Sound reducing shroud

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10418014-B2
Application number	US-201715583260-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 14, 2017
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

A sound reducing shroud for use with an appliance or other machine is provided. The shroud comprises a body made from foam. The body has a sidewall having a discontinuous circumference, a first vertical end and an opposing second vertical end. The body can be resiliently flexible so that the body is re-configurable between an open position in which the first vertical end and the second vertical end are spread apart to accommodate installation of the shroud around the machine, and a closed position in which the first vertical end and the second vertical end mate to form a seam. Alternatively, the body can comprise a first half shell and a second half shell that fit together to make a shroud around the machine. The first half shell and the second half shell can be designed to snap fit together, or can be held together using fasteners or strapping.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sound reducing shroud for a machine, the machine having a shape, the shroud comprising:
a body comprising a first half shell and a second half shell hingedly joined along a vertical spine, the first half shell extending circumferentially from the spine to a first mating surface, the second half shell extending circumferentially from the spine to a second mating surface; the body having an interior surface and a sidewall having a discontinuous circumference, the first mating surface and the second mating surface configured to mate to form a vertical seam; wherein
the body is resiliently flexible so that the body is re-configurable between an open position in which the first mating surface and the second mating surface are spread apart to accommodate installation of the shroud around the machine and a closed position in which the first mating surface and the second mating surface mate to form the seam;
the shroud further comprises a first closure flange extending laterally outwardly from the first mating surface and a second closure flange extending laterally outwardly from the second mating surface, the closure flanges defining apertures for accommodating fasteners; and
the closure flanges are circumferentially opposite the spine.

2. The shroud of claim 1 wherein:
the body defines one or more openings for accommodating structures that are part of or connected to the machine.

3. The shroud of claim 2 wherein:
the machine is a garbage disposal having a substantially cylindrical sidewall, a domed top wall and a bottom wall; and
the shroud body has a substantially cylindrical sidewall, a domed top wall and a bottom wall, the shroud sidewall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall.

4. The shroud of claim 3 wherein:
the body top wall defines a top opening for accommodating a top mounting structure of the garbage disposal; and
the body sidewall defines a first side opening for accommodating a dishwater drain hose connection and a second side opening for accommodating a sewage hose connection.

5. The shroud of claim 1 wherein:
the shroud is a single unitary molded piece.

6. The shroud of claim 5 wherein:
the shroud is made of a foam or foam-like moldable material.

7. The shroud of claim 6 wherein:
the shroud is made of expanded polypropylene.

8. The shroud of claim 7 wherein:
the shroud is porous to allow higher sound absorption into the body.

9. The shroud of claim 1 wherein:
the interior surface defines a plurality of air flow channels.

10. The shroud of claim 1 wherein:
the channels are arranged circumferentially around the interior surface of the shroud.

11. The shroud of claim 1 wherein:
the interior surface conforms substantially to the shape of the machine.

12. A sound reducing shroud for a machine, the machine having a shape, the shroud comprising:
a first half shell comprising a first side wall portion, a first top wall portion and a first base portion and contoured to conform substantially to the shape of a portion of the machine, portions of the first side wall portion, the first top wall portion and the first base portion forming a first mating surface, the first mating surface defining a groove;
a second half shell comprising a second side wall portion, a second top wall portion and a second base portion and contoured to conform substantially to the shape of a remaining portion of the machine, portions of the second side wall portion, the second top wall portion and the second base portion forming a second mating surface, the second mating surface comprising a tongue that is configured to fit within the groove to form a seam when the first half shell and second half shell are fitted together; wherein
the first half shell and the second half shell are separate structures; and
the groove of the first half shell and the tongue of the second half shell form a snap fit.

13. The shroud of claim 12 wherein:
the shroud defines one or more openings for accommodating structures that are part of or connected to the machine.

14. The shroud of claim 13 wherein:
the first shell half defines a first part of each opening and the second shell half defines a remaining part of each opening.

15. The shroud of claim 12 wherein:
the groove and the tongue are co-extensive.

16. The shroud of claim 12 wherein:
the groove and the tongue are both discontinuous.

17. The shroud of claim 12 wherein:
the shroud is made of expanded polypropylene.

Assignees

• Sonoco Dev Inc

Inventors

• Lowry James
• Valko Kirk

Classifications

• G10K11/16 Primary

  Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general (G10K11/36 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G10K11/002 Primary

  Devices for damping, suppressing, obstructing or conducting sound in acoustic devices (G10K1/06 - G10K1/10 take precedence; for electro-mechanical transducers for communication H04R3/002) · CPC title

• G10K11/162

  Selection of materials · CPC title