GB2192913A

GB2192913A - Sound absorbing floor

Info

Publication number: GB2192913A
Application number: GB08618035A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dr Robin Kenneth Mackenzie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-24
Filing date: 1986-07-24
Publication date: 1988-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2006-07-24
Also published as: GB8618035D0; GB2192913B

Abstract

A floating raft construction for laying on top of concrete slab or timber joist structural floors is designed primarily to attenuate airborne sound whilst also providing for the isolation of impact sound. This system comprises of chipboard flooring laid upon and nailed to a series of timber battens to which a lamination of open cell polyether and closed cell polyethylene foams have been bonded. The open cell structure of the polyether foam permits the attenuation of acoustic energy in the cavity between the battens by dissipation within the interstices of the foam itself. The high mechanical strength of the polyethylene strip provides the softer polyether foam with protection from tear. In addition to the airborne sound attenuation properties, the floor also provides the resilience necessary to isolate impact sound from being transmitted into the structural floor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sound absorbing flooring system The system involves a design of floating raft construction for laying on top of concrete slab or timber joist structural floors.

The specification comprises of chipboard flooring laid upon a timber batten to which a lamination of polythene and polyether foams are bonded to the underside.

The specification differs from existing design by virtue of the fact that a lamination of polyether and polyethylene foam has been used instead of the more conventional single material layers.

The use of polyether foam which has a low compressive strength and less resistance to tear than polyethylene or polyurethane foams is made possible by incorporating a thin layer of polyethylene foam as a protective strip underneath the polyether foam strip.

The open cell structure of the polyether foam gives the material a high sound absorption property which closed cell polyethylene or polyurethane foams do not have.

In addition, the deflection under dynamic loading, e.g. footsteps, provided by the use of polyether foam gives a superior resistance to the transmission of impact sound compared with polyethylene or polyurethane foams.

The design of the. batten allows polyether foam layer to be used as both a resilient layer to reduce impact noise and as a sound absorbent to reduce airborne noise. The impact isolation and airborne reduction produced by the batten is very superior to systems incorporating polyethylene or polyurethane foam alone.

The use of the softer polyether foam is made possible by the insertion of a polyethylene foam layer below the polyether strip. This adds protection to the polyether layer with little reduction in performance.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filled, and have the following effect: Claims 1 & 2 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filled as follows: 1. A sound absorbing flooring system comprising chipboard flooring laid upon timber battens to which a lamination of polyether and polyethylene foam strips are bonded to the underside of the batten in order to abosrb airborne sound and to isolate impact sound incident upon the floor.

2. A sound absorbing flooring system according to Claim 1 wherein the polyether foam strips are manufactured with an open cell characteristic.

3. A sound absorbing flooring system according to Claims 1 and 2 wherein the polyether foam has a density of 20-50 kg/m3.

4. A sound absorbing flooring system ac- cording to Claim 3 wherein the polyether foam has a tensile strength not less than 100 kN/m2.

5. A sound absorbing flooring system according to Claims 1-4 wherein the polyethylene foam strips are manufactured with a c!osed cell characteristic.

6. A sound absorbing flooring system according to Claim 5 wherein the polyethylene foam has a density of 30-60 kg/m3.

7. A sound absorbing flooring system according to Claim 6 wherein the polyethylene foam has a tensile strength of not less than 350 kN/m2.

8. A sound absorbing flooring system constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of constructing a sound absorbing flooring system comprising chipboard flooring laid upon timber battens to which a lamination of polyether and polyethylene foam strips are bonded to the underside of the batten in order to absorb airborne sound and to isolate impact sound.

10. A method of constructing a sound absorbing flooring system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sound absorbing flooring system The system involves a design of floating raft construction for laying on top of concrete slab or timber joist structural floors. The specification comprises of chipboard flooring laid upon a timber batten to which a lamination of polythene and polyether foams are bonded to the underside. The specification differs from existing design by virtue of the fact that a lamination of polyether and polyethylene foam has been used instead of the more conventional single material layers. The use of polyether foam which has a low compressive strength and less resistance to tear than polyethylene or polyurethane foams is made possible by incorporating a thin layer of polyethylene foam as a protective strip underneath the polyether foam strip. The open cell structure of the polyether foam gives the material a high sound absorption property which closed cell polyethylene or polyurethane foams do not have. In addition, the deflection under dynamic loading, e.g. footsteps, provided by the use of polyether foam gives a superior resistance to the transmission of impact sound compared with polyethylene or polyurethane foams. CLAIMS The design of the. batten allows polyether foam layer to be used as both a resilient layer to reduce impact noise and as a sound absorbent to reduce airborne noise. The impact isolation and airborne reduction produced by the batten is very superior to systems incorporating polyethylene or polyurethane foam alone. The use of the softer polyether foam is made possible by the insertion of a polyethylene foam layer below the polyether strip. This adds protection to the polyether layer with little reduction in performance. CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filled, and have the following effect: Claims 1 & 2 above have been deleted or textually amended. New or textually amended claims have been filled as follows:

1. A sound absorbing flooring system comprising chipboard flooring laid upon timber battens to which a lamination of polyether and polyethylene foam strips are bonded to the underside of the batten in order to abosrb airborne sound and to isolate impact sound incident upon the floor.