GB2128218A - Ceiling panel suspension spring - Google Patents

Abstract

Ceiling panels 10 are suspended from support tubes 11 by suspension springs 12. Each spring 12 is formed from spring wire bent round to create a support hook 19, which engages over a support tube 11, and a pair of arms 20, 21. The arms can be pressed manually towards each other and then released so that the ends 22, 23 of the arms each engage one of a pair of opposed sockets 16 formed in side walls 13 of the panels 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ceiling panel suspension spring This invention relates to suspended ceiling panels and two springs for suspending such panels. Suspended ceilings are often used in the interior of buildings to lowerthe apparent ceiling height and for purpposes such as soundproofing etc. Such panels are often provided with a formation of apertures to facilitate air conditioning ofthe room in question. The panels are generally suspended from a network of support members such as bars ortubes corresponding to the lines of join between the panels.

The invention provides a ceiling panel suspension spring for suspending from a support member a ceiling panel having a pair of opposed sockets, the spring comprising a pairofarmsconnected attheir upper ends by a support portion engageable with the support member, the arms being manually movable generally towards one another againstforce of the spring and releasable generally awayfrom each other to engage their lower ends in the sockets.

The invention further provides a method of suspending from a support member a ceiling panel having a pair of opposed sockets, comprising the steps of engaging a spring, which comprises a pair of arms connected attheir upper ends by a support portion, with the panel by moving the arms generally towards one anotheragainstforce ofthe spring and releasing the arms generally away from each other engaging their ends in the sockets, and engaging the support portion with the support member, whereby the spring suspends the panel from the support member.

The spring is preferably formed form a single piece of wire. For simplicity, the support portion comprises a hookforengagement overthe support memberfor suspending the panel. This hook may be sprung so as to grip the support member in use.

The support portion may comprise a tapered portion for sliding contact with the support member to facilitate upward travel of the support portion when the spring and panel are moved upwardlyto engage the support portion with the support member. At least one ofthe arms may comprise adjacent its lower end a downwardly extending portion for abutment against the panel ata level belowthatofthe respective socket, whereby to provide resistance in the spring to movement ofthe support portion generally inwardly ofthe panel.

Itis preferred thatthe spring is laterallyasymmetric- al such thattwo ofthe springs, when suspending adjacent aligned panels with the springs generally backto back, havetheirsupport portions laterally spaced apart.

One ofthe arms may comprise means for retaining it in the respective socket during release ofthe spring.

The invention also embraces a combination of a ceiling panel having at least one pair of opposed sockets and at least one spring as claimed in any preceding claim for suspending the panel by means of those sockets.

Typically, there might be four springs supporting the panel.

The sockets are preferably provided in a side wall of the panel, the movement of release ofthe arms being generally parallel to the side wall.

Conveniently, each socket may be formed by bending a portion ofthe wall inwardly of the panel away from the surrounding wall area whereby to provide a socket aperture. The sockets of the or each pair wound be typically at the same height in the side wall.

The invention also envisages a panelled ceiling provided as above.

An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a ceiling panel suspended by springs according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional and partly cut away side elevation ofthe ceiling panel and springs of Figure 1.

A suspended ceiling is constructed from a plurality of ceiling panels 10suspendedfrom a network of support members in the form oftubes 11 (shown in ghost lines) by springs 12. The tubes 11 are fixed to the original ceiling and are arranged in parallel fashion corresponding to the joint lines between adjacent rows of the panels 10. One panel loins shown in Figure 1. The panel is square in plan, having four support springs each arranged adjacent a respective corner of the panel with two on each of opposing sides of the panel.

Aformation of apertures 15 is provided in the panel 10 so as to facilitate air conditioning of the room in question.

Each panel 10 isformedfrom sheetmetal, having edge portions bent upwardly to form side walls 13 and the apertures 15 being formed by punching. Each side wall 13 is formed with two pairs of lateral sockets 16 which can be engaged by respective springs 12 to provide the necessary supportforthe panel 10. This allows eight springs to be used, two on each side, although it isthoughtthatonlyfourwill normally be necessary(and convenient). However,forthe purposes of explanation two springs 12 are shown in Figure 2 engaged with adjacent sides of the panel 10.

Each socket 16 is formed by a specially designed punch which, referring to the left hand socket in Figure 2, cuts two holes 17 in the side wall 13 and then bends the portion 18 of the side wall between the two holes inwardiy away from the surrounding side wall area. As can be seen from the socket 16 in the right hand sectioned sidewall 13 in Figure 2, the portion 18 is bent inwardly in a generally v-shape. The bent portions 18 thus provide in effectsocketapertures oriented laterally along the side walls 13.

Each spring 12 isformed from a single piece of spring metal wire bent round to create a support hook 19from which extends a pair of arms 20,21. The hook 19 engages over the appropriate supporttube 11 which it grips with spring force. This spring grip prevents or resists movement ofthe spring 12 (and therefore of the panel 10) in a direction along the tube 11. Lower ends 22,23 ofthe arms 20,21 are arranged for lateral engagement in respective sockets 16 adjacent their lower ends 22,23, the arms having respective lower portions 24,25 which extend below the level ofthe sockets 16.These lower portions are shaped to abut against the inside ofthe corresponding side wall 13so asto provide resistance in the spring to movement ofthe hook 19 in a direction inwardly of the panel 10, that is in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2.

The hook 19 has a tapered portion 27 on the outside thereofsothatwhenthe panel 10with springs 12 in position is moved upwardly to engage the hooks 19 with the support tubes 11, the portions 27 contact the tubes 11 and assist travel ofthe hooks 19 past the tubes 11 by sliding thereagainstwhile causing the hook 19 to move in the direction indicated by arrowA.

Itwill be appreciated that th is feature together with the spring resistance to movement in that direction provides an automatic location of the hooks 19 over the tubes 11 since the hook 19 will spring back over the tube 11 when the free end ofthe portion 27 has reached the level ofthe top ofthe tube 11. The panel 10 with springs 12 is then pulled downwardlythus urging the hook 19 onto and aroundthetube 11.

The springs 12 are engaged with the socket 16 as follows. A spring 12 is first located with its end 23 in the appropriate socket 16. The extremity 28 of the end 23 is bent round generally at right angles and this serves to retain the end 23 in its respective socket while the other end 22 is engaged in its socket. The two arms 20,21 are then pressed manually, typically between finger and thumb, towards and overlapping each other against the force ofthe spring to a state as shown by the left hand spring in Figure 2. The arms 20, 21 are then released so as to move away from each other generally parallel to the side wall 13 such that the end 22 passes laterally into the socket aperture formed by the respective bent portion 18, emerging from the other side thereof.In this condition, shown in ghost lines in Figure 2, the spring is designed still to be in compression and thus the shoulders provided by the lower portions 24,25 urge outwardly againstthe bent portions 18. This provides a positive engagement grip of the spring 12 with the sockets 16. Means other than these shoulders may beprovidedforthis engagement grip.

As can be seen from Figure 2, each spring 12 is laterally asymmetrical; the purpose ofthis is so that where two springs are adjacent and back-to-back supporting adjacent aligned panels 10, the hooks 20 and arms 20,21 of these springs do not foul each other. Such an adjacent spring is shown in ghost lines at 12' in Figure 2. This asymmetry permits two such adjacent springs 12,12' to engage the same tube 11.

It will be evident that the above embodiment of the invention provides an extremely simple and cheap means of suspending ceiling panels. There are no screws, bolts or other threaded joints and hence the system is very simple and quickto erect.

Claims (18)

1. Aceiling panel suspension spring for suspending from a support member a ceiling panel having a pair of opposed sockets, the spring comprising a pair of arms connected at their upper ends by a support portion engageable with the support member, the arms being manually movable generallytowards one another against force of the spring and releasable generally away from each other to engage their lower ends in the sockets.

2. Aspring as claimed in claim 1 formed from a single piece of wire.

3. A spring as claimed in either preceding claim wherein the support portion comprises a hook for engagementoverthe support memberforsuspending the panel.

4. A spring as claimed in claim 4wherein the hook is sprung so as to grip the support member in use.

5. Aspring as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support portion comprises a tapered portion portion for sliding contact with the support memberto facilitate upward travel ofthe support portion when the spring and panel are moved upwardly to engage the support portion with the support member.

6. A spring as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one of the arms comprises adjacent its lower end a downwardly extending portion for abutmentagainstthe panel ata level belowthatofthe respective socket, whereby to provide resistance in the spring to movement of the support portion generally inwardly ofthe panel.

7. A spring as claimed in any preceding claim which is laterally asymmetrically such that two of the springs, when suspending adjacent aligned panels with the springs generally backto back, have their support portions laterally spaced apart.

8. A spring as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one ofthe arms comprises means for retaining it in the respective socket during release of the spring.

9. A combination of a ceiling panel having at least one pair of opposed sockets and at least one spring as claimed in any preceding claim for suspending the panel by means of those sockets.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein there are four said springs.

11. Acombination as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the sockets are provided in a side wall of the panel, the movement of release of the arms being generally parallel to the sidewall.

12. Acombination as claimed in claim 11 wherein each socket is formed by bending a portion ofthe wall inwardly ofthe panel away from the surrounding wall area whereby to provide a socket aperture.

13. A combination as claimed in either claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the sockets of the or each pair are at the same height in the side wall.

14. A method of suspending from a support member a ceiling panel having a pairofopposed sockets, comprising the steps of engaging a spring, which comprises a pair of arms connected at their upper ends by a support portion, with the panel by moving the arms generally towards one another against force of the spring and releasing the arms generally away from each other engaging their lower ends in the sockets, and engaging the support portion with the support member, whereby the spring suspends the panel from the support member.

15. Amethodofsuspending ceiling panel, substantially as ereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. A panelled ceiling comprising a plurality of ceiling panels suspended buy a method as claimed in either claim 14Or 15.

17. A ceiling panel suspension spring substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. A combination of a ceiling panel and suspension springs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.