US2787813A

US2787813A - Suspended ceiling structure

Info

Publication number: US2787813A
Application number: US548638A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sylvan Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-11-23
Filing date: 1955-11-23
Publication date: 1957-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-09

Description

April 9, 1957 J. SYLVAN SUSPENDED CEILING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23 1955 INVENTOR.

s/OSiP/r Jrz na/v BY 6% 6i fiw/ is O ATTO/P/VEVJ April 9, 1957 J. SYLVAN 2,787,813

SUSPENDED CEILING STRUCTURE Filed N02. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOSE-PH J7 HA April 9, 1957 JfsYLvAN SUSPENDED CEILING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov 25, 1955 l lr v IN V EN TOR.

5% a/ w a SUSPENDED CEILlNG STRUCTURE Joseph Sylvan, Latln'up Village, Mich.

Application November 23, 1955, Serial No. 548,638

1 Claim. (Cl. 20-4) This invention relates to animproved ceilingstructure for buildings.

An object of the invention is the provision of alightweight ceiling which may be installed below the roof framework or below the floor joist framework of the superjacent floor both quickly and efliciently, and which, because of its light Weight, will reduce the necessary amount of such overhead framework below that which is normally required to support a conventional ceiling composed of plaster and lath, and thereby effect a substantial saving in the cost of such framework. Once my, improved ceiling is installed there is no upkeep cost, and no painting thereof is required.

Another object of the invention-is the provision of a States Patent ceiling structure suspended from the, overheadframework of a building and comprising a plurality of lightweight metal panels formed, for example, of sheet aluminum or an alloy thereof, and so fastened together and suspended from such overhead framework that the panels may shift relative to one another, thereby providing a ceiling structure that will not warp or buckle under temperature changes and which, in effect, floats beneath the overhead framework of the building.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a suspended metal ceiling formed of a plurality of metal panels, of self-supporting stiffening ribs which'function not only to stiffen the ceiling and ensure registry of the meeting edges of the panels, but also provide means to which hangers may be connected for suspending the'ceiling from the overhead framework of the building, orto which light fixtures may be attached for suspension below the ceiling. I

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a suspended lightweight metal ceiling comprising a plurality of co-planar panels suspended by novel hangers from the overhead framework of the building for shiftable movement in horizontal planes relative to each other, and wherein certain of the hangers are flexible to permit such shiftable movement between the panels, and wherein certain other of the hangers are rigid to prevent displacement of the entire ceiling as a unit relative to the overhead framework and walls of the building.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features will more fully appear from the specification, claim, and accompanying drawing, wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective top-view of a ceiling embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line "3-3 of Fig. l v

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective. view looking up at the ceiling;

Fig. 6 is a: top fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which'the'ceilingmeets :thewall of the building along the longitudinal edge of the ceiling panels;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view through one of the panelhold-down pads; and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of a modified ceiling hanger.

My improved ceiling includes a plurality of panels 10 which may be, and are preferably, formed of sheet aluminum, or a lightweight alloy thereof, with the panels arranged in a regular matching pattern and joined together and suspended in a novel manner from an overhead support or framework 12 of the building 13 in which the ceiling is installed. My improved ceilingfis particularly adapted for suspension from the metal framework of a building supporting the roof or superjacent floor, and in the drawings is shownas being suspended from such a framework. Because my ceiling is substantially lighter than a conventional plaster and lath ceiling, the. size of the members comprising the overhead framework may be correspondingly reduced thereby effecting a substantial saving in the cost of such framework. Because the panels are formed of aluminum, they will not rust and do not require painting, and in addition will serve to reflect the heat from-both sides of the ceiling and thereby act as a thermal insulator.

The panels 10 may be of similar size and shape. In the drawings they are shown as rectangularly shaped, and this is preferable when a room of any great size isbeing constructed. The panels may be anywhere from six feet or less to more than fourteen feet in length and nearly two feet in width. They may be formed of standard available, size aluminum sheeting of .032 gaugealuminum.

The longitudinal edges of each panel, as distinguished from the laterally extending opposite ends, are turned up to form

resilient flanges

14 and 16 as-shown in Fig. 2. The flange 14 is inclined at an obtuse angle Awith respect to its panel and at the edge of such flange is. folded as at 18 to overlie the top of flange 16. A longitudinally extending stiffeningrib 2% or 22 is disposed in. abutment with flange 16 and underlies the folded upper lip 24 of flange 16 to be secured thereto by nails or the like 25.

The stiffening ribs 243 and 22 may be formed of wood and serve to aid in the prevention of sagging of the panels. Rib 22 is of a greater width than rib 20 for the purpose of providing a support to which a light fixture channel 26 may be secured as by means of nails or screws 28.

The longitudinal edges of the panels 10 at opposite sides of the room in which the ceiling is installed are supported as shown in Fig. 2. The flange 16 of the panel at the left side of Fig. 2 is cut away and the remaining edge of the panel rests upon the molding 30 at the upper edge of the lath 32 and plaster 34 of the wall. An angle strip or tensioning pad 36, nailed as at 38 to wall elements 40 of the building wall, overlies the panel-and holds and tensions the same downwardly against the molding 30. A trim molding 42 may be nailed asat 44 to molding 30 to cover the joint and give a finished appearance. It will be noted that a space is left between the edge of the panel and the wall element 46, and it is Within this space that the panel may expand and contract laterally in response to temperature changes. 'At the opposite longitudinal edge of the ceiling shown at'the right hand side of Fig. 2, the flange 16' overlies the .wall

elements 40 with that portion of the panel adjacent the flange resting upon molding 3i Opposite ends or lateral edges'of theceiling, as distinguished from the longitudinal edges, are supported at the walls of the room or building structure in which the ceiling is suspended, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Such edges of the panels rest upon the molding 30 and lengths of angle pads or tension members '46 are nailed or otherwise secured to the wall 'elementslll to the hanger.

overlie the panels between the flanges thereof and hold the panels down against the molding 30.

To suspend the panels from the overhead framework of the building, I have provided a plurality of hangers which are connected at their lower ends to the panels and at their upper ends to the framework. These hangers are of metal, for example aluminum, and serve to ground the ceiling to the framework and prevent establishment of an electric potential therebetween. In each ceiling there are two different types of hangers, the wire hangers 50 and the rigid hangers 52, each of which is shown respectively in Figs. 2 and 3, with a modified form of hanger 52 shown in Fig. 8 at 54-. Hangers 52 serve to carry the greater proportion of the weight of the ceiling and prevent swaying of the entire ceiling. The hangers 50 are adapted to prevent sagging of the ceiling intermediate hangers 52 while still permitting shifting of the panels relative to each other and relative to and between the hangers 52.

Hangers 52 are generally T-shaped with the head portion 54 underlying the meeting ends of the panels, as distinguished from the longitudinal edges, with the body portion of the T shape extending upwardly between such ends and rig-idly connected at the top to the framework 12 of the building. More specifically, the hangers 52 are formed of two pieces of aluminum or

light metal sheets

56 and 58 which are secured together as by rivets or the like 69. Both sheets are bent laterally at the top to form

flanges

62 and 64 which stiflen the hanger against lateral bending. Sheet 58 is bent outwardly away from sheet 56 just above rivets 60 to form with sheet 56 an eyebolt-receiving channel 66, within which are received, at spaced apart intervals, eyebolts or the like 68. A bolt 70 extends between the sides of channel 66, through the eye of bolt 68, and upon tightening rigidly holds the eyebolt within the channel. The upper end of the eyebolt is threaded and received through the framework 12 with nuts 72 overlying and underlying the framework to rigidly secure the eyebolt to the framework. With the eyebolts rigidly connected to the framework 12, and with the channel 66 securely fastened to the lower end of the bolts, the head portion 54 of the'hanger is held against swaying beneath the framework and forms a solid support for the panels.

The head portion 54 of hanger 52 is formed by bending the

sheets

56 and 58 outwardly away from each other and then upwardly to form upwardly opening channels with'a stiffening rib 74 received in each of the channels. The meeting ends of the panels rest upon the upper edges of the outer walls of the rib-receiving channels and upon the libs therein. It will be noted that the meeting ends of the panels are spaced from the

sheets

56 and 58 as at 76 and this permits the panels to shift relative to the hanger.

On opposite sides of the hanger are means for tensioning the panels downwardly against the head portion of Such means comprise generally L-shaped members 78 which, before installation and tightening on the hanger, are of a cross sectional shape shown in the 1 solid outline in Fig. 7. The two angularly related portions of members 78 are formed at an obtuse angle .therebetween. The members are installed on the hangers by means of bolts or the like 80 and the members are sprung to the position shown in the dotted outline of Fig. 7 or as shown in Fig. 3. With the members so secured ,to the hanger they serve to tension the panels downwardlyagainst the ribs 74 and prevent any undesirable looseness between the hanger and the panels. However, the downward tensioning of members 78 is not so great'as to prevent shifting of the panels in a horizontal plane relative to the hangers, which shifting may be zontal misalignment of the overhead building framework.

The hangers 50 are formed of aluminum wire or the like'and are extended over the framework 12 at their upper ends and wound upon themselves to effect the se curement of the hangers to the framework. The lower end of each wire is passed through provided apertures in the

flanges

14 and 16 and through the stiffening

ribs

20 and 22 and thereafter wrapped upon itself to secure the lower end of each hanger to the ceiling panels. The loop 82 formed in the lower end of each hanger 50 serves to tie

flanges

14 and 16 of adjacent panels together and yet permit limited shifting of the panels in horizontal planes. Vertical shifting of the panels relative to each other is, however, prevented by the loops. The hangers 50 prevent sagging of the panels intermediate the hangers 52 and the walls of the building. The hangers also serve to ground the panels to the overhead framework as mentioned in connection with hangers 52.

The T-shaped head portion 54 of the hangers 52 are cut away as at 84 in Fig. 5 to permit the downwardly opening light fixture channels 26 to extend at right angles to the hangers 52. The panel-hold-down means 78, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, may be of a length to fit between the upstanding flanges at opposite sides of the panels.

It will be noted that the means 78 and head portion 54 of each hanger 52 cooperates to form oppositely opening horizontally extending panel-receiving channels extending throughout the length of the hangers and interrupted only where the

flanges

14 and 16 intercept the hangers 52. It will also be noted that the uppermost side wall of said channels is tensioned toward the opposite side wall to grippingly engage the end of a panel received therebetween,

The modification 55 of hanger 52 is shown in Fig. 8 and is generally similar to hanger 52 in that it is T-shaped in cross section. The body portion proper of hanger 55 is, however, formed of one piece and provided with detents or a locking land 86 on opposite sides and under which the upper edge of the tensioning means 78 is received to urge the panels 10 downwardly against the head portion 88 of the hanger. The bolts tension the angle members 78 inwardly toward the hanger. The head portion 88 of the hanger is of heavier gauge metal than the metal forming the head of hanger 52 and therefore the stiffening ribs 74 shown in connection with hanger 52 are not provided in hanger 55 at the head portion.

Because the panels 10 are formed of light-weight aluminum the panels are flexible. The means for suspending the panels, including the stiifening ribs, are peculiarly well suited for suspending large panels of flexible aluminum sheets without warping or sagging of the sheets while permitting limited relative shifting of the panels under the influence of temperature changes or slight settling of the building.

Because each of the marginal panels of the ceiling is yieldingly gripped along the walls of the room or build- .ing wherein the ceiling is installed, and because all of the panels are yieldingly gripped at the meeting end edges by hangers 52 or 55, and because the longitudinal edges of the panels are tensioned apart by obtuse flange 14, the panels will not rattle upon sudden pressure changes in the room when doors into the room in which the ceiling is suspended are suddenly opened or closed. Because the panels are flexible they will deflect sound toward the walls of the building or room in which the ceiling is suspended and will notdeflect sound directly down toward the floor. Because of this acoustic materials need not be applied to the ceiling to dampen sound waves striking it.

It will be noted from the various figures of the drawing that the edges of the planar faces of the panels at the margin of the ceiling are spaced from the walls of the room to permit expansion of the ceiling at the walls both laterally and longitudinally.

Because the improved ceiling hereiuabove described may be formed of relatively large panels, with means for suspending the panels which are readily attachable to the overhead framework of the building and to which the panels themselves may be readily secured, the ceiling may be installed very rapidly and without highly skilled labor.

What I claim is:

In a ceiling structure for suspension below the overhead framework of a building: a plurality of lightweight metal panels having opposite edges upturned to form upstanding flanges with the panels arranged in co planar relationship and with said flanges in abutment, one flange of each abutting pair of flanges being inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to its panel and having a lip portion along the free edge overlying the upstanding edge of the abutting flange on the, adjacent panel with the inclined flange spacing the panels apart adjacent their faces to permit limited relative shifting of the panels, a stiffening rib member extending longitudinally over'a face of each panel and in abutment with the other flange of each pair of abutting flanges and connected thereto, and Wire hangers extended at their lower ends through and secured to the flanges and stiffening rib member of each pair of abutting flanges and connected at their upper ends to the overhead framework of the building to suspend the panels in spaced relationship therebelow.

Re'erences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,101,952 Olsen Dec. 14, 1937 2,153,320 Venzie Apr. 4, 1939 2,309,685 Droeger Feb. 2, 1943 2,648,102 Jacobson Aug. 11, 1953