ES2396003T3 - Reinforced Ceiling Suspension Cable - Google Patents

Abstract

Ceiling suspension cable (10) intended to hook a U-profile to a ceiling surface to hang a false-ceiling, said U-profile presenting two facing wings (36, 38) and an interior space (52) delimited by said two wings , said wings (36, 38) respectively presenting a flange (40, 42) terminated by a free edge (44, 46), said free edge being folded towards said inner space to form a flange (48.50) and said curved edges being towards each other, while said flanges extend opposite each other, said suspension cable (10) having a rod (12) intended to be fixed on said ceiling surface and a connecting end (14) suitable for fixing in said interior space (52) of said U-profile, said joining end (14) having two lateral support contacts (22, 24) retracted with respect to said rod (12) and opposite each other, the lateral support contacts (22, 24 being) ) intended to receive support as res said curved flanges (40, 42) of said U-profile; characterized in that said connecting end (14) has deformable tongues (23, 25) intended to extend respectively in front of said lateral support contacts (22, 24), while said lateral support contacts (22, 24) respectively have a pin ( 30) retracted, the pins (30) being retracted from said lateral support contacts (22, 24) to be held in said opposite flanges (48, 50); because said deformable tongues are deformable between a separate position of said lateral support contacts and a proximal position of said lateral support contacts so that said curved edges are supported against each other and thus hold said curved edges between said lateral support contacts and the tongues deformable, to prevent the relative movement of said U-profile and said end of junction (14).

Description

Reinforced Ceiling Suspension Cable

The present invention proposes a ceiling suspension cable to suspend false ceilings from the surface of a ceiling.

The ceiling suspension cable usually has a rod and a connecting end. Generally, the rod is flat and is intended to be fixed on the surface of the ceiling, for example nailed to the beams, while the joining end is attached to a guide or U-profile, called a wrap. Alignments of suspension cables are also made on the ceiling surface so that their joining ends are in the same horizontal plane. As for the U-profile, it has two wings extended facing each other, which have a finished wing flange with a free edge folded into the space between the two wings so that they form a flange. In addition, the wing flanges are curved, towards each other, remaining distanced from each other and determining an opening, so that the flanges extend in opposite directions to each other. On the other hand, the joint end of the aligned suspension cables has two lateral support contacts in return with respect to the rod. In this way, the support contacts of the suspension cables are oriented towards the ceiling surface while the U-profiles are inserted at the connecting ends, with their opening in the direction of the ceiling surface and their flanges of curved wing respectively supported on the lateral support contacts in return. A plurality of U profiles substantially parallel to each other are then hooked to the ceiling surface by a plurality of alignment of suspension cables. The U-profiles are also adjusted in the same plane by positioning the union ends.

The suspension cables to which the U-profiles are attached have a tensile strength limited to the weight of the false ceiling and affected by a safety multiplier coefficient. It is mainly the union between the union end and the U-shaped profile and it is observed, in some circumstances, a lack of solidarity of the profile and the suspension cable, mainly when the load of the false tech ho is important. In addition, when the U-profile is poorly adjusted at the junction end, the weight of the false ceiling tends to cause deformation and separation of the curved wing edges that then exit the return support contacts.

It was already thought to limit the relative movement of the U-profiles and the union ends, not to strengthen their union, but to attenuate the vibrations of the U-profile with respect to the suspension cables. Document FR 2 863 285 which describes such an installation can be taken as a reference mainly. But, said attenuation does not allow to improve the mechanical union between the U-profile and the union end of the suspension cable.

In addition, another problem that arises and is intended to solve the present invention is to propose a suspension cable that allows a better engagement of the U-profile to its union end.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention proposes a ceiling suspension cable intended to hook a U-profile to the surface of a ceiling to hang a suspended ceiling. Said U-profile has two facing wings and an interior space delimited by the two wings, said wings respectively presenting a flange terminated by a free edge, said free edge being folded towards said inner space to form a flange and said edges are curved one towards the other, while said flanges extend opposite each other. As for the suspension cable, it has a rod intended to be fixed on said ceiling surface and a union end suitable for holding in said interior space of said U-profile, said union end having two lateral support contacts in return with with respect to said rod and opposite each other, the lateral support contacts intended to receive said curved flanges of said U-shaped profile respectively. According to the invention, said lateral support contacts respectively have a retracted pin, the pins folded from said lateral support contacts intended to be held on said opposite flanges to prevent the relative movement of said U-profile and said joint end. On the other hand, always according to the invention, said connecting end has deformable tongues intended to extend respectively facing said lateral support contacts, said deformable tongues being able to deform between a separate position of said lateral support contacts and a proximal position of said contacts lateral support so that they rest against the curved flanges, towards each other so that said curved edges are seized between said lateral support contacts and deformable tongues, to thereby prevent the relative movement of said U-profile and of said end of union.

Thus, a feature of the invention resides in the action of deformable tongues. When they are in said position separated from the lateral support contacts, there is no difficulty in introducing union ends into the interior space of the U-profile and to precisely bring the lateral support contacts against the curved edges and even more precisely, the pins behind the flanges.

Another advantageous feature of the invention resides in the use of pins that extend in the form of a projection of the support contacts and in the mode of cooperation of said pins with the edges of the curved edges. In fact, the curved edge flanges form opposite support projections against which the pins can bump laterally, which in turn blocks the movement of the curved edges according to a direction parallel to the

support contacts. In this way, the lateral separation of the curved flanges, one from the other, is impossible regardless of the load supported by the U-profile. Therefore, the U-profile hitch is secure.

Next, the deformable tongues are apt to be deformed using force, and mainly to be rotatably moved to be placed in a proximate position and facing the lateral support contacts, so that they rest against a curved flange. towards another, on the side of his face opposite the interior space. In this way, curved flanges are held between the lateral support contacts and deformable, deformed tongues. Likewise, the curved flanges are enclosed by the end of the joint, since its vertical movement is impeded, and the flange cannot be introduced above the pin, as will be explained in detail below. Therefore, the two curved flanges towards each other are enclosed by the lateral support contacts and the U-profile is then locked at the end of the joint.

In addition, and advantageously, said lateral support contacts extend between a proximal part and a distal part and said pin is advantageously located in the distal part, so that, during assembly and the introduction of the joining end into the interior space of the U-profile, the pins adjust respectively towards the edges of the curved flanges, while precisely said edges extend in the proximal part of the lateral support contacts. The mode of cooperation of the pins and the edges will be explained later in the detailed description.

According to a variant of execution of the invention, said opposite lateral support contacts define a middle straight line, and the deformable ngutas are suitable to be rotated around an axis substantially parallel to said middle straight line defined by said contact contacts. support for. In this way, the deformable tongues can be easily folded against the curved edges and applied according to a slightly perpendicular direction, which allows a better blockage. Preferably, and according to the aforementioned variant of execution, said tongues respectively have a turning area that extends facing said lateral support contacts and a free end opposite to said turning area; Thus, when the tongues are bent against the flanges, the reaction force thereof against the opposite free ends has a direction that significantly cuts the turning area, which further improves the safety of the blockage.

According to a particularly advantageous feature, said tongue-free end has an oblique side portion, located at the level of said pin. Thus, when the deformable tongues are in their separate position from the support contact, the clearance between the pins and the respective tongues is then important enough to effortlessly introduce the curved flanges between tongue and support contact.

With said joint end defining a middle plane, said tongues are advantageously inclined at the opposite part of said rod, forming an acute angle with said middle plane, when said tongue extends in said separate position. And in this way, the deformation of the deformable tongues around its turning area is of little amplitude, less than 900, which allows to avoid the local embrittlement of the material, advantageously galvanized steel, and of this mod or maintain its integrity. Preferably, the tongues are angled at an angle of approximately 450 with respect to said median plane.

On the other hand, said rod has at least one oblong hole extending towards said connecting end, allowing the vertical position of the suspension cable to be regulated in advance more easily.

Furthermore, in order to give greater rigidity to the suspension cable rod, said rod advantageously has two opposite lateral margins, curved in opposite directions from one another. In addition, the ceiling suspension cable is formed by a single piece that is obtained by inlay cutting, for example in a galvanized steel plate.

Other features and advantages of the invention will arise with the reading of the description made below of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of indication and not limitation, and represented in the drawings in the annex, in which:

  Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a ceiling suspension cable according to a first embodiment;

  Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a ceiling suspension cable according to a second embodiment;

  Figure 3 is a schematic detail view of an element illustrated in Figure 1;

  Figure 4A is a partial schematic view of a suspension cable that cooperates with another element and according to a first position;

  Figure 4B is a partial schematic view of the suspension cable cooperating with said other element, according to a second position; Y,

  Figure 5 is a partial schematic front view, according to arrow V, of the suspension cable cooperating with said other element of Figure 4B.

Figure 1 illustrates a ceiling suspension cable 10 having a longitudinal rod 12 terminated at a joint end 14, also called a head. The ceiling suspension cable 10 is made of a single piece of galvanized steel, for example. It is obtained, for example, by inlaid cutting of a galvanized steel plate. The suspension cable 10 is intended to be attached to elements of a ceiling wall not shown, by means of the rod 12 adjusted slightly vertically. For this, the rod 12 has oblong holes 14 and circular holes 16, alternately made according to the longitudinal direction of said rod 12, and through which screws can be introduced. The oblong holes 14 allow a first adjustment of the suspension cable 10 for vertical regulation, while the circular holes 16 allow a definitive block. The connecting end 14 defines a middle plane P and has two opposite side edges 18, 20. In these opposite side edges 18, 20 there are notches that allow two opposite support contacts 22, 24 to be formed which extend in return with respect to to the rod at 12 and placed on each other, defining a straight medium ia D slightly perpendicular to the rod 12 and contained in the middle plane P. The opposite support contacts 22, 24 are oriented towards the rod 12 and they extend slightly horizontally when the rod 12 of the suspension cable 10 is fixed substantially vertically on the ceiling wall. In addition, and according to an optional variant of execution, two deformable tongues 23, 25 are formed which extend respectively facing the contact contacts 22, 24 and which are found here in a position separated from their respective support contacts. Later, its function will be explained in more detail.

Figure 3 illustrates in detail one of the side edges 18 and the support contact 22 associated with its notch. The description that follows also applies to the other side edge 20, since they are symmetrical with respect to a plane that longitudinally cuts washer 12 and the middle plane P perpendicularly. This depoyolateral contact 22 has a proximal part 26 and an opposite distal part 28, and a retracted pin 30 located at the distal part 28. The pin then extends as a projection of the support contact 22.

On the other hand, in said Figure 3 is the deformable tongue 23 in its position separated from the corresponding support contact 22 and anterior of the drawing plane.

We will now refer to Figure 5 to describe in greater detail the role of the union end 14, which is here introduced in a U-profile 32 and which will be described in detail. The U-profile 32, or guide, has a bottom wall 34 and two facing wings 36, 38 having two flanges 40, 42. The two flanges 40, 42 are curved towards each other, defining slightly the same plane. On the other hand, the flanges 40, 42 each have a folded free edge 44, 46 in the same sense as the corresponding curved flange, forming a flange so that two opposite shoulders 48, 50 whose height corresponds substantially to the thickness of the cut of the flanges 40, 42. In this way, the U-profile 32 delimits an open interior space 52 between the two curved flanges 40,

42. Likewise, in this Figure 5 the end of junction 14 of the suspension cable 10 inserted inside the interior space 52 is located, so that the middle plane P of the joint end 14 is oriented slightly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the U-profile 32.

Similarly, in this situation, the curved flanges 40, 42 are respectively inserted through the notches of the opposite side edges 18, 20 of the connecting end 14 and precisely, supported against the opposite support contacts 22, 24. In addition, the pins 30 are inserted at the rear of the folded free edges 44, 46 and so respectively, facing, sideways, to the two opposite shoulders 48, 50. Thus, the folded free edges 44, 46 respectively extend in the proximal part 26 of the lateral support contacts 22, 24. In this way, when a vertical force F is exerted on the U-profile 32, in a direction opposite to the joint end 14, said profile tends to deform, but the two opposite projections 48, 50 of the folded free edges 44, 46 form a lateral stop against the pins 30, which prevents the separation of the two facing wings 36, 38 from the U-profile 32. Thus, despite the deformation , the U-profile 32 remains locked at the junction end 14 of the suspension cable 10.

We will refer again to Figure 3 to describe in more detail the deformable tongue 23. This description is also valid for the other deformable tongue 25 represented in Figure 1. Said deformable tongue 23 has a longitudinal area of rotation 54 which extends according to a axis A substantially parallel to the middle line D. The deformable tongue 23 extends facing the corresponding support contact 22 and is here inclined at an angle of approximately 450 towards the front of the drawing with respect to the median plane P from the area longitudinal rotation 54. It also has a free end 56, a proximal edge 58 and a distal edge 60 having an oblique cut 62 substantially at the level of the pin 30. The free end 56 is then separated from the corresponding support contact 22. It is the case also for the other deformable tongue 25 with respect to the other support contact

24. When the suspension cable is manufactured, during cutting and sausage, notches are made on opposite side edges 18, 20 and the cutting of deformable tongues 23, 25, of opposite support contacts 22, 24, of the pin 30 and the oblique cut 62 are performed simultaneously. In addition, the first deformation of the deformable tongues 23, 25 to tilt them slightly at 450 with respect to the median plane P, is also performed during this same operation.

We will now refer to Figure 4A which illustrates in perspective the joint end 14 held in the U-profile 32. Obviously, the elements already described in Figure 5 and Figure 3 are found again. However, the following will be observed. deformable tongues 23, 25, inclined here at approximately 450 with respect to the median plane P,

to allow the insertion of the connecting end 14 into the interior space 52 of the U-profile 32. In addition, the oblique cut 62 makes it easier to introduce it.

When the curved flanges 40, 42 rest on the support contacts 22, 24, hidden here precisely by the flanges 40, 42, the deformable tongues 23, 25 can be folded tightly, for example with a clamp, against

5 its flanges 40, 42, supported on its outer face, as illustrated in Figure 4B. The deformation of the tongues 23, 25, unlike the first deformation, to bring them to a plane close to the middle plane P, or attached to said middle plane, while their free ends rest against the flanges 40, 42, causes deformation of the metal at the level of the longitudinal turning area 54 which carries with it a slight strictness. However, the metal retains its integrity, and the tongues 23, 25 remain fully in solidarity with the end of union 14.

10 Thus, referring again to Figure 5, which illustrates the mode of cooperation of the connecting end 14 and the U-profile 32 as represented in Figure 4B, it is understood that curved flanges 40, 42 are They are totally locked by the end or an ion 14, since not only the two facing wings 36, 38 cannot be separated, by the cooperation of the pins 30 and the folded free edges 44, 46, but also, said edges free bends 44, 46 cannot prevent the reach of the pins 30, since the deformable tongues 23, 25 folded

15 hold the curved flanges 40, 42 to each other and the opposite support contacts 22, 24. Therefore, if an additional downward vertical force were exerted on the U-profile 32, it would nonetheless remain integral with the joint end 14 of the cable of suspension 10.

According to another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 2, second deformable tongues 23 'and 25' of another type are formed at a second junction end 14 '. These second deformable shapes 23 ', 25' are no longer

20 cut directly facing second support contacts 22 ', 24', but on an upper part of opposite side edges 18 ', 20' and can be folded to 1800 to be brought to a position close to the second support contacts 22 ', 24 '.

Claims (9)

1. Ceiling suspension cable (10) intended to hook a U-profile to a ceiling surface to hang a false ceiling, said U-profile presenting two facing wings (36, 38) and an interior space (52) delimited by said two wings, said wings (36, 38) respectively presenting a flange (40, 42) terminated by a free edge (44, 46), said free edge being folded towards said inner space to form a flange (48, 50) and said edges being curved towards each other, while said flanges extend opposite each other, said suspension cable (10) presenting a rod (12) intended to be fixed on said ceiling surface and a joint end (14) suitable for said interior joint (52) of said U-profile, said union end (14) having two lateral support contacts (22, 24) folded with respect to said rod (12) and opposite each other, the contact contacts being lateral support (22, 24) intended to receive as support or respectively said curved flanges (40, 42) of said U-profile; characterized in that said connecting end (14) has deformable tongues (23, 25) intended to extend retrospectively in front of said lateral support contacts (22, 24), while said support contacts of the atheral ( 22, 2 4) represent a retracted slide (3 0), the pins (30) being retracted from said lateral support contacts (22, 24) to be held in said opposite flanges (48, 50); because said deformable tongues are deformable between a separate position of said lateral support contacts and a proximal position of said lateral support contacts so that they rest against said curved edges towards each other and thus hold said curved edges between said lateral support contacts and deformable tongues, to prevent the relative movement of said U-profile and said joint end (14).

2.

Ceiling suspension cable according to claim 1, characterized

because said lateral support contacts (22, 24) extend between a proximal part (26) and a distal part (28), and because said pin is located in the distal part.

3.

Ceiling suspension cable according to claim 1, characterized in that said opposite lateral support contacts (22, 24) define a middle straight and that said deformable tongues (23, 25) are capable of being rotated about a shaft slightly parallel to said mean defined by said support contacts.

Four.

Ceiling suspension cable according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said tabs (23, 25) respectively have a turning area (54) extending in front of said lateral support contacts (22, 24) and an end free (56) opposite to said turning area.

5.

Ceiling suspension cable according to claim 4, characterized

because said free tongue end (56) has an oblique side portion (62) located at the level of said pin (30).

6.

Ceiling suspension cable according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said connecting end (14) defines a median plane, and because said tongues (23, 25) are inclined forming an acute angle with said median plane, when said tongues extend in said separate position.

7.

Ceiling suspension cable according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said rod (12) has at least one oblong hole extending towards said joint end (14).

8.

Ceiling suspension cable according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said rod (12) has two opposite lateral margins, curved in opposite directions from one another.

9.

Ceiling suspension cable according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is formed by a single piece obtained by inlay cutting.