Acoustic partition for removable panel finishing system

Abstract

An acoustical absorbing membrane that may be used in removable panel finishing systems is provided. The acoustic membrane may be formed of any sound transmission loss material that possesses sound-absorbing or sound-deadening qualities. Examples of suitable materials include foil, a foil-faced asphalt material, elastomeric materials, composite laminates, a polymer film, a composite material formed of an organic bonding material and one or more types of reinforcement fibers, a cement board, a gypsum board, a gypsum/WUCS board, a dense WUCS mat, a film formed of a fiberglass reinforced resin, and/or any dense polymeric material. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the acoustic membrane may be a film formed of a loaded polymer or copolymer, such as a copolymer of ethylene-vinyl acetate loaded with barium or CaCO 3 . The acoustic membrane may have a density of approximately 1 lb/ft 2 -3 lbs/ft 2 and preferably has a thickness from about 1/16-⅜ of an inch.

1 . A removable panel finishing system having improved sound absorbing qualities comprising: 
 at least one acoustic membrane affixed to studs of a frame of a room to be finished;    framing members affixed to said studs through said acoustic membrane, said framing members each including a base plate and two arms positioned perpendicularly to said base plate, said framing members being affixed to said studs such that said arms face inwardly into said room;    a connection member releasably connected to each of said framing members; and    insulation panels positioned between said base plates of said framing members and said connection members, said insulation panels each including an insulation core, a fabric facer, and a backing facer.    
     
     
         2 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one acoustic membrane has a thickness from about 1/16 of an inch—about ⅜ of an inch.  
     
     
         3 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one acoustic membrane has a density of from approximately 1 lb/ft 2 -3 lbs/ft 2 .  
     
     
         4 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 3 , wherein said acoustic membrane is selected from the group consisting of foil, a foil-faced asphalt material, elastomeric materials, composite laminates, a polymer film, a composite material that includes an organic bonding material and one or more types of reinforcement fibers, a cement board, a gypsum board, a gypsum/WUCS board, a dense WUCS mat, a film formed of a fiberglass reinforced resin, a dense polymeric material and a film formed of a loaded polymer or copolymer.  
     
     
         5 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one acoustic membrane is affixed to said studs by a member selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, staples, tacks and adhesives.  
     
     
         6 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 1 , wherein joints between successive acoustic membranes are sealed by a member selected from the group consisting of tape and caulk.  
     
     
         7 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 1 , wherein said insulation core is selected from the group consisting of a foam insulation board, a fibrous insulation board and a combination of an insulation batt and an insulation board.  
     
     
         8 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 7 , wherein said fabric facer is formed of a natural or artificial fiber fabric and has an aesthetically pleasing surface.  
     
     
         9 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 1 , wherein said connection member is selected from the group consisting of a corner frame member and a divider member.  
     
     
         10 . A removable panel finishing system having improved sound absorbing qualities comprising: 
 framing members affixed to studs of a frame of a room to be finished, said framing members each including a base plate and two arms positioned perpendicularly to said base plate, said framing members being affixed to said studs such that said arms face inwardly into said room;    a connection member releasably connected to each of said framing members; and    insulation panels positioned between said base plates of said framing members and said connection members, said insulation panels each including an insulation core, an acoustic membrane, and a backing facer.    
     
     
         11 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 10 , wherein said insulation panels are positioned such that said acoustic membrane faces inwardly into said room.  
     
     
         12 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 10 , wherein said insulation panels each further include a fabric facer and said insulation panel is positioned such that said fabric facer faces inwardly into said room.  
     
     
         13 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 12 , wherein said fabric facer is formed of a natural or artificial fiber fabric and has an aesthetically pleasing surface.  
     
     
         14 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 10 , wherein said acoustic membrane has a thickness from about ⅛ of an inch to about ¼ of an inch.  
     
     
         15 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 14 , wherein said acoustic membrane has a density of from approximately 1 lb/ft 2 -3 lbs/ft 2 .  
     
     
         16 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 15 , wherein said acoustic membrane is selected from the group consisting of foil, a foil-faced asphalt material, elastomeric materials, composite laminates, a polymer film, a composite material including an organic bonding material and one or more types of reinforcement fibers, a cement board, a gypsum board, a gypsum/WUCS board, a dense WUCS mat, a film formed of a fiberglass reinforced resin, a dense polymeric material and a film formed of a loaded polymer or copolymer.  
     
     
         17 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 10 , wherein said insulation core is selected from the group consisting of a foam insulation board, a fibrous insulation board and a combination of an insulation batt and an insulation board.  
     
     
         18 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 1 , wherein said connection member is selected from the group consisting of a corner frame member and a divider member.  
     
     
         19 . The removable panel finishing system of  claim 10 , wherein said acoustic membrane is affixed to said insulation core via an adhesive.  
     
     
         20 . A drop ceiling having improved sound absorbing qualities comprising: 
 at least one acoustic membrane affixed to sub-floor framing members in a room to be finished;    framing members affixed to said sub-floor framing members through said at least one acoustic membrane, said framing members each including a base plate and two arms positioned perpendicularly to said base plate, said framing members being affixed to said sub-floor framing members such that said arms face downwardly into said room;    a connection member releasably connected to each of said framing members; and    insulation panels positioned between said base plates of said framing members and said connection members, said insulation panels each including an insulation core, a fabric facer, and a backing facer.    
     
     
         21 . The drop ceiling of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one acoustic membrane has a thickness from about 1/16 of an inch—about ⅜ of an inch.  
     
     
         22 . The drop ceiling of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one acoustic membrane has a density of from approximately 1 lb/ft 2 -3 lbs/ft 2 .  
     
     
         23 . The drop ceiling of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one acoustic membrane is selected from the group consisting of foil, a foil-faced asphalt material, elastomeric materials, composite laminates, a polymer film, a composite material including an organic bonding material and one or more types of reinforcement fibers, a cement board, a gypsum board, a gypsum/WUCS board, a dense WUCS mat, a film formed of a fiberglass reinforced resin, a dense polymeric material and a film formed of a loaded polymer or copolymer.  
     
     
         24 . The drop ceiling of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one acoustic membrane is affixed to said sub-floor framing members by a member selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, staples, tacks and adhesives.  
     
     
         25 . The drop ceiling of  claim 20 , wherein joints between successive acoustic membranes are sealed by a member selected from the group consisting of tape and caulk.  
     
     
         26 . The drop ceiling of  claim 20 , wherein said insulation core is selected from the group consisting of a foam insulation board, a fibrous insulation board and a combination of an insulation batt and an insulation board.  
     
     
         27 . The drop ceiling of  claim 26 , wherein said fabric facer is formed of a natural or artificial fiber fabric and has an aesthetically pleasing surface.  
     
     
         28 . The drop ceiling of  claim 20 , wherein said connection member is selected from the group consisting of a corner frame member and a divider member.  
     
     
         29 . The drop ceiling of  claim 28 , wherein said connection member is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal.