MODULAR SOUND INSULATION- WALL WITH PANELS

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a wall of the modular type, that is, consisting of a plurality of panels or modules, associated with each other, of the soundproofing or sound-proofing/air-conditioning type, usable to cover walls, floors and/or ceilings of rooms or premises where it is desired to guarantee high acoustic absorption, and a possible heat conditioning, in particular, although not exclusively, in meeting rooms, conference rooms, concert halls, gymnasiums, study rooms, work places or other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sound-proofing walls of a modular type are known, used for covering the internal walls of a room, or as separation or dividing elements for rooms, in order to reduce the echo effect and/or noise in the room where said panels are applied.

Walls of a known type normally consist of a plurality of panels associated with each other and made of wood-based composite material, such as plywood, MDF or other, covered on the visible surface with enhancing covering films.

The panels are generally associated with each other in slot-in manner with male-female coupling of the respective edges, defining relative joining furrows. The wall thus made is installed and positioned by means of supporting uprights attached on the wall to be covered.

The association of the wall and the supporting uprights is achieved by means of attachment elements, each of which, on one side, is clamped in snap- in manner to the upright, and on the other side defines a retaining tooth able to cooperate with a lateral seating of a relative panel in order to keep it in a desired position.

This association allows to define an insulating interspace between the wall to be covered and the sound-proofing/air-conditioning wall. In some known solutions, filling and insulating material is disposed in the insulating interspace, such as glass wool or other.

It is also known to make, on the external surface of each panel, a plurality of grooves substantially parallel and equivalent in size to the joining furrows, in order to camouflage the latter and to confer aesthetic characteristics of structural

continuity on the sound-proofing wall made.

In this solution, both the grooves and the joining furrows are open towards the interspace by means of transverse through holes, which allow the sound waves to pass through the grooves and furrows substantially over the whole surface of the wall.

Even though it guarantees good acoustic absorption and provides a pleasant aesthetic effect, this type of sound-proofing wall does however have a very high cost of production, especially due to the complexity of the production processes of the panels and their installation. Furthermore, this known solution has problems with assembly and installation, and especially of dis-assembly in the event of maintenance and operations to replace parts, which become necessary and frequent in particular, but not only, in the event that air-conditioning systems are associated with the sound-proofing wall, such as pipes, channels or coils. Purpose of the present invention is to achieve a sound-proofing or soundproofing/air-conditioning wall, of the modular type with panels or modules that are simple and economic to make, which guarantees good acoustic absorption, which is suitable to be associated with air-conditioning means, and which is also easy and quick to dis-assemble in order to carry out operations of maintenance and inspection.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purpose, a sound-proofing or soundproofing/air-conditioning wall of the modular type according to the present invention is usable for covering walls and/or ceilings of rooms such as study rooms, meeting rooms, work places or other.

The wall according to the present invention consists of a plurality of panels or modules, each of which comprises an external surface facing towards the room

where the noise is generated.

The sound-proofing wall according to the present invention also comprises attachment means able to cooperate with the relative facing coupling edges of two adjacent panels, to allow the latter to be attached to the relative wall to be covered.

Advantageously; on the external surface of each panel at least a groove is made, blind and open towards the outside.

According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the attachment means and the coupling edges are configured to maintain two adjacent panels reciprocally stably associated and distanced, so as to define between them at least a respective through joining furrow having a height defined by the attachment means and substantially equivalent to the height of the relative blind grooves made on the external surfaces of the panels.

Through the through grooves defined between two adjacent panels the passage of the sound waves is guaranteed, thus allowing the sound-proofing wall to achieve a satisfactory acoustic absorption without needing to achieve through holes in correspondence with the grooves and furrows.

With the present invention we therefore have a considerable reduction in the times and costs of making the panels, at the same time guaranteeing good acoustic absorption.

Furthermore, with the present invention it is not necessary to provide to make the male/female elements for the slot-in coupling of two adjacent panels insomuch as, in the innovative solution of the invention, the reciprocal association between two panels is achieved directly by means of the attachment means, which connect the sound-proofing or sound-proofing/air-conditioning wall to the wall to be covered.

In this way the times and costs of production of the panels and of installation of the wall according to the invention are further reduced.

According to the invention, on the coupling edges of each panel relative longitudinal seatings are made, in which the attachment means are partly inserted. The longitudinal seatings are conformed and shaped in such a manner that the attachment means are substantially hidden between two adjacent panels.

Furthermore, with the solution according to the present invention, since the

grooves are blind and the through furrows are equivalent in size to them, each panel is substantially camouflaged inside the sound-proofing wall that it composes, thus conferring on the latter aesthetic characteristics of structural continuity. Moreover, according to an advantageous form of embodiment, behind the through joining furrow at least a wing is provided, which covers the projection of the through joining furrow. In this way, from the outside the through furrow also appears blind, although it still carries out its function of abating the sound waves inasmuch as it communicates with the space behind the wall. According to a variant, on the rear side of each panel at least a cavity is provided, advantageously two or more, in order to at least partially house pipes to channel a heat-conditioning fluid.

Advantageously, each panel has substantially standardized sizes of height and width and/or multiples of the sizes of traditional construction elements, such as staves, bricks or other, so that the blind groove made on its external surface simulates a joining furrow between two adjacent traditional construction elements, and creates a desired or brick-wall effect or stave effect.

In a preferential form of embodiment, each panel has a substantially rectangular shape and provides on its external surface from one to three grooves made longitudinally to its development, so that it seems to consist in turn of two or more superimposed construction elements, for example two staves if covered by wood or a wood substitute, or two bricks if covered by brick material or comparable.

Each panel can also provide, on its external surface, one or more blind grooves made substantially transverse to its development, which in association with the longitudinal grooves simulate common arrangements of the traditional construction elements simulated, for example herring-bone, staggered, follow-on or others.

According to another preferential form of embodiment, the attachment means comprises at least an attachment plate having two or more positioning clips, facing in opposite directions, each of which is able to cooperate with a relative seating, to keep the two adjacent panels reciprocally associated and correctly distanced.

According to a first variant, the clips are of different sizes, and on the attachment plate a support element is provided, selectively positionable retracted, which defines at least a first support condition in which, in cooperation with a first clip of a plate opposite the panel, it functions as a positioning support for the latter, recouping the reciprocal difference in size of the two clips and guaranteeing the predetermined height, or opening size, of the through furrow; and a second retracted position, in which it allows the panel to slide with respect to the adjacent panel by an entity equal to the difference in size between the two clips. In this second position, the panel can be released from the first clip of the opposite plate and can thus be individually detached from the attachment means.

According to another variant, the two clips have substantially the same size and such as to both function as a rigid abutment against the attachment edges of the panels. In this way, the panels are maintained in the correct position of reciprocal coupling.

According to another variant, the size of the through furrow is such as to allow a tool to be inserted, suitable to act on the elastic clip in order to allow an easy and rapid release of the panels, for example to perform operations of maintenance and inspection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some preferential forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 shows a lateral view of a first form of embodiment of a modular sound- proofing wall according to the present invention, in a first operating condition;

- fig. 2 shows a lateral view of the modular sound-proofing wall in fig. 1, in a second operating condition;

- fig. 3 shows a section from III to III of fig. 1 ; - fig. 4 shows a section from IV to IV of fig. 1;

- fig. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of a second form of embodiment of a modular sound-proofing wall according to the present invention during an assembly step;

- fig. 6 shows an enlarged lateral view of a first detail of fig. 5;

- fig. 7 shows an enlarged three-dimensional view of a second detail of fig. 5;

- fig. 8 shows a front view of the modular sound-proofing wall in fig. 5;

- fig. 9 shows a three-dimensional view of a variant of the modular sound- proofing wall in fig. 5;

- fig. 10 shows a three-dimensional view of a variant of a module used in a sound-proofing/air-conditioning wall according to the present invention;

- fig. 11 shows a detail of a variant of the attachment system of the modules; - fig. 12 shows in section the method to assemble a wall module according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERENTIAL FORMS OF

EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, a sound-proofing wall 10 according to the present invention is of the modular type and consists of a plurality of panels 11, or modules, associated with each other, to cover a wall 12 (figs. 5, 6 and 9) of a room where it is desired to guarantee good acoustic absorption. The wall 12 can be horizontal, for example a floor or ceiling, or vertical.

In the forms of embodiment shown, each panel 11 has a substantially rectangular shape and substantially standardized sizes, for example multiples of a traditional wooden stave of about 60x500 mm.

In this case, the panel 11 is made of wood-based composite material, chipboard or MDF, and has an enhanced front surface 13 facing towards the room where the noise is generated. On this front surface 13 a longitudinal groove 15 is made, in this case blind, with a height or opening size D, of a predefined value, for example equal to about 4 mm. The longitudinal groove 15 is made for example by means of mechanical working through the removal of material, such as milling, incision or other.

In this way, each panel 11 simulates a composition made by two traditional staves superimposed one above the other.

Each panel 11 also comprises, in correspondence with its two edges, upper 16 and lower 17, respective longitudinal housing seatings 19 and 20, which are made more innerly with respect to the external surface of the respective edges 16

and 17, and, as will be described in detail hereafter, allow the correct disposition of two adjacent panels 11.

The sound-proofing wall 10 shown in figs. 1-9 is attached to the wall to be covered 12 by means of a plurality of uprights 22, substantially consisting of sheet metal profiles, advantageously zinc-coated, which are traditionally attached to the wall to be covered 12 by means of a plurality of screws, of a traditional type and not shown, or clamping rivets, or others of a known type.

In the first form of embodiment shown in figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, each upright 22 has a substantially T-shaped cross section with relative opposite lateral profiles 22a and 22b, whereas in the second form of embodiment, shown in figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the upright 22 has a more articulated and elastic cross section, but always provided with the lateral profiles 22a and 22b.

The sound-proofing wall 10 also comprises a plurality of attachment plates 21 or 121, which allow to dispose each panel 11 with respect to the relative uprights 22.

In the assembled condition, between the sound-proofing wall 10 and the wall to be covered 12, an interspace 124 is defined (figs. 5, 6 and 9), possibly filled with insulating material, of a known type and not shown here, the function of which will be explained in detail hereafter. In the first form of embodiment shown in figs. 1 to 4, each attachment plate 21 is made by punching and bending a zinc-coated metal sheet and comprises, on a rear surface thereof, two first constraining fins 18 made on the same first side of the metal sheet and shaped so as to be able to be coupled in snap-in manner with a first lateral profile 22a of the relative upright 22, and two second constraining fins 23 made opposite the first constraining fins 18 on the same second side, opposite the first, of the metal sheet and shaped so as to be able to be coupled in snap-in manner with a second lateral profile 22b of the relative upright 22 (fig.

3.)

Each attachment plate 21 also comprises, on a front surface thereof, a first and a second positioning clip 24 and 25 (figs. 1 and 2), facing in opposite directions to each other and substantially orthogonal to the constraining fins 23, and an attachment tongue 28, at least partly elastic and normally disposed in relief with respect to the front surface of the attachment plate 21.

In this case, a first clip 24 has a length substantially half that of a second opposite clip 25, and the elastic attachment tongue 28 faces, with an abutment surface 28a, towards the second clip 25.

In particular, the elastic attachment tongue 28 extends with an abutment surface 28a as far as half of the second clip 25 (fig. 1).

Each positioning clip 24, 25 is able to cooperate with a relative longitudinal seating 19 or 20, so as to maintain two adjacent panels 11 positioned and distanced from each other as desired.

The attachment tongue 28, being elastic, can be selectively positioned between a first supporting condition in which it protrudes from the front surface of the attachment plate 21, and a second retracted position, in which it is comprised in the plane of the front surface of the attachment plate 21.

As shown particularly in fig. 4, the distance Dx between a median transverse axis X of the attachment plate 21 and an abutment surface 24a of the first positioning clip 24 is substantially equal to the distance between the same median transverse axis X and the abutment surface 28a of the elastic attachment tongue

28.

In this way, when it is in its first condition, the supporting tongue 28 is able to contact, with its abutment surface 28a, an internal edge 17 of a panel 11, so as to maintain the other edge 16 of the panel 11 in contact with a relative abutment surface 24a of a first clip 24 of a similar attachment plate 21 (fig. 1) whereas, when it is in its second condition, it is able to be released from the edge 17 of the panel 11, so as to allow the free movement downward of the panel 11 until there is contact between the edge 17 and the second clip 25, and to consequently release the edge 16 of the panel 11 from the first clip 24 of the similar attachment plate 21 (fig. 2).

In this way, in association with the positioning of the longitudinal seatings 19 and 20 with respect to the external surface of the relative edges, upper 16 and lower 17, in the first support condition of the elastic attachment tongue 28, it is possible to define a desired longitudinal through joining furrow 26 between two adjacent panels 11 disposed in height; the through longitudinal furrow 26 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal groove 15, and has a height D substantially equivalent to the height D of the latter.

The opening size, or height, D of the longitudinal furrow 26 is slightly greater than the distance Dx of the two abutment surfaces 24a and 28a with respect to the median transverse axis X, so that, in the second condition with the tongue 28 retracted, the edge 17 contacts the relative clip 25 but does not interfere with the edge 16 of the lower panel 11, so as to allow a slight play which allows the panel 11 to rotate towards the outside and hence to be removed from the soundproofing wall 10, for example for maintenance or inspection operations.

In the second form of preferential embodiment shown in figs. 5 to 9, each attachment plate 121 is made by punching and bending a zinc-coated metal sheet and comprises, on a rear surface thereof, two constraining fins 123 made in diagonally opposite positions on the sheet and shaped so as to be coupled in snap-in manner with the two corresponding lateral profiles 22a of the relative upright 22. Each attachment plate 121 also comprises, on a front surface thereof, two positioning clips 125 facing in opposite directions to each other and substantially orthogonal to the constraining fins 123.

Each positioning clip 125 is able to cooperate with a relative longitudinal seating 19 or 20, so as to maintain two adjacent panels 11 positioned and distanced from each other in a desired manner.

In particular, the distance between the two positioning clips 125, in association with the positioning of the longitudinal seatings 19 and 20 with respect to the external surface of the relative edges, upper 16 and lower 17, allow to define the longitudinal through joining furrow 26 between two adjacent panels 11 disposed in height; the through longitudinal furrow 26, as in the form of embodiment previously described, is substantially parallel to the longitudinal groove 15, and has a height D substantially equivalent to the height D of the latter.

In both forms of embodiment described above, the sound waves projected towards the sound-proofing wall 10 according to the invention partly enter inside the longitudinal through furrows 26, remaining trapped inside the interstice 124, and thus preventing the echo effect, or acoustic return towards the source. Furthermore, since they have substantially equivalent opening sizes D, the longitudinal groove 15 of each panel 11 seems a proper joining furrow, so that the relative panel 11 seems in turn to consist of two distinct elements, for example two overlapping wooden staves.

According to a desired form of installing the panels 11, shown schematically in fig. 8, the positioning clips 24, 25, or 125, the elastic attachment tongue 28 and the relative longitudinal seatings 19 and 20 are coupled in such a manner as to also define transverse furrows 27 passing between two panels 11 adjacent laterally.

Advantageously, the transverse furrows 27 also have a height D substantially equivalent to the height D of the longitudinal furrows 26 and the longitudinal grooves 15.

In this form of embodiment, by increasing the through surface defined by the longitudinal furrows 26 and the transverse furrows 27, the capacity of acoustic absorption of the sound-proofing wall 10 is substantially increased, and a composition is aesthetically simulated made of a plurality of individual distinct staves, uniformly furrowed together.

According to the form of embodiment shown in fig. 9, each panel, indicated by the reference number 111, has not only the longitudinal groove 15, but also a plurality of transverse grooves 115 which in association with the longitudinal groove 15 define a plurality of rectangular areas with a size equivalent to traditional bricks, so that, by covering the panel with a brick-colored enhancing film, or covered by brick material, the sound-proofing wall 10 thus made produces an aesthetic brick-wall effect.

Furthermore, the transverse grooves 115 are disposed so as to simulate a position of the bricks substantially in a herringbone pattern, staggered, follow-on or other.

According to the other form of embodiment shown in figs. 10-12, where equal parts already described with reference to the previous drawings are indicated by the same reference numbers, on its rear side the panel 11 has cavities 50 shaped like the arc of a circle in order to house pipes and channels 51 for the circulation of a cooling/heating fluid. In this way, the wall 12 obtained by associating a plurality of panels 11 can perform the function of a sound-proofing wall and an air-conditioning wall.

Moreover, the end edges 16, 17 of the panels 11 are conformed to define, in association with the longitudinal grooves 19, 20, a fin 52 which covers the projection of the through furrow 26, making it appear blind to a view from

outside, so that the continuity of the wooden wall 12 is not interrupted.

Furthermore, as seen in fig. 12, the configuration and reciprocal positioning of the through furrow 26 and the elastic supporting tongue 28 are such as to allow the panel 11 to be released by acting from outside with the tip of a tool 53, in order to free the interference between the abutment surface 28a of the tongue 28 and the relative edge of the panel 11, allowing the latter to be removed.

It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the sound-proofing wall 10 and the panel 11, 111 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. For example, on every panel two or more longitudinal grooves 15 may be provided, or grooves disposed diagonally, in curves, semi-curves or other type, so as to obtain different aesthetic effects.

In the same way, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the panels 11 or 111 may have different shapes other than rectangular as described above, for example to create original compositions and/or specific compositions for different conditions of application.

It also comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the attachment plate 21, 121, instead of providing the two positioning clips 24, 25 or 125, may provide different elements to grip and position the panels 11, 111, such as for example expansion pins inserted into corresponding holes made on the rear surface of the panels 11, lateral attachment teeth, elastic pincers or others.

According to another variant, on the front surface of each attachment plate 21, 121, ribs are provided (not shown), which allow to increase the coupling hold of the positioning clips 24, 25, 125 and the relative longitudinal seatings 19 and 20. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of sound-proofing wall of the modular type with panels, and panel to make said sound-proofing wall, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.