Movable acoustic shell assembly

• US 7,815,011 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Holzman Moss Architecture, LLP
• Original Assignee: Holzman Moss Architecture, LLP
• Inventors: Lukanic, Bradley A., Nevola, Delia, Holzman, Malcolm
• Primary Examiner(s): San Martin; Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US12/143,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20090314574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 181/287, 181/30, 52/6, 52/7, 212/276, 212/169, 212/285, 212/270
• US Class Current: 181/30
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/99 Room acoustics, i.e. forms of, or arrangements in, rooms for influencing or directing sound E04B1/82 takes precedence; acoustics in general G10K11/00; electric signal processing for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08

Abstract

A movable acoustic shell assembly comprises a ground-supported crane and an acoustic shell mounted on the ground-supported crane. The crane is configured to move in a self-propelled and self-directed manner between a storage position and an in-use position within a performing arts venue. When the crane is in the in-use position, the sound shell substantially encloses a rear portion of a stage within the performing arts venue.

Claims

1. A movable acoustic shell assembly, comprising:

a ground-supported crane comprising a movement apparatus configured to move the ground-supported crane in a self-propelled manner between a storage position and an in-use position within a performing-arts venue having a stage, the movement apparatus being configured to be in contact with the stage; and

a unitary acoustic shell dimensioned to substantially enclose a front portion of the stage, the acoustic shell being mounted within the ground-supported crane such that when the ground-supported crane moves from the storage position to the in-use position, the acoustic shell moves with the ground-supported crane to substantially enclose the front portion of the stage.

2. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, wherein the ground-supported crane moves in a self-directed manner.

3. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of an obstruction in a pathway of the acoustic shell between the storage position and the in-use position.

4. The moveable acoustic shell assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate, upon detection of an obstruction, a halt signal adapted to trigger a halting of the assembly'"'"'s movement.

5. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, comprising:

at least one direction sensor configured to detect a movement direction of the crane relative to a target position and to generate a direction modification signal to trigger an adjustment of the movement direction based on the detection.

6. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, wherein the acoustic shell has a shape in the form of a shelled room.

7. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, wherein the movement apparatus comprises multiple wheels actuated by an attached motor to provide a force for moving the crane.

8. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, wherein the crane incorporates a self-propulsion mechanism capable of being initiated by a wireless remote-control.

9. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, comprising a safety stop sensor configured to detect whether the crane is in a known safe position, and to generate a stop signal to trigger stopping of the crane'"'"'s movement upon detecting that the crane is not in a known safe position.

10. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, wherein the acoustic shell has a visual design pattern consistent with a visual design pattern of a house portion of the performing arts venue.

11. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, wherein the movement apparatus comprises tracks.

12. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 11, wherein the tracks are configured to fit into recesses in the stage.

13. The movable acoustic shell assembly of claim 1, wherein the acoustic shell is mounted within the crane by cables.