GB2215754A

GB2215754A - Suspension device for ceiling covering elements

Info

Publication number: GB2215754A
Application number: GB8829202A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norbert Jenniges
Original assignee: Pag Presswerk AG
Current assignee: Pag Presswerk AG
Priority date: 1988-02-13
Filing date: 1988-12-14
Publication date: 1989-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-14
Also published as: FR2627206B1; GB8829202D0; DE3804566C2; DE3804566A1; GB2215754B; FR2627206A1

Description

r 17 4 WANGDOC: 0079n Suspension Device for Ceiling Covering Elements

Description

The invention relates to a suspension device for ceiling covering elements, consisting of support rails joined to the ceiling and hooks engaging therein and joined to the covering elements.

For repairs and other work on supply lines laid above a suspended ceiling it is necessary to provide at least one part of the ceiling with inspection panels. Normally clamping support rails are used to fix the covering elements in these regions, and when the edges (which may be spherical in shape) or fixing elements of the covering elements are being laid, they are pressed into these rails. The arms of the clamping support rails are designed to be resilient and form with the edges and/or fixing elements a force-locked connection.

This connection can be released at any time by a downward-pulling force. It is a disadvantage however that these inspection panels must not be encumbered by illumination members, ventilation devices and the like. otherwise the covering elements risk becoming detached. This considerably limits the possibilities of forming a ceiling such as this.

The problem was therefore to develop a suspension device for ceiling covering elements, capable of being inspected and of being exposed to high tensile loads 2 without any risk of single covering elements falling down.

According to the i.nvention. this problem is solved by a suspension device consisting of substantially U-shaped support rails (1) with inwardpointing bevel edges (4) at the edges of the arms (3. 4) and resilient fixing elements (6) which can be hooked therein and are joined to the ceiling covering element (5). the ends of which fixing elements are designed as hooks (7, 8) pointing in the opposite direction. at least the hooks (7, 8) or the bevel edges (4) of the arms (3. 4) being at differing heights.

The fixing elements can either be provided with a hook. in which case the elements are arranged in pairs with hooks pointing in the opposite direction on the top of the covering element in the edge region, or they are provided with several hooks pointing in opposite directions. Preferably each element is provided with two hooks which form the end of tongue-like extensions.

The suspension device is suitable for all normal open and closed ceiling covering elements. The formation of the fixing elements. in particular the connection with the covering element. is however dependent on the shape of the latter. For example, for a plate-shaped covering element the connection can be in the form of a hinge with locking of the fixing element vertical to the plane of the plate.

The drawings illustrate by way of example two different versions of a suspension device such as this.

Figs-1 and 2 show a device with fixing elements having stepped hooks. and Figs. 3 and 4 a further device with a fixing rail whose arms differ in length.

3 11 In the perspective view of Fig. 1, the plate-shaped covering element 5 is provided, on each of its two opposite sides, with two fixing elements 6 staggered relative to each other which on one side are folded into the recesses 11 for transporting, but on the other side are already suspended in the support rail 1. The support rail 1 is U-shaped with arms 3 and 4 of equal length whose edges end in bevel edges 4 pointing inwards 0 through more than 90 Hooks 7 and/or 8 of the fixing elements can be suspended at different heights in these bevel edges 4.

The single fixing element 6 is joined to the covering element via the hinge 9 and the flattened axle pin 10. It has two tongues of different length which end in hooks 7 and 8 which point in the opposite direction and 0 are angled off through more than 90, and is made of a resilient material such as sheet steel. In order to enable locking in the vertical and horizontal directions, it is bent at the foot in such a way as to create an L-shaped cavity into which the flattened axle pin fits. To avoid damaging the viewing surfac.e of the covering element 5, the rear is provided with raised parts 12 of at least the same thickness as the hinges. The loadability of the ceiling covering is limited solely by the strength of its elements which are joined together in a form-closed way.

Fig. 2 clearly shows the possibility of inspection. The right-hand covering element 5 has been lifted until the hook 7 of the shorter tongue of its fixing element 6 engages in the bevel edge 4 of the arm 3 of the support rail 1. This makes accessible both the support rail 1 and the fixing elements 6 of the neighbouring covering elements. They can be hung out on one side and then, as shown in Fig. 2. folded away downwards or hung out.

4 Supply lines. or ventilation elements or illumination members integrated into the covering element 5. are now a freely accessible. If several panels have to be opened.

the folding away prevents one covering element 5 being mistaken for another when re-installing.

The back of the support rail 1 can be provided with bores and oblong holes (not shown) for fixing to the ceiling by means of screws or hooks.

For locking. the axle pin 10 can also be provided with a pressed-on square and the fixing element 6 can be designed as leaf panels in the centre at the foot and surround the axle pin 10 only on two sides of the square.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a different embodiment of the suspension device according to the invention. The support rail 1 has one shorter 2 and one longer arm 3 which are provided with the bevel edges 4. For this purpose. the tongues of the fixing elements 6 with the hooks 7 and 8 are equal in length.

It is however also possible, in the case of support rails with differing arm lengths, to use fixing elements with hooks arranged at different heights, as long as it is possible to fix the covering elements at such different heights that the fixing elements of the neighbouring covering elements can thereby be made accessible.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A suspension device for ceiling covering elements, made of supp;ort rails joined to the ceiling and fixing elements engaging therein and joined to the covering elements. characterised in that it consists of substantially U-shaped support rails (1) with inward-pointing bevel edges (4) at the edges of the arms (3, 4) and resilient fixing elements (6) which can be hooked therein and are joined to the ceiling covering elements (5) and whose ends are designed as hooks (7, 8) pointing in the opposite direction. at least the hooks (7, 8) or the bevel edges (4) of the arms (3, 4) being at different heights.

2. A suspension device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the support rail (1) has arms (3, 4) differing in length and the hooks (7, 8) are arranged at the same height.

3. A suspension device according to Claims 1 and 2. characterised in that the fixing element (6) ends in two tongues whose ends are angled off into hooks (7, 8) pointing in the opposite direction.

4. A suspension device according to Claims 1 and 3. characterised in that only the respective hooks (7 or 85 pointing in one direction are arranged at the same height.

5. A suspension device according to Claims 1 to 4. characterised in that the fixing elements (6) are foldably joined to the covering element (5) vi3 a hinge (9), the fixing element (6) being lockab'e at least in a position approximately vertical to the surface of the covering element (5).

Published 1989 at The Patent mce, state House, 68 -71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained &om The Patent Ofnce. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BRE 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1187