EP0089718B1

EP0089718B1 - An assembly for forming a ceiling

Info

Publication number: EP0089718B1
Application number: EP83200349A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jurrie Krupe; Rudolf Gerardus Hiensch
Original assignee: Kb Research En Marketing Bv
Current assignee: Kb Research En Marketing Bv
Priority date: 1982-03-13
Filing date: 1983-03-12
Publication date: 1987-07-01
Also published as: DE3372298D1; EP0089718A3; ATE28096T1; NL8201051A; EP0089718A2

Abstract

An assembly for forming a ceiling with longitudinal and transversal girders to be suspended on hangers, adapted for supporting ceiling panels, the longitudinal girders being hollow and being adapted for accommodating wires therein, said longitudinal girders consisting of two substantially U-shaped channels adapted to be secured with their flat bottoms together by means of coupling elements provided with claws which can be inserted through corresponding keyholes in both bottoms and can be fixed therein by being rotated, which coupling elements can, moreover, be adapted for supporting wires. Columns can be connected to the lower channel of a girder by means of tensioning plates to be inserted in lateral openings of this channel, and transversely directed girders can be secured to longitudinal ones by means of coupling elements to be hooked to the longitudinal girders.

Description

The invention relates to an assembly for forming a ceiling to be connected to an upper wall of a building space, comprising hangers with an adjustable length to be fixed to the upper wall, elongate girders consisting of an upper U-shaped channel with an essentially flat bottom and curled terminal edges which are adapted to be removably clamped onto a plurality of said hangers with the opening of the U-shape uppermost, and a lower U-shaped channel with ledges for supporting ceiling panels and with an essentially flat bottom adapted to be placed against the bottom of the upper channel, and to be connected to the latter bottom at the regular distances with the opening of the lower channel directed downwards.
Such an assembly is known from DE-A-2910967, in which both U-shaped channels are permanently interconnected by means of rivets, thus allowing to use channels made of sheet metal or the like and having a simple cross- sectional shape, which simplifies manufacturing at low cost, and, nevertheless, a sufficiently large bending strength is obtained so as to allow to span larger widths.
This assembly still has some disadvantages. Since the channels are permanently interconnected to form a composite girder, which girder has to be levelled before finally adjusting the hangers in question, the full weight of such a girder has to be supported by the workmen. Moreover the lower channels have inwardly directed ledges forming means for snapping on ceiling elements so that said channels are no longer accessible for providing therein electrical wiring, so that separate wiring ducts are to be used in such a ceiling system.
It is the object of the invention to avoid these disadvantages and to provide an improved assembly of this kind, which is characterised by regularly spaced key-holes provided in the bottom of the upper and lower channels, coupling elements provided with claws on a transverse wall, and being removably insertable into a pair of said aligned key-holes in the upper and lower channels, and rotatable to compress both bottoms between the claws and the transverse wall, said ledges extending outwardly from the ends of the legs of said lower channel, at least the lower channels being adapted for accommodating wires of the like, means provided in the lower girders for supporting said wires, cover strips each adapted to be removably fixed to a lower channel to cover the downwardly directed opening thereof, and, optionally, transverse girders extending between the first-mentioned girders.
When suspending the girders only the upper channels have to be attached to the hangers, and levelling thereof is substantially simplified since the single upper channels have a lower weight then the assembled girder. Fixing a lower channel onto an upper one is simplified by said coupling elements which form, together with said key- holes, a simple bayonet-type of coupling. Said ledges are directed outwardly so as to provide a simple support for ceiling panels, and, thus, the opening of the lower channels remains fully accessible for electrical wiring etc., said opening being closed by means of said cover strips.
An additional advantage of this assembly is that the upper channels can be separately used as cable ducts in places where no ceiling elements are to be supported, thus avoiding the necessity of providing additional parts for this purpose, and in cases of an insufficient height clearance the lower ducts can be used without the upper ones, e.g. by fixing the former directly onto the ceiling or by using adapted clamps or hangers for that purpose.
From DE-A-2 435 301 an assembly for supporting a hollow rail for a curtain, sliding wall or the like is known, which hollow rail is supported inside a girder which consists of an extruded plural U-channel, said rail being fixed by means of screws and lug-shaped nuts, the latter being inserted into an elongate slot of said channel and being prevented from rotating by having a length which is larger than the width of the channel portion in question. Said channel is provided with outwardly directed ledges for supporting ceiling panels, but the interior of the lower channel portion is not available for wiring since it is completely taken up by the rail.
In particular the bottoms of the upper and lower channels are provided with interfitting ribs or slots resp. in order to allow said channels to be mutually aligned.
Said coupling elements can be provided, moreover, with laterally extending hooks for supporting wires, which elements can, in particular, be U-shaped, and in the legs thereof recesses for inserting additional wire supporting means can be provided. Wires supported in this manner are easily accessible after removing the closing lid.
Preferably the lateral walls of the lower channel, where joining the external ledges, are slightly bent inwards, the closing lids then being provided with claws with a curvature adapted thereto.
The invention will be elucidated below by reference to a drawing, showing in:

Fig. 1 an exploded perspective view of different elements of an assembly according to the invention;
Fig. 2 a lateral view of a hanger for the assembly of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a section of the assembly of Fig. 1 in the assembled condition;
Fig. 4 a perspective view of an additional element; and
Fig. 5 a partial section of the assembly of Fig. 3 with an additional element.

The assembly of elements shown in Fig. 1 comprises an upper channel profile 1 with its opening directed upwards, a lower channel profile 2 with the opening directed downwards, a coupling bracket 3, a closing strip or lid, 4 and a hanger 5.
The hanger to be connected to an upper wall of a space which should have an adjustable length can be constructed in any suitable manner, e.g. as a vernier hanger, or as one or more rods with screw adjustment or with an adjustable clamp or the like. In the case shown said hanger comprises a transverse part 6 with two holes 7 (see Fig. 2), to which suspension rods (not shown) can be screwed. The transverse part 6 is connected to a plate part 8 which, in the position of use, is vertically directed, and is, by means of a narrower transverse part 9, connected to an end part 10 directed parallel to the plate 8, and is as wide as the latter, which end part 10 is provided with upwardly directed projections 11. The plane of the end part 10 substantially extends through the axis of the holes 7. Preferably two suspension rods are used, in order to obtain a possibly rigid suspension.
The upper channel 1 possesses inwardly curled terminal edges 12 and a flat bottom 13 in which two parallel ribs 14 have been pressed. As follows from Fig. 2, the edges 12 fit around the projections 11, the lower edge of the part 8 then bearing on these channel edges. The hanger 5 can be mounted in a simple and strong manner by inserting the part 10 obliquely into the channel 1, and, thereafter, to turn it in such a manner that the projections 11 are being positioned below the edges 12. If, then, the hanger 5 is rotated into the upward direction, these projections snap into the edges 12, and then the hanger is strongly connected to the channel 1. Moreover keyholes 15 are provided at regular distances in the bottom 13.
The channel 2 has a flat bottom 16 in which grooves 17 have been pressed, having such dimensions and mutual distances that, if the bottom 16 is positioned against the bottom 13 of the channel 1, the ribs 14 of the latter fit in the grooves 17. In the bottom 16 keyholes 18 are provided corresponding to the keyholes 15 of the bottom 13, and being situated at the same mutual distances. Besides the holes 15 and 18, holes 19 for passing wires can be provided.
At their extremities the lateral walls 20 of the channel 2 are bent outwardly to form ledges for supporting ceiling panels etc., the connecting part between the walls 20 and the ledges 21 being formed by an inwardly directed bend 22. In the lateral walls 20 holes 23 for passing wires are provided at regular distances which can be closed with a lid or can be constructed as windows closed by a rupturable wall.
The coupling element 3 is, as shown, substantially U-shaped. The transverse wall 24 thereof is provided, at the upper side, with a claw 25 which, when rotated 90°, can be inserted into the keyholes 15 and 18 of the channels 1 and 2 placed against one another. After being rotated backwards, the element 3 compresses the bottoms 13 and 16 between the transverse wall 24 and the claw 15 strongly against one another. The lateral walls 26, in which apertures 27 are provided, join respective transverse ledge planes 28 with upturned terminal edges 29.
The closing strip 4 has doubled rims 30 forming a rigid supporting rim which, in the mounted condition, will bear against the flanges 21 of a channel 2, the inner end 31 thereof being turned upwards and being curved so that it will resiliently bear against a bend 22 of the channel 2.
Fig. 3 shows the various elements in the assembled condition. The space 32 inside the channel 1 below the lower edge of the hanger 5 can be used for wires which, if required, can be led outwards through the holes 19 or through the upper opening of the channel.
The inner space 33 of the channel 2 can also be used for taking up wires which, after removal of the lid 4, become accessible. These wires can be laid on the ledge parts 28, and, for example, telephone lines or the like can be laid at one side, and wires at the mains voltage at the other side. If required hanger straps 34 can be hooked into the holes 27, in which straps still other wires can be supported. Moreover in the interior of the coupling element 3 a wiring duct with conductors supported therein in an insulated manner can be secured, in which duct branching plugs can be inserted in the desired points.
In the drawing a special embodiment of the closing strip 4 is shown, in which the extremities 35 of the doubled rims 30 extend past the extremities of the ledges 21, and are bent slightly upwards, and this in such a manner that these rims each will bear against a ceiling panel supported on the ledge 21 in question, so that a seamless support is obtained.
The channels 1 and 2 consist of a metal, e.g. galvanised iron, which is cheapest. Such channels can be manufactured in a simple and economical manner. In the assembled condition a strong girder is obtained which can support ceiling panels, lamp armatures etc. without bending. Also the cover strips 4 can consist of a metal, in particular galvanised iron, but are generally provided at their outer sides with an enamel layer.
If the channels 1 are too short, they can be extended in a simple manner by using a coupling piece fitting clampingly in two aligned channel sections 1. Also T or cross pieces can be used for forming transverse connections.
In Fig. 4 a simple cross-connection element is shown, having a bottom 36 and walls 37 fitting in an upper channel 1, the terminal edges 38 of the lateral walls 37 being bent inwardly and fitting in the curled edges 12 of a channel 1.
At one side of the bottom 36 a narrower transverse piece 39 is present, which is provided with an outwardly curled edge 40. Said transverse piece is slightly longer than the lateral walls 37, this in such a manner that, if the curled edge 40 is hooked on an edge 12 of a channel 1, the channel into which the lateral walls 37 are inserted will be supported at the same height but transversely to the former channel.
Between parallel longitudinal girders consisting of channels 1 and 2, transverse girders can be provided, e.g. in the form of profiled rodsfitting in marginal recesses of adjoining ceiling panels. Their extremities can be provided with hooks gripping behind the curled edges 12, and it is also possible to provide adapted apertures in the lateral walls of the channels 1 or 2 in which the extremities of such transverse girders or the like are retained against toppling.
The longitudinal girders consisting of channels 1 and 2 and bridging a space are, preferably, extended towards an adjoining corridor where the wires provided in the channels 1 and/or 2 can be connected to supply lines. These supply lines are, for instance, supported in cable ducts extending transversely to the channels 1, and can, in a simple manner, be clamped in the edges 12 of these channels, e.g. by means of the hangers shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The cover strip 4 can, if required, be replaced by plates to be clamped on the ledges 21 and bends 22 as well, and serving to fix separating walls, columns with electric contact means or the like. As shown in Fig. 5, an additional mounting means can be used in the form of a clamping plate 41 to be positioned on the edges of the apertures 23, and being provided with a screw 42 on which a closing plate 43 can be fixed by means of a nut 44.
Since the girders consisting of the channels 1 and 2 are rigid, and can be firmly supported by means of special hangers, which girders have, moreover, a high bending strength, such separating walls, columns and the like can be secured thereto in the above-mentioned manner without difficulties.
Since the hangers hooked in an upper channel 1 can be hooked therein without play, a sufficient lateral stability can be obtained when using a strong suspension, in particular by means of two rods or a profiled suspension element, and, in particular, such suspension means can also be used for securing thereto additional elements, e.g. sound insulating partitions or the like, ceilings situated at a different height, e.g. for an adjoining corridor space or the like, additional cable supports and the like. If the hangers are suspended by means of two screw rods which, at the same time, can be used for height adjustment, such additional supports can be fixed thereon at any desired height by means of additional nuts.
It can sometimes be favourable to provide the cover strips 4 at their inner side with a sound attenuating and/or fireproof layer in order to provide an additional suppression of sound transmission and fireproofing respectively.

Claims

1. An assembly for forming a ceiling to be connected to an upper wall of a building space, comprising hangers (5) with an adjustable length to be fixed to the upper wall, elongate girders consisting of an upper U-shaped channel (1) with an essentially flat bottom (13) and curled terminal edges (12) which are adapted to be removably clamped onto a plurality of said hangers (5) with the opening of the U-shaped uppermost, and a lower I-shaped channel (2) with ledges (21) for supporting ceiling panels and with an essentially flat bottom (16) adapted to be placed against the bottom (13) of the upper channel (1), and to be connected to the latter bottom at the regular distances with the opening of the lower channel (2) directed downwards, characterised by:

- regularly spaced key-holes (15, 18) provided in the bottoms (13, 16) of the upper (1) and lower (2) channels;

- coupling elements (3) provided with claws (25) on a transverse wall (24), and being removably insertable into a pair of said aligned key- holes (15, 18) in the upper (1) and lower (2) channels, and rotatable to compress both bottoms (13, 16) between the claws (25) and the transverse wall (24);

- said ledges (21) extending outwardly from the ends of the legs of said lower channel (2);

- at least the lower channels (2) being adapted for accommodating wires or the like;

- means (28, 34) provided in the lower girders (2) for supporting said wires;

- cover strips (4) each adapted to be removably fixed to a lower channel (2) to cover the downwardly directed opening thereof;

- and, optionally, transverse girders extending between the first-mentioned girders (1, 2).

2. The assembly of claim 1, characterised in that the bottoms (13, 16) of the upper and lower channels (1, 2) are provided with interfitting ribs (14) or slots (17) resp. in order to allow said channels (1, 2) to be mutually aligned.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the parts of the coupling elements (3) situated in the lower channel (1) are provided with laterally extending hooks (28, 29) for supporting wires.

4. The assembly of claim 3, characterised in that the parts of the coupling elements (3) to be provided in a lower channel (2) are made U-shaped, and in the legs (26) thereof recesses (27) for inserting additional wire supporting means are provided.