DAMPENING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The present invention discloses a dampening assembly (10) for reducing vibrations, sound or noise, comprising: a first structure, a second structure and a resilient attachment member attaching the first structure to the second structure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dampening assembly for reducing vibrations, sound or noise. In particular the dampening assembly is suitable for reducing vibrations, sound or noise propagating from one room of a building or accommodation to an adjacent room.

BACKGROUND

Undesired sound or noise, propagating from one room in a building to another, may have a negative impact on people's health. Common measures for sound proofing include increasing the thickness of the separating wall or floor/ceiling, adding an additional amount of sound dampening material and increasing the number of composing layers of the separating wall or floor/ceiling. Additional measures include the employment of highly specialized dampening materials built in or applied to the separating wall or floor/ceiling. However, these solutions are associated with high costs.

One mechanism, by which sound or noise propagates through a wall or floor/ceiling, involves mechanical communication between rigid parts therein. Such mechanical communication is largely due to the use of traditional stationary fastening elements, such as e.g. monolithic metallic screws or nails.

Resilient fastening elements, such as e.g. the resilient fixing arrangement of WO 2008/115119 A1, is generally preferred over traditional stationary fastening elements for assembly of separate parts of a wall or ceiling/floor, in order to achieve reduced transmission of sound or noise there through. A resilient fastening element generally comprises a spring means for resiliently retaining the different constructions at a distance from each other, thereby as far as possible preventing mechanical contact between the constructions. Improper assembly of such resilient fastening elements with the separate parts and/or in combination with other features of these separate parts may, however, result no or even increased transmission of sound or noise, which is highly undesired. For example, improper assembly may yield an internally resonating wall or floor/ceiling, which is less dampening than the corresponding wall or floor/ceiling in which traditional stationary fastening elements have been used.

Hence, an improved dampening assembly, e.g. dampening wall or floor/ceiling, for reduction of vibrations, sound or noise would be advantageous.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention, considering the disadvantages mentioned above, to provide an improved dampening assembly which effectively reduces vibrations, sound or noise between two structures.

According to an aspect a dampening assembly for reducing vibration, sound or noise propagation between at least two structures is provided. The dampening assembly comprises a first structure, such as an inner ceiling construction. The dampening assembly further comprises at least one studwork structure. Moreover, the dampening assembly comprises at least one resilient attachment member for resiliently attaching the first structure at a first perpendicular distance from the at least one studwork structure such that the first structure and the at least one studwork structures are in contact with each other only via the resilient attachment member(s). The at least one studwork structure is connected to a second structure oppositely arranged to that of the first structure, the second structure being located at a second perpendicular distance from the first structure. The first perpendicular distance and a surface area of the at least one studwork structure facing the first structure form a first volume. The second perpendicular distance and a surface area of the second structure facing the first structure form a total volume between the first structure and second structure, wherein the total volume when subtracted with the first volume and a volume of the studwork structure forms a second volume. The second volume is larger than the first volume. The second perpendicular distance is larger than the first perpendicular distance.

According to another aspect a dampening assembly for reducing vibration, sound or noise propagation between at least two structures is provided. The dampening assembly comprises a first structure, such as an inner ceiling construction, being connected to at least one studwork structure. The dampening assembly further comprises a second structure. Moreover, the dampening assembly comprises at least one resilient attachment member for resiliently attaching the at least one studwork structure at a first perpendicular distance from the second structure such that the second structure and the at least one studwork structures are in contact with each other only via the resilient attachment member(s), wherein the second structure in relation to the at least one studwork structure is arranged opposite to that of the first structure. The second structure being located at a second perpendicular distance from the first structure. The first perpendicular distance and a surface area of the at least one studwork structure facing the second structure form a first volume. The second perpendicular distance and a surface area of the first structure facing the second structure form a total volume between the first structure and second structure, wherein the total volume when subtracted with the first volume and a volume of the studwork structure forms a second volume. The second volume is larger than the first volume. The second perpendicular distance is larger than the first perpendicular distance.

It is another object of the present invention, to provide a dampening assembly which may be produced at a low cost in comparison to present techniques for achieving reduction of vibrations, sound or noise.

It is yet another object of the present invention, to provide a dampening assembly, e.g. a wall or floor/ceiling, which is thinner than a dampening wall or floor/ceiling of the prior-art, also allowing for equal or improved sound reduction capability.

These and other objects, which will appear from the following description. Further features of the invention and its embodiments are set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 2a and 2b disclose a dampening assembly in which the first perpendicular distance L1 is equal to the second perpendicular distance L2 resulting in relatively poor sound dampening properties;

FIG. 3 illustrates a dampening assembly according to a further embodiment including a flexible material structure provided in a volume thereof;

FIG. 4 illustrates a dampening assembly similar to that of FIG. 2 provided with an alternative flexible material structure in a volume thereof;

FIG. 5 illustrates a dampening assembly according to a further embodiment, wherein two inner ceiling or inner wall structures are connected on either side of a studwork structure by means of a resilient attachment member;

FIG. 6a illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment, wherein two inner ceiling or inner wall structures are connected on either side of a studwork structure fixedly attached to a foundation structure 104;

FIG. 6b illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment, wherein two inner ceiling or inner wall structures are connected on either side of a studwork structure, without any foundation structure 104 arranged between the two studwork structures 102;

FIG. 7a illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment, similar to that of FIG. 1 provided with a further first structure glued to the first structure;

FIG. 7b illustrates a dampening assembly, according to an embodiment, similar to that of FIG. 1 and provided with further first structure rigidly screwed to the first structure by means of conventional screws 701;

FIG. 8 illustrates a dampening assembly, according to an embodiment, similar to that of FIG. 1 provided with a further first structure wherein the resilient attachment member is provided straight through the two inner wall or inner ceiling structures;

FIG. 9a illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment, in which a first structure 101 is connected to a studwork structure 102 to a second structure 104, by means of a resilient attachment member 103, wherein the resilient part of the resilient attachment member is positioned between the studwork structure 102 and the second structure 104. An additional inner ceiling or inner wall structure 601 is rigidly arranged to the first structure 101 by means of non-resilient conventional attachment screws;

FIG. 9b illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment, in which the two inner wall or ceiling structures are connected together using commonly known attachment members, such as screws, and one of the inner wall or ceiling structures are connected using resilient attachment members to the studwork structure, wherein the intermediate resilient portion 302 of the resilient attachment member 103 is positioned between the studwork construction 102 and a foundation structure 104; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment being provided with two inner ceiling or two inner wall structures with a resilient attachment member being provided straight through the inner wall or ceiling structures and anchored to the studwork construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in order for those skilled in the art to be able to carry out the invention. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The invention is only limited by the appended patent claims. Furthermore, the terminology used in the detailed description of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

An idea of the invention is to provide an noise reducing assembly for walls or ceilings, wherein the at least two wall sections are resiliently attached to each other, in a way such that a first volume is created between the two wall sections near the position of the resilient attachment, and a second volume being larger than the first volume is created further away from the position of the resilient attachment. The first and second volumes act as dampeners which allows for noise reduction.

A further idea is to allow for a solution of improved noise reduction for an existing wall or ceiling.

In an embodiment, according to FIG. 1, a dampening assembly 10 for reducing vibrations, sound or noise propagation between at least two structures is provided. The dampening assembly comprises a first structure 101, such as an inner ceiling construction. Moreover, the dampening assembly comprises at least one studwork structure 102 to which the first structure is to be connected. At least one resilient attachment member 103 is provided for resiliently attaching the first structure 101 to the studwork structure 102. When attached to the first structure and the at least one studwork structure the at least one resilient attachment member 103 creates a space between the first structure and the at least one studwork structure, such that the first structure 101 and the at least one studwork structure 102 are contact with each other only via the resilient attachment member(s) 103. A first perpendicular distance L1 from the first structure to the studwork construction defines the space between the two. The at least one studwork structure 102 is connected to a second structure 104, 101 oppositely arranged to that of the first structure 101. The second structure may e.g. be a wall foundation or another inner wall or ceiling. The dimensions of the studwork construction and the placement of the second structure 104, 101 in relation to the studwork structure results in the second structure being at a second perpendicular distance L2 from the first structure 101.

The first perpendicular distance L1 and a surface area of the at least one studwork structure 102 facing the first structure 101 form a first volume V1. Although FIG. 1 is a two dimensional cross sectional view of the first volume V1 has been indicated for improved understanding. In FIG. 1 it actually relates to an area due to the two-dimensional drawing, however it should be appreciated that the volume extends in along the depth of the dampening assembly in reality. Moreover, the second perpendicular distance L2 and a surface area of the second structure 104, 101 facing the first structure 101 form a total volume between the first and second structure. The total volume when subtracted with the first volume V1 and a volume of the studwork structure Vs form a second volume V2. Hence, the total volume between the first structure and the second structure is made up by the first volume, the second volume and the volume of the studwork structure. The present inventors have realized that when the second volume is larger than the first volume, the first perpendicular distance or first volume is greater than zero, and when the second perpendicular distance L2 is larger than the first perpendicular distance L1, an improved noise reduction between the first 101 and second structures 104 is noticeable. Hence, arranging the assembly in a way that the second volume is larger than the first volume is advantageous.

Accordingly, by arranging the second perpendicular distance L2 to be larger than the first perpendicular distance L1, a further improved sound dampening effect is obtained.

Having FIG. 1 in mind, propagating sound waves originating from the left side of the first structure 101 will be absorbed by the first structure 101, as well as by the resilient attachment member 103, whereby the first structure 101 will start oscillating in relation to the second structure 104. Furthermore, ambient atmospheric gas residing between first structure second structure in use, will also act as a dampener for the relative oscillation of the first and second structures, thereby reducing sound transport between the first 101 and second structures 104. Moreover, as the first structure 101 and the second structure 104 are only in direct contact with each other via the resilient attachment members 103, the mechanical sound transport between the first structure and the second structure is kept to a minimum.

The first structure 101 may be a plasterboard, Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) board, High Density Fibreboard (HDF), Plywood, chipboard, Oriented Strand Board (OSB) or being of any other sheet of material suitable for an inner ceiling or wall.

By keeping the entire wall or ceiling construction as thin as possible, the room area or room volume will be as large as possible, which is highly desired. However, in order to get improved sound dampening effects, currently additional plasterboards usually are added to the inner wall surface, which gives an additional average sound dampening effect of about 5 dB. However, not only is more material needed, but also the room area or room volume suffers from the additional plasterboard arrangement.

The present dampening assembly allows for a thin sound dampening wall construction.

Experiments performed by the present inventors have shown that the dampening assembly in accordance with the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, may reduce the sound by 8 dB in comparison to a common wall or ceiling in which the first structure is rigidly attached to the studwork construction in such a way that L1 is zero. The sound dampening of 8 dB was observable in the noise frequency range of 50 Hz to 5000 Hz.

Given that adding a further first structure generally dampens the sound by 5 dB, the present invention dampens sound better with only a single first structure resiliently attached to a studwork structure, than a conventional solution in which two first structures are rigidly attached to the studwork structure. Accordingly, not only does the solution of the present invention dampens the sound to a greater extent, it also saves space while significantly reducing the costs in view of the conventional solutions.

For a typical wall construction, the studwork structure is normally attached to the floor foundation and ceiling (not shown in the drawings). However, in some cases, e.g. where the second structure 104 constitutes an existing concrete wall, the studwork structure could also be attached to the second structure.

For a typical ceiling construction, the studwork structure normally constitutes the floor studwork foundation of the next level of the property. However, it is possible within the scope of the present invention to attach a further studwork structure to an existing floor studwork foundation structure using flexible resilient members to resiliently attach the further studwork structure to the existing studwork structure when assembling an inner ceiling dampening assembly according to some embodiments.

The resilient attachment member could be any commonly known resilient attachment member. However, preferably the resilient attachment member is configured to attach the first structure with the studwork structure in a one-directional manner, e.g. by screwing it in through the first structure to the studwork construction. Such a resilient attachment member mainly comprises three portions. A first portion 301 is provided with an outer thread for rigid connection to the first structure 101. An intermediate resilient portion 302 of the resilient attachment member connects the first portion to a second portion 303 which is provided with further outer thread for rigid connection to the studwork structure. The dimension of the further outer thread is preferably less than the outer thread of the first portion 301, whereby the resilient attachment member may be introduced through a hole in the first structure 101. Due to the lesser dimension of the outer thread of the second portion, the second portion may be introduced through the hole of the first structure without interfering with the first structure during mounting. The intermediate resilient portion 302 acts to keep the first and second portion at a distance from each other in a relaxed or idle state. Hence, the intermediate resilient portion 302 returns to its idle or relaxed state when not influenced by any external longitudinal force or sound pressure wave. The first portion 301 is provided with a first mating unit (not shown in FIG. 1), such as a protrusion or recess, which is configured to receive a second mating unit of the second portion in a compressed state, in which the first 301 and second 303 portions are forced together. When the two mating units are connected this prevents any relative rotation between the first portion and the second portion, whereby the two portions 301, 303 may be screwed into the first and second structure 104, respectively, simultaneously. The first portion and the intermediate resilient member may have a hollow interior shape, through which a mounting tool mating with the second portion 303 may be inserted for screwing the second portion 303 into the second structure 104 independently of the first portion 301. The first portion 301 may be configured with an outer recess for mating with a screw driver, thereby allowing for independent attachment of the first portion 301 to the first structure 101. Hence, such a resilient attachment member 103 allows for relative rotation between the first 301 and second 303 portion in the relaxed state by using a mounting tool, or non-relative rotation between the first 301 and second 303 portion in a compressed state when the first portion 301 and second portion 303 are mated together.

The resilient attachment member may be configured to attach the two structures involved from one direction. For example, the resilient attachment member(s) in FIGS. 1 to 4, 7a, 7b, 8, and 10 could be mounted from a left to right direction. In FIGS. 5, 6a, 6b the resilient attachment member(s) on the left hand side of the studwork construction could be mounted from a left to right direction and the resilient attachment member(s) at the right hand side of the studwork construction could be mounted from a right to left direction. The resilient attachment member(s) of FIGS. 9a, and 9b could be mounted from a right to left direction.

The mounting tool may be configured with a first member connectable to the first portion 301 of the resilient attachment member 103 and a second member connectable to the second portion 303 of the resilient attachment member 103, whereby upon rotation of the connected mounting tool the first portion 301 is screwed into the first structure 101 and the second portion 303 is screwed into the studwork structure 102.

The resilient attachment member may also have an extended state, in which the first 301 and second 303 portions are positioned at a maximum longitudinal distance away from each other. Accordingly, the second perpendicular distance L2 between the first structure 101 and second structure 104, 101 is larger in the extended state than that in the compressed state. The resilient attachment member 103 is in a state between the extended state and the compressed state when the intermediate resilient portion 302 is in its idle state.

In order to achieve a preferred sound reduction, the first perpendicular distance L1 should always greater than zero, for each state of the resilient attachment member. Hence, the first perpendicular distance L1 between the surface of the first structure facing the studwork structure, and the surface of the studwork structure facing the first structure is preferably always greater than zero to make sure that the only mechanical sound barrier between the first and second surface is through the resilient attachment member.

The present inventors have found that an improved sound reduction is achieved when the second perpendicular distance L2 is larger than L1, and that L1 is greater than zero. This implies that even if resilient attachment members are used, in the event that the first perpendicular distance L1 is equal to the second perpendicular distance L2, the sound reduction according to tests performed is relatively poor, compared to if L2 is larger than L1. A dampening assembly in which L1 equals L2 is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

Accordingly, throughout the embodiments of the invention the second perpendicular distance L2 is larger than the first perpendicular distance L1.

Hence, for each embodiment could be further significantly improved, in the manner set out in the embodiments of the present invention.

In an embodiment, in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4, the second volume is at least partly filled with flexible material structure 201. The flexible material structure 201 may be an insulating material, such as rock wool as depicted in FIG. 4, insulating balls such as plastic insulating balls as depicted in FIG. 3, glass wool, polystyrene balls, or any other insulating material. The flexible material structure 201 may also have sound dampening properties, such as a sound dampening material. Many insulating materials possess sound dampening properties, whereby these kinds of materials are preferred.

The flexible material structure is preferably porous, allowing for accommodating a volume of atmospheric gas.

It should be appreciated that the second volume V2 may be at least partly incorporated as an atmospheric gas within the flexible material structure, and as an atmospheric gas partly exterior to the flexible material structure, in cases where the flexible material structure only partly fills the space between the first structure and second structure, such as in FIG. 10. For example, in FIG. 3, the space between the spherical insulating balls containing an atmospheric gas may form part of V2.

The second volume created between the second and first structures may according to some embodiments advantageously be at least partly unobstructed by the flexible material structure, thereby providing at least one unobstructed passage between the second structure and the first structure. This improves the atmospheric gas movement within the second volume, which may allow for improved sound reduction. For example, in view of FIG. 3, wherein the flexible material structure contains a number of plastic insulating balls, there is an unobstructed passage between each ball within the structure due to the spherical symmetry of the insulating balls.

The flexibility of the flexible material structure should be adapted to allow for absorption of sound pressure waves. Accordingly, the flexible material structure does not pertain to a fully rigid structure, such as a plaster board, MDF or the like, through which the sound waves easily mechanically propagate, as this adversely affect the sound reduction capability. Also a rigid material would create additional direct mechanical contact points between the first structure and second structure. Instead, a flexible and shapeable material is preferred. Expressed in other terms it is preferred that the acoustic impedance of the flexible material structure is lower than both that of the first structure and second structure. As characteristic acoustic impedance Z₀, may be described by the formula Z₀=ρ*c, where ρ denotes the density of a medium and c is the longitudinal wave speed or sound speed, it follows that generally a low density medium has a lower acoustic impedance than a high density medium as sound speed is generally travels faster in a high density medium. Hence, the flexible material structure preferably has a lower density than that of the first structure 101 and second structure 104, 101.

FIG. 5 illustrates a dampening assembly 10 according to further embodiment, in which the second structure 104 is also resiliently attached to the studwork structure 102 by means of a number of resilient attachment members 103. In this embodiment, the second structure may be identical to the first structure, thereby pertaining to an inner ceiling or wall. Hence, a difference in view of FIG. 1 is that the second structure is also resiliently attached to the studwork structure. In addition to the first and second volume, as mentioned in view of FIG. 1 above, an additional third volume V3 is created in this embodiment, as a third perpendicular distance L3 and a surface area of the at least one studwork structure 102 facing the second structure 104 form a third volume V3. In reality, the third volume V3 and the first volume V1 may be roughly equal. Total volume between the first structure and the second structure is formed by the second perpendicular distance L2 and a surface area of the second structure 104 facing the first structure 101. The total volume subtracted by the first volume V1, the third volume V3 and a volume of the studwork Vs forms the second volume in this embodiment. Hence, in the event the second structure is not directly attached to the studwork construction this additional volume may be taken into consideration when defining the second volume. This embodiment is advantageous for walls when sound proofing is desired from both sides of the wall, e.g. in open-plan office environments, and separating walls in apartments.

FIG. 6a illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment, similar to that of FIG. 1, in which a further studwork structure 102 and a further first structure 101 is arranged on the opposite side of the dampening assembly of FIG. 1. The further first structure is arranged at a third perpendicular distance L3 from the further studwork structure, and at a fourth perpendicular distance L4 from a surface of the second structure 104 facing the further first structure 101. Here, both the second perpendicular distance L2 and the fourth perpendicular distance L4 is preferably greater than the first perpendicular distance L1 and the third perpendicular distance, respectively. The fourth perpendicular distance L4 and a surface area of the further first structure 101 facing the second structure 104 form a further total volume between the further first structure and the second structure. The total volume when subtracted by the third volume and a volume of the studwork Vs form a fourth volume V4. The further first structure may be denoted third structure for sake of clarity in the appended claims.

In an embodiment, it is also preferred that the second volume V2 is larger than the first volume V1 and if available the fourth volume V4 is larger than the third volume V3.

FIG. 6b illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment, wherein two inner ceiling or inner wall structures are connected on either side of a studwork structure, without any foundation structure 104 arranged between the two studwork structures 102. Hence, in this case it is preferred that L2 is greater than L1 and L3, respectively, and that each of L1 and L3 is greater than zero in order to obtain the desired sound dampening properties.

In an embodiment, the first L1 or third L3 perpendicular distance is in the range of 0.01 to 20 mm, e.g. 1 to 10, such as 1 to 5 mm, such 3 mm.

In an embodiment, the second L2 or fourth L4 perpendicular distance is in the range of 25 to 500 mm, e.g. 50 to 300, such as 50 to 200 mm.

FIG. 7a illustrates an embodiment in which a further first structure or sheet of material 601 has been mounted on top of the first structure 101. The further sheet of material may e.g. be an additional plaster board, MDF, HDF or optionally glued onto the first structure 101.

Experiments have shown that adding an additional sheet of material 601, such as plasterboard, may improve the sound dampening capabilities of the wall or ceiling by 5 dB. On the other hand, this will increase the thickness of the wall construction.

FIG. 7b illustrates a dampening assembly, according to an embodiment, similar to that of FIG. 7a in which the further first structure is rigidly screwed to the first structure by means of conventional screws 701.

According to an embodiment, in view of FIG. 8, the at least one resilient attachment member is attached to the at least one studwork structure straight through the first structure and the further first structure. Hence, this embodiment requires a slightly longer resilient attachment member than that required e.g. in view of FIG. 7a.

The second structure 104, 101 may be rigidly attached to the studwork structure acting as a foundation of a wall, roof or floor of a building or accommodation, whereas the first structure 101 is resiliently suspended in relation to the second structure 104 via the resilient attachment member 103.

An advantageous effect of the present invention is that it is possible to assemble the dampening assembly in a one-directional manner, as the resilient attachment members may be screwed into the structures in essentially in the same way as commonly is performed when mounting plasterboards. The only difference is that an adapted mounting tool may be required, in case the resilient attachment member is not adapted to a particular standard. Hence, the present invention allows for a method of assembling the dampening assembly as suggested by the incorporated embodiments.

Such a method may pertain to a method for assembling a first structure 101 to a studwork structure 102 using at least one resilient attachment member 103. The method comprises the steps of simultaneously attaching a first portion 301 of the resilient attachment member 103 to the first structure 101 and a second portion 303 of the resilient attachment member 103 to the studwork structure 102. The resilient attachment member 102 is arranged straight through the first structure 101, thereby allowing for assembling the first structure 101 to the studwork structure 102 from one direction.

The step of simultaneous attachment may be performed using a mounting tool connectable to the resilient attachment member 103 via a through bore provided therein. The mounting tool has a first member connectable to the first portion 301 of the resilient attachment member 103 and a second member connectable to the second portion 303 of the resilient attachment member 103, whereby upon rotation of the connected mounting tool the first portion 301 is screwed into the first structure 101 and the second portion 303 is screwed into the studwork structure 102.

As may be observed from FIG. 1, the first construction is resiliently attached to the studwork structure 102, while the second structure may be rigidly attached to the studwork structure opposite the first structure.

As an alternative it is also possible to resiliently attach the second structure to the studwork structure, and optionally rigidly attaching the first structure to the studwork structure opposite the second structure. Two such embodiments are shown with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9a. Here, the at least one resilient attachment member 103 is configured to resiliently attaching the at least one studwork structure 102 at a first perpendicular distance from the second structure 104, 101 such that the second structure 104, 101 and the at least one studwork structures 102 are in contact with each other only via the resilient attachment member(s) 103. The second structure 104, 101 is located at a second perpendicular distance from the first structure 101. The first distance and a surface area of the at least one studwork structure 102 facing the second structure 104, 101 form a first volume, and the second distance and a surface area of the first structure 101 facing the second structure 104, 101 less the first volume form a second volume, wherein the second volume is larger than the first volume. In the embodiment of FIG. 9a, the resilient attachment member may be provided between the studwork structure 102 and the second structure 104, whereby the first structure and optionally further first structure 601 may be rigidly attached to the studwork structure by means of conventional screws 701. It should be appreciated that the conventional screws 701 securing the further first structure to the first structure may be also attached to the studwork structure (see lower studwork structure).

On the other hand, in the embodiment of FIG. 9b, the resilient attachment member may be provided straight through the first structure and the studwork structure and then be rigidly attached to the second structure. This optionally requires a longer first portion 301 of the resilient attachment member.

For example, the dampening assembly of FIG. 9a may optionally be used as an inner ceiling dampening assembly for an sound proofing an existing ceiling, wherein the second structure is the floor foundation, such as an existing studwork structure of a property, whereas the studwork structure 102 is a further studwork structure, resiliently attached to the existing studwork structure 104, by means of the resilient attachment members.

FIG. 10 illustrates a dampening assembly according to an embodiment being provided with two inner ceiling or two inner wall structures with a resilient attachment member being provided straight through the inner wall or ceiling structures and anchored to the studwork construction.

Although the invention has been described in association with separate embodiment, combinations of the described embodiments are also considered being within the scope of the invention.

It should be appreciated that each of the embodiments described herein is suitable for both inner ceiling and inner wall applications.

The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A damping assembly for reducing vibration, sound or noise propagation between at least two structures, comprising:

a first structure;

at least one studwork structure; and

at least one resilient attachment member for resiliently attaching the first structure at a first perpendicular distance from the at least one studwork structure, such that the first structure and the at least one studwork structure are in contact with each other only via the resilient attachment member;

wherein the at least one studwork structure is connected to a second structure oppositely arranged to the first structure, the second structure being located at a second perpendicular distance from the first structure;

wherein the first perpendicular distance and a surface area of the at least one studwork structure facing the first structure form a first volume;

wherein the second perpendicular distance and a surface area of the second structure facing the first structure form a total volume between the first structure and the second structure, wherein the total volume when subtracted with the first volume and a volume of the studwork structure forms a second volume;

wherein the second volume is larger than the first volume;

wherein the second perpendicular distance is larger than the first perpendicular distance; and

wherein the at least one resilient attachment member is attached to the at least one studwork structure straight through the first structure.

2. A damping assembly for reducing vibration, sound or noise propagation between at least two structures, comprising;

a first structure connected to at least one studwork structure;

a second structure; and

at least one resilient attachment member resiliently attaching the at least one studwork structure at a first perpendicular distance from the second structure, such that the second structure and the at least one studwork structure are in contact with each other only via the resilient attachment member;

wherein the second structure in relation to the at least one studwork structure is arranged opposite to that of the first structure;

wherein the second structure is located at a second perpendicular distance from the first structure;

wherein the first perpendicular distance and a surface area of the at least one studwork structure facing the second structure form a first volume;

wherein the second perpendicular distance and a surface area of the first structure facing the second structure form a total volume between the first structure and the second structure, wherein the total volume when subtracted with the first volume and a volume of the studwork structure forms a second volume;

wherein the second volume is larger than the first volume;

wherein the second perpendicular distance is larger than the first perpendicular distance; and

wherein the at least one resilient attachment member is attached to the at least one studwork structure straight through the second structure.

3. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first perpendicular distance is greater than zero.

4. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second volume is at least partly filled with a flexible material structure.

5. The damping assembly according to claim 4, wherein the flexible material structure is an insulating material.

6. The damping assembly according to claim 4, wherein the flexible material structure is a sound damping material.

7. The damping assembly according to claim 4, wherein there is at least one unobstructed passage between the second structure and the first structure.

8. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first structure has a first cross-sectional geometric shape, and the second structure has a second cross-sectional geometric shape, wherein the second volume is formed by the space between the first structure, the second structure, and the studwork structure.

9. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient attachment member has a compressed state and an extended state;

wherein the second perpendicular distance is greater than zero in the compressed state; and

wherein the second perpendicular distance between the first structure and the second structure is larger in the extended state than that in the compressed state, such that the first structure is moveable in relation to the second structure.

10. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein a shortest distance between the first structure and the second structure is greater than zero.

11. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient attachment member comprises:

a first portion fixed to the first structure;

a second portion fixed to the second structure; and

an intermediate resilient portion connected between the first portion and the second portion.

12. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first perpendicular distance is in the range of 0.01 to 20 mm.

13. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second perpendicular distance is in the range of 25 to 500 mm.

14. The damping assembly according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate resilient portion has an idle state to which it will return when not influenced by any external longitudinal force or sound pressure wave; and

wherein the at least one resilient attachment member is in a state between an extended state and a compressed state when the intermediate resilient portion is in its idle state.

15. The damping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second structure is rigidly attached to a foundation of a wall, roof or floor of a building or accommodation, and

wherein the first structure is a suspended in relation to the second structure via the resilient attachment member.

16. The damping assembly according to claim 1, comprising:

a third structure, resiliently attached to the second structure by a further resilient attachment member via at least one further studwork structure.

17. A method for assembling a first structure to a studwork structure using a resilient attachment member in accordance with claim 1, the method comprising:

simultaneously attaching a first portion of the resilient attachment member to the first structure and a second portion of the resilient attachment member to the studwork structure;

wherein the resilient attachment member is arranged straight through the first structure, such that the first structure is assembled to the studwork structure from one direction.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the simultaneously attaching is performed by

connecting a first member of a mounting tool to the first portion of the resilient attachment member and a second member of the mounting tool to the second portion of the resilient attachment member via a through bore provided therein; and

rotating the connected mounting tool such that the first portion is screwed into the first structure and the second portion is screwed into the studwork structure.

19. A mounting tool for assembling the first structure to the at least one studwork structure of claim 1 by engaging the at least one resilient attachment member, such that the at least one resilient attachment member is attached to the at least one studwork structure straight through the first structure.