AU758716B2

AU758716B2 - Acoustic mount

Info

Publication number: AU758716B2
Application number: AU17377/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Geoff Grimish; Peter Anthony Ryan
Original assignee: ASHFORD PROPERTIES Pty Ltd; PETERS DREAM Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ASHFORD PROPERTIES Pty Ltd; PETERS DREAM Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-02-19
Filing date: 1999-02-18
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-18
Also published as: AU1737799A

Description

7r M'UMI~ 1 2815191 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: ACOUSTIC MOUNT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us ACOUSTIC MOUNT Technical Field The present invention is concerned with acoustic mounting devices that may be used in any application requiring acoustic isolation of one part from another.

Background Art In many instances, it is desirable to isolate one part of a construct from vibrations originating in another part of the construct. Even in cases where the two parts are essentially separate but for a small number of connection points, the vibrations may still be transferred via these connection points.

In vehicles for example, the driver/passenger cabin needs to be isolated from vibrations generated by the engine. Similarly, some scientific instruments consist of a sensor and a motor used for positioning the sensor. The sensor may need to be isolated from vibrations emanating from the motor so that measurements taken by the sensor are not affected by the vibrations. In multidwelling complexes, the rooms should ideally be acoustically isolated so that noises originating from one room are not heard in adjacent rooms.

Building structures conventionally have living spaces separated by block wall, which generally consist of concrete slabs. A thinner, lighter wall surface 20 such as plasterboard is often used to cover the block wall and is mounted so as to leave a gap between the thinner wall and the block wall. This spacing is maintained by mounting brackets arranged in a network which also serve to attach the thinner wall to the block wall.

A significant problem with the above arrangement is that low frequency vibrations and sounds are easily transmitted from one thin wall, through the mounting brackets and the block wall, through to the thin wall disposed on the other side of the block wall.

One method of reducing noise and vibration transmission between rooms involves coating the mounting brackets with a sound absorbing material such as a S 30 rubber material, which serves to dampen the sound.

These sound absorbing mounts are expensive to manufacture because they involve stamping the sound absorbing material onto the actual mount structure. The layer of sound absorbing material coating the mount is quite thin, z, 7pand although it does reduce the amount of noise transferred between rooms, it is still not entirely effective.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective acoustic mount which is of simpler construction than the prior art.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an acoustic mount for isolating a first part from acoustic vibrations existing in a second part.

The acoustic mount includes: a first mounting means; a sound absorbing insert; and a second mounting means; wherein said first mounting means includes an orifice for operatively receiving at least part of the sound absorbing insert, and wherein said sound absorbing insert has an orifice for operatively receiving at least a part of said second mounting means, such that said second mounting means is not in direct contact with said first mounting means.

It is preferred that the orifice in said first mounting means is defined by a single start thread.

It is preferred that said sound absorbing insert has a thread which 20 cooperates with said single start thread of said first mounting means.

It is preferred that said thread which cooperates with said single start thread is a helical thread.

It is preferred that said first mounting means is a mounting clip.

It is preferred that said second mounting means has a head which is 25 shaped so that it could not pass through the orifice of said first mounting means.

o It is preferred that said second mounting means has a head, the diameter S of which is greater than the diameter of the orifice of said first mounting means.

It is preferred that said second mounting means includes a bearing surface Swhich is adapted to receive a fastener.

It is preferred that said second mounting means is a bush.

It is preferred that said first part is a first part of a building structure and said second part is a second part of said building structure.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an acoustic mount for isolating a first part of a building structure from acoustic vibrations existing in a second part of a building structure, said acoustic mount including: a first mounting means operatively adapted to be in contact with said first part of the building structure; a sound absorbing insert; and a second mounting means operatively adapted to be structurally connected to said second part of the building structure; wherein said first mounting means includes an orifice for operatively receiving at least part of the sound absorbing insert, and wherein said sound absorbing insert has an orifice for operatively receiving at least a part of said second mounting means, such that said second mounting means is not in direct contact with said first mounting means.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an acoustic wall structure for minimising transmission of sound waves, the acoustic wall structure including: a first wall; a second wall extending parallel to the first wall and spaced from the first wall; a first mounting means attached to the first wall, the first mounting means having an insert receiving orifice; a sound absorbing insert, the sound absorbing insert being at least partially received by the insert receiving orifice of the first mounting means, the sound o absorbing insert having an orifice for receipt of a second mounting means; and a second mounting means attached to the second wall, the second mounting S* means being at least partially received by the receiving orifice of the insert such that 25 the second mounting means is not in direct contact with the first mounting means.

Acoustic mounts of the present invention have the advantage that they are cheaper to manufacture than conventional mounts, have superior sound absorbing qualities over conventional mounts, are easy to assemble on site and it may be used in conjunction with other structures.

4 The invention sets out to provide a useful alternative to the conventional mounts described above, and to ameliorate, if not entirely suppress low frequency noise transmission between two parts of a particular construct.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the main components making up an acoustic mount in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the acoustic mount of figure 1 in a fully assembled state; Figure 3 is a section view taken along the line AA of figure 2; Figure 4 is a view of the acoustic mount of figure 1 in use, supporting a section of plasterboard in relation to a concrete slab.

Figure 5 is a front view of an acoustic mount according to the present invention having an alternative connector element to that shown in figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side view of the acoustic mount with alternative connector element of figure :i 20 Figure 7 is a plan view of the acoustic mount with alternative *connector element of figures 5 and 6.

Referring to figure 1, acoustic mount 10 includes mounting clip 1, sound absorbing insert 2, and bush 3.

The mounting clip 1 has an orifice 4, for receiving the sound insert 2. In i 25 this particular embodiment, orifice 4 is defined by a single start interior thread, which cooperates with a counterpart single thread 5 formed on the periphery of mounting stub 14 of sound absorbing insert 2. Alternatively, orifice 4 could simply be a plain opening, and mounting stub 14 of sound absorbing insert 2 that is received within the opening may be smooth, allowing the sound absorbing insert S 30 to be pushed into the orifice like a plug and will be held in place by the resilience of the insert 2. Other arrangements allowing the sound absorbing insert to be received within orifice 4 of the mounting clip and fixed therein are also possible.

mounting clip may be made from hardened steel, or any other suitable material and may be made into any suitable shape, such as a right angled bracket.

The sound absorbing insert 2 also has an orifice for receiving the bush.

Dimples 6 on the sound absorbing insert 2 are known in the art and serve only to form a convenient surface for connecting the acoustic mount to other devices in use. The surface of the insert can take any convenient form.

The sound absorbing insert is made of a soft rubber, but may also be made of any suitable sound absorbing material.

The arrangement of the invention allows for the rubber used for absorbing the sound to be softer than the rubber used in conventional devices rubber stamped onto the clip). This provides for more effective sound absorbing properties.

Bush 3 is in use inserted into the orifice 7 of the sound absorbing insert 2, such that it is physically isolated from the mounting clip 1.

In use, the mounting clip 1 is either directly or indirectly in contact with the thin wall or plaster board, while the bush 3 is indirectly in contact with the block wall. The sound absorbing insert 2 therefore acts to isolate the thin wall from the block wall, and dampens low frequency noise transfer between the two walls.

iii. Figure 2 shows the acoustic mount 10 in its assembled state. This clearly shows how the bush 3 and the clip 1 are separated by the sound absorbing insert 2.

Figure 3 also shows the assembled mount 10, this time in a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in figure 2. Bush 3 is inserted into the orifice of the sound absorbing material 2, which in turn is inserted into the orifice of the 25 mounting clip 1, thereby isolating bush 3 from the clip 1.

S: Referring now to figure 4, there is shown the acoustic mount in use. The i '...mounting clip 1 of assembled mount 10 is connected to a furring channel 9, which is in turn connected to the plasterboard wall 11. It is to be emphasised that the shape of the mounting clip is not limited to that shown in this particular S 30 embodiment. The shape will vary according to the particular application.

The bush 3 is connected in a conventional manner to a connector 13, which is in turn attached in a conventional manner to concrete slab 12, making up -Ttblock wall.

6 Thus, noise vibrations emanating from plasterboard 11 caused by noise originating in a first room, will be transferred through the furring channel 9, to the mounting clip 1, but will be damped through the sound absorbing insert 2, effectively isolating bush 3, connector 13 and the concrete slab 12 from noises produced in the first room.

A similar arrangement exists on the opposite side of the concrete slab, thus further isolating a second room (next door to the first room) from sounds originating in the first room and vice versa.

In practice, such mounting devices are arranged in a network connecting the inner surface of the plasterboard to the concrete slab.

As an alternative to connector 13, there may be provided a connector cap as shown in figures 5 to 7. This allows acoustic mount 10 to be attached in a different manner to specific mounting units instead of directly to a wall. In this preferred embodiment, connector cap 20 consists of a circular dish 21 having side 15 walls 24. Connector cap 20 may be attached to acoustic mount 10 by way of bolts or screws (not shown). Of course any other suitable means of attachment is possible.

Sections 22 are cut out from the surface of disc 21 and bent upwards to form tabs 23 which are received in corresponding slots in a mounting unit used in this particular application (not shown). Projection 25 is also received in a corresponding hole or recess in the mounting unit.

Other forms of connecting acoustic mount 10 to other mounting units are envisaged as would be understood by the person skilled in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of head 8 of bush 3 will be greater than the diameter of orifice 4 of mounting clip 1. In the event of a fire, which may 25 cause sound absorbing insert 2 to melt, the bush will not fall through orifice 4. This will help to prevent the wall structure from collapsing, making it safer for firefighters and persons who may be trapped in the burning building.

It will be appreciated that variations and additions are possible within the general inventive concept of this disclosure.

Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. An acoustic mount for isolating a first part from acoustic vibrations existing in a second part, said acoustic mount including: a first mounting means; a sound absorbing insert; and a second mounting means; wherein said first mounting means includes an orifice for operatively receiving at least part of the sound absorbing insert, and wherein said sound absorbing insert has an orifice for operatively receiving at least a part of said second mounting means, such that said second mounting means is not in direct contact with said first mounting means.

2. An acoustic mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the orifice in said first mounting means is defined by a single start thread.

3. An acoustic mount as defined in claim 2, wherein said sound absorbing insert has a thread which cooperates with said single start thread of said first mounting means. 20

4. An acoustic mount as defined in claim 3, wherein said thread which cooperates with said single start thread is a helical thread.

An acoustic mount as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first mounting means is a mounting clip.

6. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said second mounting means has a head which is shaped so that it could not pass through the orifice of said first mounting means. S: 30

7. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said second mounting means has a head, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the orifice of said first mounting means. 8

8. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second mounting means includes a bearing surface which is adapted to receive a fastener.

9. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said second mounting means is a bush.

An acoustic mount as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first part is a first part of a building structure and said second part is a second part of said building structure.

11. An acoustic mount for isolating a first part of a building structure from acoustic vibrations existing in a second part of a building structure, said acoustic :0.0.0 mount including: a first mounting means operatively adapted to be in contact with said first part of the building structure; a sound absorbing insert; and a second mounting means operatively adapted to be structurally connected to said second part of the building structure; wherein said first mounting means includes an orifice for operatively receiving at least part of the sound absorbing insert, and wherein said sound absorbing insert has an orifice for operatively receiving at least a part of said second mounting means, such that said second mounting means is not in direct S contact with said first mounting means. aoo.

12. An acoustic mount as defined in claim 11, wherein said first mounting means is a mounting clip.

13. An acoustic mount as defined in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said second mounting means includes a bearing surface which is adapted to receive a fastener.

14. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said second mounting means has a head which is shaped so that it could not pass through the orifice of said first mounting means.

15. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said second mounting means has a head, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the orifice of said first mounting means.

16. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said second mounting means is a bush.

17. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein said orifice in said mounting clip is defined by a single start thread.

18. An acoustic mount as defined in claim 17, wherein said sound absorbing insert has a helical thread which cooperates with said start thread of said mounting clip.

19. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the 20 sound absorbing insert enters the first mounting means from a first direction, and the second mounting means enters the sound absorbing insert from a second "0 direction that is opposite to the first direction.

An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the 25 acoustic mount is operatively adapted to be positioned between parts of the building structure to minimise transmission of vibration between the parts.

21. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 20, wherein the sound absorbing insert is provided with projections which are adapted to connect S 30 indirectly to the second part of the building structure.

22. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 21, wherein the st mounting means is operatively adapted to be in indirect contact with the first p" of the building structure. OFF\C

23. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 22, wherein the second mounting means is operatively adapted to be in indirect contact with the second part of the building structure.

24. An acoustic mount as defined in any one of claims 11 to 23, wherein the first part of the building structure and the second part of the building structure are walls extending in parallel, spaced planes, wherein the orifice of the first mounting means extends in an orifice plane, wherein the first mounting means is operatively adapted to be in contact with said first part of the building structure such that the orifice plane extends in a parallel relationship between parallel, spaced planes of the walls of the building structure.

An acoustic wall structure for minimising transmission of sound waves, the acoustic wall structure including: a first wall; a second wall extending parallel to the first wall and spaced from the first wall; a first mounting means attached to the first wall, the first mounting means having an insert receiving orifice; a sound absorbing insert, the sound absorbing insert being at least partially received by the insert receiving orifice of the first mounting means, the sound absorbing insert having an orifice for receipt of a second mounting means; and a second mounting means attached to the second wall, the second mounting means being at least partially received by the receiving orifice of the insert such that the second mounting means is not in direct contact with the first mounting means.

26. The acoustic wall structure of claim 25, wherein the first mounting means is a mounting clip. 11

27. An acoustic wall structure as defined in claim 25 or claim 26, wherein said second mounting means includes a bearing surface which is adapted to receive a fastener.

28. An acoustic wall structure as defined in any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein said second mounting means has a head which is shaped so that it could not pass through the orifice of said first mounting means.

29. An acoustic wall structure as defined in any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein said second mounting means has a head, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the orifice of said first mounting means.

An acoustic wall structure as defined in any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein said second mounting means is a bush.

31. The acoustic wall structure of any one of claims 25 to 30, wherein the sound absorbing insert has a helical thread which cooperates with the insert receiving orifice of the first mounting means.

32. The acoustic wall structure of any one of claims 25 to 31, wherein the sound absorbing insert enters the first mounting means from a first direction, and the second mounting means enters the sound absorbing insert from a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. o

33. The acoustic wall structure of any one of claims 25 to 32, wherein the first wall is plaster board.

34. The acoustic wall structure of any one of claims 25 to 33, wherein the second wall is a concrete block wall.

The acoustic wall structure of any one of claims 25 to 34, wherein the insert receiving orifice extends in an orifice plane in a parallel relationship between the parallel, spaced first and second walls.

36. An acoustic mount as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

37. The acoustic wall structure as claimed in any one of claims 25 to substantially as described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 6th day of January 2003 PETERS DREAM PTY LIMITED AND ASHFORD PROPERTIES PTY LIMITED WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA *F PNF/SWE/CMM *9