IE41759B1 - Improvements relating to ceilings and like structures - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to suspended ceilings and like structures, such as are used in connection with large commercial and industrial buildings, such as supermarkets, warehouses and factories, and also in connection with public buildings such as bus and airline terminal buildings and cinemas and other places of entertainment.

In such buildings, the internal space often extends right up to the interior of the roof of the building and it may be desired to provide a structure in the nature of a ceiling at an intermediate level, either so as to shut off the roof space for purely aesthetic reasons, or simply to divide the internal space in the building at a desired horizontal level. This structure may be suspended from the roof purlins or other structural members of the building. In some cases it may consist of relatively light panels supported by supporting members. However, particularly when the ceiling is required for largely aesthetic reasons, instead of using ceiling panels, a pleasing effect can be achieved by providing an openwork structure in the nature of a baffle.

Structures of the kind referred to above are used primarily in indoor situations, but they may sometimes be used in certain other situations, such as in connection with overhead structures for outdoor use (e.g. canopies). Accordingly, although specific reference will be made hereinafter to ceilings, this is not to be taken as limiting the scope of the application of the invention.

Suspended ceilings and like structures as referred to above commonly comprise a suspended grid-arrangement, consisting of intersecting members or bars. These may conveniently be of inverted T-section, and they may include main longitudinal members which extend from wall to wall in the building, the upright - 2 41759 portion of the T-section of each longitudinal member being formed with vertical slots spaced apart along its length at a standard modular distance. These slots serve to receive the ends of short members which extend transversely between two parallel longitudinal members, so as to form the grid-arrangement. The short transverse members are of a standard modular length and the spacing between them can be varied, in steps as determined by the modular distance of the slots in the longitudinal members. in a practical case the short members may be for example, 1200 mm. long. The slots in the longitudinal members may be spaced apart at a modular distance of 150 mm. or 300 mm. This enables the short transverse members to be inserted at positions providing rectangular apertures of various dimensions (including square apertures of 1200 mm. by 1200 mm.).

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a baffle-arrangement in a ceiling structure of the above-mentioned form, and according to the invention there is provided a ceiling structure comprising a grid-arrangement consisting of intersecting grid-members defining grid-apertures and, located in at least one of the said apertures, an assembly comprising two parallel supportmembers carried by two grid-members disposed at opposite sides of the said aperture and at least one baffle-member extending between the support-members, the baffle-member having a projecting lug at each end thereof, engaging with a co-operating recess formed in the corresponding support-member.

In one particular form of ceiling structure according to the invention, which will be described hereinafter, a plurality of parallel baffle-members is provided, forming a louvre-arrangement.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description given, by way of example only, with reference - 3 41759 to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing one form of ceiling structure according to the invention, incorporating a baffle - or louvre-arrangement as referred to above; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the louvre-arrangement of Figure 1, drawn to a larger scale so as to disclose certain details not clearly yisihie in Figure i; Figure 3 is an end view of a baffle-member which forms 10 part of the arrangement shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view corresponding to the view of Figure 2, but showing a modified form of baffle-arrangement; Figure 5 is a sectional view through a modified form of the structure shown in Figure 1. - 4 41759 Referring to Figure 1, the structure shown therein comprises a grid-arrangement of the general form already referred to, supported at the desired level in a building by means of wire hangers (not shown) suspended from suitable anchor-devices which are shot-fixed to structural elements of the building. The grid-arrangement includes main longitudinal members 1, 2 of inverted T-section, extending from wall to wall in the building.

Short inverted T-section members such as 3,4,5 extend transversely between the adjacent longitudinal members, so as to define gridapertures, such as the aperture 6 in Figure 1.

The inverted T-section members are formed from sheet-steel, bent to form the appropriate cross-section. Thus, as is most clearly visible in the case of the grid-member 1, the cross-section thereof comprises an upright web 21 with an enlarged portion 22 formed by the bight of the bent sheet-metal, and flanges 23, 24 forming the cross-portion of the T.

A baffle - br louvre-arrangement is fitted into each grid aperture 6. As shown in Figure 1, this arrangement consists of a series of baffle - or louvre-members 7 extending between supportmembers 8, 9 which are themselves supported by the grid-members 4,5 at the opposite sides of the aperture 6.

Each support-member 8 or 9 comprises an elongated platemember, of a length appropriate to the corresponding dimension of the grid-aperture 6, having a flange along its lower edge which in the assembled louvre-arrangement, is directed outwardly.

In the case of the support member 8, the position of the flange is indicated by the reference numeral 10 in Figure 1, and by the dotted line 10a in Figure 2.

The details of the arrangement are more clearly visible in Figure 2. It will be seen that at its upper edge, the supportmember 8 is formed with a number of recesses or slots 11,-Ila extending . 5 41759 downwardly, the slots being uniformly spaced along the upper edge thereof. The baffle-members 7 are engaged with the slots ll, lla as will be described more fully below, so that the spacing of the slots defines the pitch of the baffle-members.

The two end-most slots of each support-member (e.g. the slot lla in Figure 2) are each spaced inwardly from the ends of the member 8 at the same distance as the spacing between adjacent slots.

The members 7 are in the form of plates of cranked cross-section, each having a flange 12 extending along its lower edge, so as to ensure rigidity. The length of the members 7 corresponds to the corresponding dimension of the gridaperture 6 to which the assembled louvre-arrangement is to be fitted The end edges of each member 7 are cut away over the greater part of their depth, so as to leave a portion 13 or 14 projecting at each upper corner of the member, forming a lug or ear. As is clearly visible in the case of the lug 14 in Figure 2, in the corner formed where the undercut lower edge 15 of the lug merges with the remainder of the end edge of the member 7 there is a notch 16 extending vertically upwards from the said lower edge 15 ofthe lug, over a part of the depth of the latter.

Each member 7 can be slid into a position in which it extends at right angles to the two support-members 8, 9 at opposite sides of the aperture. The lugs 13,14 of the member 7 are slid downwardly into the appropriate slots 11 in the supportmembers 8, 9,so that the notches 16 in the member 7 interfit with the slots 11 in the support-members.

During the erection of a suspended ceiling, when it is desired to fit a louvre-arrangement in accordance with the invention at any particular position in the ceiling, the louvrearrangement is assembled in situ, working from the scaffolding - 6 41759 used in the erection of the ceiling. In the first place, a support-member 8 is inserted in position, with its flange 10 resting on the flange 25 of the grid-member 4 at one side of the chosen aperture 6 in the grid-structure. At least one bafflemember 7 is then engaged with the said support-member 8 and the second support-member 9 is inserted at the opposite side of the aperture. The said baffle-member 7 thus serves to hold the two support-members 8, 9 in their positions at opposite sides of the aperture.

As previously mentioned, the end-most slots Ila in each support-member 8, 9 are spaced inwardly from the ends of the member at a distance corresponding to the pitch-distance of the arrangement. At the opposite ends of the arrangement, two special baffle-members 17, 18 are employed. These are generally flat with a strengthening flange, as shown at 19 in Figure 2 in the case of the member 17. Each member 17 or 18 is of a similar length to the overall length of the members 7 previously described, but its end-edges are not cut away. One such member 17 or 18 is inserted at each end of the aperture, between the extremities of the support-members 8, 9 and the adjacent grid-member 1 or 2.

If necessary, suitable spring clips can be employed, which bear against the end-members 17, 18,so as to secure them against movement relatively to the grid-members.

Eared baffle-members 7 can now be inserted at the positions defined by the slots 11 in the support-members 8 and 9, and the whole assembly of the two support-members 8, 9 and the members 7,17,18 extending between them forms a relatively rigid structure.

The individual baffle-members 7 are formed from elongated metal plates. As already mentioned, they are of cranked crosssection. That is to say, the metal plate forming each member 7 - 7 41759 is bent so as to have (as shown most clearly in Figure 3) a flat main portion 26 and a cranked portion 27 extending at an angle to the plane of the flat portion 26. The cranked portion 27 is terminated by the previously mentioned flange 12. The configuration of the cranked cross-section is such that the flange 12 extends horizontally below the flat portion 26, being disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the portion 26, and symmetrically relatively thereto. The effect of this is that each member 7 can be inserted into the slots in the support-members 8,9 either way round; in either case the disposition of the flange 12 relatively to the position of the slots will be the same.

In the arrangement described above, the members 7 are of substantially the same depth as the support-members 8,9. Thus when the lugs of the members 7 are correctly interfitted with the recesses 11 in the support-members 8,9, the flanges 12 Of the members 7 lie substantially flush with the flanges at the lower edges of the support-members (e.g. flange 10 of support-member 8) and immediately above the level of the flanges of the inverted T-section grid-members.

It will be appreciated that the component parts of a louvre-arrangement as described above are all substantially flat, or at least that the overall thickness of the components is small.

The components therefore occupy relatively little volume when packed for delivery to the site, where the louvre-arrangement is to be assembled.

The component parts may be made from mild steel or aluminium and they may be painted or otherwise coated after fabrication. Alternatively, the components may be cut from pre-coated steel or aluminium.

The longitudinal and transverse grid-members may be of a standard kind which are fabricated from galvanized steel, and are not in themselves of a pleasing appearance, except that the head - 8 41759 of the inverted T-section, which is visible when viewed from below, is cladded with aluminium cladding, which may be finished black or white for example. However, when an assembled louvrearrangement is inserted in an aperture in a grid-structure consisting of such members, the galvanized surfaces of the gridmembers are masked by the support-members 8,9 and the end-members 17,18 and an aesthetically pleasing effect is presented to anyone looking upwards through the louvre-arrangement. This is enhanced by the intermediate members 7, which break the line of sight. However, an aesthetically pleasing effect can be achieved, even without the intermediate members 7. Thus, Figure 4 shows an assembly consisting of two support-members 31,32, supporting two baffle-members 33,34, the whole assembly being of a size to fit into the aperture 6 of the grid-arrangement shown in Figure 1.

The two support-members 31,32 are of identical form.

Each consists of a flat plate having a flange (35 in the case of the member 31) by means of which the member 31 or 32 rests on the flange of the corresponding grid-member 4 or 5 (Figure 1).

Each member 31,32 has a rectangular cut-out at each of the upper corners thereof forming a recess (36,37 in the case of the member 31).

The two members 33,34 are also of identical form. The member 33 for example, has two lugs 38 similar to lugs 13,14 of the member 7 shown in Figure 3. However the members 33,34 are not cranked, but are generally flat, except for the reinforcing flange 39. The arrangement is assembled in situ, by first mounting the support-members31,32 in position on the grid-members 4, 5 of Figure 1 and then inserting the members 33,34 so that they rest by means of their lugs,on the cut-away recesses of the members 31,32. The surfaces of the grid-members 4,5 which are directed inwardly of the aperture 6 (Figure 1) are now effectively masked by the four members 31,32, 33,34. - 9 41759 In public places of the kind referred to at the outset, where fire precautions are of importance, a structure in accordance with the invention can be mounted at a position below the level of the customary fire-sprinkler system since, when the sprinkler-system is actuated, water can pass through the structure. Moreover, lighting installations and air-conditioning inlet and extractor fittings can be mounted above the ceiling structure if desired.

Alternatively a lighting installation can be incorporated into the baffle-arrangement, in the manner shown in Figure 5 in which the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 3, are used to identify corresponding parts. In Figure 5, four baffle-members are shown inserted at the left-hand side of the grid-aperture and four at the right-hand side, but with the direction of their cranked cross-section oppositely disposed. The vacant space in the centre of the grid-aperture can no.w be used to accommodate fluorescent lighting tubes 41. A reflector 42 in the form of a rectangular lid is fitted over the innermost pair of baffle-members 7a, 7b. Moreover, since these two members are arranged with their cranked cross-sections oppositely directed, their inwardly directed flanges 12a, 12b can serve to support a light diffuser-member 43, thus putting to practical use, the cranked formation of the members 7, previously described.

The details described above and shown in the drawings have of course been given only by way of example,.and they may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

For instance, in Figures 1 to 3 and 5, instead of the end-members 17,18 being merely inserted between the extremities of the support-members 8,9 and the grid-members 1,2 (possibly with the use of spring clips as referred to above), the members 17,18 may have ears or lugs like the - 10 41759 members 7 and like the members 33,34 of Figure 4. The supportmembers 8,9 will then be formed with cut-out corners like the members 31,32 of Figure 4, to receive these lugs. Such cut-outs may be formed, both in the case of the support-members 8,9 and the support-members 31,32, with vertical slots, to interfit snugly with the lugs 13,14 or 38.

Claims (7)

1. A ceiling structure comprising a grid-arrangement consisting of intersecting grid-members defining grid-apertures and, located in at least one of the said apertures, an assembly comprising two parallel support-members carried by two grid-members disposed at opposite sides of the said aperture and at least one baffle-member extending between the support-members, the baffle-member having a projecting lug at each end thereof, engaging with a co-operating recess formed in the corresponding support-member.

2. A ceiling structure according to Claim 1, wherein the gridmembers are of inverted T-shaped cross-section and wherein the two support-member's have oppositely directed flanges by means of which the support-members are supported by flanges of the inverted T-shaped cross-section grid-members.

3. A ceiling structure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the lower edge of each lug is formed with an undercut notch interfitting with the co-operating recess in the corresponding supportmember.

4. A ceiling structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the or each baffle-member is of cranked cross-section,, having a flat portion, a portion extending at an angle to the plane of the flat portion and a flange extending perpendicularly to the plane of the flat portion, and symmetrically relative thereto.

5. A ceiling structure according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each support-member is formed with a recess at the upper corners thereof, the recesses of the two support-members serving to receive the lugs of two baffle-members.

6. A ceiling structure according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each support-member is formed at its upper edge with a plurality of equally spaced slot-like recesses, the recesses of the two support-members serving to receive the lugs of a plurality of parallel baffle-members. - 12 41759

7. A ceiling structure, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3, or in Figure 1 as modified by Figure 4, or in Figure 1 as modified by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.