GB2074208A

GB2074208A - Suspended ceiling system

Info

Publication number: GB2074208A
Application number: GB8004926A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Current assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Priority date: 1980-02-14
Filing date: 1980-02-14
Publication date: 1981-10-28
Also published as: JPS56128858A; GB2074208B; AU6713081A

Abstract

An openwork suspended ceiling system includes carrier beams (10) with a plurality of elongate members 12 demountably attached thereto by jaws 11. The members 12 each comprise a first part attached to the beams and a decorative second part (13) detachably supported at the lower edge of the first part. The second parts, which can be attached by a sliding, bending or snap fit, can take various shapes and colours. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Suspended screen ceiling system This invention relates to a suspended screen ceiling system.

Previously proposed suspended screen ceiling systems have employed a plurality of carrier beams with elongate lamellar members detachably suspended from and beneath them.

The members are inclined to the plane of the beams, and in most arrangements the beams are horizontal and the planes of the members are vertical or nearly vertical.

The great advantage of this type of ceiling system is that a construction of relative simplicity and light weight can be used to give the effect of a false ceiling. The construction conceals pipelines and other overhead installations but it nevertheless, by reason of the demountable nature of the elongate lamellar members, allows ready access to such installations in the event of emergency or routine maintenance.

The elongate members can of course be provided in a variety of colours, and they also need to be of quite high quality alloy because the arrangement by which they are attached to the beams generally requires them to be accurately formed and to retain their shape. Thus, while the known system is widely used, it is a fact that suppliers, in order to be in a position to offer a full range of colours and shapes to potential customers, have to keep in stock large quantities of relatively expensive lamellar members.

According to the present invention there is provided a suspended screen ceiling system including carrier beams, a plurality of elongate members to be demountably attached to the carrier beams, the members each including a first elongate lamellar part adapted to be detachably supported along a first edge by the carrier beams and to be inclined to the plane of the carrier beams, and a second, decorative, elongate part co-extensive with the first part, and means for removably attaching the second part to a second edge of the first part remote from said first edge.

In general, it is only the second parts of the system which are visible, and these second parts are considerably less substantial in volume and cost than the first parts. Thus it is easier to stock the full range of equipment which customers can be offered. Not only can second parts of different colours be stocked, but there are possibilities for offering, relatively cheaply, a wide variety of second parts of different shape which will allow interior designers a wider range of choice for the purpose of obtaining the desired visual effect. The first parts of course can now all be of standard shape and colour.

While it is generally true that at normal angles of vision only the second parts are likely to be seen, it is also possible, by adjusting the spacing of the members and dimensions of the second parts, to provide if desired a multi-coloured effect, with both first and second parts being visible.

The second parts can be of the material used for slats in venetian blinds, i.e. less expensive material than that used in the first parts, and can be made to lower tolerances.

In some embodiment, the second edges of the first parts, remote from the beams, can be shaped to receive and support the second parts. Thus, adjacent the second edge, the first parts can be bent in opposite directions so as to define a V-shaped ridge and groove. Appropriately shaped second parts, for instance having opposed edge areas to engage between them a side of the V-shaped ridge remote from the second edge, can then be provided. Alternatively, the first parts may have pressed out retaining flaps near their edges and over which the second parts can be engaged.

Another possibility is to bend the ends of the first parts so that there are flanges extending outwardly to both sides thereof. The second parts can be mounted on these flanges. In other embodiments, the first parts can be planar near their second edges and preformed clips can be attached thereto to receive the second parts. The second parts can be of any desired shape, e.g.

polygonal such as triangular or quadrilateral, or of rounded cross section. Certain arrangements will allow the second parts to be snap fitting on the first parts while other arrangements will require a more severe bending of second parts in order.to mount them, or alternatively a sliding installation.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood the following description is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a horizontal view showing part of a ceiling system of the invention with a beam and two elongate members suspended therefrom; Figure 2 is an enlarged partial view of the lower end of one of the elongate members of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial view similar to Figure 2 but showing an alternative second part attached to the first part of the elongate member; Figures 4, 5 and 6 show further partial views illustrating alternative shapes of second parts of the elongate member and appropriately corresponding edges of the first parts.

As shown in Figure 1 a beam 10 has spaced apart pairs of jaws such as 11 only two of which are shown. The beam is one of a plurality of beams in a plane. Transverse to the beams, and preferably though not necessarily perpendicular to the plane thereof, are a plurality of lamellae such as 12. These lamellae are provided with V-shaped grooves along both longitudinal edges, so that either edge is insertable for retention in the jaws 11 so as to be retained therein in the manner shown.

The means whereby the lamellae 12 are held in the jaws does not form part of this invention and indeed many other arrangements are possible.

At the lower edges of the lamella 12, as particularly shown in Figure 2, and detachably mounted thereon is a generally triangular second part 13 of the elongate member which comprises defined parts 12, 13. This part 12 has opposed flanges 14 between which is gripped the wall 1 5 of the V-shaped groove remote from the lower free edge of the lamella 12.

The modification represented by Figure 3 in which like parts are indicated with like numerals, differs as to the shape of the second part 13 which is here of quadrilateral configuration again having a pair of opposed faces 14 gripping the wall 1 5 of the V-shaped groove on the first member 12. A further inwardly turned flange 1 6 on the inner one of the walls 14 is provided to contact the other wall 1 7 of the V-shaped groove to stabilise the arrangement.

In Figure 4 the edge of the lamella 12 has been bent twice, first through 900, then through 1800, so that the effect is of flanges 1 9 extending outwardly in both directions from the edge.

Mounted over the flanges is a split triangular second part 20, which as shown has free edges near the lamella 12 although the sides could be reduced in width so that a generally C-shaped profile is provided which is particularly suitable for snap on fitting. Figure 5 shows an embodiment where the lower edge of the first lamellar member 12 has flaps 22 pressed out an alternate sides along its length. A generally triangular second member 1 3 can again be a snap fit over the flaps to be retained thereby. Figure 6 shows a first lamellar member 12 with a plane edge over which preformed clips 30 are pushed at longitudinal intervals. These clips have outstanding projections at their ends, over which a generally triangular second part 13 can be a snap fit as in the preceding embodiment.

The second parts 13 can take any other suitable form depending upon the design effect required, and can be of normal venetian blind slat material, i.e. a relatively low quality aluminium alloy. Fitting can be by bending, sliding or, as appropriate, a snap fit and both fitting and removal are easy. Clearly, a wide variety of shapes and colours can be provided and stocked.

Claims

1. A suspended screen ceiling system including carrier beams, a plurality of elongate members to be demountably attached to the carrier beams, the members each including a first elongate lamellar part adapted to be detachably supported along a first edge by the carrier beams and to be inclined to the plane of the carrier beams, and a second, decorative, elongate part co-extensive with the first part, and means for removably attaching the second part to a second edge of the first part remote from said first edge.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part of each member is shaped at its second edge to receive and support the second part.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein adjacent the second edge, the first part is bent in opposite directions so as to define a V-shaped ridge and groove.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second part has opposed edge areas to engage, between them, a side of the V-shaped ridge and groove remote from the second edge.

5. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein at the second edge, the first part is bent to define a transverse flange extending in opposite directions.

6. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein adjacent the second edge, the first part has pressed out retaining flaps.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1 including clips to grip the first part at the second edge and with which the second part is engageable.

8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second part is polygonal in cross section.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second part is rounded in cross section.

10. A system as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the second part is generally C-shaped in cross section.

11. Suspended ceiling systems constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.