Hollow Protrusion Flooring for Impact Sound and Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Above-ground floor systems face a challenge in reducing impact sound transmission while maintaining flexural strength, as sound attenuating mats weaken the flooring system's resistance to deformation under load, requiring thicker overlayment to prevent failure.

Innovation Solution

A sound attenuating flooring system comprising a subfloor, a sound attenuating material with outwardly projecting hollow protrusions, and an overlayment that fills the corresponding recesses, allowing near-direct contact with the subfloor and reducing the thickness of the overlayment required to maintain flexural strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a sound attenuating mat is inserted into the floor system, then impact sound transmission is reduced, but the flexural strength of the flooring system is significantly weakened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact sound transmissionVSAvoidflexural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The sound attenuating material incorporates a cellular or porous structure that provides sound attenuation while maintaining compressive strength. The cellular configuration allows the material to resist deformation under load while absorbing impact sound energy, resolving the contradiction between sound attenuation and strength maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material construction where the sound attenuating material combines different structural elements (cellular portions, reinforcing elements) to achieve both sound attenuation and adequate flexural strength, eliminating the need for thicker overlayment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sound attenuating mat is inserted into the floor system, then impact sound transmission is reduced, but the thickness of the overlayment must be increased to maintain flexural strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact sound transmissionVSAvoidoverlayment thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cellular or porous structure of the sound attenuating material provides inherent strength properties that allow the overlayment to be applied at normal or reduced thicknesses while still maintaining adequate flexural strength for the floor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical and mechanical parameters of the sound attenuating material (compressive strength, cellular structure density) to achieve the dual objective of sound attenuation and strength maintenance, allowing standard overlayment thicknesses to be used.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the overlayment thickness is increased to compensate for the weakened strength, then the flexural strength is maintained, but the device complexity and material quantity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexural strengthVSAvoidoverlayment material quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cellular or porous sound attenuating material provides structural strength properties that reduce or eliminate the need for increased overlayment thickness, thereby reducing the quantity of overlayment material required while maintaining adequate flexural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

By modifying the parameters of the sound attenuating material (enhancing compressive strength, optimizing cellular structure), the invention allows for reduced material quantity in the overlayment while maintaining the required flexural strength performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system effectively attenuates sound while supporting significant pressure without flexing excessively, maintaining flexural strength and reducing the need for thicker overlayment, thus preventing floor failure and enhancing structural rigidity.

Implementation Method 1

a sound attenuating material with a cellular configuration that provides both sound attenuation and compressive strength

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS11746541B2High compressive strength sound attenuation

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 COMPELLIER IP LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure describes a sound attenuating flooring system. The sound attenuating flooring system has a subfloor, a sound attenuating material overlaying and contacting only a portion of the subfloor, and an overlayment. The sound attenuating material has a first surface and second surface. The first surface is defined by a plurality of outwardly projecting hollow protrusions. The second surface is defined by a plurality of open recesses corresponding to the plurality of outwardly projecting hollow protrusions. The overlayment overlays the second surface of the sound attenuating material.