Folded Ceiling Tile With Integrated Baffle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drop ceilings are not entirely effective at noise reduction and are often seen as architecturally mundane, leading to a demand for alternative solutions that can create expansive, noise-controlled spaces without the drawbacks of custom baffles.

Innovation Solution

A ceiling tile with an integrated vertical baffle that can be folded into a three-dimensional configuration for installation, allowing it to offer both the advantages of a drop ceiling and additional noise reduction, while being easy to install and maintain, and can be shipped and handled in a flat configuration to reduce costs and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If custom baffles are used to control noise in spaces without drop ceilings, then noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise reduction effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the baffle structure with the ceiling tile into a single integrated unit. The baffle is formed as an integral part of the tile through folding or attaching pre-formed baffles to the tile, eliminating the need for separate custom baffle installations and their associated complex support beams and mounting hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ceiling tile serves multiple functions: it provides the traditional drop ceiling functions (shielding ductwork and wiring, providing a finished surface) while simultaneously functioning as a noise control baffle. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate noise control devices and their complex installation requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If traditional drop ceilings are used, then ease of installation and maintenance is improved, but noise reduction effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidnoise reduction effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the noise-reducing baffle function with the standard ceiling tile, allowing both functions to be achieved through a single component that maintains the simplicity of traditional drop ceiling installation and maintenance procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The baffle can be configured in different shapes and orientations (vertical, angled, folded) while maintaining the same basic tile structure, allowing adaptability to different noise control requirements without complicating the fundamental installation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If ceiling tiles with integrated baffles are manufactured in three-dimensional configuration, then noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but shipping and handling costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise reduction effectivenessVSAvoidshipping volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle structure is nested within the flat tile during manufacturing and shipping, then deployed into its three-dimensional noise-reducing configuration during installation. This allows the tile to be shipped in a compact flat state while still providing the volumetric noise control function when installed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The tile is designed with fold lines or segmented sections that allow it to be collapsed into a flat configuration for shipping, then easily folded or assembled into the three-dimensional baffle structure during installation, separating the shipping state from the functional state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The ceiling tile effectively reduces noise in open environments by providing a baffle that can be configured in various shapes and sizes, enhancing noise attenuation and maintaining the ease of installation and maintenance of traditional drop ceilings.

Implementation Method 1

reduces sound and distracting or productivity-reducing noise from the space below it by absorbing, scattering, or otherwise attenuating sound waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS11542705B2Ceiling tile with integrated baffle

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 FACT DESIGN LLC

AI summary

Ceiling tiles for drop ceilings are disclosed. The ceiling tiles have a main portion that is sized and adapted to fit within a grid of the drop ceiling, and a baffle that hangs down from the main portion. A sheet of tile material may have a plurality of fold lines defined in it that allow the sheet to fold in such a way as to define the main portion and the baffle. In the flat configuration, the sheet of tile material may have the dimensions of a standard drop ceiling tile; in the folded configuration, the ceiling tiles may also have standard ceiling-tile dimensions. A single ceiling tile may have two or more baffles, and those baffles may be staggered in position with respect to one another.