EP4768674A1

EP4768674A1 - Acoustic panel module for sound attenuation, modular partition wall for sound attenuation and method for sound attenuation

Info

Publication number: EP4768674A1
Application number: EP25189963.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tomasz Rygalik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2024-07-17
Filing date: 2025-07-16
Publication date: 2026-07-01
Also published as: PL449263A1

Abstract

The subject of the application is an acoustic panel module for sound attenuation, comprising a self-supporting front panel (10) wherein the module has a shape defined by the plane of the front panel (10),characterized in that front panel (1) is made of a biomass-based material having a density of from 200 kg/m³ and a thickness of from 2 cm to 40 cm, and the shape of the surface of the front panel (1) is provided with a structure enabling the absorption of the energy of incident sound waves and the reflection of incident sound waves whose energy is not absorbed by the structure of the surface (1) in a direction substantially different from the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panel module, wherein openings (7) are arranged on the surface of the front panel (1) to support the absorption of sound wave energy.

Description

The subject of the invention is an acoustic panel module for sound attenuation, a modular partition for sound attenuation, and a method of sound attenuation, intended in particular for use in enclosed spaces to reduce noise and reverberation and to improve acoustic comfort, especially during meetings.
In urban environments in particular, there is an intensification of acoustic stimuli, which causes difficulties in normal functioning. Within rooms, there are two types of sound disturbance sources: external sources, such as vehicle traffic, and internal sources, such as sounds generated during conversations, conferences, games, etc., as well as reverberation resulting from sound reflections within the space.
One method involves noise reduction through the use of acoustic partitions or acoustic screens. This practice is similar to that known, for example, from motorways, where soundproof screens are built along the roads to isolate the surroundings from noise sources. Another method involves the installation of wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted acoustic panels, which reduces reverberation within the room and provides additional insulation from external noise.
Rooms are subject to constraints, such as aesthetic considerations, which means that an acoustic panel, in addition to its technical functions, should be adaptable to interior design, for example through appropriate painting or modular construction that allows various spatial configurations. Another important factor is sound intensity, which may be particularly significant in rooms where various individuals work, hold meetings, and engage in conversations in subgroups, as well as in the case of deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals who communicate at significantly higher volumes and are additionally distracted by surrounding reverberation.
Various methods of solving the problem of sound insulation are known in the state of the art. For instance, European patent specification EP1826750B2 discloses a method of forming a top layer, which involves applying an adhesive layer onto a coating, wherein the adhesive layer is partially activated and forms a bond with the coating. The combined coating and adhesive layer are then perforated. The laminated material is placed on both sides of the coating before the adhesive is applied. The solution disclosed therein relates to a panel comprising a top layer covering the carrier plate of a sound-absorbing panel; and to a panel having sound-absorbing properties.
From Chinese utility model specification CN204166893U , a two-layer protective screen for noise reduction is known, comprising a plurality of noise-absorbing wedges and a resonance soundproof structure. The resonance-damping structure comprises a stereo support and a thin metal plate. The stereo support has a box-like structure. The thin metal plate is installed on one side of the stereo support. The noise-absorbing wedges are installed on the opposite side of the stereo support. The thin metal plate is provided with a plurality of micropores. The central hollow chamber of the stereo support is filled with an in-situ resonance material. Each noise-absorbing wedge is a four-sided truncated pyramid. A recessed connecting groove is located at the bottom of the protective screen. The two-layer stereo protective screen for noise reduction is capable of effectively reducing low-frequency noise, is easy to repair, convenient to upgrade, and has a long service life.
From another Chinese utility model specification CN205348458U , a partition wall made of a steel frame is known, which comprises an acoustic material placed in a fenestral fabric. The acoustic material is secured between two meshes, preventing it from falling out. This solution facilitates the maintenance of the acoustic separation effect of the wall, which is important for sound insulation. Since the structure is based on a steel frame, the shape of the wall can be adjusted to various user needs, allowing for the creation of a decorative wall of unusual shape.
From yet another Chinese utility model specification CN210947390U , a shock-resistant wall made of gypsum and lightweight material is known. The wall comprises a body made of an acoustic board, with evenly distributed blocks with cavities located at its ends. Externally, the acoustic board is enclosed by a frame permanently attached thereto. Inside, the cavities are connected to corresponding blocks by insertion. One end of the frame is fixedly connected to the gypsum board. Mounting screws are inserted into the four corners of the front surface of the sound-absorbing board through pre-drilled mounting holes. Due to the placement of the blocks with cavities at both ends of the acoustic board, material waste during board cutting is eliminated. The connection of the blocks with cavities to the cavities increases the bonding surface area, and the insertion of mounting screws increases the bonding strength between the boards, eliminating the risk of detachment and improving installation stability.
Korean patent specification KR101779559B1 discloses a curtain that includes a sound-insulating film and a sound-absorbing film, which are made of hard and soft materials, respectively, and has an improved structure for cleaning the sound-absorbing film to enhance sound absorption power and sound insulation performance by utilising structural features. According to the present invention, the sound-absorbing curtain comprises the following: a rail; a sound-absorbing film made of hard materials, for suspension on the rail, for lateral movement, and for folding and unfolding during lateral movement; a sound-absorbing film made of soft materials, comprising a plurality of folds detachably connected to one surface of the sound-absorbing film and being foldable, wherein an obtuse angle is formed between the folds when the sound-absorbing film is unfolded, and an acute angle is formed between the folds when the sound-absorbing film is folded, in order to form a spatial unit in the gap from the sound-absorbing film; and a sound-absorbing material made of hard materials, which can be stored in and retrieved from the folding plates via the open upper side of the folding plates. The sound-absorbing film includes a curved element projecting from one surface, which has an opening directed towards the side of the sound-absorbing film and has both lateral surfaces shaped to be outwardly curved and facing each other.
From Chinese utility model specification CN204410487U , a sound-absorbing curtain is known, comprising a plurality of elongated strip-shaped sound-absorbing plates arranged side by side, wherein the long edges of adjacent sound-absorbing plates are connected by flexible connecting segments; the sound-absorbing plates are equipped with a sound-absorbing unit used for absorbing sound, and the flexible connecting segments are made of thin-layer sound-absorbing materials. Provided that the decorative performance and shading performance of the curtain are not affected, the sound-absorbing curtain combines sound-absorbing plates and flexible sound-absorbing materials from the curtain to achieve the purpose of sound absorption, thereby mitigating the impact of noise caused by the external environment; the sound-absorbing curtain has the advantage of relatively simple construction, and it saves on processing costs and materials.
Existing solutions do not enable effective soundproofing indoors using devices made from natural-origin, low-emission, environmentally friendly materials, including biodegradable ones.
The technical problem addressed by the invention is the protection against noise sources using natural materials, including biodegradable ones, which is solved by the use of an acoustic panel constructed from one or two front panels placed within a frame with a damping space or filled with a soft acoustic material, wherein the front panels are made from cellulose-based biomass and are provided with an external structure supporting the attenuation and dispersion of sound wave energy.
Additionally, a technical problem is the attenuation of conversations inside buildings, which is solved by means of a modular acoustic partition based on an acoustic panel or through the installation of panels on the wall or on/under the ceiling, and by a method of sound attenuation.
In light of the described state of the art, the objective of the present invention is to overcome the indicated disadvantages and to provide an acoustic panel of modular design, which, owing to its connectability, is easily positionable or mountable indoors. Furthermore, an objective of the present invention is to produce a modular acoustic panel which, due to the use of biomass-based materials, in particular lignocellulose or cellulose derivatives, provides a device made from raw materials of natural origin, including biodegradable materials. In addition, the use of an appropriate front panel structure in the form of corrugation and perforation/openings causes the sound wave to break up, thereby providing an additional damping and dispersing effect.
The subject matter of the application is defined in claim 1.
The essence of the invention is an acoustic panel module for sound attenuation, comprising a self-supporting front panel, wherein the module has a shape defined by a plane of the front panel. The module is characterised in that the self-supporting front panel is made of a biomass-based material having a density of from 200 kg/m³ and a thickness of from 2 cm to 40 cm, whereas the shape of the surface of the front panel is provided with a structure enabling the absorption of the energy of incident sound waves and the reflection of incident sound waves whose energy has not been absorbed by the acoustic panel module in a direction substantially different from the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panel module. The surface of the front panel comprises openings to support the absorption of sound wave energy.
Advantageously, the module is characterised in that the surface structure of the front panel is selected from the group comprising faceted surfaces, corrugated surfaces, grooved surfaces, conical recesses, and rounded recesses.
Advantageously, the module is characterised in that the front panel is made of biomass bonded with a binder and comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.
Advantageously, the module is characterised in that it is further provided with a base.
Advantageously, the module is characterised in that the base includes a weight, which is mounted using mounting elements or bonded with adhesive.
Advantageously, the module is characterised in that the filler block is made of mineral wool or a soft material of inorganic origin.
Advantageously, the module is characterised in that the filler block is made of biomass bonded with a binder and comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.
Advantageously, the module is characterised in that the filler block is formed as at least one insert adapted to be fixed in the frame or the front panel.
Advantageously, the module is characterised in that the panel module has a height from 30 to 500 cm and a width from 10 to 500 cm, whereas the width of the filler block ranges from 0.1 cm to 100 cm, and the front panel has a structure with an amplitude from 0.1 to 30 cm, and the openings have a size from 0.1 to 10 cm.
The essence of the invention also lies in a modular acoustic partition comprising at least two modules according to the invention, characterised in that the modules are additionally adapted to be joined by hinges or have corresponding notches and projections for positioning the modules in such a way that they overlap one another.
Advantageously, the modular acoustic partition is characterised in that the acoustic panel modules are mounted side by side by suspension or sleeve-fitting.
The essence of the invention also lies in a method of sound attenuation using a modular acoustic partition, characterised in that it comprises the steps of locating a source of sound or reverberation; arranging a modular acoustic partition composed of at least two acoustic panel modules in the direction of the sound or reverberation source.
Advantageously, the method of sound attenuation is characterised in that the modular acoustic partition is arranged in the form of a regular geometric figure or a circle, such that the sound or reverberation source is located at the centre of the regular figure or circle.
Advantageously, the method of sound attenuation is characterised in that more than one modular acoustic partition is arranged.
Advantageously, the method of sound attenuation is characterised in that acoustic panel modules are additionally mounted on a wall, ceiling, or suspended from the ceiling.
An advantage of the implemented solution is its modular design, which facilitates the placement of the acoustic panel module in any indoor space. The modules make it possible to create free-standing acoustic partition configurations, such as screens or designated zones arranged in a central or rectangular layout. Furthermore, the module according to the invention enables the formation of a smaller acoustically separated area within a room. Due to their modular construction, the panels can also be mounted on walls or beneath the ceiling, thereby becoming part of the interior finish while effectively improving the room's acoustics.
Another advantage lies in the materials used, which are generally derived from natural raw materials. As a result, the product does not negatively affect indoor air quality or the microclimate, since these materials do not emit substances harmful to health, even at low concentrations, such as formaldehyde (commonly found in interior products).
A clear advantage is the effectiveness of sound wave attenuation; the modules significantly reduce reverberation, thereby greatly improving acoustic comfort in the room, or providing shielding from ambient noise when used in partition form. A key benefit is the ability to acoustically isolate individual groups of people within larger rooms, dividing them into any number of smaller, acoustically separated groups that can converse freely without disturbing others. Another advantage of wall or ceiling-mounted modules according to the invention is their positive influence on room acoustics; they absorb sound waves reflected within the space, which reduces reverberation and allows for comfortable in-room conversations as well as the effective conduct of online meetings held in the same space.
An important advantage is the simplicity and low cost of manufacturing the module, as well as its universal aesthetics, which allow it to be adapted to various interior arrangements. A clear benefit of the modules is that they are easy to use - free-standing modules can be moved easily due to their dimensions and weight. Another advantage of the modules according to the invention is that they can be coated with finishing layers to provide additional impregnation and to improve fire resistance, and they can also be painted to achieve the desired colour scheme. An advantage of the wall-mounted and ceiling-suspended modules according to the invention is their configurability for any room, which is possible because the modules are adapted to be joined into sequences of any length, and the wall-mounted modules can also be connected across any width.
A fundamental benefit is that all components of the module can be separated, which enhances the ecological value of the product.
Another advantage is the use of materials such as mineral wool or other soft natural-origin materials with acoustic properties.
A significant benefit is the ability to mount the acoustic panel modules to the ceiling while maintaining a gap from the ceiling surface, which increases the acoustic performance of the product by enlarging the area available for sound absorption.
A further advantage is the ability to install the modules on walls or ceilings. In addition, the front panels have a homogeneous material structure, which improves the ecological qualities of the product (as it does not involve the permanent bonding of different materials), which also enables machining, such as milling, and eliminates the need for specialised moulds and tooling.
The subject matter of the application is presented in advantageous embodiments illustrated in the figures, in which:

Fig. 1

shows the construction of the acoustic panel module according to the invention in an embodiment comprising two front panels;

Fig. 2

shows a view of the acoustic panel module from Fig. 1 in the following views:

A) front/back view,
B) axonometric projection,
C) top view.

Fig. 3

shows an exemplary method of connecting individual acoustic panel modules according to the invention;

Fig. 4

shows an axonometric projection of the acoustic panel module together with the base assembly;

Fig. 5

shows an exemplary arrangement of a modular acoustic partition according to the invention, composed of multiple acoustic panel modules:

B) circular arrangement surrounding a sound source,
C) regular octagon,
D) rectangle,
E) trapezoidal,
F) triangular.

Fig. 6

shows an acoustic panel module comprising one front panel and its method of direct mounting to a wall or ceiling.

Fig. 7

shows an acoustic panel module comprising one front panel and its method of suspension from the ceiling.

Fig. 8

shows different types of front panel surface structures:

A) smooth,
B) faceted,
C) corrugated,
D) grooved,
E) with recesses.

Fig. 9

shows the connection of ceiling panels.

The modular acoustic panel 1 shown in the accompanying figures is presented for illustrative purposes only; the final shape and dimensions will depend on the specific application. The following embodiments illustrate the invention without limiting the scope of protection as defined by the patent claims.

Example 1. Acoustic panel module

Fig. 1 shows an acoustic panel module 1 for sound attenuation, comprising a self-supporting front panel 10, wherein the module 1 has a shape defined by the plane of the front panel. The self-supporting front panel 10 is made of a biomass-based material having a density of from 200 kg/m³ and a thickness of from 2 cm to 40 cm, while the shape of the surface of the front panel 10 is provided with a structure 11 enabling the absorption of the energy of incident sound waves and the reflection of incident sound waves whose energy is not absorbed by the structure 11 of the front panel surface 10 in a direction substantially different from the direction perpendicular to the plane of the acoustic panel module 1, and openings 12 are arranged on the surface of the front panel 10 to support the absorption of sound wave energy.
Advantageously, the module comprises at least one filler block 30 for additional sound attenuation. The filler block 30 may be placed in a recess of the front panel, which serves as a frame, or alternatively, both the front panel and the filler block are arranged within a frame structure 20.
Advantageously, the front panel is reinforced by a frame 13.
In an advantageous embodiment, the acoustic panel module 1 consists of two front panels 10 which are attached to the frame structure 20 of the acoustic panel module. The frame structure 20 is made of wood and serves to reinforce the module construction, and the timber profile used to construct the frame structure 20 has a dimension of 3 cm by 3 cm. The frame structure 20 also enables the placement of a filler block 30 made of mineral wool or another soft filler based on natural raw materials, including biomass-based materials. The soft filler is fixed in the form of four independent cushions that attenuate sound.
Two front panels 10 are mounted to the frame structure 20, one on each side, and the front surface of the panel 10 has a structure 11 in the form of a trapezoid-shaped surface with symmetrical rows of openings 12 in the upper and lower parts of the trapezoid. The front panels 10 are made of a biomass-based material.
The modular acoustic panel 1 may advantageously be used to construct a modular acoustic partition 8. Regardless of whether used in the acoustic partition 8 or as a free-standing module, the module 1 advantageously comprises a base 21 mounted to the frame structure 20 by mounting elements 23. Furthermore, a weight 22 is attached to the base 21. The method of mounting the weight is shown in Fig. 5.
In other embodiments, the structure 11 of the front panel surface 10 is selected from the group comprising: faceted surfaces, corrugated surfaces, grooved surfaces, surfaces with conical recesses, and surfaces with rounded recesses. Furthermore, regardless of the shape of the front surface, the front panel 10 itself is made of biomass bonded with a binder and comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin.
In advantageous embodiments, the acoustic panel module 1 is self-supporting and, in the standing version, is provided with a base 21 with a weight 22, which is mounted by means of mounting elements 23 or bonded with adhesive.
Regardless of the shape of the front panel surface 10 and the material from which it is made, in all embodiments the filler block 30 may be made of mineral wool or a soft material of inorganic origin; alternatively, the filler block 30 may be made of biomass bonded with a binder and comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.
Regardless of the other features of the module according to the invention, in each embodiment the filler block 30 may be formed as at least one insert adapted to be fixed in the frame 13 of the front panel and/or in the frame structure 20.
Advantageously, the panel module 1 according to the invention has a height from 30 to 500 cm and a width from 10 to 500 cm, whereas the width of the filler block 30 ranges from 0.1 cm to 100 cm, and the front panel 10 has a structure 11 with an amplitude from 0.1 to 30 cm, while the openings 12 have a size from 0.1 to 10 cm.
In particular, the acoustic panel module 1 has a height of 240 cm, a width of 120 cm, and a depth of 8 cm.

Example 2. Modular acoustic partition

The modular acoustic partition 8 is constructed from ten modular acoustic panel modules 1 according to the invention, which are joined together by hinges, as disclosed in Fig. 3.
The modular acoustic partition 8 according to the invention comprises at least two acoustic panel modules 1 according to the invention, wherein the modules 1 are additionally adapted to be joined by means of hinges or have corresponding notches 14 and projections 15 for positioning the modules on the floor in such a way that they overlap one another. Advantageously, the modular acoustic partition 8 is arranged in a circular layout as shown in Fig. 5 B).
Alternatively to the upright positioning on the floor, the acoustic panel modules 1 are mounted side by side by suspension or by sleeve-fitting.

Example 3. Soundproofing of a room using acoustic panel modules

The acoustic partitions 8 and acoustic panels 1 according to the invention are used for soundproofing rooms, and in this embodiment, the acoustic panel modules 1 are as disclosed in the advantageous embodiments, with the difference that the front panel 10 is mounted on only one side of the acoustic panel module 1 and the acoustic panel module 1 does not include a base, and are arranged over the entire surface of the interior wall of the room, whereby the environment outside the room is isolated from noise sources within the room, and reverberation inside the room is reduced by absorption of reflected sound waves by the modules 1.

Example 4. Method of sound attenuation

In an advantageous embodiment, the method according to the invention consists in sound attenuation using a modular acoustic partition 8 according to the invention and comprises the steps of locating a source of sound or reverberation; positioning a modular acoustic partition 8 composed of at least two modular acoustic panels 1 in the direction of the sound or reverberation source.
Next, the modular acoustic partition 8 according to the invention is arranged in the form of a regular geometric figure or a circle, such that the sound or reverberation source 9 is located at the centre of the regular figure or circle.
Depending on the requirements, it is advantageously possible to arrange more than one modular acoustic partition 8.
Furthermore, the method according to the invention may be supplemented by a step in which modular acoustic panels 1 are mounted on a wall or ceiling or suspended beneath the ceiling.
In an advantageous embodiment, ten acoustic panel modules 1 according to the invention are joined together by hinges to form a modular acoustic partition 8, which is arranged in the form of an incomplete regular octagon as shown in Fig. 5 C). By arranging the modular acoustic partition 8, the sound source 9 is isolated from the surroundings.
Fig. 6 discloses wall soundproofing using panels according to the invention, which comprise a single front panel 1, a frame 2, and a filler 3, and these panels are mounted directly to the wall using mounting elements 6.
Fig. 9 discloses a sound attenuation configuration comprising a connection of modules 1 in the form of ceiling panels, wherein one panel has a notch 14 and the other has a projection 15, and the panels are permanently mounted as shown in Fig. 6.
Fig. 7 discloses a suspended ceiling constructed from acoustic panel modules 1 according to the invention, which are suspended using a suspension cord 7, which is fastened to the ceiling. As a result, a space is formed between the acoustic panel modules 1 and the ceiling, which provides additional beneficial soundproofing. Such elements may be used particularly in tall rooms.

List of reference signs:

1: acoustic panel module

10: front panel
11: front surface structure
12: panel openings
13: panel frame
14: notch
15: projection

20: frame structure
21: base
22: weight
23: base mounting elements

30: filler block

7: suspension cord
8: modular acoustic partition
9: sound source

Claims

An acoustic panel module (1) for sound attenuation, comprising a self-supporting front panel (10), wherein the module has a shape with a defined plane of the front panel (10),
characterised in that
the self-supporting front panel (10) is made of a biomass-based material having a density of from 200 kg/m³ and a thickness of from 2 cm to 40 cm, and

the shape of the surface of the front panel (10) is provided with a structure (11) enabling the absorption of the energy of incident sound waves and the reflection of incident sound waves whose energy is not absorbed by the acoustic panel module in a direction substantially different from the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panel module,

wherein openings (12) are arranged on the surface of the front panel (10) to support the absorption of sound wave energy.
The module according to claim 1, characterised in that the structure (11) of the surface of the front panel (10) is selected from the group comprising faceted surfaces, corrugated surfaces, grooved surfaces, surfaces with conical recesses, and surfaces with rounded recesses.
The module according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the front panel (10) is made of biomass bonded with a binder and comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.
The module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it is further provided with a base (21).
The module according to claim 4, characterised in that the base includes a weight (22), which is mounted by means of mounting elements (23) or bonded with adhesive.
The module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the filler block (30) is made of mineral wool or a soft material of inorganic origin.
The module according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the filler block (30) is made of biomass bonded with a binder and comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.
The module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the filler block (30) is formed as at least one insert adapted to be fixed in the frame or the front panel.
The module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the panel module (1)
has a height from 30 to 500 cm and a width from 10 to 500 cm, whereas

the width of the filler block (30) ranges from 0.1 cm to 100 cm, and the front panel (10) has a structure (11) with an amplitude from 0.1 to 30 cm, and

the openings (12) have a size from 0.1 to 10 cm.
A modular acoustic partition (8) comprising at least two modules (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the modules (1) are additionally adapted to be joined by hinges or have corresponding notches (14) and projections (15) for positioning the modules in such a way that they overlap one another.
The modular acoustic partition according to claim 14, characterised in that the acoustic panel modules (1) are mounted side by side by suspension or by sleeve-fitting.
A method of sound attenuation using the modular acoustic partition (8) according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that it comprises the steps of:
locating a source of sound or reverberation;

positioning the modular acoustic partition (8) composed of at least two acoustic panel modules (1) in the direction of the source of sound or reverberation.
The method of sound attenuation according to claim 12, characterised in that the modular acoustic partition (8) is arranged in the form of a regular geometric figure or a circle such that the source of sound or reverberation is located at the centre of the regular figure or circle.
The method of sound attenuation according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that more than one modular acoustic partition (8) is positioned.
The method of sound attenuation according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that acoustic panel modules (1) are additionally mounted on a wall or ceiling, or suspended beneath the ceiling.