WO2020067873A1

WO2020067873A1 - Noise attenuation booth and wall or space divider panel

Info

Publication number: WO2020067873A1
Application number: PCT/NL2018/050638
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Thomas Lambertus Van Hooft; Tristan Margareth Raphael Petronella Frencken
Original assignee: Oahwip B.V.
Priority date: 2018-09-26
Filing date: 2018-09-26
Publication date: 2020-04-02

Abstract

A noise attenuation booth with an interior furnished with sound absorbing material. Posts of upstanding panels of the booth are mounted to a plate of each upstanding panel along horizontally opposite edges. The upstanding panels are arranged around an interior space of the booth bounded by the upstanding panels. At corners of the booth, vertical end faces of neighboring ones of the upstanding panels are arranged against vertical faces of the corner posts. Projections of a connecting member each project into a bottom end of one of the panel posts and of the corner post at that corner. The panel posts and the corner post rest on a base plate of the connecting member. A wall or room divider panel to which a sound absorbing panel is suspended having a slot with an upwardly oriented dead end portion engaging a pin on the panel post is also disclosed.

Description

TITLE: Noise attenuation booth and wall or space divider panel

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a noise attenuation booth and to a noise attenuation wall or space divider panel.

Noise is very common nuisance in open-plan offices. On the one hand, a loud noise volume as such can be a nuisance, especially when the noise is persistent for a long time. On the other hand, in acoustically damped spaces, intelligibility of speech between persons relatively far away, can be so good that it is practically unavoidable to overhear speech of a conversation in which one is not involved. This is undesired in view of privacy, possible

confidentiality of what is discussed and in view of disturbing concentration of the person(s) overhearing speech. Background noise can also impair speech intelligibility, in particular in telephone conversations.

A known solution is to provide, in addition to an open-plan office space, separate rooms that allow persons that need to talk to avoid disturbing other persons and that allow persons that need to concentrate on a particular task to avoid being disturbed by noise and discussions of other persons. However, such separate rooms, even if created using a flexible office wall or partitioning system, occupy space, which cannot be flexibly made available when needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of a first aspect of the present invention to provide a noise attenuation booth that can easily be assembled, disassembled and reassembled in a different configuration in an open-office space.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a booth according to claim 1. Because at corners of the booth, vertical end faces of neighboring ones of the panels are arranged against vertical faces of the corner posts, the booth or a plurality of the booths can be reconfigured into many configurations, the panels closing off openings between selected pairs of corner post positions on an (imaginary) grid of corner post positions and leaving open entry openings between selected other pairs of the corner post positions of that grid.

Furthermore a clean appearance with straight outer surfaces up to the corners is obtained. Because, each one of the projections of one of the connecting members projects into a bottom end of one of the panel posts and the corner posts, the connections of the panels at the corners can be made easily by lowering the posts over the projections, without requiring any tools. Because the panel posts and the corner post rest on the base plate, the weight of the panels and the post is distributed over the surface of the base plate and the risk of causing damage to the floor on which the booth rests is very small.

It is an object of a second aspect of the present invention to provide a noise attenuation wall or room divider with a noise absorbing panel that can easily be mounted, dismounted and remounted in a different position.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a wall or room divider according to claim 10.

Because faces of the panels posts facing each other are each provided with a carrier pin and the sound absorbing panel is provided with slots having an open end on an outwardly facing side of the sound absorbing panel and a dead end portion oriented with an upward directional component towards the dead end, the pins each projecting into one of the slots and being engaged by the dead end of that one of the slots, the sound absorbing panels can be mounted between the panel posts of the wall or room divider panel by simply hooking the slots over the pins, causing the pins to shde into the slots at the open ends thereof and then on to the dead end of the respective slot. After mounting of the panels, the connections are each hidden from view in a slit between the sound absorbing panel and the panel posts of the wall or room divider panel. Only if the plate of the wall or room divider panel is transparent (e.g. of glass) the relatively small open ends of the slots are visible through the glass.

Particular elaborations and embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

Further features, effects and details of the invention appear from the detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a booth according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view obhquely from above of a bottom end portion of a corner portion of the booth shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view obhquely from below of a bottom end portion of a corner portion of the booth shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of portions of an upstanding panel and of a sound absorbing panel before mounting;

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of an upstanding- panel, a portion of a sound absorbing panel mounted thereto and a portion of a accessory mounted to the upstanding panel and the sound absorbing panel;

Figs. 6A-6E are schematic top plan views of several examples of configurations of one or more booths according to the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view obliquely from above of a bottom end portion of a corner portion a further example of a booth according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Figs. 1 and 6A, an example of a booth 1 according to the invention is shown. The booth 1 has upstanding panels 2, 3. In this example, the panels 2, 3 have been provided in two widths only: four wide panels 2 and three narrow panels 3. All of the wide panels 2 are identical to each other and all of the narrow panels. The walls which in Fig. 1 are at the sides of the booth 1 facing away from the viewer are each formed by a wide panel 2 and a narrow panel 3 (see also Fig. 6A).

Each panel 2, 3 has upstanding panel posts 6, 7 and a plate 8. In this example, the plates are in the form of glass. However, the plates can also be made from other materials, such as plasterboard or plywood and the plates may for instance be single walled or double walled with a cavity or core between the walls. In this example, the booth 1 has five corner posts 9 and four connecting members 10. An interior of the booth 1 is furnished with sound absorbing material 11. The posts 6, 7 of each upstanding panel 2, 3 are mounted to the plate 8 of that panel 2, 3 along horizontally opposite vertical edges of the plate 8. As is best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the connecting members 10 each include a horizontal base plate 12 and projections 13, 14, 15 projecting vertically from the base plate 12. The upstanding panels 2, 3 are arranged around a booth interior space bounded by the upstanding panels 2, 3. At corners 16-19 of the booth 1, vertical end faces of neighboring ones of the upstanding panels 2, 3 are arranged against vertical faces of the corner posts 9. At each corner 16-19, each one of the projections 13-15 of one of the connecting members 10 projects into a bottom end of one of the panel posts 6, 7 and the corner post 9 at that corner 16-19. The panel posts 6, 7 and the corner post 9 rest on the base plate 12.

The booth attenuates noise by shielding the interior of the booth from the exterior of the booth and vice versa against noise entering or, respectively, exiting the booth and by damping noise in the booth. Because at corners 16-19 of the booth 1, vertical end faces of neighboring ones of the panels 2, 3 are arranged against vertical faces of the corner posts 9, the booth 1 can be reconfigured into many configurations, which also includes combinations of two or more booths as is illustrated by Figs. 6B-6E. In Fig. 6A the configuration of Fig. 1 is shown, while Figs. 6B-6E show alternative booth configurations 51, 101, 151, 201. The panels 2, 3 close off openings between selected pairs of corner post positions (for illustrative purposes, the corner post positions are shown enlarged compared with the example shown in Figs. 1-3) on an (imaginary) grid of corner post positions and leaving open entry openings between selected other pairs of the corner post positions of that grid. A clean appearance with straight outer surfaces up to the corners is obtained, because sides of the upstanding panels 2, 3 abut against the corner posts 9 and upstanding panels do not connect to an inwardly or outwardly facing side of a neighboring one of the upstanding panels 2, 3. In particular, at each post a corner from a panel extending in one direction can be in another direction perpendicular thereto to the left or to the right and the sizes of the enclosed space as well as the outer dimensions in the mutually perpendicular directions are not affected by alternative modes in which the corner connection could be made. This also allows two booths to be coupled to each other either by corner posts 9, if a double wall between the interior spaces of the connected booths is desired (e.g. as shown in Figs. 6C and 6E), or by connecting mutually aligned panels of coupled booths on opposite sides to a common corner post (e.g. as shown in Fig. 6D).

A corner post 9 can also be provided at an end of a panel where an entry and exit opening of the booth needs to be bridged by a top beam 21. There, a connecting member 20 with two projections substantially identical to the projections 13-15 of connecting member 10 projecting from a base plate of substantially the same thickness couples the corner post 9 to the adjacent upstanding panel 3. The same connecting members 20 are also provided for posts 6 and 7 of connecting panels 2 and 3 that are mutually in line with each other. Thus, a corner post 9 at an end of only one panel and two panels mutually in hne can be connected in essentially the same simple manner as panels and a corner post at a corner of the booth.

Because, the projections 13-15 of the connecting members 10 each project into a bottom end of one of the panel posts 6, 7 and the corner posts 9, the connections of panels 2, 3 at the corners 17-19 can be made easily by lowering the posts 6, 7, 9 over the projections 13-15, without requiring any tools. Because the panel posts 6, 7 and the corner post 9 rest on the base plate 12, the weight of the panels 2, 3 and the post 9 is distributed over the surface of the base plate 12 and the risk of causing damage to the floor on which the booth 1 rests is very small.

The booth 1 is downwardly open and, between the connecting members

9, the panels 2, 3 directly meet a floor 22 on which the booth 1 rests. Thus, the floor of an open-space office continues into the booth 1 without interruption by a doorstep or other difference in levels.

The projections 13-15 of the connecting members 10, 20 each closely fit into one of the panel posts 6, 7 and the corner post 9, so that a tight connection is achieved as soon as a post 6, 7, 9 is lowered over a projection 13-15, regardless whether the other post or posts to be connected are already lowered over the associated projection or projections 13-15 of that connecting member

10, 20. Because lowered posts 6, 7, 9 are immediately exactly positioned relative to the connecting member 10, 20, lowering the following posts 6, 7, 9 over the connecting member 10, 20 is facilitated, since it is ensured that the required space between a positioned post and an adjacent projection is free.

At least the base plate 12 of each connecting member 10, 20 is of a metal, which is preferably steel. This allows the base plate 12 to be very thin, which minimizes visual disturbance, yet sufficiently stiff and strong.

A recess 23 is provided in a lower end of the corner post 9. By inserting a screwdriver or other flat tip ended tool into a space left between the recess 23 and the base plate 12, the connecting member can easily be pried away from the posts 6, 7, 9, which facilitates disassembly. Such recesses may also be provided in upper or lower ends of the panel posts 6, 7 and in upper ends of the corner posts 9.

The sound absorbing material 11 is provided in the form of sound absorbing panels suspended between posts 6, 7 of the panels 2, 3. This allows the appearance of the booth 1 to be easily adapted. Also, the sound absorbing material, 11 which is typically relatively soft and therefore vulnerable, is within the confines of a rectangular space between the posts 6, 7 of the panels 2, 3, so that it is protected against damage during transport and handling of the upstanding panels 2, 3.

The booth 1 may also be provided with connecting members 10, 20 at upper ends of the posts 6, 7, 9, so that each the projections of an upper one of the connecting members 10, 20 projects into a top end of one of the panel posts 6, 7 and the corner posts 9. Thus, a particularly tight fixation of the panels 2, 3 relative to each other is achieved and not dependent on an optional ceiling 24. Such a ceiling contributes to a particularly effective acoustical insulation between the interior and the exterior of the booth 1.

As is shown in Figs 4 and 5, in a booth 1 as shown or in another wall or room divider panel 2 having upstanding panel posts 6, 7 and a plate 8 and furnished with sound absorbing material 11, the sound absorbing material can be provided in the form of a sound absorbing panel suspended between the panel posts 6, 7. Faces 25 of the panels posts 6, 7 facing each other can each be provided with a carrier pin 26 and the sound absorbing panel can be provided with slots 27 having an open end 28 on an outwardly facing side of the sound absorbing panel and a dead end portion oriented with an upward directional component towards the dead end 29. The pins 26 can each project into one of the slots 27 and can be engaged by the dead end 29 of that one of the slots 27.

This allows the sound absorbing panels to be be mounted between the panel posts 6, 7 of the wall or room divider panel 2 by simply hooking the slots 27 over the pins 26, causing the pins 26 to shde into the slots 27 at the open ends 28 thereof and then onwards until abutting the dead end 29 of the respective slot 27. After mounting of the panels, the connections are each hidden from view in a slit between the sound absorbing panel and the panel posts 6, 7 of the wall or room divider panel 2. Only if the plate 8 of the wall or room divider panel is transparent (e.g. of glass), the relatively small open ends 28 of the slots 27 are visible through the glass of the panel 8.

The wall or room divider panel 2 attenuates noise by shielding against noise crossing the wall or room divider panel and by damping noise on at least one side of the wall or room divider panel 2.

For easy assembly and disassembly, the slots 27 each project obhquely inwardly and upwardly from the open end 28 to the dead end 29 thereof.

The pins 26 are each removably mounted in one of a vertical row of openings 30 in one of the panel posts 6, 7. This allows the height of the sound absorbing panels to be adjusted in a simple manner by mounting the pins 26 into higher or lower ones of the openings 30. The pins may for instance be inbus bolts with a threaded stem while the openings may each have a correspondingly threaded wall for allowing the bolts to be screwed into the openings. The slots 27 and the openings 30 are preferably located such that the openings 30 are hidden from view by the acoustical panel in any possible position in which the acoustical panel can be mounted.

In the present example, furthermore an accessory 31 (see Fig. 5) is suspended from the panel posts 6, 7. The accessory 31 has hooking plates 32 each projecting into a slit 33 between the sound absorbing panel 11 and one of the panel posts 6 and hooked to the pin 26 of that panel post 6, 7. More in particular, a hook portion 34 of the hooking plate engages the pin 26. A surface portion 35 of the accessory 31 below the pins 26 faces an interior face of the sound absorbing panel 11 and rests against that interior face of the sound absorbing panel 11 and prevent forward tilting of the accessory 31. The accessory, such as a ledge for storing items or a display support bracket can easily be mounted to the panel 2 with the connection of the accessory being of a simple construction and completely concealed from view, so that it does not clutter up the visual appearance of the panel 2.

In this example, the hooking plate has a further hook portion 34' above the hook portion 34 engaging the pin 26. This allows the accessory to be suspended from the panel 2 in a second lower position than the position shown in Fig. 5. Further hook portions below and above the shown hook portion can be provided to allow suspending the accessory 31 in further lower and higher positions.

The panel shown in Figs. 4 and 5 can advantageously be included in a booth as shown in Figs 1-3 and 6A to 6E.

As is shown in Fig. 7, a connecting member 60 can also be used for hingedly suspending one of the panels 53 relative to a neighboring panel 52. To this end, the connecting member 60 has a hinge hinging one part 87 of the connecting member 60 connected to one of the panels 53 relative to another part 88 of the connecting member connected to another one of the panels 52 connected by that connecting member 60. The first part 87 of the connecting member 60 has a projection 15 projecting into a bottom end of the panel post 57 of the panel 53 and the second part 88 of the connecting member 60 has a projection 13 projecting into a bottom end of the panel post 56 of the panel 52. The hinge is formed by a hinge pin 85 of the second connecting member part 88 projecting through a hole in a hinge wing 86 of the first connecting member part 87. In this example, a corner post has been omitted to provide free space for a pivoting contour of the generally square panel post 57 of the hinged panel 53. However, it is also conceivable to provide a round or partially round corner post, that leaves free space for a pivoting contour of the generally square panel post 57 or to provide a special hingeable panel with a panel post shaped so as not to intrude into space occupied by a generally square corner post.

At the upper end of the hingedly connected panels 52, 53, a hinged connecting member simil r or identical to the bottom hinged connecting member 60 can be provided. If an identical connecting member 60 is provided, the height difference between plate portions of the first and second parts 87,

88 of the connecting member 60 automatically matches a height difference between the panels 52, 53 caused by the bottom connecting member 60.

Several features have been described as part of particular embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention also includes embodiments having combinations of all or some of these features other than the specific combinations of features embodied in the examples.

Claims

1. A noise attenuation booth, comprising upstanding panels, each having upstanding panel posts and a plate, corner posts, and connecting members, wherein

an interior of the booth is furnished with sound absorbing material; the posts of each upstanding panel are mounted to the plate of that upstanding panel along horizontally opposite vertical edges of the plate,

the connecting members each include a horizontal base plate and projections projecting vertically from the base plate,

the upstanding panels are arranged around a booth interior space bounded by the upstanding panels,

at corners of the booth, vertical end faces of neighboring ones of the upstanding panels are arranged against vertical faces of the corner posts, and each one of the projections of one of the connecting members projects into a bottom end of one of the panel posts and the corner posts, the panel posts and the corner post resting on the base plate.

2. A booth according to claim 1, wherein the booth is downwardly open and, between the connecting members, the upstanding panels directly meet a floor on which the booth rests.

3. A booth according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the projections of the connecting members each closely fit into one of the panel posts and the corner post.

4. A booth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least the base plate of each connecting member is of a metal.

5. A booth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a recess is provided in a lower end of at least one of the panel posts and the corner post at at least one of the corners.

6. A booth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sound absorbing material is provided in the form of at least one sound absorbing panel suspended between posts of at least one of the upstanding panels.

7. A booth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the projections of an upper one of the connecting members projects into a top end of one of the panel posts and the corner posts.

8. A booth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the connecting members has a hinge hinging one part of the connecting member connected to one of the panels relative to another part of the connecting member connected to another one of the panels connected by that connecting member.

9. A booth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the panels are arranged next to each other and mutually in line and each one of the projections of one of the connecting members connecting a pair of the panels that are arranged next to each other and mutually in line projects into a bottom end of one of the panel posts, the panel posts and the corner post resting on the base plate of that connecting member.

10. A wall or room divider panel having upstanding panel posts and a plate and furnished with sound absorbing material, wherein the sound absorbing material is provided in the form of at least one sound absorbing panel suspended between the panel posts, wherein faces of the panel posts facing each other are each provided with a carrier pin and wherein the sound absorbing panel is provided with slots having an open end on an outwardly facing side of the sound absorbing panel and a dead end portion oriented with an upward directional component towards the dead end, the pins each projecting into one of the slots and being engaged by the dead end of that one of the slots.

11. A wall or room divider panel according to claim 10, wherein the slots each project obliquely inwardly and upwardly from the open end to the dead end thereof.

12. A wall or room divider panel according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the pins are each removably mounted in one of a vertical row of openings in one of the panel posts.

13. A wall or room divider panel according to any of the claims 10-12, wherein an accessory is suspended from the panel posts, and wherein the accessory has hooking plates each projecting into a slit between the sound absorbing panel and one of the panel posts and hooked to the pin of that panel post and a surface portion below the pins, facing an interior face of the sound absorbing panel and resting against the interior face of the sound absorbing panel.

14. A booth according to any of the claims 1-9 with upstanding wall panels according to any of the claims 10-13.