Sound proofing system and method

Abstract

A low-cost and easy to manufacture static structure and method for soundproofing walls, floors, and/or ceilings of rooms in new and/or existing construction utilizes an asphalt based flexible membrane as one or more sound absorbing layers which may be applied to an existing wall panel or first applied to one or more unmounted wall panels to form a laminated structure which is then affixed to the walls, floor or ceiling to be soundproofed. The wall panel is preferably gypsum wallboard. Each sound absorbing layer, in addition to soundproofing, may also serve to prevent or at least reduce air or water infiltration to and from the room.

1 . A soundproofing structure for interior walls, floors or ceilings of rooms in new and/or existing construction, comprising:
 a contiguous, sound absorbing layer and structural layer adhesively joined about substantially coextensive confronting major faces of said sound absorbing layer and said structural layer, said sound absorbing layer comprised of an asphalt based flexible membrane having opposing faces, at least one of said opposing faces of said asphalt based flexible membrane being self-adhesive, and wherein said structural layer is comprised of sheet like material having opposing major faces, and wherein one of the opposing major surfaces of said structural layer is substantially coextensive with and adhesively joined to said at least one self-adhesive major face of said asphalt based flexible membrane.   
   
   
       2 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 1 , wherein said asphalt based flexible membrane includes two self-adhesive opposing faces, and further including a second structural layer attached to the other self-adhesive opposing face of said asphalt based flexible membrane. 
   
   
       3 . A soundproofing structure for interior walls, floors or ceilings of rooms in new and/or existing construction, comprising:
 a contiguous, sound absorbing layer and structural layer adhesively joined about substantially coextensive confronting major faces of said sound absorbing layer and said structural layer, said sound absorbing layer comprised of an asphalt based membrane having opposing faces, at least one of said opposing faces of said asphalt based membrane being self-adhesive, and wherein said structural layer is comprised of sheet like material having opposing major faces, and wherein one of the opposing major surfaces of said structural layer is substantially coextensive with and adhesively joined to said at least one self-adhesive major face of said asphalt based membrane.   
   
   
       4 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 3 , wherein said asphalt based membrane is a flexible membrane. 
   
   
       5 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 3 , wherein said asphalt based membrane is a semi-flexible membrane. 
   
   
       6 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 5 , wherein said semi-flexible asphalt membrane includes a filler. 
   
   
       7 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 6 , wherein said filler includes an inorganic filler. 
   
   
       8 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 7 , wherein said inorganic filler is selected from the group consisting of talc, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, and crushed minerals. 
   
   
       9 . A method of soundproofing the interior walls of a room comprising the steps of:
 providing an asphalt based, sound absorbing membrane having a release sheet on at least one surface;   removing at least a first release sheet to expose a self-adhesive surface of said asphalt based, sound absorbing membrane; and   adhering the exposed self-adhesive surface to a first sheet like structural panel, to provide a sound absorbing lamination structure.   
   
   
       10 . The method of soundproofing the interior walls of a room of  claim 9 , wherein said structural panel is an interior wall panel for a room. 
   
   
       11 . The method of soundproofing the interior walls of a room of  claim 9  wherein said structural panel is a sheet of gypsum wallboard. 
   
   
       12 . The method of soundproofing the interior walls of a room of  claim 9 , wherein said provided asphalt based, sound absorbing membrane includes a release sheet on first and second surfaces, and further including the act of applying another sheet like structural panel to the second surface of said asphalt based, sound absorbing membrane opposite said first surface adhered to said first sheet like structural panel. 
   
   
       13 . The method of soundproofing the interior walls of a room of  claim 12 , further including the step of attaching said sound absorbing lamination onto the interior region of a room to be soundproofed. 
   
   
       14 . The method of soundproofing the interior walls of a room of  claim 9 , wherein said asphalt based, sound absorbing membrane includes a flexible, asphalt based, sound absorbing membrane. 
   
   
       15 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 9 , wherein said asphalt based membrane is a semi-flexible membrane. 
   
   
       16 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 15 , wherein said semi-flexible asphalt membrane includes a filler. 
   
   
       17 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 16 , wherein said filler includes an inorganic filler. 
   
   
       18 . The soundproofing structure of  claim 17 , wherein said inorganic filler is selected from the group consisting of talc, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, and crushed minerals.