Flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963873-B2
Application number	US-201615277169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2016
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a roll-up, flexible, sound-attenuating wall system. More particularly, this invention relates to a retractable wall system and its components which may be used to divide existing larger spaces into smaller spaces with sound-attenuating barriers. In each unit the flexible, sound-attenuating wall is attached to a receiver tube which, when turned on its axis, deploys or retracts the flexible, sound-attenuating wall. The flexible, sound-attenuating wall is guided by a guide roller to intersect with other flexible, sound-attenuating walls at various angles. The receiver tube and guide roller are attached at either end to independent support brackets. This invention discloses a plurality of interlocking connector systems for connecting a plurality of flexible, sound-attenuating walls at various angles. Further, this invention discloses a winding mechanism disposed in and attached to receiver tube which turns the receiver tube on its longitudinal axis to deploy or retract the flexible, sound-attenuating wall.

First claim

We claim:

1. A flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system comprising:
a plurality of adjoining, flexible, sound-attenuating walls;
a receiver tube attached to each of the sound-attenuating walls, around which the sound-attenuating wall winds and unwinds;
a motor disposed inside and attached to each of the receiver tubes;
a guide roller disposed below and vertically offset to each of the receiver; and
a plurality of mounting brackets, the mounting brackets comprising a first mounting bracket coupled to an end of each receiver tube and guide roller and a second mounting bracket coupled to an opposed second end of each receiver tube and guide roller,

wherein each sound-attenuating wall comprises a first interlocking system along a vertical edge of the sound-attenuating wall and a second interlocking system along an opposed vertical edge of the sound-attenuating wall, the first interlocking system comprising a plurality of first connectors, and the second interlocking system comprising a plurality of second connectors complimentary to the first connectors, wherein the first and second connectors join and interlock the plurality of sound-attenuating walls at any angle between 1 and 180.

2. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible, sound-attenuating walls are made of mass loaded vinyl.

3. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver tubes comprise material which is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, carbon fiber, wood, engineered wood, nylon, and plastic.

4. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver tubes comprise metal which is selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and titanium.

5. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the motor disposed inside and attached to each of the receiver tubes turns the receiver tube on its longitudinal axis to raise or lower the flexible, sound-attenuating walls.

6. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible, sound-attenuating walls roll over the guide rollers to position the vertical edges of the flexible, sound-attenuating walls adjacently when unwound.

7. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the guide rollers comprise metal which is selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and titanium.

8. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the guide rollers comprise material which is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, carbon fiber, wood, engineered wood, nylon, and plastic.

9. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second mounting brackets comprise metal selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and titanium.

10. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting brackets comprise material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, carbon fiber, nylon, polyoxymethylene, and plastic.

11. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the first connectors and complimentary second connectors are selected from a group consisting of bead and catch, zippers, hook and loop, snaps, magnetic snaps, and magnetic strips.

12. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the first connectors and complimentary second connectors comprise materials selected from a group consisting rubber, vinyl, cloth, polyvinyl chloride, plastic, and vinyl magnet.

13. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the first connectors and complimentary second connectors comprise metal selected from a group consisting brass, aluminum and nickel.

14. The flexible, sound-attenuating roll-up wall system of claim 1 , wherein the first connectors and complimentary second connectors are joined to the sound-attenuating walls using chemical or mechanical attachments.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Priddis Andrew
• Wood Charles
• Fox Joe
• Knight Kelly

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Priddis Andrew
• Wood Charles
• Fox Joe
• Knight Kelly

Classifications

• G10K11/162

  Selection of materials · CPC title

• E04B2/721

  connections specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• E04B1/82 Primary

  specifically with respect to sound only ({of floors or ceilings E04B9/001;} noise damping in ducts or channels E04F17/00; noise damping in general G10K11/16) · CPC title

• E04B2/88

  Curtain walls {(fixing of glass panes E06B3/54)} · CPC title

• E04B2/7403 Primary

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