Sound-deadened wall and wall panel for same

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to a sound-deadened wall and to a wall panel, such as a panel of gypsum drywall board or of fiberboard, for a sound-deadened wall. This invention contemplates that, in a sound-deadened wall embodying this invention, spacers define air gaps between studs and the wall panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Commonly, in residential and commercial construction, interior walls are constructed with vertical wooden or steel studs, to which gypsum drywall or fiberboard panels are fastened, as by screws driven through the panels into the studs. Sounds tend to be easily transmitted through such walls, as from one room to another, unless such walls are insulated sufficiently with sound-deadening insulation, such as fiberglass mats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention provides a sound-deadened wall, which does not require sound-deadening insulation. Broadly, the sound-deadened wall comprises studs, a wall panel fastened to the studs, and spacers positioned along each stud, between said stud and the wall panel, so as to define air gaps between said stud and the wall panel. This invention is useful whether the studs are wooden or steel and whether the wall panel is a panel of gypsum drywall or of fiberboard.

[0004] Preferably, in a sound-deadened wall embodying this invention, the spacers are elastomeric. Moreover, the spacers may be advantageously defined by elastomeric strips adhering to the wall panel, on the expansive surface to face the studs, before the wall panel is fastened to the studs. Preferably, the wall panel is fastened to the studs by fasteners driven through the wall panel, through the spacers, into the studs. The fasteners may be screws or, if the studs are wooden, the fasteners may be staples, ring-shanked nails, or other nails.

[0005] In a preferred embodiment, in which each stud has a front edge and a back edge, a front wall panel is fastened to the front edges of the studs with front spacers positioned along each stud, between said stud and the front wall panel, so as to define air gaps between said stud and the wall panel. Moreover, a back wall panel is fastened to the back edges of the studs with back spacers positioned along each stud, between said stud and the back wall panel, so as to define air gaps between said stud and the wall panel.

[0006] This invention also provides a wall panel, which is useful in a sound-deadening wall, as described above. The wall panel, which has two expansive surfaces and which is fastenable to studs, has spacers adhering to a selected one of the expansive surfaces. The spacers are adapted to define air gaps between the studs and the wall panel when the wall panel is fastened to the studs.

[0007] Preferably, in a wall panel embodying this invention, the spacers are elastomeric. Moreover, the spacers may be advantageously defined by elastomeric strips adhering to the wall panel, on the expansive surface to face the studs, before the wall panel is fastened to the studs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially exploded view of a wall panel having elastomeric strips defining spacers, as discussed above, and being fastened to studs so as to provide a sound-deadened wall embodying this invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the sound-deadened wall, which has a front wall panel and a back wall panel, as discussed above.

[0010]FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail, as taken in a region delineated by a brokenline circle in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0011] As illustrated, a sound-deadened wall <b>10</b> embodying this invention is constructed from an array of wooden studs <b>20</b> extending vertically, a front wall panel <b>30</b> fastened to the studs <b>20</b>, and a back wall panel <b>40</b> fastened to the studs <b>20</b>. Each stud <b>20</b> has a front edge <b>22</b> and a back edge <b>24</b>. The respective wall panels <b>30</b>, <b>40</b>, are similar and are fastened to the studs <b>20</b> similarly.

[0012] The front wall panel <b>30</b>, which has two expansive surfaces <b>32</b>, <b>34</b>, has an array of elastomeric strips <b>36</b> extending horizontally and adhering to the expansive surface <b>32</b> that faces the front edges <b>22</b> when the front wall panel <b>30</b> is fastened to the studs <b>20</b>. The front wall panel <b>30</b> is fastened to the studs <b>20</b>, at the front edges <b>22</b>, via screws <b>38</b> driven through the front wall panel <b>30</b>, through the elastomeric strips <b>36</b>, into the studs <b>20</b>. The elastomeric strips <b>36</b> define air gaps between the studs <b>20</b> and the front wall panel <b>30</b>.

[0013] The back wall panel <b>40</b>, which has two expansive surfaces <b>42</b>, <b>44</b>, has an array of elastomeric strips <b>46</b> extending horizontally and adhering to the expansive surface <b>42</b> that faces the back edges <b>24</b> when the back wall panel <b>40</b> is fastened to the studs <b>20</b> at the back edges <b>24</b>. The back wall panel <b>40</b> is fastened to the studs <b>20</b>, at the back edges <b>24</b>, via screws <b>48</b> driven through the back wall panel <b>40</b>, through the elastomeric strips <b>46</b>, into the studs <b>20</b>. The elastomeric strips <b>46</b> define air gaps between the studs <b>20</b> and the back wall panel <b>40</b>.

[0014] Each wall panel <b>30</b>, <b>40</b>, may be a panel of gypsum drywall or of fiberboard, which is preferred. The elastomeric strips <b>36</b>, <b>46</b>, are similar and may be made of a synthetic rubber, such as neoprene, of a polymeric foam, such as polyurethane foam, or of an elastomeric polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride having a hardness of Durometer 92 Shore A. Any suitable adhesive is used to cause the elastomeric strips <b>36</b>, <b>46</b>, to adhere to the respective wall panels <b>30</b>, <b>40</b>. Alternatively, but less desirably, non-elastomeric spacers are used.

[0015] Air gaps defined by the elastomeric strips <b>36</b>, between the studs <b>20</b> and the front wall panel <b>30</b>, and air gaps defined by the elastomeric strips <b>46</b>, between the studs <b>20</b> and the back wall panel <b>40</b>, tend to muffle sounds that would be easily transmitted between the respective wall panels <b>30</b>, <b>40</b>, if the respective wall panels <b>30</b>, <b>40</b>, were to contact the studs <b>20</b> directly.