A modular sound-reducing enclosure

Abstract

A panel 10 for a sound reducing enclosure comprises a frame 12 for housing an acoustic insulation material 14. First and second retainers 16, 18 are coupled to first and second sides of the frame resp

Description

Field The present techniques generally relate to a sound-reducing booth or enclosure. In particular, the present techniques provide a panel for constructing a sound-reducing enclosure and a sound-reducing enclosure formed using such panels. Background While drape systems can be a cost-effective way to create temporary partitions and walls in exhibition centres, they may not provide the level of noise reduction required for certain events or activities. In such cases, more specialised noise reducing materials and techniques may be necessary. The present applicant has therefore identified the need for an improved way to create temporary enclosures or areas which have sound- or noise-reducing properties. Summary In a first approach of the present techniques, there is provided a panel for a sound-reducing enclosure, the panel comprising: a frame for housing an acoustic insulation material; a first retaining means couplable to a first side of the frame and a second retaining means couplable to a second side of the frame, for retaining the acoustic insulation material within the frame; and coupling means provided on at least two edges of the frame, for coupling the panel to adjacent panels to thereby form the enclosure. The panel may further comprise: a plurality of fastening means on the first and second sides of the frame for fastening a first sheet of material to the first side of the frame and a second sheet of material to the second side of the frame, wherein the fastening means are arranged such that at least one of the first and second sheets of material is offset relative to the frame when fastened to the frame. The first and second retaining means may be planar frames having a width and height that substantially matches a width and height of the frame. Preferably, the frame may define at least one section in which the acoustic insulation material is housed, and wherein the first and second retaining means may each comprise corresponding sections which partially overlap the at least one section of the frame, to thereby retain the acoustic insulation material in the at least one section of the frame. The frame may comprise a plurality of sections for housing the acoustic insulation material. The frame may provide an air gap between the acoustic insulation material and first and second retaining means. The first and second retaining means may create an air gap between the frame and the first and second sheets of material. The acoustic insulation material may be any one or more of: a mineral wool; cellulose; and cork. The frame may be formed of any one or more of: steel; cold formed steel; wood; and timber. In a second approach of the present techniques, there is provided a soundreducing enclosure comprising walls formed of a plurality of panels of the type recited herein. The enclosure may further comprise an outer cover, wherein the outer cover may be formed of a plurality of first sheets of material that are fastened to a plurality of fastening means on the first side of the frame of each panel, and wherein each first sheet of material may be offset from the frame of a panel such that it partially overlaps an adjacent panel. The enclosure may further comprise an inner cover, wherein the inner cover may be formed of a plurality of second sheets of material that are fastened to the plurality of fastening means on the second side of the frame of each panel, and wherein each second sheet of material may be offset from the frame of a panel such that it partially overlaps an adjacent panel. The first and second sheets of material may be formed of engineered wood. Brief description of the drawings Implementations of the present techniques will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a perspective view of a sound-reducing enclosure formed using panels; Figure IB is a perspective, exploded view of the sound-reducing enclosure of Figure 1A; Figure IC is a cross-sectional view of the sound-reducing enclosure of Figure 1A; Figure 2A is an exploded view of a panel for forming the sound-reducing enclosure; Figure 2B is an exploded view of another panel for forming the soundreducing enclosure; Figures 3A to 3C show perspective views of panels of different shapes; Figure 4A shows a cross-sectional view of a first structure of the panel of Figure 2, and Figure 4B shows the addition of inner and outer covers to the panel; Figure 5A shows a cross-sectional view of a second structure of the panel of Figure 2, and Figure 5B shows the addition of inner and outer covers to the panel; Figure 6 shows how an outer cover is provided on a panel in an overlapping manner; Figure 7 shows data on the source of noise during an exhibition or conference; and Figure 8 shows two example coupling means 19 which take the form of latching mechanisms. Detailed description of the drawings Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide a modular panel for constructing a sound-reducing enclosure and a sound-reducing enclosure formed using such modular panels. The modular panels are formed of noise-reducing materials, and are an effective option for building temporary structures that can reduce noise levels in, for example, an exhibition centre or other event space. The modular panels may be used to construct other types of enclosures, such as garden buildings (e.g. garden offices and summerhouses). It will be understood that these are non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples of the possible uses of the modular panels of the present techniques. The modular panels are advantageously designed to them to be assembled quickly and easily, making them ideal for creating walls, partitions, or enclosures that can effectively block or absorb noise. In order to determine the design of the modular panel that would reduce unwanted sound, the present Applicants needed to understand the source of the unwanted sound. Figure 7 shows data on the source of noise during an exhibition or conference. The frequency range and amplitude of undesirable sound was captured using specialist equipment in a live exhibition setting. It can be seen from Figure 7 that the undesirable sound comes from at least ambient noise within the exhibition or conference space, and ambient noise from outside the exhibition or conference space. At certain frequencies, a large proportion of the noise is from outside the space. A series of similar sound tests were carried out with respect to an enclosure formed of the panels of present techniques, in order to measure the soundreducing properties of the panels. It was determined that the average SPL (Sound Pressure Level) indicated an average total noise-reduction level of up to 45dB across all relevant frequencies, and a flattening of spectral peaks of the most problematic frequencies. Figure 1A is a perspective view of a sound-reducing enclosure 100 comprising walls formed using a plurality of panels 10. The enclosure 100 is an assembly of modular panels 10 that can be installed in an extremely short time using standard tools and machinery. The modular nature of the panels 10 allows the enclosure 100 to be installed to almost any size, in any setting. When assembled, the enclosure 100 creates a unique, multi-functional environment that focuses on the depletion of invasive noise from outside sources, allowing occupants to carry out their business effectively and ultimately undisturbed by their surroundings. Figure IB is a perspective, exploded view of the sound-reducing enclosure of Figure 1A, where the panels 10 can be more easily seen. Figure IC is a cross-sectional view of the sound-reducing enclosure of Figure 1A. Figure 2 is an exploded view of a modular panel 10 for forming the soundreducing enclosure 100. The panel 10 comprises: a frame 12 for housing an acoustic insulation material 14; a first retaining means 16 couplable to a first side of the frame 12 and a second retaining 18 means couplable to a second side of the frame 12, for retaining the acoustic insulation material 14 within the frame 12; and coupling means 22 provided on at least two edges of the frame 12, for coupling the panel 10 to adjacent panels to thereby form the enclosure 100. Thus, advantageously, the panel is formed by housing an acoustic insulation material in a frame. This means that the panel is rigid, but may be lightweight, such that it is easy to use to form the enclosure. This is useful because it allows enclosures to be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily. This may also reduce the energy requirements to transport the panels to locations where they are needed to form enclosures, which may make them more climate friendly than existing heavy construction materials. As the panels comprise acoustic insulation material, the resulting enclosure is sound reducing, which is advantageous compared to standard fabric based enclosures, such as tents or marquees. The amount of sound from outside the enclosure that enters the enclosure may be reduced, as may be the sound from inside the enclosure which escapes the enclosure. Thus, the panels may be used to form quiet or quieter areas within noisy environments such as in conference or exhibition centres. Soundproofing is the process of reducing the transmission of sound from one space to another. There are four fundamental principles of noise reduction: damping, absorption, mass, and decoupling. Damping involves reducing the vibration of surfaces that transmit sound waves. This can be achieved by using materials that absorb vibrations, such as rubber or foam. In the panel 10, the acoustic insulation material 14 may provide damping. Absorption involves using materials that absorb sound waves to prevent them from reflecting and transmitting to other spaces. This can be achieved by using materials such as acoustic panels or foam. In the panel 10, the acoustic insulation material 14 may provide absorption. Mass refers to the weight of the noise reducing materials used to reduce the transmission of sound. Heavier or denser materials are more effective at blocking sound than lighter materials. However, such materials may make the overall panel 10 harder to use to assemble or disassemble an enclosure quickly. The first and second retaining means 16, 18, may be coupled to the frame 12 using any suitable coupling technique. The coupling technique may be used to fixedly couple the first and second retaining means to the frame, or to removable couple the first and second retaining means to the frame. The latter may be advantageous because the acoustic insulation material may be more easily removed and replaced, if needed. For example, the first and second retaining means may be coupled to the frame using screws, nuts and bolts, adhesive, or snap-fit features. The panel 10 may further comprise: a plurality of fastening means (see e.g. Figure 6) on the first side of the frame 12 for fastening a first sheet of material 20 to the first side of the frame 12. The fastening means may be arranged such that at least one of the first and second sheets of material is offset relative to the frame when fastened to the frame. This is advantageous because the first sheet of material 20 covers a join between adjacent panels 10, which prevents or reduces sound passing through the join or any gap between adjacent panels into or out of the enclosure. The panel 10 may further comprise: a plurality of fastening means on the second side of the frame 12 for fastening a second sheet of material (not shown here) to the second side of the frame 12. The fastening means may be arranged such that at least one of the first and second sheets of material is offset relative to the frame when fastened to the frame. This is advantageous because the second sheet of material covers a join between adjacent panels 10, which prevents or reduces sound passing through the join or any gap between adjacent panels into or out of the enclosure. Decoupling involves creating a barrier between two surfaces to prevent the transmission of sound waves. This can be achieved by using resilient channels or double walls with an air gap. Thus, the first and / or second sheets of material that cover the gap or join between adjacent panels may cause the decoupling effect. The first and second retaining means 16, 18 may be planar frames having a width and height that substantially matches a width and height of the frame, as shown in Figure 2. However, it will be understood that this is merely an example structure and other suitable forms for the retaining means may be used. An advantage of the retaining means 16, 18 being planar frames is that they are rigid but lightweight compared to, for example, solid sheets of material. Preferably, the frame 12 may define at least one section in which the acoustic insulation material is housed, and wherein the first and second retaining means 16, 18 may each comprise corresponding sections which partially overlap the at least one section of the frame 12, to thereby retain the acoustic insulation material in the at least one section of the frame. The frame 12 may comprise a plurality of sections 21 for housing the acoustic insulation material. The acoustic insulation material may be shaped and sized to fit within the sections 21. The frame 12 may provide an air gap between the acoustic insulation material and first and second retaining means. The first and second retaining means may create an airgap (see Figures 4A to 5B) between the frame and the first and second sheets of material. As noted above, decoupling involves creating a barrier between two surfaces to prevent the transmission of sound waves. This can be achieved by using resilient channels or double walls with an air gap. Thus, the air gap may provide the decoupling in the panel 10. The acoustic insulation material 14 may be any one or more of: a mineral wool; cellulose; and cork. These are sustainable building materials that can also reduce noise / sound transmission. Mineral wool is a type of insulation that is designed to reduce noise transmission in walls and ceilings. It is made from natural rock that is heated and spun into fibres, which are then compressed and bonded together. It is highly effective at reducing sound transmission and is also very fire-resistant, making it a safe option for use in temporary structures. The fibrous structure of mineral wool makes it an excellent absorber of sound, as it can trap sound waves and convert them into heat energy. Mineral wool is also very dense, which helps to block the transmission of sound through walls and ceilings. In addition, it is fire-resistant and does not release toxic fumes when exposed to high temperatures, making it a safe option for use in buildings. Another advantage of mineral wool is that it is relatively easy to install, as it can be cut to size and fitted into wall and ceiling cavities. It is also long-lasting and does not degrade over time, which means it does not need to be replaced frequently. Overall, the combination of its sound absorption, sound blocking, fire resistance, and durability properties make mineral wool an ideal material for sound insulation in buildings. The frame 12 may be formed of any one or more of: steel; timber / wood; and CLS (Canadian Lumber Standard) timber. Steel has excellent strength, stiffness, and durability properties. It is also fire-resistant and can withstand high winds and earthquakes. Cold Formed Steel (CFS) is a highly sustainable and durable building material made from recycled steel, which can be recycled at the end of its life, making it a highly sustainable option. CFS has excellent strength and stiffness-to-weight ratios, which allows it to support heavy loads and resist deformation under stress. This makes it ideal for use in temporary structures that need to be strong and durable. Additionally, CFS is lightweight, which makes it easy to transport and install, and it has a long lifespan, which reduces the need for replacement and maintenance. Its high recycled content and recyclability at the end of its life make it a sustainable and environmentally friendly option. CLS timber is made from renewable and sustainably harvested wood, which can store carbon and offset emissions. The production process also requires less energy and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to steel production. However, the production of adhesives used to bind layers of wood can emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and some forests may not be managed sustainably. The panels may also comprise noise-reduction tape, which is a specialised tape that is designed to reduce noise transmission between surfaces. The tape may aid in damping noise, by mitigating the vibrations between surfaces caused by lower frequencies and reducing the transfer of sound through the materials / layers of the panels. The tape may be made from a viscoelastic material, which is environmentally friendly and non-toxic. The tape converts sound energy into heat, reducing the amount of sound that passes through, and is an effective way to reduce noise in a temporary structure. Figure 2B is an exploded view of another panel for forming the soundreducing enclosure. Features described above with reference to Figure 2A are not described again for the sake of conciseness. The panel 10 may further comprise: a plurality of fastening means (see e.g. Figure 6) on the first side of the frame 12 for fastening a first sheet of material 20 to the first side of the frame 12. The panel 10 may further comprise: a plurality of fastening means on the second side of the frame 12 for fastening a second sheet of material 20' the second side of the frame 12. The fastening means may be arranged such that at least one of the first and second sheets of material is offset relative to the frame when fastened to the frame. A further insulating panel 15 may be provided between the panel 10 and the second sheet of material 20'. Additionally or alternatively a further insulating panel (not shown) may be provided between the panel 10 and the first sheet of material 20. The further insulating panel 15 may be formed of wool serge, which is a woollen woven fabric that has acoustic absorbing properties. It will be understood that alternative materials may be used which also have soundabsorbing properties. The further insulating panel 15 may be applied to the outside of panel 10. The further insulating panel 15 may be visible when the panel is used to form a sound-reducing enclosure - see for example Figures IB and IC. Figure 2B shows an additional or alternative way that adjacent panels 10 may be secured together to form a sound-reducing enclosure. Here, a latching mechanism 19 may be used to connect together and secure adjacent panels 10. Each panel 10A, 10B comprises coupling means 19 on at least two edges of the frame 12, for coupling the panel 10A to adjacent panels, e.g. 10B, to thereby form the enclosure 100. Figure 8 shows two example coupling means 19 which take the form of latching mechanisms. Each latching mechanism 19 comprises two parts 19A and 19B. Part 19A may comprise a hooked arm which is able to engage with part 19B. Part 19B may comprise a bar or similar structure with which the hooked arm engages. When the hooked arm is engaged with the bar, the two parts 19A and 19B are secured together. Rotating or moving the hooked arm in an opposite direction enables the hooked arm to disengage from the bar when disassembly of the source-reducing enclosure is required. Figures 3A to 3C show perspective views of panels of different shapes. Thus, the panels 10 can be used to form an enclosure having corners and doors, and the panels 10 may be appropriately shaped. Figure 4A shows a cross-sectional view of a first structure of the panel 10 of Figures 2A and 2B, and Figure 4B shows the addition of inner and outer covers to the panel. Here, the acoustic insulation material 14 is provided within the frame 12. The retaining means 16, 18 are coupled to, respectively, a first side of the frame 12 and a second side of the frame 12. The retaining means 16, 18 are coupled to the frame 12 in such a way that an air gap 24 is provided between the retaining means 16, 18 and the acoustic insulation material 14 (in frame 12). As noted above, the air gaps 24 advantageously reduce the transmission of sound through the panel 10. When the inner and / or outer covers 20 are provided on the panel 10, each cover 20 provides a further sound-reducing barrier as explained above. The inner and outer covers 20 may reduce sound transmission via damping, absorption or otherwise. The frame 12 and / or the retaining means 16, 18 may comprise features which enable the air gap to be formed when the retaining means 16, 18 are coupled to the frame 12. For example, the frame 12 may comprise a lip or protrusion that causes the retaining means to be a small distance away from the acoustic material when the retaining means are coupled to the frame, thereby producing air gaps 24. Additionally or alternatively the retaining means 16, 18 may comprise such a lip or protrusion. Figure 5A shows a cross-sectional view of a second structure of the panel of Figure 2, and Figure 5B shows the addition of inner and outer covers to the panel. Here, the acoustic insulation material 14 is provided within the frame 12. The retaining means 16, 18 are coupled to, respectively, a first side of the frame 12 and a second side of the frame 12. In this case, the retaining means 16, 18 may be coupled into each side of the frame 12 such that an air gap 24 is provided between the retaining means 16, 18 and the acoustic insulation material 14 (also in frame 12). As noted above, the air gaps 24 advantageously reduce the transmission of sound through the panel 10. When the inner and / or outer covers 20 are provided on the panel 10, each cover 20 provides a further sound-reducing barrier as explained above. The inner and outer covers 20 may reduce sound transmission via damping, absorption or otherwise. The frame 12 and / or the retaining means 16, 18 may comprise features which enable the air gap to be formed when the retaining means 16, 18 are coupled into the frame 12. For example, the frame 12 and / or the retaining means 16, 18 may comprise snap-fit features that cause the retaining means 16, 18 to fit in the frame at a fixed distance from the acoustic material, thereby providing an air gap 24. It will be understood that Figures 4A to 5B show two non-limiting example ways to form the panels 10 to provide the air gaps 24. Figure 6 shows how an outer cover is provided on a panel in an overlapping manner. As shown in Figures 1A to IC for example, the enclosure 100 comprises walls formed of a plurality of panels of the type described above. Each panel 10A, 10B comprises coupling means 22 on at least two edges of the frame 12, for coupling the panel 10A to adjacent panels, e.g. 10B, to thereby form the enclosure 100. The coupling means 22 may comprise dowels / dowel rods or pegs and corresponding mating surfaces, for example. It will be understood that this is merely an example coupling means 22, and any other suitable coupling mechanism for removably joining together panels may be used. Each panel may comprise a plurality of fastening means 26 on the first side of the frame 12 for fastening a first sheet of material 20 to the first side of the frame 12. (Similarly, fastening means may be provided on the second side of the frame 12 for fastening a second sheet of material). The walls of the enclosure may further comprise an outer cover. The outer cover may be formed of a plurality of first sheets of material 20 that are fastened to the plurality of fastening means 26 on the first side of the frame of each panel. Each sheet of material 20 may comprise corresponding fastening means 28. For example, fastening means 26 may be holes, and fastening means 28 may be dowels or pins, or vice versa. It will be understood that these are merely nonlimiting examples. As shown in Figure 6, once two panels 10A, 10B have been coupled together via coupling means 22, a first sheet of material 20 may be fastened to the panels in such a way that the first sheet of material 20 is offset from the frame of panel 10A. Thus, the first sheet of material 20 partially overlaps the adjacent panel 10B. In this way, the first sheet of material 20 covers the gap or join between adjacent panels 10A, 10B, which reduces the possibility of sound transmission through the gap / join. The fastening means 26 and 28 may be arranged to enable the first sheet of material 20 to be quickly fastened to the panels in this manner. For example, the fastening means may be arranged in a pattern to enable this, as shown in Figure 6. The same principle applies to the second sheet of material and the second side of the frame 12. Thus, the enclosure may further comprise an inner cover, wherein the inner cover may be formed of a plurality of second sheets of material that are fastened to the plurality of fastening means on the second side of the frame of each panel, and wherein each second sheet of material may be offset from the frame of a panel such that it partially overlaps an adjacent panel. The first and second sheets of material may be formed of engineered wood. Wood, timber or engineered wood are environmentally-friendly options for construction because they are made from fast-growing trees that can be sustainably harvested. When formed from such materials, the first and second sheets of material provide a dense and sturdy surface that help to block sound transmission. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the foregoing has described what is considered to be the best mode and where appropriate other modes of performing present techniques, the present techniques should not be limited to the specific configurations and methods disclosed in this description of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognise that present techniques have a broad range of applications, and that the embodiments may take a wide range of modifications without departing from any inventive concept as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

14 03 251. A panel for a sound-reducing enclosure, the panel comprising:a frame for housing an acoustic insulation material;5 a first retaining means couplable to a first side of the frame and a second retaining means couplable to a second side of the frame, for retaining the acoustic insulation material within the frame, wherein the frame provides an air gap between the acoustic insulation material and first and second retaining means; andio coupling means provided on at least two edges of the frame, for coupling the panel to adjacent panels to thereby form the enclosure.

2. The panel as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:a plurality of fastening means on the first and second sides of the frame for15 fastening a first sheet of material to the first side of the frame and a second sheet of material to the second side of the frame, wherein the fastening means are arranged such that at least one of the first and second sheets of material is offset relative to the frame when fastened to the frame.20 3. The panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first and second retaining means are planar frames having a width and height that matches a width and height of the frame.

4. The panel as claimed in claim 3 wherein the frame defines at least one 25 section in which the acoustic insulation material is housed, and wherein the first and second retaining means each comprise corresponding sections which partially overlap the at least one section of the frame, to thereby retain the acoustic insulation material in the at least one section of the frame.30 5. The panel as claimed in claim 4 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of sections for housing the acoustic insulation material.14 03 256. The panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second retaining means create an air gap between the frame and the first and second sheets of material.5 7. The panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the acoustic insulation material is any one or more of: a mineral wool; cellulose; and cork.

8. The panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame is formed of any one or more of: steel; cold formed steel; timber; and wood.

109. A sound-reducing enclosure comprising walls formed of a plurality of panels of the type recited in any of claims 1 to 8.

10. The enclosure as claimed in claim 9 further comprising an outer cover, 15 wherein the outer cover is formed of a plurality of first sheets of material that are fastened to the plurality of fastening means on the first side of the frame of each panel, wherein each first sheet of material is offset from the frame of a panel such that it partially overlaps an adjacent panel.20 11. The enclosure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 further comprising an inner cover, wherein the inner cover is formed of a plurality of second sheets of material that are fastened to the plurality of fastening means on the second side of the frame of each panel, wherein each second sheet of material is offset from the frame of a panel such that it partially overlaps an adjacent panel.2512. The enclosure as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein the first and second sheets of material are formed of engineered wood.

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