Recyclable architectural acoustic products and suspension thereof

{
  "publication_number": "US2025305286A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Recyclable architectural acoustic products and suspension thereof",
  "abstract": "Disclosed is an acoustic architectural product that is fully recyclable without requiring dismantling or separation of its components. The product comprises an acoustic component and PET clips and/or connectors that engage with the PET component. The invention also includes a suspension system for supporting the product without additional bracing.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An acoustic architectural product which can be recycled without dismantling or separation of its component parts, the product comprising an acoustic component and at least one clip or plurality of clips and/or at least one connector or plurality of connectors engaging or configured to physically engage with the acoustic component, wherein the or each clip and/or connector are made from PET. 2. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acoustic component is a substantially hollow beam folded from a panel of a thermoplastic material, needle punched PET, or a natural fibre based component capable of being recycled and/or upcycled. 3. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 2, wherein the beam is substantially rectangular in cross section. 4. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 2, wherein the beam is configured to be held together by the clip(s), the clip(S) being internal clips moulded from PET. 5. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 2, wherein the beam has a longitudinal groove along a top face into which connectors can be inserted, the connectors being moulded from PET. 6. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 2, wherein the beam has a short internal return on either or each side of the groove. 7. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 6, wherein the clip(s) are resilient and designed to hold the short internal return(s) together. 8. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector(s) comprises a holding portion which can be inserted into and held in the groove. 9. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product comprises a plurality of beams, each beam being a substantially hollow beam folded from a panel of needle punched PET. 10. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product is or comprises a grid made up of intersecting substantially hollow beams. 11. An acoustic architectural product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product comprises one or more fins of needle punched PET, each fin having a longitudinal groove along a narrow face of the fin and one or more connectors inserted into the longitudinal groove, the or each connector made solely of PET. 12. A suspension system suitable for suspending acoustic elements from a structure without the need for additional bracing comprising at least one dropper bracket that is capable of being connected to the structure over and connectable to a dropper tube, the dropper tube being connectable to a rail bracket which in turn can support a rail which is connectable to and can support a PET connector of an acoustic architectural product. 13. A suspension system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one dropper bracket has a swivel connection between its mounting and a socket adapted to receive the dropper tube to provide at least one degree of freedom of movement of the socket relative to the mounting. 14. A suspension system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one dropper bracket is configured to allow two degrees of freedom of movement of the socket relative to the mounting. 15. A suspension system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rail has a symmetrical cross section defining a pair of longitudinal grooves, one groove being configured to retail a rail bracket and the other groove being configured to support a coupling member of the ET connector of the acoustic architectural product."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to an acoustic architectural product.\n\nMore particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to acoustic architectural products assembled with thermoplastic fixings, making them separable, often homogeneous products suitable for recycling. It also relates to a method of fixing thermoplastic (preferably needle-punched PET or natural fibre-based) acoustic elements to a wall, ceiling, or other substrate to allow for disassembly, recycling/upcycling, or replacement, and/or to a suspension system suitable for suspending such acoustic elements.\n\nThis invention relates in particular to needle punched PET acoustic elements for attachment to walls or ceilings but can also apply to other similar acoustic elements such as plastics acoustic elements. Needle punched PET acoustic elements can be decorative and provide good sound absorption properties.\n\nPET is the common abbreviation for - poly ethylene terephthalate.\n\nPET, unlike natural polymers, is a non-degradable polymer in the natural environment leading to environmental pollution when it is discarded after use. Consequently, it is desirable to recycle it (sometimes called upcycle) wherever possible.\n\nHowever existing methods of attaching them to walls or ceilings typically involves the use of metal components securely attached to and forming part of the acoustic elements, so that removal of the acoustic elements, for example if one is damaged and needs to be replaced, or if the fit out needs to be changed, means that they cannot readily be recycled or upcycled without labour intensive cutting or removal of the non-PET components.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04B 9/0414",
    "E04B 1/388",
    "E04B 1/5812",
    "E04B 1/5831",
    "E04B 1/8227",
    "E04B 1/84",
    "E04B 1/86",
    "E04B 2001/389",
    "E04B 2001/5856",
    "E04B 2001/5875",
    "E04B 2001/5881",
    "E04B 2001/742",
    "E04B 2001/829",
    "E04B 2103/04",
    "E04B 9/183",
    "E04B 9/22",
    "E04B 9/225",
    "E04B 9/30",
    "E04B 9/34",
    "E04B 9/345",
    "E04B 9/366",
    "F16B 2/245",
    "F16B 5/0664"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04B 9/04",
    "E04B 9/22",
    "E04B 9/34"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Autex Industries Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jonathan Seymour MOUNTFORT",
    "Luke Clifford WALKER",
    "Samuel William WELLS",
    "Gregor Allan Storey",
    "Miriam Rose MACLEAN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2025-03-25",
  "publication_date": "2025-10-02",
  "priority_date": "2024-03-26",
  "application_number": "US-202519090258-A",
  "family_id": "95781809",
  "cited_by_count": 0
}