Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 CEIL:ENG GRID WITH BEVEL CONFIGURATION
2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
3 Suspensiori grid systems typically provide grid
4 members interconnected to form rectangular or square
openings in which panels are positioned and supported.
6 In most prior art grid systems, the grid members or
7 runners are for=med with a cross-section of an inverted
8 "T" and provide: a lower or exposed flat surface formed by
9 the oppositely extending flanges on which the panels are
supported. In such systems, the assembled grid and
11 panels of the ceiling are a generally planar system in
12 which the panels appear to provide a surface interrupted
13 by a plurality of flat, relatively wide bands. Such
14 systems are extensively used and a need exists for a
suspension ceiling system that is distinctive from this
16 common arrangement.
17 It is known to provide a generally T-shaped grid
18 member with a downwardly open slot shaped to receive T-
19 fasteners which can be positioned in the slot and used to
support various equipment or fixtures. Such grid systems
21 are often used in hospitals where patient privacy
22 curtains or other equipment can be mounted on the T-
23 fasteners. An example of such systems is illustrated in
24 U.S. Patent 4,021,986. U.S. Patent 4,505,083 discloses
grid runners having a longitudinal recess such as an
26 inverted V-shaped channel in the lower exposed face of
27 the runners and faux miter joints.
28 BUMMAR$OF THE INVENTION
29 The invention provides a suspended ceiling grid
construction that is configured to look like bevelled
31 edges of the pa:nels supported by the grid. The
32 construction thus gives the illusion of a gridless
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1 ceiling. The beveled detail can be used to compliment
2 other architectural bevel features in a building to
3 obtain an integrated motif. As disclosed, the grid is
4 configured to lie flush with the plane of the visible
face of rabbeted panels. This configuration contributes
6 to the visual effect in which the grid is perceived to be
7 part of the panels they support.
8 In the disclosed embodiment, the grid runners are
9 formed of sheet metal rolled into a beam structure with a
shape that is described generally as an inverted tee.
11 The sheet metal is bent or folded in a profile
12 symmetrical about a central vertical plane. At the lower
13 part of the profile, the sheet stock diverges from the
14 center plane into flanges that appear as the bevels of
the associated panels. The seam between these diverging
16 flanges gives the appearance of a joint between adjacent
17 panels.
18 In another aspect of the invention, a faux miter
19 joint between intersecting grid runners is formed while
maintaining adequate lateral bending strength in a main
21 or through runner. The disclosed flange geometry allows
22 miter notches to be cut into the flanges while sufficient
23 stock remains in these elements at locations that produce
24 a relatively high bending moment of inertia or section
modulus. A crease formed in the remaining visible flange
26 material in the through runner transverse to its
27 longitudinal axis improves the appearance of the faux
28 miter joint by visually continuing the center plane seam
29 of the intersecting transverse runners.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there
31 is provided a suspended ceiling grid system for
32 supporting ceiling panels comprising elongated through
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2a
1 runners and cross-runners having a vertical web and panel
2 supporting flanges integrally joined to a lower edge of
3 the vertical web, the flanges extending laterally from
4 opposite sides of the web and being symmetrical with
respect to the web, the flanges each having a first
6 portion extending downwardly and laterally outwardly from
7 the plane of the web to a corner and a second portion
8 extending generally vertically upwardly from the corner.
9 In accordance with a further aspect of the invention
there is provided a suspended ceiling comprising a grid
11 of intersecting runners that form rectangular openings,
12 the grid being suspended from a superstructure, and
13 rigid, generally planar panels assembled in the
14 rectangular openings, the runners being elongated members
having a cross-section generally shaped as an inverted
16 tee, the cross-section including a generally vertical web
17 and a pair of symmetrical flanges adjacent a lower edge
18 of the web and being disposed on opposite sides of the
19 plane of the web and extending laterally in opposite
directions, the flanges having a first portion extending
21 downwardly and laterally outwardly from the plane of the
22 web to a corner and a second potion extending generally
23 upwardly from the corner to a panel supporting surface,
24 said panels each having a lower visible face surrounded
by a rabbeted peripheral edge, the rabbeted edges being
26 recessed vertically above the visible face a distance
27 generally equal to a vertical height of the second flange
28 portion of the runner, the visible faces of the panels
29 being proportioned to fit relatively closely in the space
between opposed second flange portions of parallel spaced
31 grid members whereby the second flange portions are
32 concealed by the panels and the first flange portions of
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1 the runners appear as beveled edges of the panels.
2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
3 FIG. 1 is a view from below of a suspended ceiling
4 embodying the invention;
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1 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view from below
2 of an intersect:ion of grid runners constructed in
3 accordance with the invention;
4 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of an
intersection of' grid runners of the invention;
6 FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view from below
7 of a grid through runner;
8 FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the
9 grid through runner;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom view of the through
11 runner;
12 FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end
13 of a cross-runner with an end connector shown in phantom;
14 and
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ceiling
16 taken in the plane indicated at the line 8-8 in FIG. 1.
17 DE.SCRI'PTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
18 Referring now to the figures, there is illustrated a
19 suspended ceiling 10 which comprises a ceiling grid
system 11 and ceiling panels 12 supported on the grid.
21 The panels 12, as is conventional, are generally flat and
22 rigid. The grid system 11 includes main or through
23 runners 13 and lateral or transverse runners 14. When
24 installed, each of the runners 13, 14 has a cross-section
that can be generally described as an inverted T-shape.
26 At the top of its cross-section, each runner 13, 14, in
27 the illustrated case, has a stiffening bulb or spine 17
28 which extends longitudinally at the top of a web element
29 or portion 18. The web portion 18 is generally
vertically dispDsed in the installed condition of the
31 respective runner 13, 14. The main or through runners 13
32 are supported from a structural ceiling by support wires
33 19, for example, each extending through a selected one of
34 apertures 20 provided in the webs 18 of the main runners
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1 13. Unitary with the web portion 18 at its lower edge
2 are first and s:econd oppositely extending flanges 21, 22.
3 The flanges 21, 22 extend longitudinally along
4 essentially the! full length of the respective runners 13,
14. Each of the flanges 21, 22 includes an inclined
6 generally planar portion 23, 24 proximal to the web 18
7 and a generally planar vertical portion 26, 27 distal
8 from the web 18. The flanges 21, 22 further include an
9 in-turned reinforcing lip 31, 32. The inclined portions
23, 24, vertical portions 26, 27 and lip portions 31, 32
11 of the first and second flanges 21, 22, respectively, are
12 integral with one another. As shown, the flanges 21, 22
13 are symmetrical with one another about an imaginary
14 central vertical plane passing through the web portion
18.
16 In the illustrated example, the inclined portions
17 23, 24 of the flanges 21, 22 rise from the horizontal at
18 an angle of about 400. The vertical portions 26, 27 rise,
19 from corners 30 with the respective inclined portions 23,
24, substantially higher than an imaginary horizontal
21 plane where the inclined portions 23, 24 intersect the
22 web 18 and, it will be seen, at least the majority of the
23 height of the flange lip portions 31, 32 lie above this
24 imaginary plane. The lips 31, 32 serve to reinforce the
vertical flange portions 26, 27.
26 Preferably, the stock for forming the runners 13, 14
27 is sheet steel that is roll-formed into the illustrated
28 generally T-shaped structure. When fabricated in this
29 manner, the main body of the runners is unitary and the
web 18 is comprised of two layers 33, 34. The layers 33,
31 34 form a seam :36 between the inclined portions of the
32 flanges 23, 24.
33 Commonly, a ceiling grid structure is constructed by
34 suspending relatively long "main" runners in parallel
rows. Typically, the main runners are long pieces, i.e.
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1 12 feet in lencrth, that are joined end-to-end to form of
2 a continuous row. Between the main runners, cross-
3 runners of a limited length are assembled into slots in
4 the webs of the: main runners. The cross or transverse
runners may have a length of, for example, 4 feet. 4
6 foot x 4 foot grid modules formed by the main runners and
7 the transverse runners can be divided into 2 foot x 2
8 foot modules or 1 foot x 1 foot modules or into
9 rectangular modules by adding secondary cross runners.
The main runners and primary and secondary cross runners
11 can have webs of different height so as to provide
12 sufficient vertical beam strength. Another known way of
13 constructing a suspended ceiling is to assemble runners
14 in a basket weave pattern. In either the main
runner/cross runner construction or in the basket weave
16 construction, there is a"through" runner that runs
17 through an intersection and opposed cross or transverse
18 runners that abut the through runner at a common
19 intersection from opposite sides of the through runner.
The terms main or through runner are used interchangeably
21 herein to designate the runner which passes through an
22 intersection and the terms cross or transverse runners
23 are used to designate runners which abut a main or
24 through runner :but which do not pass continuously through
an intersection.
26 The invention provides a faux miter joint at
27 intersections between the main or through runner 13 and
28 opposed cross-runners 14 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
29 At the mitered .joint, the through runner is cut or
notched through its flanges 21, 22 to receive ends 39 of
31 the cross-runners 14. The notches or holes 41 have a
32 generally triangular configuration both in the plane of
33 the inclined portion 23, 24 of the respective flange and
34 in the vertical portion 26, 27 of the respective flange.
A triangular zozie or area 41 of the hole or notch in the
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1 inclined flange portion 23, 24 has its apex truncated at
2 42 to leave material or stock 43 in the inclined flange
3 portion 23 immediately adjacent the seam 36. This
4 material stock 43 leaves the through runner 13 with
lateral bending strength in this area. The material
6 stock 43, on both sides of the seam 36, is stamped or
7 otherwise formed with a transverse crease 44. The
8 transverse crease 44, which lies in a horizontal plane on
9 both sides of the seam 36, enhances the illusion of a
true miter by continuing the sight line of the seams 36
11 of the cross-runner ends 39.
12 A triangular portion 46 of the hole or notch in the
13 vertical flange portions 26, 27 extends, preferably,
14 vertically above an imaginary horizontal plane through
the intersectioii of the inclined flange portions 23 with
16 the web 18. Preferably, however, an apex 47 of this
17 triangular port:Lon 46 lies a substantial vertical
18 distance below an upper edge 48 of the vertical flange
19 portion 26, 27. It will be understood that, ideally, the
apex 47 is slight2y below a lower edge 49 of the
21 respective reinforcing lip 31, 32. This assures that the
22 reinforcing lips 31, 32 are not diminished in their
23 strengths by the presence of a part of the notch portion
24 46.
A verticall.y elongated hole 51 is punched through
26 the web 18 at ari imaginary vertical plane transverse to
27 the web 18 and bisecting the triangular notch portions 41
28 and 46. The hole 51 receives end connectors 52 assembled
29 or otherwise formed on ends 39 of the cross-runners 14.
The connectors 52 may be of the type disclosed in U.S.
31 Patent 5,517,796; or of other known types.
32 The ends 39, of each of the cross-runners 14 are
33 trimmed to fit the miter notch area 41, 46 in the through
34 runner 13. As shown in FIG. 7, the inclined flange
portions 23, 24 at the cross-runner end 39 extend beyond
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1 remaining parts; of the cross-runner except for the
2 connector 52 and a small vertical remainder 53 of the web
3 layers 33, 34 above the plane of intersection of the
4 inclined flange portions 23, 24 and the web 18. This
small vertical remainder 53 ensures that the adjacent
6 area of the seam 36 when viewed from below is uniform in
7 appearance along the full length of the cross-runner 14
8 and minimizes the risk that a gap could form or be
9 perceived at the seam area at the cross-runner end 39.
The vertical remainder 53 is accommodated by the height
11 of the apex 47 of the triangular notch portion 46.
12 Assembly of the connectors 52 into the hole 51 is
13 described in aforementioned U.S. Patent 5,517,796.
14 Study of FIG. 8 shows the relationship of rabbeted
panels 12 assembled in and supported by the grid 11. The
16 panels 12 have a lower planar visible face 57 surrounded
17 by a rabbeted peripheral edge 58. The edges have a face
18 or shelf 59 that is recessed vertically above the visible
19 face 57 a distance generally equal to the vertical height
of the second flange portion 26, 27. The visible faces
21 57 are proportioned to fit relatively closely in the
22 space between opposed second flange portions 26, 27 of
23 parallel spaced grid runners so that the second flange
24 portions 26, 27 are concealed by the panels 12 and the
first flange portions.23, 24 of the runners 13, 14 appear
26 as beveled edges of the panels. This illusion is
27 augmented by the fact that a lower extremity of the
28 runners 13, 14 formed at the juncture of the inclined
29 flange portion 23, 24 and vertical flange portion 26, 27
is generally coplanar with the plane of the lower visible
31 face 57 of the panels 12.
32 The vertical height of the web 18 measured from the
33 bulb 17 to its intersection with the inclined flange
34 portion 23, 24 is greater than that ordinarily found in
standard grid tees and other known constructions. Such
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1 standard and other known constructions can be compared,
2 for example, with the grid of the present invention by
3 reference to, i.e. standardizing, the distance between
4 the bulb and the visible face of the panel supported by
the grid. As a result, the grid of the present invention
6 can be made from lighter gage stock while providing the
7 same beam strength.
8 It should be evident that this disclosure is by way
9 of example and that various changes may be made by
adding, modifying or eliminating details without
11 departing from the fair scope of the teaching contained
12 in this disclosure. The invention is therefore not
13 limited to particular details of this disclosure except
14 to the extent that the following claims are necessarily
so limited.
