AU2006100761A4 - Ceiling Grid System - Google Patents

Description

I-Sep. 2006 18:37 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney N o. 65 98 P 3

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Co P100009 Regulation 3.28

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: CEILING GRID SYSTEM The invention is described in the following statement together with the best method of performing it known to us: Our Reference: 066006 COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 7.Sep. 2006 18:37 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.6598 P. 4 2 \o o CEILING GRID SYSTEM L The present invention relates to ceilings, and more

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Sparticularly, to suspended ceilings arranged in an array of o discrete ceiling panels supported within a grid of supporting elements.

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o BACKGROUND

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SIt is an object of the present invention to address or ci at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION In one broad form of the invention there is provided a grid system for support of suspended ceiling panels; said system comprising an array of longitudinal stringers and cross- COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 7.Sep. 2006 18:37 Walliniton-Dummer Sydney No 6598 P 3 I-2 0 o members; said stringers and cross-members interconnected by ci connector elements; a said connector element assembled to

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CO) at least one end of a said cross-member; said connector o element including a resilient tab adapted for releasable engagement with a said stringer when said connector element NO is inserted into a slot provided in a central vertical web Sof said stringer.

I Preferably said stringers and said cross-members comprise ci aluminium extrusions; said extrusions having a profile common to both stringers and cross-members; said profile including said central vertical web and a pair of opposing horizontal flange elements extending outwardly from a centreline of said profile defined by said vertical web.

Preferably said slot is adapted to accept two connector elements of respective cross-members engaged at opposing sides of said stringer; said connector elements of said respective cross-members inserted from opposing sides of said central vertical web.

Preferably said connector element comprises a base portion and a projecting tongue portion; said connector element assembled to a said cross-member by sliding engagement of said base portion into an upper and a lower groove provided in said profile; one upper and one lower groove arranged alongside each opposing face of said central vertical web; COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 ?.Sep. 2005 18:37 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.6598 P. 6 -4o said tongue portion offset from said base portion such that when respective said tongue portions of respective cross- CA members on opposing sides of a said stringer are inserted O into said slot, said central vertical webs of said crossmembers are in alignment.

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Preferably said opposing flange elements of said stringers o are provided with 'IV" shaped notches; said shaped oN notches adapted to mate with chamfered corners of said Cl opposing flange elements of said cross-members when a said cross-member is in engagement with said stringer; and wherein engagement of a said cross-member to a said stringer is effected by horizontal movement of one relative to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a view from above of a portion of a grid system comprising of longitudinal stringers and crossmembers, for support of suspended ceiling panels according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form of aluminium extrusion for the stringers and cross-members of Figure 1, COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 7.Sep. 2006 18:38 Wal I n iton-Dummer Sydney No.6598 P. 7 5 0 o Figure 3 is an end view the aluminium extrusion of ci e_ Figure 2,

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C) Figure 4 is a side view of a connector element for use O with the cross-member aluminium extrusion of Figure 2, Figure 4A is a plan view of the connector element of Va Figure 4, o Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connector Va element of Figures 4 and 4A when assembled to one end of a 0 o cross-member extrusion, Figure 5A is an enlarged partially sectioned plan view of the end of the cross-member extrusion of Figure Figure 6 is a side view of a portion of a longitudinal stringer of the grid system of Figure 1, Figure 6A is an enlargement of a slot in a central vertical web of the stringer of Figure 6, Figure 7 is a view from above of the portion of longitudinal stringer of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a perspective view of an assembly of the cross-member of Figure 5 and the longitudinal stringer of Figures 6 and 7, Figure 9 is an orthogonal view of the assembly of Figure 8 viewed from the end of the longitudinal stringer, Figure 10 is an orthogonal view of the assembly of Figure 8 viewed from the side of the longitudinal stringer, Figure 10A is an enlarged detail view of the assembly of Figure COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 <-Sep. 2606 18:38 Wa~ ngton-Dummer SydneY No.6598 P. 8 6- O Figure 11 is a partially sectioned plan view of a portion of a longitudinal stringer to which has been CO assembled two of the cross-members of Figure VaO DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFEPPED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figure 1, a grid system 10 for INO support of suspended ceiling panels (not shown) comprises o an array of longitudinal stringers 12 and cross-mvemnbers 14, generally, though not necessarily, arranged to support regular rows 16 and columns 18 of the ceiling panels.

Both the longitudinal stringers 12 and cross-members 14 are formed of aluminium extrusions 20 and have the same profile as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The profile includes a central vertical web 22 capped by a ridge 24 and provided with a pair of opposing horizontal flange elements 25 and 26 extending outwardly from an inverted shaped central section 28. The undersides of capping ridge 24 and the upper surfaces of inverted shaped central section 28 are respectively provided with grooves 30 and 32 running the length of the extrusion 20 alongside both opposing faces of web 22.

With reference now to Figures 4A and 4B, a connector element 40 pressed from thin sheet metal, comprises a base portion 44 and tongue portion 46 separated by a joggle 46.

A continuation of the material of the connector element COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 7-See. 2006 18:38 WallIinglon-Dummer Sydney No-659B P. 9 7o at the joggle 46 forms a stop projection 48. Tongue portion 46 is provided with a pressed out tab 50 angled outwardly CO from outer surface 52 tongue 46.

o As can be seen in Figures 5 and 5A, base portion 42 is sized so as to assemble to extrusion 20 by its upper and lower edges sliding into grooves 30 and 32, and oriented so o that outer surface 52 of tongue 46 is facing away from the face of web 22, alongside of which base portion 42 has been o assembled. Base portion is slid into grooves 30 and 32 to the maximum allowed by stop projection 48. Once in position, connector element is secured to extrusion 20 by any suitable means well understood in the metal industry, such as by riveting or indent deformation for example.

For grid assemblies involving large spans and is commensurately heavier loads, the base portion 44 of connector element 40 may be lengthened to give greater strength by longer engagement of the edges of the base portion with grooves 30 and 32.

Again, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 5A, the corners 54 of horizontal flanges 25 and 26 are chamfered at degrees away from central section 28.

Turning now to Figures 6, EA and 7, longitudinal stringers 12 are provided with slots 60 at regular intervals along the length of the stringer 12 as determined by the size of ceiling panels to be supported. Coinciding with each slot 60 are 45 degree shaped notches 62 in COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by 1P Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07

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].Sep. 2006 18:38 WallIinglon-Dummer Sydney I

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o horizontal flanges 25 and 26. shaped notches 62 are sized to accept the chamfered end of a cross-member 20, as CO best seen in fligure 11.

o Slots 60 are adapted to accept one or a pair of connector elements 40 inserted from either side of central Va vertical web 22. Figures 8 to 10 show one cross-member o assembled to a stringer 12 with connector element 40 fully Va inserted through slot 60. When so inserted, respective o central sections 28 of stringer 12 and cross-member 20 abut at right angles, with flanges 25 and 26 of each forming close-fitting mitre joints (again as best seen in Figure Resilient tab 50 flexes during the insertion of connector element 40 into slot 60 but when connector element 40 is fully inserted, snaps bDack into its outwardly angled position to lock against the distal face of the central vertical web 22.

with reference to Figure 10A, it can be seen that the connector element 40 is securely retained in slot against lateral movement by the outer surface 52 en~gaged with slot edges 64A, and inner surface 53 engaged with slot edges 66A. Connector element is further restrained against vertical displacement by the upper and lower shoulders and 47 of tongue 40 (see also Figure 4B) are a close sliding fit within slot

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COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time (H:rn) 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 7.Sep. 2006 18:38 Wal lington-Dummer Sydney N 0 6 9 P I 9

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o It can also be seen in Figure 10A that central ci Svertical web 22 of cross-member 12 is aligned with the

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centre of slot 60 by virtue of the assembly of connector o element 40 to the right hand face of central vertical web 22, the joggle 46 offsetting tongue 44 and the V0 configuration of the opposing symmetrical portions of slot 0 Va This arrangement of connector element 40 and Sconfiguration of slot 60 is such that when a pair of crossmembers are connected to a stringer from opposite sides the two cross-members are in alignment as can be seen in Figure 11.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of slot and connector element 40 allows for the assembly of a cross-member 14 to a stringer 12 simply by horizontal movement only of the cross-member relative to the stringer.

Thus after insertion, when the tab 50 has resumed it extended position engaged with the distal surface of the central vertical web 22 of the stringer, there is no possibility of inadvertent disconnection by impact from below, such as may occur with a hook and slot arrangement.

However, if disassembly is required, it is simply a matter of deflecting tab 50 sufficient to allow connector element to be withdrawn from slot The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 I-Sep, 2006 18:39 Wal ington-Dummer Sydney N o, 65 98 P 12 Va 0\ 10 skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

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Claims (1)

1. 7.Sep. 2006 18:39 Wal I ington-Dummer Sydney No.6598 P. 13 11 o CLAIMS 1. A grid system for support of suspended ceiling panels; CD) C said system comprising an array of longitudinal o stringers and cross-members; said stringers and cross- members interconnected by connector elements; a said \O connector element assembled to at least one end of a o said cross-member; said connector element including a \0 resilient tab adapted for releasable engagement with a Ssaid stringer when said connector element is inserted into a slot provided in a central vertical web of said stringer.. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said stringers and said cross-members comprise aluminium extrusions; said extrusions having a profile common to both stringers and cross-members; said profile including said central vertical web and a pair of opposing horizontal flange elements extending outwardly from a centreline of said profile defined by said vertical web,. 3. The system of claim 1 or 2 wherein said slot is adapted to accept two connector elements of respective cross-members engaged at opposing sides of said stringer; said connector elements of said respective cross-members inserted from opposing sides of said central vertical web.. COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07 7,Sep. 2006 18:39 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney N o- 65 98 P 14 12 INO O 4. The system of any previous claim wherein a said connector element comprises a base portion and a C) projecting tongue portion; said connector element assembled to a said cross-member by sliding engagement of said base portion into an upper and a lower groove provided in said profile; one upper and one lower o groove arranged alongside each opposing face of said central vertical web; said tongue portion offset from o said base portion such that when respective said tongue portions of respective cross-members on opposing sides of a said stringer are inserted into said slot, said central vertical webs of said cross- members are in alignment. The system of claim 2,3 or. 4 wherein said opposing flange elements of said stringers are provided with shaped notches; said shaped notches adapted to mate with chamfered corners of said opposing flange elements of said cross-members when a said cross- member is in engagement with said stringer; and wherein engagement of a said cross-member to a said stringer is effected by horizontal movement of one relative to the other. COMS ID No: SBMI-04695151 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:41 Date 2006-09-07