Patent Publication Number: US-11377845-B2

Title: Acoustic baffle assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to suspended acoustic panel assemblies for reducing airborne noise. 
     PRIOR ART 
     In large occupied spaces, typically in commercial, industrial, or institutional buildings, acoustic baffles have been suspended from overhead structure. 
     The baffles are intended to minimize echo, reduce reverberation, and generally improve sound quality. Commonly, the baffles, which can be rigid or semi-rigid panels or draped fabric-like constructions are aligned in parallel or linear arrays. 
     There is a need for suspended acoustic baffle designs that depart from the traditional linear or rectangular layouts. Ideally, a design, if it is relatively large, should be capable of being made at a factory and shipped in parts, at reasonable cost, to the installation site. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a cloud type circular acoustic baffle design or assembly that can be constructed in various sizes and can be fitted with acoustic panels of any color and any desired lower profile. The lower profiles of the acoustic panels collectively create the contour of the lower face of the assembly. 
     As disclosed, the baffle panels are arranged about a common center. The baffle panels are held together by circular ribs concentric with the enter. The ribs are relatively narrow in section and are disposed at upper edges of the baffle panels making them relatively inconspicuous when the assembly is suspended overhead. Moreover, the concentricity of the ribs, to the extent they are observed, visually reinforces the circular character of the baffle assembly. 
     Preferably, the baffle assembly is constructed of angular segments of a size that can be practically and conveniently shipped and that at the installation site can be easily combined into a circular assembly. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the baffle panels are arranged in an annular pattern, leaving a central circular opening in which a lighting fixture, air duct or other device can be disposed and thereby visually integrated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the baffle assembly of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a radially exploded, perspective view of angular segments of the baffle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a typical baffle unit; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of a baffle unit and associated arcuate ribs; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical splice connecting adjacent angular baffle segments; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a baffle assembly of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a radially exploded perspective view of angular segments of the baffle assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is shown an acoustic baffle assembly  10  formed by a circular array of baffle panel units  11  held in place by annular ribs  12   a, b, c  (hereafter sometimes individually and/or collectively identified by the number  12 ). The baffle panel units  11 , which can be identical, comprise a planar acoustic board  13  and an inverted metal channel  15  both being of generally equal length. 
     The board  13 , for example, can be a PET felt acoustic panel marketed under the trademark COLORTEX™ of a nominal ½ inch thickness and rated at up to 0.85 NRC. A channel  15 , made of 18 gauge steel for example, is assembled over an upper longitudinal edge of a respective board  13 , preferably with a tight fit. Besides the tight fit, the board  13  and channel  15  can be fixed together by assembling mechanical fasteners such as binding barrel and screw sets through aligned holes in opposed holes in opposed legs of the channel  15  and the board  13  adjacent their longitudinal ends and mid-length. In normal installations, the baffle assembly  10  lies in a horizontal orientation or plane while the baffle panel units  11  lie in vertical planes. 
     The baffle panel units are fixed relative to one another by at least two annular ribs  12 , depending on the outer diameter of the assembly  10 . The baffle assembly  10  illustrated n  FIGS. 1 and 2  is nominally  12  foot in outside diameter and has three annular ribs  12   a, b, c . The ribs  12 , preferably made of 18 gauge steel or other suitable metal or material, can have a right angle section with a vertical leg one-half the width of the horizontal leg. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a manner of fixing a rigid annular rib  12  to a baffle panel unit  11 . Mechanical fasteners such as self-drilling sheet metal screws secure the horizontal leg of a rib  12  against a web of the channel  15  of each underlying baffle panel unit. The same fastening technique can be used to fix the other ribs  12   b, c  and panel units  11  in their desired relative positions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the baffle panel units  11  and arcuate sections of the ribs are assembled to form angular segments  18  of the circular baffle assembly  10 . In the illustrated arrangement, ends of each rib section along one side of a segment  18  are cantilevered from the outlying baffle unit  11 . 
     The baffle assembly segments  18  are fabricated by the manufacturer with a sufficiently small maximum width to be conveniently handled and packaged and economically shipped. At a site where the baffle assembly  10  is to be installed, the sections are joined by assembling arcuate splices  21  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) over abutting ends of the rib sections. The shape of a splice  21 , made from sheet metal like the ribs  12 , preferably matches the radius and cross-section of a respective rib. The same fasteners can be used to attach the splices to the rib ends as those used to attach the rib ends to the baffle panel units. The various parts are configured so that when they are jointed, a central opening in the assembly  10  exists that can surround a light fixture, air duct or other device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the vertical legs of the ribs  12  have apertures for receiving suspension wires for suspending the assembly  10  from overhead structure. Alternatively, the splices or the ribs and splices can be apertured to provide reception points for suspension wires. 
     In the illustrated example, the lower longitudinally extending edges of the baffle boards are sculpted with the same curvilinear shape that collectively produces a three-dimensional contoured shape to the lower face of the assembly  10  that is visible to an observer below the assembly. Other edge profile arrangements are envisioned where, for example, the baffle board edges are angular or straight. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a second embodiment of the baffle assembly  30 . The same numerals as previously used to designate parts of the first embodiment are used to designate the same or equivalent parts in this second embodiment. The baffle assembly  30  is smaller in outside diameter, being nominally 9 feet in diameter. The baffle assembly  30  differs from the first-described assembly  10  by having fewer angular segments  31  and fewer annular ribs  32 . The construction, assembly, suspension and use of the baffle assembly is essentially the same as that described for the first baffle assembly  10 . 
     While the invention has been shown and described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, this is for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation, and other variations and modifications of the specific embodiments herein shown and described will be apparent to those skilled in the art all within the intended spirit and scope of the invention.