U.S. patent application number 14/816283 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-26 for acoustic panel with drop seal.
The applicant listed for this patent is Gonzalo DURAN ARIZA. Invention is credited to Gonzalo DURAN ARIZA.
Application Number | 20150337529 14/816283 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50726630 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150337529 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DURAN ARIZA; Gonzalo |
November 26, 2015 |
Acoustic Panel With Drop Seal
Abstract
The invention(s) disclosed herein include various panels,
components of panels, partitions, systems, and/or methods that
increase acoustic insulation by mitigating sound (e.g., before it
enters an area and/or a room). For example, some embodiments
include a movable partition that is comprised of a plurality of
panels that each hang from the ceiling, where the interface between
two partitioned panels includes various gaskets, damping elements,
and perforations that mitigate sound transmission from one side of
the partition to the other. Other features of the partition (and
panels that make up the partition) include upper and lower drops
seals that in some embodiments have a labyrinth-like design and
thus mitigate the flow of air between the partition and the
ceiling/floor. Also, a membrane positioned inside the panel is
disclosed that is especially effective at mitigating low frequency
sound, for example.
Inventors: |
DURAN ARIZA; Gonzalo;
(Rockville, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DURAN ARIZA; Gonzalo |
Rockville |
MD |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50726630 |
Appl. No.: |
14/816283 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13684151 |
Nov 21, 2012 |
|
|
|
14816283 |
|
|
|
|
61673325 |
Jul 19, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 2/828 20130101;
E04B 2/00 20130101; E04B 2/7425 20130101; E04B 2/825 20130101; E06B
7/2316 20130101; E04B 1/8209 20130101; E04B 1/74 20130101; E04B
2/821 20130101; E06B 7/18 20130101; E04B 2/822 20130101; E04B
2/7409 20130101; E04B 1/82 20130101; Y02B 30/90 20130101; E04B
2/827 20130101; E04B 2001/8263 20130101; Y02A 30/00 20180101; E04B
2/7403 20130101; E04B 1/86 20130101; E06B 5/20 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/82 20060101
E04B001/82; E04B 2/74 20060101 E04B002/74; E04B 2/82 20060101
E04B002/82; E04B 1/86 20060101 E04B001/86 |
Claims
1. An acoustic panel that not only is moveable between a
panel-ceiling interface and a floor via a connector that is able to
be interfaced with the panel-ceiling interface, but also is able to
prevent a sound wave--which is traveling from a first side of the
acoustic panel, where it has a first decibel magnitude, towards a
second side of the acoustic panel, by flowing between a drop seal
and a body portion that are each associated with the acoustic
panel--from fully reaching the second side of the acoustic panel,
such that an absorbed sound wave portion of the sound wave does not
reach the second side of the acoustic panel, and such that a
mitigated sound wave portion of the sound wave does reach the
second side of the acoustic panel and is of a second decibel
magnitude, where the second decibel magnitude is less than the
first decibel magnitude, including: (i) a body portion that is able
to be connected to the connector, or at least modifiable to be so
connected to the connector, such that the body portion via the
connector is able to (a) hang from the panel-ceiling interface and
(b) be moved along the panel-ceiling interface; (ii) an outer
cavity that is associated with the body portion, wherein the outer
cavity has a first area that is between two outer cavity surfaces;
(iii) a drop seal that (a) has a second area, wherein the second
area is between two drop seal surfaces, (b) is positionable to a
retracted position such that at least a first portion of the drop
seal is within the first area, and (c) is positionable to an
extended position such that at least the first portion of drop seal
is not only outside the first area but also is both (i) relatively
closer to the floor and (ii) relatively further away from the body
compared to when the drop seal is in the retracted position; (iv)
an insulation; (v) when the drop seal is in the extended position:
(a) there is an overlapped area, wherein the overlapped area is a
portion of the first area and a portion of the second area that are
essentially the same, (b) there is a non-overlapped portion of the
first area, wherein the non-overlapped portion of the first area is
not overlapped with--i.e., not essentially the same as--the second
area, (c) the overlapped area is not sealed off from the
non-overlapped portion of the first area, (d) the overlapped area
has a magnitude that is less than another magnitude of the
overlapped area when the drop seal is in the retracted position,
and (e) the insulation at least partially resides within the
overlapped area; and, (vi) when the drop seal is in the extended
position and the sound wave flows from the first side of the
acoustic panel towards the second side of the acoustic panel
between the drop seal the body portion: at least a portion of the
sound wave will encounter the insulation and be at least partially
absorbed by the insulation such that (a) the absorbed sound wave
portion of the sound wave does not reach the second side of the
acoustic panel and (b) the mitigated sound wave portion of the
sound wave does reach the second side of the panel.
2. The acoustic panel of claim 1, wherein the overlapped area and
the non-overlapped portion of the first area are adjacent.
3. The acoustic panel of claim 2, wherein when the drop seal is in
the extended position: there is a non-overlapped portion of the
second area, wherein the non-overlapped portion of the second area
is not overlapped with--i.e., not essentially the same as--the
first area.
4. The acoustic panel of claim 3, wherein (i) the overlapped area
and the non-overlapped portion of the second area are adjacent, and
(ii) when the drop seal is in the extended position the overlapped
area is not sealed off from non-overlapped portion of the second
area.
5. The acoustic panel of claim 4, wherein when the drop seal is in
the extended position the insulation at least partially resides
within the non-overlapped portion of the second area.
6. The acoustic panel of claim 2, wherein when the drop seal is in
the extended position the insulation at least partially resides
within the non-overlapped portion of the first area.
7. The acoustic panel of claim 4, wherein when the drop seal is in
the extended position the insulation at least partially resides
within (i) the non-overlapped portion of the second area and (ii)
the non-overlapped portion of the first area.
8. The acoustic panel of claim 7, wherein when the drop seal is in
the retracted position: the insulation that at least partially
resides within the non-overlapped portion of the second area when
the drop seal is in the extended position becomes resided within
the overlapped area.
9. The acoustic panel of claim 2, wherein the insulation is not
moved by the drop seal when the drop seal moves from the retracted
position to the extended position.
10. The acoustic panel of claim 9, wherein the insulation moves
when the drop seal moves from the retracted position to the
extended position.
11. The acoustic panel of claim 10, wherein the moving of the
insulation when the drop seal moves from the retracted position to
the extended position is an expanding of the insulation.
12. The acoustic panel of claim 2, wherein when the drop seal is in
the extended position the two drop seal surfaces are not connected
within the first area.
13. The acoustic panel of claim 2, wherein: (i) the drop seal
includes a third drop seal surface that is connected between the
two drop seal surfaces, (ii) the insulation at least partially
resides between the three drop seal surfaces, and (iii) when the
drop seal is in the extended position the third drop seal surface
is further away from the body portion than at least a portion of
the two drop seal surfaces.
14. The acoustic panel of claim 13, wherein the third drop seal
surface is connected between a lower end of a first of the two drop
seal surfaces and a lower end of a second of the two drop seal
surfaces, wherein each of the two respective lower ends of the two
drop seal surfaces are further away from the body portion when the
drop seal is in the extended position than any other portion of the
first of the two drop seal surfaces and any other portion of the
second of the two drop seal surfaces.
15. The acoustic panel of claim 13, wherein the third drop seal
surface compresses the insulation when the drop seal is
repositioned from the extended position to the retracted
position.
16. The acoustic panel of claim 2, further including an other
cavity associated with the body portion, wherein: (i) the other
cavity is at least partly within the outer cavity, wherein there is
a third area that is between two other cavity surfaces of the other
cavity; (ii) when the drop seal is in the retracted position: the
first portion of the drop seal is adjacent to the other cavity;
(iii) when the drop seal is in the extended position: (a) the first
portion of the drop seal is not adjacent to the other cavity, (b)
there is another overlapped area, wherein the other overlapped area
is (1) a portion of the third area, (2) another portion of the
first area, and (3) another portion of the second area that are all
essentially the same--wherein the other portion of the second area
is at least part of the overlapped area--(c) there is a
non-overlapped portion of the third area that is not overlapped
with--i.e., not essentially the same as--the second area, and (d)
the other overlapped area has a magnitude that is less than another
magnitude of the other overlapped area when the drop seal is in the
retracted position; and, (iv) the other overlapped area is adjacent
to the non-overlapped portion of the third area.
17. The acoustic panel of claim 16, wherein: (i) when the drop seal
is in the extended position the other cavity is at least partially
within the second area; and, (ii) when the drop seal is in the
retracted position the other cavity is at least partially within
the second area.
18. The acoustic panel of claim 17, wherein the insulation at least
partially resides within the other cavity when the drop seal is in
the retracted position.
19. The acoustic panel of claim 17, wherein the insulation at least
partially resides within the other cavity when the drop seal is in
the extended position.
20. The acoustic panel of claim 17, wherein the insulation at least
partially resides (i) within the other cavity when the drop seal is
in the retracted position and (ii) within the other cavity when the
drop seal is in the extended position.
21. The acoustic panel of claim 20, wherein (i) the drop seal
includes a third drop seal surface of the drop seal, wherein the
third drop seal surface is between the two drop seal surfaces, and
(ii) when the drop seal is repositioned from the extended position
to the retracted position the third drop seal surface pushes the
insulation within the other cavity towards the body portion.
22. The acoustic panel of claim 21, wherein when (a) the drop seal
is in the extended position and (b) the sound wave flows from the
first side of the acoustic panel towards the second side of the
acoustic panel between the drop seal and the body portion, in order
to have successfully reached the second side of the acoustic panel
the mitigated sound wave portion of the sound wave must have
traveled between all of the following in this order: (i) between a
first of the two outer cavity surfaces and the drop seal, (ii)
between the drop seal and a first of the two other cavity surfaces,
(iii) the insulation, (iv) between the drop seal and a second of
the two other cavity surfaces, and (v) between a second of the two
outer cavity surfaces and the drop seal.
23. The acoustic panel of claim 17, wherein when (a) the drop seal
is in the extended position and (b) the sound wave flows from the
first side of the acoustic panel towards the second side of the
acoustic panel between the drop seal and the body portion, in order
to have successfully reached the second side of the acoustic panel
the mitigated sound wave portion of the sound wave must have
traveled between all of the following in this order: (i) between a
first of the two outer cavity surfaces and the drop seal, (ii)
between the drop seal and a first of the two other cavity surfaces,
(iii) the insulation, (iv) between the drop seal and a second of
the two other cavity surfaces, and (v) between a second of the two
outer cavity surfaces and the drop seal.
24. The acoustic panel of claim 23, wherein when the drop seal is
in the extended position the insulation does not reside within the
non-overlapped portion of the second area.
25. The acoustic panel of claim 23, wherein there is an additional
overlapped area, which (i) is an additional portion of the second
area that is overlapped with--i.e., essentially the same as--an
additional portion of the first area but (ii) is not overlapped
with--i.e., not essentially the same as--the third area.
26. The acoustic panel of claim 23, wherein a first other cavity
member and a second other cavity member are connected to an upper
surface of the outer cavity--wherein the first of the two other
cavity surfaces is associated with the first other cavity member,
and wherein the second of the two other cavity surfaces is
associated with the second other cavity member.
27. The acoustic panel of claim 2, wherein (i) the drop seal has a
shape of a semi-enclosed cavity, (ii) an aperture of the
semi-enclosed cavity at least substantially faces the body portion
when (a) the drop seal is in the retracted position and (b) the
drop seal is in extended position, (iii) one of the two surfaces of
the drop seal is associated with a first section of the
semi-enclosed cavity, (iv) a second of the two surfaces of the drop
seal is associated with a second section of the semi-enclosed
cavity, (v) a third section of the semi-enclosed cavity is between
the two sections of the semi-enclosed cavity, (vi) a gasket is
associated with the third section of the drop seal, and (vii) the
gasket is sandwiched between the third section of the drop seal and
the floor when the drop seal is in the extended position.
28. The acoustic panel of claim 6, wherein when the drop seal is in
the extended position the insulation does not reside within the
non-overlapped portion of the second area.
29. The acoustic panel of claim 5, wherein when the drop seal is in
the extended position the insulation does not reside within the
non-overlapped portion of the first area.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Divisional application of
patent application Ser. No. 13/684,151, filed Nov. 21, 2012 on
behalf of the present inventor, which claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/673,325, filed Jul. 19, 2012
on behalf of the present inventor. All of the foregoing
applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] One or more embodiments of the invention(s) described herein
relate to the field of acoustics and, more specifically,
architectural acoustics. Even more particularly, one or more
embodiments of the invention(s) involve an acoustic panel, while
others involve a partition of a plurality of acoustic panels. While
the embodiments described herein typically relate to movable
acoustic panels and partitions, i.e., panels and partitions that
are movable as part of a movable panel system and/or a movable
partition system, a number of the aspects/components of these that
are discussed herein also are applicable to non-movable acoustic
panels and partitions. Accordingly, various panels, components of
panels, partitions, systems, and/or methods that increase acoustic
insulation by mitigating sound (e.g., before it enters an area
and/or a room) are discussed herein, among others.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are few things more frustrating than being disturbed
by unwanted sound, more commonly referred to as noise. For
instance, employees gathered in a room/area to conduct a meeting
generally do not want to hear conversations, music, etc., from an
adjacent room/area--which is true regardless of whether the two
rooms/areas are separated by a wall or a partition of panels. With
respect to the latter, it is therefore desirable that the
partition, and/or each panel of the partition, mitigate sound from
the adjacent area/room as much as possible before it enters the
partitioned room/area (as noise).
[0004] As is commonly known, air and vibration are two of the main
ways that sound is typically transmitted from one side of a
partition (i.e., from a first area/room) to the other (i.e., to a
second area/room). In terms of air, there are three locations that
are particularly important to seal as best as possible: the
interfaces respectively between each of the partition's panels, the
interface between each panel (and/or the partition as a whole) and
the ceiling (and/or an interface associated with the ceiling, such
as those that interface with wheels connected to one or more
panels), and the interface between each panel (and/or the partition
as a whole) and the floor. In fact, prior art partitions typically
include some methods/components for limiting air flow in one or
more of these areas; however, they are not very effective.
[0005] For example, because a panel-floor gap is necessary to
prevent ceiling-hung panels from dragging on the floor when they
are being repositioned, some prior art panels include a drop seal
to mitigate the flow of air between the panel and floor (i.e., the
panel-floor interface) once the panel has been repositioned. The
problem is that as the prior art drop seal 420 (e.g., depicted in
FIG. 12 interfacing with a prior art panel 410) is extended to the
floor, a passageway/channel 414 is simultaneously opened--which
enables air, and thus sound, to pass relatively freely between the
panel body 405 and the drop seal 420. In essence, prior art drop
seals tend to create a new problem (i.e., creating or enlarging a
gap/channel between the drop seal and the panel body) by attempting
to solve the original one (i.e., minimizing the gap between the
panel and the floor). It is also important to bear in mind that
whatever amount of air/sound that is flowing between the drop seal
and the panel body, i.e., with respect to a drop seal that is
adjacent to the floor, that amount is effectively doubled by the
addition of a drop seal adjacent to the ceiling, which is quite
common.
[0006] On the other hand, one of the reasons that vibration can be
so problematic is that panel frames are typically constructed out
of materials that transmit it well, such as sheet steel or
aluminum. Accordingly, when sound from one area/room encounters one
side/face of the panel/partition, it produces a vibration, which is
transmitted through the (e.g., sheet steel or aluminum) frame of
the panel/partition to the other side/face of the panel/partition
to another area/room.
[0007] Finally, an additional way in which sound/noise is often
transmitted from one side of a panel to the other is through the
panel's non-interface/body region. Despite the fact that exteriors
and interiors (i.e., non-frame portions) of acoustic panels are
often comprised of various sound insulating materials--such as
drywall, laminates, wood agglomerates, polyurethane, polystyrene,
glass, mineral fibers, acoustic blankets, or a mixture of two or
more of these, among other materials known to those skilled in the
art--many prior art panels still typically do not
sufficiently/significantly mitigate sound of certain frequencies,
such as low octave bands in the audible spectrum (e.g., 125 Hz, 63
Hz and 31.5 Hz), from substantially passing from one side of the
panel and/or partition to the other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the invention to solve one or more of the
above-mentioned problems/issues. Accordingly, among others, the
invention(s) disclosed herein relate to various panels, components
of panels, partitions, systems, and/or methods that increase
acoustic insulation by mitigating sound. While many of the
embodiments disclosed relate to movable panels/partitions, some
aspects of the invention(s) disclosed need not be limited to
movable embodiments.
[0009] For example, various gaskets are disclosed that mitigate the
flow of air/sound through two panels in a partition. Also, a drop
seal design is disclosed that minimizes air/sound that may
otherwise flow (e.g., via prior art drop seals) from one side of a
panel/partition to the other. Various damping components are also
discussed that mitigate vibration through a panel/partition. A
membrane is also disclosed that also absorbs sound. Perforated
members of panels are also discussed, which allow sound to flow out
of a passage between two panels, where at least some of the sound
is absorbed by insulation after it flows out of the passage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the
acoustic panel, where each of the two drop seals is depicted in an
extended position and where each of the first (i.e., male) and
second (i.e., female) ends includes a perforated section;
[0011] FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the
acoustic panel, which is identical to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 1A, except that neither the first/male nor second/female ends
includes a perforated section;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the
acoustic panel depicted in FIG. 1A;
[0013] FIG. 3A is a side view of the embodiment the acoustic panel
depicted in FIG. 1A, where the panel is depicted with each of its
two drop seals in an extended position;
[0014] FIG. 3B is a side view of an embodiment of a partition that
includes two of the acoustic panels depicted in FIG. 3A, where the
first/male end of the first panel (on the left side of the figure)
is adjacent to the second/female end of the second panel (on the
right side of the figure), and where both panels are depicted with
each of their two drop seals in an extended position;
[0015] FIG. 3C is a side view of an embodiment of a partition that
includes two of the (non-perforated) acoustic panels depicted in
FIG. 1B, where the first/male end of the first panel (on the left
side of the figure) is adjacent to the second/female end of the
second panel (on the right side of the figure), and where both
panels are depicted with each of their two drop seals in an
extended position;
[0016] FIG. 3D is a side view of an embodiment of the panel
depicted in FIG. 1A, where the panel is depicted with each of its
two drop seals in a retracted position;
[0017] FIG. 4A is a front view of the embodiment of the acoustic
panel depicted in FIG. 1A, which depicts the partially perforated
first/male end;
[0018] FIG. 4B is a front view of an embodiment of the acoustic
panel depicted in FIG. 1B, which depicts the non-perforated
first/male end;
[0019] FIG. 5A is a back view of an embodiment of the acoustic
panel of FIG. 1A, which depicts the partially perforated
second/female end;
[0020] FIG. 5B is a back view of an embodiment of the acoustic
panel of FIG. 1A, which depicts the partially non-perforated
second/female end;
[0021] FIG. 6A is a top view of the embodiment the acoustic panel
shown in FIG. 1A;
[0022] FIG. 6B is the top view of the embodiment the acoustic panel
shown in FIG. 6A but with the gasket of the upper drop seal removed
to better show various portions of the panel that are covered, or
partially covered, by the gasket of the upper drop seal in FIG.
6A;
[0023] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along 7-7' of FIG.
3A, which among other things shows an embodiment of the male end of
the panel and the damping system of FIG. 1A;
[0024] FIGS. 7B and 7C show cross-sectional views similar to that
of FIG. 7A and FIG. 8, but instead depict portions of an
alternative embodiment of the acoustic panel, where the alternative
acoustic panel is similar to the acoustic panel shown in FIG. 1B
but includes the damping systems shown in FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C
rather than the damping system of FIG. 7A;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along 8-8' of FIG. 3A,
which, among other things, shows an embodiment of the female end of
the panel;
[0026] FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view along 9A-9A' of FIG. 3B,
which, among other things, shows the relationship of the two panels
in the region of the lower gasket window;
[0027] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view along 9B-9B' of FIG. 3B,
which, among other things, shows the relationship of the two panels
in the region of their respective lower drop seals;
[0028] FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view along 9C-9C' of FIG. 3B,
which, among other things, shows the relationship of the two panels
in the region between the upper gasket window and the lower gasket
window;
[0029] FIG. 9D is a cross-sectional view along 9D-9D' of FIG. 3C,
which, among other things, shows the relationship of the two
(non-perforated) panels in the region between the upper gasket
window and the lower gasket window;
[0030] FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view taken along axis 10A-10A'
of FIG. 3D, which depicts the drop seal in its retracted
position;
[0031] FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along axis 10B-10B'
of FIG. 3A, which, among things, depicts the drop seal in an
extended position against the floor and also depicts the mitigation
of sound from one side of the panel/drop seal to the other;
[0032] FIG. 11 is perspective view of the upper and lower drop
seals;
[0033] FIG. 12 is a front view of a prior art drop seal of a prior
art acoustic panel;
[0034] FIGS. 13A and 13B are views of a mechanism used in some
panel embodiments and in some partition embodiments, which serves
to extend and retract the drop seal(s);
[0035] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a wall
interface with which the first/male end of the panel
interfaces;
[0036] FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view taken along axis 15A-15A'
of FIG. 3D, which, among other things, depicts how the membrane is
attached to the frame in some embodiments; and,
[0037] FIG. 15B is perspective view of the frame and the membrane
of the each of the panels depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] FIGS. 1A and 2 depict an embodiment of an acoustic panel 10
that includes a body portion 5 as well as an upper drop seal 20U
and a lower drop seal 20L, which are each extendable and
retractable with respect to the body portion 5. As is further
evident from FIGS. 1A and 2, each of the two drop seals 20U, 20L
are shown in their respective extended positions 40E, 40F (and
their retracted positions 40R, 40S are shown in other figures). As
will be discussed later, the design of each of the drop seals 20U,
20L is not only different from prior art drop seals but achieves
various advantages relative to them. (Other panel embodiments only
include one drop seal, i.e., the upper drop seal 20U or the lower
drop seal 20L, but not both.)
[0039] In some but not all embodiments, the acoustic panel 10 hangs
relative to a ceiling, or other comparable surface, and is moveable
(relative to the ceiling or other surface) via one or more
panel-ceiling connectors 101, such as the two shown in FIG. 2.
(Though two are shown in FIG. 2, in other embodiments, there is
only one panel-ceiling connector 101.) As can be seen, the
panel-ceiling connector 101 includes a member 101M and one or more
wheels 101R--which interface(s) with a panel-ceiling connector
interface 103, such the one shown in FIG. 2 that includes a
wheel-receiving surface 103S. Those skilled in the art will further
readily recognize that various alternative panel-ceiling/surface
connectors and panel-ceiling connector interfaces are possible in
alternative embodiments; thus, neither the member 101M and the (one
or more) wheels 101R, nor the surface 103S, are meant to be
limiting in any way in this regard.
[0040] Before going into more detail, it should be noted that FIGS.
1A and 2 depict identical panels 10. More specifically, the only
difference between these two figures (aside from the fact that one
depicts a front perspective view and the other depicts a rear
perspective view) is that FIG. 2 also depicts a movable panel
system 77 (which is discussed below). In other words, FIG. 2
essentially depicts the panel-ceiling connector 101 interfaced
with/attached to the panel 10 via a panel-connector interface 102,
wherein the panel-connector interface 102 in the FIG. 2 embodiment
is a cavity 102C. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
various types of alternative panel-connector interfaces and/or
guiding cavities are possible in various alternative embodiments of
the invention. This same group will also appreciate that while the
panel-connector interface/guiding cavity 102/102C is often included
in the manufacturing process, it can be added later (e.g., prior to
and/or during installation of the panel) and, thus, there are
alternative embodiments of the panel without the panel-connector
interface 102 (e.g., the guiding cavity 102C).
[0041] Accordingly, the movable acoustic panel system 77 includes
(a) at least one panel 10 (or 10D for the non-perforated panel
system 77D depicted in FIG. 3C), (b) the panel-ceiling connector
101, and (c) the panel-ceiling (or surface) connector interface 103
for the panel-ceiling connector 101. It thus should be understood
that the panel-ceiling connector 101 and the panel-ceiling/surface
connector interface 103 are implied in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D
(where any of these are not explicitly shown) since all four of
these figures depict one or more panels hung from the ceiling (or
other appropriate surface) as part of the movable acoustic panel
system 77. In embodiments that satisfy (a), (b) and (c), the system
is sometimes referred to herein as a movable acoustic partition
system 77P when two of the panels are included and have been
positioned as a partition, which is defined below (e.g., FIGS. 3B
and 3C show both the movable acoustic panel system 77 and the
movable acoustic partition system 77P). With respect to the movable
acoustic partition system 77P, the two or more panels in the
partition are two of the (perforated) panels 10, two of the
(non-perforated) panels 10D (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 1B), or one
of each.
[0042] Having made that clear, it should be noted that an
alternative panel is identical to the panel 10 (or the
non-perforated version of panel 10, namely panel 10D) but includes
the panel-ceiling connector 101. Similarly, an alternative movable
acoustic panel system includes (a) the alternative panel just
described (i.e., that is identical to the panel 10 (or 10D) but
includes the panel-ceiling connector 101) and (b) the panel-ceiling
connector interface 103. And, an alternative movable acoustic
partition system is identical to the movable acoustic panel system
just described, but includes at least two panels position as a
partition.
[0043] Returning to the drop seals 20U, 20L, the upper drop seal
20U is extendable and extends to the extended position 40E, which
in some embodiments is any distance away from the retracted
position that does not exceed the length of the drop seal members
555, 557 (which are discussed below with reference to the lower
drop seal 20L but are essentially identical with respect to the
upper drop seal 20U). In some but not all embodiments, the upper
drop seal is designed with respect to the dimensions of the panel
body 5 so that it can extend up to (and touch) a ceiling 103C for
which it is intended or up to a surface 103T associated with the
panel-ceiling connector interface 103, depending on how the
panel-ceiling connector interface 103 is connected to the ceiling
(as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art). In any
event, it will be readily understood that the distance between the
upper surface 21U of the upper drop seal 20U and the
surface/ceiling will decrease when it moved to its extended
position 40E from its retracted position 40S (not shown in FIGS. 1A
and 2 but shown in other figures). Similarly, the lower drop seal
20L is extendable (and extends) to touch/interface with a second
surface, such as a floor 103F (not shown in FIG. 1A or 2, but shown
in other figures).
[0044] As further seen from FIGS. 1A and 2, a first end 60M (that
is often referred to as the male end) of the panel 10 includes a
first member 63M (that is often referred to as the male member),
which has a male shape in this embodiment, though it has other
shapes in alternative embodiments. Similarly, a second end 60F
(that is often referred to as the female end) of the panel 10
includes a second member 63F (that is often referred to as the
female member), which has a female shape (which perhaps can be
better appreciated in other figures discussed herein) in this
embodiment, though it has other shapes in alternative embodiments.
Generally speaking, the respective male and female shapes of the
male and female members 63M, 63F facilitate the formation of an
interface 199 (or 199D with respect to an interface of two
perforated panels 10D) between the male end 60M of a first panel
10A and the female end 63F of a second panel 10B (as depicted in
FIG. 3B, where each of the two panels 10A, 10B is identical to the
panel 10 depicted in FIGS. 1A and 2). As mentioned above, in other
embodiments, the members 63M, 63F and/or first and second ends 60M,
60F will take on other shapes. And, as those skilled in the art
will appreciate, innumerable alternative shapes are possible. As
one example, a first end and/or member can have both a male/tongue
and a female/groove shape, and the second end and/or member can
have a female/groove shape and male/tongue shape, which
more-or-less would match up/able to mate with the shape of the
first end and/or member.
[0045] In this regard, it should be emphasized that the shape of
the member (e.g. male 63M or female 63F) is distinguishable from
the same as the shape of the end (e.g., 60M, 60F) of which the
member is included. For instance, in some but not all embodiments,
the first/male end 60M includes the first/male member 63M, the male
damping element 90M, the male outer gasket 85G (which, as explained
below, in some but not all embodiments also functions as the male
outer damping element portion 85O; and, thus it is the exact same
component in some embodiments) and the male inner damping element
portion 85I. In turn, in some but not all embodiments, the female
end 60F includes the female member 63F, female damping element 90F,
the female outer gasket 87G (which, as explained below, in some
embodiments can also function as the female outer damping element
portion 87O; and, thus it is the exact same component in some
embodiments), the female inner damping element portion 87I, the
upper and lower gaskets 200U, 200L, the inner gasket 116A (which
includes two tubes 116B, 166C), and two connecting elements 127C,
127D. Also, an upper window 300U for the upper gasket 200U and a
lower window 300L for the lower gasket 200L are also depicted in
FIG. 2 relative to the second/female end 60F.
[0046] Also, though this will be discussed in more detail below, in
this document the word `partition` is meant to refer to at least
two panels--such as, for (a non-limiting) example, two panels like
the acoustic panel 10 (or 10D)--that have formed an interface. In
turn, the word `interface` is meant to describe a relationship
where at least the first end (e.g., male end) of a first panel is
touching the second end (e.g., female end) of a second panel. In
some embodiments, like the ones depicted in FIGS. 3B and 3C,
`interface` also implies that some amount of force is (or was)
associated with respect to the touching ends of the two panels,
though some other embodiments do not require the touching to
further include such force. In some embodiments, the force required
to move/position the panels together to form a partition is a human
force, a mechanical force, an electromechanical force, a magnetic
force, or combination of these forces, or any other force known to
those skilled in the art. It is thus important to point out that
while the male end 60M of a first panel and the female end 60F of a
second panel touch in the formation of an interface, this does not
necessarily mean that the male and female members 63M, 63F touch in
the formation of the interface. Further, in some of these
embodiments, like the partitions 169, 169D depicted in FIG. 3B and
FIG. 3C respectively, one or more components (e.g., which are
listed above) associated with at least one of the two interfaced
ends (e.g., end 60M of the first panel 10A and end 60F of the
second panel 10B) is/are at least partially compressed. While the
respective interfaced male and female members 63M, 63F of the two
panels do not touch in the FIG. 3B partition (or the FIG. 3C
partition), members 63M, 63F do at least partially touch in some
alternative embodiments--e.g., in some alternative embodiments that
do not include the damping elements 90F, 90M.
[0047] Moreover, in various portions of this document, the word
`passage` will be used to refer to the space, with respect to a
partition 169 depicted in FIG. 3B, between the male member 63M of
the first interfaced panel 10A (or panel 10E, with respect to the
non-perforated partition 169D, where panel 10E is identical to the
panel 10D depicted in FIG. 1B) and female member 63F of the second
interfaced panel 10B (or panel 10F, with respect to the
non-perforated partition 169D, where panel 10F is identical to the
panel 10D depicted in FIG. 1B). Similarly, the space between
interfaced/mated and extended upper drop seals will be referred to
as an `upper passage`, and the space between interfaced/mated and
extended lower drop seals will be referred to as a `lower passage.`
As will become clearer below, one of the objectives of some aspects
of the invention(s) described herein is to seal, or at least
partially block, at least one of: the passage 99, the upper passage
99U, and the lower passage 99L. In other embodiments, two of these
are accomplished; and in yet additional embodiments, such as those
depicted in each of FIGS. 3B and 3C, all three are
accomplished.
[0048] Returning again to the panel 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, the
frame 25 (e.g., as is also depicted in FIG. 15B) of the panel is
made of metal, though those skilled in the art will readily
understand that other materials sufficient to provide necessary
structural integrity also could be used. Also, while the drop seals
20U, 20L (e.g., as depicted in FIGS. 10A and 10B) and the male and
female members 63M, 63F are also made of metal, other materials are
used in alternative embodiments. In other embodiments, one or both
of the members 63M, 63F are considered part of the frame. In yet
additional embodiments, one or both of the drop seals 20L, 20U are
considered part of the frame.
[0049] In the panel 10 embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1A and 2, the
male and female members 63M, 63F also each include a respective
perforated portion 80M, 80F. As will be discussed later, each of
the perforated portions 80M, 80F serve to mitigate sound (traveling
by air) that enters the passage 99 (which is defined above and
indicated with respect to various figures below) between the two
panels 10A, 10B (which are each essentially identical to the panel
10) in the partition 169 (as shown in FIG. 3B). However, this is
not the case in other embodiments. For instance, the panel 10D
depicted in FIG. 1B is identical to FIG. 1A, except that the male
member 163M and female member 163F do not include the perforated
portion 80M, 80F. (Thus, the rear view of the panel 10D will look
exactly like the panel 10 depicted in FIG. 2, except that the
female member of panel 10D is not perforated, but otherwise has the
same general shape of the female member of FIG. 1A). Moreover, in
other embodiments, only one of the male and female elements 80M,
80F includes such a perforated section.
[0050] With respect to FIG. 1A, an outer (or first) portion 85O of
a damping element 90M (which also includes inner portion 87I) is
visible with respect to the male end 60M (though these perhaps can
be seen more clearly in other figures). Similarly, FIG. 2 depicts
an outer (or first) portion 87O of a second damping element 90F
(which also includes inner portion 87I) that is visible with
respect to the female end 60F. Each of these will be discussed
further later. As also will be explained later, the respective
outer portions 85O, 87O of the damping elements 90M, 90F also each
respectively function as outer gaskets 85G, 87G by at least
partially sealing/blocking the passage 99 between interfaced panels
(e.g., 10A and 10B of FIG. 3B). To be clear, reference numbers 85O
and 85G are used to refer to the very same component because it
functions both as a damping element (with respect to
sound/vibration) and also functions as a gasket (with respect the
flow of sound/air); though, it serves just one of these functions
in alternative embodiments. The same is true with respect to the
use of reference numbers 87O and 87G, i.e., to refer to the
respective damping and sealing functions of the (counterpart)
component on the female end 60F. In alternative embodiments, each
of the outer gaskets 85G and 87G is one part (not two distinct
parts). In yet additional embodiments, only the male element has an
outer gasket; and, in further embodiments, only the female element
has an outer gasket.
[0051] As can be seen from various figures included herein (e.g.,
FIG. 9C), it will be apparent that each of the outer damping
portions (which are also referred to as elements herein) and the
outer gaskets (85O, 87O and 85G, 87G respectively) include two
distinct parts (which are a first male outer damping element part
85A and a second male outer damping element part 85B with respect
to the male outer damping element 85O; a first female outer damping
element part 87A and a second female outer damping element part 87B
with respect to female outer damping element 87O; a first male
outer gasket part 85X and a second male outer gasket part 85Y with
respect to the male outer gasket 85G; and, a first female outer
gasket part 87X and a second female outer gasket part 87Y with
respect to the female outer gasket 87G) that are each respectively
located on more-or-less opposite sides of the male and female
members 63M, 63F. Moreover, the male and female damping elements
90M, 90F also respectively include a male inner damping (or
`sandwiched`) portion 85I (which is also referred to as inner
damping element herein) and female inner damping (or `sandwiched`)
portion 87I (which is also referred to as inner damping element
herein). As was the case for the outer damping elements 85O, 87O,
each of the inner damping elements 85I, 87I includes two parts: a
first male inner damping element part 85C and a second male inner
damping element part 85D with respect to 85I; and, a first female
inner damping element part 87C and a second female inner damping
element part 87D with respect to 87I). As will be explained further
later, each of the four outer/inner portion pairs of parts that
make up the male and female damping elements 90M, 90F cooperate to
mitigate vibration of the sandwiched frame component--e.g., the
male and female elements 63M, 63F respectively. While an eight-part
embodiment is described herein, it should be noted that other
embodiments only include the male or the female (not both) damping
elements, additional embodiments only include a male and female
damping element at one (i.e., same) end of the passage 99, even
further embodiments include one single male damping element, and
yet additional embodiments include one single female damping
element (where damping element is assumed to have an inner and
outer portion that sandwiches the damped component, as explained
herein).
[0052] As will become apparent in discussions below, outer gaskets
85G and 87G are quite similar, except that the gasket 85G is on the
male end 60M and the female gasket 87G is on the female end 60F and
connected to another (i.e., a different type of gasket compared to
outer gaskets 85G and 87G) gasket 116A--which are a pair of tubes
116B, 116C, as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 2--via connecting elements
127C, 127D. In many parts of this document the other gasket 116A is
referred to as the `inner` gasket since in some, but not all,
embodiments it is positioned between what are commonly referred to
herein as the `outer` gaskets 85G, 87G when a partition of two
panels is formed. However, in other embodiments, there is only an
inner gasket 116A and no outer gaskets 85G, 87G; and in some
additional embodiments, there are only outer gaskets 85G, 87G and
no inner gasket 116A.
[0053] In addition, in some embodiments, the connecting members
127C, 127D--which each respectively connects a portion (i.e., tubes
116B and 116C respectively) of the inner gasket 116A to a portion
of the outer gasket (i.e., 87X and 87Y respectively)--serves as a
connecting (i.e., a third type of) gasket 127G, 127H. Again, as
above with respect to the outer gaskets and outer damping elements,
each of these two components is also here being referred to with
two reference numbers. That is, the first connecting member 127C is
also being referred to as the first connecting gasket 127G since it
not only connects the first female outer gasket 87X and first inner
gasket 116B but, at least in some embodiments (like as shown in
FIGS. 9A and 9C, e.g.) serves as an additional gasket (as explained
below). Similarly, the second connecting member 127D is also being
referred to as the second connecting gasket 127H since it not only
connects the second female outer gasket 87Y and second inner gasket
116C but, at least in some embodiments (like as shown in FIGS. 9A
and 9C, e.g.) serves as an additional gasket (as explained below).
In terms of the two connecting members 127C, 127D functioning as
the connecting gaskets 127G, 127H, this occurs in some (but not
all) embodiments, at least partially due to the fact that the
connecting members 127C, 127D are angled between the male and
female members 63M, 63F of two panels (e.g., 10A, 10B) that have
formed the partition 169 (e.g., of FIG. 3B) such that they at least
partially block air/sound from flowing through a first end 99A of
the passage 99 to a second end 99B of the passage 99--as well as
vice versa in some embodiments--and thereby serve as the first and
second connecting gaskets 127G, 127H (as well as the connecting
members 127C, 127D). In other words, if the connecting members
127C, 127D were not angled here, they would not additionally serve
as connecting gaskets 127G, 127H; rather, they would just serve as
the connecting members 127C, 127D. However, other shapes for the
connecting members 127C, 127D are used in alternative embodiments
that do not require them to be angled with respect to male and
female members 63M, 63F. In alternative embodiments, only one of
the two connecting members 127C, 127D also functions as a
connecting gasket; and, other embodiments only include one of the
two connecting members 127C, 127D.
[0054] Further, (a fourth type of gasket referred to as) an upper
gasket 200U and a lower gasket 200L are also shown in FIG. 2. As
will be discussed in relation to various other figures below, the
upper and lower gaskets 200U, 200L serve to limit the flow of
air/sound between two partitioned panels (e.g., panels 10A and 10B;
and, 10E and 10F, though only 10A and 10B are discussed below). As
discussed further later, this is accomplished by at least one of
the following: (1) limiting the flow of air between the male
element 63M of the first panel 10A and the female element 63F of
the second panel 10B, (2) limiting the flow of air between the male
end 60M of the first panel's 10A lower drop seal 20L and female end
60F of the second panel's 10B lower drop seal 20L--which is also
herein referred to as the lower passage 99L (or lower `portion` of
the passage 99)--and (3) limiting the flow of air between the male
end 60M of the first panel's 10A upper drop seal 20U and female end
60F of the second panel's 10B upper drop seal 20U--which will also
be referred to herein as the upper passage 99U (or upper `portion`
of the passage 99). In some embodiments, at least two of these
occur; and, in other embodiments, all three occur, as is depicted
in the embodiment of FIG. 9B and FIG. 9C, for example.
[0055] Additional gaskets (which reflect a fifth type of gasket)
include an upper drop seal gasket 23U, which is positioned on top
the upper drop seal 20U, and a lower drop seal gasket 23L which is
positioned on the bottom of the lower drop seal 20L. As shown with
respect to FIG. 10B below, the lower drop seal gasket 23L helps
limit the flow of air between the bottom 20B of the lower drop seal
20L and floor, or other surface against which the lower drop seal
20L is positioned. Likewise, the upper drop seal 20U helps limit
the flow of air between the top 20T of the upper drop seal 20U and
the ceiling, or other surface against which the upper drop seal 20U
is positioned and/or the panel-ceiling connector interface 103.
[0056] FIGS. 1A and 2 also show a first side 110A of the panel 10,
which includes a first outer layer 130A, and second side 110B of
the panel 10, which includes a second outer layer 130B. In this
embodiment, both outer layers 130A, 130B are made of drywall and
are secured to the frame 25 of the panel 10, as is commonly
understood by those skilled in the art. Likewise, other materials
such as laminate, agglomerate, or any other material commonly
employed in panels and/or walls could be used instead of drywall,
as will also be commonly understood.
[0057] The panel 10 further includes an inner layer 115 of
sound-absorbing insulation in some, but not all, embodiments. In
some of these embodiments, the insulation layer 115 is at least
partially contained/kept in place by the first outer layer 130A and
the second outer layer 130B.
[0058] As also will be further discussed later, some, but not all,
embodiments also include a membrane layer 150. In some of these
embodiments, the membrane 150 is positioned within the insulation
layer 115 to help further mitigate sound, as shown in FIGS. 1A and
15A, for example; however, other embodiments do not include the
insulation layer 115 but nevertheless include the membrane 150. In
some embodiments, the membrane 150 is attached to the frame 25 of
the body portion 5 of the panel 10, for example as shown in FIG.
15A. As can be seen there, in some embodiments the membrane 150 is
attached to a portion 25P of the frame 25 by at least one
clamp/fastener 25F such that it hangs downwards from there and is
unencumbered with respect to both of its sides, as well as its
bottom end--as is depicted in FIG. 15B, where a plurality of the
clamps/fasteners 25F are employed. In fact, the membrane's 150
ability to move somewhat freely (only `somewhat freely` because the
insulation also restricts is movement somewhat, at least in
embodiments that include insulation) in at least one direction, or
a plurality of directions as depicted in FIGS. 15A and 15B, helps
it absorb sound vibrations. In other embodiments, the membrane 150
is positioned within the insulation (i.e., at least partially
surrounded) but is not attached to the panel. In yet additional
embodiments, the membrane is positioned to one side of the
insulation (e.g., next to the insulation).
[0059] Getting back to FIG. 15A, the membrane is essentially
clamped to the frame by fastener 25F, though many other
ways/components can be employed to secure the membrane. In some but
not all embodiments, a first and second membrane damping element
150X, 150Y are positioned between the clamp/fastener 25F and the
frame portion 25P to mitigate the effect of the membrane's
vibration/movement with respect to the frame 25. It is noteworthy
to point out that the size/shape of the second damping element 150Y
helps the membrane fall in the chosen location, which here is
essentially in the center of the insulation. Moreover, while a
plurality of fasteners are depicted in FIG. 15B, in other
embodiments, one fastener/clamp will be sufficient if it is large
enough. Likewise, other embodiments do not include the two damping
elements depicted in FIG. 15A; rather, the clamp 25F fastens the
membrane to the frame 25 without the damping elements; in other
embodiments only one of the damping elements is sandwiched by the
fastener 25F.
[0060] Before moving on, it may be worth explaining here at least
partially how the membrane 150 effectively mitigates sound. As is
commonly known, two of the factors that determine a material's
insulation ability/performance are weight per unit of area (e.g.,
surface weight as measured in pounds per square foot) and
stiffness. In terms of the latter factor, it is commonly known that
stiffer materials typically have relatively poor insulation
performance with respect to lower frequencies of sound (since stiff
materials tend to have natural resonant frequencies that are in the
low frequency audible range, which easily allow the transmission of
these frequencies) and tend to respond to bending waves in a way
that negatively affects their insulation performance (e.g., via the
coincidence effect, where the material is excited by impinging
sound energy in the coincident frequency range). On the other hand,
stiffer materials tend to have better insulation performance with
respect higher sound frequencies.
[0061] With the above concepts in mind, a highly efficient acoustic
barrier is created by attaching the layer/membrane 150 to the panel
10 (or 10D). In some embodiments, the membrane 150 is attached
at/towards the top of the frame 25 so that it hangs down and is
unattached (and relatively free to move relative to the frame 25)
in all other directions relative to the panel. In other
embodiments, the membrane is completely attached to the panel
(e.g., at both sides, the top and the bottom of the frame) in an
essentially (or at least largely) air tight seal-meaning that
little, or no, air can flow between the membrane and the portions
of the panel to which it is attached (e.g., frame of the panel). In
some embodiments where the membrane 150 is largely, substantially,
or completely attached to the panel 10 or 10D, the membrane is not
pulled tight; rather, unattached portions of the membrane remain
somewhat/relatively free to move/flow. (In other embodiments, the
membrane is pulled relatively tight.) Thus, in some of these
embodiments the area (e.g., length and width) of the membrane is
slightly larger than the area (e.g., length and width) of the panel
(e.g., frame 25) to which it is attached.
[0062] In FIG. 1A, for instance, the membrane 150 is made of a
material that (a) is flexible/limp (i.e., having a relatively low
stiffness, i.e., where stiffness relates to the composition of the
material), (b) has a relatively high surface weight (e.g., from 6
kg/m.sup.2 to 9 kg/m.sup.2, though this is not meant to be limiting
in any way; in fact, others could even range from as low as 3 Kg/m2
to as high as 20 kg/m.sup.2, or more, and still be quite effective
in mitigating low frequency sound) and (c) has an overall
non-uniform density in some, but not all, embodiments. For
instance, some materials that fill these criteria include mass
loaded vinyl, non-mass loaded vinyl, polyurethane, some bituminous
reinforced materials, and other mass loaded and/or non-mass loaded
materials that will be readily identified by those skilled in the
field. Moreover, in other embodiments, the membrane is made of
material that has only one of these three characteristics; and, in
other embodiments, the membrane is made of material accomplishes
two of these three characteristics. Further still, the membrane 150
is one layer of material in some embodiments, and in other
embodiments the membrane 150 is two or more layers, wherein some of
these embodiments the two or more layers are different (e.g., made
of different material(s)).
[0063] With the above criteria in mind, the membrane 150 does
several things. First, because of its limpness/flexibility, the
membrane 150 significantly damps low frequency sound, which is
generally difficult to reduce, by transforming the acoustic energy
into heat (and, as a result, also minimizes the coincident effect
at the low frequency range, which further increases the insulation
at these frequencies). Second, because of its relatively high
surface weight, the membrane 150 improves (as reflected by the mass
law) its insulation capabilities and thus also the overall
insulation ability/transmission loss of the panel 10 and/or 10D
(compared to embodiments of the panel that do not include the
membrane 150). Third, since the membrane's 150 material has a
non-uniform density, this means that it does not have a marked
natural resonant frequency--which would otherwise allow coincident
waves to easily pass from one side/face of the membrane to the
other side/face--and thus further means that the membrane 150 is
also capable of better damping low, medium and high frequency range
sounds/energy. In other words, the membrane 150 functions as an
additional acoustical barrier (i.e., `additional` since the panel
10, without the membrane, functions as an acoustic barrier) that
converts acoustical energy that reaches it (from at least one side
of the panel 10, and both sides in some embodiments, like FIGS. 1A
and/or 1D) into kinetic energy and heat-thereby reducing the
transmitted energy and thus substantially increasing the sound
insulation of the panel 10 and/or 10D as a whole. In turn, this
drastically mitigates the coincidence dip effect(s) that would
otherwise occur--and which are typically associated with prior art
panels and partitions, particularly those that are lightweight and
movable.
[0064] In light of the above, a significant increase in
insulation/sound mitigation is achieved. While this occurs across
much of the audible spectrum generally, the membrane's 150 ability
to mitigate low frequency sound waves is particularly notable since
these tend to be more difficult to insulate/damp in the context of
a panel and/or partition. In some embodiments, the increase in low
frequency insulation attributable to the acoustic barrier is in the
5 dB to 15 dB range; though, in others the effect is between 10 db
and 15 db; and in others it is greater than 15 dB; and in yet other
embodiments, where less ideal material(s) is used, it is in the 1
dB-5 dB range. In any event, the ranges provided here, and anywhere
else in this document with respect to any other measured factor
and/or result, are not meant as limiting. More generally, while the
membrane 150 does increase insulation of non-low frequencies in
some, but not all embodiments, the increase in low frequency
insulation is not only particularly significant but notable since
one of the main weakness of many prior art movable
panels/partitions, especially lightweight ones, is their poor
insulation of low frequencies.
[0065] Accordingly, one or more aspects of the various
panels/partitions described herein are particularly effective in
common everyday modern commercial settings, such as those involving
multimedia systems--which are being used evermore frequently in the
hospitality, educational, recreational and corporate industries,
for example. In other words, where many prior art panels/partitions
tend to be designed to cope with transmission loss in the human
voice range, the various panel/partition embodiments disclosed
herein not only mitigate voice frequencies but also effectively
mitigate the (often powerful feeling to the human ear) low
frequency waves (e.g., by the inner limp membrane 150), upper high
frequency waves (e.g., by the drop seals 20L, 20U disclosed herein)
and the mid-range frequency waves (e.g., by the perforated sections
80M, 80F disclosed herein) that generally go hand-in-hand with
multimedia content. (As is commonly known, the frequency range of
the human voice is generally in the 125 Hz to 8 KHz range; and
multimedia sound may run from 20 Hz to 20 KHz, which is basically
all the audible spectrum but the way the accompanying music is
mixed, the low frequencies are often emphasized.) Moreover, one or
more of the damping elements disclosed herein tend to
mitigate/affect most, if not all, sound frequencies. Further still,
a number of the various gaskets disclosed help form an essentially
airtight seal between partitioned panels, which in some embodiments
also form a suction which, in effect, helps bond them together
(e.g., as discussed below).
[0066] Before going further, it also should be noted again that the
panel 10D shown in FIG. 1B is the exact same panel 10 depicted in
FIG. 1A, except that the male 163M and female members 163F of the
panel 10D are not perforated. Accordingly, when two of the panels
10D are interfaced to form a (non-perforated) partition 169D--which
often will be referred to as panels 10E and 10F in discussions
pertaining to the partition 169D--in FIG. 3C, the (non-perforated)
partition 169D will be exactly like the partition 169 of the two
panels 10A, 10B depicted in FIG. 3B with one exception: neither of
the elements 163M, 163F of the interface 199D of the two panels
10E, 10F are perforated.
[0067] In this light, some embodiments of the (non-perforated)
partition 169D thus behave slightly differently than the partition
169 (which is often referred to herein as the `perforated`
partition, where the partition 169D is often referred to as the
`non-perforated` partition). That is, since air is not able to flow
out of the passage 99D of the (non-perforated) partition 169D by
perforations/holes of a perforated section (since the elements
163M, 163F do not include a perforated section) there will be some
suction between the two panels 10E, 10F in the (non-perforated)
partition 169D in some, but not all, (non-perforated) partition
169D embodiments. More specifically, the suction occurs in a
suction region 350S that is at least partially defined by (1) the
upper gasket 200U and (2) lower gasket 200L, which are not depicted
in FIG. 9D. In some embodiments, the suction region 350S is also at
least partially defined by (3) the inner gasket 116A, (4) the male
member 163M and (5) the female member 163F-like as also shown in
FIG. 9D. In yet further embodiments, (6) one or more of the outer
gaskets 85G, 87G helps create and/or enhance suction in the suction
region 350S. In yet other embodiments, one or more of the outer
gaskets 85G, 87G partially defines the suction region--e.g., in
embodiments that do not include the inner gasket 116A. In other
embodiments, at least one of the six mentioned components partially
defines the suction region; in yet other embodiments, at least two
of the six mentioned components partially define the suction
region; in further embodiments, at least three of the six
components partially define the suction region; in yet further
embodiments, at least four of the six components partially define
the suction region; in some embodiments, five of the six; and in
some embodiments, all six define the suction region.
[0068] The inherent nature of the above-mentioned suction tends to
help keep the two panels together as a partition and, in many but
not all embodiments, the suction would have to be released (by
human or other force) in order to separate the two partitioned
panels 10E, 10F. In other words, when the drop seals are extended,
typically the partitioned panels 10E, 10F more-or-less stay in
place; but, the suction keeps their adjacency (especially in the
passage 99D area) close/tight, which serves to limit air from
entering the passage. While other prior art systems use expensive
and heavy magnets to keep panels together to achieve a similar
objective, the lightweight and inexpensive nature of the suction
system 350T (inherent in the suction area 350S described above) is
thus advantageous.
[0069] FIG. 3A is a side view of the embodiment of the acoustic
panel 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
3A, the height is roughly 2.40 meters, the length is roughly 1.20
meters, though these and the width will typically depend on the
design requirements. In other words, it will be commonly understood
that each of these three metrics will vary considerably based on
the design needs of each situation; thus, the numbers provided are
simply intended to be illustrative and not intended to be limiting
in any way (as will be readily understood by those skilled in the
art).
[0070] FIG. 3B is a side view of two of the panels 10 (shown in
FIG. 3A) that are interfaced as the partition 169, where the male
end 60M of the first panel 10A (on the left-hand side of FIG. 3B
that, once again, is exactly like the panel 10 depicted in FIGS. 1A
and 3A) and the female end 60F of a second panel 10B (on the
right-hand side of FIG. 3B that, once again, is exactly like the
panel 10 depicted in FIGS. 1A and 3A) are interfacing. The two
panels 10A, 10B depicted in FIG. 3B are thus not only identical but
have similar dimensions. However, in other embodiments the two
panels may have different dimensions with respect to each other;
and, in further embodiments the two panels are not identical. FIG.
3C is the same as FIG. 3B, except the two panels partitioned are
both non-perforated panels. And, FIG. 3D depicts exactly what is
depicted in 3A, except that upper drop seal 20U and lower drop seal
20L of the panel 10 are each shown in its respective retracted
position 40R, 40S.
[0071] FIGS. 4A, 5A, 6A and 6B respectively show front, rear, a
first top view, and a second top view (which is the same as the
first top view of FIG. 6A, except that the gasket of the upper drop
seal 23U is removed only for the purpose of making it easier to see
the components underneath it) of the panel 10 depicted in FIG. 1A
and FIG. 2. In turn, FIGS. 4B and 5B depict the panel 10D in FIG.
1B. (The top view of the panel 10D depicted in FIG. 1B is not
included because it will be clearly understood that the top view of
the (non-perforated) panel 10D will look exactly like FIGS. 6A and
6B, except that the male and female members 163M, 163F are not
perforated.) While most components depicted in these figures should
be pretty self-evident from the discussion of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2,
one of the components worth highlighting in FIG. 5A (which is also
seen in FIG. 5B) are the gasket windows 300U, 300L of the female
element 63F (which, along with some edges of the upper and lower
gaskets 200U, 200L, are partially depicted with dotted lines,
since, for example, from the viewing angle of these figures the
inner gasket 116A is partially blocking a direct view of them).
Specifically, the gasket windows 300U, 300L enable the upper and
lower gaskets 200U, 200L to respectively extend out from the upper
and lower drop seals 20U, 20L (to which each are respectively
attached--for example, by being bonded or riveted to the bodies of
the respective drop seals 20U, 20L) which would not be possible but
for the respective gasket windows 300U, 300L. This is because, as
can be seen in various figures, in some embodiments the drop seal
20L is at least partially inside a cavity 450O of the panel body 5
that is partially defined by the female element 63F. For roughly
similar reasons, the dimensions of each gasket window 300U, 300L
also permit the respective upper and lower gaskets 200U, 200L to
move with the respective drop seals 20U, 20L (e.g., as the drop
seals are retracted and extended).
[0072] FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view reflective of the 7-7'
line of FIG. 3A. Among other things, this figure provides an
informative view of the male end 60M of the panel 10 and the
damping element 90M--and particularly the (sandwiched) inner
portion 85I of the damping element 90M. As can be seen, the inner
portion 85I of the damping element is sandwiched between the male
member 63M and the male bracket 25M (by a fastener 25Q, such as
screw). As can further be seen, the damping element 90M is not only
positioned on two sides (i.e., front and back) of the male member
63M, but it is wrapped around an edge 64M of the male member 63M.
In other embodiments, the inner portion 85I of the damping element
90M and the outer portion 85O are distinct/unconnected components;
for example, where it is not wrapped around the edge 64M. (It
should also be noted that this cross-sectional view of the male end
is not shown with respect to the panel 10D depicted in FIG. 1B
because it would look identical to FIG. 7A--except for the
perforations 80P--and it is shown in the context of FIG. 9D. The
same holds true with respect to a cross-sectional view of the
female end of the panel 10D depicted in FIG. 1B, i.e., where the
perforated version is shown in FIG. 8, among other figures, and the
non-perforated version is seen in FIG. 9D.) Again, the function of
the damping elements is to damp vibration (e.g., related to sound
waves) in the component (e.g. male element and/or female element)
that they sandwich and, at least in some embodiments, on which they
apply pressure.
[0073] In some embodiments, the fact that there are such
adjacencies--as described above--does not necessarily mean that the
distance between the male element 63M and male bracket 25M--e.g.,
as reflected by the thickness of the (sandwiched) inner portion 85I
of the damping element 90M--is not capable being reduced, at least
temporarily, when the two panels, e.g., panels 10A, 10B in FIG. 3B
(and/or panels 10E, 10F in FIG. 3C), are forced together to form
the partition 169. That is, in some but not all embodiments, each
of the two ends 263M, 263N of the male element 63M (i.e., that are
adjacent to the inner damping element portion 85I) are movable (and
do move) slightly towards the male bracket 25M when the partition
169 is formed. In other words, the fact that the distance between
the male element 63M and the male bracket 25M is capable of being
reduced in this way--which in many such embodiments implies that
the male member is at least flexible, and in additional embodiments
it is also resilient--enables pressure/force to be placed on the
inner damping element 85I, which in turn causes the inner damping
element 85I to exert a counterforce on the male member 63M.
Accordingly, at least in some embodiments like FIG. 3B, when the
respective male and female members 63M of panel 10A and 63F of 10B
are positioned to mate with sufficient force (e.g., by moving the
two panels together), not only will the outer damping element
portion 85O be pressed (e.g., by the female damping element portion
87O in some but not all embodiments) against the male mating member
63M (causing it to bend a bit in some embodiments) but the inner
damping element portion 85I will also be--as a result--effectively
pressed against the male (mating) member 63M. Moreover, in such
embodiments, this occurs at least in part because the inner damping
element portion 85I is backed by the male bracket 25M, which serves
to prevent (or mitigate in other embodiments) the movement of the
inner portion 85I of the damping element 90M away from the male
member 63M. Moreover, essentially the same thing occurs with
respect to the female bracket 63F, the female damping element 90F,
the female bracket 25F, and the female fastener 25R (which are all
depicted in FIG. 8.)
[0074] However, in other embodiments that include the partitions in
FIGS. 3B and 3C, but not all embodiments, prior to forming the
partition the inner damping element 85I is essentially
squeezed/compressed between the bracket 25M and the male member 63M
by fastener 25Q (e.g., a screw or some other fastener that does not
have such a rough surface, such as a rod-like cylinder member, with
ends that are wider than the cylinder to fasten the rod-like
cylinder member between the member and the bracket; those skilled
in the art will appreciate that many other alternatives exist and
the fastener examples disclosed are not meant to be limiting in any
way). Thus, in such embodiments, pushing/forcing the panels
together (to form a partition) results in additional force being
placed on the inner damping element portion 85I.
[0075] It should be noted that in embodiments where the inner
damping element portion 85I is squeezed/compressed prior to the
formation of the partition, it is nevertheless important in some
but not all embodiments that the panels (such as panels 10A, 10B)
interface so that force (resulting from the female end 63F of the
second panel 10B) is applied to the outer damping element portion
85O--i.e., in order for it, in turn, to press against the male
element 63M. More generally, in most but not all embodiments, some
pressure--whether in advance of the formation of the partition, as
a result of the formation of the partition, or both of these, where
the latter is depicted in FIGS. 3B and 3C--will be applied to both
the outer damping element portion 85O and the inner damping element
portion 85I since applying sandwiched damping pressure (e.g., to
the male element 63M) is much more effective (in damping vibration)
than applying pressure from only on one side, and even more
effective than not applying pressure to either side (e.g., of the
male element 63M). Again, as mentioned above, this is also true
with respect to the female element 63F of the panel 10; further, to
be clear, this is also true with respect to the male and female
sides of the non-perforated panel 10D.
[0076] In other words, while the above discussion is not included
herein with respect to FIG. 8 it will be readily understood by
those skilled in the art that applies pretty much equally to FIG.
8. Moreover, most all that is said in this entire document with
respect to the panel 10 will apply equally to the (non-perforated)
panel 10D. And, most all that is said herein with respect to the
partition 169 will apply equally to the (non-perforated) partition
169D. That said, not all that is said herein with respect to the
(perforated) panel 10 and/or (perforated) partition 169 will apply
to the (non-perforated) panel 10D and/or partition (non-perforated)
169D. Clearly, common sense must prevail, particularly when it
comes to the capabilities of the perforations (of the perforated
sections) and the suction achievable by non-perforated
embodiments.
[0077] Also, the thickness of (each of the two parts of) the inner
damping element portions 85I, 87I is 5-10 mm and the thickness of
(each of the two parts of) the outer damping element portions 85O,
87O is 5-10 mm. However, in alternative embodiments the thickness
of the inner damping element portions 85I, 87I and thickness of the
outer damping element portions 85O, 87) could range from 0.1 mm to
50 mm or more. That said, none of these numbers are meant to be
limiting; in essence, any thickness that is sufficient to damp
vibration is possible in various alternative embodiments--as will
be commonly understood by those skilled in the art. Also, the
respective thicknesses of the inner damping element portions 85I,
87I and the thickness of the outer damping element portions 85O,
87O are relatively the same in some embodiments and different in
other embodiments, which is similarly true with respect to the
various parts that make up each of the damping element portions
85I, 87I, 85O, 87O. Moreover, in some embodiments, these have low
friction surfaces, and in further embodiments they are made of
lightweight material.
[0078] FIGS. 7B and 7C depict an alternative panel 10X, which are
just like the view of panel 10 depicted in FIG. 7A and the view
depicted in FIG. 8 except the panel 10X has another (i.e.,
different from some of the others described herein) damping element
90X and 90Y, where the former is comprised of damping elements 185I
and 185O, and where the latter is comprised of damping elements
285I and 285O and does not include damping element 90M. As can be
seen, a fastener 25X and a fastener 125X is included to keep these
respective damping elements respectively sandwiched around the male
bracket 25M and female bracket 25F. These two fasteners are each
essentially comparable to the fastener 25Q depicted in FIG. 7A,
though the length may be different due to design considerations, as
will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. In FIGS. 7B
and 7C, the fasteners are tight enough (e.g., in some but not all
embodiments as a result of their length) so that they enable the
respective damping elements to effectively apply pressure to the
male/female elements respectively and thus damp vibration in those
elements. On the male end of panel 10X, such force is, in some but
not all embodiments, supplemented when the male end is partitioned
with (e.g., female end of) a second panel. It also should be noted
that in some additional embodiments that the male damping element
90M described with respect to the panel 10 and the damping element
90X described here with respect to the panel 10X are both included
in the panel 10--which allows for both the male element 63M and the
male bracket 25M to be sandwiched by damping pressure. In
additional embodiments, the female damping element 90F described
with respect to the panel 10 and the damping element 90Y described
here with respect to the panel 10X are both included in the panel
10--which allows for both the female element 63F and the female
bracket 25F to be sandwiched by damping pressure. (It also should
be mentioned that the damping elements in FIGS. 7B and 7C are
sandwiched by pieces of material 327F, 327G, and 327H that help
keep the respective fasteners in place around the respective
damping elements vis-a-vis the respective fasteners. While they are
metal here, they could be many other materials as those skilled in
the art would appreciate. FIG. 8 shows a cross-section view along
8-8' line of FIG. 3A. Among other things, this view provides an
informative view of the female side 60F of the panel 10, as well as
the female member 63F, the inner damping element 87I, the outer
damping element 87O, the perforated portion 80F of the female
member 63F, the inner gasket 116A, and the connecting elements
127C, 127D (which also function as connecting gaskets 127G, 127H).
As was the case with respect to FIG. 7A, the female element 63F is
attached to the female bracket 25F (e.g., by a fastener 25R, such
as a screw, but many other fasteners could be used as will commonly
be understood by those skilled in the art; thus, this is not meant
to be limiting in any way) and the inner damping element (or
`portion` as it is sometimes referred to herein) 87I is sandwiched
in between them.
[0079] In addition, FIG. 8 indicates the rounded and hollow nature
of the two tubes 116B, 116C of the inner gasket 116A, as is the
case in some but not all embodiments. For instance, in some
embodiments the tube(s) are not hollow. Further still, while the
tubes of FIG. 8 are depicted as roughly circular, in other
embodiments they have more of an oval shape. In yet other
embodiments, other shapes, such as polygons, triangles, etc. are
used. Also, in some embodiments there is only one tube (e.g.,
116B), though in yet other embodiments there are more than two
tubes.
[0080] Generally speaking and without intending to limit the scope
of the inner gasket 116A or any gasket disclosed herein, rounded
shapes (like the circular shape shown in FIG. 8) tend to be
particularly able to--e.g., when compressed by the (e.g., male) end
of a second panel (e.g. 10B)--`morph` well to effectively fill in
and/or at least partially block a portion of the passage 99 between
two mated panels (of a partition). For example, because each of the
tubes 116B, 166C is hollow and compressible (and in some
embodiments flexible and/or resilient), the circular shape of each
of the two tubes relatively easily becomes more oval-like (and
flattened to some degree) when the two panels are
interfaced/partitioned (as shown in other figures included herein).
Likewise, if the surfaces of the male and/or female members 63M,
63F are not flat and/or have any deformations (e.g., pits, cracks,
dents, etc.) the round and flexible nature of the tubes (and the
material of the tubes) 116B, 166C typically helps it/them fill
these in and/or cover such in a way that prevents air from passing
through the passage 99. Moreover, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
8, at least some of the air in the uncompressed tubes is pushed
out--i.e., upwards and downwards respectively--when the tubes are
compressed in the process of mating/interfacing two panels (e.g.,
10A, 10B).
[0081] As will be discussed below, in some embodiments (as shown in
FIGS. 9A, 9C, and 9D, for example) at least two portions of an
inner surface 117S, 118S of the each of the tubes 116B, 116C
(though, in some embodiments, this occurs with respect to only one
tube) touch each other when the tubes are compressed (by the
interfacing of two panels). In additional embodiments, the entire
inner surface of at least one of the (and in some embodiments both
of the) tubes is completely touching (as shown with respect to
inner tube surfaces 117S, 118S in FIGS. 9A, 9C, and 9D, for
example); and, in some further embodiments this leads to the
formation of a suction between the inner surface portions 117I,
117J of the tube 116B and/or a suction between the inner surface
portions 118I, 118J of the tube 116C. In fact, a similar inner
surface touching and suction occurs with respect to the lower
gasket 200L and/or upper gasket 200U in some, but not all,
embodiments (as discussed below, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9D,
for example). Since the upper gasket 200U is easily seen in FIG.
6B, it merits returning to FIG. 6B to look at its uncompressed
shape--i.e., before its compressed shape(s) in FIGS. 9A-9D is
discussed further. (It should be self-evident that what is said in
this entire document about the lower gasket 200L is, at least for
the most part, true for the upper gasket 200U--and vice
versa--though, common sense should always prevail in light of all
of the figures and discussions included herein. Moreover, some
embodiments of the invention only include the lower gasket or the
upper gasket, but not both. And, some include (a) the inner gasket
116A or (b) the upper and lower gaskets, but not both.) As can be
seen in FIG. 6B, like the inner gasket 116A, the upper gasket 200U
is also hollow in some (but not all) embodiments. While it is not
exactly circular as shown here, it has an at least partially
rounded exterior surface 200E and at least partially rounded
interior surface 2001. Though other shapes, such as circles,
polygons, triangles, etc. are used in other embodiments for the
upper 200U and/or lower gasket 200L (rather than the horseshoe or
letter `D`--like shape of FIG. 6B), rounded shapes (such as the
horseshoe shape depicted in FIG. 6B) tend to be able to, when
compressed (e.g. by the male end of a second panel) change shape
relatively easily, which helps the upper gasket 200L at least
partially fill in/block the passage 99 between two mated panels (of
a partition) and/or the lower passage 99U (where the lower gasket
200L would, of course do the same with respect to the lower passage
99L instead, as shown in FIG. 9B). This idea, as well as other
aspects of the lower/upper gaskets 200L/200U, will be explained
further in the figures below. For example, because the lower gasket
is hollow and compressible, the letter `D`-like shape of the lower
gasket 200L becomes more (roughly speaking) letter `C`-shaped when
the two panels are interfaced (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B).
In some embodiments, like the one shown in FIG. 6A/6B, the lower
gasket 200L is also flexible and resilient; in other embodiments,
it is just flexible. While the thickness of the upper gasket 200U
(i.e., its outer perimeter relative to its inner perimeter) is
shown to be thicker than each of the tubes 166B, 166C (i.e., each
of their respective outer perimeters relative to each of their
respective inner perimeters) of the inner gasket 166A in FIG. 6D,
the thickness of the tubes 166B, 166C could be equal or greater
than that of the upper gasket 200U in other embodiments.
[0082] Moreover, in some but not all embodiments, when the upper
and lower gaskets 200U, 200L of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A
and/or 1B are compressed as the two panels interface, at least some
of the air inside the passage 99 is at least partially exited
through the bottom 200B of the lower gasket 200L and at least
partially at the top 200C of the upper gasket 200U. Also, in some
embodiments, when the panels 10A, 10B are interfaced, a first inner
surface 201I of the lower gasket 200L becomes adjacent to/touches a
second inner surface 2021 of the lower gasket 200L, as depicted in
FIG. 9A. In additional embodiments, the touching of the two inner
surfaces 2001, 2021 results in suction between them. Again, though
the upper gasket 200U is not shown in FIG. 9A or 9D, the same
occurs with respect to the upper gasket 200U in these embodiments;
though, it does not occur in some other embodiments.
[0083] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C represent cross-sectional views of the
pair of panels, i.e., the partition 169, depicted in FIG. 3B.
(Likewise, FIG. 9D depicts the partition 169D shown in FIG. 3C;
and, most but not all, as mentioned various times, of what is
discussed with respect to the partition 169 applies to the
non-perforated panel 169D.) Among other things, the compression of
the various components shown implies that some force has brought
the male end 63M of the first panel 10A and the female end 63F of
the second panel 10B together, such that the panels have formed an
interface (as defined above). In some cases, the force is human
force, and in other cases it is mechanical and/or electrical;
though, it could be any force, as will commonly be understood by
those skilled in the art. Further, as will also be commonly
understood, the weight of each of the panels is typically
sufficient such that once the panels are appropriately interfaced
they will not readily drift apart in most embodiments. That said,
in other embodiments, a component or device (not shown) is employed
to keep the two panels appropriately interfaced, as further will be
commonly understood by those skilled in the art.
[0084] With respect to the male end 60M of the first panel 10A, and
as discussed above, the force applied in interfacing/partitioning
the two panels results in the outer male damping element portion
85O applying force/pressure to one side of the male element 63M and
the male inner damping element portion 85I applying force/pressure
to the other side of the male element 63M, which perhaps can be
best visualized in FIG. 9C. (Moreover, as mentioned above, the fact
that the male bracket 25A essentially backs the inner damping
element 85I helps keep the inner damping element 85I in place,
which helps it effectively apply pressure to the male element 63M.
As will be self-evident from that same figure and therefore will
not be discussed in detail, the same is true with respect to the
female element 63F, relative to the outer and inner female damping
element portions 87I, 87O and the female bracket 25F. It should
also be remembered that the fasteners 25Q, 25R discussed above also
apply damping element pressure to the respective male and female
members 63M, 63F, vis-a-vis the respective damping elements, as
described above.) In any event, with regards to FIG. 9C (though the
damping elements are depicted in FIGS. 9A and 9D as well),
vibration, for example from a sound 59A on one side 99A of the
passage 99, that the male element 63M experiences will be damped by
the male damping element 90M so that an attenuated sound/vibration
59B results on the other side of the passage 99B. In other words,
by applying pressure/force to two (e.g., opposite) sides of the
male element 63M, vibration (e.g., from sound) is reduced by the
damping elements 85I, 85O, and thus sound 59A is attenuated by the
time it reaches the other side of the panel as the attenuated sound
59B. Since the same thing occurs with respect to the female side,
the attenuate sound symbol 59B is meant to depict the sound that
has been attenuated by the female damping element 90F as well;
though, in some other embodiments only the male element 63M or the
female element 63F performs such damping, not both.
[0085] More generally, it should also be underscored that the
attenuated sound symbol 59B in this FIG. 9C reflects any and all
attenuation/mitigation of sound that is accomplished in the passage
99 region--whether by mitigating air flow as a result of one or
more of the gaskets, by vibration mitigation of the damping
elements, and/or the sound attenuation through the perforated
region (which are discussed further below). In some embodiments,
only one of these occurs; in some two of these occurs; and in some
(like FIG. 3C) all three occur. Additionally, the mitigated signal
symbols shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D also reflect the damping effect of
the membrane 150, which is discussed in more detail below. In
regards to FIG. 9D, the sound source 59D is attenuated to achieve
an attenuated sound 59E just like FIG. 9C, except there is no sound
attenuation through the perforated region because FIG. 9D depicts
the non-perforated partition 169D. That said, in light of the
suction effect (described below) it is likely that there is even
less air flowing through the passage 99D of FIG. 9D. (It should be
noted that while fastening elements 25R, 25Q are not depicted in
FIG. 9D, they are implied there; i.e., since they are shown in FIG.
9C, and FIG. 9D is exactly the same except for not having the
perforations of the two panels 10 depicted in the partition 169 of
FIG. 9C.)
[0086] The above discussion should also be considered in view of
the fact that some embodiments of the panel 10 have metal frames,
e.g., cold rolled sheet or aluminum as non-limiting examples, which
are good transmitters of vibration (e.g., vibration related to
sound). Accordingly, in some embodiments the damping elements 90M,
90F are made of neoprene, rubber, or any other material(s) or
combination of materials with damping abilities/characteristics
that would enable the damping elements 90M, 90F to serve as a
vibration/energy sink. In some embodiments, each of the damping
elements 90M, 90F is capable of decreasing (and does decrease) the
amplitude of the vibration transmitted from a first side 63A, 63B
of the element to a second side 63Y, 63Z of the element by
potentially roughly 90%. That said, the amount of vibration damping
depends on the pressure applied by the damping elements against the
panel's structural frame and the material of the damping element,
among other potential factors. Accordingly, the damping mitigation
could range from 0.1% to 90% or more; though, these numbers are not
intended to be limiting.
[0087] In light of the above, it is worth emphasizing that each of
the damping elements 90M, 90F (or other damping elements mentioned
related to FIGS. 7B and 7C) function to damp vibration when it is
applying some force/pressure to the transmission component--e.g.,
the male element 63M, the female element, 63F, and the male bracket
25A (in FIGS. 7B and 7C embodiments). If the damping element (e.g.,
90M, 90F) is simply touching the transmission component (e.g., 63M,
63F) but not pressed against it (or vice versa), the damping
element will change the frequency of the vibration but not
necessarily damp (i.e., reduce) its amplitude, as is commonly
understood to those skilled in the art.
[0088] In addition to its vibration damping abilities, as mentioned
above the outer male damping element 85O also functions as the
outer gasket 85G; and, the outer female damping element 87O
likewise functions as the outer gasket 87G; though in other
embodiments they are at least partially separate or distinct
components. In this light, the formation of the interface 199
implies that the male and female gaskets 85G, 87G are positioned
adjacent to each other, which further implies that the flow of
ambient air through the passage 99 is at least partially blocked
(e.g., at both ends of the passage 99A, 99B). In other words, the
male and female gaskets 85G, 87G cooperate and function as a single
gasket 86--which in some but not all embodiments, includes a first
side 86X (which includes male gasket part 85X and female gasket
part 87X) and a second side 86Y (which includes male gasket part
85Y and female gasket part 87Y)--to limit air from entering (and/or
leaving) the passage 99 of the panels 10A, 10B. (As mentioned in
other portions of this document, some alternative embodiments only
include a male gasket 85G; likewise, in additional embodiments the
male gasket includes one part, rather than two distinct parts 85X,
85Y.)
[0089] Additionally, when the two panels 10A, 10B form the
partition 169, the inner gasket 116A is compressed. Accordingly,
each of the pair of compressed tubes 116B, 116C that longitudinally
extend along the passage 99--i.e., each of the tubes 116B, 116C
extend from slightly above the top 5T of the panel's body 5 to
slightly below the bottom 5B of the panel's body-serve as a further
obstacle to the passage of air (or anything else, like other gasses
or even liquids in some embodiments) from one side 99A of the
passage 99 to the other side 99B.
[0090] Similarly, the upper gasket 200U (which is not shown in FIG.
9) and the lower gasket 200L each compress when the interface is
formed; this accomplishes at least one of, and in some embodiments,
several things. For example, in some embodiments, at least one of
the following occurs: a portion of each of the gaskets 200U, 200L
at least partially seals the passage 99; the upper gasket 200U at
least partially seals the upper passage 99U; and, the lower gasket
200L at least partially seals the lower passage 99L--where in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 9A, all three of these occur. In fact, the
latter two seals are particularly useful since the tubes 116B, 116C
of the inner gasket 166A do not extend much above or below the
panel body 5, the outer gaskets 85G, 87G do not extend above or
below the panel body 5, and (in some but not all embodiments) each
of the respective distances (a) between the upper drop seal 20U of
the first panel 10A and the upper drop seal 20U of the second panel
10B and (b) between the lower drop seal 20L of the first panel 10A
and the lower drop seal 20L of the second panel 10B is greater that
the distance between the male member 63M of the first panel 10A and
the female member 63F of the second panel 10B. Further, while FIG.
9B depicts the shape of the lower gasket 200L in the region of the
lower drop seal 20L, it will be self-evident that the appearance of
the upper gasket 200U will be similar in the region of the upper
drop seal 20U.)
[0091] As mentioned above, FIG. 9C also depicts what happens to at
least some of the sound/acoustic energy (traveling by air) that
manages to enter the passage 99, e.g., despite the presence of the
one or more (inner 116A and/or outer 85G, 87G) gaskets in
embodiments that include such gaskets (since some embodiments of
the panel do not include any gaskets of any sort). More
specifically, via FIG. 9C one can easily envision the entered
air/sound leaving the passage 99 via (the one or more perforations
80P in each of) the perforated sections 80M, 80F (of the male and
female members 63M, 63F). In other words, each of the one or more
perforations 80P that make up the perforated sections 80M, 80F is
essentially a channel/hole by which sound can flow out of the
passage 99. In some embodiments, the air flows both out of the
passage 99 and into one or more of the panels 10A, 10B. (In some
embodiments, air can also flow from inside one or more of the
panels 10A, 10B and into the passage 99.) As shown in FIG. 9C, this
is true with respect to both panels 10A, 10B. Further, in some but
not all embodiments, (at least one of) the two interfaced panels
10A, 10B include the sound-absorbing material 115, and accordingly
the sound/acoustic energy that flows through the perforated
sections 80M, 80F thus flows into the insulation/insulated area
115, via air, and is at least partially absorbed there. Preferably,
each of the male and female members includes a respective
perforated section 80M, 80F, but in other embodiments only one of
the two members (i.e., the male or female member but not both) has
a perforated section. (To repeat, in general, but not always, the
discussions herein about air imply sound. As is generally
understood, sound can travel by air, but sound is different than
air. For example, when air/sound pass through the perforated
sections 80M, 80F most of the sound will be absorbed, though
potentially the air may flow back into the passage 99.)
[0092] While the size, shape, and number of perforations 80P can
vary, in some embodiments the perforations are roughly between 1 mm
and 8 mm in width, though they can range from 0.5 mm to 12 mm and
still be quite effective. In fact, smaller and greater widths are
possible in additional embodiments, and the dimensions provided are
not meant to be limiting in any way. Additionally, if the
percentage of the perforated sections 80M, 80F that is actually
perforated (i.e., is a perforation 80P) reflects at least 30% of
(the area of) the perforated section, a broad band absorption (with
respect to the audible spectrum) is achievable by the absorptive
material. That is, when there is roughly more than a 30% `hole to
non-hole` ratio, the area of the perforated section (e.g., 80M,
80F) is almost sound transparent, and thus the absorption,
vis-a-vis the absorption material 115 behind the holes 80P, is a
broad band one. On the other hand, when the design calls for
addressing a problematic frequency range, one can design the size
of holes to take into account various factors like the size, shape,
and number of holes 80P, the volume of insulation 115 that the
air/sound will encounter after flowing through the
holes/perforations, and/or the thickness of the perforated
material, for example, in order to tune the specific frequency
range of interest.
[0093] In other words, the size, shape, and/or number of the
perforations can be designed to meet the expected wavelength of
sound that is expected in the passage 99 and/or not being
sufficiently mitigated by other aspects of the partition; and,
those skilled in the art will know how to `tune` the perforated
section(s) to appropriately target various wavelengths.
Accordingly, with reference to FIG. 9C, a sound wave (traveling by
air) that originates on a first side 169A of the partition 169 and
manages to get past the outer gaskets 85X, 87X and the first (of
the two) tube(s) 116B is attenuated by the perforated sections 80M,
80F. The sound attenuated by the perforated sections (or section in
embodiments that only have one) then must still somehow pass by the
second tube 116C and the outer gaskets 85Y, 87Y to make it to the
second side 169B of the panel 169. (As a reminder, in some
embodiments the damping elements 90M, 90F are also simultaneously
working to mitigate the vibration of sound from the first side 169A
of the partition 169 to minimize the attenuated sound at the second
side 169B.) In other words, any residual sound 59B that `survives`
this journey (so to speak) will be significantly smaller compared
with the original sound 59A. In some embodiments, the attenuated
sound 59B is 90% less than the original waveform 59A. In other
embodiments and under various scenarios, the percentage can be even
greater or may be less; partly, it depends on the frequency being
targeted. (Moreover, what has been explained to occur from the
first side 169A of the partition 169 with respect to the second
side 169B of the partition 169 also occurs in a vice-versa manner
with respect to sound that originates on the second side 169B of
the partition; that is, it too is attenuated with similar
efficiency before arriving on the first side 169A of the partition
169.)
[0094] In order to impede the flow of air and thus sound traveling
by air (where, generally speaking, when this document speaks of air
it is generally meant to specifically imply sound traveling by air,
and sometimes will be described as `air/sound` or `sound/air`)
between the body 5 of the panel 10 and the floor (or other surface)
and between the body 5 of the panel 10 and the ceiling (or other
surface)--and thereby impede the flow of sound from the first area
111A on one side of the panel 10 to the second area 111B on the
other side of the panel--the panel 10 includes the upper and drop
seal 20U and lower drop seal 20L. While FIGS. 10A and 10B depict
the lower drop seal 20L, the upper drop seal 20U is essentially
identical in design; thus, the discussion herein concerning the
lower drop seal 20L, at least for the most part, applies equally to
the upper drop seal 20U. FIG. 15 shows the upper drop seal 20U,
though it is not discussed in detail.
[0095] Moreover, the main difference between FIGS. 10A and 10B is
that the former shows the drop seal in a retracted position and the
latter shows the drop seal in an extended position, as discussed
earlier. The drop seal 20L is thus movable (and moves) with respect
to at least two cavities in embodiments that include both the outer
cavity 450O and the inner cavity 450I, as depicted in FIGS. 10A and
10B. That said, in other embodiments, the drop seal 20L is moveable
(and moves) with respect to at least one cavity--that is, the outer
cavity 450O in embodiments that do not include the inner cavity
450I, or the inner cavity 450I in embodiments that do not include
the outer cavity 450O. Before moving on, it should be noted that
the insulation hatch lines are not shown in FIG. 10B simply for
ease of viewing; however, the insulation 544I is in the same
location in FIG. 10B as is shown in FIG. 10A, and is so marked on
FIG. 10B.
[0096] The cross-sectional view of the drop seal 20L shown in FIGS.
10A and 10B differ from prior art, such as the prior art panel 410
and prior art drop seal 420 depicted in FIG. 12, in various ways.
As can be seen in FIG. 12, when the prior art drop seal 420 is
extended (as shown) to attempt to limit the flow of air between the
drop seal 420 and the floor, a passageway 414 opens, or opens much
further, between the drop seal 420 and the body 405 of the panel
410. Clearly, the passageway 414 allows air to flow relatively
unobstructed between the drop seal and the panel via the
passageway/gap 414 when the drop seal 420 is extended--which is
exactly when the prior art drop seal 420 is supposed to be
preventing air from flowing from one side of the panel 410 to the
other. In contrast, the design of the drop seal 20L disclosed
herein and/or its relationship with (other parts of) the panel 10,
tend to minimize (both generally and relative to prior art) the
opportunity for air (and thus sound) to travel between the drop
seal 20L and the body 5 of the panel 10. Again, it should be
self-evident that all that is discussed (or at least most of what
is discussed) herein with respect to the lower drop seal 20L
applies to the upper drop seal 20U as well, i.e., in embodiments
that include two drop seals 20L, 20U (since some embodiments only
include one drop seal.)
[0097] Comparing the prior art drop seal 410 with the lower drop
seal 20L, FIG. 12 shows that part of the prior art passageway/gap
414 is defined by an upper surface 424 of the prior art drop seal
420 and another portion of the passageway 414 is defined by an
upper surface 434 of a cavity 450P in which the prior art drop seal
resides and relative to which the drop seal 420 retracts and
extends. Among many other differences, the drop seal embodiment 20L
depicted in FIGS. 10A and 10B does not have any upper surface like
the upper surface 424 of the prior art drop seal 410. Rather, the
drop seal 20L is generally concave with respect to the cavity 450O
within the panel body 5.
[0098] Additionally, in contrast to the uninterrupted upper surface
434 of the cavity 450P in FIG. 12, FIGS. 10A and 10B depict an
upper surface 524 of an outer concavity 450O, within which the drop
seal retracts and extends, that is interrupted (so to speak) by a
first inner cavity member 586A and a second inner cavity member
586B, which define an inner cavity 450I. Thus, unlike the prior art
panel 410 where air can flow along the upper cavity surface 434
freely, air/sound thus is unable to flow along the upper surface
524 of the outer cavity 450O without encountering any
obstacles--e.g., the first and second inner cavity members 586A,
586B. [The arrowed line in FIG. 12 is merely meant to show the path
of air/sound flow in very general terms; it is not meant to be
limiting in any way, as should be commonly understood by those
skilled in the art.]
[0099] Beyond these differences, since the prior art drop seal in
FIG. 12 is `closed` (e.g., not concave with respect to the cavity
450P) even if sound insulation were to be placed inside the prior
art drop seal 410 it would have no effect. In sharp contrast, the
insulation 544I that is placed inside the drop seal 20L of FIG. 10B
will encounter sound, and will be at least partially absorbed by
it. While some embodiments do not include insulation, the
embodiment shown in FIG. 10B--which has an `open` drop seal 20L
with respect to the outer cavity 450O--allows for insulation to be
placed in it and assures any air/sound that attempts to travel
between the drop seal 20L and the panel body 5 (from one side of
the panel 10 to the other) will encounter the insulation 544I.
[0100] More generally, but also in contrast to the prior art drop
seal-panel interface 499, an interface 599 of the drop seal 20L
with the body 5 (which includes the outer cavity 450O and inner
cavity 450I) of the panel 10 has sort of a labyrinth-like
configuration. The term `interface` in this context is referring to
the portions of the drop seal and panel body that are adjacent to
one another (where in some cases they are touching and, if not,
they are near each other). The various sections of the labyrinth
will be discussed below.
[0101] More specifically, the drop seal 20L has a first drop seal
member 555 and second drop seal member 557 that each respectively
interface/engage--by moving at least partially in and/or moving at
least partially out of/away from--with each with a first slot 566A
and a second slot 566B of the panel 5. The first slot 566A is
defined by an inner surface 573A of a first outer cavity member
576A (e.g., associated with the panel body 5, such as the first
outer layer 130A as shown) and an outer surface 583A of a first
inner cavity member 586A (e.g., associated with the panel body 5).
In turn, the second slot 566B is defined by an inner surface 573B
of a second outer cavity member 576B (e.g., associated with the
panel body 5, such as the second outer layer 130B as shown) and an
outer surface 583B of a second inner cavity member 586B. In other
words, the outer cavity 450O is defined by the inner surface 573A
of the first outer cavity member 576A and the inner surface 573B of
the second outer member 576B; and, the inner cavity 450I is defined
by the inner surface 5831 of the first inner cavity member 586A and
the inner surface 583J of the second inner cavity member 586B.
[0102] In some embodiments, the engaging/interfacing of the two
drop seal members 555, 557 with respect to the two slots 566A, 566B
is a `slideable` engaging/engagement. By `slideable` it is meant
that one or more of the surfaces associated with the two drop seal
members 555, 557 slide along--which is meant to imply at least some
touching-one or more of the counterpart surfaces associated with
the two slots 566A, 566B. In other embodiments, a plurality of the
surfaces associated with the two drop seal members 555, 557 slide
along a plurality of the counterpart surfaces associated with the
two slots 566A, 566B. In still further embodiments, all of the
surfaces associated with the two drop seal members 555, 557 slide
along a plurality of the counterpart surfaces associated with the
two slots 566A, 566B. (In other embodiments, the
interfacing/engaging occurs without any touching.)
[0103] Accordingly, in some embodiments this means that an outer
surface 5550 of the first drop seal member 555 touches (at least a
portion of) the inner surface 573A of the first outer cavity member
576A as the drop seal 20L moves from the retracted position 40R
(shown in FIG. 10A) to the extended position 40F (shown in FIG.
10B) and/or vice versa. As another example, it means that the inner
surface 555I of the first drop seal member 555 touches (at least a
portion of) the outer surface 583A of the first inner cavity member
586A as the drop seal 10L moves from retracted to extended
positions and/or vice versa. In further scenarios, it means that
the first drop seal member 555 touches (at least a portion of) both
adjacent surfaces 573A, 583A as the drop seal 20L moves from
retracted to extended positions and/or vice versa. In yet other
cases, it means that first drop seal member 555 touches at least
one of its adjacent surfaces 573A, 583A and the second drop seal
member 557 touches at least one of its respective adjacent surfaces
573B, 583B as the drop seal 20L moves from retracted to extended
positions and/or vice versa. And, in additional cases the two drop
seal 20L members 555, 557 touch surfaces 573A, 583A and 573B, 583B
respectively as the drop seal 20L moves from retracted to extended
positions and/or vice versa.
[0104] Another way of looking at the relationship of the slots
566A, 566B and drop seal 20L is that in some embodiments at least
one of the two slots 566A or 556B (at least partially) restricts
the movement of the drop seal 20L; and, in other embodiments each
of the two slots 556A and 556B restricts the movement of the drop
seal 20L. In some embodiments, the restriction (by either one or
both slots) limits the movement of the drop seal 20L towards the
first side/face 110A of the panel 10; in other embodiments, the
panel's movement towards the second side/face 110B of the panel 10
is restricted; and, in additional embodiments the drop seal's 20L
movement is restricted in both directions. In some of these various
embodiments and/or other embodiments, the first inner cavity member
586A restricts the drop seal from moving towards the second
side/face 110B of the panel 10; in others the second inner cavity
member 586B restricts the drop seal 20L from moving towards the
first side/face 110A of the panel 10; and, in yet others the first
inner member 586A is restricting the drop seal from moving towards
the second side/face 110B of the panel 10 and the second inner
member 586B is restricting the drop seal 20L from moving towards
the first side/face 110A of the panel 10. Likewise, in some
embodiments, the first inner cavity member 586A can be viewed as
guiding the drop seal as it moves from retracted to extended
positions and/or vice versa; in additional embodiments, the second
inner cavity member 586B can be viewed as guiding the drop seal as
it moves from retracted to extended positions and/or vice versa;
and in yet further embodiments, each the first inner cavity member
586A and the second inner cavity member 586B can be viewed as
guiding the drop seal as it moves from retracted to extended
positions and/or vice versa.
[0105] In light of the design/configuration described above, in
order to travel from the first side 111A of the panel 10 to the
second side 111B of the panel 10 by passing between the drop seal
20L and the panel body 5, a sound wave 599O (that travels through
air) must make it from a beginning 599B of a labyrinth 579 of
channels to an end 599E of the labyrinth 579. In other words, the
sound 599O must travel through (a) a first channel 599A between the
outer surface 5550 of the first drop seal member 555 and the inner
surface 573A of the first outer cavity member 576A, (b) a second
channel 599B between the inner surface 555I of the first drop seal
member 555 and the outer surface 583A of the first inner cavity
member 586A, (c) an area/region 544R containing the sound
insulation 544I (that in some embodiments is between the drop seal
20L and the inner cavity 450I, though in embodiments without the
inner cavity 450I the insulated area 544 is between the drop seal
20L and the outer cavity 450O; and, in other embodiments that do
not include insulation 544I the area 544 does not have insulation),
(d) through a third channel 599C between the inner surface 5571 of
the second drop seal member 557 and the outer surface 583B of the
second inner cavity member 586B, and (e) through a fourth channel
599D between the outer surface 5570 of the second drop seal member
557 and the inner surface 573B of the second outer cavity member
576B--or vice versa if the air/sound is flowing in the other
direction--in order for any residual sound 599R to make it to the
other side (with respect to the side from which the air/sound
originated). For self-evident reasons, it is generally best for the
tolerances between the various adjacent surfaces each that make up
the labyrinth be minimized since smaller tolerances permit less air
to move through the channels and/or slow air speed.
[0106] Beyond the number of channels described above, it is clear
that their alignment relative to each other also plays a role
mitigating the flow of air/sound. In contrast to the prior art drop
seal-panel interface 499 shown in FIG. 12, it is also clear that
the that total distance the air/sound must travel to pass through
the drop seal-panel interface 599 in FIG. 10B is almost twice the
distance air/sound would need to travel to pass through the prior
art drop seal-panel interface 499 (assuming drop seals of
comparable dimensions), not to mention that in some embodiments
(like FIG. 10B) the air/sound is forced to travel through the
insulation region 544R.
[0107] Accordingly, another way of looking at the path air/sound
must take in FIG. 10B is that the air/sound 599O starts off in a
first direction in the first channel 599A, changes its course
(essentially 180 degrees) a first time to move in a second
direction in the second channel 599B, changes its course a second
time move in a third direction (which is likely not a straight
line) from an exit 699E of the second channel 599B to an entrance
699F of the third channel 599C, changes its course a third time to
move in a fourth direction in the third channel 599C, and changes
its course (essentially 180 degrees) a fourth time to move in a
fifth direction in the fourth channel 599D, before leaving the
fourth channel 599E at an exit of the fourth channel 599D. It also
should be pointed out that above the first drop seal member 555
(where the sound changes its course 180 degrees for the first time)
and above the second drop seal member 557 (where the sound changes
its course 180 degrees for the second time) are two respective
`dead end` regions 551A, 551B--each of which includes at least a
dead end surface 552A, 552B that are respectively associated with
the first slot 556A and second slot 556B--which, in essence, help
force the air/sound to change direction.
[0108] In other words, when the drop seal 20L is moved from its
retracted position to its extended position, the first drop seal
member 555 is moved partially out of the first slot 566A and the
first dead end region 551A--which is defined by the first dead end
surface 552A, a portion of the inner surface 573A of the first
outer cavity member 576A, and a portion of the outer surface 5550
of the first inner member 555--grows until the drop seal 20L is in
its extended position. (Likewise, the same is true with respect to
the second dead end region 551B, and its defining surfaces will be
apparent from FIGS. 10A and 10B.) Comparing FIG. 10A with 10B, it
is clear how the dead end region 551A is larger in the figure that
depicts the extended drop seal, namely FIG. 10B.
[0109] In yet other words, the inner cavity 450I resembles an
upside-down somewhat `U`-shaped concavity--which is partially
embodied by the two inner cavity members 586A, 586B, outside of
which there is a somewhat `U`-shaped drop seal 20L. In the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a portion of the panel
(i.e., outer members 576A, 576B) partially defines a third somewhat
(upside-down) `U`-shaped structure that is on the outside of the
`U`-shaped drop seal 20L. Moreover, in some embodiments, like the
one shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, it can be said that the
relationship between the drop seal and the panel body is one where
the drop seal is able to move, and does move, essentially
telescopically.
[0110] In fact, some embodiments of the invention do not include
any inner cavity members 568A, 586B. In such embodiments, the drop
seal's 20L movement is merely restricted and/or guided by the walls
573A, 573B of the cavity 450O. In other words, in such embodiments,
there are no slots 566A, 566B and the members 555, 557 of the drop
seal move relative to the walls 573A, 573B of the cavity 450O. In
any event, in most embodiments the distance between the upper
surface (e.g., 552A, 552B) of the cavity 450O and the inner bottom
surface 521 of the drop seal 20L increases when the drop seal is
extended from its retracted position into its extended position,
and likewise reduced when the drop seal 20L is retracted from its
extended position into its retracted position.
[0111] In some embodiments, the sound absorption material 544I in
the insulation region 544R that is partially defined by the drop
seal 20L is compressible, expandable, and/or resilient. For
example, in such embodiments, when the drop seal 20L is
deactivated/retracted such that the drop seal is (at least largely)
positioned inside the panel, the material 544I in the insulation
region 544R becomes compressed so that the drop seal can be easily
positioned in its retracted position. Likewise, after (or as) the
drop seal is activated/extended, the material 544I at least
partially expands, at least in some embodiments. Moreover, in some
but not all embodiments the insulation 544I in the drop seal 20L is
the same type of insulation 115 in the panel body 5.
[0112] It may be helpful to highlight the performance achievable by
various embodiments disclosed herein. Before doing so, it is worth
examining a typical panel-drop seal gap found in prior art, like
the one shown in FIG. 12, particularly when two prior art panels
are placed next to each other, and each panel is also positioned
next to a wall. Visualizing this based on FIG. 12, one will notice
that there are two lateral gaps that are respectively between the
respective side surfaces 424A, 424B of the prior art drop seal 420
and the respective sides 414A, 414B of each of the two the panels'
410 cavities 450P--where each is typically about 0.2 cm all along
the length of each panel. Also, while not shown in FIG. 12, when
two panels are placed next to each other, there is a
`panel-to-panel space` and two `panel-to-wall` spaces that are all
roughly 0.4 cm wide by 5 cm high, with respect to each of the upper
and lower sections of the panel. Even more specifically, in a
partition of two prior art panels there would be six gaps-two gaps
respectively between the extended upper and lower drop seals, and
four more gaps respectively between the two panels and the two end
walls that equal roughly 12 cm2 (i.e., six gaps that are each
roughly 5 cm.times.0.4 cm). There would also be a lateral gap
related to the bottom drop seal that alone would equal about 96
cm.sup.2 (i.e., with 2 panels of 120 cm width, the lateral bottom
leak area along the panels is 240 cm times 0.2 cm, and the top leak
also is 240 times 0.2 cm). Finally, there would also be a gap
between each of the mated upper and lower drop seals, which would
be roughly 110 cm2.
[0113] In comparison to such examples of prior art drop seals, some
embodiments of the invention are thus much more effective in
minimizing transmission losses/sound leakage. For example, when the
prior panel of FIG. 12 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 10B each
configured as two-panel partitions with respective dimensions in
accordance with minimum standards of ASTM E90-09--i.e., an area of
2.40 meters by 2.40 meters (i.e., 57600 cm.sup.2)--the prior art
partition yields a sound leak of at least 0.002%. In contrast, the
panel depicted in 10B has a relatively insignificant, or a much
smaller leak, by comparison (as further explained below).
[0114] It is commonly understood that the impact of sound leaks on
transmission loss (TL) is related to overall TL of the partition
(or panel). That said, a non-limiting example is included here
simply to illustrate how much of an impact the above-mentioned
difference can make in certain scenarios. Specifically, if both the
prior art partition and the partition 169 (or 169D) respectively
had an `ideal` TL (i.e., assuming zero leaks) of 60 dB, the 0.002%
sound leak resulting from the various gaps inherent in the prior
art drop seal's design (i.e., collectively in each of the two
panels in the prior art partition) would reduce its TL to roughly
48 dB. In contrast, the elimination or near elimination of sound
leaks of the partition 169D, which reflects the better design of
the drop seals 20L, 20U disclosed herein, would render a TL of 57
dB (based on almost zero or very minor leaks) which would make the
partition 169 (or 169D) roughly 9 dB more effective. When one
considers that a TL increase of 10 dB is equivalent to reducing the
volume of perceived sound by 50%, the design of the
panels/partitions disclosed herein has significant practical
impact.
[0115] Moreover, whatever TL improvement is achievable over prior
art drop seals depicted in FIG. 12 (e.g., 9 dB in the above
scenario) can be further improved by roughly 4 dB by a combination
of the internal membrane, various gaskets, the vibration dampers on
the frames--for a total difference of roughly 13 db. Further, when
the perforated sections are added to the comparison, it is possible
for the partition 169 to achieve attenuated sound (on the other
side of the panel from which it emanates) that is roughly 14 dB
less than a typical prior art panel (e.g., as partly reflected in
FIG. 12)
[0116] FIGS. 13A and 13B depict an example of a rudimentary
mechanism that is used in some panel and/or partition embodiments
for raising and lowering the drop seals 20U, 20L. Since such
mechanisms are commonly used and known, it will not be discussed in
detail; and, in fact, the figures are in a somewhat
symbolic/rudimentary style. Moreover, it will be commonly
understood that there are many mechanisms, devices, ways, etc. to
raise and lower the drop seal(s) known to those skilled in the art,
and design and budgetary considerations should guide this choice.
Accordingly, the figures of this mechanism were more-or-less merely
provided as an illustrative and non-limiting example. As is
self-evident from these figures, the spring can be compressed by
turning the knob in one direction, and the spring can be released
by turning the knob in the other direction.
[0117] FIG. 14 depicts a wall interface 777X for the panel 10 or
10D, such as to enable the panel 10 or 10D, as well as the
partition 169 or 169, to be interfaced with it. As is self-evident,
the wall interface 777X is connected to a wall and has an end that
resembles the female side 60F of the panel 10. In other
embodiments, the wall interface resembles the male end 60M instead.
Likewise, the wall interface resembles one of the ends of the
non-perforated panel 10D instead in other embodiments.
[0118] Finally, the above embodiments are intended to be
illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, variations may
be apparent to those appropriately skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention/inventions
described and/or claimed herein. For instance, alternative panel
system, panel, and/or partition embodiments do not connect
(directly or indirectly) to the ceiling. For example, some
embodiments of the panel connect to the floor, while others are
movable by wheels. In yet other embodiments, the panel(s) and/or
partition are not readily movable; for instance, the panel 10 (or
10D) may be incorporated into a wall that is not designed to be
moved. In some such wall embodiments, the panel does not include
the upper or lower drop seals 20U, 20L but does include at least
one of the various gaskets (i.e., any number of the gaskets
disclosed herein), the perforated section, and/or the membrane.
* * * * *