GB2286836A

GB2286836A - Ceiling grid

Info

Publication number: GB2286836A
Application number: GB9403460A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Edward Fuller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-23
Filing date: 1994-02-23
Publication date: 1995-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-23
Also published as: GB2286836B; GB9403460D0

Abstract

Longitudinal (2) and transverse (4) ceiling grid members are interconnected using moulded polymeric connectors (10) which are received in recesses (6) in the longitudinal members and have projecting formations (20) engaging the transverse members, together with snap-in wedge-like projections (22) for retaining the connectors in the longitudinal members. <IMAGE>

Description

CEILING GRIDS This invention relates to ceiling grids and to a method and apparatus for use in relation to ceiling grids.

Ceiling grids are provided in buildings such as office blocks as a means for supporting ceiling tiles, or other ceiling elements, at a location spaced below the concrete or other structure which constitutes the actual structural floor or other structural feature above the space in which the ceiling is to be provided. Typically, the space between the ceiling grid and the structure from which it is suspended is used to accommodate pipes, conduits, electrical cables, communication cables and the like. Suspended ceilings in which ceiling grids support ceiling tiles are extremely commonly used in modern office and other buildings.

There is disclosed in GB 2152091 a system of constructing a ceiling grid in which lengthwise grid members are connected to transverse grid members employing a connection system in which tapering or wedge-shaped recesses cut into the lengthwise-extending grid members receive and are secured to corresponding complementary wedge-shaped projections at the ends of the transverse grid members. Suitable means such as fasteners are provided to secure the transverse and lengthwise-extending grid members together.

Shortcomings of this prior proposal include the following. Firstly, the system of interfitting shaped recesses and projections is costly and time consuming to provide, both in terms of original equipment and in terms of assembly time. Moreover, in order for this system to operate successfully, tolerances in the construction of these recesses and projections must be relatively tight. Additionally, the need to cut the shaped recesses and projections leads inevitably to the production of raw unpainted metallic edges in those instances where insufficient care has been exercised in the cutting operation.

Accordingly, it can be seen that there is a considerable need for improvement in relation to the system for interconnecting the lengthwise and transversely-extending grid members, and an object of the present invention is to provide improvements in one or more of these respects, or generally.

It is believed to be worthy of note that the abovementioned system of interconnecting grid members as disclosed in the above-identified GB patent specification has been in widespread use in the UK for a significant period of time without, apparently, the introduction or even proposal of any alternative system to meet the relevant requirements as discussed above.

According to the present invention there is provided a method and apparatus for connecting transverse and longitudinally-extending grid members of a ceiling grid.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a connecting element for use in the construction of a ceiling grid in which there are lengthwise grid members and transverse grid members, said transverse grid members being connected to said lengthwise grid members, said connection involving the formation of a recess in said lengthwise grid members to permit said transverse grid members to be connected thereto, characterised by a connecting element being adapted to be received in said recess in said lengthwise grid member, and said connecting element, when so received in said lengthwise grid member providing one or more projecting formations which are positioned to receive and to connect to the ends of said transverse grid members.

By providing a connecting element which is received in a recess in the lengthwise grid members and which provides projecting formations to receive and connect to the ends of the transverse grid members, simple and convenient means is provided to effect the necessary connection between these.

It is to be understood that, in the definition of the invention, no particular significance attaches to the question of which of the grid members are lengthwise-extending and which ones are transverse. For the purpose of the present invention, the actual direction in which the lengthwiseextending grid members extend is not of significance. The relevant point is that the connecting element of the present invention will usually be provided in the grid members which have significant length, as opposed to those relatively short ones which extend between the relatively long ones.

A second broad aspect of the present invention provides a connecting element, for use in a ceiling grid, characterised by the provision of projecting formations adapted to interconnect the lengthwise and transverse grid members through the connecting element.

The advantages provided by embodiments of this broader aspect of the invention include some at least of those of the first aspect of the invention, and additionally, it will be understood that this aspect of the invention provides for the alternative arrangement in which the connecting element itself defines recesses to receive complementary formations provided at the ends of the grid members. Such an arrangement may have utility for particular applications.

In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting element is a press fit into the lengthwise-extending grid members.

A further feature of the embodiment of the last preceding paragraph is that the connecting element has a complementary shape with respect to that of the lengthwise-extending grid member for the purpose of said press-fit.

As a further feature of the matter disclosed in the last preceding paragraph, the connecting element may be formed with slots to receive side portions of the lengthwise-extending grid member.

Additionally, the connecting element may have sets of formations to cooperate with the lengthwise and transverse grid members on the opposite sides of the connecting element.

For example, a pair of formations may be provided at each of four sides of the connecting element. The connecting element may be of generally symmetrical construction.

The connecting element is preferably formed as a moulding comprising a polymeric material.

In accordance with a method aspect of the present invention, a method of connecting lengthwise-extending and transverse grid members comprises providing a connecting element which is adapted to be received in a recess in said lengthwise-extending grid member, the method further comprising causing projecting formations on said connecting element to be received in and to connect to the ends of said transverse grid members when said connecting element is received in said recess of said lengthwise-extending grid member.

A second broad aspect of said method aspect of the invention comprises providing a connecting element for use in the construction of a ceiling grid and connecting said transverse grid members to said lengthwise grid members by causing formations to interconnect said grid members through said connecting element.

Sub features of said method aspects of the invention include firstly press fitting said formations into said transverse grid members.

In the embodiments of the invention described below the connecting element may be formed as a plastics moulding having a colour and finish almost exactly matching that of the painted colour and finish of the metallic lengthwise-extending and transverse-extending grid members. In the embodiments, the connecting elements more or less disappear as a result of their structure complementing that of the grid members so that, effectively, the connecting elements simply provide a smooth transition or cross-over location between the grid members.

The connecting elements are extremely simple to fit into the recesses cut into the grid members. After such fitting, the step of connecting the transverse grid members thereto is a simple push-fit operation. This, once done, effects a positive and generally rigid structural connection whereby the grid has structural integrity at least equal to that of the previously known systems.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the connecting element of Figure 1 and the grid members forming a ceiling grid.

As seen in the drawings, part of a ceiling grid comprises a lengthwise grid member 2 and transverse grid members 4. The lengthwise grid member 2 is provided with a series of recesses 6 (only one shown in Fig 2), at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the transverse grid members in the lengthwise direction of the lengthwise grid members. Recesses 6 are provided to enable connection of the lengthwise and transverse grid members by means of a corresponding series of connecting elements 8, one for each of the recesses 6.

Each connecting element 8 comprises a generally rectangular body portion 10 proportioned to be a smooth sliding fit into recess 6 between the side walls 12 thereof and having four castellations 14 upstanding therefrom which are shaped and positioned and spaced so as to lie in-line with lengthwise extending rail members 16 and 18 provided on the lengthwise and transverse rail members 2 and 4 respectively.

Two pairs of laterally projecting connecting formations 20 are formed integrally with castellations 14. The formations 20 are positioned and constructed and arranged to be received in the lengthwise-extending recesses defined by rail members 18 in the transverse grid members 4.

Corresponding to connecting formations 20 are two pairs of generally wedge-shaped secondary connecting formations 22 formed on the opposite faces of the pairs of castellations 14 to cooperate with and fit within the recesses or channels 24 defined within rail members 16.

Connecting element 8 is formed as a moulding in a suitable plastics material and is of an exactly controlled colour and finish to match that applied to the grid members 2 and 4.

In use, connecting element 8 is press-fitted into recess 6. During this operation, secondary connecting formations 22 snap-fit into recesses 24 in rail member 16. Then, connecting formations 20 are caused to enter the corresponding recesses in rail members 18 so as to connect the transverse grid members 4 to the lengthwise grid members 2.

Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiment are considerable modifications in the form of the lengthwise and transverse grid members, and in the corresponding form of the connecting element 8 to complement same. The connecting formations 20 can of course be modified to cooperate with the transverse grid members in various ways, and likewise the secondary connecting formations 22.

A connecting element 8 comprises a body portion 10 and two pairs of projecting formations 12 which are positioned to receive and to connect to the ends of the transverse grid members 4.

The body portion 10 of the connecting element 8 is a press fit into the recess 6 formed in the lengthwise grid member 2, and is of complementary shape, colour and finish.

In order to ensure a positive connection between the connecting element 8 and the lengthwise member 2, the side walls 14 of the element 8 are provided with wedge portions 16 which positively engage with the walls of the lengthwise grid element 2 within the recess 6, when the connecting element 8 is pressed into the recess 6.

In use, said connection element 8 is positioned securely within said recess, employing a press-fit operation.

With said connecting element 8 in position, said grid member 4 are securely fixed to said connecting element employing a push-fit operation, as seen in Fig 2.

It will be noted that said connecting,element 8 may be devised or employed to accommodate only one grid member, for example when used within a corner of a ceiling grid.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1 A connecting element for use in the construction of a ceiling grid in which there are lengthwise grid members and transverse grid members, said transverse grid members being connected to said lengthwise grid members, said connection involving the formation of a recess in said lengthwise grid members to permit said transverse grid members to be connected thereto, characterised by said connecting element being adapted to be received in said recesses in said lengthwise grid members, and said connecting element, when so received in said lengthwise grid members providing one or more projecting formations which are positioned to receive and to connect to the ends of said transverse grid members.

2 A connecting element, for use in a ceiling grid, characterised by the provision of projecting formations adapted to interconnect the lengthwise and transverse grid members through the connection element.

3 A connecting element according to claim 2 characterised by said projecting formations forming part of said connecting element.

4 A connecting element according to claim 2 characterised by said projecting formations being adapted to be received in recesses or slots defined in said connecting element.

5 A connecting element according to any one of claims 2 to 4 characterised by said connecting element being adapted to be received in one of a series of recesses formed in said grid members.

6 A connecting element according to any one of claims 2 to 4 characterised by said connecting element being adapted to be a press-fit to said grid members.

7 A connecting element according to claim 6 characterised by said connecting element having a complementary shape with respect to that of the grid members for the purpose of said press fit.

8 A connecting element according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by said connecting element having sets of formations adapted to cooperate with said lengthwise and transverse grid members on opposite sides of the connecting element.

9 A connecting element according to claim 8 characterised by said sets of formations comprising a pair of formations provided at each of four sides of the connecting element, the connecting element being of generally symmetrical construction.

lo A connecting element according to any one of the preceding claims formed as a moulding comprising a polymeric material.

11 A method of connecting lengthwise-extending and transverse grid members of a ceiling grid comprising providing a connecting element which is adapted to be received in a recess in said lengthwise extending grid members, the method further comprising causing projecting formations on said connecting element to be received in and to connect to the ends of said transverse grid members when said connecting element is received in said recess of said lengthwiseextending grid member.

12 A method of connecting lengthwise-extending and transverse grid members of a ceiling grid comprising providing a connecting element for use in the construction of said ceiling grid and connecting said transverse grid members to said lengthwise grid members by causing formations to interconnect said grid members through said connecting element.

13 A connecting element according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by said connecting element being formed as a one-piece construction.

14 A connecting element for use in the construction of a ceiling grid substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15 A method of connecting lengthwise-extending and transverse grid members of a ceiling grid substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.