GB2343902A

GB2343902A - Sound proof batten with fibrous mat for floor support

Info

Publication number: GB2343902A
Application number: GB9926196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Bignell
Original assignee: MONARFLEX ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS LIM
Current assignee: MONARFLEX ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS LIM
Priority date: 1998-11-06
Filing date: 1999-11-05
Publication date: 2000-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-05
Also published as: GB9926196D0; GB9824328D0; GB2343902B

Abstract

A timber batten (11) has attached a fibrous mat material (10), which preferably extends substantially along the length of the batten (11). The batten (11) is used to support a floor (14,15) on a floor supporting structure (13). The fibrous mat (10) is used to fix the batten assembly to the floor support (13), possibly by stapling. The fibrous mat (10) and batten (11) preferably form a unitary structure and the mat can be made out of geotextile material, possibly polyester or polypropylene. A layer of soundproofing material (12) can be attached to the batten (11) on the opposite side to which the mat (10) is attached. The floor may have intermediate and upper layers (fig 3, not shown).

Description

"Batten and Floor Assembly" The present invention relates to a batten assembly, and in particular to a batten assembly for use in supporting a floor on a floor supporting structure and more particularly for reducing the sound transmitted between the floor and the floor supporting structure and also to a floor assembly which employs the batten assembly.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a batten assembly for supporting a floor on a floor supporting structure; the batten assembly comprising a timber batten for supporting said floor; and a fibrous mat secured to said timber batten and adapted to fix the batten assembly to said floor supporting structure.

Preferably, the fibrous mat is firmly secured to the timber batten by bonding, such that the timber batten and fibrous mat form a unitary structure.

Preferably, the fibrous mat is made of a geotextile material.

Preferably, the geotextile material is polyester or polypropylene.

Preferably, a layer of sound absorbing material is attached to the timber batten on a surface opposed to the surface having the fibrous mat attached.

Preferably, said sound absorbing material is Low Resonance Acoustic Chip (LRAC) foam.

Preferably, the fibrous mat extends along substantially the whole length of the timber batten.

Alternatively, the fibrous mat extends along one section or numerous sections, of the timber batten.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a floor assembly comprising: a floor supporting structure; a plurality of battens as claimed in any preceding claim attached to said floor supporting structure; and a floor attached to said plurality of battens.

Preferably, the floor comprises an intermediate layer and an upper layer.

Preferably, the batten assembly is fixed to the floor supporting structure by stapling or otherwise attaching the fibrous mat to the floor supporting structure.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective part view of one embodiment of a batten assembly of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective part view of one embodiment of a floor assembly of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective part view of a second embodiment of the floor assembly of the present invention; Fig. 4 is an elevational cross sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of a flanking strip of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a batten assembly 1 formed of a timber batten 11, a foam layer 12 and a fibrous mat 10 formed of a geotextile material, such as polyester or polypropylene. The fibrous mat 10 is firmly bonded to the timber batten 11 formed of soft wood to which the foam layer 12 is attached by bonding or by any other suitable means.

The timber batten 11 and the fibrous mat 10 form a unitary structure.

The foam layer 12 is formed of Low Resonance Acoustic Chip (LRAC) foam with a density of typically 96 kg per m3 and is approximately 15mm in thickness. In use, the foam layer 12 serves to reduce the amount of sound transferred from one side of the foam layer 12 to the other side of the foam layer 12.

The fibrous mat 10 extends along the entire length of the timber batten 11 or alternatively, may be in the form of one or more sections spaced along the length of the timber batten 11.

In use, the fibrous mat 10, having the timber batten 11 attached serves as a fixing means for fixing the batten assembly 1 to a floor supporting structure being in the form of a lower deck 13 and also serves to reduce the amount of sound transferred from the timber batten 11 to the lower deck 13. The fibrous mat 10 is fixed to the lower deck 13 by stapling or any other suitable means, the lower deck 13 being formed of plywood.

The lower deck 13 is supported by a number of timber joists 16 (or a concrete deck, not shown) which themselves are supported on a supporting deck 20. A number of fibrous mats 10, with timber battens 11 attached, are stapled to the lower deck 13 in spaced apart locations.

An insulating material 21 may be provided between the supporting deck 20 and the lower deck 13.

A flanking strip 17, capable of being bent into a generally L-shaped section, is fixed around the perimeter of a floor area defined by a floor formed by an upper deck 15. The upper deck 15 is laid on top of an intermediate deck 14, the intermediate deck 14 being formed of plasterboard, and being laid on the foam layers 12 attached to the timber battens 11.

The flanking strip 17 reduces the amount of sound travelling from the intermediate deck 14 and the upper deck 15 to a supporting wall 18 and/or a skirting board 19 attached on the wall 18.

The upper deck 15 may be formed of tongued and grooved flooring or any other suitable material such as chipboard.

The material used and consequently the strength and weight of the upper deck 15 determines the number and spacing of the batten assemblies 1, as a required number of batten assemblies 1 are necessary to support specific materials dependent upon the strength of the materials.

The resulting floor assembly reduces the sound transmitted from the upper deck 15 to the timber joists 16 (or concrete deck) below and to the wall 18. The present invention also serves to locate the timber battens 11 securely to the lower deck 13.

In a specific example, the dimensions of the timber batten 11 are 45mm in width by 35mm in height; the thickness of the fibrous mat 10 is 3mm; and the thickness of the foam layer is 15mm.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A batten assembly for supporting a floor on a floor supporting structure; the batten assembly comprising a timber batten for supporting said floor; and a fibrous mat secured to said timber batten and adapted to fix the batten assembly to said floor supporting structure.
2. A batten assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fibrous mat is firmly secured to the timber batten by bonding, such that the timber batten and fibrous mat form a unitary structure.
3. A batten assembly as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the fibrous mat is made of a geotextile material.
4. A batten assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the geotextile material is polyester or polypropylene.
5. A batten assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a layer of sound absorbing material is attached to the timber batten on a surface opposed to the surface having the fibrous mat attached.
6. A batten assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said sound absorbing material is Low Resonance Acoustic Chip (LRAC) foam.
7. A batten assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fibrous mat extends along substantially the whole length of the timber batten.
8. A batten assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the fibrous mat extends along one section or numerous sections, of the timber batten.
9. Batten assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A floor assembly comprising: a floor supporting structure; a plurality of battens as claimed in any preceding claim attached to said floor supporting structure; and a floor attached to said plurality of battens.
11. A floor assembly as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the floor comprises an intermediate layer and an upper layer.
12. A floor assembly as claimed in either of Claims 10 or 11, wherein the batten assembly is fixed to the floor supporting structure by stapling or otherwise attaching the fibrous mat to the floor supporting structure.
13. A floor assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.