EP0589115A1 - Ceiling - Google Patents

Abstract

Suspended ceiling made up of parallel and equidistant longitudinal support profiles (1) supporting trays (2) which can be moved in terms of translation and each be tilted by pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the said supports (1), the said trays (2) being rectangular panels (2) including, at each corner, a lock (11), the bolt (12) of which is held by a return mechanism (15) in the out position in the face parallel to the support (1), characterised in that the support profiles (1) include two lateral slideways (6b) of the same axis as the profile (1) in which the connections with the panels (2) are provided via members intended to facilitate the sliding of the panels (2) when flat or tilted. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a suspended ceiling which can be used to equip premises of any geometry and in particular in combination with removable partitions intended to configure working or living spaces on demand.
This suspended ceiling is essentially based on longitudinal, parallel and equidistant beams-supports, punctually fixed to the building that one wishes to equip, connected by crosspieces ensuring the spacing and overall rigidity, and supporting panels constituting the surface main ceiling, said panels being movable in translation and tiltable by pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the support beams. In this way, it is possible to access the volume or plenum delimited between the ceiling and the false ceiling of any room thus equipped.
It turns out that currently, in particular for reasons of convenience of intervention, it is more and more common to equip new premises or rooms under renovation with false ceilings in which all the technical ducts are placed, in particular electrical networks for the distribution of energy and the transport of telephone, computer signals, etc. For certain premises, all the circulation ducts and air treatment devices are also placed between the floors at the level of the ceilings.
Hence the need for easy and quick access to the plenums, which involves the easy and quick dismantling and reassembly of false ceilings, without affecting their essential characteristics. sound and / or thermal insulation, according to the equipment specifications originally planned, because they do not cause any deterioration.

This problem has already been addressed on numerous occasions, and the applicant has in particular already deposited a patent, dated November 23, 1988 and bearing the publication number 2,639,387, on a suspended ceiling arrangement applied to corridors .

In principle, this arrangement is essentially characterized in that it comprises longitudinal continuous profiles aligned with one another by internal sleeves and maintained on each side of the corridor by connecting crosspieces cooperating at their ends with said profiles by means of a housing. interfaces mounted at regular intervals on the profiles; the profiles are hung on the building by means of hangers, placed at regular intervals; finally, the false ceiling itself is made up of panels mounted on the profile interface boxes invariably tilting towards each side of the corridor, and removable.

According to another configuration known in the prior art, the panels forming the false ceiling are tiltable along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal strip profiles constituting the framework. Then, when a panel is tilted, it can in principle be displaced longitudinally by sliding its hinge along the support beams.

In reality, the hinge is only a simple metal rod whose curved end is engaged in a profile acting as a slide. Given the weight of the panel to be moved, the friction appearing in the contact zone between said hinge and the horizontal surface of the slide on which it rests is relatively high, especially in view of the sliding which must take place. Moving the panels is therefore difficult.

These two systems of the prior art are especially designed to equip corridors in which one must be able to access the plenum along a single axis.

Regarding the first, if you want to clear a sufficient length of false ceiling, for example for the installation of an electrical conduit, it the panels must be tilted to the corresponding length. However, these panels are large and heavy, which does not facilitate handling.

The second, as mentioned, has a design that does not facilitate movement of the panels. However, to clear a length of corridor, the method consists in principle of tilting all the panels equipping said corridor and pushing them to one of the ends.

In both cases, it appears that the systems proposed are not satisfactory in terms of ease of use, which however remains the main criterion in view of the role that we want to see play in false ceilings in the equipment of buildings. . Indeed, the generalization of the installation of electrical technical ducts and air treatment ducts and devices in the ceilings obviously requires the search for a solution offering users maximum convenience of intervention.

The design of these ceilings must however go even further, and combine ease of use with simplicity of assembly and disassembly. The economic criteria taking into account the number of parts necessary for the development of the complete device, as much as the labor required or the simplicity of manufacturing of the components, are also important.

The systems of the prior art are less advantageous from these points of view.

Thus, the second device is particularly complex, in particular the rail along which the panels in the tilted position are in principle intended to slide. This rail is composed of several welded profiles - hence a cost price significantly higher than that of a configuration using only one profile - including a slide, and it must be bolted at regular intervals to an element placed at the above him. This operation can only be done with at least two parties.

The ceiling according to the invention remedies these defects and drawbacks.

Also made up of panels arranged between parallel and equidistant longitudinal support beams, its flexibility and ease of use allow use in any type of room, easy installation even by a single fitter and modular assembly-disassembly allowing rapid interventions in case of problems in the plenum.

It is characterized in the first place in that the support beams comprise two lateral slides of the same axis as said support, in which the connections with the panels are ensured by means of members intended to facilitate the sliding of the flat or tilted panels.

According to a preferred solution, these sliding members are rolling rollers free in translation in the slides and whose axial central bore can receive the external portion of bolts which are provided with latches placed at the four corners of the panels, on the beam-support side.

At rest, these bolts are held in the external position, that is to say with a portion projecting from the side of the panels, by a return means located in the lock.

The use of such rollers makes it possible to move the panels extremely easy, whatever their position, without their weight being a problem. During an intervention, we can play on the relative position of the panels to facilitate access to a specific area if necessary.

Second, the panels can be translated vertically. The slides are in fact surmounted by flat pieces parallel to the slide and placed at the level of the panel latches when the ceiling is formed. These parts are provided with at least one longitudinal lumen also parallel to the slide. The distance between two consecutive axes, lights and / or the slide, is at least equal to the height of the panels.

These lights are dimensioned so that the bolts of the locks can be inserted there.

The advantage of such a configuration is to offer an additional degree of freedom in the movement of the panels, in order to increase the flexibility of use.

We can go as far as stacking panels vertically, in order to free up, if the need arises, the space of the span in which the intervention is carried out. In some cases, in fact, vertically tilted panels can impede traffic in offices, especially entry and exit.

When you only need to clear a single "window" in the false ceiling, simply mount a notch a panel and slide its neighbor flat to position it immediately below.

In all cases, the panel release process is the same, for tilting as for raising: you can retract the external portion of the bolt thanks to an external operating finger accessible from below the ceiling.

The advantage provided by the possibility of mounting the panels of one or more notches is however effective only because the rollers allow the easy translation of the panels flat in their slides. The possibilities offered by the multiple combinations of vertical and horizontal translations, flat or tilted, of the panels guarantee the flexibility of the system of the invention.

Its design is also extremely simple and allows rapid installation by one man.

In addition to the classic one-off attachment points securing the assembly to the ceiling of the building, for example threaded rods, the ceiling of the invention consists exclusively of panels, a single model of profiles, hangers, flanges , rollers and flat parts with windows. Without forgetting obviously the nuts and bolts for fixing the parts between them.

The assembly is extremely simple: one hangs successively to the lines in place two profiled lateral facades, obtained using two copies of the unique model of profile, symmetrically hung on protuberances acting as hooks located on either side of the central vertical axis of said hanger, and which is fixed from below by means of flanges then secured to the hangers, for example by bolting.

The flange profiles follow the line of the profile, the slide of which is located at the junction with the lines.

Once the lines are mounted, for example on the spun rods from the ceiling of the building, the assembler can hang a first profile, then the second on the other side, secure the assembly using the flanges, and the support beam is thus formed.

When the support beams constituting the frame are mounted, with their rollers, the assembler places the ceiling panels one by one by acting on the external operating fingers so as to insert the external portions of the bolt bolts into the rollers.

Finally, the flat sole or joint cover is placed, which, in addition to its role of closing for reasons of insulation, is there to receive the possible fixing of a removable vertical partition.

The ceiling is quickly mounted, the reduced number and standardization of parts practically eliminating the risk of error.

The flat sole or joint cover clicks into reliefs provided for this purpose at the lower ends of the lateral profiles. This piece gives the entire ceiling a flatness which improves the aesthetics, and it can also prove to be important technically, for example by presenting an interface groove intended to receive the top rail of a removable vertical partition.

The removability of this joint cover at the same time as the displacement of the partition offers an interchangeability of part making it possible to leave a surface without damage where a partition was previously located.

Or, by receiving an electrical power rail for additional distribution of lighting or current. In the case of lighting, these soles can receive lamps at regular intervals, without hampering the movement of the panels, even in the tilting phase.

The support beams are moreover conceivable in a single piece provided with two lateral slides, but they do not then have the ease of assembly exposed previously.

• la figure 1 représente une vue générale du plafond de l'invention, avec un panneau rehaussé surmontant un autre panneau coulissant à plat,
• la ligne 1 bis est un grossissement de la glissière et des deux panneaux de la figure 1,
• la figure 2 montre une vue similaire avec un panneau en phase de basculement,
• la figure 3 montre plus précisément le coulissement à plat après rehaussement du panneau voisin,
• la figure 4 fait apparaître le montage précis d'une poutrelle-support,
• la figure 5 représente une coupe transversale d'une poutrelle-support au niveau d'une suspente et d'une bride,
• la figure 6 montre une coupe transversale plus globale d'un ensemble comprenant deux poutrelles-supports et un panneau,
• la figure 7 montre en détail la liaison entre un panneau et le profilé latéral, et
• la figure 8 fait de même pour ce qui concerne la liaison en position rehaussée.

The invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

• FIG. 1 represents a general view of the ceiling of the invention, with an raised panel surmounting another sliding panel flat,
• line 1a is a magnification of the slide and of the two panels of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 2 shows a similar view with a panel in the tilting phase,
• FIG. 3 shows more precisely the sliding flat after raising the neighboring panel,
• FIG. 4 shows the precise mounting of a support beam,
• FIG. 5 represents a cross section of a support beam at the level of a hanger and a flange,
• FIG. 6 shows a more general cross section of an assembly comprising two support beams and a panel,
• FIG. 7 shows in detail the connection between a panel and the lateral profile, and
• Figure 8 does the same for the link in the raised position.

With reference to FIG. 1, the suspended ceiling of the invention conventionally comprises parallel, equidistant longitudinal support beams 1, framing panels 2.

This ceiling is of course adaptable to any type of geometry, it is acoustic (in insulation or in absorption), single or double skin, in order to adapt to all possible specifications.

The system is designed to integrate the traditional elements found in the ceiling of a building, namely light fixtures, ventilation outlets, tubular air conditioning systems, fire detection, etc. There may also be a sectional version -fire.

In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the panel 2a is in horizontal translational movement below the panel 2b previously raised, leaving uncovered a surface showing the plenum 3, that is to say the volume delimited between the ceiling of the building and the false ceiling.

The raising of the panel 2b discovers part of one of the two slides 6b in which the panel 2a slides, as appears more precisely in FIG. 1a.

The sliding takes place by means of rollers 5 in which the external parts of bolts 12 of latches 11 are plugged in located at the four corners of the panels 2. The precise operation of this connection will be explained in more detail below.

Briefly, it can however be said that the panel 2 being supported by these four rollers 5, two in each of the lateral slides 6b, there is displacement as soon as an axial force is exerted on said panel 2.

The rollers 5 are permanently in the slides 6b, it suffices to put them opposite the bolts to establish the connection.

In FIG. 2, the panel 2a is shown tilted along an axis perpendicular to the support beams 1. Unlike the previous case, we see here appear a roller 5, since unlike the flat movement, we are forced to unlock the bolts 12 of the two latches 11 opposite, the two remaining acting as a hinge. It is of course quite possible to remove the panel by doing the same with the two hinge locks.

The combination and / or extension of the phases shown in Figures 1 and 2 is often desirable and it is of course possible.

Figure 3 is a more precise view of the flat translation phase of the panel 2a. The panel 2b is mounted by a notch, leaving in the corresponding slides 6b its connecting rollers 5. The bolts 12 of the latches 11 of the panel 2a are conversely inserted in their respective rollers 5, in order to allow movement.

We can see in this view the external operating fingers 13 allowing the external portion of the bolt 12 to be brought back into the volume of the panel 2, so as to unlock it, as will be seen later.

• 2 profilés 6 identiques placés symétriquement par rapport au plan vertical passant par l'axe central du poutrelle-support,
• des suspentes 7 comportant deux crochets 7a, 7b latéraux destinés à supporter lesdits profilés 6,
• des brides 8 permettant de solidariser et de rigidifier l'ensemble à l'aide des vis 10, et
• une semelle 9 s'encliquant dans les nervures 6c à la partie inférieure des profilés 6 pour fermer le support 1, de façon notamment à préserver ses caractéristiques dans le domaine de l'isolation et à permettre la fixation d'accessoires tels que des luminaires, comme cela apparaît par exemple à la figure 3.

Figure 4 shows how simple the mounting of the support beams is, especially thanks to the small number of basic elements:

• 2 identical profiles 6 placed symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane passing through the central axis of the support beam,
• lines 7 comprising two lateral hooks 7a, 7b intended to support said sections 6,
• flanges 8 making it possible to secure and stiffen the assembly using the screws 10, and
• a sole 9 snapping into the ribs 6c at the bottom of the profiles 6 to close the support 1, so as in particular to preserve its characteristics in the field of insulation and to allow the attachment of accessories such as lights, as shown for example in Figure 3.

The fitter begins by hanging a profile 6 on the hooks 7b. Then, it repeats the operation for the second profile, opposite. Then comes the fixing of the flanges using bolts 10, joining the three types of part in a rigid support 1. Finally, it places the flat sole 9 ensuring the flatness of the suspended ceiling.

FIG. 5 shows the complementarity of the profiles 6, the lines 7 and the flanges 8.

The profiles 6 have at the top a re-entrant flange 6a which adapts to the hooks 7a, 7b, which are provided curved to facilitate the hooking operation.

A slide 6b in dovetail adjusts at the junction between the hanger 7 and the flange 8, while said flange has two lateral points 8a, 8b which facilitate their positioning during assembly by inserting into the hollow of the dovetail neck, and increase transverse rigidity.

The two horizontal surfaces, lower for the hanger 7 and upper for the flange 8, come into contact with each other and are fixed by screws 10. Another horizontal surface, this time upper, of the hanger 7, serves screwing the threaded rod 14 fixed to the building (shown in Figure 4), by means of its threaded hole 14 '.

The sole 9 has lateral profiles with a slight re-entrant recess 9a, 9b, intended to snap into corresponding reliefs 6c from the lower end of the profiles 6.

The rollers 5 have a shape adapting to the dovetail of the slide 6b, ensuring correct parallelism of the panels 2 with respect to the framework and preventing an untimely dislodging of the bolt of the panel 2 lock.

The support beams 1 are for example made of folded or profiled sheet, while the rollers 5 can be made of steel, aluminum, or even plastic or composite material, and be extruded or folded according to the material chosen. The only constraint to be ensured concerns the slip and the relative properties of said material must be taken into account.

Figure 6 provides a better understanding of the attachment of the panels 2 in the rollers 5 and the place occupied by the latch 11 in the mechanism. We find, in cross section, the support beams 1 with the rollers 5 in their dovetail slides 6b. The precise shape of the lock 11, conventional, has not been shown, only the functional parts 12 and 13 being shown to explain their role in the connection.

The latches 11 comprise bolts 12 actuated by return mechanisms, for example with springs 15, as shown. It is also possible to maneuver the bolt using an external finger 13 opening onto the perpendicular face of the panel 2, and which allows it to enter the volume of the panel 2, while it is in the external position at rest.

As has already been said, two locking axes are released, that is to say that two opposite bolts 12 are brought inside, in order to tilt a panel 2. The tabs 13 protrude into the gap existing between two adjoining panels. It suffices to press on them towards the center of the panel, using any tool, long and thin to access the tab 13, to unlock one side. The same is true for raising a panel a notch or more, or for removing one.

The insulation between the panels, despite the gap due in particular to the emergence of the tabs 13, is produced by lip seals 16 surrounding each panel. The problem arises and is solved in the same way between the panels 2 and the support beams 1, since the roller / bolt systems also create a gap to be filled.

Figure 7 shows this lip seal 16, as well as a magnification of the roller 5 / bolt 12 system. The representation is made in the rest position, and the maneuvering tab 13 is therefore quite normally positioned towards the side exterior of panel 2.

There is also a distinction in the upper part of the profile 6, the flat part 17 in which the longitudinal light 18 is made.

It is a simple piece of cut and folded sheet metal, the function of which appears in FIG. 8. When the bolt 12 is removed from its housing in the roller 5, and the panel 2, l is raised the outer end of said bolt 12 abuts against the smooth vertical surface of the profile 6, then of said flat part 17, up to the level of the lumen 18.

At this point, the return mechanism is triggered and the spring pushes the bolt 12 in the slot 18. The connection with the "upper level" is therefore carried out for one of the corners. Repeat the operation with the other three corners.

To ensure a correct finish at the edges, that is to say at the connections with the walls, it is expected that the angle iron fixed on the wall will enter the dovetail slide 6b and will be pressed on the edge of it by means of a flexible seal.

According to one possibility, these edges are made of aluminum sheets with a honeycomb structure, the flexural strength then being particularly good.

The invention is of course not limited to the examples described above; modifications are possible, by substitution of technical equivalents or modification of certain constituents, while remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

Suspended ceiling made up of parallel and equidistant longitudinal support profiles (1) supporting tanks (2) movable in translation and tiltable each by pivoting about an axis perpendicular to said supports (1), said tanks (2) being rectangular panels (2 ) comprising at each corner a lock (11) whose bolt (12) is held by a return mechanism (15) in the extended position in the face parallel to the support (1), characterized in that the support profiles (1) comprise two lateral slides (6b) of the same axis as the profile (1) in which the connections with the panels (2) are ensured by means of members intended to facilitate the sliding of the panels (2) flat or tilted. Suspended ceiling according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding members are rolling rollers (5) free in translation in the slides (6b) and whose axial central bore receives the external part of the bolt (13) of the movable panels (2). Suspended ceiling according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the slides (6b) are surmounted at the level of the locks of flat parts (17) comprising at least one lumen (18) with an axis parallel to the axis of the slide (6b) which it surmounts, in which the bolt (13) of the bolt (11) which faces it when the container (2) is raised, the distance between consecutive axes being at least equal to the height of the tanks (2). Suspended ceiling according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each support profile (1) comprises lines (7) fixed in a punctual manner to the ceiling of the building and to which are hung symmetrically on either side of the profiles (6) identical by means of protuberances (7a, 7b) acting as hooks, before being secured by means of flanges (8) which are fixed to the lower end of the lines (7), said flanges (8) having a lateral external profile matching the shape of the profiles, in particular at the level of the slides (6b), in combination with the lower part of the hangers (7). Suspended ceiling according to claim 4, characterized in that each support profile (1) is coated with a flat sole (9) snapping into reliefs (6c) provided for this purpose at the lower ends of the lateral profiles (6), and constituting the visible face of the ceiling.

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