US2270268A

US2270268A - Acoustical assembly

Info

Publication number: US2270268A
Application number: US341221A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Chambers
Original assignee: Johns Manville
Current assignee: Johns Manville Corp; Johns Manville
Priority date: 1940-06-19
Filing date: 1940-06-19
Publication date: 1942-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 1959-01-20

Description

Jan. 20, 1942. Y CHAMBERS 2,270,268

ACOUSTICAL ASSEMBLY Filed June l9, 1940 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR fi/fl A. (fiama/ix TTORNEY 1942- J. A. CHAMBERS ACOUSTICAL ASSEMBLY Filed June 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ci 621 ATTORNEY (m W @n w w Patented Jan. 20, 1942 ACOUSTICAL ASSEMBLY John A. Chambers, Swampscott, Mass., assignmto Johns-Manvllle Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation New York Application June 19, 1940, Serial No. 341,221

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to acoustical asr semblies, and particularly to assemblies including lighting units, the instant application being a continuation-in--part of my copending application Serial No. 293,713, filed September 7, 1939.

My previously filed application, Serial No. 293,713, is directed to the provision of an acoustical treatment employing a plurality of per forated facing elements with sound-absorbing pads therebehind, in combination with lighting fixtures incorporated in the treatment as a unitary part thereof.

The instant invention is concerned with a similar combination, in which, however, the acoustical treatment comprises a plurality of self-contained, integral, sound-absorbing panels. The invention is particularly concerned with and has for its principal object the provision of a suspension means for a ceiling or partition structure including acoustical units of the type referred to and lighting units comprising troughlike members containing illuminating devices such, for example, as the so-called fluorescent" units. The latter comprise elongated glass tubes, the interior surfaces of which are coated with a material which will glow brightly or fluoresce in the presence of ultra-violet radiation produced in the tubes by means of a mercury vapor arc.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a partition or ceiling including a suspension means for the acoustical and lighting units as referred to above, which will adapt the partition for ready assembly and disassembly.

My invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to the more detailed description thereof which is to follow and to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away of a combined acoustical treatment and lighting means in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on self-sustaining, relatively rigid material and are preferably beveled at the corners "of exposed edges. Each unit is provided along its edges with a slot or groove I3 approximately midway of its thickness. .Above the grooves l3, the units III are recessed as at l5 to receive portions of the suspension means between adjacent units ofthe assembly without affecting the continuity of the exposed face of the treatment.

The lighting units l2, as previously referred to, comprise an inverted trough-like member 14 suitably formed of sheet metal or the like and may include end flanges l6 whereby a plurality of the members I 4 may be secured together in endwise abutting relationship by bolts, welding, or the like to extend the trough as illustrated particularly in Fig. 1. Each member l4 supports a lighting means of any suitable type which, however, preferably comprises an elongated glass tube l8 in which a mercury vapor arc may be produced to cause fluorescence of an inner coating to obtain fluorescent lighting of the type previously described. The tube is supported in the member l4 in any suitable manner and a casing 20 is provided for the electrical connections and other electrical elements of the lighting means which, per se, forms no part of the instant invention. The side walls of members M are retroverted to provide flanges 22, the flanges including preferably integral beads 24.

The suspension means for the lighting units and the acoustical units comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending, substantially parallel attaching members or T-bars 32 suspended from the inner ceiling or base 30 as by suspension members 34. The T-bars comprise a base 36 and resilient'converging side flanges 38, including locking lips 40, and may be formed of any suitable, relatively light-gauge metal. The T-bars are spaced apart at intervals, depending upon the particular arrangement of lighting units and acoustical units desired. In the construction shown for the purposes of illustration, troughs l4 alternate with four rows of the acoustical panels II). It will be understood, however, that any other suitable relationship between acousticalunits and lighting units may be employed.

Bridgingspaces which are to receive the acoustical units between the T-bars are members 42, suitably channel-shaped in cross section. As illustrated, the assembly of the T-bars, channel members 42 and suspension means 3tmay be made by fastening the suspension means to the channel members 42 as by bolts 44 and securing the members 42 to the T-bars as by clips 46.

However, as will be understood, any other arrangement may be employed, for example, suspension means 34 may be secured directly to the bases 36 of the T-bars and channel members 42 may rest on the bases of the T-bars or be secured thereto, if desired. Channel members 2 support a runner 50, which, preferably, is in the form of an I-beam including horizontal flanges 52, by means of hangers or the like 54. Flanged, substantially L-shaped members 55, hereinafter referred to as L-members, including beads 58 in the vertical walls thereof, are inserted in the r-bars with their beads 58 in engagement with a lip 40 of the T-bar. L-members 56 and runners 50 preferably extend completely across the area to be treated. Inverted T-members 60 bridge the spaces between the L-members 56 and runner 50 with their ends resting on the flanges of said members.

In forming the assembly of the instant invention, after the T-bars, channel members 42, and runners 50 have been placed in position, either the trough members or the acoustical units may be initially installed. Assuming that the troughs are first to be positioned, these are placed between the T-bars and forced upwardly until the beaded flanges 22 are interlocked between the flanges 38 and lips 40 of the T-bars. 56 are then similarly forced between the lips oi. the T-bars and the previously inserted flange of the trough-like members, with the flange of the L-member extending outwardly. A T-member 60, preferably having one of the flangestorming the head of the T removed, is placed to bridge between the member 56 and runner 50 adjacent a boundary of the area to be treated, with its flange extending inwardly. Two of the units in are then placed in position between the T-bar and runner 50, with the flanges oi! the members 56, 50 and 60 received in the respective edge slots iii. A filler strip 62 may be inserted to till the slots in the contiguous edges or the units to prevent breathing between the units. A second T-member 60 is then placed in position, with a flange received in the outwardly facing slots of the previously installed units and the operations repeated. The units III are installed between the other T-bars and runners 50 in the same manner.

As previously pointed out, the above description and the drawings are directed to the preferred construction in which the troughs II are comparatively widely spaced. However. other arrangements may be employed. For example, only one or two rows of the acoustical units may be placed between the lighting units in any desired area, or for that matter a plurality of the lighting units may be placed side by side in certain areas. In any of these cases the T-bars are suitably arranged to support the lighting unit troughs in the desired locations. I! but one or two rows of acoustical units are needed to flll the spaces between the T-bars, the runners III are not required and support for the units I is provided in the first case by L-members 58, although T-members 80 may also be employed to prevent breathing between the units, and in the second case by the L-members i and T-members 60. On the other hand, it the lighting units are to be very widely spaced, a plurality of the runners 50 may be required between the T-bars.

A construction in accordance with the invention as described above provides means for readily suspending an acoustical treatment including combined lighting units in any desired arrange- L-members I ment. Also, the lighting units may be easily removed from time to time, as may be necessary for replacement and repair, merely by unsnapping the flanges 22 of the troughs from 'the T-bars.

Having thus described my invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that these details need not be strictly adhered to, but that various changes and modifications will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A ceiling comprising a base, a plurality o supporting bars suspended therefrom, said bars lying in substantial parallel relationship to one another, elongated lighting units carried by said bars and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween, means bridging others of the spaces between said bars, and acoustical units supported from said bars and said means.

2. A ceiling comprising a base, a plurality of supporting bars suspended therefrom, said bars lying in substantial parallel relationship to one another, elongated lighting units including flanges in interlocking engagement with said bars and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween, means bridging others of the spaces between said bars, and acoustical units supported from said bars and said means.

3. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongated lighting units including retroverted side flanges detachably interlocked in said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces between said bars, members bridging others of the spaces between said bars, and acoustical units supported from said T-bars and said members.

4. A partition comprising a base, a plurality oi T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, said T- bars includingopposed locking lips, elongated lighting units including retroverted side flanges having beads in removable interlocking engagement with said opposed interlocking lips of said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween, members bridging others of the spaces between said T-bars, and acoustical units supported from said T-bars and said members.

5. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongated lighting units carried by said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween. means cooperating with said T-bars and bridging others of the spaces therebetween, and members carried by said T-bars and said means, respectively, for supporting acoustical units 6. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongated lighting units carried by said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween, means cooperating with said T-bars and bridging others of the spaces therebetween, flanged members carried by said T-bars and said means, respectively, and acoustical units including slotted edges with certain of the slots embracing the flanges of said members.

7. A partition comprising a base, a purality o! T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongated lighting units including retroverted side flanges detachably interlocked in said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces between said T-bars, acoustical units spanning others of the spaces between said T-bars, and separate elements detachably carried by said T-bars for supporting adjacent edges of said units.

8. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongated'lighting units including retroverted side flanges detachably interlocked in said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces between said T- bars, acoustical units including slotted edges spanning others of the spaces between said T- bars, and elements detachablycarried by said T-bars and including flanges received in certain of the slots of said units.

9. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongated lighting units including flanges interlocked with ceiving said flanges.

10. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongated lighting units including flanges interlocked with said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween, means bridging others of thespaces between said T-bars, a flanged member supported from said means and extending parallel to said T-bars, flanged elements interlocked with said T-bars, and acoustical units including slotted edges with certain of the slots thereof receiving the flanges of said, member and elements, and T-members extending at substantially right angles to said flanged member and T-bars and supported thereby, said T-members includi' r flanges received in others of the slots of said acoustical units.

11. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported from said base and lying in substantial parallelism in one another, elongated lighting units including retroverted side flanges 'detachably interlocked in said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween, channels bridging others of the spaces between said T- bars, flanged runners extending substantially parallel to said T-bars and supported from said channels, flanged elements including a portion received in said T-bars, acoustical units having slotted edges, a slot of an edge of certain of said acoustical units receiving the flanges of said flanged elements and a slot in the edge oi others of said acoustical units receiving the flanges of said flanged runners, and a slotted edge of each acoustical unit receiving the flange of a flanged member extending between said runner and element. a

12. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of spaced supports carried from said base, elongated lighting units carried by said supports and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween, means cooperating with said supports and bridging others of the spaces therebetween, and members carried by said supports and said means, respectively, for supporting acoustical units.

13. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of spaced supports carried from said base and each including resilient flanges defining a receiving slot, lighting units including retroverted side flanges detachably interlocked in the retain oi the spaces therebetween, acoustical units including slotted edges spanning others of the spaces between said supports, and elements detachably carried by said supports and including flanges received in certain of the slots of said acoustical units.

14. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of spaced supports carried from said base and each including resilient flanges defining. a receiving slot, fighting units including retroverted side flanges detachably interlocked in the receiving slots of said supports and bridging certain of the spacw therebetween, acoustical units including slotted edges spanning others 01' the spaces between said supports, and elements having portions detachably interlocked in said receiving slots and including flanges received in certain -of 1116810 of said acoustical units.

JOHN A. CHAMBERS.