Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR SYSTEM FOR SUB-CEILINGS
DESCRIPTION
Field of the invention
The present invention generally finds application in the civil or
industrial building industry and particularly relates to a modular system for
forming sub-ceilings.
Background art
In modern buildings, prefabricated room partitions, particularly in
rooms designed for office use, as well as sub-ceilings, are known to be
critical elements for both aesthetic and technical purposes.
Particularly, in addition to providing adequate comfort in terms of
acoustic and/or thermal insulation, modern room partitioning systems are
required to have a highly attractive appearance.
Therefore, there is a strong need for sub-ceilings that might appear
as linear as possible, with no construction elements projecting out of the
exposed surface, providing a visually seamless result.
The use of sub-ceilings allows concealment of the cables and pipes
that are used for serving the equipment required for adequate comfort of
the room.
Typically, a sub-ceiling consists of a modular system having a
plurality of supporting beams which define a texture having two horizontal
rows, with covering panels or plates secured thereto.
The sub-ceiling may also be fitted with functional elements such as
lamps, fire or emergency systems, as well as prefabricated or glazed walls
if the available space has to be divided into two or more rooms.
Further examples of similar sub-ceiling systems are disclosed, for
instance, in EP0464367 and EP0627532, in which a sub-ceiling system
comprises a plurality of load-bearing beams which are adapted to be
secured to a floor and have a load-bearing profile with an inverted U-
shaped cross section, for accommodating the desired wiring and service
devices.
Each beam also has a pair of lateral wings, horizontally projecting
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out of the vertical walls of the beam to define a support for the edges of the
panels that are designed to form the sub-ceiling.
Furthermore, panels having technical functions may be secured by
means of anchor structures, which are adapted to be fixed to the side of
.. the beam, to provide adequate support to the panels.
These solutions suffer from the common drawback of contributing to
form a sub-ceiling which will be generally formed of a plurality of panels
with the bearing beams projecting therefrom in a more or less visible
manner.
Thus, the construction so obtained will have a lower aesthetic
quality, caused by discontinuities in the sub-ceiling.
Furthermore, prior art solutions provide relatively complex structures
with a great number of components, requiring long and difficult assembly
procedures and heavier structures, with difficult maintenance.
W02009/153674, by the Applicant hereof, discloses a modular
system for forming sub-ceilings which incorporates a plurality of
multifunctional beams designed to accommodate a plurality of different
functional devices in modular fashion, such as lamps or support elements
for partition walls, so that such devices are always entirely incorporated in
the U-shaped profile, thereby providing sub-ceilings of high aesthetic value.
Nevertheless, these solutions do not allow modular coupling of sub-
ceiling panels of different types, such as metal or plasterboard panels,
unless the beam profile is specially adapted.
Therefore, these systems have a poor configuration flexibility, and
involve a more complex construction of the sub-ceiling.
Disclosure of the invention
The object of the present invention is to overcome the above
drawbacks, by providing a modular system for forming sub¨ceilings that is
highly modular and flexible in its configuration.
A particular object is to provide a modular system for sub-ceilings
that allows simple and quick mounting of different types of panels to the
same load-bearing beam.
3
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular sub-
ceiling
system that affords the formation of sub-ceilings of superior aesthetic
quality with no
elements projecting out of the plane defined by the sub-ceiling.
Another important object of the present invention is to provide a sub-ceiling
structure that ensures high versatility, to adapt to various uses and
different partitioning
arrangements in the space covered by the false ceiling.
These and other objects, as more clearly shown hereafter, are fulfilled by a
modular system for sub-ceilings, wherein a sub-ceiling is composed of a
plurality of
substantially horizontal side-by-side panels, comprising a plurality of beams,
which are
designed to be secured to a floor in substantially horizontal positions, each
beam having
a substantially U-shaped cross section, with a pair of substantially vertical
side walls, and
a plurality of interface members which are designed to be coupled to said side
walls for
securing respective sub-ceiling panels to each of said beams.
The interface members have quick connection means for snap connection with no
universal connection members to the outer side surfaces of said substantially
vertical
lateral walls.
The system is characterized in that the each of said beams has at least one
pair
of lateral connecting members outwardly projecting and each firmly associated
with a
respective substantially vertical lateral wall.
With this particular combination of features, the system affords simple and
quick
mounting of panels of different configurations to the beams, without requiring
complex
mechanical fixation of the panels to the profile of the beam, thereby allowing
remodulation
of the entire system.
An embodiment consists of a modular system for a sub-ceiling formed by a
plurality of
substantially horizontal panels placed in adjacent positions, wherein the
system
comprises:
- a plurality of beams anchorable to a ceiling in substantially horizontal
positions and each
having a substantially "U"-shaped cross section with a pair of lateral walls
and a
substantially vertical symmetry plane (Tr);
- a plurality of interface members adapted to be coupled with said lateral
walls for
anchoring of respective sub-ceiling panels to each of said beams;
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wherein said interface members have quick connection means for snap connection
to the
outer side surfaces of said substantially vertical lateral walls;
wherein each of said beams has at least one pair of lateral connecting members
outwardly
projecting and each firmly associated with a respective substantially vertical
lateral wall,
each of said connecting members being integral with the outer side surface of
the
corresponding lateral wall; and
in that said quick connection means comprise, for each of said interface
members a
substantially longitudinal anchoring portion for coupling with one of said
lateral connecting
members and a support portion adapted to support at least one panel.
Brief description of the drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more
apparent
upon reading the following detailed description of a few
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preferred non exclusive embodiments of a portion of a modular system for
forming a sub-ceiling according to the present invention, which are
described by way of a non limiting example with the help of the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 1 to 3 are cross-sectional views of a beam coupled to a pair of
interface members according to three different configurations of the system
of the invention;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 3;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views of two different configurations of
an interface member of a system of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a modular system of
the invention in a fourth configuration;
FIGS. 8 to 9 are cross sectional views of two connection profiles of
the system according to the configuration of Fig. 6.
Detailed description of a preferred embodiment
Referring to the above figures, a modular system of the invention,
generally designated by numeral 1, may be used for forming sub-ceilings
composed of a plurality of panels P, C in side-by-side relation, in premises
to be divided into multiple rooms by prefabricated walls, glazed panels,
.. curtains, or the like.
Particularly, the system 1 may be assembled in a multiplicity of
configurations, with no particular limitation neither in type nor in size, and
may include a plurality of load bearing beams 2, 2',... secured to a floor in
substantially horizontal positions and a plurality of panels P, C supported
by the beams 2, 2' in substantially horizontal positions.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, each beam 2 comprises a substantially
longitudinal load-bearing profile 3 having a substantially inverted U-shaped
cross section with substantially vertical side walls 4, 4', which are
symmetric with respect to a substantially longitudinal and vertical plane it.
Each load-bearing profile 3 is designed to be suspended from a floor
by steel cables or the like, not shown because they are known per se and
are not part of the invention.
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The modular system 1 also comprises a plurality of interface
members 5, 5'; 6, 6', which are adapted to be coupled with the side walls 4,
4' for securing respective sub-ceiling panels (P, C) to one or more beams
2, 2'.
5 For simplicity,
the description of the interface members 5, 6 as given
below also applies in a substantially identical manner to the corresponding
interface members 5, 6'.
According to a peculiar characteristic of the invention, each interface
member 5, 6 has quick connection means 7, 8 for snap connection with no
universal connection members to the outer side surfaces 9, 9' of the
substantially vertical side walls 4, 4'.
The vertical side walls 4, 4' of each load-bearing profile 3 have
respective free lower longitudinal edges 10, 10' to define a longitudinal
compartment 11 with a bottom opening 12 for receiving one of more
functional devices in the compartment 11, such as lamps, support elements
for room partitioning panels or the like, not shown in detail and not covered
by the scope of the invention.
The vertical walls 4, 4' are also joined at their top by a substantially
flat top wall 13, to define the inverted U-shaped load-bearing profile 3.
The top wall 13 also has a specially shaped portion 14, e.g. also
having a U-shape, for attachment thereof to hangers or similar systems
which are designed to hold the beam 2 suspended from the floor.
Preferably, the beams 2, 2' are substantially similar and made of
metal, e.g. aluminum or similar materials, or polymer materials or
composites, by extrusion.
Therefore, the description of one of the beams 2, 2' of the system 1
as given below shall apply in a substantially identical manner to all the
other beams, unless otherwise stated.
Each of the side walls 4, 4' of the profiles 3 comprises a lateral
connection element 15, 15' which projects out of a corresponding side wall
4, 4' and preferably extends throughout the longitudinal extension of the
corresponding beam 2.
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Conveniently, the lateral connection elements 15, 15' are integral
with the outer side surfaces 9, 9' of corresponding side walls 4, 4 and are
formed of one piece therewith, e.g. by extrusion of the same base material.
Each pair of lateral connection elements 15, 15' further comprises a
pair of first lower and upper longitudinal projections 16, 16'; 17, 17', which
are mutually offset by a first predetermined distance d1 in a substantially
vertical direction.
Advantageously the first lower longitudinal projections 16, 16' of the
connection elements 15, 15' define the bottom opening 12 of the load-
bearing profile by their inner edges 3.
As more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, for each interface member
5, 6, the quick connection means 7, 8 include substantially longitudinal and
vertical anchor portions 18, 19 which are designed to mate with respective
lateral connection elements 15, 15'.
The interface members 5, 6 further include respective substantially
longitudinal support portions 20, 21 which are adapted to stably support at
least one sub-ceiling panel P, C.
According to a peculiar characteristic of the invention, the interface
members 5, 6 have respective anchor portions 18, 19, which are
substantially identical and shaped to mate with any one of the lateral
connection elements 15, 15' of any one of the beams 2 designed to form
the modular system 1.
Furthermore, at least one of the interface members 5, as shown in
Fig. 5, has a support portion 20 for supporting a plasterboard sub-ceiling
panel C. At least one of the interface members 6, as shown in Fig. 6, has a
support portion 21 for supporting a metal sub-ceiling panel P.
Thus, each beam 2 may have coupled thereto either a pair of
interface members 5, 5' for plasterboard panels C, as shown in Fig. 1, or a
pair of interface members 6, 6' for metal panels P, as shown in Fig. 2.
Furthermore, a beam 2 may be simultaneously fitted with two
interface members 5, 6 of different types, as shown in Fig. 3, to form sub-
ceilings having both metal panels P and plasterboard panels C. It shall be
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also understood that a further configuration may be envisaged, with
reversely arranged panels with respect to Fig. 3.
The particular configuration of the beams 2 and interface members
5, 6 will allow the latter to be mounted to the load-bearing profiles 3 of the
beams 2 without requiring any mechanical process such as riveting or the
like, that might damage the beams 2.
Thus, the interface members 5, 6 may be also removed from the
beams 2, and still maintain their structural integrity and allow remodulation
of the sub-ceiling.
The support portions 20, 21 of the interface members 5, 6 may be
configured in various manners known in the art.
For example, the support portion 20 of the interface members 5 may
have a substantially horizontal flat surface 22, the panel C being fixed to
its
bottom by screw means or the like, not shown.
The support portion 21 of the interface members 6 is also
configured in various manners known in the art.
Each of the anchor portions 18, 19 of each of the interface members
5, 6 comprises a substantially longitudinal and vertical flat formation 23, 24
having pairs of second lower and upper longitudinal projections 25, 26,
transversely offset to each other by a second distance d2 substantially
equal to the first distance ch.
Thus, the second projections 25, 26 of each interface member 5, 6
may snap-fit with respective first projections 16, 16', 17, 17 of any
connection element 15, 15'.
Advantageously, each of the flat formations 23, 24 of the interface
members 5, 6 comprises a specially shaped lower appendage 27, 28,
which is adapted to project out of the bottom opening 12 of the inner
compartment 11 to define an extension of the vertical walls 4, 4' of the
load-bearing profile 3 having the interface member 5, 6 mounted thereto.
Particularly, each appendage 27, 28 comprises a substantially
longitudinal groove 29, 30 for receiving and holding a closure element for
closing the compartment 11, which element has edges mating the shape of
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said grooves.
The closure element, not shown herein and known per se, has a
typical known configuration, with a flat formation of sufficient size to
occlude the bottom opening 12 of the compartment 11, which has specially
shaped edges for snap fit or sliding engagement with the grooves 29, 30.
According to a preferred, non-limiting configuration of the invention,
as shown in Fig. 7, the system 1 also comprises one of more lower junction
profiles 3, which are substantially longitudinal and have a predetermined
width to allow transverse coupling of at least one pair beams 2, 2' in side-
by-side relation with a gap therebetween.
The lower junction profile 31, as more clearly shown in Fig. 9, has a
pair of mutually facing vertical walls 32 which are joined at their bottom by
a
substantially flat bottom wall 33.
The vertical walls 32 have respective specially shaped upper edges
which are adapted for engagement with pairs of first projections 16', 16" of
mutually facing lateral connection elements 15, 15" of two separate
transversely adjacent beams 2, 2' of the plurality for mutual coupling
thereof.
This allows direct coupling of two or more beams 2, 2' in a single
sub-ceiling, for an even improved configurability of the system.
The vertical walls 32 of the lower junction profile 31 have respective
portions designed to project at their bottom out of the bottom opening of the
compartment 11 of the load-bearing profile 3 and having substantially the
same height h as the specially shaped appendages 27, 28 of the interface
members 5, 6.
Furthermore, each of the projecting vertical walls 32 of the first
coupling profiles 31 have respective substantially longitudinal grooves 35
open on mutually opposite sides to face respective grooves 29, 30 of
interface members 5, 6 and/or further lower junction profiles 31 to receive
and hold the edge of a closure element for closing the compartment 11.
The system 1 may also comprise one or more substantially
longitudinal upper junction profiles 36, one of which is more clearly shown
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in Fig. 8, whose width is substantially similar to that of the lower profiles
31,
for coupling to the mutually facing side walls 4', 4" of two separate beams
2, 2' in side-by-side relation, and allow firmer coupling thereof.
For this purpose, each beam 2, 2' has its own load-bearing profile 3,
3, whose vertical walls have respective third longitudinal projections 27,
27, 27", 27-, which are transversely offset to corresponding first upper
projections 17, 17.
Furthermore, the upper junction profiles 36 have specially shaped
upper edges 38, which are designed for engagement with the third
projections 37', 37" of the load-bearing profiles 3, 3' of the side¨by-side
beams 2, 2', and lower edges 39 which are designed for snap-fit
engagement with respective first longitudinal upper projections 17', 17" of
mutually facing load-bearing profiles 3, 3' of the same pair of beams 2, 2'.
According to a further particularly advantageous aspect of the
invention, one or more of the beams 2, 2' of the system may be of the
multifunctional type, as disclosed in the above mentioned patent
application W02009/153674, i.e. are adapted to receive one or more
functional elements in the compartment 11.
As used herein, the term "functional element" shall be intended to
indicate any element that can be introduced into the bearing profile 2 and
has any function other than supporting the panels P, C or other elements
belonging to the sub-ceiling structure with which the beam 2 can be
associated.
For example, the functional elements are selected from lighting
devices, such as lamps, sound devices, alarm devices or support elements
for room partitioning elements, such as prefabricated panel walls, plates,
curtains or the like.
Particularly, the inner compartment 11 of such multifunctional beams
2 is designed for stable and unremovable coupling with such functional
elements, as taught in said application W02009/153674.
For this purpose, the functional elements have a portion for
attachment to the compartment 11, which is designed to hold the functional
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element integrated in the load-bearing profile 3 and entirely held in the
compartment 11.
The configuration of the functional elements will also comply with the
teachings of the above mentioned international patent application, and will
5 not be described herein in greater detail.
With this combination of features, once the beam 2 of the invention
is assembled, it will appear as a single body, with no parts projecting out of
the exposed surface of the panels.
Likewise, the assembled sub-ceiling will have no structural element
10 projecting out
of the plane defined by the exposed surfaces of the panels
P, F.
The functional elements are thus completely integrated in the sub-
ceiling, thereby providing a high aesthetic quality as compared with prior art
solutions.
The above disclosure clearly shows that the invention fulfills the
intended objects and particularly meets the requirement of providing a
modular system for sub-ceilings that ensures a highly flexible use and
improved configurability as compared with prior art solutions.
The modular system of this invention is susceptible of a number of
changes and variants, within the inventive concept disclosed in the
appended claims. All the details thereof may be replaced by other
technically equivalent parts, and the materials may vary depending on
different needs, without departure from the scope of the invention.
While the modular system has been described with particular
reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred to in the
disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility
of
the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed scope in any
manner.
