels B and C will extend upward to a practical extent, allowing a dropped ceiling to be installed at a practical height. Then the panels B and C may be secured to the lower edge of the dropped ceiling. Additionally, if a dropped ceiling is not practical or planned, then panels B and C can be installed “free standing”, not affixed to the host ceiling in any manner.  
         [0028]    The acoustic closure panels are constructed of one or more sound absorbing materials enclosed by a rigid structure that forms front and rear walls  70  and  80 . In a preferred embodiment, the rigid structure is painted 22 gauge, perforated steel, which enables sound to penetrate the closure panel and be at least partially absorbed by the acoustic absorbing content there within. This material will typically match the material used in the interior of the sound modules  100 . When a rigid structure enclosing the sound absorbing materials allows sound to penetrate from region F and region G, the acoustic closure panels will absorb sound propagating from either region.  
         [0029]    As noted, for a sound absorbing closure panel of practical thickness, a portion of the sound energy propagating from region G into the acoustic closure panels may not be absorbed and thereby continue to propagate into region F. An alternative embodiment may be employed when it is desirable to substantially inhibit sound within region G from propagating into region F. This is accomplished by enclosing each acoustic closure panel on a front side with material that enables sound to penetrate from region F to be absorbed within the panel, and enclosing each acoustic closure panel on a rear side with a sound-reflecting surface creating a barrier to substantially inhibit sound from region G from penetrating into the acoustic closure panel. Finally, if ventilation is required between region G and region F, then ventilation passages may be formed in the acoustic closure panels to allow air to pass there through.  
         [0030]    The methods of the present invention may also be applied to sound isolation installations of arbitrary configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows a plan view of an installation of sound isolation modules  100  to which the methods of the present invention may be advantageously applied. Sound isolation modules  100 ,  101 ,  102 , and  103  bounded by a non-planar wall  212  of building  200  form the installation. Each module has a door  105  that opens into an interior space of building  200 . Acoustic closure panels, P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , P 5  and P 6  are installed to provide acoustic closure for the installation, partitioning the interior of the host building into a region, G, comprising the installation and a region, F, excluding the installation.  
         [0031]    The construction and principles of operation of the acoustic enclosure formed by acoustic closure panels P 1  through P 6  are the same as described above for the installation and closure panels shown in FIG. 2. The panels absorb sound that would otherwise be reflected from the walls of the isolation modules  100  into region F, and absorb or reflect sound propagating toward region F from region G. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize how to make and use the invention applied to other installation configurations given the disclosure herein.  
         [0032]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention achieves multiple objectives and because the invention can be used in different applications for different purposes, not every embodiment falling within the scope of the attached claims will achieve every objective. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.