Patent ID: 7637062

Claim:
In a panel section for use in a sound barrier for acoustical attenuation of a sound source, said panel section having a cementitious body portion; for use with at least two vertically-extending, ground-mounted I-beam columns, each such column having two parallel flanges and a transverse web extending therebetween and being positioned such that its web is substantially parallel to the web of each adjacent column and is substantially normal to a notional wall line defined by said columns; and disposed, in use, in respective vertically-stacked groupings to form one or more wall panels interleaved between adjacent pairs of columns, each wall panel having a pair of end edges disposed, one each, in mechanically-engaged relation, between the parallel flanges of a respective pair of adjacent columns; the improvement comprising: the body portion having defined therethrough a window opening for permitting light transmission through said sound barrier in use; a glazing element adapted for light transmission; and fastening means for securing said glazing element to said body portion to occlude said window opening and to impede the passage of sound therethrough; wherein said body portion has a glaze receiving surface peripherally surrounding said window opening against which the periphery of the glazing element is operatively abutted; and wherein the fastening means is secured to said body portion in opposed, spaced relationship to the glaze receiving surface, such that said glazing element is bounded on one side by said fastening means, and on its opposite other side by said glaze receiving surface, to retain said glazing element in operative abutment with said glaze receiving surface.