Center-mounted acoustical substrates

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9315985-B2
Application number	US-201314113252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2013
Priority date	Oct 5, 2012
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A modular wall with acoustic properties including one or more wall modules arranged in a desired configuration, and methods of forming the same. The wall module includes a frame configured to receive a plurality of wall elements, and a plurality of wall elements attached to the frame. An acoustic substrate is secured to the frame by a ladder or ladder frame including horizontal support members coordinated between retaining members configured for attachment to the frame or elements thereof. The frame and ladder or ladder frame can be used to sandwich one or more acoustic substrates therebetween. Exterior wall, finishing, and trim elements can be attached to the horizontal support members, frame or frame elements, and other wall elements for structural and/or aesthetic purposes.

First claim

We claim:

1. An acoustic wall module, comprising:
a frame comprising one or more vertical brackets; and
a plurality of wall elements configured for attachment to the frame, the plurality of wall elements comprising:
at least one acoustic substrate configured to inhibit sound from passing therethrough;
at least one substrate retaining member attachable to the frame and being configured to secure the at least one acoustic substrate to the frame, the at least one acoustic substrate being positioned between the at least one substrate retaining member and a first portion of each of the one or more vertical brackets such that the at least one acoustic substrate is compressed between the frame and the at least one substrate retaining member;
a outer element positioned between the at least one acoustic substrate and one or more of (a) the at least one substrate retaining member, and (b) the one or more vertical brackets to protect the at least one acoustic substrate;
at least one horizontal support member attached to the frame; and
at least one exterior wall element configured to conceal from view at least a portion of the frame from a first vantage point, the exterior wall element being attachable to the at least one horizontal support member to secure the exterior wall element to the frame.

2. The acoustic wall module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one substrate retaining member comprises:
a first substrate retaining member configured to secure the at least one acoustic substrate to the frame by pressing a first end of the at least one acoustic substrate against a first vertical bracket of the frame, and
a second substrate retaining member configured to secure the at least one acoustic substrate to the frame by pressing a second end of the at least one acoustic substrate against a second vertical bracket of the frame.

3. The acoustic wall module of claim 2 , wherein a first end of the at least one horizontal support member is attached to the first substrate retaining member and a second end of the at least one horizontal support member is attached to the second substrate retaining member, such that the at least one horizontal support member is attached to the frame via the first and second substrate retaining members.

4. The acoustic wall module of claim 3 , wherein the first and second substrate retaining members and the at least one horizontal support member comprise a ladder frame, the ladder frame being configured for selective attachment to the frame by means of the first and second substrate retaining members.

5. The acoustic wall module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one substrate retaining member is spaced apart from the first portion of each of the one or more vertical brackets by the at least one acoustic substrate.

6. The acoustic wall module of claim 5 , wherein the at least one acoustic substrate is at least partially secured to the frame through a compressive force applied by the at least one substrate retaining member.

7. The acoustic wall module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one acoustic substrate is at least partially secured to the frame through one or more of (a) a compressive force, (b) a frictional force, (c) an adhesive, and (d) a fastener.

8. The acoustic wall module of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vertical brackets comprise an angled configuration providing a plurality of surfaces in a plurality of planes, and wherein the plurality of surfaces are configured for attachment of the plurality of wall elements.

9. The acoustic wall module of claim 8 , wherein the at least one acoustic substrate is secured to a first surface of the one or more vertical brackets and the at least one horizontal support member is attached to a second surface of the one or more vertical brackets.

10. The acoustic wall module of claim 9 , wherein the at least one acoustic substrate comprises one or more chamfered ends complimentary to the first surface of the one or more vertical brackets.

11. The acoustic wall module of claim 9 , wherein the one or more vertical brackets comprise an extended V-shaped configuration, comprising:
a V-shaped element including a first arm and a second arm arranged at a first angle such that the vertical bracket comprises a concave portion on a first side of the V-shaped element and a convex portion on an opposing second side of the V-shaped element; and
a first extension element extending from the first arm at a second angle and in a first direction.

12. The acoustic wall module of claim 11 , wherein the at least one acoustic substrate is positioned between the at least one substrate retaining member and the first arm of the one or more vertical brackets.

13. The acoustic wall module of claim 11 , wherein the at least one horizontal support member is attached to the first extension element extending from the first arm of the one or more vertical brackets.

14. The acoustic wall module of claim 11 , further comprising a bracket reinforcement member attached to the concave portion of the one or more vertical brackets, wherein the bracket reinforcement member is configured to support the first arm and the second arm of the one or more vertical brackets and to prevent the first angle at which the first arm and a second arm are arranged from changing in at least a first direction.

15. The acoustic wall module of claim 11 , wherein:
the at least one substrate retaining member comprises an angled configuration including a first arm and a second arm arranged at an angle, the first arm of the substrate retaining member comprising first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface being attached to the at least one horizontal support member and the second surface being attached to the first extension element of the one or more vertical brackets such that the first arm is disposed between the at least one horizontal support member and the first extension element of the one or more vertical brackets; and
the at least one acoustic substrate is positioned between at least part of the second arm of the at least one substrate retaining member and at least part of the first arm of the one or more vertical brackets.

16. The acoustic wall module of claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured for attachment to a frame of an adjoining wall module.

17. The acoustic wall module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one acoustic substrate comprises an MDF sheet material.

18. An acoustic wall module, comprising:
a frame having a first side and a second side;
first and second acoustic substrates, the first acoustic substrate being securable to the first side of the frame, and the second acoustic substrate being securable to the second side of the frame;
first and second substrate retaining ladder frames, the first substrate retaining ladder frame being configured to secure the first acoustic substrate to the first side of the frame, and the second substrate retaining ladder frame being configured to secure the second acoustic substrate to the second side of the frame;
first and second exterior wall elements, the first exterior wall element being connectable to the frame or the first substrate retaining ladder frame to substantially conceal from view at least a portion of the frame and the first acoustic substrate from a first vantage point, and the second exterior wall element being connectable to the frame or the second substrate retaining ladder frame to substantially conceal from view at least a portion of the frame and the second acoustic substrate from a second vantage point;
wherein:
the frame comprises first and second vertical brac

Assignees

• Dirtt Environmental Solutions

Inventors

• Gosling Geoff
• Smed Mogens F

Classifications

• E04B2002/7487

  Partitions with slotted profiles · CPC title

• E04B2/7409

  special measures for sound or thermal insulation, including fire protection · CPC title

• E04B2/7422 Primary

  with separate framed panels without intermediary support posts · CPC title

• E04B2002/7472

  using adhesives · CPC title

• E04B2002/7477

  Details of connections using screws or nails · CPC title