GB1558727A - Supsended ceiling - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVED SUSPENDED CEILING (71) 1, JOHANN KNAPP, an Austrian Citizen, of Hiitteldorferstrasse 48/27, 1150 Wien, Austria, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a suspended ceiling.

A suspended ceiling is disclosed, for example in the Austrian Patent Specification 291,501, in which slabs or panels, for example mineral fibre slabs, aluminium cassettes, glass panels or the like are suspended beneath the ceiling structure in a manner which is invisible from below. To this end support elements, namely wires, are stressed between the walls and the slabs and are secured by means of wire hooks on the support elements.

Turnbuckles are required to stress the wires and suspension wires which are secured to the ceiling structure, these are necessary to prevent sagging of the stressing wires.

It is a disadvantage of this known suspended ceiling that the wires must be very substantially stressed and that the turnbuckles frequently obstruct the installation of the slabs. Furthermore, the mounting places of the wires at the walls are subjected to large tensile forces. Suspending the slabs from the wires is also awkward and time consuming.

Due to the point by point suspension of the slabs the suspended ceiling is also very sensitive to vibrations and is, therefore, not weU suited for suppressing noise.

This advantage is overcome according to the present invention by the provision of a suspended ceiling, assembled from slabs and supported by support elements which are stressed beneath a ceiling structure and by suspension elements which are suspended from said support elements which, in addition to being clamped at their ends, are also retained in section members mounted on walls beneath a ceiling structure and the length of which support elements can be adjusted, wherein the support elements are constructed as straps which are stressed in vertical planes on section members attached to two oppositely situated walls and in which the suspended elements comprise Ushaped section portions, which are slid over the support elements, substantially over the entire width thereof, and are positively connected by their bottoms to the edge region of the said assembled slabs.

In a ceiling of the invention the suspension elements are used as stiffening for the support elements or straps, thus achieving a very rugged construction.

Other features and advantages of the invention are explained hereinbelow by way of example only by reference to preferred embodiments which are diagrammatically illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of part of a suspended ceiling in parallel perspective; Figure 2 is a cross-section through a suspension element with sheet metal panels positively connected thereto; Figure 3 is a cross-section through the suspension element with timber panels suspended therefrom; Figure 4 is a view in parallel perspective and in section of a part only of one modification of the suspension element; Figure 5 is a view in parallel perspective of a sheet metal panel; Figure 6 is a view in parallel perspective of a modified embodiment, and Figure 7 is a plan view of a serrated bolt of Figure 6 to a larger scale.

Referring now to Figure 1 a section member 2 having a cross-section similar to a capital F of the Roman alphabet, but inverted in the position shown, is mounted on two oppositely disposed walls (one only is shown) of a room beneath a ceiling structure which is to be provided with a suspended ceiling. To facilitate installation the section member 2 has a wall part 5 which extends perpendicularly to its inwardly projecting parts 3 and 4 and is provided with slot recesses 6 (one only is shown) arranged at an angle x to the longitudinal axis AAl of the section member 2.The section member 2 is mounted on the walls by means of screw fasteners 7 which are inserted through the recesses 6 and by virtue of the sloping alignment of the recesses 6, the said section member 2 can readily be mounted in the horizontal position in relation to the room.

Support elements in the form of straps 8 are stressed on the section members 2 and are disposed in vertical planes and at distances which correspond to the dimensions of the slabs or panels 9 (Figure 5). To this end the parts 3, 4 of the section members 2 are provided with coaxial bores 10, 11 arranged in pairs at distances corresponding to the dimensions of the slabs or panels 9. A reversing bolt 12 is inserted through one pair of bores 10 and the other pair of bores 11 accommodates a stressing element 13, which can be constructed for example as a screw fastener with a longitudinal slot.

The strap 8 is guided around the reversing bolt 12 and is secured on the stressing element 13. Suspension elements 14 (see Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) constructed as portions of a U-shaped section, are suspended from the strap 8. Advantageously however a single suspension element 14, forming a continuous rail, is provided for each strap 8 and in the case of long spans the said suspension element 14 is additionally retained by supports, such as slotted strip steel mounted on the ceiling structure.

The U-shaped section of the suspension element 14 according to Figures 2 to 4 is constructed with two opposed parallel side members 15, 16, the internal distance therebetween is adapted to the thickness dl of the strap 8 and as shown in Figure 4 the Ushaped side portions 15, 15 come substantially over the entire width thereof compare dimension d2 and d3. In the bottom region of the U-section each side member 15, 16 is provided with at least one recess 17 which is constructed either as a trough extending over the length of section (Figures 1, 2, 3) or as a slot (Figure 4). The recesses 17 adjoin sloping transition zones 18 from which webs 19 extend perpendicularly to the side members 15, 16 in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

As already mentioned, the slabs or panels 9 can be differently constructed. Figures 1, 2 and 5 show a panel 9 of metal sheet, more particularly aluminium sheet, with flanges 20 which extend along the panel edge region and are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the panel. Projections 21, pointing to the interior of the panel, are provided on the said flanges 20, for example by press forming, punching or embossing. In the illustrated embodiment all four sides of the panel 9 has continuous flanges 20 with projections 21, embossed in button configuration, although it is sufficient to provide reed like flanges on two oppositely disposed panel edges, the ends of said reeds being bent approximately in the form of a hook to form the projections.

If the panel 9 is provided with continuous flanges 20 their height is reduced in the corner region of the panel 9 (Figure 5) so as to provide space for the suspension elements 14 extending thereover when the panel is in the installed state. If the panels 9 are constructed as timber cassettes or the like their edge region can be provided either with a groove 22 or with a rebate 23 (Figure 3) the depth of which is adapted to the width of the webs 19 associated with the suspension element 14.

To instal the panels 9 the suspension elements 14 are suspended from the stressed straps 8 and, where appropriate, are secured on the ceiling structure together with the straps by additional supports, for example slotted strip steel. When steel metal panels are used their flanges 20 are then inserted from below into the suspension elements 14, the side members 15, 16 thereof being spread apart by means of the sloping transition zones 18 until the projections 21 of the flanges 20 engage in the recesses 17 of the suspension elements 14 so that the panels are positively retained.

If grooved timber panels are used they are slid by means of their grooves 22 onto the web 19 of the suspension element 14.

If the timber panels or plastics panels are provided with a rebate 23 they are placed by means of said rebate 23 on the abovementioned web 19 associated with the suspension element 14. In both cases the panels are positively connected to the suspension elements 14.

Wall ceiling strips can be attached where appropriate to the section members 2 after the suspended ceiling is installed.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 the section member 32 has two inwardly projecting parts 33, 34 and two wall parts 35 and 36 extending perpendicularly from said parts 33, 34. Slot shaped apertures 37 are provided in the wall parts 35 and 36.

The section member 32 is secured on the wall by means of screw fasteners 38 or the like which are inserted through the apertures 37.

Support elements in the form of straps 8, situated in vertical planes and at distances corresponding to the dimensions of the panels 9 are again stressed on the section members 32. Suspension elements 14 constructed in the form of U-shaped sections are suspended from the strap 8. The suspension elements 14 support the panels 9 by means of noses, slots or the like.

The section members 32 comprise a bent sheet metal strip, each of the two parts 33 and 34 comprising two adjacently disposed strip parts.

Coaxial bores 39 are provided in pairs in the parts 33 and 34 at distances which are adapted to the dimensions of the panels 9.

As can be seen, more particulady by reference to Figure 7, these bores have at least one shoulder, namely in the region nearest to free edge 41 of the relevant part. Bolts 42, which are provided with teeth 43 in the manner of a ratchet wheel, are inserted into the bores 39.

Each end of the strap 8 is inserted into a slot 44 of a bolt 15. The bottom of each bolt is provided with a surface (not shown) on which a rotating element can act. For example, the bolt can be provided with a slot for a screwdriver or with a polygonal head for a spanner. Rotating the bolt in the anticlockwise direction stresses the strap 8 and pulls it in the direction towards the shoulder 40. When the required stress is obtained, the rotating motion can be stopped, reverse rotation however is possible only until the next tooth bears upon the shoulder 40.

An additional smooth reversing bolt 12 for the strap 8 is provided in the illustrated example as in Figure 1. However, to embody the invention such reversal bolts are not essential, instead the strap can also be guided directly to the bolt 42.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A suspended ceiling, assembled from slabs and supported by support elements which are stressed beneath a ceiling structure and by suspension elements which are suspended from said support elements which, in addition to being clamped at their ends, are also retained in section members mounted on walls beneath a ceiling structure and the length of which support elements can be adjusted, wherein the support elements are constructed as straps which are stressed in vertical planes on section members attached to two oppositely situated walls and in which the suspension elements comprise U-shaped section portions, which are slid over the support elements, substantially over the entire width thereof and are positively connected by their bottoms to the edge region of the said assembled slabs.

2. The suspended ceiling according to claim 1, wherein an inwardly projecting part of the section members have coaxial bores which are provided in pairs at distances corresponding to the dimensions of the slabs.

3. The suspended ceiling according to claim 2, wherein a part normal to the said inwardly projecting part has a slot-shaped aperture.

4. The suspended ceiling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the Ushaped section of a suspension element is provided with two laterally projecting webs.

5. The suspended ceiling according to claim 4, wherein the U-shaped section of a suspension element is constructed with two opposed parallel side members the internal distance therebetween corresponding substantially to the thickness of the straps, and troughs which extend over the length of the section are provided the said troughs adjoining webs arranged perpendicularly to opposed parallel side members, through sloping transition zones.

6. The suspended ceiling according to any of the claims 2 to 5, wherein the co-axial bores are provided with at least one shoulder in the region of a free edge of the said inwardly projecting part of the section members and serrated bolts in the manner of a ratchet wheel are inserted into the said bores and are provided with a slot or the like for retaining the traps.

7. The suspended ceiling according to claim 6, wherein the bolts are serrated.

8. The suspended ceiling according to any preceding claim wherein a section member is formed from a bent sheet of metal strip.

9. A suspended ceiling constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A suspended ceiling constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. shoulder, namely in the region nearest to free edge 41 of the relevant part. Bolts 42, which are provided with teeth 43 in the manner of a ratchet wheel, are inserted into the bores 39. Each end of the strap 8 is inserted into a slot 44 of a bolt 15. The bottom of each bolt is provided with a surface (not shown) on which a rotating element can act. For example, the bolt can be provided with a slot for a screwdriver or with a polygonal head for a spanner. Rotating the bolt in the anticlockwise direction stresses the strap 8 and pulls it in the direction towards the shoulder 40. When the required stress is obtained, the rotating motion can be stopped, reverse rotation however is possible only until the next tooth bears upon the shoulder 40. An additional smooth reversing bolt 12 for the strap 8 is provided in the illustrated example as in Figure 1. However, to embody the invention such reversal bolts are not essential, instead the strap can also be guided directly to the bolt 42. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A suspended ceiling, assembled from slabs and supported by support elements which are stressed beneath a ceiling structure and by suspension elements which are suspended from said support elements which, in addition to being clamped at their ends, are also retained in section members mounted on walls beneath a ceiling structure and the length of which support elements can be adjusted, wherein the support elements are constructed as straps which are stressed in vertical planes on section members attached to two oppositely situated walls and in which the suspension elements comprise U-shaped section portions, which are slid over the support elements, substantially over the entire width thereof and are positively connected by their bottoms to the edge region of the said assembled slabs.

2. The suspended ceiling according to claim 1, wherein an inwardly projecting part of the section members have coaxial bores which are provided in pairs at distances corresponding to the dimensions of the slabs.

3. The suspended ceiling according to claim 2, wherein a part normal to the said inwardly projecting part has a slot-shaped aperture.

4. The suspended ceiling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the Ushaped section of a suspension element is provided with two laterally projecting webs.

5. The suspended ceiling according to claim 4, wherein the U-shaped section of a suspension element is constructed with two opposed parallel side members the internal distance therebetween corresponding substantially to the thickness of the straps, and troughs which extend over the length of the section are provided the said troughs adjoining webs arranged perpendicularly to opposed parallel side members, through sloping transition zones.

6. The suspended ceiling according to any of the claims 2 to 5, wherein the co-axial bores are provided with at least one shoulder in the region of a free edge of the said inwardly projecting part of the section members and serrated bolts in the manner of a ratchet wheel are inserted into the said bores and are provided with a slot or the like for retaining the traps.

7. The suspended ceiling according to claim 6, wherein the bolts are serrated.

8. The suspended ceiling according to any preceding claim wherein a section member is formed from a bent sheet of metal strip.

9. A suspended ceiling constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A suspended ceiling constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.