GB2117425A

GB2117425A - A cladding system for a ceiling or a wall

Info

Publication number: GB2117425A
Application number: GB08305612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Charles Litton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-02
Filing date: 1983-03-01
Publication date: 1983-10-12
Also published as: GB8305612D0

Abstract

A cladding system for a ceiling (2) or a wall of a structure, which cladding system comprises a plurality of elongate members (4) and a plurality of facing panels (6), the elongate members having support means (8) for supporting the facing panels such that when the elongate members are secured to the ceiling or the wall the facing panels are maintained in position by the elongate members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A cladding system for a ceiling or a wall of a structure This invention relates to a cladding system for a ceiling or a wall of a structure. This invention also relates to a structure when provided with the cladding system.

It is well known in structures such for example as houses, restaurants and offices to improve the appearance of ceilings and walls by providing the ceilings and walls with elongate members which are usually in the form of wooden beams but which are sometimes in the form of aluminium or aluminium alloy strips. This decoration of the ceilings and walls has to be carried out by skilled labour and subsequent costs are therefore high.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a cladding system for ceilings and walls of structures which can be installed by non-skilled labour so that savings in costs can be achieved.

Accordingly, this invention provides a cladding system for a ceiling or a wall of a structure, which cladding system comprises a plurality of elongate members and a plurality of facing panels, the elongate members having support means for supporting the facing panels such that when the elongate members are secured to the ceiling or the wall the facing panels are maintained in position by the elongate members.

The elongate mebers can be secured to the ceiling or the wall by appropriate fixing means depending upon the material composition of the ceiling or the wall. For example, if the ceiling or the wall is made of concrete, then expansion bolts will normally be employed. If the ceiling or the wall has wooden structural parts, then screws, nails or bolts may be employed. Because the elongate members have the support means for supporting the facing panels, it is not necessary to employ fixing means for securing the facing panels to the ceiling or the wall. This saves a lot of time and it also enables the facing panels to be easily removed, for example for redecoration.

Preferably, the elongate members are wooden beams. The wooden beams may be treated to have an old appearance. The elongate members may also be aluminium or aluminium alloy strips.

Other materials may also be employed if desired.

Preferably, the facing panels are wood, plywood, chipboard or plasterboard panels. Other materials may however be employed such for example as aluminium, fibreglass or some plastics materials.

The facing panels may be plain, painted or artexed. Where the panels are artexed, it will be apparent that different artexed patterns may be used and a person purchasing a cladding system in accordance with the invention can choose a their leisure an appropriate artexed pattern and there will be no concern that the chosen artexed pattern will be produced to a good standard as often occurs in the case where artexing is presently done by workmen in situ in buildings.

Preferably, the panels are treated with a fire retardant material. Wood panels which are so treated are presently available.

The support means may be a pair of shoulders formed on each elongate member, the shoulders extending longitudinally along the elongate member. Alternatively, the support means may be a groove formed along one or both sides of each elongate member.

The cladding system of the invention may include false elongate members which have the same appearance in the assembled condition as the elongate members having the support means but which are adapted to be fixed to the facing panels between the elongate members having the support means thereby to given an impression of more elongate members on a given ceiling or wall.

The false elongate members will usually be made of the same material and of substantially the same size as the elongate members having the support means. The false elongate members will however not need to be provided with the support means.

The cladding system of the invention may also include cross members for fixing between the elongate members having the support means. The cross members may also fix between the false elongate members when they are employed. The cross members will usually be formed of the same material and will usually be of the same cross sectional size as the elongate members.

As indicated above, the present invention also extends to a structure when provided with the cladding system.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described and solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an underneath plan view of a ceiling having a first cladding system in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line B-B shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of a ceiling having a second cladding system in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 is a section on the line C-C shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a front view of a wall having a third cladding system in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 is a section on the line D-D shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a section on the line E-E shown in Figure 6;; Figure 9 is a section on the line F-F shown in Figure 6; Figure 10 is a section on the line G-G shown in Figure 6; Figure 11 is a front view of a wall having a third cladding system in accordance with the invention; Figure 12 is a section on the line H-H shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a section on the line I-I shown in Figure 11; Figure 14 is a front view of a wall having a fourth cladding system in accordance with the invention; Figure 1 5 is a section on the line J-J shown in Figure 14; and Figure 16 is a section on the line K-K shown in Figure 14.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a ceiling 2 that has been clad with a first cladding system comprising a plurality of elongate members in the form of wooden beams 4. The first cladding system also comprises a plurality of facing panels in the form of wooden or plaster boards 6. The boards 6 will usually be square or rectangular and they can be of various sizes to extend beyond several beams 4.

The beams 4 are provided with support means in the form of shoulders 8 and it will be seen that the boards 6 rest on the shoulders 8. The beams 4 can be screwed by screws (not shown) into the ceiling 2 so that the beams 4 will maintain the boards 6 in position because the boards 6 will rest under gravity on the shoulders 8.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the beams 4 are also provided with shoulders 10 which are positioned above the shoulders 8. One end of each board 6 can be pushed onto a shoulder 10 to enable the other end of the board 6 to clear the shoulder 8 so that the board 6 can very easily be placed in position and removed when desired.

In order to give an impression that the ceiling 2 contains more beams 4 than it actually does, the ceiling 2 can be provided with a plurality of false elongate members in the form of false beams which can be secured, for example by screws, to the boards 6.

It is mentioned by way of example that the central beam 4 in Figure 1 could be a false beam secured direct to one or more boards 6.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the ceiling 2 is also provided with a plurality of cross members in the form of cross beams 12. The cross beams 12 are positioned as shown between the beams 4.

When a ceiling is so large that it is not be possible to cover the width of the ceiling with a single board 6, then the cross beams 12 are advantageously positioned at the join between two boards 6. As shown in Figure 3, the cross beam 12 is provided with a pair of grooves 14 for receiving the adjacent ends of a pair of boards 6.

If the cross beams 12 are to be located inwardly from the edges of the boards 6, then the cross beams 12 can be located, as with screws for example, directly on the boards 6. Preferably the grooves 14 are slightly longer than is needed to receive the ends of the boards 6 so that a gap can be left to allow for expansion and contraction of the boards 6 and also to facilitate their removal.

The boards 6 can be untreated, painted or artexed as desired. It will be apparent from Figures 2 and 3 that if it is ever desired to redecorate the boards 6, then they can easily be removed and redecorated at a convenient location.

It will also be seen from Figures 1 to 3 that the first cladding system is especially easy to install and it therefore lends itself to do-it-yourself applications. The cladding system can be used in any structures such for example as homes, restaurants, offices and public houses.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a second ceiling cladding system in which similar parts as in Figures 1 to 3 have been given the same reference numbers. In Figures 4 and 5 the second cladding system comprises a plurality of beams 4, a plurality of boards 6 and a plurality of cross beams 12. If desired, some of the cross beams 12 can be secured directly to the ceiling 2 as shown in Figure 3, and those of the cross beams 12 that do not coincide with the edges of the boards 6 can be secured to the boards 6.

Those cross beams 12 that are secured directly to the boards 6 can be less thick than the other cross beams 12 and without the shoulders 8, 10 so that all the cross beams 12 will project substantially the same distance below the boards 6.

The ceiling design shown in Figure 1 is basically suitable for relatively small rooms such for example as kitchens and lounges in homes.

The ceiling design shown in Figure 4 is basically suitable for relatively large ceilings such for example as those in shops, public houses and restaurants. Obviously, other ceiling designs can be employed. The various ceiling designs may be employed with various wall designs.

Referring now to Figure 6 there is shown a wall design, parts of Figure 6 being shown in detail in Figures 7 to 10. For ease of understanding, similar parts in Figures 6 to 10 as in Figures 1 to 3 have been given the same reference numerals. Thus, referring to Figures 6 to 10, there is illustrated a third cladding system which is a wall cladding system. The cladding system is for cladding a wall 1 6 and fixed to the wall 1 6 are a pair of spaced apart elongate members in the form of two wooden beams 4. As shown in Figure 7, the upper beam 4 is secured in the corner formed between the ceiling 2 and the wall 16. The lower beam 4 is secured in the corner formed between the wall 1 6 and the floor 1 8. A plurality of facing panels in the form of wooden or plaster boards 6 are positioned between the two beams 4. A plurality of cross members in the form of cross beams 12 are provided. As shown most clearly in Figure 8, the cross beams 12 are provided with support means in the form of shoulders 8 for stopping the panels 6 from falling outwardly away from the wall 1 6.

The panels 6 adjacent the shoulders 8 can be pushed inwardly towards the wall 1 6 into recesses provided by shoulders 10 to enable the panels 6 to be removed from the wall if desired.

The panels 6 are held in their desired spaced apart relation from the wall 16 by means of transversely extending members 20. Figure 8 shows one of the transversely extending members 20 being provided with a pair of grooves 22 for receiving the ends of the boards 6 remote from the cross beams 12. It will be noted that the boards 6 fit in the grooves 22 such that part of each groove 22 is left unoccupied to allow for expansion of the boards 6. The transversely extending members 20 are preferably not positively fixed to the wall 1 6 to facilitate speedy removal of the transversely extending members 20 and their associated boards 6.

As shown in Figure 7, the uppermost and lowermost edges of the boards 6 fit in grooves 24 in the beams 4.

Figure 9 shows the uppermost beam 4 also supporting a ceiling board 6.

Figure 10 shows an end cross beam 12 positioned in the corner of a room between two walls 16 and so supporting a pair of boards 6 extending at right angles to each other.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 13, similar parts as in Figures 6 to 10 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of understanding. In Figures 11 to 13, it will be noticed that there is provided a third beam 4A which is provided with grooves 22 to support the boards 6 as shown.

The beam 4A also supports a shelf 26. The shelf 26 is for supporting plates 28 or other ornaments (not shown). The shelf 26 is advantageously provided with a longitudinal groove 30 into which the plates 28 can fit to avoid them slipping off the shelf 26. It is particularly evident from Figure 12 that the wall 1 6 has been cladded with minimum fixings. The design shown in Figure 11 is also particularly suited for partition walls and one or both sides of the partition walls can be clad as illustrated. Obviously, if desired, the partition walls can be provided with designs other than the design illustrated in Figure 11.

Referring now to Figures 14 to 16, similar parts as in Figures 6 to 10 have again been given the same reference numerals for ease of understanding. Figure 14 shows a further alternative design for a wall cladding system. Figure 14 particularly illustrates that it is not necessary to place the top beam 4 right at the top of the wall 1 6. Figure 1 5 illustrates screws, bolts or nails 32 securing the beams 4 to the wall 16. Figure 1 5 illustrates screws, bolts or nails 34 securing the transversely extending members 20 to the panels 6. With square headed screws, bolts or nails as illustrated in Figure 14 a very nice decorative appearance can be obtained.

Figure 1 6 illustrates that the cross beams 12 need only be provided with a single shoulder 8 instead of also the shoulder 10. With a single shoulder 8, it will be apparent that the boards 6 are firmly pressed by the cross beams 12 against the wall 1 6 providing of course that the boards 6 are of the same thickness as the depth of the shoulders 8. The single shoulders 8 used in the wall cladding system illustrated in Figure 16 can equally well be used in a ceiling cladding system.

Similarly, whilst the transversely extending members 20 are illustrated in Figure 1 5 as being secured just to the boards 6, it will be appreciated that some of the beams 4 and some of the beams 12 can also be fixed just to the boards 6 if desired to give an effect of more beams than is actually required.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected.

Thus, for example, the beams 4 could take the form of aluminium or aluminium alloy strips. Also, support means other than the shoulders 8 can be employed for supporting the boards 6. Further, the beams 4 can be formed of two separate pieces of material which give the shoulders 8 and/or 10 when they are joined together. The cross beams 12 can also be formed in two separate parts. Possible joins for two part beams 4, 12 are shown as joins 4A and 1 2A in Figure 1 5 and 1 6. Further, referring especially to Figure 2, only one shoulder could be employed instead of the two shoulders 8, 10. In this case, the boards 6 could rest on the single shoulder under gravity or, if the boards 6 were the same thickness as the shoulder, the beams 4 could clamp the boards 6 hard against the ceiling 2.

Claims

1. A cladding system for a ceiling or a wall of a structure, which cladding system comprises a plurality of elongate members and a plurality of facing panels, the elongate members having support means for supporting the facing panels such that when the elongate members are secured to the ceiling or the wall the facing panels are maintained in position by the elongate members.

2. A cladding system according to claim 1 in which elongate members are wooden beams.

3. A cladding system according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the facing panels are wood, plywood, chipboard or plasterboard panels.

4. A cladding system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the facing panels are plain, painted or artexed.

5. A cladding system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the facing panels are treated with a fire retardant material.

6. A cladding system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the support means is a pair of shoulders formed on each elongate member, the shoulders extending longitudinally along the elongate member.

7. A cladding system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the support means is a groove formed along one or both sides of each elongate member.

8. A cladding system according to any one of the preceding claims including false elongate members which have the same appearance in the assembled condition as the elongate members having the support means but which are adapted to be fixed to the facing panels between the elongate members having the support means thereby to give an impression of more elongate members on a given ceiling or wall.

9. A cladding system according to claim 8 in which the false elongate members are made of the same material and are of substantially the same size as the elongate members having the support means.

10. A cladding system according to any one of the preceding claims including cross members for fixing between the elongate members having the support means.

11. A cladding system for a ceiling or a wall of a structure, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A structure when provided with a cladding system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.