GB2152091A

GB2152091A - Suspended ceiling

Info

Publication number: GB2152091A
Application number: GB08334265A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Anthony Mcelhinney; Richard Somers Daly
Original assignee: SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SERVICES LIMI
Current assignee: SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SERVICES LIMI
Priority date: 1983-12-22
Filing date: 1983-12-22
Publication date: 1985-07-31
Also published as: GB2152091B; GB8334265D0

Abstract

A suspended ceiling panel support structure comprises an open right prismatic framework (10) of interfitting elongate members (111 to 116) each having a substantially T-shaped section with an open channel or slot (121 to 126) along the lower portion of the T when inverted, such that the channel or slot is continuous throughout the structure, the continuity being achieved by mitre joints including double mitres at end to mid-section junctions as shown in Fig. 4A. The channel may be arranged to cooperate with the thread of a fitting screw or bolt (14). The channel provides for the reception of the upper edges of partition panels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved suspended ceiling assembly This invention relates to an improved suspended ceiling panel support structure.

Suspended ceilings can comprise a ceiling panel support structure which is suspended on fixed length hangers from a levelled primary grid itself suspended from the roof/floor of a building. Alternatively, the ceiling panel support structure is directly suspended and levelled from the building roof/floor structure.

In a building with a suspended ceiling, the interior office walls or partitions have to be connected in some way to the ceiling structure. This has been done in the past in a variety of ways but all using fixing which are screwed directly into the ceiling panels. Thus, when the partitions are removed, unsightly screw holes remain. A ceiling structure was therefore developed which could be assembled in convenient sized panels, usually one metre square, so that the partition walls could be readily attached to the ceiling structure without having to screw the attaching screws through the structure. This was achieved by providing the ceiling support structure with a fluted channel, slot or groove adapted to receive the locating screws.This system offered an architect the maximum possible design flexibiling because he could fit the interior wall partitions to the ceiling structure so that the dimensions and floor area of any walled structure thus formed would be dictated by the ceiling modulation in one metre square units. Also, unsightly fixing screws would not be ssen.

A ceiling structure of this type with its fluted slot or groove has great visual attractions for the architect because the slot can be left visible in areas where wall partitions are not fitted and this can have a particularly pleasing effect. However, for maximum appeal, the slot must be continuous and a visually appealing joint must be provided at the intersections between adjoining ceiling structure members and this is extremely difficult to achieve.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a ceiling panel support structure provided with a continuous slot throughout which does not have any unsightly edges, particularly at the intersection of adjoining structure members.

According to the invention therefore, there is provided an improved suspended ceiling panel support structure in which elongate members of substantially inverted T-section each have a channel in their lower part of the T, said members are interfitted by mitre joints to provide an open right prismatic structure with a continuous channel throughout said structure, those members that have their channel opened intermediate their terminal ends being opened in one or both side walls of the channel by double female mitred joints (bird's mouth joints) that co-operate with a male double mitre joint at the free end of an interfitting member to give said continuity to the channel throughout the structure.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an improved suspended ceiling panel support structure in which elongate members of substantially inverted T-section with an open channel or slot in their lower part are interfitted by mitred joints to provide an open right prismatic structure with a continuous open channel or slot throughout the structure, each of said members which are parallel to each other in one direction being interfitted with adjacent members normal thereto by means of respective double female mitred joints (bird's mouth joints) opened in one side wall of the channel or slot intermediate its terminal ends, each of said adjacent normal members having a male double mitre joint at its free ends to cooperate with said respective female double mitre joints to give continuity to the open channel or slot throughout the ceiling support structure.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an improved ceiling assembly of modular construction; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of part of a ceiling panel support structure for use in a ceiling assembly such as that shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged scrap section taken on line Ill-Ill of Figure 2 showing one of the slotted elongate T-shaped members used to make up the ceiling panel support structure shown in Figure 2; Figures 4A 4B, are enlarged schematic perspective views of male and female mitre jointS, unjoined and joined, and including a cooperating panel screw;; Figures 5A 5B and 5C show three different substantially T-shaped extruded sections which may be used in a ceiling panel support structure of the invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing Tshaped support members connected in a double mitre joint.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a modular suspended ceiling assembly (shown generally at 10) of open rectangular right prismatic structure in which the module dimension m is one metre (39.3701 inches) giving squares of one metre side. This supports the ceiling panels (not shown). An open continuous slot (not shown) is provided in the undersurface at 10, so panels such as p, to p, may be fitted thereto, for example, and the enclosed floor area a, b, c, d, e, fwill be dictated solely by the ceiling modulation. The suspended ceiling 10 is suspended from fixed length hangers such as H1, H2, H3, H4 hanging from primary structure S" S2, S3, S4 suitably levelled and supported from the basic architectural structure above but not shown.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 part of a ceiling support structure adapted to support ceiling panels (not shown). This is suspended on hangers H either from the building roof/floor or from a primary grid, suitably levelled. The structure 10 is formed from several elongated inverted T-shaped members, 1 1 1, 112, 113, 114, 115 and 116. It is to be noted that members 112, 113, 114, 115, and members 11,. 115 are parallel one to the other and members ili, 116 are normal to members 112 to 115 inclusive.Each of these members has in its lower part of the inverted T-section (1 2i to 126) an open channel of fluted form adapted to accept, at any position along its length, a screw for fixing an interior wall panel that is supported by the member and also secured to the floor; this is shown in Figure 4A, the screw being denoted by the numeral 1 4.

All joins in the structure are by virtue of simple mitre joints termed herein male and female double mitre joints. A typical double male mitre joint M1 is shown in Figures 4A and 4B. A corresponding double female mitre joint, sometimes called a bird's mouth, is shown at F1. It can be readily seen that the slot or channel C, in member 11, (Figure 3A) is opened intermediate its terminal ends at C2 in a side wall of said channel by the double female mitre joint F1. When the joint is made as in Figure 6, the continuity of the channel in its right angle form is clearly seen, the channel being denoted as C1, C3. The Tshaped section may be as shown in Figure 3.

Channel C, has flutes 1 3 that co-operate with the thread of a fixing screw or bolt 14 (Figure 3A). The T-section has minor additions, slots 15" 1 52 to receive the ceiling panels (not shown) and support channels 1 6t, 162 that may accept fixing brackets as shown in part at 171, 172, 173 (Figure 2) and fixed length hangers or support brackets such as H,.

In Figures 5A to 5C, three different substantially T-shaped sections are seen to have screw or bolt co-operating channels 1 8A, 18,, 1 8c with appendages 1 9At 1 9by 1 9C Appendages 1 9At 1 9B can accept jointing brackets such as that shown at 1 73 in Figure 2 and fixed length hangers for suspension of the structure of Figure 2 from above.

In Figure 6, two double mitre joints shown generally at 101, 102 are shown interfitting three orthongally disposed T-members 103, 104, 105 so that the channels C1, C2, C3 in each of the lower parts L1, L2, L3 (when the T is inverted T) are given continuity. The channel C1 is opened intermediate its terminal ends in both side walls, W1,W2, but as seen in the inset figure it may be in one side wall only (W,). It will be appreciated that only one side wall is opened for each joint. This opening is effected in each case by a male double mitre joint M1, M2; M,. M2, co-operating respectively with a female double mitre joint (bird's mouth joint) Fl, F2; F1 , F2 In a preferred construction, all channels will be fluted (not shown) to accept a screw 106 as shown on entry line XX1, the screw in practice will enter the channel from below in the direction of arrow A since the T-sections will be inverted. Clearly. from the inset figure a single double mitre joint allows the channel to have the desired continuity, yet is opened in one side wall only.

Claims

1. An improved suspended ceiling panel support structure in which elongate members of substantially inverted T-section each have a channel in their lower part of the T, said members are interfitted by mitre joints to provide an open right prismatic structure with a continuous channel throughout said structure, those members that have their channel opened intermediate their terminal ends being opened in one or both side walls of the channel by double female mitred joints (bird's mouth joints) that co-operate with a male double mitre joint at the free end of an interfitting member to give said continuity to the channel throughout the structure.

2. The improved suspended ceiling panel support structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the structure is of rectangular right prismatic form.

3. The improved suspended ceiling panel support structure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the channel or slot is formed to accept the screw thread of a panel fixing bolt or fixing screw.

4. The improved suspended ceiling panel support structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the channel or slot is fluted.

5. The improved suspended ceiling panel support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the structure is modular and able to give top support to one or more wall panels fixed to said structure by fixing bolts or fixing screws that co-operate with the continuous open channel or slot.

6. The improved suspended ceiling panel support structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the T-section is an extruded section.

7. An improved suspended ceiling panel support structure in which elongate members of substantially inverted T-section with an open channel or slot in their lower part are interfitted by mitred joints to provide an open right prismatic structure with a continuous open channel or slot throughout the structure, each of said members which are parallel to each other in one direction being interfitted with adjacent members normal thereto by means of respective double female mitred joints (bird's mouth joints) opened in one side wall of the channel or slot intermediate its terminal ends, each of said adjacent normal members having a male double mitre joint at its free ends to co-operate with said respective female double mitre joints to give continuity to the open channel or slot throughout the ceiling support structure.

8. The improved suspended ceiling panel support structure constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.