GB2264126A - Adjustable spring tee device for suspended ceilings - Google Patents

Abstract

A spring tee suspension device (10) is provided comprising an elongate, substantially flat, sheet-like body member (11) having an aperture (13) located in the central region thereof, said elongate body member being provided with bent over edge portions (12, 12') extending along the two opposite, preferably longer, sides of said elongate body member, and either said bent over portions being provided with a pair of location means (16, 17) therein, or said elongate body member having a pair of location means extending therefrom, to enable a pair of spring tee sections (18, 19) to be located therein and extend therethrough; ceiling panels (41, 42) are held by the spring tee sections, and the ceiling level is adjustable by nuts (15, 15') on threaded rod (14) co-operating with aperture (13). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SUSPENDED CEILINGS The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to suspended ceilings. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with suspended ceilings formed from a metal ceiling system.

A known type of suspended ceiling is formed from a concealed spring tee grid arrangement. In such arrangement, a plurality of C-shaped channel members are provided in a spaced apart manner extending parallel to one another. A plurality of spaced-apart spring tee sections, also extending parallel to one another but extending at right angles to said channel members are provided and the spring tee sections and channel members are clipped together at their meeting points. Such system can then be suspended from a ceiling by the provision of appropriate hanger members. Such system has a grid formation and a plurality of metal ceiling tiles are then located into the grid system. The ceiling tiles are generally retained by pip and stop registers into each spring tee section, such sections being supported by the channel members which are suitably spaced at a maximum of 1500 mm apart.The spring tee sections are clipped to the primary channels by use of appropriate spring clips and rigid clips.

The channel members are generally securely fixed to the structural soft it by suitable angle hanger members suitably installed at a maximum of 1500 mm centres.

Such known system suffers from the disadvantage that a large number of integers are required in which to make up the grid system. In addition, each hanger member has to be adjusted to the correct height to ensure that the suspended ceiling, when installed, is level.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spring tee suspension device which enables a metal ceiling system of grid or modular form to be produced using a lesser number of components than heretofore and utilising an arrangement enabling faster fixing and faster levelling of the components of the ceiling system to be effected.

According to the present invention there is provided a spring tee suspension device comprising an elongate, substantially flat, sheet-like body member having an aperture located in the central region thereof, said elongate body member being provided with bent over edge portions extending along two opposite, preferably longer, sides of said elongate body member, said bent over portions being provided with a pair of location means therein, or said elongate body member having a pair of location means extending therefrom, to enable a pair of spring tee sections to be located therein and extend therethrough.

In use, a plurality of suspension devices in accordance with the present invention would be provided along the length of a pair of spring tee sections. Each suspension device, in use, will have a threaded rod passing through the aperture thereof. One end of the threaded rod will have an appropriate nut and washer arrangement to permit vertical movement of such end of the threaded rod through the aperture. The other end of the threaded rod will, in use, be securely fixed to the structural soff it.

The bent over edge portions may each have aligned cut-out portions provided therein, or the elongate body member may be provided with a pair of punched lug type members extending therefrom, within which a respective one of spring tee sections can be located.

The suspension device of the present invention will suitably be formed of coated or covered mild steel or galvanised mild steel and can be utilised with standard tiles to produce a suspended ceiling system.

In a preferred embodiment, the location means are provided in each of the bent over edge portions so that the centres of the pair of spring tee sections are accurately fixed at any distance between 100 mm and 300 mm. An elongate metal ceiling tile which is pipped and stopped on the long edges only, will normally be located between the two spring tee sections along the length thereof. On either side of such elongate ceiling tile, a plurality of ceiling tiles of elongate form which are pipped and stopped on the short edges only would be suitably fixed so as to make up a grid or modular type ceiling system.

In the case where a lighting arrangement or other arrangement is attached to one of the spring tee sections, same may cause balancing problems. In such situation, it is possible to utilise a levelling member which would be used to counterbalance the suspension device when subjected to uneven loading. In this connection, the levelling member is suitably in the form of a bracket which preferably extends from one end of the body member of the suspension device to a position along the threaded rod adjacent the structural soff it.

In such arrangement, the levelling bracket in the end attached to the threaded rod would have an appropriate nut arrangement associated therewith so as to ensure that the levelling bracket could be adjusted when the levelling of the suspension device was being effected.

The other end of the levelling bracket suitably extends into a slot provided in the body member of the suspension device adjacent one end thereof.

The present invention will be further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a suspended ceiling system in accordance with the present invention, utilising one form of suspension device; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of a suspended ceiling system in accordance with the present invention, utilising an alternative form of suspension device; and Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of a suspended ceiling system in accordance with the present invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, an elongate suspension device generally referenced 10 comprises a body member 11 and a pair of bent-over edge portions 12,12'. The suspension device 10 is provided with an aperture 13 in the central region of the body member 11. One end of a threaded rod 14 extends through said aperture 13 and is located therebetween by means of nut arrangements 15,15'. The other end of said threaded rod is fixed to the structural soff it.

The suspension device 10 is provided with cutout portions 16,17 in which respective spring tee sections 18,19 are located. The upper portion 18' of section 18 and the upper portion 19' of section 19 are located in appropriate groove arrangements of the cutout portions 16,17 respectively.

In use, a plurality of suspension devices 10 would be provided along the length of the associated pair of spring tee sections.

In the case of uneven loading being applied to the suspension device 10, a levelling bracket 40 is provided, one end thereof 40' being located in a slot provided in the body member 11, the other end 40" of the bracket 40 being fixed to the threaded rod 14, utilising a nut arrangement similar to the nut arrangement 15,15' at the other end of the threaded rod 14.

The suspension device illustrated in Fig. 1 has cut-out portions 16,17 so selected so that appropriate centres of the spring tee sections, suitably in the range of 100 mm to 300 mm, can be selected. A metal tile 41 provided with pipped and stopped portions along the long edges thereof is suitably located between the two spring tee sections 18,19 as illustrated.

Additional metal ceiling tiles 42,42' are provided as indicated, such additional tiles having pipped and stopped portions along the short edges only.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that of Fig. 1 in that a suspension device generally referenced 20 is provided with an elongate body portion 21 and folded or bent over edge portions 22,22'. In this embodiment, such turned-over portions extend upwardly in use rather than downwardly as in the case of the suspension device of Fig. 1. The aperture 23 has a threaded rod 24 extending therethrough with appropriate nut members 25,25' being provided to enable easy vertical movement of the threaded rod 24 to be effected for levelling purposes.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, punched out portions 26,27 of the body member 21 are provided within which tee sections 28,29 are located and suspended at 28',29' respectively. The punched out portions 26,27 comprise a group of four slit and raised lug members within which the portions 28',29' of the spring tee sections are suspended. A levelling bracket 50 is located at one end 50' thereof in the body member 21 and at the other end 50" thereof is attached to the threaded rod 24, again utilising a system of nut arrangement similar to 25,25' to enable easy levelling of the ceiling system of the invention to be obtained.

In use, an elongate metal ceiling tile 51 being pipped and stopped along the long edges only is located as indicated, adjacent thereto, metal ceiling tiles 52,52' being pipped and stopped on the short edges only are located as indicated.

The schematic arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 shows a portion of a ceiling system in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated, the pair of spring tee units 38,39 are associated with a further pair of spring tee sections 38',39', each pair of associated tee sections being suspended utilising a plurality of suspension devices in accordance with the present invention. The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 indicates how a pair of tiles pipped and stopped along their long edges only 30,30' are located between the respective pairs of tee sections. At right angles thereto can be selected a number of appropriately shaped accoustimetal ceiling tiles which are pipped and stopped along their short edges only and which can then be located between respective ones of said pairs of spring tee sections 38,39'.

It can thus be seen that, by utilising a plurality of suspension devices in accordance with the present invention, a grid or modular type ceiling system can be constructed, the use of such suspension devices enabling easy fitting and levelling of the suspended ceiling system to be achieved. Moreover, should it be necessary to obtain access into the space between the normal ceiling and the suspended ceiling, the tiles can simply be pulled out from the respective spring tee sections.

Claims (14)

1. A spring tee suspension device comprising an elongate, substantially flat, sheet-like body member having an aperture located in the central region thereof, said elongate body member being provided with bent over edge portions extending along two opposite sides of said elongate body member, and either said bent over portions being provided with a pair of location means therein, or said elongate body member having a pair of location means extending therefrom, to enable a pair of spring tee sections to be located therein and extend therethrough.

2. A suspension device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the bent over edge portions extend along the two opposite longer sides of said elongate body member.

3. A suspension device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the bent over edge portions each have aligned cut-out portions provided therein, within which a respective one of said spring tee sections, in use, is located.

4. A suspension device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the elongate body member is provided with a pair of punched lug-type members extending therefrom, within which a respective one of said spring tee sections, in use, is located.

5. A suspension device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the location means are provided in each of the bent over edge portions so that, in use, the centres of the pair of spring tee sections are accurately fixed at any distance between 100 mm and 300 mm.

6. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said device, in use, has a threaded rod passing through the aperture thereof.

7. A suspension device as claimed in Claim 6, in which one end of the threaded rod has a nut and washer arrangement to permit vertical movement of such end of the threaded rod through the aperture, and the other end of the threaded rod is, in use, securely fixed to the structural soff it.

8. A suspension device as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, in which a levelling member is provided to counterbalance the suspension device when subjected to uneven loading.

9. A suspension device as claimed in Claim 8, in which the levelling member is in the form of a bracket which extends from one end of the body member of the suspension device to a position along the threaded rod adjacent the structural soffit.

10. A suspension device as claimed in Claim 9, in which the levelling bracket in the end attached to the threaded rod has a nut arrangement associated therewith so as to ensure that the levelling bracket may be adjusted when the levelling of the suspension device is effected, the other end of the levelling bracket extending into a slot provided in the body member of the suspension device adjacent one end thereof.

11. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the device is formed of coated or covered mild steel or galvanised mild steel.

12. A plurality of suspension devices as claimed in any preceding claim, provided along the length of a pair of spring tee sections.

13. A suspended ceiling system including a plurality of suspension devices as claimed in Claim 12.

14. A spring tee suspension device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig.

2 of the accompanying drawings.