PORTABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT, FOAM-FACED, HANGING ACOUSTIC PANEL

PANNEAU INSONORISANT SUSPENDU A FACE EN MOUSSE PORTATIF ET LEGER

English Abstract

An acoustical panel designed to allow the user to quickly and easily treat a
room to control
reverberation, standing waves, and frequency coloration is disclosed. This
portable, lightweight,
foam-faced, hanging acoustic panel is 24 inches wide by 48 inches tall by two
to three inches
thick (depending on the particular model). The panel has an active surface
comprised of high-
density (approximately 3.0 lb per square foot), open-cell, polyurethane foam
pieces (both angled
and flat) affixed to a rigid backing material. These panels are therefore
designed to break the
incident sound wave into separate planes while also absorbing some of the
sound energy.
Testing shows a marked reduction in sound energy reflected from these panels
compared to the
sound energy reflected from an untreated wall.
The ease of installation is the primary differential advantage associated with
the design of these
portable, lightweight, foam-faced, hanging acoustic panels. As opposed to
other foam-faced
acoustic treatments, these hanging panels require no glue or assembly on the
part of the end
user. In the final analyses, these panels are designed to provide the end user
with an effective
acoustic treatment that is as simple to install as hanging a picture.
The thickness and angle of the foam pieces affixed onto the backing panel can
be altered so as
to vary their ability to diffuse and/or absorb sound energy across different
sound frequencies.
Thus, depending on the configuration of foam pieces, an entire line of
lightweight, foam-faced,
hanging acoustic panels can be produced that will offer the ability to fine-
tune the acoustic
environment of a given room.

Claims

Claim
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are defined as
follows:
1. Ease of Installation: As opposed to other foam-faced acoustic treatments,
these portable, lightweight,
foam-faced, hanging acoustic panels require no glue or assembly on the part of
the end user. Many home
studios exist in temporary locations, and for this reason many home recording
enthusiasts are often
hesitant to glue an acoustic treatment to their walls. These panels do not
require glue, nor do they require
assembly.
2. Large Coverage: Owing to the fact that the acoustic panel of claim 1 is two
feet wide and extends four
feet in height, when positioned 12 to 18 inches from the ceiling (on an eight
foot wall) these panels will
perform just as well regardless of whether the listener (or sound source) is
sitting or standing.
3. Flexibility of Placement: The acoustic panel of claim 1 has a rigid
backing, and can therefore be hung
(in combination with other acoustic panels of claim 1) over any window that is
less than 48" in height.
Thus, these panels can enhance sonic isolation as well as acoustic clarity.
4. Dual Purpose: The acoustic panel of claim 1 is a hybrid sound diffuser /
absorber. The acoustic panel
of claim 1 is made of acoustic quality, high density (approximately 3.0 lb per
square foot), open-cell,
polyurethane foam. Its active surface is two to three inches thick at the
peaks and one inch thick at the
troughs. The open cell nature of the foam surface allows the surface to absorb
sound energy, while the
high density and angled cuts of the foam allows the surface to deflect some
sound energy as well. Thus,
these panels effectively absorb and diffuse sound waves.

Description

CA 02422420 2004-04-20
Description
The thickness and angle of the foam pieces affixed onto the backing panel can
be altered so as to vary
the panel's ability to diffuse and/or absorb sound energy across different
sound frequencies. Thus,
depending on the configuration of foam pieces, an entire line of lightweight,
foam-faced, hanging acoustic
panels can be produced that will offer the ability to fine-tune the acoustic
environment of a given room.
The description of the panel outlined in claims 1 to 4 is provided in
accordance with six different models of
said panel.
Diffusion Oriented Panels:
Model 1024 is a diffuser oriented panel. The 1024 panel both absorbs and
diffuses sound energy. This
two by four foot panel is designed to break and deflect the incident sound
wave into ten separate planes.
Thus, the incident sound is almost completely diffused, returning much less
sound back to the sound
source. (See Model 1024 diagram in the attached Drawings document.)
Model 624 is a diffuser oriented panel. The 624 panel is designed to provide
similar diffusion and
absorption to the 1024 panel. This two by four foot panel breaks and deflects
the incident sound wave
into six separate planes. Thus, the incident sound is highly diffused,
returning very little sound back to the
sound source. (See Model 624 diagram in the attached Drawings document.)
Model 424 is a diffuser oriented panel. Although this two by four foot panel
is designed to break and
deflect the incident sound wave into only four separate planes, none of these
planes is reflected back to
the source. Thus, the incident sound is almost completely diffused. (See Model
424 diagram in the
attached Drawings document.)
Absorption Oriented Panels:
Model 324L (Low-Frequency Absorber): This two by four foot panel breaks the
incident sound wave into
only three planes. However, the large midsection of this panel is flat and is
therefore perpendicular to the
sound wave. Thus, this panel absorbs more frequency than it diffuses. The
three inch thick midsection
provides this panel with a mass that allows it to absorb lower frequencies
more effectively than panels
with a thinner midsection. Naturally, the open cell structure of the foam also
contributes to sound
absorption. (See Model 324L diagram in the attached Drawings document.)
Model 324M (Mid-Frequency Absorber): Like the 324L, this two by four foot
panel breaks the incident
sound wave into three planes. However, the large midsection of this panel is
flat and is therefore
perpendicular to the sound wave. Thus, this panel absorbs more frequency than
it diffuses. The two inch
thick midsection provides this panel with a mass that allows it to absorb
lower frequencies more
effectively than panels with a thinner midsection, but not as well as panels
with a thicker midsection.
Naturally, the open cell structure of the foam also contributes to sound
absorption. (See Model 324M
diagram in the attached Drawings document.)
Model 324H (High-Frequency Absorber): Like the 324L and 324M, this two by four
foot panel breaks the
incident sound wave into three planes. However, the large midsection of this
panel is flat and is therefore
perpendicular to the sound wave. Thus, this panel absorbs more frequency than
it diffuses. The one inch
thick midsection provides this panel with a mass that does not allow it to
absorb lower frequencies as well
as panels with a thicker midsection. Naturally, the open cell structure of the
foam also contributes to
sound absorption. (See Model 324H diagram in the attached Drawings document.)
Material Specifications:
~ Foam Surface Composition: high density (approximately 3.0 Ib), open cell,
polyurethane foam
~ Foam Surface Flammability: fire retardant (aka RBR - reduced burn rate)
~ Backing material: made of any form of readily available rigid material (high
density fibreboard,
medium density fibreboard, hardboard, foamcore, corrugated plastic, composite
plastic, etc.)


CA 02422420 2004-04-20
Drawings
Diffusion Oriented Panels:
~ Mode11024
~ Model624
~ Model424
Absorption Oriented Panels:
~ Mode1324H
~ Mode1324M
~ Mode1324L