A DEVICE FOR A MEETING-HALL

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for generating sound in a hall comprising a first space for dancers and/or listeners and an adjacent second space, for instance a catering space. According to the invention a sound-ceiling (4) is arranged in the first space (2) in a distance from the floor, and is a large number of loudspeakers (5) arranged in the sound-ceiling.

Description: A Device for a Meeting-Hall This invention relates to a device for generating sound in a hall comprising a first space for dancers and/or listen- ers and an adjacent second space, for instance a catering space. According to the standpoint of technique regarding dance-halls with a band positioned on a band stand the loud¬ speakers for the music sound as a rule are positioned on the band stand in such a way that the sound from these ones are directed out into the hall, where the dancers and the dinner guests are. In this connection the hall as a rule is designed in that way that the dance-floor is closest to the band stand and the space for those sitting at the tables and having their meals further away from the band stand. The great disadvantage with loudspeakers on the band stand sending out the strong sound into the hall is that this sound also reaches the place where the dinner guests are sitt¬ ing. Due to that fact a common conversational tone at the dining tables is made difficult, which is felt annoying by many of those sitting at the tables. Another disadvantage with common dance restaurants is that the strong music sound also rises upwards, and therefore hotel rooms positioned straight above the dance restaurant as a rule have not been able to be rent out . The German patent 812.258 shows a device where the spoken sound from a speaker at a microphone reaches a certain area D. In order that the spoken sound shall reach further out into the hall a loudspeaker ramp L having several loudspeakers is directed obliquely downwards and outwards into the hall. Due to that fact the sound also reaches the area S. Thus, the intention with this idea is not to limit the sound within a certain area but to lead the sound out into the hall so that it reaches a larger area. Moreover, the patent does not show any sound-ceiling but only a ramp with loudspeakers . The problems with known technique have been solved by the present invention. The solution comprises a device of the kind mentioned by way of introduction which is characterized in that a sound-ceiling is arranged in the first space in a distance from the floor and that a large number of loud- sps&Kers are arranged in the sound-ceiling. By this invention the music sound is essentially limited to that area where the dancers are. This has the great ad¬ vantage that those sitting at the tables beyond the dance floor are not subjected to the strong sound but can converse in a common conversational tone. Due to the special design of the invention, the propagation of the sound upwards is also li ted, and therefore also hotel rooms closest to the dance hall vertically can be rent out. The invention shall be described more closely below, re¬ ference being made to the accompanying drawing which schemati¬ cally shows dancers in one space and dinner guests at a table in an adjacent space. In this drawing there is shown a band stand 1 and below and in front of this one a space 2 for the dancers. Beyond this space there is a catering space 3 for dinner guests and other sitting at tables for conversation. As a rule it is completely open between the spaces 2 and 3. The novel and special thing with this invention is that the sound is distributed out via a sound-ceiling 4, which is placed above the heads of the dancers. This sound-ceiling com¬ prises a large number of loudspeakers 5 having a special placing. The sound-ceiling comprises an essentially horizontal plate 6 provided with the loudspeakers, which are retracted in the plate, and further comprises a sound isolating layer 7 placed above the plate, whereby the propagation upwards of the sound is strongly reduced. According to the invention the special sound-ceiling shall only be arranged in the space for the dancers, the number of loudspeakers and the placing of these ones being arranged in that way that the propagation of the sound is laterally minimized. If many loudspeakers are arranged in the sound-ceiling and the distance between the loudspeakers is limited, there arises something called destructive interfer- ence between the sound-waves from the loudspeakers . This means that the lateral sound-waves " from one speaker is stopped by the lateral sound-waves from an adjacent loudspeaker. In this way the sound-level outside the effective area of the sound- ceiling becomes exceedingly small, which positively influences the pitch of conversation in the adjacent catering space. Ac¬ cording to the invention the loudspeakers are preferably round and placed in an essentially horizontal sound-ceiling and are directed downwards, the distance between the centres of two adjacent loudspeakers, each having the membrane diameter d, being less than or equal with 3,5 d. If two round loudspeakers having different membrane diameters are placed beside each other, the distance between the centres of these two loud¬ speakers shall be less than or equal with 3,5 of the larger one of the membrane diameters. The number of loudspeakers ought to be at least lO/m^ of the effective area of the sound- -ceiling and the effective area of the sound-ceiling ought to be at least 5 m^ . With the effective area of the sound-ceiling is meant the area of that part of the sound-ceiling where the main part of the loudspeakers are placed. This means that when the effective area is 5 m^ the number of loudspeakers in the sound-ceiling ought to be at least 50. Of course the loudspeakers can have another form than round. In such a case the distance between the centres of two similar, adjacent loudspeakers shall be less than or equal with 5/4 of the perimeter of the membrane of the loudspeaker. If two adjacent loudspeakers have different size regard¬ ing the membranes, which are not round, the distance between the centres of these two loudspeakers shall be less than or equal with 5/4 of the perimeter of the larger membrane of the loudspeaker . When using the sound-ceiling, it shall have a placing varying between the level immediately above to the level 3 meters above the heads of those present. Since the effect of the destructive interference between the sound-waves from the loudspeakers diminishes the higher these ones are placed over the heads of those present, the sound-ceiling during use ought not to be placed more than 1 m over the heads of those present. It is also possible to have the sound-ceiling on a certain height over the floor in an inactive position and another, lower height over the floor during use, the ceiling in a suitable way being lowered and raised, respectively, between the different levels. The field of the invention that has been mentioned is dance-restaurants. It is, of course, possible to use the in¬ vention in other fields, for instance in halls having one space where listeners listen to a speaker on a platform, while simultaneous discussions are going on between other people in an adjacent space. Besides the advantages already mentioned with this in¬ vention it can also be mentioned that the need of effect be¬ comes lower with this idea at the same time as the sound-level becomes more uniform over the effective area. With the phrase "loudspeaker" in the description, claims and abstract is meant membrane of loudspeaker when it is a σuestion about number.

Claims: Claims 1. A device for generating sound in a hall comprising a first space for dancers and/or listeners and an adjacent second space, for instance a catering space, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that a sound-ceiling (4) is arranged in the first space (2) in a distance from the floor, and that a large number of loudspeakers (5> are arranged in the sound-ceiling. 2. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the sound-ceiling (4) comprises a plate (6) above which there is arranged a sound isolating layer (7) . 3. A device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the effective area of the sound-ceiling is at le st 5 m^ . 4. A device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the number of loudspeakers is at least 10 per m^ of the effective area of the sound-ceiling, which means that when the effective area is 5 m^ , the number of loud¬ speaker shall be at least 50. 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that during use the sound-ceiling (14) has a placing that can vary between the level immediately above and the level 3 m above the heads of those present in the first space (2) . 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, each loudspeaker (5> being round with the membrane diameter d and directed downwards, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the distance a between the centres of two adjacent loudspeakers (5) in the sound-ceiling (4) is less than or equal with 3,5 d. 7. A device according to any one of the claims 1-5, two round loudspeakers with different membrane diameters being placed beside each other, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the distance between the centres of these two loud¬ speakers is less than or equal with 3,5 of the larger diameter of the membrane. 8. A device according to any one of the claims 1-5, at least certain of the loudspeakers having another form than round, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the distance be¬ tween the centres of two similar, adjacent loudspeakers is less than or equal with 5/4 of the perimeter of the membrane of the loudspeaker. 9. A device according to any one of the claims 1-5, two adjacent loudspeaker having another form than round and having different sizes regarding the membranes, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the distance between the centres of these two loudspeakers is less than or equal with 5/4 of the peri¬ meter of the larger membrane of the loudspeaker.

Inventors: NAESLUND JAN, NAESLUND, JAN
Applicants: NAESLUND JAN, NAESLUND, JAN
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1, G10K11, H04R1, H04R27