GB2218436A - Heat insulating spaced translucent ceiling panels - Google Patents

Heat insulating spaced translucent ceiling panels Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2218436A
GB2218436A GB8811337A GB8811337A GB2218436A GB 2218436 A GB2218436 A GB 2218436A GB 8811337 A GB8811337 A GB 8811337A GB 8811337 A GB8811337 A GB 8811337A GB 2218436 A GB2218436 A GB 2218436A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sheets
strip
suspended ceiling
ceiling panel
panels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8811337A
Other versions
GB8811337D0 (en
GB2218436B (en
Inventor
Peter Eric Fisher
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB8811337A priority Critical patent/GB2218436B/en
Publication of GB8811337D0 publication Critical patent/GB8811337D0/en
Publication of GB2218436A publication Critical patent/GB2218436A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2218436B publication Critical patent/GB2218436B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B9/04—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation comprising slabs, panels, sheets or the like
    • E04B9/0428—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation comprising slabs, panels, sheets or the like having a closed frame around the periphery
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B9/32—Translucent ceilings, i.e. permitting both the transmission and diffusion of light
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
    • E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
    • E04C2/30—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the shape or structure
    • E04C2/34—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the shape or structure composed of two or more spaced sheet-like parts
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
    • E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
    • E04C2/54—Slab-like translucent elements
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
    • E06B3/04—Wing frames not characterised by the manner of movement
    • E06B3/06—Single frames
    • E06B3/24—Single frames specially adapted for double glazing
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B9/04—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation comprising slabs, panels, sheets or the like
    • E04B2009/0492—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation comprising slabs, panels, sheets or the like with fabrics tensioned on frames

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Building Environments (AREA)

Abstract

The invention provides a suspended ceiling which comprises two or more sheets 2, 4 of transparent or translucent material arranged in face-to-face relationship and held in spaced condition by separate spacing means 6 in the form of a strip which wraps round the edges of the panels and has grooves into which the sheet edges fit to keep the sheets in spaced relationship to provide an insulating space between the sheets. In said grooves is preferably a resilient material resiliently holding and securing the sheet edges in said grooves. <IMAGE>

Description

Suspended Ceiling Panels This invention relates to insulating panels of translucent or transparent nature for use in suspended ceiling systems.
Suspended ceilings are widely utilised in domestic, commercial and industrial situations where there is a need to lower the ceiling level within a building.
Typically, suspended ceiling systems consist of a framework or grid of supporting members which are suspended from an existing ceiling or roof and into which are fitted ceiling panels. To minimize heat loss, such ceiling panels are often manufactured from materials which have high insulating properties such as mineral fibre, but problems are encountered where there is a need to provide transparent or translucent panels to allow light from above into the room space below the suspended ceiling, because such transparent or translucent panels are single sheets usually manufactured from materials such as acrylic or styrene which have low insulating properties and large amounts of heat are lost through such panels, thereby reducing the effect of the remaining insulating panels.
Efforts have been made to overcome this problem by producing ceiling panels from two sheets of plastic or similar material, one sheet being vacuum formed into a dish shape and a second sheet being flat and affixed to the rim of the dish shaped sheet thereby providing a ceiling panel having two surfaces and a cavity between.
However, vacuum forming equipment is expensive and the cost of producing such ceiling panels is high.
The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages arising from loss of heat through the transparent or translucent ceiling panels by providing such panels which allow the passage of light and which have high insulating properties but which are constructed from standard transparent or translucent sheets in combination with spacing means.
In accordance with this invention there is provided a suspended ceiling panel comprising two or more sheets of transparent or translucent material arranged in face-to-face relationship, said faces being held apart by separate spacing means so as to define a thermally insulating space therebetween providing a suspended ceiling panel with relatively high insulating properties.
In a preferred but not essential embodiment, the invention comprises two sheets of transparent or translucent material of square or rectangular shape of the same or similar dimensions, one of said sheets being affixed, on either side of a spacing means. The spacing means is a framework of the same shape and dimensions as the sheets of transparent or translucent material, so that the sheets define an upper and lower surface, held apart by the spacing means, the cavity between the sheets and within the framework of the spacing means containing air which acts as an insulating agent.
It will be appreciated that the invention need not be restricted to ceiling panels having only two surfaces defining one insulating cavity and that by utilising further sheets of transparent or translucent material and additional spacing means ceiling panels of three or more sheets and therefore two or more insulating cavities can be constructed.
Furthermore, it is envisaged that the invention may be utilised specifically in relation to lighting systems incorporated into suspended ceilings and wherein one or more of the sheets of transparent or translucent material will be of light diffusing material thereby diffusing light which passes from the lighting system through the panel and into the room space below, in the same manner as do conventional light diffusers.
A specific advantage of the invention is that existing flat sheets of transparent or translucent material such as sheets which are normally used as standard single panels may be used in pairs, threes, etc., in combination with spacing means thereby enabling insulating panels to be produced without the need for expensive vacuum forming equipment.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a panel according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the panel of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows in perspective view the components of a panel according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 shows in sectional elevation the panel of Fig. 3 when in assembled condition; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the detail ringed in Fig.
LI; and Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views similar to Fig. 5 but showing three alternative arrangements.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the panel comprises flat sheets of transparent or translucent material 2 and 4 which are of the same shape and dimensions and which are positioned in a face-to-face relationship on eitrer side of spacing means 6. The sheets of the transparent or translucent material 2 and LI in the embodiment are affixed to the spacing means 6 by means of adhesive or are fused thereto and air is trapped in the cavity 8 between the respective sheets of transparent or translucent material and the spacing means, thereby acting as an insulating agent.When assembled, the arrangement provides a suspended ceiling panel which allows light to pass freely through but which also has high thermal insulating properties.
The suspended ceiling panel may be fitted into the grid or framework of a suspended ceiling system in the same manner as may an ordinary panel.
Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, which is a particularly preferred embodiment, the panel is made up of two sheets 10, 12 of transparent or translucent material as in the Figs. 1 and 2 embodiment, and the spacing means 14 is in the form of a plastics material strip made up of sections 14A, 14D 14C and 14D which are hinged together at hinge points 16, 18 and 20. The spacing strip 14 is in fact an extrusion, and the hinges 16, 18 and 20 are formed by making bevel cuts at these locations, so that the sections can be hinged one relative to the other, and when arranged at right angles to fit round the sheets 10 and 12, the bevel cuts become corner mitres.At the free ends of sections 14A and 14D the strips are again bevelled as indicated by reference numerals 22 and 24, the arrangement being that when the strip sections fit round the respective edges of the sneets 10 and 12, the bevelled edges 22 and 24 come together and form a mitre, and can be glued or welded in order to complete the assembly.
The strip ILI is of the section shown in Fig. 4 and in more detail in Fig. 5 and is in fact of E-section, so that the two spaces of the E-section receive the edges of the respective sheets 10 and 12 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, leaving an air space 26 between the sheets which is similar to the space 8 in the Fig. 2 embodiment.
If reference is made to Fig. 5, it will be seen that.
the sectional shape of the strip 14 is such as to define two U-shaped sections 28 and 30 connected by a bridge piece 32. In the cavity of each U-section the edge of the appropriate sheet 10 and 12 is received, and such edge is held frictionally in the U-section by means of a soft plastics material strip 34, 36 which may be of the U-shaped configuration shown in Fig. 5, or it may in fact be a flat strip which is wrapped round the edge of the sheet 10 or 12 prior to the pressing of said edge into the channel section of the spacing strip 14. In any case, the soft plastic strip 34 yields so as to provide a good friction interferance fit between the edge of the sheets 10, 12 and the spacing strip cavities. The strips 34 and 36 extend around the entire edge of each of the sheets 10, 12 and in fact form a seal between the sheet edges and the strip cavities.
Instead of using a soft plastics material strip, it is possible to provide alternative fixing means such as hot melt or solvent based or other adhesive or sealant.
It is not necessary that the panels should be provided with only two sheets 10, 12 or 2, 4, but panels with three or more spaced sheets may be provided, appropriate spacing means also being provided to keep the sheets in spaced relationship.
Two arrangements wherein three panels are held spaced and face to face are shown respectively in Figs. 6 and 7, and in each case the opening strip 14 is not only shaped to provide three grooves A, B and C for the respective panels, but the strip is shaped in cross section so that the groove C for holding the panel which will be topmost in use is inset relative to the other grooves to accommodate the enlarged portion 40 on the top edge of the inverted "T" rail 42 of the suspended ceiling framework, such rail 42 being of a type which is extensively used in suspended ceilings.
The panels preferably are held in the grooves A, B and C in the same manner as the panels 10, 12 are held in the grooves in strip 14.
In the arrangement of Fig. 8, there are shown spacers D holding the sheets 10 and 12 which are designed for use in connection with a concealed sealing grid system.
The primary component or beam of the grid system into which tiles and panels fit and is indicated by reference 100 is traditionally referred to as a "Z" section. This section is further supported by a secondary channel which runs at 900 to the "Z" section and is fixed to it with spring clips. The secondary channel is in fact a "C" section and is supported with hangers from existing soffits below which the suspended ceiling is to be fitted. Fig. 8 shows the section where two panels meet and are connected to the illustrated section 100. It will be seen that the spacers D have additional inwardly directed channel sections E which receive the flanges F of the section 100 but such flanges F are concealed by the panels when in the assembled condition as will be understood from Fig. 8.
In the arrangements shown, the sheets are illustrated as being of flat sided configuration, and whilst in preferred cases the sheets will be generally flat, and will be transparent or translucent, they may also be faceted on one side in order to provide a light diffusing effect especially where the panels are adapted for use with electric lighting systems which are incorporated into suspended ceilings, particularly lighting systems which utilise fluorescent tubes, the transparent or translucent sheets allowing light to pass through the panel but also diffusing said light, and said diffusing panels can be used in any embodiment of the invention.
It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the invention may be utilised according to the requirements of particular suspended ceiling systems and it is not intended to restrict the scope of the invention to the particular combination of features shown. Spacing means of various configurations are envisaged, adapted to receive sheets of transparent or translucent material or to be affixed to same. Different types of transparent or translucent material may be used to give different effects, for example coloured sheets may be used to provide coloured lighting.
The panels according to the invention can be used in circumstances either where the lighting from above is from artificial light sources (e.g. fluorescent tubes) and/or from natural light as might occur where the ceiling is erected under an existing ceiling/roof having glazed sections admitting entry of natural light.

Claims (5)

1. A suspended ceiling panel comprising twc c or more sheets of transparent or translucent material arranged in face-to-face relationship, said faces being held apart by separate spacing means so as to define a thermally insulating space therebetween providing a suspended ceiling panel with relatively high insulating properties.
2. A suspended ceiling panel according to Claim 1, wherein said spacing means comprises strip means defining cavities in which are contained the sheet edges.
3. A suspended ceiling panel according to Claim 2, wherein said spacing means comprises a strip of material having spaced grooves therein defining said cavities, said strip having hinge lines therein so that the strip can be folded around the sheets in the assembly of same.
4. A suspended ceiling panel according to Claim 3, wherein said grooves contain soft plastics material strips to form resilient gripping means for holding the sheet edges to said spacing strip.
5. A suspended ceiling panel substantially as herein before described with reference to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 or 2 or Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
GB8811337A 1988-05-13 1988-05-13 Suspended ceiling panels Expired - Lifetime GB2218436B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8811337A GB2218436B (en) 1988-05-13 1988-05-13 Suspended ceiling panels

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8811337A GB2218436B (en) 1988-05-13 1988-05-13 Suspended ceiling panels

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8811337D0 GB8811337D0 (en) 1988-06-15
GB2218436A true GB2218436A (en) 1989-11-15
GB2218436B GB2218436B (en) 1992-05-27

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GB8811337A Expired - Lifetime GB2218436B (en) 1988-05-13 1988-05-13 Suspended ceiling panels

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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2660683A1 (en) * 1990-04-05 1991-10-11 Haras Ind LIGHTING PANEL WITH DOUBLE SKIN FOR COVERING OR SIDING.
FR2707317A1 (en) * 1993-07-06 1995-01-13 Aas Monoblock panel elements consisting of twinning 2 edge-on walls joined together and spaced apart by longitudinal sections with spring effect
WO1996021780A1 (en) * 1995-01-12 1996-07-18 Aluminium Acier Systemes Profile member for mounting double-faced panels, and resulting panels
EP0940517A1 (en) * 1998-03-05 1999-09-08 Everlite Concept SA Covering of polycarbonate
WO2000068526A1 (en) * 1999-05-11 2000-11-16 Scherrer Jean Marc Ceiling slab
WO2002025032A3 (en) * 2000-09-20 2003-10-16 Studio Dom Sp Z O O Skylight
EP1375771A1 (en) * 2002-06-27 2004-01-02 Hans-Jürgen Koch Transparent ceiling system
CN100436731C (en) * 2005-07-27 2008-11-26 曹基锭 Aluminum flame-retardant gypsum board and its processing method
US7971403B2 (en) * 2000-09-13 2011-07-05 Poul-Ernst Meier Plate-shaped cover material

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB801790A (en) * 1956-06-14 1958-09-24 George Ingram Improvements in heat-insulating panels
GB1001485A (en) * 1961-11-15 1965-08-18 Isora Illuminating Ceilings Lt Improvements in or relating to ceilings or walls
GB1011939A (en) * 1963-09-03 1965-12-01 British Industrial Plastics Structural panel
US3775914A (en) * 1972-04-18 1973-12-04 Ppg Industries Inc Multiple-glazed unit for high sound transmission loss
GB2177134A (en) * 1985-07-04 1987-01-14 Ariel Plastics Ltd Corrugated roofs with translucent areas
US4648231A (en) * 1984-09-24 1987-03-10 Laroche Francois X Structural joint element for panels

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB801790A (en) * 1956-06-14 1958-09-24 George Ingram Improvements in heat-insulating panels
GB1001485A (en) * 1961-11-15 1965-08-18 Isora Illuminating Ceilings Lt Improvements in or relating to ceilings or walls
GB1011939A (en) * 1963-09-03 1965-12-01 British Industrial Plastics Structural panel
US3775914A (en) * 1972-04-18 1973-12-04 Ppg Industries Inc Multiple-glazed unit for high sound transmission loss
US4648231A (en) * 1984-09-24 1987-03-10 Laroche Francois X Structural joint element for panels
GB2177134A (en) * 1985-07-04 1987-01-14 Ariel Plastics Ltd Corrugated roofs with translucent areas

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2660683A1 (en) * 1990-04-05 1991-10-11 Haras Ind LIGHTING PANEL WITH DOUBLE SKIN FOR COVERING OR SIDING.
EP0456530A2 (en) * 1990-04-05 1991-11-13 Societe Industrielle Du Haras Societe Anonyme Dite: Translucid double layer panel for covering or cladding of buildings
EP0456530A3 (en) * 1990-04-05 1991-11-27 Societe Industrielle Du Haras Societe Anonyme Dite: Translucid double layer panel for covering or cladding of buildings
FR2707317A1 (en) * 1993-07-06 1995-01-13 Aas Monoblock panel elements consisting of twinning 2 edge-on walls joined together and spaced apart by longitudinal sections with spring effect
WO1996021780A1 (en) * 1995-01-12 1996-07-18 Aluminium Acier Systemes Profile member for mounting double-faced panels, and resulting panels
FR2775710A1 (en) * 1998-03-05 1999-09-10 Everlite Concept Sa POLYCARBONATE CASSETTE FOR COVERING OR WALL
EP0940517A1 (en) * 1998-03-05 1999-09-08 Everlite Concept SA Covering of polycarbonate
WO2000068526A1 (en) * 1999-05-11 2000-11-16 Scherrer Jean Marc Ceiling slab
FR2793504A1 (en) * 1999-05-11 2000-11-17 Jean Marc Scherrer CEILING SLAB
US7971403B2 (en) * 2000-09-13 2011-07-05 Poul-Ernst Meier Plate-shaped cover material
WO2002025032A3 (en) * 2000-09-20 2003-10-16 Studio Dom Sp Z O O Skylight
EP1375771A1 (en) * 2002-06-27 2004-01-02 Hans-Jürgen Koch Transparent ceiling system
CN100436731C (en) * 2005-07-27 2008-11-26 曹基锭 Aluminum flame-retardant gypsum board and its processing method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8811337D0 (en) 1988-06-15
GB2218436B (en) 1992-05-27

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20000513