Space divider and acoustic panel

Claim 2

A free-standing space divider suitable for separation of spaces in an open office plan comprising: (a) at least two half-panels having front and back faces, said half-panels being releasably connected together and easily separated and with at least a portion of their back faces in abutting relationship; (b) support means operative to support said half-panels in a free-standing, substantially vertical position; and (c) at least one said half-panel being an acoustic half-panel comprising: (i) a frame having a front face and a back face; (ii) a first layer affixed to said back face of the frame and a second layer affixed to said front face of the frame, a core being defined between said two layers and at least the second of said layers permitting the ingress of sound; (iii) acoustically absorbent material in said core; (iv) an acoustically absorbent blanket mounted on said front face exteriorly of said second layer; (v) a fabric cover on said front face exteriorly of said blanket.

Claim 3

The space divider of claim 1 wherein there are only two half-panels, each of which is sound absorbing and has a fabric outer covering.

Claim 4

The space divider of claim 2 wherein the fabric covering on one said half-panel has a color which is different from the color of the fabric on the other said half-panel.

Claim 5

The space divider of claim 2 wherein said support means includes a base member affixed to at least one said half-panel and a plurality of legs affixed to said base member.

Claim 6

The space divider of claim 2 wherein the two half-panels are releasably connected together by a connector comprising cooperating dovetail shaped tongue and groove members, one of said members being mounted on one said half-panel and the other said member being mounted on the other said half-panel.

Claim 7

The space divider of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said half-panels in abutting relationship have their opposing back faces offset with respect to each other.

Claim 8

An acoustic half-panel suitable for use in the freestanding divider of claim 1, said half-panel comprising: (a) a frame having a substantially rectangular perimeter; (b) a membrane affixed to the back face of said frame, said membrane being non-porous; (c) a reinforcing layer affixed to the front face of the frame, said reinforcing layer having openings to permit the ingress of sound; (d) said membrane and reinforcing layer forming a core portion of said half-panel therebetween; (e) a mineral wool batt in said core portion, said mineral wool batt being from about 3/4" to about 11/4" thick and having a density of from about 2 to about 6 pounds per cubic foot; (f) a first glass fiber blanket in said core portion, said glass fiber blanket being from about 3/8" to about 3/4" thick and having a density of from about 0.5 to about 3.0 pounds per cubic foot; (g) a second glass fiber blanket on the front face of said reinforcing layer exterior the said core portion, said second glass fiber blanket having a thickness from about 1/4" to about 2" and a density of from about 0.5 to about 3.0 pounds per cubic foot; and (h) a fabric cover on the face of said second glass fiber blanket, said fiber cover being secured to the back face of the said frame.

Claim 9

The acoustic half-panel of claim 7 wherein said mineral wool batt has a density of about 4 pounds per cubic foot.

Claim 10

The acoustic half-panel of claim 7 wherein said first glass fiber blanket has a density of about 1.5 pounds per cubic foot.

Claim 11

The acoustic half-panel of claim 7 wherein said second glass fiber blanket has a thickness of about 1/2" and a density of about 0.5 pounds per cubic foot.

Claim 12

The acoustic half-panel of claim 7 wherein said reinforcing layer is a wire mesh with a hole size of from about 1/2" to about 2" in diameter.

Claim 13

The acoustic half-panel of claim 7 wherein said fabric cover is of a material selected from the group consisting of polyesters chemically treated for fire retardancy, and woven fiber glass.

Claim 14

An acoustic half-panel of claim 7 wherein said membrane is a reinforced fire-retardant kraft paper.

Claim 15

An acoustic half-panel of claim 7 wherein the membrane is a hardboard of approximately 1/8" thickness.

Claim 16

An acoustic divider comprising two of the half-panels of any one of claims 7-14.

Claim 17

An acoustic divider according to claim 15 having a Class 1 fire hazard rating according to ASTM E84-68.

Claim 18

An acoustic divider according to claim 15 having a Sound Transmission Class of not less than 30 according to ASTM 413-73.

Claim 19

An acoustic divider according to claim 15 having a Noise Isolation Class of 20 when tested to PBS C.2.

Claim 20

An acoustic divider according to claim 15 having a Noise Reduction Coefficient of at least 0.90 according to ASTM C423-66.