U.S. patent application number 11/980993 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-25 for decorative acoustic absorber forming a wall element.
Invention is credited to Arndt Steiner, Ralf Zinnhardt.
Application Number | 20080230308 11/980993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39078398 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080230308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steiner; Arndt ; et
al. |
September 25, 2008 |
Decorative acoustic absorber forming a wall element
Abstract
The invention relates to a decorative acoustic absorber (1),
which is for example colored and/or has a graphic design applied to
it, forms a wall element and has an acoustic material and a visible
side. In order to provide an acoustic absorber formed as a wall
element which provides the desired decorative possibilities, in a
simple construction, it is proposed for the acoustic material (3)
to be laminated on the visible side with a non-woven layer (4),
printing being applied to the non-woven layer (4).
Inventors: |
Steiner; Arndt; (Leverkusen,
DE) ; Zinnhardt; Ralf; (Olsberg, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
39078398 |
Appl. No.: |
11/980993 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
181/284 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 2001/8423 20130101;
E02B 2017/0039 20130101; E04B 2001/8461 20130101; E04B 1/86
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
181/284 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/82 20060101
E04B001/82 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 2, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 051 567.6 |
Claims
1. A decorative acoustic absorber (1), which is for example colored
and/or has a graphic design applied to it, forms a wall element and
has an acoustic material and a visible side, wherein the acoustic
material (3) is laminated on the visible side with a non-woven
layer (4), printing being carried out on the non-woven layer
(4).
2. An acoustic absorber according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic
material (3) is a foam material.
3. An acoustic absorber according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic
material (3) is an open-pored foam material.
4. An acoustic absorber according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic
material (3) is a melamine foam resin.
5. A method for manufacturing a wall element which is decorative,
coloured and/or has a graphic design applied to it, has an acoustic
material (3) and serves as an acoustic absorber (1), wherein the
acoustic material (3) is initially laminated with a non-woven
material (4) and that printing is then effected on this combination
on the non-woven material side thereof.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Applicants claim priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 of German
Application No. 10 2006 051 567.6 filed Nov. 2, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a decorative acoustic absorber,
which is for example colored and/or has a graphic design applied to
it, forms a wall element and has an acoustic material and a visible
side.
[0004] 2. The Prior Art
[0005] Acoustic absorbers of this kind are already known,
specifically in an embodiment in which a fabric which provides the
decoration is stretched, similar to a conventional painting, over
the acoustic absorber, covering over the absorber on the visible
side. This is like a picture with an acoustic absorber located
behind it.
[0006] The known acoustic absorber which forms a wall element is
relatively costly to construct. A simpler construction is sought,
but one which effects the desired function without further
complication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Proceeding from this, it is an object of the invention to
provide an acoustic absorber which forms a decorative wall element
and provides the desired decorative possibilities, but with a
simpler construction.
[0008] This objective is met first and foremost by the subject
matter of claim 1, where is provided that the acoustic material is
laminated on the visible side with a non-woven layer, printing
being carried out on the non-woven layer. According to the
invention, a unitary acoustic absorber is created which is
non-detachably connected to the non-woven layer. By printing, any
desired subject and also any desired coloured design can be
applied. The inherent porosity of the non-woven layer does not
impinge on the acoustic effectiveness of the acoustic absorber,
which is located directly under the non-woven layer. On the other
hand, a non-woven material can be selected that can be printed on
just as well as for example paper or fabric. By virtue of the
non-woven layer being adhered to the acoustic material, a wall
element of this kind can also be handled as a unitary element, for
example for printing or the application of other graphic designs.
The non-woven layer is in every case provided on the visible side.
It can in addition be provided on the opposite side and/or around
the edges.
[0009] It is especially preferred for the acoustic material to be a
foam material. A foam material used here is generally an open-pored
foam material or a foam material which is open-pored to a
significant extent, in order to be able to achieve the desired
sound absorption.
[0010] Particularly preferred in this connection is for the
acoustic material to consist of a melamine open-pored foam resin.
Melamine foam resin is a foam material which is practically 100%
open-pored.
[0011] The thickness of the acoustic material is preferably
selected to be in the range from 10 to 50 mm, further in the range
from 20 to 40 mm.
[0012] The acoustic material is further preferably accommodated in
a frame, for example a metal frame, for which an aluminum frame
suggests itself. The frame is formed to be right-angled or U-shaped
in cross-section, a certain overlap over the acoustic material
being effected in every case on the visible side, in particular for
assurance against the acoustic material's falling out. The
non-woven layer mentioned can furthermore also be provided so that
it also effects a desired increase in the inherent stability of the
acoustic material, so that relatively large self-supporting regions
are possible within the frame. The frame can for example be of a
size such as to provide an effective acoustic area in the range
from 1 to 4 square meters, preferably in the range from 1.5 to 4
square meters.
[0013] While is also preferred to deploy an acoustic absorber of
this kind as a vertical wall element, it may just as well also find
use in principle as for example a ceiling element.
[0014] The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing
a wall element which is decorative, for example is coloured and/or
has a graphic design applied to it, has an acoustic material and
serves as an acoustic absorber.
[0015] As already mentioned at the beginning, it is known to
produce a wall element of this kind which has a fabric stretched
over the acoustic material, covering over the visible side, the
fabric being decorated in conventional manner by coloring like a
picture, for example by the application of paint using a brush.
This method of manufacture is however costly and also does not
enable the desired reproducibility of the acoustic properties to be
always achieved without further measures having to be taken.
[0016] Proceeding from the known method, the invention addresses
the problem of providing a method for manufacturing a decorative
wall element which has an acoustic material, the method to enable
the wall element to be produced in manner which is efficient and
consistent in terms of quality.
[0017] This objective is met first and foremost by the subject
matter of claim 5, where it is provided that the acoustic material
is initially laminated with a non-woven material and that printing
is then effected on this combination on the non-woven material side
thereof.
[0018] The laminating of the non-woven material to the acoustic
material which is initially undertaken can be achieved by its being
possible to use the laminating process, this being carried out at a
relatively high temperature, for example at temperatures in the
range from 80 to 150.degree. C., in order to effect the bond
between the non-woven material and the acoustic material, without
by this the decorative design on the visible side of the wall
element being negatively affected, since the application of the
decorative design is only carried out after the laminating process
and specifically by a printing operation.
[0019] For this, different methods are available. Preferred is for
example for printing to be carried out on the thus modified
acoustic material by an ink-jet printer. For this, ink is
preferably used which is flame-retardant and/or not susceptible to
ultra-violet radiation.
[0020] The laminating as such can be achieved by thermoplastic
fibers already present in the non-woven material, which become
soft, the non-woven material in the softened state of the fibers
then being able to be brought against the foam material so that
after cooling, the desired close bond is effected. Thermoplastic
material present in the foam material may also be used.
[0021] The acoustic material then decorated in this way, the
combination of foam resin and non-woven material, preferably a
melamine foam resin as previously already stated in connection with
the description of the subject matter of the invention, is then
suitably secured in a frame, the wall element then being able to be
hung on or secured to a wall with the help of this frame.
[0022] For the rest, reference is made to the embodiment of the
subject matter of the acoustic element thus produced, also to the
foregoing and following description of the wall element as
such.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Other objects and features of the present inventions will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
inventions.
[0024] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote
similar elements throughout the several views:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an acoustic absorber which
serves as a wall element;
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the article according
to FIG. 1, cut along the line I-I;
[0027] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged extract from the region III-III in
FIG. 2; and
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation relating to the
manufacture of an acoustic absorber of this kind.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] An acoustic absorber 1 is shown and described, initially
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the absorber consisting of a
combination of an open-pored melamine foam resin 3 and a non-woven
material 4 applied to the visible side of the absorber, the
combination being held in a frame. Printed matter is applied to the
non-woven material 4, the artwork being indicated by reference
5.
[0030] In regard to the frame 2, there is used an aluminum frame
which has, in customary manner, a U-profile in cross-section, so
that the acoustic material 3 is overlapped on the front and rear in
the manner of a shoe in order to hold it in place.
[0031] The acoustic absorber 1 is also secured to a wall (not
illustrated) by means of the frame 2 by hanging it up by means of
securing members, for example hooks fixed into the wall.
[0032] In regard to the non-woven material 4, there is used a glass
fiber non-woven material that is also in addition coated,
specifically in the case of the embodiment coated with aluminum
hydroxide.
[0033] The non-woven material has a weight per unit area of 200 g
per square meter. It is adhered to the melamine foam resin 3 over
the entire surface by means of heated adhesive points.
[0034] From the cross-sectional illustration according to FIG. 3,
the different structure of the non-woven material 4 on the one hand
and that of the foam material 3 on the other can be seen, in
somewhat exaggerated manner.
[0035] The manufacturing method is explained with reference to FIG.
4.
[0036] Starting from a melamine foam resin portion 3 provided in
the desired size, as a rule having a rectangular shape in top view,
a non-woven material 4 is laid over it and, as is here indicated
only schematically, the laminating bond to the foam material 3 is
effected by hot air 6. In the course of the laminating bonding,
thermoplastic components of the non-woven material and/or of the
foam material are heated up to above their point of plasticity and,
after a certain degree of pressing together of the two elements,
adhering of the non-woven material 4 and the melamine foam resin 3
is then achieved, after cooling down.
[0037] The combination thus produced is put into a pressing machine
7, which is here illustrated only schematically. A pressing slide 8
acts relative to the combination of non-woven material 4 and foam
material 3 inserted into the machine. In this way, the desired
decorative design 5 can be applied.
[0038] The combination thus produced can then further be surrounded
by the frame 2, this being here not illustrated in detail, and hung
as required on a wall or ceiling.
[0039] All features disclosed are (in themselves) pertinent to the
invention. The disclosure content of the associated/accompanying
priority documents (copy of the prior application) is also hereby
incorporated in full in the disclosure of the application,
including for the purpose of incorporating features of these
documents in claims of the present application.
[0040] Although at least one embodiment of the present invention
has been shown and described, it is apparent that many changes and
modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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