Sound insulation with light-reflecting surface

Abstract: A soundproof structure is provided at its surface with a lining (5,13,16,26) of a catadioptric material which forms a light source when a light beam impinges on it.

Description: This invention relates to a soundproof structure for working interior facing, and particularly for so-called open-space interiors. FR-A-2 487 400 discloses an insulation acustic panel which reflects light, mostly for counter-ceilings. EP-A-0 194 977 discloses a lighting system for interiors using as a light source a catadioptric surface onto which one or more lightbeam are detected to impinge. It is a known fact that soundproof structures are gaining ever-increasing acceptance for facing working interior spaces of the kind specified above, on account of their well-recognized advantages at both the level of personal comfort and, above all, of work efficiency. Also known is that the most effective of soundproof structures are those which afford the highest number of sound "traps". In fact, structures have been proposed which comprise composite panels defining plural cells, accessible from the working interior space, into which sound becomes trapped almost completely. Other soundproof structures comprise deeply "wrought" surfaces, and specifically foam material boards, for example, which have their surfaces facing the interior space formed with plural pyramid- or cusp-like projections arranged in rows and arrays and having varying depth dimensions. Unfortunately, those same sound traps, as provided by the aforesaid soundproof structures, are also effective "light traps". It is indeed a generally recognized, and readily ascertainable, fact that the intensity of a light beam impinging on such a soundproof structure undergoes drastic attenuation in the beam reflected back toward the interior space. Actually, the requirements for soundproofing and lighting an interior space are definitely contradictory and irreconcilable ones. Lighting, to even a barely adequate extent, an interior space otherwise well set up from the soundproofing standpoint, involves high energy expenditure. Prior proposals directed to solve the problem of reconciling the aforesaid conflicting requirements simultaneously within a given interior space have been heretofore in the nature of a compromise lying far from optimum. The problem, moreover, is further aggravated where an open-space working interior under consideration accommodates working stations equipped with video terminals or the like apparatus including display monitors, which necessitate exceptionally strict lighting conditions to cope with the increased visual commitment of their operators and the marked reflectivity of display monitors. To definitely solve this technical problem, this invention provides a soundproof structures for working interior facing, and particularly for so-called open-space interiors, according to the Claim. In the soundproof structure of this invention, the layer of catadioptric reflective material forms a light source on a light beam impinging on it. Furthermore, by virtue of the recognized properties of said material, the lighting effectiveness of such a light source is quite unaffected by the more or less wrought character of the soundproof structure employed. This affords the important advantage that the entire range of the presently available soundproof structures can be used successfully to achieve a desired degree of deadening against noise propagation, always accompanied by a high lighting efficiency which is the equal of or even greater than that to be obtained in non-soundproofed interiors. The invention features and advantages will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of some embodiments of the soundproof structure according to the invention, given herein with reference to the accompanying illustrative and not limitative drawings, where: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing diagramatically an open-space working interior provided with a ceiling incorporating the soundproof structure of this invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section view showing diagramatically a modified embodiment of the soundproof structure of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows in perspective, and partly in section, a further embodiment of the soundproof structure according to this invention; Figure 4 shows diagramatically yet another embodiment of the inventive soundproof structure; Figures 5 and 6 show diagramatically in perspective view and in cross-section, respectively, another modified embodiment of the soundproof structure according to the invention; and Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the inventive soundproof structure. With reference to Figure 1, a soundproof and indirect lighting structure according to this invention has been used to face the ceiling of an interior space 1, e.g. a so-called open-space working interior. The soundproof structure comprises a plurality of substantially box-like cells 2 which are orderly arranged in parallel rows and arrays and are each provided, at their wall 3 confronting the working interior 1, with a circular opening 4. The inner wall of each cell 3 lying remotely from its respective circular opening 4 is lined with a layer 5 of a catadioptric reflective material (e.g., a catadioptric film, catadioptric paint, etc.). Schematically depicted within the working interior 1 are some "noise" sources 6,7, with some light sources being indicated at 8 and 9. The acoustic wave is represented schematically by a succession of curved lines, whilst light radiation is represented by broken lines. The cells 2 are known to form highly effective traps for the acoustic waves which enter them through the openings 4. These same cells 2 are also penetrated, through the openings 4, by the light radiation from the sources 8 and 9, but this radiation is not trapped within the cells because, after impinging on the catadioptric surfaces 5, it is reflected thereby out of the cells. The catadioptric material layer 5 of each cell 2 substantially forms a light source which contributes toward lighting the working interior 1 along with the rest of such like sources. In the soundproof structure shown in Figure 2, a single large size cell 10, accessible from the outside through a plurality of openings 11, accommodates a layer 12 of a soundproofing material whose wall facing the working interior space has been "wrought" with a plurality of projections and recesses which, when viewed in cross-section, impart to it a substantially fretted pattern. This wall is completely covered by a layer 13 of a catadioptric material. In the soundproof structure of Figure 3, a panel 21 of a foam material is formed with a plurality of ribs 22 delimiting, in cooperation with a plurality of flat staves 23, a corresponding plurality of cells 25. The staves 23 are set apart to define an access passage to the cells 25. The walls of the cells 25 remote from said passages, are provided with a layer 26 of a catadioptric material. The soundproof structure embodiment of Figure 4 comprises a panel 15 of a foam material whose wall facing the working interior space is formed with a plurality of pyramidal cusp projections 14 orderly laid in parallel rows and arrays. The outer walls of each cusp 14 have respective linings 16 of a catadioptric material. The soundproof structures shown in Figures 5 to 7 are of the so-called staved type (indicated at 17, 18 and 20, respectively, in said Figures), which is highly effective to trap sound. More specifically, the soundproof structures of Figures 5 and 6 are provided with a plurality of sound breaking reeds 19. In accordance with this invention, the staves and sound breaking reeds are both lined with respective layers of a catadioptric material.

Claims: A soundproof structure for working interior facing and particularly for facing so-called open-space working interior (1), comprising cells (2) having a plurality of walls (3,5), one (3) of said walls having an opening (4) through which sound and light may enter the cell, and a second (5) of said walls being at least partially coated with a catadioptric material in order to reflect most of the light intercepted by the catadioptric material directly back out of the opening, the sound being suppressed without substantially attenuating room lighting.

Inventors: TRINI CASTELLI CLINO, TRINI CASTELLI, CLINO
Applicants: TRINI CASTELLI CLINO, TRINI CASTELLI, CLINO
Application year: 1987
Main classification: F21V7
IPC codes: E04B9, E04B1, F21V7