Sound Attenuating Framing System

Abstract

The resilient plate ( 2 ) may be in the form of a nail plate with punched out nails ( 6 ) on respective flanges ( 3 ) and a resilient connecting portion ( 5 ). A plurality of the resilient plates ( 2 ) connect spaced apart pairs of studs and top and bottom plates to form a prefabricated building frame such as a wall. The resilient plates ( 2 ), utilising mass-spring-mass principles of sound attenuation, will react to sound impacting on the elements of the building frame to provide a required sound attenuation. In alternative embodiments the plate ( 2 ) may define a stud and/or may have one of its flanges securable to a masonry or concrete wall.

1 . A plate for use in a sound attenuating building construction, said plate having first and second spaced apart flanges, said flanges extending inwardly from respective outer edges of said plate, and said flanges being substantially flat and lying in substantially the same plane, each flange being adapted for securement in use to a respective element of said building construction, a resilient connection means extending between adjacent inner edges of said flanges, said resilient connection means consisting of a folded portion of the plate defining a single substantially “U” or “V” shape.  
   
   
       2 . A plate as claimed in  claim 1  in which each of the flanges adjacent said connection means is provided with respective upstanding location means for positioning the plate relative to the elements.  
   
   
       3 . A plate as claimed in  claim 2  in which said location means includes one or more projections.  
   
   
       4 . A plate as claimed in  claim 1  in which each of the flanges includes a plurality of upstanding nails or a plurality of nail holes.  
   
   
       5 . A plate as claimed in  claim 1  in the form of an elongate strip of indeterminate length.  
   
   
       6 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A building frame including at least a pair of spaced apart frame elements required to be connected together, at least one plate having first and second spaced apart flanges, said flanges extending inwardly from respective outer edges of said plate, and said flanges being substantially flat and lying in substantially the same plane, each flange being secured to a respective said element, a resilient connection means extending between adjacent inner edges of said flanges to space apart said elements, said resilient connection means consisting of a folded portion of the plate defining a single substantially “U” or “V” shape, the arrangement being such that sound acting directly or indirectly on said elements will result in movement of said resilient connection means to provide sound attenuation characteristics for a building construction in which said frame is incorporated.  
   
   
       9 . A building frame as claimed in  claim 8  which said elements consist of spaced apart top plates, spaced apart bottom plates, and spaced apart studs.  
   
   
       10 . A building frame as claimed in  claim 8  in which a plurality of said plates are connected between respective pairs of said studs, pairs of said bottom plates and pairs of said top plates and wherein adjacent said plates being connected on alternate sides of said studs, bottom plates and top plates.  
   
   
       11 . A building frame as claimed in  claim 8  in which the or each of the said plates is in the form of a strip of indeterminate length so as to extend along a required length of said frame elements.  
   
   
       12 . A building frame as claimed in  claim 8  in the form of a prefabricated wall.  
   
   
       13 . A building frame as claimed in  claim 8  in which one of said elements is a masonry or concrete wall.  
   
   
       14 - 15 . (canceled)