GB2142356A

GB2142356A - Suspended ceiling system components and assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2142356A
Application number: GB08415224A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cecil Dilwyn Daniel
Original assignee: FIRSTEEL METAL PROD
Current assignee: FIRSTEEL METAL PROD
Priority date: 1983-06-25
Filing date: 1984-06-14
Publication date: 1985-01-16
Also published as: GB8415224D0; GB2142356B

Abstract

This invention relates to trims for suspended ceiling components and to assemblies including such trims. As can be seen in Fig. 1 a trim 11 is suspended from a grid component 10 to provide an acceptable cheap visual surface. The trim has an upwardly extending recess 15 which is dimensioned so that it contacts the bottom of the grid component 10 along at least part of its length. This contact provides rigidity and hence enables the trim to be made from very thin material. A trim (11) for a grid component of a suspended ceiling assembly comprises an elongate body and means (14) to engage the grid component. Part of the trim lies in contact with the grid component, when in use, to provide rigidity. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Suspended ceiling system components and assemblies This invention relates to trims for suspended ceiling components and to assemblies including such trims.

One major form of suspended ceiling is the exposed grid ceiling in which the tiles lie on horizontal flanges of grid forming components. Initially the accuracy to which the tiles could be cut was so poor that these flanges had to be wide in order to ensure that no gaps occurred. This width further meant that the components could not be used for the other major form of ceiling suspension, concealed grid systems, in which rebated tiles are used, which abut to conceal the grid. This meant that a number of different profiles of grid components had to be provided by each manufacturer. Recently tile cutting has improved greatly and there is now no longer the need for such a wide flange. This has enabled the development of an intermediate system in which stepped tiles are used which are only separated by a narrow gap.

However there are considerable problems in providing an acceptable visible finish for this gap and to date the solutions have all involved extremely expensive and unsatisfactory integral components.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved visible surface.

From one aspect the invention consists in a trim for a grid component for a suspended ceiling, comprising an elongate body having means for engaging the component to suspend the body from the component to cover the visibleSsurface thereof and an upwardly extending recess formed to engage the underside of the component along at least part of its length.

In a preferred embodiment the recess extends centrally along the trim to define projections on either side, each projection providing a visible surface. Thus the section of the trim may be generally in the form of an E with the middle stroke omitted.

The recess may receive a contrasting colour insert or may be painted or coated in a different colour. In any case the trim is conveniently made from pre-coated or painted metal and can be of extremely thin gauge, for example less than 0.5mm.

The means for engaging the component may comprise inwardly projecting opposed flanges to enable the trim to be slid on to the component, or alternatively the engaging means may be in the form of resilient clips for engaging the flanges of the component. These clips may extend along the length of the trim.

The recess may be narrowed at its mouth such that it can slidably retain fastening members captive therein. The ends of the trim may be mitred to provide flush engagement at intersections of the grid components, in which case, the mitreing may be such as to provide an aperture larger than the mouth of the recess through which fastening members can be introduced.

From another aspect the invention consists in a trim for a grid component for a suspended ceiling comprising an elongate body detachably mountable on the component to cover the visible surface thereof.

From a further aspect the invention consists in a ceiling tile for a suspended ceiling comprising a sheet metal base, a peripheral upstanding wall, and a peripheral generally horizontal flange extending outwardly adjacent the upper edge of the wall.

preferably the wall and/or the flange is interrupted at the corners and the tile is formed by folding and/or rolling sheet metal.

The metal may be pre-coated or painted and the base of the tile may be perforated.

The invention also consists in a ceiling grid assembly including a plurality of interengaging ceiling components having trims as defined above and ceiling tiles as defined above.

The invention also includes a ceiling grid assembly comprising a plurality of interengaging ceiling components having trims as defined above.

Although the invention has been specifically defined above it will be appreciated that the invention also consists in any inventive combination of the features mentioned above or in the following description. A main object for the invention has been stated, but the invention also includes trims, tiles or assemblies which do not fulfil that object.

The invention may be performed in various ways and specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a grid component or noggin with a trim according to the invention mounted thereon; Figure 2 is a view from above of the intersection of the component of Figure 1 with two similar cross noggin bearing trims; Figure 3 is a view of the intersection of Figure 2 from below; Figure 4 is a vertical section through an alternative form of trim.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a part of a ceiling assembly including further form of trim and a tile; and Figure 6 is a partial view from below of the tile of Figure 5.

Figure 1 shows a grid component 10 with a trim 11 suspended therefrom. The grid component 10 is of fairly standard form and has a dependent inverted T section 1 2 for defining the tile support flanges or table 1 3. The component 10 is rolled from galvanised material and of fairly thick gauge to provide structural rigidity.

Such a component provides a visually unacceptable underneath surface, unless it is precoated (which is expensive) and it cannot lie flush with stepped tiles.

To overcome these problems the applicants provide the trim 11, which can be made of very thin gauge material, for example 0.4 mm, and which can be precoated to any colour. The trim has inwardly facing opposed flanges 14, which enable it to be slid on to the grid component 10. This means that different coloured finishes can quickly be supplied for a standard grid section and removes the need for several different manufacturing runs.

In order to provide the possibility of visual contrast the trim is, in section, in the form of an E with the middle stroke omitted and hence defines a recess 1 5. This recess can be painted a seperate colour, before rolling, or it can be provided with an insert, e.g. a tape, of a contrasting colour.

To enable the trim to be formed from extremely light weight metal, and hence save considerably on expense, the recess projects upwardly far enough to engage the grid component 10 along at least part of its length and hence gains rigidity from that component.

The trim 11 is mitred at its ends 1 6 to form a smooth intersection as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 4 shows an alternative form of the trim 11, in which the flanges 1 4 are downwardly inclined or radiused so that the trim can be resiliently clipped over the flange 1 3 of the grid component 10. Further the recess is generally trapezoidal in cross-section with an narrow mouth 1 7. In this construction the recess 1 5 forms a channel in which the heads of screws, bolts or other fastening devices can be slidably received for suspending light weight fittings or signs. It will be appreciated that at the intersections of the mitred ends an aperture 1 8 will be defined with a crosssection wider than the mouth 1 7 so that the fastening members can be introduced into these channels without disturbing the ceiling in any way.

This shape of recess also has the advantage that the sides 1 9 are not clearly visible from below and therefore the rolling of a trim having a contrasting precoated strip does not have to be as accurate as it would be for the previous embodiment.

Thus the applicant's trim provides a versatile and inexpensive way of converting existing standard grid components so that they can be used with stepped tiles and provide a good visible appearance. Further they are simple to fabricate and they enable a wide range of colours and colour combinations to be provided without the need to stock endless variations of grid components. Finally they can be made of much lighter metal than the structural grid components.

Thus it will be seen from another aspect the invention comprises a trim for a grid component having downwardly facing channel or recess.

In the case where the component has a double-walled web the trim may act to restrain separation of the walls of the web.

Figure 5 shows an alternative construction of the trim 11 in which the roof of the recess 1 5 engages the grid component along almost its entire width. This figure also illustrates a ceiling tile 20 for use with any of the trims illustrated in the drawings. The tile 20 comprises a base 21 having an upstanding wall 22 with a transverse flange 23 extending laterally from its upper edge. The flange 23 engages on the trim flanges 14 and the wall 22 is dimensioned so that the base 21 lies flush with the undersurface of the trim 11.

As can be clearly seen in Figure 5 the flange and wall 22 can be interrupted at 24 at each corner to simplify fabrication. The base 21 is perfforated in a grid.pattern by apertures 25 both to provide a pleasing visual effect and to reduce the weight of the tile.

The whole tile is made from rolled and/or folded sheet metal, which is preferably precoated or painted. The result is a cheap, strong tile with a much higher fire rating than the traditional polystyrene tiles. The provision of the apertures 25 also allow air heating and air conditioning inlets and outlets to a room space without any visual interruption in the ceiling.

Claims

1. A trim for a grid component for a suspended ceiling comprising an elongate body having means for engaging the component to suspend the body from the component to cover the visible surface thereof and an upwardly extending recess formed to engage the underside of the component along at least part of its length.

2. A trim as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the recess extends centrally along the trim-to-define projections on either side each projection providing a visible surface.

3. A trim as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising a contrasting coloured insert within the recess.

4. A trim as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein at least part of the recess is painted or coated in a different colour.

5. A trim as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the recess is narrowed at its mouth such that it can hold fastening members slidably captive within it.

6. A trim as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the ends of the trim are mitred.

7. A trim as claimed in any one of the preceding claims formed such that it can be clipped on or slid on the grid component.

8. A trim as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein means for engaging the component comprises inwardly projecting opposed flanges for enabling the trim to be slid on to the component.

9. A trim as claimed in any one of the Claims 1 to 7 wherein engaging means are in the form of resiliant clips for engaging the flanges of the component.

10. A trim as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the clips extend along the length of the trim.

11. A trim as claimed in any one of the preceding claims made from precoated or painted sheet metal.

1 2. A trim as claimed in any one of the preceding claims made of metal of a thickness of less than 0.5 mm.

1 3. A trim for a grid component for a suspended ceiling comprising an elongate body detachably movable on the component to cover the visible surface thereof.

14. A trim as claimed in Claim 1 3 having a downwardly facing recess extending along its length.

15. A trim as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the recess is narrowed at its mouth.

1 6. A ceiling tile for a suspended ceiling comprising a sheet metal base a peripheral upstanding wall and a peripheral generally horizontal flange extending outwardly adjacent the upper edge of the wall.

1 7. A tile as claimed in Claim 1 6 wherein the wall and/or the flange is interrupted at the corners.

18. A tile as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 1 7 formed by folding and/or rolling sheet metal.

19. A tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the metal is precoated or painted.

20. A tile as claimed in any one of Claims 1 7 to 1 9 wherein the base is perforated.

21. A ceiling grid assembly including a plurality of interengaging ceiling components having trims as claimed in any one of the Claims 1 to 1 5 and ceiling tiles as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 20.

22. A ceiling grid assembly comprising a plurality of interengaging components having trims as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 16 wherein the ends of the trims are formed so that they together define apertures at the intersections through which fastening members can be introduced into the recesses.

23. A ceiling grid assembly comprising a plurality of interengaging ceiling components having trims as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15.

24. A trim for a grid component for a suspended ceiling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A ceiling tile substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A ceiling grid assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.