Noise damper

Abstract

Noise dampers of sound absorbent material are inserted on the metal grid beams in a suspended ceiling. Hangers, embedded in a structural ceiling, that support the beams, are insulated from the beams by the noise dampers. Sound vibrations generated in the structural ceiling, which is often a floor, are not transmitted through the hangers, to the suspended ceiling, or to the room, below, but are absorbed in the dampers before reaching the grid beams.

1 . In a suspended ceiling having grid beams suspended from a structural ceiling by hangers;
 the improvement comprising   a noise damper of resilient sound vibration damping material in contact with the grid beam that insulates a hanger from the grid beam.   
     
     
         2 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the noise damper extends through a knock-out in the web of the beam. 
     
     
         3 . The improvement of  claim 2  wherein the shape of the knock-out has an arch at the top that distributes force on the beam imparted by a hanger extending through the knock-out. 
     
     
         4 . The suspended ceiling of  claim 1   wherein the hanger wires are capable of continuing to support the ceiling during a fire.   
     
     
         5 . The suspended ceiling of  claim 1   wherein the noise damper is in a form capable of being inserted onto a grid beam, and retained on the grid beam by angled lips on the wrap.   
     
     
         6 . In a ceiling structure having
 a. a structural ceiling that is a source of noise vibrations;   b. hangers that form a noise path for the noise vibrations, and that extend downward from the structural ceiling; and   c. a suspended ceiling that includes grid beams, supported by the hangers, that is a receiver for the noise vibrations;   
       the improvement comprising
 noise dampers inserted on the grid beams, that (1) insulate the hangers from the grid beams and (2) absorb the noise vibrations coming down the hangers that form the noise path.