GB2234764A - Panel support system - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel support system, comprising panels 40 and a panel support frame 42, in which each panel 40 is supported at two edges only by the support frame, thereby facilitating easy insertion and removal of the panel from the support frame. The frame may be formed of inverted T section members, and the panels have rebates to engage the flanges. Cross- members eg 85 may be provided at intervals. Space 75 is provided between upright 55 and panel 40, so that, by tilting and moving the panel towards the upright 55, the panel can be extracted without needing to provide space above the upright. <IMAGE>

Description

PANEL SUPPORT SYSTEM The present invention relates to a panel support system and, in particular, to a suspended ceiling system.

Suspended ceiling systems are used widely in new buildings and for refurbishing existing buildings as an economical method of hiding installations such as service pipes and air conditioning ducts in a void as well as providing access into the void to maintain vital equipment.

There are currently two basic forms of suspended ceiling. First, a concealed grid system (Figure la) in which, when the ceiling is complete, a steel gridwork is covered by the edges of the panels. In this system main channels 5 are suspended from a structural soft it on wires or angle hangers. The panels 10, are carried by Z-bars 15 and splines 20, the Z-bars being attached to the main channels 5 by clips 25.

A major disadvantage of this system however is that access into the void created by the ceiling requires the provision of special access units (Figure lb) which must be built in at the design stage by the designer or architect.

The second basic form of suspended ceiling is an exposed grid system (Figure 2). This system comprises a grid of perpendicular inverted T-bars 30 which provide support for the panels 35 on four sides. A major drawback of this system, however, is that a void space of considerable height is needed to enable the panels, which are necessarily of greater size than the holes created by the interlocking inverted T-bars, to be inserted or removed from the grid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel support system, suitable for use as a suspended ceiling system, which provides easy access to any part of the void created above the system and which reduces the height of the void space needed to insert or remove the panels.

According to the present invention there is provided a panel support system comprising panels and a support frame, the support frame comprising substantially parallel runners, each runner consisting of a substantially vertical centre section provided on each side with a flange or flanges, each panel having a pair of parallel sides adapted to overlie facing flanges of neighbouring runners; such that, in use, each panel is supported between the runners on two sides only, each panel bearing down on the flanges which its parallel sides overlie.

Preferably, the parallel sides of each panel are spaced from the centre sections between which each panel is supported such that removal of a panel from the- support frame by raising and tilting the panel and withdrawing it between the flanges is facilitated by displacement of the panel towards one of the centre sections. Such spacing also facilitates insertion of the panel into the support frame.

More preferably, the parallel sides of each panel are sufficiently spaced from the centre sections such that a panel can be removed from the support frame by tilting the panel within the height of the centre sections.

Preferably, the runners comprise inverted T-bars.

However, runners of alternative cross-sectional shape, for example, Z bars, may be used. In addition, runners wherein each runner is provided with a flange on only one side, for example of 'L' or 'C' cross-section, may be provided for use at the edge of the panel support system.

Preferably, the runners are braced by cross-runners.

More preferably some or all of the panels abut crossrunners.

Preferably, the parallel sides of each panel are adapted to overlie facing flanges of neighbouring runners by means of a lap in the bottom edge of each side into which is located the flange or flanges which the side overlies.

Preferably, the panel support system is adapted to be suspended from a structural soff it.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a concealed grid suspended ceiling system of the prior art; Figure 1b is a section side view of an access unit of a concealed grid suspended ceiling system of the prior art; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exposed grid suspended ceiling system of the prior art; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a support frame and panels according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a section view, through the runners, of a panel and support frame according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates removal of a panel from a support frame corresponding to Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section view through the cross runners on line A-A of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a section view, through the runners of a panel and support frame according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention comprises panels 40 and a support frame 42.

Each panel 40 comprises a rectangular solid with an upper face 68 and a lower face 70 joined by a pair of opposed side walls 65 and a pair of opposed bevelled buttends 100. Rebates on laps 60 are provided at the edge between the lower face 70 and each side wall 65.

The support frame 42 comprises parallel T-bars 45 consisting of upright central sections 55 from each side of which a flange 50 extends. Parallel T-bars 45 are braced at intervals corresponding to the length of 3 panels by cross T-bars 85 consisting of upright central sections 90 from each side of which a flange 95 extends. The parallel T-bars 45 may be suspended from a structural soffit on wires or angle hangers in a conventional manner.

In use, each panel 40 is supported in the support frame by flanges 50 on facing sides of neighbouring runners, the sides 65 overlying the flanges 50, the flanges 50 being located in rebates 60. Each butt-end 100 of each panel may abut another panel or may abut a flange 95 of a cross T-bar 85.

The relative dimensions of each panel 40 and the support frame 42 are such that between each side wall 65 and adjacent central section 45 there is a space 75.

In order to remove a panel from the support frame (Figure 5), the panel is lifted (arrow I), displaced towards a central section 80 (arrow II) and tilted (arrow III).

The height to which the panel must be tilted is reduced as compared to the prior art by two factors. First, provision of butt-end joints 100 means that the panel need only be tilted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the T-bars 45, and second, provision of spaces 75 between the panel and central sections 55 allow the panel to be displaced toward a central section thereby reducing the angle of tilt necessary to pass the panel between the facing flanges.

In an alternative embodiment (Figure 7), the T-bars 45 are braced at regular intervals by bracing bars 105 between the top ends of central sections 55. In this embodiment the butt-end of each panel abuts the end of its neighbour.

Typically, the panels of the present invention may have dimensions 750 mm x 750 mm, 750 mm x 500 mm, 1200 mm x 600 mm and 600 mm x 600 mm (width x length) and have a minimum thickness of 9 mm. Typically, the panels have a minimum 2 average flexural strength of 8N/mm and may be made of any material although fibre-reinforced calcium silicate, such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark "SUPALUX", fibrereinforced gypsum and metal are preferred.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the flange provided on each side of the central section may comprise a single flange or a series of flanges.

Claims (9)

1. A panel support system comprising panels and a support frame, the support frame comprising substantially parallel runners, each runner consisting of a substantially vertical centre section with on each side a flange or flanges; each panel having a pair of parallel sides adapted to overlie facing flanges of neighbouring runners; such that, in use, each panel is supported between the runners on two sides only, each panel bearing down on the flanges which its parallel sides overlie.

2. A panel support system according to claim 1 wherein the parallel sides of each panel are spaced from the centre sections between which each panel is support such that removal of a panel from the support frame by raising and tilting the panel and withdrawing it between the flanges is facilitated by displacement of the panel towards one of the centre sections.

3. A panel support system according to claim 2 wherein the parallel sides of each panel are sufficiently spaced from the centre sections such that each panel can be removed from the support frame by tilting the panel within the height of the centre section.

4. A panel support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the runners comprise inverted T-bars.

5. A panel support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the runners are braced by cross-runners.

6. A panel support system according to claim 5 wherein some or all of the panels abut the cross-runners.

7. A panel support system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the parallel sides of each panel are adapted to overlie facing flanges of neighbouring runners by means of a rebate in the bottom edge of each side into which is located the flange or flanges which the side overlies.

8. A panel support system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the panel support system is adapted to be suspended from a structural soff it.

9. A panel support system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.