Acoustic panel
An acoustic panel is provided. The acoustic panel includes a frame, an acoustic absorbing material, and an outer skin. The frame has a plurality of apertures therealong and an interior space. An acoustic absorbing material is located within the interior space. The outer skin covers the front surface of the frame.
The present patent document claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/812,344, filed Jun. 10, 2006, which is incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to acoustic panels. More particularly, the present invention relates to an acoustic panel having a multi-functional front surface and an improved acoustic absorption capability.
BACKGROUNDAcoustic absorbing materials have been used in many fields. In workplace environments, acoustic panels have been provided to control the sound level therein. In the past, acoustic panels have been formed using a perimeter frame, an acoustic absorbing material within the frame and an outer skin. The outer skin was designed to be acoustically transparent or partially acoustically transparent. Acoustic energy could then pass through the covering and be absorbed by the acoustic absorbing material within the interior of the acoustic panel. However, it has been found that acoustic energy often travels along the walls that form a workplace environment. As previous acoustic panels were designed to only absorb acoustic energy through the outer skin, these panels are ineffective to absorb traveling along the walls in a workplace. Therefore, there is a need for an acoustic panel operable to absorb acoustic energy traveling along a wall in a workplace environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to an improved acoustic panel operable to absorb sound through a front surface and a side surface.
According to one aspect of the invention, an improved acoustic panel is provided. The acoustic panel includes a frame, an acoustic absorbing material and an outer skin. The frame has a plurality of apertures therealong and defines an interior space. An acoustic absorbing material is located within the interior space. The outer skin covers the front surface of the frame.
According to another aspect of the invention, the acoustic panel includes a separate functional element attached to the outer skin. One specific embodiment is directed to a display attached to the outer skin. Another specific embodiment is directed to a separate graphic work. A further specific embodiment is directed to a white board material attached to the outer skin or used as the outer skin.
The present invention, together with attendant objects and advantages, will be best understood with reference to the detailed description below in connection with the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described with reference to the drawings in which like elements are referred to by like numerals. The relationship and functioning of the various elements of this invention are better understood by the following detailed description. However, the embodiments of this invention as described below are by way of example only, and the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It should also be understood that the drawings are not to scale and in certain instances details have been omitted which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly. In addition, like elements have been numbered identically in the different embodiments.
The interior of a representative acoustic panel is best illustrated in
The outer skin 24 is attached to the frame 50 using conventional fastening elements such as staples. In addition, a permanent adhesive is used to permanently bond the outer skin 24 to the frame 50. A permanent bond has been found useful during the construction process of the acoustic panel of the present invention.
One embodiment of the frame 50 is illustrated in
A sound absorbing material 52 is illustrated in
The embodiments described above and shown herein are illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description and attached drawings. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the acoustic panels of the present invention can be provided in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Accordingly, these and any other changes which come within the scope of the claims are intended to be embraced herein.
Claims
1. An acoustic panel:
- a frame having a plurality of apertures therealong and an interior space;
- an acoustic absorbing material within the interior space; and
- a outer skin covering a front surface of the frame.
2. The acoustic panel of claim 1 wherein the acoustic absorbing material is formed from polyester.
3. The acoustic panel of claim 1 wherein the outer skin is a white board material.
4. The acoustic panel of claim 1 wherein the outer skin is formed from a screen.
5. The acoustic panel of claim 1 wherein the outer skin is formed from a fabric material.
6. The acoustic panel of claim 1 wherein the outer skin has a graphic work.
7. The acoustic panel of claim 1 wherein the apertures form a series of elongated slots.
8. The acoustic panel of claim 1 wherein the outer skin overlays a tack board material.
9. The acoustic panel of claim 1 further comprising a separate graphic work attached to the outer skin.
10. The acoustic panel of claim 1 wherein a monitor is attached to the outer skin.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 7, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 7, 2008
Inventors: Patrick Sigler (Holland, MI), William DeKruif , Susan Ell (St. Peters, MO)
Application Number: 11/810,954
International Classification: E04B 1/82 (20060101);