Noise reduction system for kitchen

Abstract

A method and system of achieving noise reduction in a kitchen environment is disclosed. Noise reduction is achieved through the application of transmission loss paneling, sound absorption paneling, and vibro-acoustical isolation paneling to surfaces of a kitchen environment surrounding typical kitchen appliances. Targeted, noise reduction of the kitchen environment is achieved by installing the noise reduction system of the present invention to walls, cabinetry and flooring of a typical kitchen environment.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION[0001] The present invention is generally directed to a noise reduction system for a kitchen, and more particularly to a noise reduction system and method designed to reduce targeted emissions from appliances and structure associated with the kitchen.BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION[0002] Currently the kitchen environment is recognized as one of the loudest rooms within the home. However, the kitchen conventionally has the least amount of energy reduction materials of any room in the home. Some related noise reduction techniques of the conventional art have been aimed at noise reduction of the machines or appliances themselves.[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,353 to Shaffer et al. teaches a method and apparatus for damping vibration in a vibration generating device such as an appliance. This technique utilizes a vibration damping system including a constraining layer and a layer of adhesive. The adhesive layer is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention, also in part, is a recognition that the kitchen environment usually has the least amount of energy reduction materials of any room in the home. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a noise reduction system for improving the noise reduction characteristics of the environment in which kitchen appliances will operate.

[0009] The components of the present invention will reduce the acoustic energy transmitted from appliances to the kitchen environment.

[0010] The present invention, also in part, is a recognition that through isolation and dissipation of vibro-acoustic energy, the noise radiated into the kitchen will be greatly reduced. The noise reduction characteristics of the present invention will ultimately improve the atmosphere of the kitchen environment and improve communication within the kitchen by reduction of noise and energy emitted from the appliances and other kitchen components.

[0013] The present invention, also in part, provides a method of attenuating noise in a kitchen environment, the method comprising the steps of providing at least one layer of kitchen countertop material, providing at least one layer of viscoelastic damping material, and attaching each of said kitchen countertop material layers to each of said viscoelastic damping material layers to provide a dampened kitchen countertop for said kitchen environment.

Problems solved by technology

However, the kitchen conventionally has the least amount of energy reduction materials of any room in the home.

The characteristics of the environment in which these same appliances or machines are intended to operate will often have a negative effect on any efforts aimed exclusively at reduction of noise emitted from the appliances.

Therefore, efforts to produce appliances with improved noise reduction characteristics will not be effective unless the kitchen or other operating environment is equally addressed with noise reduction considerations.

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