Acoustic noise reduction apparatus for personal computers and electronics

Abstract

An acoustic noise reduction accessory apparatus attachable or made integral to a personal computer or other electronics equipment. The apparatus reduces acoustic noise emitted from the rear of the computer and in particular reduces the acoustic noise from circulating fans. The apparatus comprises an acoustic barrier or shielding member. The barrier is shaped in various forms externally of the computer or integrally extending from the back of the computer around one or more fans of the computer; the acoustic barrier member allows for minimum airflow reduction. Acoustic absorbing material is layered upon the acoustic barrier and may be combined with vibration absorbing material. The barrier may be shaped from solid or flexible members to accommodate different sized electronics and formed to include baffles and structures to direct airflow while absorbing noise; and may be made adjustable by one or more slidable members. The apparatus is easily assembled and collapsible for storage.

1 . An apparatus for acoustic noise reduction of noise generated by one or more fans of an electronic device comprising: 
 a removably adjustable acoustic barrier member externally attached to the electronic device around the one or more fans, the barrier member having an inner surface;    acoustic absorbing material attached to the inner surface of the barrier member;    a means for stabilizing the barrier member to the electronic device; wherein the barrier member is adjustable to a width of the device and attached to the device such that airflow loss from the one or more fans is negligible.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member is constructed from material selected from a group consisting of metals, plastics, composites, rubbers, ceramics, metal filled rubber, wood, processed wood, leather, vinyl, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic absorbing material is selected from a group consisting of foam, fiberglass, batting material, open-cell melamine foams, polyurethanes, urethanes, thermoplastics, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vibration absorbing material attached to the inner surface of the barrier member, wherein the vibration absorbing material comprises high performance damping material.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the vibration absorbing material comprises a high performance damping material selected from a group consisting of polyurethanes, urethanes, thermoplastics, damping foams and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing means is selected from a group consisting of adhesives, tapes, Velcro, adjustable straps, magnets, weight of the barrier member and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a personal computer and the barrier is attached to a tower chassis of the personal computer.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member extends around the rear of the device and continues to extend substantially along one or more of the longest sides of the device in a horizontal direction and wherein the barrier does not extend completely to a base of the device.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member comprises two or more panels, wherein two of the panels overlap at a top surface of the device and continue to extend over a left and a right side of the device.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member further comprises one or more door members connected to one or more edges of the barrier member for further acoustic noise reduction.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member further comprises one or more horizontal or vertical baffling partitions, and wherein acoustic absorbing material is disposed on one or more surfaces of the partitions.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member further comprises a baffle spaced away from the one or more fans, the baffle having a box configuration comprising a plurality of openings throughout the baffle.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member comprises three integral sections for attaching to a top surface and two side surfaces of the device while extending out from the device, past the one or more fans; 
 wherein a middle section of the barrier member rests on the top surface of the device and a left section and right section of the barrier member is attached to the side surfaces of the device;    wherein the sections in contact with the surfaces of the device are disposed with vibration absorbing material and the sections extending out from the device are disposed with acoustic absorbing material; and    wherein the barrier member is constructed of a flexible or solid acoustic material.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member comprises two or more adjustable and slidably connected sections for adjusting a width of the barrier member to a width of the device and for adjusting the barrier member to localize around the one or more fans.  
   
   
       15 . An acoustic noise reduction apparatus for reducing noise generated by one or more fans of a computer tower comprising: 
 a removably adjustable acoustic barrier member externally attached to a rear of a chassis of the computer tower around the one or more fans, the barrier member having an inner surface;    acoustic absorbing material attached to the inner surface of the barrier member;    a means for attaching the barrier member to the computer tower chassis; wherein the barrier member is adjustable to a width of the computer chassis and attached to the chassis such that airflow is substantially unobstructed and airflow loss from the one or more fans is negligible.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the barrier member comprises two or more adjustable and slidably connected sections for adjusting a width of the barrier member to a width of the device and for adjusting the barrier member to localize around the one or more fans.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the barrier member further comprises one or more horizontal or vertical baffling partitions, and wherein acoustic absorbing material is disposed on one or more surfaces of the partitions.  
   
   
       18 . An acoustic noise reduction apparatus for reducing noise generated by one or more fans of a computer tower comprising: 
 a removably adjustable acoustic barrier member externally attached to a rear of a chassis of the computer tower around the one or more fans, the barrier member further comprising a plurality of removable sections, including a firm cantilever section and one or more flexible side sections, wherein each section having an inner surface;    at least one pair of guide rails disposed on the cantilever section for a side section to slide into for adjusting the positioning of a side section to a width of the computer chassis;    acoustic absorbing material attached to the inner surface of the barrier member sections;    a means for attaching the barrier member sections to the computer tower chassis;    wherein the barrier member sections are attached to the chassis such that airflow from the one or more fans is redirected and airflow loss is negligible.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the barrier member sections are collapsible and stackable for transport.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising a vibration absorbing material attached to the inner surface of one or more of the barrier member sections, wherein the vibration absorbing material comprises high performance damping material.