GB2079809A - Acoustical-reflective ceiling construction - Google Patents
Acoustical-reflective ceiling construction Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2079809A GB2079809A GB8023107A GB8023107A GB2079809A GB 2079809 A GB2079809 A GB 2079809A GB 8023107 A GB8023107 A GB 8023107A GB 8023107 A GB8023107 A GB 8023107A GB 2079809 A GB2079809 A GB 2079809A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- reflector units
- acoustical
- openings
- reflective
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 title description 3
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000011358 absorbing material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004313 glare Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
- E04B9/04—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation comprising slabs, panels, sheets or the like
- E04B9/0407—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation comprising slabs, panels, sheets or the like being stiff and curved
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/62—Insulation or other protection; Elements or use of specified material therefor
- E04B1/74—Heat, sound or noise insulation, absorption, or reflection; Other building methods affording favourable thermal or acoustical conditions, e.g. accumulating of heat within walls
- E04B1/82—Heat, sound or noise insulation, absorption, or reflection; Other building methods affording favourable thermal or acoustical conditions, e.g. accumulating of heat within walls specifically with respect to sound only
- E04B1/84—Sound-absorbing elements
- E04B1/86—Sound-absorbing elements slab-shaped
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/62—Insulation or other protection; Elements or use of specified material therefor
- E04B1/74—Heat, sound or noise insulation, absorption, or reflection; Other building methods affording favourable thermal or acoustical conditions, e.g. accumulating of heat within walls
- E04B1/82—Heat, sound or noise insulation, absorption, or reflection; Other building methods affording favourable thermal or acoustical conditions, e.g. accumulating of heat within walls specifically with respect to sound only
- E04B1/84—Sound-absorbing elements
- E04B2001/8414—Sound-absorbing elements with non-planar face, e.g. curved, egg-crate shaped
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Building Environments (AREA)
Abstract
An acoustical-reflective ceiling panel for directing incident light from a remotely positioned light source toward a selected area and for attenuating ambient noise includes a plurality of pyramidal reflector units (22) arranged in an array of rows and columns and, between at least certain of the reflector units, a plurality of acoustical openings (36) through the panel which trap the ambient noise thereby to reduce the noise level in the vicinity of the panel. The pyramidal reflector units each have reflective surfaces (28) facing in different directions and are located in staggered rows in which the pyramidal reflector units in alternate rows form the columns. Light emitted from a light source positioned laterally with respect to the pyramidal reflector units is reflected off those reflective surfaces that face the light source onto a selected surface area. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Acoustical-reflective ceiling construction
The present invention provides an improved acoustical light-reflective ceiling panel.
In work areas, especially those which lack ceiling-mounted light fixtures, it is difficult to provide adequate lighting. One solution is to provide free-standing light fixtures which can be strategically placed to adequately illuminate the work area. These free-standing light fixtures, however, may inhibit free movement of people in the work area, and since they are usually plugged into outlets with cords, safety procedures must be implemented and stringently followed to avoid injury. Also, in those instances when it is necessary for a person to position himself between the light source on the free-standing fixture and the work area, annoying shadows play across the work area. Thus, it is desirable that the illumination has its source located directly above the work area.
Recent studies have shown that there is a correlation between human tension and the level of noise in the environment. Consequently, employee morale and efficiency can be improved if the noise level in the work area is maintained within an optimum range. Installation and maintenance cost savings can be realized if a light reflective system and a sound attenuating system are combined in a single unitary construction.
Attempts have been made to illuminate selected areas by reflecting light off a specially constructed reflective ceiling panel. One such attempt is disclosed in French Patent No.
676,224. This patent illustrates a plurality of wall-mounted lights directed upwardly toward the center of a room onto a reflective concave mirror suspended from the ceiling. The light is thus reflected essentially downwardly from the ceiling. However, the concave reflective surface fails to efficiently redirect light from a single source onto the selected surface area which necessitates the use of multiple lights.
Also, there is no disclosure regarding a light reflective unit capable of absorbing noise.
U.S. Patent No. 3,068,956 discloses an acoustico-illuminative tile consisting of a plurality of regularly arranged pyramidal units each having triangular faces. Selected ones of each face are provided with reflective surfaces while the remaining faces are provided with either sound-absorbing or sound-reflective coatings. The pyramidal units can be oriented so as to reflect or absorb light and sound from a variety of directions. Since some of the surfaces of the pyramidal units are nonreflective, it becomes necessary to reorient the units if the position of the light source is varied.
Finally, U.S. Patent No 2,710,335 discloses a modular lighting fixture having translucent chambers through which light is transmitted. The translucent material functions to eliminate undesirable glare. The chambers extend downwardly from the panel and are arranged in regular rows and columns. This patent, however, fails to disclose a reflective ceiling panel capable of reflecting light from a wall-mounted light.
It is the general object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved acoustical light-reflective ceiling panel.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an acoustical-reflective panel for directing incident light toward a selected area and for attenuating ambient noise, said panel comprising on its front side a plurality of spaced-apart pyramidal reflector units disposed in a pre-determined arrangement, each of said reflector units having a polygonal base and a plurality of triangular reflective side surfaces disposed to face in different directions, corresponding ones of said reflective surfaces on said reflector units being disposed to face in a common direction so that incident light emitted from a light source located at a position spaced away from and at an angle with said panel will reflect off corresponding ones of said reflective surfaces onto said selected area, a plurality of acoustical openings of irregular configuration extending through said panel at positions between adjacent reflector units to trap ambient noise thereby reducing the noise level in the vicinity of said panel, said acoustical openings having walls converging in a direction extending into said panel so as to aid in directing sound waves through said acoustical openings in use of the panel. Preferably each reflective side surface has a slightly convex configuration so as efficiently to reflect incident light from a wallmounted light source onto a selected work area.
Preferably the reflector units are arranged in an array of rows and columns, the reflector units in one row being staggered with respect to the reflector units in an adjacent row so that said columns are formed by the reflector units in alternative rows, said acoustical openings being arranged in pairs in said rows so as to alternative pairs of said openings with single ones of said reflector units in each row and provide for pairs of openings on opposite sides of at least some reflector units in each column, and rib members bounding said openings and connecting adjacent reflector units in said rows and said columns. Sound absorbing material can be disposed behind the panel to enhance the noise-attenuating ability of the ceiling panel.
The ceiling panel is, in use, suspended from a ceiling so that the reflective surfaces of each reflector unit face downwardly in directions extending outwardly of the units. When a wall-mounted light positioned at a height dependent on the angular orientation of the reflective surfaces is directed onto the ceiling panel incident light from the light source is reflected downwardly in generally perpendicular directions with respect to the ceiling wall panel onto a selected area such as a table.
Accordingly, ceiling-mounted and free-standing light fixtures become unnecessary in environments using the ceiling panel.
The present invention will become further apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the acoustical-reflective ceiling panel of the present invention suspended from a ceiling and reflecting incident light onto a table;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the acoustical-reflective ceiling panel of the present invention shown inverted for purposes of clarity; and
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the acoustical-reflective ceiling panel taken respectively from lines 3-3 and 4-4 in Fig. 2.
With reference to the drawings an acoustical-reflective ceiling panel 10 is shown in Fig.
1 suspended from a permanent ceiling 1 2 in a room 1 4. The ceiling panel 10 is provided with reflective surfaces enabling the panel to reflect incident light from a light source 1 6 which is mounted on a wall or partition 1 8 onto a selected area such as the table 20.
As shown in Figs. 2-4, the acousticalreflective panel 10 consists of a plurality of spaced-apart pyramidal reflector units 22 arranged in parallel rows 24 and parallel columns 26. Each reflector unit 22 consists of four triangular reflective surfaces 28 each of which have sides 30, a base 32, and a vertex 34. Each reflective surface 28 is slightly convex, enhancing its light-distributing capability, as can best be seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The reflective surfaces 28 are arranged so that adjacent surfaces 28 have contiguous sides 30. The bases 32 of each unit 22 form a polygonal pyramid base 32a which is shown as being generally rectangular. The triangular reflective surfaces 28 all have their vertices 34 located at a common position so that the reflective surfaces 28 face in directions in which adjacent surfaces 28 face in directions that are at right angles with each other.The reflector units 22 are oriented so that corresponding ones of the reflective surfaces 28 face in common directions. In other words, the reflective surface 28 on each reflector unit 22 face in four directions with the corresponding reflective surfaces 28 on the remaining reflector units 22 facing in the same directions.
Irregularly shaped acoustical holes 36 are formed in the panel 10 to surround the reflector units 22 and serve to trap the ambient noise. The acoustical holes 36 are defined by side walls 38 having borders 38a coincidental with the bases 32 of the reflective surfaces 28. The side walls 38 extend away from the bases 32 in directions that are essentially opposite to the directions which the reflective surfaces 28 face. In the illustrated embodiment, the holes 36 extend entirely through the panel 10 so that the sound waves traverse to the backside of the panel 10 which is opposite the side of the panel 10 where the sound originated. As a result, there is a decreased likelihood that the sound waves will return through the holes 36 after being directed to the backside of the panel 1 0.
The acoustical holes 36 are also defined by rib members 42 having sidewalls 42a which extend between and connect adjacent reflector units 22. The walls 38 and 42a converge in directions extending toward the backside of the panel 10 to aid in directing the sound waves through the holes 36.
As shown in Fig. 2, the reflector units 22 in one row 24 are staggered with respect to the reflector units 22 in an adjacent row 24 so that the columns 26 of the reflector units 22 are defined by those reflector units 22 in alternate rows 24. The bases 32 together form a generally rectangular pyramid base 32a having corners 44. The corner 44 of one reflector unit 22 is connected to the closest corner 44 of an adjacent reflector unit 22 in the adjacent row 24 by a rib member 42.
Also, the facing side walls 38 on adjacent reflector units 22 within one row 24 are connected by rib members 42 at positions essentially midway between the corners 44 of the units 22. Thus, each reflector unit 22 is surrounded by six acoustical holes 36 which have a funnel shape.
Each reflector unit 22 in one row extends across and beyond the columnar space formed between adjacent reflector units 22 in the next row 24 since the length of each base 32 is greater than the distance between the side walls 38 of adjacent reflector units 22 in a row 24. The size and arrangement of the reflector units 22 along with the rib members 42 give the recesses funnel-shaped configurations.
Assume the acoustical ceiling panel 10 is mounted on or suspended from a ceiling in the room 14. The reflective surfaces 28 are disposed to face in generally downwardly and outwardly facing directions. The light 16 is mounted at a selected height on the wall partition 1 8 which is dependent upon the angular orientation of the reflective surface 28, so that when the light is directed onto the ceiling panel 10 above the table 20, the incident light on the reflective faces 28 that face in the direction of the light 1 6 will be reflected vertically downwardly onto the table 20. Sound-dampening material 11 is positioned adjacent the backside of the panel 10, as seen in Fig. 1. The material 11 can be mounted on the panel 10 or it can be suspended from the permanent ceiling 1 2 adjacent to and spaced slightly from the panel 10.
Sound waves traversing through the holes 36 will thus be absorbed by the material 11 to further aid in attenuating ambient noise.
As can be seen, an improved acousticalreflective ceiling panel 10 has been described in which the pyramidal units 22 have a plurality of reflective faces 28. Accordingly, the light 1 6 is thereby afforded. The side walls, rib members, and reflectors all cooperate to redirect ambient noise through the holes 36,
The ceiling panel 10 can be molded to form a unitary structure thereby reducing manufacturing costs and providing a ceiling panel that is highly efficient and economical in use. The dual light-reflective and sound-dampening functions of the ceiling panel 10 makes it desirable for use in work areas wherein it is desirable to reduce the ambient noise enabling the workers to efficiently carry out their tasks.
Claims (6)
1. An acoustical-reflective panel for directing incident light toward a selected area and for attenuating ambient noise, said panel comprising on its front side a plurality of spacedapart pyramidal reflector units disposed in a predetermined arrangement, each of said reflector units having a polygonal base and a plurality of triangular reflective side surfaces disposed to face in different directions, corresponding ones of said reflective surfaces on said reflector units being disposed to face in a common direction so that incident light emitted from a light source located at a position spaced away from and at an angle with said panel will reflect off corresponding ones of said reflective surfaces onto said selected area, a plurality of acoustical openings of irregular configuration extending through said panel at positions between adjacent reflector units to trap ambient noise thereby reducing the noise level in the vicinity of said panel, said acoustical openings having walls converging in a direction extending into said panel so as to aid in directing sound waves through said acoustical openings in use of the panel.
2. An acoustical-reflective panel according to claim 1, wherein sound absorbing means is located adjacent the rear side of the panel to absorb the noise traversing through said openings.
3. An acoustical-reflective panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said triangular side surfaces are slightly convex.
4. An acoustical-reflective panel according to any preceding claim, wherein said reflector units are arranged in an array of rows and columns, the reflector units in one row being staggered with respect to the reflector units in an adjacent row so that said columns are formed by the reflector units in alternate rows, said acoustical openings being arranged in pairs in said rows so as to alternate pairs of said openings with single ones of said reflector units in each row and provide for pairs of openings on opposite sides of at least some reflector units in each column, and rib members bounding said openings and connecting adjacent reflector units in said rows and said columns.
5. An acoustical-reflective panel constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
CLAIMS (9 Jul 1981)
1. An acoustical-reflective panel for directing incident light toward a selected area and for attenuating ambient noise, said panel comprising on its front side a plurality of spacedapart pyramidal reflector units disposed in a predetermined arrangement, each of said reflector units having a polygonal base and a plurality of triangular reflective side surfaces disposed to face in different directions, corresponding ones of said reflective surfaces on said reflector units being disposed to face in a common direction so that incident light emitted from a light source located at a position spaced away from and at an angle with said panel will reflect off corresponding ones of said reflective surfaces onto said selected area, and rib means connecting said spacedapart reflector units so as to form a plurality of acoustical openings of irregular configuration extending through said panel in substantially all areas of the panel between said sapcedapart reflector units to trap ambient noise thereby reducing the noise level in the vicinity of said panel, said acoustical openings having walls converging in a direction extending into said panel so as to aid in directing sound waves through said acoustical openings in use of the panel.
2. An acoustical-reflective panel according to claim 1, wherein sound absorbing means is located adjacent the rear side of the panel to absorb the noise traversing through said openings.
3. An acoustical-reflective panel according to either preceding claim, wherein said reflector units are arranged in an array of rows and columns, the reflector units in one row being staggered with respect to the reflector units in an adjacent row so that said columns are formed by the refiector units in alternate rows, said acoustical openings being arranged in pairs in said rows so as to alternate pairs of said openings with single ones of said reflector units in each row and provide for pairs of openings on opposite sides of at least some reflector units in each column, and rib members bounding said openings and connecting adjacent reflector units in said rows and said columns.
4. An acoustical-reflective panel for directing incident light toward a selected area and for attenuating ambient noise, said panel comprising a plurality of spaced-apart pyramidal reflector units disposed in a predetermined arrangement, each of said reflector units having a polygonal base and a plurality of trian yular reflective side surfaces disposed to face in different directions, corresponding ones of said reflective surfaces on said reflector units being disposed to face in a common direction so that incident light emitted from a light source located at a position spaced away from and at an angle with said panel will reflect off corresponding ones of said reflective surfaces onto said selected area. and means forming a plurality of acoustical openings of irregular configuration extending through said panel at positions between adjacent reflector units to trap ambient noise thereby reducing the noise level in the vicinity of said panel, said acoustical openings having wall means converging in a direction extending into said panel so as to aid in directing sound waves through said acoustical openings, said reflector units being arranged in an array of rows and columns, the reflector units in one row being staggered with respect to the reflector units in an adjacent row so that said columns are formed by the reflector units in alternate rows, said acoustical openings being arranged in pairs in said rows so as to alternate pairs of said openings with single ones of said reflector units in each row and provide for pairs of openings on opposite sides of at least some reflector units in each column, and rib members bounding said openings and connecting adjacent reflector units in said rows and said columns, 5 An acoustical-reflective panel according to any preceding claim wherein said triangular side surfaces are slightly convex.
6. An acoustical-reflective panel constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8023107A GB2079809B (en) | 1980-07-15 | 1980-07-15 | Acoustical-refelctive ceiling construction |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8023107A GB2079809B (en) | 1980-07-15 | 1980-07-15 | Acoustical-refelctive ceiling construction |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2079809A true GB2079809A (en) | 1982-01-27 |
| GB2079809B GB2079809B (en) | 1984-02-08 |
Family
ID=10514782
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8023107A Expired GB2079809B (en) | 1980-07-15 | 1980-07-15 | Acoustical-refelctive ceiling construction |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2079809B (en) |
-
1980
- 1980-07-15 GB GB8023107A patent/GB2079809B/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2079809B (en) | 1984-02-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |