Exterior Acoustic Louvre

Abstract

An exterior acoustic louvre comprises a louvre body which defines major upper and lower surfaces and minor side surfaces. The louvre body includes a support element, a sound-energy absorption element supported by the support element, and a flexible plastics watertight element which watertightly encases the sound-energy absorption element. The louvre body is arranged so that the watertightly encased sound-energy absorption element can receive sound energy in the directions of both the upper and lower major surfaces of the louvre body.

1 . An exterior acoustic louvre comprising a louvre body defining major upper and lower surfaces and minor side surfaces, the louvre body including a support element, a sound-energy absorption element supported by the support element, and a flexible plastics watertight element which watertightly encases the sound-energy absorption element, whereby the watertightly encased sound-energy absorption element is accessible in the directions of both the upper and lower major surfaces of the louvre body. 
     
     
         2 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible plastics watertight element is colour coordinated to at least substantially match a colour of the support element. 
     
     
         3 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible plastics watertight element is a membrane. 
     
     
         4 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible plastics watertight element is vacuum formed around the sound-energy absorption element. 
     
     
         5 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible plastics watertight element has non-smoothly planar upper and lower major surfaces, whereby reflected incident sound-energy is dispersed. 
     
     
         6 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sound-energy absorption element has a non-uniform cross-section in at least one direction. 
     
     
         7 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the sound-energy absorption element is at least in part ramped. 
     
     
         8 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a baffle element interposed between two parts of the sound-energy absorption element. 
     
     
         9 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the baffle element forms at least part of the support element. 
     
     
         10 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support element of the louvre body includes cover elements which define at least in part the major upper and lower surfaces, each cover element including at least one opening providing access to the sound-energy absorption element. 
     
     
         11 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each cover element is a plate. 
     
     
         12 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each cover element has a plurality of apertures therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each cover element is perforated. 
     
     
         14 . The exterior acoustic louvre as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the support element includes longitudinal end caps, the cover elements being engagable with the longitudinal end caps.