Quiet wall

Claim 2

In a foldable closure of the type having an accordionlike skeletal frame extending between vertical end posts or the like, an acoustical wall assembly adapted to be mounted on at least one side of said skeletal frame comprising, an outer web of flexible material, a flexible blanket of sound absorbing material adjacent the inner side of said outer web, means defining a multiplicity of perforations in said outer web for permitting said flexible blanket to absorb sound waves passing through the outer web, an inner web of flexible lining material adjacent the inner side of said flexible blanket, a plurality of sound deadening panels arranged in spaced relation along said skeletal frame between said frame and said inner web, and means for securing said assembly to said skeletal frame, said assembly providing a significant increase in the absorption of sound by said closurE and a high degree of sound transmission loss properties of said closure.

Claim 3

In a foldable closure of the type having an accordionlike skeletal frame extending between vertical end posts or the like, an acoustical wall assembly adapted to be mounted on at least one side of said skeletal frame, comprising an inner web of flexible lining material, an outer web of flexible fabric material, a flexible blanket of sound absorbent material sandwiched between said inner and outer webs, a plurality of metal panels laminated in spaced relation along said skeletal frame on the side of said inner web facing said frame, means for securing said assembly to said frame, and means defining a multiplicity of small perforations in said outer web opposite said blanket for admitting sound waves into said blanket for absorption thereby to significantly increase the absorption of sound and the transmission loss properties of said closure.

Claim 4

In a foldable closure of the type having an accordionlike skeletal frame extending between vertical end posts or the like, an acoustical wall assembly adapted to be mounted on at least one side of said skeletal frame, comprising an inner web of flexible lining material, an outer web of flexible fabric material, a flexible blanket of sound absorbent material sandwiched between said inner and outer webs, a plurality of metal panels laminated in spaced relation along said skeletal frame on the side of said inner web facing said frame, means for securing said assembly to said frame, and means defining a multiplicity of small perforations in said outer web opposite said blanket for admitting sound waves into said blanket for absorption thereby to significantly increase the absorption of sound and the transmission loss properties of said closure.

Claim 5

A foldable closure comprising a skeletal frame, at least one acoustical wall assembly, means securing said assembly to at least one side of said frame, said wall assembly being particularly adapted to dissipate the energy and decrease the intensity of sound waves striking said closure, including means defining spaced-apart and inner and outer webs for converting a portion of the sound energy of said waves into mechanical vibration energy, means defining sound absorbent material between said webs for reducing the intensity of another portion of the sound energy of said waves to a more inaudible form, means in said outer web defining a multiplicity of perforations for admitting sound waves into said sound absorbent material and for reducing the number of sound waves reflected by said closure, and means defining a plurality of sound deadening rigid panels adjacent said inner web and positioned along said skeletal frame inwardly of said absorbent material for internally reflecting the sound waves passing through said perforations and said material back into said material and for cooperating with said webs to trap internally reflected waves within said assembly to attenuate further the intensity of said waves and provide a significant increase in the sound absorption and the sound transmission loss properties of said closure.

Claim 6

A foldable closure comprising a skeletal frame, at least one acoustical wall assembly, means securing said assembly to at least one side of said frame, said wall assembly being particularly adapted to dissipate the energy and decrease the intensity of sound waves striking said closure, including means defining spaced-apart and inner and outer webs for converting a portion of the sound energy of said waves into mechanical vibration energy, means defining sound absorbent material between said webs for reducing the intensity of another portion of the sound energy of said waves to a more inaudible form, means in said outer web defining a multiplicity of perforations for admitting sound waves into said sound absorbent material and for reducing the number of sound waves reflected by said closure, and means defining a plurality of sound deadening rigid panels adjacent said inner web and positioned along said skeletal frame inwardly of said absorbent material for internally reflecting the sound waves passing through said perforations and said material back into said material and for cooperating with said webs to trap internally reflected waves within said assembly to attenuate further the intensity of said waves and provide a significant increase in the sound absorption and the sound transmission loss properties of said closure.

Claim 7

The foldable closure of claim 3 wherein one of said acoustical wall assemblies is secured to each side of said frame.

Claim 8

The closure of claim 3 in which said sound absorbent material comprises a blanket of fiberglass.