GB2266736A

GB2266736A - Grid for suspended ceiling

Info

Publication number: GB2266736A
Application number: GB9306343A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helmut Steinbacher
Original assignee: RUETGERS PAGID AG
Current assignee: RUETGERS PAGID AG
Priority date: 1992-05-05
Filing date: 1993-03-26
Publication date: 1993-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-26
Also published as: FR2690941A3; ITRM930083U1; GB2266736B; DE9206049U1; BE1006123A6; FR2690941B3; LU88245A1; IT232198Y1; GB9306343D0; NL9300525A; ITRM930083V0

Abstract

A support grid for a ceiling, the support rails (1) and transverse rails (2) of which comprise C-sections of sheet steel open at the top with edges (7) angled inwards. The ends of the transverse rails (2) are provided with tongues (9), the angled ends (11) of which engage in rectangular openings (8) in the edges (7) of the support rails (1). The rails (1, 2) can be extended by means of butt-joint connecting means (3) of a U-section which is inserted into the ends of the rails (1, 2) and locked. The support grid additionally comprises corner members (4), suspension plates (5), edge rails and optionally junction members, and fastening clips and spacer clips for fastening and spacing tiles. <IMAGE>

Description

Support grid for ceiling covering The invention relates to a support grid for ceiling coverings, such as panels, acoustic plates and the like, optionally with lighting and ventilation fixtures.

Support grids of this type are known, being formed from T-sections in which the cross webs of the transverse rails are constructed in the form of tongues at the end and are inserted into corresponding openings in the cross web of the support rail. These tongues are relatively weak, so that they can bend under transverse or torsional stress, particularly if these thin-walled sections consist of aluminium. This results in problems when dismantling such ceiling grids, for example for inspection purposes. In addition, torsional stress leads to a slope developing in the support flange and thus to a ceiling covering which is no longer flat and smooth.

The object has therefore been to develop a support grid which can be assembled in the same way but which has better stability.

The invention provides a support grid comprising support rails, transverse rails, butt-joint connecting means, corner members, suspension plates, edge rails and optionally joint members, wherein the rails comprise a C-section of sheet steel open at the top, the inwardly angled edges of which are provided at least in the case of the support rails and the corner members with rectangular openings into which the tongues, which are located at the ends of. the edges of the transverse rails and are formed offset upwards by the thickness of the material, can be inserted with their downwardly bent ends provided with a projection.

The ends of the transverse rails can be closed in part by setting the webs of the C-section on edge.

The butt-joint connecting means is a U-section which is inserted into the C-section and connects the rails to one another. In the case of a T-joint, instead of the second rail a corner member is pressed onto the butt-joint connecting means, which corresponds to the end of a support section, from the free end of which the cross-section is closed, for example by setting the web on edge.

In a special embodiment of the invention the arms of the butt-joint connecting means are provided with projections which engage in corresponding recesses in the arms of the ends of the support rails and the corner members and which also fix them in the longitudinal direction.

The suspension plate comprises a T-shaped steel sheet with a bore, the two arms of which are angled in a U-shape at their ends. It is inserted by the said arms into the support rail, the arms resting at least partially on the inside on the arms of the support rail. The resilient arms are preferably formed in such a way that the plate can also be inserted from above and engaged by turning with respect to the support rail.

When a cross joint is formed from support rails and transverse rails, the tongues at the end of the transverse rails are pressed into the corresponding openings in the edges on both sides of the support rails, so as to produce a uniform rectangular or square grid. If the junction falls at the butt joint between two support rails, or one support rail with a corner member, one of the tongues is inserted into the opening in the first support rail and the other respective tongue is inserted into the opening in the second support rail, or in the corner member respectively. In this way the butt joint is secured.During assembly or in the case of a butt joint not situated in the region of a junction it is advisable to use a butt-joint connecting means, the arm of which has two respective projections facing outwards, one of which engages respectively in a corresponding recess in the arm of the support rail.

If a grid of transverse rails is to be constructed between the support rails, the transverse rails must also be provided with openings in their inwardly angled edges for the tongues to hook into, if the size of the grid is less than the length of the transverse rails.

Additional cross joints can be produced with shortened transverse rails and a box-shaped junction member, whose inwardly angled edges are provided on all four sides with openings for receiving the tongues of the transverse rails and a suspension plate.

The support grid according to the invention offers two possibilities of design: When using ceiling panels which are provided at least on two opposite sides with projecting edges for resting on the edges of the rails, flat ceilings can be constructed in which the grid terminates flush with the ceiling panels. The ceiling panels can, if necessary, be secured with fastening clips engaging between the edges of the rails and resting on the edges of the ceiling panels.

In the design of a ceiling with a prominent grid, it is also possible to use ceiling panels without projecting edges, which are laid directly on the edges of the rails. If necessary, the panels can be prevented from moving by means of spacer clips which are inserted into the rails from above. When using ceiling panels with edges, the edges can be laid on the fastening clips. The ceilings can be designed individually by combining the two possibilities.

An angle section or the like is frequently used as an edge rail for securing the grid to the wall. This is also possible with the grid according to the invention.

What is preferred, however, is a rectangular W-section, in particular of aluminium, one free arm of which is provided with bores for the wall fastening and on the other free arm of which the grid is laid. A W-section of this type forms a shadow join on the wall. In a further embodiment of the said edge rail the free arm extends downwards from the wall fastening and this extension is angled twice away from the wall and upwards at a right angle. Displaceable hooks for hanging pictures and similar flat objects can be inserted into the groove thus formed lying covered in the shadow join. In a further embodiment of the wall section the web adjacent the free arm for supporting the grid extends upwards and is angled towards the wall at the edge. In addition, it is provided with a spring which with the adjacent arm forms a lower groove. In the central area there is a further reinforcement which is provided with a groove open at the top and a groove open towards the room. The angling and the groove open towards the top are used for holding a spring clip for securing the rails. The grooves open towards the room can receive the edge of the bases of metallic case-bays and prevent them from being lifted off. An angled filler member can also be inserted into the lower groove if the ceiling panels are not laid flush with the support grid.

The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the design of a T-joint; Fig. 2 is a section through the grid with the ceiling panels raised; Fig. 3 is a section through the grid with case-bays inserted in a different manner, and Fig. 4 is a section through the edge rail.

As shown in Fig. 1, a suspension plate 5 is inserted into the C-section of the support rail 1 for fastening the rail 1 to the ceiling. The arms of the U-section of the butt-joint connecting means 3 are provided with outwardly facing projections 12. When inserted into the support rail 1 they engage in the corresponding recesses 13 in the support rail 1. The corner member 4 is likewise provided with such recesses 13, so that it is prevented from moving relative to the support rail 1 after assembly. The transverse rails 2 have tongues 9 which are attached to the edges 7 on the inside, are offset upwards by the thickness of the material and project beyond the edges 7 by substantially half the width of the edges. The ends 11 of the tongues 9 are angled downwards and are each provided with a projection 10 at the end facing downwards.A connection is formed by the insertion of the ends 11 into the openings 8 in the support rail 1 and the corner member 4. The projections 10 provide a safeguard to prevent inadvertent loosening of the connection. During dismantling the arms of the transverse rail 2 must be pressed together to achieve unlocking of the connection.

As shown in Fig. 2, ceiling panels 14 are positioned on the ceiling grid and are prevented from moving by spacer clips 15 which engage between the edges 7 of the support rail 1. The spacer clips 15 are only slightly wider than the distance between the edges 7, so that an adequate support area remains for the ceiling panels 14.

As shown in Fig. 3, a case-bay 16 is inserted into the support grid on one side and is prevented from being lifted off by fastening clips 17 engaging between the edges 7 of the support rail 1. On the other side the edge of the case-bay 16 rests on the fastening clips 17. The fastening clips 17 have almost the same width as the C-section of the support rail 1.

In the case of the edge rail in Fig. 4, the free arm 18 for fastening to the wall extends downwards and is provided with a groove 19 for receiving picture hooks 20. An angled filler member 22 is inserted into the lower groove 21 facing into the room, and the base of the case-bay 16 is inserted into the upper groove 23 facing into the room. The transverse rail 2 rests on the other free arm 24 and is held fast there by the spring clip 25 formed in the manner of a claw. The spring clip 25 engages over the angled portion 26 of the edge rail and engages with lateral extensions 27 into the groove 28 open at the top. In this way it is prevented from moving and turning.

Claims

Claims:

1. A support grid comprising support rails, transverse rails, butt-joint connecting means, corner members, suspension plates, edge rails and optionally junction members, characterized in that the rails comprise a C-section of sheet steel open at the top, the inwardly angled edges of which are provided at least in the case of the support rails and the corner members with rectangular openings into which the tongues, which are located at the ends of the edges of the transverse rails and are formed offset upwards by the thickness of the material, can be inserted with their downwardly bent ends provided with a projection.

2. A support grid according to Claim 1, characterized in that the butt-joint connecting means comprises a U-section, the arms of which are provided with projections facing outwards, and the support rails and the corner members are provided with corresponding recesses.

3. A support grid according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the junction member comprises a box open towards the top and having edges angled upwards and provided with openings for receiving the tongues of the transverse rails.

4. A support grid according to one of Claims l to 3, characterized in that the edge rail comprises a rectangular W-section, the free arm of which is provided with bores and extends downwards so as to form the groove and whose web adjacent to the free arm is provided with a lower groove facing into the room, an upper groove facing into the room and a groove open towards the top and is provided on its upwardly orientated extension with an angled portion orientated towards the wall.

5. A support grid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.