ACOUSTIC ATTENUATING BRAS

Abstract

A fastener for securing drywall to a structural element includes an elastomeric sleeve that reduces sound transmission through the drywall to the structural element and vice versa.

Description

ACOUSTIC ATTENUATING BRAS Cross-reference to related applications This application claims priority and any benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Number 63 / 113,235, filed on November 13, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Field of invention General inventive concepts refer to innovative fasteners and systems that use fasteners to create an acoustically isolated room or space. Background of the invention A common type of wall is formed by attaching drywall to structural elements in the form of wall studs. Wall studs can be made of wood, metal, composites, or any other type of mounting substrate. The drywall is secured to the studs with various drywall screws. A conventional method for achieving sound insulation in a room involves structurally decoupling or otherwise isolating the drywall from the wall studs. One technique for such structural decoupling relies on resilient channels. Resilient channels can be formed as long metal rails (for example, 2.4 meters (8 feet)). Resilient channels are inserted between the drywall and the studs to enhance the sound insulation provided by the drywall. Figure 1 illustrates a conventional installation of this type. In the installation, a pair of resilient channels is placed between the drywall panel (e.g., 12.7 mm (1 / 2 inch) gypsum board) and the wall studs (e.g., 2x4 lumber). It should be noted that a lower portion of each resilient channel is connected to the studs, while a higher portion is not connected to the studs, thus decoupling the drywall panel from the studs (see Figure 6A). In addition, thermal insulation 108 (e.g., fiberglass blocks) can be placed in the cavities formed between adjacent studs 106. Gypsum board 110 (e.g., 12.7 mm (1 / 2 inch) gypsum board) can be attached directly to the wall studs 106 on the opposite side of the wall, i.e., on the side opposite the resilient channels 102. These resilient channels represent an effective but complex, labor-intensive, and costly option for creating a high-transmission-loss wall. Additionally, the detailed installation of resilient channels can be time-consuming (particularly in retrofit applications) and more prone to installation errors. Therefore, there is an unmet need for an improved system to create an acoustically isolated room. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi Brief description of the invention The general inventive concepts relate to fasteners and systems that use fasteners to create an acoustically isolated room or space. In one exemplary embodiment, a fastener for securing a wall panel to a structural member is disclosed. The term "wall panel" is used herein to refer to any sheathing panel that interacts with structural members to at least partially enclose or otherwise cover a space between the structural members. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a sleeve, wherein the shank extends from a lower surface of the head, a first portion of the shank includes a helical thread, the sleeve surrounds a second portion of the shank, and the sleeve is made of an elastomeric material having a Shore durometer hardness in the range of 10 to 30. Generally, the head and shank are part of a screw. In some exemplary embodiments, the screw is a pocket-hole screw. In some exemplary embodiments, the screw is a lath screw.In some exemplary embodiments, the screw is a drywall screw. In some exemplary embodiments, the screw is a Phillips wafer head screw. In some exemplary embodiments, the shaft lacks a helical thread, so that the fastener is a nail or a nail-like element. In some examples of modality, the sleeve is fixed to the second portion of the shaft. In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve surrounds the first portion of the shaft in a state uninstalled from the fastener, and where the sleeve surrounds the second portion of the shaft in a state installed from the fastener. In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve surrounds the first portion of the shaft more than the second portion of the shaft in a state uninstalled from the fastener, and where the sleeve surrounds the second portion of the shaft more than the first portion of the shaft in a state installed from the fastener. In some exemplary forms, a space separates the first portion and the second portion. In some exemplary forms, the first portion rests on the second portion. In some exemplary forms, the first portion and the second portion overlap. In some exemplary forms, at least a portion of the sleeve is a conical trunk having a first end that defines a maximum width of the sleeve and a second end that defines a minimum width of the sleeve. In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve has a first end that defines a maximum width of the sleeve and a second end that defines a minimum width of the sleeve, wherein a first portion of the sleeve is a truncated cone extending from the second end to a point (plane) between the first and second ends, and wherein a second portion of the sleeve is a cylinder extending from that point to the first end. A diameter of the cylinder Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi corresponds to the maximum width of the sleeve. In some exemplary forms, the point is equidistant from the first end and the second end. In some exemplary forms, the point is closer to the first end than to the second end. In some exemplary forms, the point is closer to the second end than to the first. In some examples of modality, the maximum width of the sleeve is equal to the maximum width of the head. In some exemplary models, the maximum width of the sleeve is less than the maximum width of the head. In some exemplary models, the maximum width of the sleeve is greater than the maximum width of the head. In some exemplary models, the maximum width of the sleeve is in the range of 3.0 mm (0.125 inches) to 12.5 mm (0.5 inches). In some exemplary models, the minimum sleeve width is in the range of 0.125 inches (3.0 mm) to less than 12.5 mm (0.5 inches). In some exemplary forms, the first end of the sleeve rests on the lower surface of the head. In some exemplary forms, the slope of the conical trunk from maximum width to minimum width is in the range of 0.1 degrees to 30 degrees. In some exemplary forms, the slope of the conical trunk from maximum width to minimum width is in the range of 3 degrees to 20 degrees. In some exemplary forms, the sleeve length is in the range of 6.0 mm (0.25 inches) to 25.4 mm (1 inch). In some exemplary models, the sleeve length is less than half the shaft length. In some exemplary models, the sleeve length is equal to half the shaft length. In some exemplary models, the sleeve length is greater than half the shaft length. In some exemplary forms, the sleeve width is the same along the sleeve, the sleeve width is in the range of 3.0 mm (0.125 inches) to 12.5 mm (0.5 inches), and the sleeve length is in the range of 6.0 mm (0.25 inches) to 25.4 mm (1 inch). In some exemplary models, the elastomeric material is urethane. In some exemplary models, the elastomeric material is silicone. In some exemplary forms, the sleeve comprises a first portion made of a Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi first elastomeric material having a Shore durometer hardness in the range of 10 to 30 and a second portion made of a second elastomeric material having a Shore durometer hardness in the range of 10 to 30. In some exemplary forms, the elastomeric material is an unsaturated rubber that can be cured by sulfur vulcanization, which includes, but is not limited to, natural polyisoprene: cis-1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber (NR) and trans-1,4-polyisoprene gutta-percha; synthetic polyisoprene (IR for isoprene rubber); polybutadiene (BR for butadiene rubber); chloroprene rubber (CR), polychloroprene, neoprene, bayprene, etc.; butyl rubber (isobutene-isoprene copolymer, IIR); halogenated butyl rubbers (chlorobutyl rubber: CIIR; bromobutyl rubber: BIIR); styrene-butadiene rubber (styrene-butadiene copolymer, SBR); nitrile rubber (butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, NBR), also called Buna-N rubbers; and hydrogenated nitrile rubbers (HNBR), Therban and Zetpol. In some exemplary forms, the elastomeric material is an unsaturated rubber that is cured by sulfur-free vulcanization. In some exemplary forms, the elastomeric material is a saturated rubber that cannot be cured by sulfur vulcanization, including, but not limited to, ethylene propylene rubber (EPM), a copolymer of ethene and propene; ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and a diene component; epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO); polyacrylic rubber (ACM, ABR); silicone rubber (SI, Q, VMQ); fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ); fluoroelastomers (FKM, FEPM), Viton, Tecnoflon, Fluorel, Atlas, and Dai-El; perfluoroelastomers (FFKM), Tecnoflon PFR, Kalrez, Chemraz, and Perlast; polyether block amides (PEBA); chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM, Hypalon); and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). In some exemplary forms, the elastomeric material is a 4S elastomer that includes, but is not limited to, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE); the proteins resilin and elastin; polysulfide rubber; elastolefin, an elastic fiber used in the production of tissues; and poly(dichlorophosphacene). In some exemplary models, the sleeve is coaxial with the shaft. In some exemplary models, the shaft length is in the range of 6.0 mm (0.25 inches) to 41.28 mm (1.625 inches). In some modality examples, the head and axle are made of metal. In some exemplary models, the head and axle are made of a composite material. In some exemplary embodiments, an upper surface of the head has a notch to facilitate rotation of the fastener by a tool that interacts with the notch. In some exemplary forms, the structural element is any structural support for Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi the wall. In some exemplary forms, the structural element is a wall stud. In some exemplary models, the wall stud is made of wood. In some exemplary models, the wall stud is made of metal. In some exemplary models, the wall stud is made of a composite material. In some exemplary forms, the wall panel is a plasterboard panel. In some exemplary models, the length of the sleeve is equal to the thickness of the drywall panel. In some exemplary models, the length of the sleeve is less than the thickness of the drywall panel. In some exemplary forms, the wall panel is made of oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), resin, plastic, wood, metal, glass, melamine, or stone. In some exemplary models, the wall panel is made of a composite material. In some exemplary models, the wall panel is made of a laminated material. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed for securing a wall panel to a structural member using a fastener. The method comprises rotating the fastener so that it passes through the wall panel and engages the structural member to fix the wall panel to the structural member, wherein the fastener includes a head; a shaft; and a sleeve, wherein the shaft extends from a lower surface of the head, wherein a first portion of the shaft includes a helical thread, wherein the sleeve surrounds a second portion of the shaft, and wherein the sleeve is made of an elastomeric material having a Shore durometer hardness in the range of 10 to 30. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed for securing a wall panel to a structural member using a fastener. The method comprises using a tool to form a tapered hole in the wall panel and inserting the fastener through the hole such that the fastener engages the structural member to fix the wall panel to the structural member, wherein the fastener includes a head; a shaft; and a sleeve, wherein the shaft extends from a lower surface of the head, wherein a first portion of the shaft includes a helical thread, wherein the sleeve surrounds a second portion of the shaft, and wherein the sleeve is made of an elastomeric material having a Shore durometer hardness in the range of 10 to 30. In some exemplary forms, the tool is a tapered shank cutter. In some exemplary forms, the tool is a double-bladed or grooved cutter that corresponds to the shape of the sleeve, where the tool may have a smooth upper section to narrow the upper portion of the hole. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi In some exemplary forms, the tool is a core drill that can be powered by an electric drill. In some exemplary forms, the tool is made of tempered metal. In some exemplary forms, the tool has an internal passage to transport the extracted material through the tool and out through one or more openings formed in it. In some modality examples, a lower portion of the tool has a shape that corresponds to a fastener with an elastomeric sleeve. Other aspects and features of general inventive concepts will become more evident to those skilled in the art after reviewing the following description of several exemplary forms together with the accompanying figures. Brief description of the drawings The general inventive concepts, as well as their forms and advantages, are described in more detail below, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial view of a conventional wall installation; where resilient channels are used to decouple the drywall from the studs. Figures 2A-2C illustrate a typical residential wall construction. Figure 2A is a partial view of the residential wall. Figure 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of detail Z in Figure 2A, showing the screw-drywall-stud interface. Figure 2C is a cross-sectional view of the screw-drywall-stud interface, showing the effects of bending waves in the drywall material on the screw and stud. Figure 3 is a graph showing the transmission loss for a conventional wall with two layers of plasterboard. Figure 4 is a graph showing transmission loss for an exemplary conventional wall in view of the reference curve provided in ASTM E413. Figure 5 is a graph showing transmission loss for an exemplary conventional wall that includes a resilient channel system. Figures 6A-6C are diagrams illustrating various resilient channel installations. Figure 6A illustrates a suitable resilient channel installation. Figure 6B illustrates a less effective resilient channel installation. Figure 6C illustrates a non-functional resilient channel installation. Figure 7 illustrates a conventional pocket hole screw. Figure 8 illustrates a modified pocket-hole screw, according to an exemplary modality. Figure 9A illustrates an elastomeric sleeve, according to an exemplary modality, for use Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi with the modified screw of figure 8. Figure 9B illustrates an elastomeric sleeve, according to another exemplary embodiment, for use with the modified screw of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a diagram of a test system for measuring the load supported by a drywall fastener. Figure 11 is a graph showing the results of the load test, performed using the test system in Figure 10, on various configurations of drywall fasteners. Figure 12 is a diagram of a test system for measuring the frequency response function of a drywall fastener. Figure 13 is a graph comparing the results of the frequency response test, performed using the test system in Figure 12, on a conventional drywall screw and a conventional resilient channel system. Figure 14 is a graph comparing the results of the frequency response test, performed using the test system in Figure 12, on four modified screw assemblies. Figure 15 is a graph comparing the results of the frequency response test, performed using the test system in Figure 12, on a conventional drywall screw, a conventional resilient channel system, and a modified screw assembly. Figure 16 illustrates a test system to simulate the design of the ASTM E90 standard by simulating sound excitation using vibration. Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating the components of a test sample for use in the test system of Figure 16. Figure 18 is a graph comparing the test results, performed using the test system in Figures 16-17, on a conventional drywall screw, a conventional resilient channel system, and several modified screw assemblies having an angle of incidence of five degrees. Figure 19 is a graph that represents the transfer function for several acoustic washers (which have different durometers) with an angle of incidence of ten degrees. Figure 20 is a graph that represents the transfer function for several acoustic washers (which have different durometers) with an angle of incidence of fifteen degrees. Figure 21 is a graph that represents the transfer function for several acoustic washers (which have different durometers) with an angle of incidence of twenty degrees. Figure 22 is a graph comparing vibroacoustic energy transfer results in a one-third octave band of 125 Hz for a standard wall, a wall having a resilient channel on one side, and an insulated wall with various modified screw mounts. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi Figure 23 is a graph comparing the vibroacoustic energy transfer results in a one-third octave band of 2000 Hz for a standard wall, a wall having a resilient channel on one side, and an insulated wall with various modified screw mounts. Figure 24 is a graph comparing the vibroacoustic energy transfer results at 2500 Hz in a one-third octave band for a standard wall, a wall having a resilient channel on one side, and an insulated wall with various modified screw mounts. Figure 25 illustrates a typical test system for measuring the apparent loss of sound transmission through the walls of a real house. Figure 26 is a graph comparing the reference apparent sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E336 and E413 standards) for an interior wall, the measured apparent sound transmission loss for the interior wall, and a prediction of the RC-1 resilient channel performance for the interior wall. Figure 27 is a graph comparing the reference exterior-interior sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E336 and E1332 standards) for an exterior wall, the measured apparent sound transmission loss for the exterior wall, and a prediction of the RC-1 resilient channel performance for the exterior wall. Figure 28 is a graph comparing sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E90 and E413 standards) for a wood stud wall installation with an empty cavity, a wood stud wall installation with an insulated cavity resilient channel, and a wood stud wall installation with an insulated cavity acoustic washer. Figure 29 is a graph comparing sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E90 and E413 standards) for an empty cavity metal stud wall installation, an insulated cavity resilient channel metal stud wall installation, and an insulated cavity acoustic washer metal stud wall installation. Figure 30 is a graph comparing the sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E90 and E413 standards) for another empty cavity metal stud wall installation, another metal stud wall installation with isolated cavity resilient channel, and another metal stud wall installation with isolated cavity acoustic washer. Figure 31 is a graph comparing the sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E90 and E413 standards) for another empty cavity metal stud wall installation, another metal stud wall installation with isolated cavity resilient channel, and another metal stud wall installation with isolated cavity acoustic washer. Figure 32 is a graph comparing the sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E336 and E413 standards) for an interior wall of a ranch-style house, including measurements for the Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi empty wall, the wall that includes a resilient channel installation and the wall that includes an acoustic washer installation. Figure 33 is a graph comparing sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E336 and E413 standards) for another interior wall of a ranch-style house, including measurements for the empty wall, the wall including a resilient channel installation, and the wall including an acoustic washer installation. Figure 34 illustrates a tool, according to an exemplary modality, for forming a hole in a drywall panel to receive a modified screw assembly. Figures 35A-35C illustrate a tool, according to another exemplary modality, for forming a hole in a drywall panel to receive a modified screw assembly. Figure 36 illustrates a tool, according to another exemplary modality, for forming a hole in a drywall panel to receive a modified screw assembly. Detailed description of the invention Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. Although any method and material similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are described herein. All references, publications, patents, patent applications, and commercial materials mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, including the description and disclosure of methodologies reported in publications that could be used in connection with the invention. Nothing contained herein should be construed as an admission that the invention is not entitled to prior disclosure under a prior invention. The construction of a portion of a typical residential wall 200 is shown in Figures 2A and 2C. In wall 200, the drywall 202 is attached to the wood studs 204 using drywall screws 206 (see Figure 2A). The surface of the screw 206 below the head provides a holding force that secures the drywall 202 to the stud 204. Figure 2B shows the balancing forces of the screw threads pulling on the wood stud 204 (Fw) and the screw head compressing the drywall 202 (Fs), which together provide the holding forces that secure the drywall 202 to the stud 204. Sound is transmitted when bending waves 210 in the gypsum board material 202 are excited by acoustic pressure waves in a building space adjacent to the wall 200. The bending waves 210 create a moment in the screws 206 that fasten the gypsum board 202 to the studs 204. The bending waves 210, as shown in Figure 2C, create a bending moment Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi on the axis of screw 206 (Ms). That moment is transferred to stud 204 as a bending moment (Mw) which creates a torsional movement of stud 204 about its neutral axis 212. An opposite movement is created on the other side of stud 204 and the bending moment in stud 204 is transferred to the adjacent drywall and radiated back into the acoustic space. Energy transmission is not without losses. For example, variations in the stud, screw torque, the stud / drywall interface, etc., create energy losses that result in what is called sound transmission loss. Laboratory measurement of this transmission loss is carried out according to the ASTM Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Elements and Partitions: ASTM E90. Figure 3 shows a 300-degree diagram of the transmission loss of a commercial wall with two layers of drywall. Conversely, sound levels in the adjacent space will decrease as the sound frequency increases. The data in Figure 3 show a drop in transmission loss between the 2000 Hz and 2500 Hz one-third octave bands. This drop is more commonly known as the coincidence drop. It occurs at the frequency where the wall system impedance matches that of air. It is related to the elastic modulus and moment of inertia of the drywall. The stiffer and / or thicker the drywall, the lower the frequency at which this drop will occur. Architects, specifiers, and contractors prefer a single-number rating scheme to describe the acoustic performance of a wall system. One preferred rating system used in the construction industry is the ASTM standard for sound insulation rating: ASTM E413. This standard describes a reference curve that is compared to test data. Whenever the total number of data points below the reference curve equals 32, or the value of any one point is 8 dB below the transmission loss test data in any one-third octave band, the reference curve value at 500 Hz is recorded as the sound transmission class (STC) index. Figure 4 shows a sample 400 chart illustrating transmission loss data for a wall system with the reference curve.Although the wall system has a near-coincidence drop-off at 2500 Hz, the limiting transmission loss occurs at 160 Hz, where the value for the wall system is 8 dB below the reference curve, resulting in an STC rating of 32. The implication of the STC rating limit shown in Figure 4 is that low frequencies drive the rating. For every dB increase in sound transmission loss in the 160 Hz one-third octave center band, the STC rating would increase, until another frequency was 8 dB below the reference curve or the sum of the differences below the reference curve equaled 32 dB. Therefore, by improving the low-frequency performance of the Lbbcnn / eznz / B / Yi wall system, the STC rating of the wall system would improve significantly. Conventional methods for reducing energy transmitted through a commercial / residential wall are cumbersome, expensive, and prone to installation errors. As noted earlier, resilient channels are a common method for improving low-frequency transmission loss in a wall system. Figure 1 shows an illustrative installation of resilient channels, where the channels are located between the drywall and the studs, typically on the side of the wall with the highest sound source levels. The idea is to reduce the vibroacoustic energy from the source entering the building structure through the studs, where it can find lateral paths for the energy. The performance of resilient channeling depends on its installation. A properly installed resilient channel can significantly improve the sound transmission loss of a wall system, as shown in graph 500 in Figure 5, where the STC increases by 9 dB. By isolating the drywall from the stud, the low-frequency energy path is disrupted to a greater extent than the higher frequencies. This change in transmission loss is directly reflected in the change in STC, as low frequencies were observed to be the limiting factor in the STC performance of the tested wall. Although 610 resilient channels function when installed correctly as shown in Figure 6A, there are problems that cause builders and other consumers to avoid using them. One such problem arises because 610 resilient channels are installed through 604 studs as shown in Figure 1, which requires the contractor to accurately mark the 602 drywall to know where to place the 606 screws for installing the 610 channels. This is time-consuming and introduces another opportunity for installation errors. Another reason is that the installation is not intuitive. The 610 resilient channel should be installed with the open end facing up, as shown in Figure 6A. Many inexperienced installers install it with the open end facing down, as shown in Figure 6B. This provides some sound insulation, but not the expected level of insulation.Another installation problem occurs when the contractor uses a 606 screw that is too long and drives it into the 604 stud, as shown in Figure 6C. This type of installation prevents the 602 drywall from being insulated from the 604 stud and does not result in a significant change in STC for the 600 wall mount. In view of these exemplary drawbacks of conventional soundproofing systems, general inventive concepts encompass innovative fasteners and systems that use fasteners to create an acoustically isolated room or space. When creating an acoustically isolated room (e.g., with a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of 50 or higher), a major factor in sound attenuation is interaction (e.g., transfer path). Lbbcnn / eznz / B / Yi of energy, vibroacoustic coupling) between the fixed drywall panel, the wall studs, and the drywall screws. Therefore, the general inventive concepts relate to an innovative fastening system that reinvents the installation of studs / drywall panels / screws by introducing a new drywall fastener. As described herein, the fastening system of the invention does not suffer from the drawbacks of conventional methods, such as the resilient channel system. By focusing on the interaction between the drywall screw and the drywall panels being secured, the acoustic energy reaching the drywall / screw interface is attenuated to limit its transmission through the wall studs and into adjacent rooms. In this fastening system, complex structures are not required between the studs and the drywall. Generally, the fastening system uses the drywall fastener to isolate the drywall from the stud and provide sound attenuation. Specifically, one or more additional materials are added to the fastener (e.g., a conventional pocket-hole screw, a conventional lath screw, or a conventional wafer-head screw). The added material mitigates the transfer of various frequencies from the drywall to the studs, thus improving the sound attenuation of the stud / drywall / screw assembly. As shown in Figure 7, a conventional 700 pocket hole screw includes a 702 head and a 704 shank. The 704 shank extends from the 702 head to a 706 tip. While the top surface of the 702 head may be rounded or flat, the bottom surface of the 702 head is usually flat. The 702 head typically includes one or more notches (not shown), such as slotted, Phillips, Torx®, hex, square, Japanese standard, etc., which engage with a tool to facilitate turning the 700 screw. At least a portion of the 704 shank (for example, the portion intended to enter the stud) includes 708 threads. In some cases, the entire 704 shank includes 708 threads. A non-threaded 710 portion of the 704 shank is called the shank. A 700 screw gauge will often be in the range of #6 (3.5 mm) to #8 (4.2 mm). The Ls length of the 704 shaft varies and is often selected based on the thickness of the drywall. Several illustrative embodiments will be described in detail, with the understanding that this disclosure merely exemplifies the general inventive concepts. The embodiments encompassed by the general inventive concepts can take various forms, and the general inventive concepts are not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments described herein. According to the general inventive concepts, a standard pocket-hole screw (e.g., screw 700) is modified to include an elastomeric element (e.g., a sleeve) in a portion thereof. The screw itself will typically be made of metal. A modified screw 800, according to an exemplary embodiment, is shown in Figure 8. The screw 800 includes a sleeve. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi elastomeric sleeve 802 surrounding a portion of shaft 704 between head 702 and tip 706. Figure 9A shows a diagram of sleeve 802 separated from the screw. Figure 9B shows a diagram of another embodiment of the sleeve (separated from the screw). In some exemplary embodiments, sleeve 802 is molded onto shaft 704. In some exemplary embodiments, sleeve 802 is friction-fitted or screwed onto shaft 704. In some exemplary embodiments, an adhesive is used to fix sleeve 802 to shaft 704. In some exemplary embodiments, one end 810 of the sleeve 802 rests on a lower portion of the head 702. In some exemplary embodiments, a lower surface of the head 702 is flat. Having the lower surface of the head 702 flat was found to mitigate damage to the sleeve 802 during tightening of the fastener 800. In some exemplary embodiments, the shaft length Ls is in the range of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) to 41.28 mm (1 5 / 8 in.). In some exemplary forms, the length Le of the sleeve 802 is approximately equal to the thickness of the drywall panel that will support the screw 800. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is less than Ls / 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is equal to Ls / 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is greater than Ls / 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is less than the length of stem 710. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is equal to the length of stem 710. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is greater than the length of stem 710. The sleeve 802 is a hollow elastomeric body that is generally tapered (i.e., a truncated cone), with an outside circumference that decreases along its length Le as it extends further from the head 702. In particular, as shown in Figure 9A, the outside circumference extends from a maximum diameter 812 to a minimum diameter 814 of the sleeve 802. In some exemplary embodiments, the largest outside circumference of the sleeve 802 is approximately the same as the largest circumference of the head 702 of the screw 800. The sleeve 802 includes a central cavity 816 for receiving or otherwise fitting around the shaft 704. In some exemplary embodiments, the diameter of the cavity 816 is in the range of 25.4 mm (1 in.) to 12.7 mm (0.5 in.). The decreasing circumference of the sleeve 802 forms a slope or angle of incidence θ with respect to a central axis 804 of the screw 800. In some exemplary embodiments, θ is in the range of 0.1 degrees to 30 degrees. In some exemplary embodiments, θ is in the range of 3 degrees to 20 degrees. In some exemplary embodiments, θ is in the range of 1 degree to 10 degrees. In some exemplary embodiments, θ is around 5 degrees. In some exemplary embodiments, the maximum diameter 812 and the minimum diameter 814 of the sleeve 802 are selected to achieve the desired angle of inclination θ. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi In an alternative design of the 802 sleeve, as shown in Figure 9B, the 802 sleeve is a hollow elastomeric body having an upper cylindrical portion 850 and a lower conical portion (i.e., a truncated cone) 870. Typically, portions 850 and 870 are formed together, such that the 802 sleeve is a single unit. It was found that removing the conical shape from the upper section of the 802 sleeve reduced the diameter of the hole on the finished side of the drywall. This reduction in hole size is expected to aid in the finishing of the drywall installation. For example, the reduced hole size may decrease the time required to mud the wall, as less material is needed to fill the hole, which, in turn, allows the mud to dry more quickly without cracking or sagging. The reduced hole diameter also improved the quality of the installed system. The cylindrical portion 850 of the sleeve 802 has an outside circumference that does not change along its length Li as it extends from the head 702 toward the tapered portion 870. Conversely, the tapered portion 870 has an outside circumference that decreases along its length L8a as it extends from and below the cylindrical portion 850 (i.e., the further it extends from the head 702). In particular, as shown in Figure 9B, the outside circumference extends from a maximum diameter 812 to a minimum diameter 814 of the sleeve 802. In some exemplary embodiments, the largest outside circumference of sleeve 802 is approximately equal to or less than the largest circumference of head 702 of screw 800. In some exemplary embodiments, the maximum width / diameter 812 of sleeve 802 is approximately 8.89 mm (0.350 in). In some exemplary embodiments, the minimum width / diameter 814 of sleeve 802 is approximately 6.35 mm (0.250 in). The sleeve 802 includes a central cavity 816 for receiving or otherwise fitting around the shaft 704. The central cavity 816 extends through (and is generally coaxial with) the upper cylindrical portion 850 and the lower tapered portion 870. In some exemplary embodiments, the diameter of the cavity 816 is in the range of 25.4 mm (1 in.) to 12.7 mm (0.5 in.). In some exemplary embodiments, the diameter of the cavity 816 is approximately 3.175 mm (0.125 in.). In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of the 802 sleeve is approximately equal to the thickness of the drywall panel to be supported by the 800 screw. Here, Le = Li + L2. In some exemplary embodiments, Le is approximately 12.7 mm (0.500 inches). In general, the values ​​for L and L2 can be defined by the total length Le of the sleeve 802, the maximum diameter 812 of the sleeve 802, and the angle of incidence Θ. Here, Li is the length of the cylindrical portion 850 of the sleeve 802. Thus, Li = Le - L2. L2 is the length of the conical portion 870 of the sleeve 802. As shown in the following equation, L2 is also equal to the tangent of the slope or angle. Lfrbcnn / cznz / e / Yi of incidence Θ (with respect to the central axis 804 of the screw 800 on which the sleeve 802 is installed) multiplied by half the difference between the maximum diameter 812 and the minimum diameter 814. (812 - 814) ¿2 =-----------so Θ In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is less than Ls / 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is equal to Ls / 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is greater than Ls / 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is less than the length of stem 710. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is equal to the length of stem 710. In some exemplary embodiments, the length Le of sleeve 802 is greater than the length of stem 710. In the lower conical portion 870, the decreasing circumference of the sleeve 802 forms a slope or angle of incidence θ with respect to a central axis 804 of the screw 800. In some exemplary embodiments, θ is in the range of 0.1 degrees to 30 degrees. In some exemplary embodiments, θ is in the range of 3 degrees to 20 degrees. In some exemplary embodiments, θ is in the range of 1 degree to 10 degrees. In some exemplary embodiments, θ is approximately 10 degrees. In some exemplary embodiments, the maximum diameter 812 and the minimum diameter 814 of the sleeve 802 are selected to achieve the desired angle of inclination θ. The material used to form the sleeve is selected to provide sound insulation for a desired frequency or frequency range. As shown in Figure 8, the sleeve will often rest on a lower portion of the screw head. In some exemplary embodiments, a spacer (e.g., a washer) may be positioned between the screw head and the larger end of the sleeve. In some exemplary embodiments, the hardness of the spacer would be less than the hardness of the screw head. In some exemplary embodiments, the hardness of the spacer would be greater than the hardness of the sleeve. In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve is made of rubber. In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve is formed from a natural rubber material. In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve is formed from a synthetic rubber material (e.g., silicone). In some exemplary embodiments, the rubber forming the sleeve has a hardness (durometer) in the range of 10 to 30. Typically, the portion of the screw lacking the sleeve is intended to penetrate the stud. Upon installation, the inventive screw is driven through a hole in the drywall and into the stud, whereupon the sleeve compresses and fills the hole in the drywall. In the inventive system, the modified screw can structurally fasten / support the drywall while simultaneously mitigating the transfer of acoustic energy through the screws / drywall. Since the primary purpose of a drywall screw is to fasten drywall panels together Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi in place on walls and ceilings, the proposed fastener (e.g., the 800 screw) was evaluated to determine if it would provide the same level of holding performance as a standard (unmodified / bare) drywall screw. A first test device 1050 was constructed to measure the load supported by various drywall screw designs. Figure 10 shows a schematic of the test device 1050 used for the load test. Test device 1050 includes a frame 1052 that supports and is connected to an assembly of gypsum panels 1054 and a stud 1056, which is held together by a screw 1058 for evaluation. One or more weights 1060 are positioned to exert a force against the screw 1058. Specifically, the weights 1060 are suspended from a hook 1062 secured to the stud 1056, such that the weights exert a measurable force on the stud 1056 at the interface of the screw 1058 (through the gypsum panel 1054). The total weight hanging from the hook 1062 is increased until the screw 1058 fails and the assembly separates from the frame 1052 or is otherwise compromised. At this point, the failure weight is recorded. Holding strength tests (using the 1050 device) revealed that a cylindrical sleeve made of urethane would not support drywall as well as a standard drywall screw. Testing variations of this design with different sleeve hardness values ​​(e.g., on the Shore durometer scale) continued to result in poor performance. Consequently, a tapered urethane sleeve was developed to increase the force imparted to the drywall from the screw through the urethane elastomer. A five-degree rake angle was chosen. The sleeves were molded around a drywall screw and evaluated. Each screw was of the same type and length. Representative load test results are shown for (1) a bare drywall screw (without a sleeve), (2) the screw modified to include a cylindrical urethane sleeve with Shore durometers of 10 and 15.875 mm (5 / 8 inch), (3) the screw modified to include a cylindrical sleeve, a tapered sleeve of 30 durometer urethane of 15.875 mm (5 / 8 inch), (4) the screw modified to include a tapered sleeve of 30 durometer urethane of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 inch) and (5) a screw modified to include a tapered sleeve of 30 durometer urethane of 15.875 mm (5 / 8 inch) are shown in Graph 1100 of Figure 11. Having determined that the tapered design of the elastomeric sleeve provides sufficient strength to support the gypsum board, similar to the bare screw, further testing was conducted to determine the effective insulation provided by this design. A 1200 test arrangement was used to measure the frequency response function (i.e., the output acceleration divided by the input sound pressure) to evaluate various designs and compare them to a conventional resilient channel. As shown in Figure 12, the 1200 test system consisted of a 1.22 m (4 ft) by 1.22 m (4 ft) test specimen 1202 formed from structural elements. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi measuring 50.8 mm (2 in.) by 101.6 mm (4 in.) and 15.875 mm (5 / 8 in.) gypsum board. Specimen 1202 was sealed in an opening 1204 of a reverberation chamber 1206. The gypsum board was sealed on both the source side 1208 and the receiver side 1210 with a Nashua #2 duct seal to prevent sound leakage around the perimeter of specimen 1204. An acoustic source 1212 was used to excite one side (i.e., the source side 1208) of specimen 1202. Accelerometers 1214 mounted on the outside side 1210 of specimen 1204 were used to measure the acceleration of the transmitted vibration. A Bruel & Kjaer 1220 pulse data acquisition system was used to acquire and analyze data from each fastener 1222 (e.g., screw 800) being evaluated, with fastener 1222 securing the drywall to the structural element on the outside side 1210 of sample 1202.Next, the resulting frequency response or transmissibility was determined. The frequency response function, or transmissibility, is the ratio of the output acceleration, determined by the accelerometers 1214, to the input force of the acoustic source 1212. This measure represents the method of vibroacoustic energy transmission under actual operating conditions. A value of one means that the measured value is the same on both sides. Values ​​less than one are desirable, corresponding to better sound insulation. The test results comparing a conventional bare screw (i.e., without any elastomeric sleeve) with a conventional resilient channel are shown in Graph 1300 of Figure 13. As expected, the resilient channel provided significantly less energy transmission from one side of the wall to the other compared to the bare screw. This validated the ability of test system 1200 to provide a design direction for the invention. The 1200 test system was used to evaluate four modified screws (e.g., the 800 screw), which have molded urethane sleeves of different shapes, hardnesses, and / or lengths, to determine the frequency response function, or transmissibility, in the 1200 test system. The results of these tests are shown in graph 1400 of Figure 14. The length of the urethane tapered sleeve was found to have a significant effect on vibroacoustic energy transmission. The 12.7 mm (0.5 in) long piece did not provide as much insulation as the 15.88 mm (0.625 in) long piece. Additionally, the tapered sleeve with a durometer hardness of 10 was found to transmit significantly less energy from one side of the wall to the other compared to tapered sleeves with a durometer hardness of 30. In Figure 15, graph 1500, the test results for the tapered sleeve, which has a durometer hardness of 10, were compared with the test results for the bare screw and the resilient channel. The screw incorporating the innovative tapered sleeve provided similar (low) energy transmission results from one side of the wall to the other, compared to the channel. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi conventional resilient. The screw including the inventive tapered sleeve also provided a much lower energy transmission from one side of the wall to the other, compared to the conventional bare screw. In a subsequent testing phase, silicone-formed sleeves were evaluated. More specifically, these tests aimed to determine the effects of the angle of incidence θ and the hardness (e.g., on the durometer scale) of the silicone material on the energy transferred through the wall. A test device 1600 was created to simulate the design of the ASTM E90 test setup using vibration instead of sound as the excitation (see Figure 16). A test specimen 1602 was constructed from an arrangement of 2x4 lumber, with a single layer of standard 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) thick gypsum board on each side of the wood frame, as shown in Figure 17.More specifically, in the diagram in Figure 17, the bottom view shows the overall size of the test sample 1602, the top left view shows the location of the two inventive fasteners 1612 being evaluated, and the top right view shows the location of the standard drywall mounting screws 1614. In the test device 1600, one side 1604 of the wall sample 1602 is excited by an electrodynamic stirrer 1606, and the acceleration (i.e., vibrations) transferred to the other side 1608 of the wall sample 1602 is averaged through three accelerometers 1610. The electrodynamic stirrer 1606 provided a pink noise input to the insulated gypsum panel 1604 through a load cell 1616 to measure the input force imparted to the gypsum panel 1604. This force created transverse bending waves in the gypsum panel 1604 that spread across the entire area of ​​the gypsum panel 1604, creating minute bending moments in the fasteners 1612 in all directions. The fasteners 1612 absorbed the moment energy, dissipating it through shear forces within the material, thus reducing the bending moments applied to the screw portion of the fasteners 1612 and to the stud of specimen 1602. The average of the three accelerometers 1610 determined the vibration transmitted to the gypsum panel 1608 on the opposite side of the specimen wall 1602. A data acquisition system 1620 divided the output acceleration by the input force to normalize the data for input amplitude variation. All tests, except the one establishing the reference standard wall, were performed with Quietzone acoustic blocks (sold by Owens Corning of Toledo, Ohio) installed in the cavities of the specimen wall 1602. Thus, test device 1600 was used to evaluate various designs of molded silicone sleeves of different shapes, hardnesses, and / or lengths to determine the frequency response function, or transmissibility, of the test device 1600. The results for the tested screw and sleeve assemblies are shown in Figures 18-21. The data are presented in one-third octave bands, similar to the data presented for the acoustic measurements. The data for each The Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi data for the tilt / incidence angles show a similar pattern where the isolation values ​​determined for the various hardness (durometer) values ​​clustered below 500 Hz, implying that the isolation provided was not as beneficial to the system at those frequencies. The separation in isolation becomes much clearer above 500 Hz. Data analysis shows that the hardness of each material (e.g., the durometer value) appears to affect the isolation in different ways. It also shows that the isolation result depends on both the tilt / incidence angle and the material hardness. In the 1800 graph in Figure 18, the data include transfer functions indicating the amount of insulation provided by the tested fasteners having a tilt / incidence angle of five degrees for various hardness (durometer) values, installed on a wall made up of 2x4 wood studs with standard 12.7 mm (0.5 inch) thick drywall panels on each side of the studs. In the 1900 graph in Figure 19, the data include transfer functions indicating the amount of insulation provided by the tested fasteners having a ten-degree tilt / incidence angle for various hardness (durometer) values, installed on a wall made of 2x4 wood studs with standard 12.7 mm (0.5 inch) thick drywall panels on each side of the studs. In the 2000 graph in Figure 20, the data include transfer functions indicating the amount of insulation provided by the tested fasteners having a tilt / incidence angle of fifteen degrees for various hardness (durometer) values, installed on a wall made up of 2x4 wood studs with standard 12.7 mm (0.5 inch) thick drywall panels on each side of them. In Figure 21, the data include transfer functions indicating the amount of insulation provided by the tested fasteners having a tilt / incidence angle of twenty degrees for various hardness (durometer) values, installed on a wall made up of 2x4 wood studs with standard 12.7 mm (0.5 inch) thick drywall on each side of the studs. Analysis of the performance of standard walls against the STC curve in the typical transmission loss test (see Figure 4) shows that the STC numbers of residential walls are highly dependent on transmission loss in the 125 Hz and 2500 Hz one-third octave bands, although the 2000 Hz band can also affect the rating. Therefore, these data were scaled down, as shown in Figures 22–24, to illustrate the data at these critical frequencies for a standard residential wall (reference), a wall with one side insulated with a conventional resilient channel system, and a wall insulated with inventive fasteners (i.e., mountings of Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi screw sleeve) for seven different hardness values ​​(durometer) and four different tilt / incidence angles. This data establishes various combinations of hardness values ​​and tilt / incidence angles that perform as well as, or better than, the resilient channel system in reducing the energy transmitted through the wall. In Graph 2200 of Figure 22, the data include transfer functions for the 125 Hz one-third octave band showing the amount of isolation provided by the tested fasteners having various hardness (durometer) values ​​and tilt / incidence angles, installed on a wood stud wall 850.9 mm (33.5 in) wide by 609.6 mm (24 in) high, at 406.4 mm (16 in) center-to-center, with a single layer of standard 12.7 mm (0.5 in) thick gypsum board on each side thereof. In Graph 2300 of Figure 23, the data include transfer functions for the 2000 Hz one-third octave band showing the amount of isolation provided by the tested fasteners having various hardness (durometer) values ​​and tilt / incidence angles, installed on a wall of wood tube studs 850.9 mm (33.5 in) wide by 609.6 mm (24 in) high, 406.4 mm (16 in) center-to-center, with a single layer of standard 12.7 mm (0.5 in) thick gypsum board on each side thereof. In the 2400 graph in Figure 24, the data include transfer functions for the 2500 Hz one-third octave band showing the amount of isolation provided by the tested fasteners having various pitch / incidence angles and hardness (durometer) values, installed on a wood stud wall 850.9 mm (33.5 in) wide by 609.6 mm (24 in) high, 406.4 mm (16 in) center-to-center, with a single layer of standard 12.7 mm (0.5 in) thick gypsum board on each side of it. Field tests of the inventive fasteners were also conducted in a residential house. Specifically, interior wall installations (i.e., room-to-room) and exterior wall installations (i.e., room-to-exterior) were evaluated. Figure 25 shows a diagram of the test setup 2500 used to measure sound transmission loss through an interior wall of the house. As shown in Figure 25, the interior wall 2502 separates a first room, room 1 (e.g., a bedroom), from a second room, room 2 (e.g., a hallway). The interior wall 2502 extends between a ceiling 2504 and a floor 2506 common to room 1 and room 2. The fasteners being tested were installed on the room 1 side of wall 2502. A loudspeaker 2508 is located in room 1 near wall 2502. An amplifier 2510 or other sound-generating device can be used to drive the loudspeaker 2508.A first microphone 2512 is located in room 1, while a second microphone 2514 is located in room 2. In operation, microphones 2512, 2514 can measure the sound levels on each side of wall 2502, in such a way. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi that an analysis system 2516 can process sound levels to determine an apparent sound transmission loss through the wall 2502. A similar test arrangement was used to measure the sound transmission loss through the exterior wall of the house, with the loudspeaker / amplifier placed outside the house and close to the exterior wall and with the fasteners under test installed on the inside (i.e., conditioned) side of the exterior wall. In Figure 26, the plotted data compare the reference apparent sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E336 and E413 standards) for an interior wall, the measured apparent sound transmission loss for the interior wall, and a prediction of the RC-1 resilient channel performance for the interior wall. In Figure 27, Graph 2700, the plotted data compare the reference apparent sound transmission loss (according to ASTM E336 and E413 standards) for an exterior wall, the measured apparent sound transmission loss for the exterior wall, and a prediction of the RC-1 resilient channel performance for the exterior wall. It was also believed that the inventive fasteners would be effective for insulating spaces / rooms framed with studs other than wood, including metal studs. Consequently, further tests were conducted to quantify the performance of the inventive fasteners (i.e., acoustic washers) with other stud material types and, again, with reference to the performance of resilient channels. In Graph 2800 of Figure 28, test results for an installation using the inventive acoustic washer fasteners on a 2x4 wood stud wall, with a stud spacing of 508 mm (24 in.) on center, were plotted for (1) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side (reference - no insulation in cavity wall); (2) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side, including insulation and resilient channels; and (3) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side, including insulation and acoustic washer fasteners. Similarly, in Figure 29, plot 2900, test results for an installation using the same acoustic washer fasteners (from Figure 28) on a 16-gauge steel stud wall, with stud spacing of 406.4 mm (16 in.) on center, were plotted for (1) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side (reference - no insulation in cavity wall); (2) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side, including insulation and resilient channels; and (3) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side, including insulation and acoustic washer fasteners. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi Similarly, in Figure 30, the test results for an installation using the same acoustic washer fasteners (from Figure 28) on a 20-gauge steel stud wall, with stud spacing of 508 mm (24 in.) on center, were plotted for (1) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side (reference - no insulation in cavity wall); (2) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side, including insulation and resilient channels; and (3) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side, including insulation and acoustic washer fasteners. Additionally, in Graph 3100 of Figure 31, test results for an installation using the same acoustic washer fasteners (from Figure 28) on a 16-gauge steel stud wall, with stud spacing of 406.4 mm (16 in.) on center, were plotted for (1) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side (reference - no insulation in cavity wall); (2) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 in.) thick ultralight gypsum board on each side, including insulation and resilient channels; and (3) a single layer of 12.7 mm (1 / 2 inch) thick ultralight gypsum board on the reception room side, insulation and base layer of ultralight gypsum board with acoustic washer fasteners, along with an additional layer of gypsum board as a front layer with 25 S-12 drywall screws.4 mm (1 inch) long on the emitting room side. Additional field tests of the inventive fasteners were also conducted in a residential ranch-style house, using the aforementioned indoor test setup. In this case, sound transmission measurements were taken through a first wall separating a living room and a garage (see Figure 32) and a second wall separating a kitchen and a bedroom (see Figure 33). These results show potential inconsistency in the installation of the resilient channel, even though it was installed by experienced installers. The results also show relatively consistent performance of the acoustic washer installation. In Graph 3200 of Figure 32, the plotted data compare the measured sound transmission loss (per ASTM E336 and E413 standards) for the empty living room garage wall, the measured sound transmission loss for the living room garage wall, which includes a resilient channel installation, and the sound transmission loss for the living room garage wall, which includes an acoustic washer installation. In Graph 3300 of Figure 33, the plotted data compare the measured sound transmission loss (per ASTM E336 and E413 standards) for the empty kitchen and bedroom wall, the measured sound transmission loss for the kitchen and bedroom including a resilient channel installation, and the measured sound transmission loss for the kitchen and bedroom wall Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi which includes an acoustic washer installation. In some exemplary embodiments, a particular tool (e.g., a profiled auger bit) could be used to drill holes through the drywall to receive fasteners (e.g., 800 screw and sleeve assemblies). In some exemplary embodiments, such as those involving a tapered elastomeric sleeve, a tapered (e.g., five-degree) 3400 tenon cutter, as shown in Figure 34, could be used to form the holes in the drywall. The 3400 tenon cutter includes a cutting shank 3402 that is 6.35 mm (0.25 in.) wide at its far / small end and is used to remove drywall until a flange portion 3404 of the 3400 cutter bottoms out on the stud (not shown). The cutting dimensions of the 3400 tenon milling cutter could be selected to correspond to the dimensions of the modified screw sleeve. In some exemplary configurations, a 3500 tool allows an installer to form / center a mounting hole in the drywall for subsequent driving of the fastener (i.e., the screw and acoustic washer assembly) into and through the hole to attach the structural member (e.g., stud). The 3500 tool facilitates the efficient installation of fasteners. Since many fasteners are required to mount a drywall panel, the 3500 tool is designed as a drill bit that fits into a power drill to aid in the efficient installation of the fasteners. The 3500 tool includes a lower sharp edge for cutting a hole in the drywall that is slightly (e.g., 0.25 mm (0.010 in) to 0.38 mm (0.015 in)) larger than the size and shape of the acoustic washer / sleeve on the screw, allowing for expansion when the screw compresses the washer / sleeve.The 3500 tool also removes the cut material effectively, while preventing tearing or lint formation on the paper facing on the outer sides of the drywall. As shown in Figure 35A, the tool 3500 is a core drill bit having a substantially cylindrical body 3502 with a hollow central passage 3504 extending through a lower portion 3506 of the body 3502. The central passage 3504 leads to a chamber 3508 in a middle portion 3510 of the body 3502. A pair of openings 3512 are formed on opposite sides of the body 3502 to expose the chamber 3508. The middle portion 3510 (including the openings 3512) of the tool 3500 does not enter the gypsum board during core extraction. Consequently, the material (e.g., gypsum board) removed by the tool 3500 can travel through the passage 3504, into the chamber 3508, and out through the openings 3512.Finally, an upper portion 3514 of the body 3502 includes any mounting structure, such as a shank 3516, a pin, or the like, for securing the tool 3500 to a drive device, such as an electric drill (not shown). The tool 3500 can be made of any suitable material, such as hardened steel, that is capable. Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi to avoid wear and tear from repeated use. In general, the lower portion 3506 of tool 3500 will accommodate a slightly larger version of the size and shape of the elastomeric sleeve of the modified screw assembly, such as the sleeve shown in Figure 9B. Thus, by way of example, the specific dimensions of tool 3500 are provided in Figures 35B and 35C, with the distances aab = 6.35 mm (0.250 in); aac = 7.21 mm (0.284 in); aad = 17.78 mm (0.700 in); aae = 21.36 mm (0.841 in); aaf = 28.83 mm (1.135 in); aag = 38.1 mm (1.500 in); and aah = 48.18 mm (1.897 in). However, general inventive concepts should not be limited by any specific dimension provided for this illustrative modality. In some exemplary embodiments, a different tool (e.g., a profiled auger bit) could be used to drill holes through the drywall to receive fasteners (e.g., screw and sleeve assemblies 800). In some exemplary embodiments, such as those involving a sleeve with a tapered portion, a cutting tool 3600, as shown in Figure 36, could be used to form the holes in the drywall. The tool 3600 includes a cutting portion 3602 with a chamfered washer 3604 adjacent to the underside of the cutting portion 3602 near a drive portion 3606. The tool 3600 could be formed as a single unit or as a multi-component unit. The shape and dimensions of the cutting portion 3602 could be selected to match the dimensions of the modified screw sleeve. In light of the foregoing, the inventive system represents a more affordable sound insulation solution that involves a simpler (more routine) installation process. For example, the general inventive concepts contemplate that methods and systems for soundproofing a room or space may involve the routine installation of drywall panels, even when using the inventive fasteners disclosed or suggested herein instead of conventional drywall screws. In some embodiments, it may be possible to use the various inventive concepts in combination with each other. Furthermore, any particular element described in connection with a particular disclosed embodiment should be interpreted as available for use with all disclosed embodiments, unless the incorporation of the particular element contradicts the express terms of the embodiment. The scope of the general inventive concepts presented herein is not intended to be limited to the particular exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. From the disclosure provided, those skilled in the art will not only understand the general inventive concepts and their accompanying advantages, but will also find several apparent changes and modifications therein. For example, while the The modified fasteners disclosed herein are based on screw-type fasteners; the elastomeric sleeve could be used with other fasteners (e.g., nail-type fasteners) to achieve the acoustic decoupling described herein. It is therefore sought to cover all changes and modifications that fall within the substance and scope of the general inventive concepts, as described and / or claimed herein, and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A fastener for securing a wall panel to a structural element, the fastener including: a head; a shaft; and a sleeve, wherein the shaft extends from a lower surface of the head, wherein a first portion of the shaft includes a helical thread, wherein the sleeve surrounds a second portion of the shaft, and wherein the sleeve is made of an elastomeric material having a Shore durometer hardness in the range of 10 to 30.

2. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is fixed to the second portion of the shaft.

3. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve is a conical trunk having a first end that defines a maximum width of the sleeve and a second end that defines a minimum width of the sleeve.

4. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the maximum width of the sleeve is equal to the maximum width of the head.

5. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the maximum width of the sleeve is less than the maximum width of the head.

6. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the maximum width of the sleeve is greater than the maximum width of the head.

7. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the maximum width of the sleeve is in the range of 3.0 mm (0.125 inches) to 12.5 mm (0.5 inches).

8. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the minimum width of the sleeve is in the range of 3.0 mm (0.125 inches) to less than 12.5 mm (0.5 inches).

9. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the first end of the sleeve rests on the lower surface of the head.

10. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the inclination of the conical trunk from the maximum width to the minimum width is in the range of 3 degrees to 30 degrees.

11. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve is a cylinder having a diameter corresponding to the maximum width of the sleeve.

12. The fastener according to claim 11, wherein the cylinder is located between the Lfrbcnn / eznz / e / Yi head and the conical trunk.

13. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve length is in the range of 6.0 mm (0.25 inches) to 25.4 mm (1 inch).

14. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the length of the sleeve is less than half the length of the shaft.

15. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the length of the sleeve is equal to half the length of the shaft.

16. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the length of the sleeve is greater than half the length of the shaft.

17. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the width of the sleeve is the same along the length of the sleeve, wherein the width of the sleeve is in the range of 3.0 mm (0.125 in) to 12.5 mm (0.5 in), and wherein the length of the sleeve is in the range of 6.0 mm (0.25 in) to 25.4 mm (1 in).

18. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the shaft length is in the range of 6.0 mm (0.25 inches) to 41.28 mm (1.625 inches).

19. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the head has a notch to facilitate rotation of the fastener by a tool interacting with the notch.

20. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the structural element is a wall stud.

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