GB2588240A

GB2588240A - A booth

Info

Publication number: GB2588240A
Application number: GB1915149.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillips Roger
Original assignee: Trieste Group One Ltd
Current assignee: Trieste Group One Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-18
Filing date: 2019-10-18
Publication date: 2021-04-21
Also published as: GB201915149D0

Abstract

A soundproof booth comprising: resilient inner panels 4 that abut adjacent panels, a slit (6, Fig. 4) being defined between the abutting panels; a vertically extending support member 7 provided behind the inner panels, the support member comprising a row of attachment openings 8 in alignment with the slit; and a removeable furniture support bracket 9 which comprises attachment members 10. The attachment members are inserted through the slit for engagement with the attachment openings. The attachment members may comprise hooks and the attachment openings may comprise slits (i.e. a lug arrangement). A locking member 15 may be slidably attached to the support bracket adjacent one of the attachment members for engagement with a respective one of the attachment openings. The support member may comprise a post which is mounted to a base. The post and base may comprise parts of a wider sub-frame. The bracket may support a: desk; shelf; seat; or electrically powered lift column for a height adjustable desk. The booth may comprise outer panels (11, Fig. 1) with sound damping material being provided between the inner and outer panels.

Description

A Booth The present invention relates to a booth, in particular to a soundproof booth which can be readily relocated and reconfigured.

Open plan working environments, such as office spaces, provide many advantages including the efficient use of available space and the promotion of interaction between workers using the space. However, such open plan environments suffer drawbacks where, for example, workers require a quiet space in which to concentrate on work, conduct meetings or make telephone calls.

To address this issue, some open plan office spaces are provided with a limited number of isolated offices or meetings rooms, which can be used by workers when a quieter or more private environment is required. Such isolated spaces are typically built into the permanent structure of the office space, and are commonly located at or towards the periphery of the office space for convenience.

A disadvantage of this arrangement is that such isolated spaces are generally inflexible and immobile and thus cannot be easily adapted in response to the changing requirements of the users of the office space. For example, an organisation owning or renting an office space may experience fluctuations in the number of workers using the office space, and thus the number of isolated spaces required may vary over time. Similarly, the occupants of a rented office space may change on a regular or semi-regular basis, with different occupants having different requirements in terms of the number or nature of isolated spaces within the office space.

To address these issues the use of freestanding soundproofed booths which can be readily re-located, and which provide a convenient isolated space for a 30 worker in an open plan office environment, are becoming more popular.

The present invention arose in an attempt to provide an adaptable booth which can be readily re-located and re-configured, and which can provide a convenient isolated soundproof space for a worker in an open plan office environment.

According to the present invention in a first aspect there is provided a soundproof booth comprising upstanding peripheral walls and a roof, the walls comprising inner panels that define, at least in part, inner faces of the walls, and comprise vertical edges, wherein the inner panels are resilient, adjacent inner panels abut one another at, or adjacent to, their vertical edges, a slit being defined between the abutting inner panels, a vertically extending support member is 113 provided outside the inner panels and comprises a row of attachment openings in alignment with the slit, and a support bracket is provided, which comprises an attachment portion with attachment members, the attachment portion receivable through the slit for engagement of the attachment members with the attachment openings.

By such an arrangement, it is possible to allow for adjustment of an item of furniture, or otherwise, supported by the bracket by re-positioning the bracket. The bracket may be moved vertically up or down. The adjustment mechanism is entirely unobtrusive into the soundproof space of the booth and there is a clean aesthetic, with the inner panels concealing the attachment portion and support member. The resilience of the inner panel allows for a suitable opening to be created (by opening of the slit by compressing the resilient material) for insertion of the attachment portion and allows for the closing of the slit around the bracket (by the resilient material resiling).

The booth may have four sides with adjacent walls being perpendicular to one another.

At least one of the walls may be provided with a pair of the brackets supported in attachment openings aligned with slits at two vertical edges of one of the inner panels. In a booth with four sides, the two slits may be provided at two inner corners of the booth/inner side edges of the wall.

Further, preferable, features are presented in the dependent claims.

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a booth according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a close-up perspective view of the booth of Figure 1 with an inner wall panel removed and a bracket detached from a vertical frame member; Figure 3 is a close-up perspective view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing the bracket attached to the vertical frame member; Figure 4 is a close-up perspective view corresponding to Figure 3 but showing the inner panel in situ; and Figure 5 is a close-up perspective view corresponding to Figure 4 but showing a shelf fixed to the bracket.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a soundproof booth 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The booth 1 comprises upstanding peripheral walls 2 and a roof 3. One of the walls 2 defines an opening 12 that is closed by a door 13.

With reference to Figures 2 to 5, the walls 2 comprise inner panels 4 that define, at least in part, inner faces of the walls 2. The inner panels 4 are resilient and comprise vertical edges 5. Adjacent inner panels abut one another at, or adjacent to, their vertical edges, as seen in Figures 4 and 5, wherein a slit 6 is defined between the abutting inner panels 4. A vertically extending support member 7 is provided outside the inner panels 4 and comprises a row of attachment openings 8 in alignment with the slit 6. A support bracket 9 is provided, which comprises an attachment portion with attachment members 10. The attachment portion is receivable through the slit 6 for engagement of the attachment members 10 with the attachment openings 8 to thereby support the bracket 9.

The inner panels 4 may take any suitable form. They will preferably have sufficient rigidity to prevent sagging. The inner panels may comprise padded fabric panels to provide for acoustic damping and to provide the desired resilience. The inner panels 4 may comprise a sheet of material covered with padding and fabric or otherwise.

Any or all of the walls 2 may comprise at least one inner panel 4 and at least one outer panel 11, which oppose one another and comprise respective inner and outer faces of the respective wall 2. The outer panels 11 may be rigid panels and could be formed from wood, plastic or otherwise. There may be sound proofing panels or material (not shown) provided between the inner and outer panels 4, 11. Such soundproofing panels/material may be included or omitted in dependence on the acoustic properties of the inner and outer panels. It is preferable that the outer panels 11 of the walls 2 and an outer panel of the roof are sealed to one another to provide a sealed outer layer.

It is preferable that there are a plurality of the vertically extending support members 7. The inner and outer panels 4, 11 are preferably mounted to the vertically extending support members 7. The vertically extending support members may comprise either a plurality of vertically spaced lugs or a plurality of vertically spaced hooks that are provided between the inner and outer panels 4, 11, wherein the inner and outer panels 4, 11 each comprise a corresponding plurality of the other of the vertically spaced hooks or lugs, and the lugs and hooks engage with one another to support the inner and outer panels 4, 11 on the vertically extending support member 7. In the present arrangement, the vertically extending support members 7 are provided with the hooks 12 and the panels are provided with the lugs (not shown).

The hooks are preferably formed by cut-outs in the vertically extending support members 7, as shown. The cut-outs may each comprise a slot, which has a width that varies along its length. The slots may be generally L-shaped and extend horizontally for a distance from an open mouth before travelling vertically down to a closed end. The slots may each be tapered to reduce in width between the open mouth of the slot and the closed end of the slot. The closed end of each slot may be curved with a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of a cylindrical rod defining the lug that is received thereby.

It should be appreciated that numerous other means of fixing panels 4, 11 to the vertically extending support frames will be possible, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited in 113 this regard.

It should further be noted that whilst the vertically extending support members 7 are shown to take the form of posts they could take alternative forms. In a booth comprising four sides, with adjacent walls being perpendicular to one another, as seen in Figure 1, there will be four vertically extending support members 7, which may form part of a sub frame. There may be horizontal cross members 13 extending between the vertically extending support members 7 as part of the sub frame.

The attachment members 10 preferably comprise hooks, as best seen in Figure 2. This is preferred, since the attachment portion and the hooks may be substantially planar, which renders their insertion through the slits 6 easy. In alternative arrangements, however, they could take other forms that allow suitable engagement with the vertically extending support members 7. The attachment openings 8 preferably comprise slits as also best seen in Figure 2. The form of the attachment openings 8 may, however, vary in dependence on the form of the attachment members 10. With attachment members 10 that are other than planar then the attachment openings 8 will be other than slits.

The attachment of the bracket 9 to the vertically extending support member 7 is shown in Figures 2 and 3. In Figures 2 and 3 the inner panel 4 of one of the walls 2 is removed for clarity. Note that the omitted inner panel 4 is present in Figures 4 and 5. Attachment of the bracket 9 will occur with the inner panel 4 in place, as per Figure 4. For adjustment of the height of the support bracket 9, a user will un-hook the bracket 9 and pull the attachment portion out through the slit 6. The bracket may then be re-attached at a different vertical height by inserting the attachment portion through the slit 6 at a desired height and engaging the attachment members (hooks) 10 with the appropriate attachment openings 8.

It is preferable that the attachment portion is provided with a locking member 15 that is slidably attached to the support bracket 9 adjacent one of the attachment members for engagement with a respective one of the attachment openings 8. The locking member 15 is provided to prevent uplift of the bracket 9. The locking member 15 in a locked position (i.e. having been slid forward from the position shown in Figure 2, following proper seating of the bracket 9) will fill a gap in the respective attachment opening 8 above the attachment member 10 received by that attachment opening 8, so as to prevent any vertical movement of the attachment member 10 in the respective attachment opening 8. In the present arrangement, as is preferred, the locking member 15 is slidably arranged on an upper edge of the bracket 9 adjacent the uppermost attachment member 10. It will fill the gap in the any attachment opening 8 that receives the uppermost zo attachment member 10.

At least one of the walls may be provided with a pair of the brackets 9 supported in attachment openings 8 aligned with slits 6 at two vertical edges of one of the inner panels 4. In a booth with perpendicular adjacent sides, as shown, the two slits may be provided at two internal corners of the booth. One of these internal corners is seen in Figures 4 and 5. In the present arrangement, as discussed, there is preferably a vertically extending support member 7, in the form of a post, at each of the vertical edges of each of the inner panels 4, where the inner panels 4 define the entirety of the inner faces of the walls 2, at least for the walls that do not include the door opening. In alternative arrangements, there may be multiple adjacent panels per wall with multiple slits per wall.

Regardless of the configuration, most items of furniture to be supported will be supported by two of the brackets 9. Some smaller items may be supported by a single bracket, however, as is the case with the shelf 20 in Figure 5.

Any item that it may be desired to mount in a booth may be supported by one, two or more of the brackets. Exemplary items include a desk, a shelf or a seat. The brackets may support electrically powered lift columns for a height adjustable desk.

113 It should be noted that whilst the depicted booth 1 has four sides, it could have more or less walls/sides in alternative arrangements. The principals of its construction will be suitable for constructing booths having numerous forms, including triangular, hexagonal or octagonal booths or otherwise, wherein adjacent sides would be at an oblique angle to one another rather than perpendicular to one another as in the present arrangement. More than this booths could be constructed with curved walls.

The booth preferably comprises a base 14 (as seen in Figures 2 to 5) upon which the booth stands in use. The base 14 in the present arrangement is provided at the periphery of the booth only, as clearly seen. In alternative arrangements, this need not be the case. For example, there could be an arrangement where the base was plate like in form or otherwise constructed to extend across the entire floor surface. The booth 1 preferably comprises no floor. However, arrangements will be possible that include a floor covering, such as a carpet or similar within the booth 1.

To allow for suitable soundproofing, the base will preferably be provided with sound absorbing material (not shown) on a lower surface that is sandwiched between the base and the floor during use. Additionally or alternatively, the base may comprise sound absorbing material (not shown) on an upper surface of the base, the sound absorbing material being sandwiched between the base and the walls. The sound absorbing material is preferably a suitable foam.

The door is preferably provided with a drop down seal of conventional form that retracts as the door is opened under the force of a spring or otherwise and drops down as the door is shut.

The invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, given by way of example only. It will be appreciated that many different arrangements of are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A soundproof booth comprising upstanding peripheral walls and a roof, the walls comprising inner panels that define, at least in part, inner faces of the walls, and comprise vertical edges, wherein the inner panels are resilient, adjacent inner panels abut one another at, or adjacent to, their vertical edges, a slit being defined between the abutting inner panels, a vertically extending support member is provided outside the inner panels 113 and comprises a row of attachment openings in alignment with the slit, and a support bracket is provided, which comprises an attachment portion with attachment members, the attachment portion receivable through the slit for engagement of the attachment members with the attachment openings.
2. A soundproof booth as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the attachment members comprise hooks.
3. A soundproof booth as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the attachment portion is substantially planar.
4. A soundproof booth as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment openings comprise slits.
5. A soundproof booth as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment portion is provided with a locking member that is slidably attached to the support bracket adjacent one of the attachment members for engagement with a respective one of the attachment openings.
6. A soundproof booth as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of the inner panels abuts an adjacent one of the inner panels at each of its two vertical edges to define two of the slits, one of the rows of attachment openings is provided in alignment with each of the two slits, and a pair of support brackets is provided with each of the two slits receiving one of the support brackets.
7. A soundproof booth as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the walls further comprise outer panels, the inner and outer panels opposing one another to define respective inner and outer faces of the walls and the support member being provided between the inner and outer panels and supporting the inner and outer panels.
8. A soundproof booth as claimed in Claim 7, wherein sound damping material is provided between the inner and outer panels.
9. A soundproof booth as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support member comprises a post.
10. A soundproof booth as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the post forms part of a sub frame.
11. A soundproof booth as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, wherein the post is zo mounted to a base.
12. A soundproof booth as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the booth has four sides and comprises four posts.
13. A soundproof booth as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket supports a desk, a shelf or a seat.
14. A soundproof booth as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the bracket supports an electrically powered lift column for a height adjustable desk.