GB2138862A

GB2138862A - An assembly for supporting a suspended ceiling and a ceiling suspended thereby

Info

Publication number: GB2138862A
Application number: GB08410314A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Francis Lane; Gerald Brooks; Gwyn Ivor Melvin Roberts
Original assignee: Catnic Components Ltd
Current assignee: Catnic Components Ltd
Priority date: 1983-04-20
Filing date: 1984-04-19
Publication date: 1984-10-31
Also published as: GB8410314D0; GB2138862B

Abstract

An assembly 1 for supporting a suspended ceiling comprising a support for supporting to an overhead fixture, and comprising a two part bracket 3 and 11, one part having a positive seating 12 with a tang 14 for a ceiling member 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An assernbly for supporting a suspended ceiling and a ceiling suspended thereby The invention relates to an assembly for supporting a suspended ceiling, and a ceiling suspended thereby.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly for supporting a suspended ceiling, comprising a support for securing to an overhead fixture and adapted for supporting a ceiling at an adjustable position in relation to the overhead fixture, and a positive seating for a ceiling member.

The support may comprise two elongate parts one of which may be movable lengthwise of the other to adjust the length thereof whereby to support the ceiling at said adjustable position.

One part may overlie the other part and may include means releasably to secure the parts together at desired adjusted positions.

The means may comprise a nut and bolt arrangement passing through an aperture in one part and a slot in the other part. The aperture may be a slot substantially parallel to the first mentioned slot.

One part may have an inter-engaging device extending substantially at 90 to the length thereof and may engage through the slot behind the other part, whereby the parts may be releasably inter-engaged for slidable movement in the longitudinal direction.

The device may be a bar of T-configuration.

The positive seating may comprise a channel on the support with a flexible tang which may be directed towards the base of the channel in which the ceiling member is received in use from which upward movement is blocked by the tang.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a suspended ceiling, suspended by an assembly as hereinbefore defined.

An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly according to the invention: Figure 2 is an isometric view of the assembly of Fig. 1, with the various components assembled; Figure 3 is an end elevational view in the direction of arrow 'A' of Fig. 2 and to a smaller scale than that Fig; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of an assembly according to the invention; Figure 5 is an isometric view of the assembly of Fig. 4 with the various components assembled; Figure 6 shows a stage in the assembly of the components of the assembly of Figs. 4 and 5 and to the same scale; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of an assembly according to the invention; Figure 8 is an isometric view of the assembly of Fig. 4 with the various components assembled; and Figure 9 is an end elevational view in the direction of the arrow 'A' of Figs. 5 and 8, to a smaller scale than those Figs, and showing part of the assembly.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an assembly 1 for support ing a suspended ceiling (not shown) comprising a support 2 for securing to an overhead fixture, the support 2 comprising a two-part bracket, one part 3 being of L-shape one limb 4 being for securing as by a bolt through a hole 5 to an overhead fixture and the other limb 6 having through holes 7 through which bolts 8 can be passed to pass through an elongate slot 9 in a limb 10 of a second part 11 of the bracket, by which second part 11 the support 2 is adapted for supporting a ceiling (not shown) at an adjustable position in relation to the overhead fixture.The second part 11 of the support 2 has an upwardly (as considered in use) open channel 1 2 in which a ceiling member in the form of a channel section 1 3 is inserted downwardly in the direction of the arrows 'X', Fig. 1, an inwardly directed tang 14 struck out from the limb 1 5 of the channel 12 holding the channel section 1 3 in position.The limb 1 5 is resilient and moves outwardly (to the left as viewed in the Figs.) on insertion of the channel section 13, on exertion of slight pressure in the direction 'X' to allow insertion thereof, and then springs back to the position shown so that the channel section 1 3 is positively held in position with a clip fit below the tang 14 which can bear on an upper limb of the channel section 1 3. The limb 1 5 is flared outwardly at 1 6 to permit ease of entry of the channel section 1 3. The channel section 13 when in position is used to support ceiling elements such as acoustic or other panels or suspended ceiling members and the height thereof is adjusted by adjusting the length 'Y' by raising and lowering the first and second parts 3 and 11 of two part bracket 2 effectively to increase or decrease the effective height of the bracket 2 in relation in use to the overhead fixture, which might be a beam of the structure of the building in which the suspended ceiling is to be installed.

The tang 1 4 prevents or hinders vertical movement after assembly, while the bolt 8 with associated nut and washer when tightened, provides a positive locking at the required height. The bolt 8 is inserted through either hole 7, depending on the degree of height adjustment required.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown an assembly 100 for supporting a suspended ceiling (not shown) comprising a support 101 for securing to an overhead fixture, the support 101 comprising a two-part bracket, one part 102 being of Lshape, one limb 103 being for securing as by a bolt through a hole 104 to an overhead fixture and the other limb 105 having a through hole 106 and an elongate slot 107.

The second part 108 of the bracket 101 has a limb 109 with an elongate slot 110 through it, which limb 109 terminates at one (the upper as viewed and as considered in use) end in a T-bar 111 which extends substantially at right angles to the plane of the limb 109, and at the opposite end in an upwardly open (as viewed and as considered in use) channel 11 2 in which a ceiling member in the form of a channel section 11 3 is inserted downwardly in the direction of the arrows 'X', Fig. 4, an inwardly directed tang 114 struck from the limb 11 5 of the channel 11 2 holding the channel section 113 in position.

In use, to assemble the support 101 and adjust it to the required height, the second part 108 is rotated through 90' relative to the limb 105 of the first part 102 so that the bar of the 'T' 111 can be offered up to an passed through the elongate slot 107 in the limb 105 so that only the neck of the 'T' protrudes through the slot 107 to the left hand side (as viewed) of the limb 105. The second part 108 is then rotated through 90 (arrow 'Z', Fig. 6) so that the limbs 105 and 109 are aligned, the bar of the 'T' 111 then being engaged behind (to the right as viewed) the limb 105 and holding the second part 108 captive with the first part 102 of the support 101 and able to slide relatively thereto.The relative heights of the parts 102 and 108 are adjusted by sliding to the desired height, the slot 110 overlapping the slot 107 and the hole 106 and a slackened coach bolt and nut 11 6 being passed through the slot 110 and hole 106. When the desired height of the channel 11 2 is achieved, the coach bolt and nut 116 are tightened. The support 101 being at the desired height, the channel section 11 3 is now inserted downwardly (as viewed) into the channel 112.The limb 11 5 is resilient and moves outwardly (to the left as viewed) on insertion of the channel section 113 on exertion of slight pressure in the direction of arrows 'X', and then springs back to the position shown (Fig. 9) so that the channel section 11 5 is positively held in position with a clip fit below the tang 114 which can bear on the upper limb (as viewed and in use) of the channel section 11 3. The channel section 11 3 when in position is used to support ceiling elements such as acoustic or other panels or suspended ceiling members and the height thereof is adjusted by adjusting the effective length of the two part bracket 102, 108 effectively to increase or decrease the height of the bracket in use in relation to the overhead fixture, which might be a beam of the structure of the building in which the suspended ceiling is to be installed. The slidable T-bar 111 construction ensures stability during construction as it provides a positive guide for the second part 108 of the bracket 101 and eliminates the possibility of collapse of the assembly owing to bolt failure as the bar of the 'T' is effectively captive and cannot readily shake loose from the first part of the bracket. Even if the bolt 11 6 fails, the second part 108 will generally always hang from the first part 102, from the T-bar which will be caught at the base of the slot 107.

The tang 114 prevents or hinders vertical movement of the channel section 11 3 after assembly the bolt and its associated nut 116 providing a positive locking at the desired height.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, there is shown therein a third embodiment of as sembiy 107 which is similar to the second embodiment so like parts are indicated by like reference numerals, and are not described again.

In the second embodiment 117 the T-bar feature 111 of the limb of the second part 108 of the support bracket 101 is omitted, the limb 105 of the first part 102 having an elongate slot 107 and a through hole 106 and the limb 109 of the second part 108 having an elongate slot 110 and a through hole 118 the respective positions of the slots and holes being reversed as shown (Fig. 7) as considered longitudinally of the respective limbs.

The limbs 109 and 105 are overlapped, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the pairs of holes and slots 110 and 106 and 108 and 107 are overlapped too, and a bolt 11 9 is inserted through the aligned slot 110 and hole 106 and a further bolt 1 20 is inserted through the aligned hole 118 and slot 107. Each bolt 11 9 and 1 20 carries a washer and nut, as in the second embodiment, and vertical height adjustment is effected by raising or lowering the second part 108 with respect to the first part 102 until the desired height of the channel 112 is achieved. Both sets of nuts and bolts 11 9 and 120 are then tightened to provide a positive locking at the required height. The channel section 11 3 is then inserted as before and is iocked in place by the tang 114 (Figs.

8 and 9). The provision of the two bolts 11 9 and 1 20 provides a double strength lock and height adjustment facility which is particularly useful for heavy duty applications.

Claims

1. An assembly for supporting a suspended ceiling, comprising a support or securing to an overhead fixture and adapted for supporting a ceiling at an adjustable position in relation to the overhead fixture, and a positive seating for a ceiling member.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1, the support comprising two elongate parts one of which is movable lengthwise of the other to adjust the length thereof whereby to support the ceiling at said adjustable position.

3. An assembly according to Claim 2, one part overlying the other part and including means releasably to secure the parts together at desired adjusted positions.

4. An assembly according to Claim 3, the means comprising a nut and bolt arrangement passing through an aperture in one part and a slot in the other part.

5. An assembly according to Claim 4, the aperture being a slot substantially parallel to the first mentioned slot.

6. An assembly according to Claim 5, one part having an inter-engaging device extending substantially at 90 to the length thereof and engaging through the slot behind the other part, whereby parts are releasably interengaged for slidable movement in the longitudinal direction.

7. An assembly according to Claim 6, the device being a bar of T-configuration.

8. An assembly according to any preceding claim, the positive seating comprising a channel on the support with a flexible tang which is directed towards the base of the channel in which the ceiling member is received in use from which upward movement is blocked by the tang.

9. An assembly for supporting a suspended ceiling, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A suspended ceiling and an assembly therefor according to any preceding claim.