Sound Arresting Barrier Having A Spacer Bracket
A sound barrier includes a plurality of vertically extending posts, wherein each post has an I-shaped cross section defined by a central web and spaced apart pairs of flanges that define oppositely disposed channels for receiving the end portions of sound wall sections. At least one wall section may be received within each channel. The wall sections may have a thickness that is less than the width of the respective channel, so that a space or gap is created between the wall section and one of the flanges of the post. At least one bracket is positioned in the space and attached to the wall section to retain the wall section within the channel.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/018,153 filed Jun. 27, 2014 (pending), the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to acoustic structures, and more particularly to a sound barrier for eliminating or reducing noise emanating from roadways, railways, airports, or other noise generating areas.
BACKGROUNDSound barrier walls are known in the art and have been utilized to eliminate or reduce noise emanating from roadways, railways, airports, or other such areas adjacent residential and/or business communities. These sound barriers are typically constructed in the form of elongate wall structures interposed between a noise source and an area that is desired to be protected from the noise. Conventional sound barriers have been constructed using I-beam shaped posts and concrete wall sections interposed between the posts. These conventional sound barrier walls are heavy and difficult to install. In addition, when it is desired to repair or replace sections of such conventional sound barrier walls, the heavy concrete wall sections make it difficult to remove and replace. The construction of such conventional sound barrier walls makes it difficult to retrofit existing sound walls if there are imperfections in the construction materials used to make the sound wall.
SUMMARYThe present invention overcomes the foregoing and other shortcomings and drawbacks of conventional sound arresting barriers heretofore known. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In one embodiment, a sound barrier includes a plurality of vertically extending posts, wherein each post has an I-shaped cross section defined by a central web and spaced apart pairs of flanges that define oppositely disposed channels for receiving the end portions of sound wall sections. At least one wall section may be received within each channel. The wall section may have a thickness that is less than the width of the respective channel, so that a space or gap is created between the wall section and one of the flanges of the post. At least one bracket is positioned in the space and attached to the wall section to retain the wall section within the channel.
In another embodiment, a method of retrofitting a sound barrier includes inserting at least one wall section into a channel of a post, wherein the wall section has a thickness that is less than the width of the channel so that a space is defined between the wall section and a flange of the post. The method further includes coupling a first bracket with the wall section and the post in the space to thereby retain the wall section within the channel.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings.
A sound barrier 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is suitable not only for new installations, but may also be used to retrofit existing sound walls, for example, when it is desired to repair or replace portions of an existing sound wall or an entire sound wall all together. In the exemplary embodiments shown in
A sound barrier 10 may also include a post cap 17 and/or a post cover 19, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,360, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In many instances, it may be desirable to replace a thick wall section 14b with a thinner wall section 14a. For example, a thick wall section 14b made of concrete may be heavy and difficult to maintain, repair, or replace after being exposed to damage or weathering. Conversely, a thinner wall section 14a made of fiberglass may be lightweight and easily replaceable. Referring now to
Referring now to
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more exemplary embodiments, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features discussed herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.
Claims
1. A sound barrier, comprising:
- a plurality of vertically extending posts, each post having a generally I-shaped cross section defined by a central structural web and spaced apart pairs of flanges extending generally perpendicular to said central web to define first and second oppositely disposed channels along said post for receiving a distal end portion of a wall section therein such that said wall section is retained between adjacent, spaced posts;
- at least one wall section received in said channel of at least one of said plurality of posts;
- wherein said wall section comprises a thickness that is substantially less than a width of said channel, such that a space is defined between said wall section and one of said flanges; and
- at least one first bracket positioned within said space and attached to said wall section;
- wherein said first bracket comprises a base portion and first and second arms perpendicular to said base portion, and wherein said first arm is substantially longer than said second arm.
2. The sound barrier of claim 1, wherein said first arm of said first bracket engages said wall section and said second arm of said first bracket engages a stop surface such that said wall section is positioned within said channel and engages one of said flanges of said post.
3. The sound barrier of claim 2, wherein said stop surface is one of said flanges of said post.
4. The sound barrier of claim 2, wherein said stop surface is defined by a second bracket coupled with said post.
5. The sound barrier of claim 1, wherein said first arm of said first bracket is coupled to said wall section.
6. The sound barrier of claim 1, further comprising at least one second bracket coupled to said central web of at least one of said posts and cooperating with at least one of said flanges to define a space for receiving said wall section therebetween, said bracket including a first leg extending along said central web, and a second leg extending perpendicular to said central web;
- wherein said first bracket is positioned between said wall section and said second bracket.
7. The sound barrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of said wall section or said first bracket comprises glass-reinforced polymeric material.
8. The sound barrier of claim 1, further comprising at least one shim positioned between said second arm of said first bracket and said flange.
9. The sound barrier of claim 1, further comprising at least one elongate post cover coupled with one of said plurality of posts and disposed over an outer surface thereof.
10. The sound barrier of claim 1, further comprising:
- a post cap having an open end;
- said post cap received on an upper, free end of one of said plurality of posts with said free end of said post extending within said open end of said post cap.
11. A method of retrofitting a sound barrier, comprising:
- inserting at least one wall section into a channel of at least one post, wherein the post has a generally I-shaped cross section defined by a central structural web and spaced apart flanges extending generally perpendicular to the central web to define the channel along the post;
- wherein the wall section has a thickness that is substantially less than a width of the channel, such that a space is defined between the wall section and one of the flanges; and
- operatively coupling at least one first bracket with the wall section and the post in the space, wherein the first bracket comprises a base portion and first and second arms perpendicular to the base portion, and wherein the first arm is substantially longer than the second arm.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
- engaging the first arm of the first bracket with the wall section; and
- engaging the second arm of the first bracket with a stop surface such that the wall section is positioned within the channel and engages a flange of the post.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein engaging the second arm of the first bracket with a stop surface includes engaging the second arm with a flange of the post.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein engaging the second arm of the first bracket with a stop surface includes engaging the second arm with a second bracket that is coupled with the central structural web.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein operatively coupling the first bracket includes coupling the first arm of the first bracket to the wall section.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein each post further includes at least one second bracket coupled to the central web of the post and including a first leg extending along the central web and a second leg extending perpendicular to the central web, and wherein inserting at least one first bracket within the space includes inserting the first bracket between the second leg of the second bracket and the wall section.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting at least one shim between the second arm of the first bracket and the flange.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing a per-existing panel retained by the post before inserting at least one wall section into the channel of the post.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 12, 2015
Publication Date: Dec 31, 2015
Inventors: Maxwell H. Corbin, JR. (Milford Center, OH), Marshall M. Corbin (Plain City, OH)
Application Number: 14/594,721