US2830683A - Means for securing inverted t-shaped members in a metal grid - Google Patents

Description

Apnl 15, 1958 s. GRIFFITH 2,830,683

MEANS FOR SECURING INVERTED T-SHAPED MEMBERS IN A METAL GRID Filed Feb. 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I E I] l nvwszvron H I 'STEWARD GRIFFITH ATTORNEY April 15, 1953 s GRIFFITH 2,830,683

MEANS FOR SECURIN G INVERTED T-SHAPED MEMBERS IN A METAL GRID Filed Feb. 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 24 26 I is ii 5 l8 1 l3 fi3 fi l7 :22 v 6 l2 l2 6 l4 l3 fi INVENTOR. STEWARD GRIFFITH ATTORNEY 2,830,683 Patented Apr. 15, 1958 I ice MEANS FOR SECURING INVERTED T-SHAPED MEMBERS m A METAL GRID Steward Grifi'ith, Portland, Greg.

Application February 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,873

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) This invention relates in general to the forming of metal grids or grill Work in which substantially T-shaped metal members are arranged in relative crosswise position, producing series of intersecting joints between such members, similar to the so-called muntins and muntin joints.

More particularly and specifically, this invention relates to metal grids of the type used for mounting or supporting acoustical tiles in ceiling construction wherein the tilesupporting grid comprises parallel main members and parallel transverse members, the transverse members be- 1 ing supported by and extending between the main members. In such construction customarily both the main and transverse members are of identical cross sections and constitute T-bars arranged with their flanges forming the bottom of the structure or grid, so that the acoustical tiles, when set in place, will rest on and be supported by the horizontal flanges of the grid members.

In a proper ceiling construction or grid of this type the bottom or horizontal flanges of the main and transverse members should not only extend in the same horizontal bottom plane, and thus be flush at all joint connections, but the joint connections should also be tight so that there will be no gaps showing between the ends and the side edges of the flanges of the intersecting members since such gaps are unsightly and mar the appearance of the grid as viewed from below and thus detract from the overall effect of the finished ceiling structure.

Various methods and means have heretofore been devised for forming the joints between intersecting members in such grid structures. In general, I have foundthat these either require much time and labor and thus involve considerable expense, or else the joints produced are faulty in either strength or appearance.

A J principal object of the present invention is to provide improved means for securing transverse, inverted T-shaped members together at their intersections with corresponding main members in a metal grid, which will enable the grid structure to be strong, durable and satisfactory in appearance, but which will also be practical and will not require excessive time, labor or skill.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved joint assembly for intersecting T-shaped bars in a grid construction in which the various parts of the assembly can be largely pre-formed so that the completing of the joint assembly on the job will be facilitated.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved joint construction of the type indicated in which the setting of the members in place and the securing of these together will not require any special skill on the part of the operator, and whereby a completely satisfactory joint will not fail to result with the exercise of ordinary care on the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved prefabricated joint construction for metal grids of the type indicated in which prefabricating and preforming of the members and parts of such construction can be done easily and inexpensively.

An additional object is to provide a grid construction wherein the securing of the transverse members together at their intersections with the main members can be done with the aid of only a simple tool and in a satisfactory and fool-proof manner.

The manner in which and the means by which I attain these objects and incidental advantages through my invention will be readily understood from the following brief description with reference to the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of an acoustical tile-supporting grid for a ceiling formed in accordance with my invention, the view being taken from above the grid structure;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 22 of Figure 1, drawn to a slightly larger scale;

Figure 3 is an elevation of one of the prefabricated transverse members of the grid shown by itself before being mounted in place;

Figure 4 is an elevation of one of the prefabricated clips by means of which the ends of a pair of aligned transverse members are secured together in place on a main member of the grid structure;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Figure 2, showing a pair of aligned transverse members and their connecting clip set-up preparatory to the securing of the same together in the grid structure;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan section taken on line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan section similar to Figure 6, but showing the clip firmly secured to one of the pair of transverse members, as the result of a further step in the carrying out of my invention; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 2, showing the pair of aligned transverse members and their connecting clip secured tightly together in position as a result of the completion of the final step in the mounting of the two transverse members in place.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the metal grid for supporting the acoustical ceiling tiles 10 includes main T-shaped members 11, which extend across the top of the room from one wall to the other and which are parallel and equally spaced apart. One of such main members is shown in the portion of the grill structure illustrated in Figure 1. Short, transversely-extending T-shaped members 12 extend between the main members 11 and are positioned at right angles thereto. The main members 11 and the transverse members 12 are preferably identical in cross section. The horizontal flanges 13 of the main members 11 and the horizontal flanges 14 of the transverse members 12 extend in the same horizontal plane,-

and the acoustical tiles 10 rest on these bottom flanges in the individual rectangular spaces provided by the grid structure, such arrangement being well known for ceiling constructions of this type. The manner in which the grid structure, that is to say the main members 11 and transverse members 12, are attached at their ends to the upper portion of the side walls of the room will be explained later on.

The main members 11, in addition to being precut in the proper length, are notched at regular predetermined intervals along their top edge, as shown at 15 in Figure 1, the spacing of the notches being made to correspond to the desired spacing of the transverse members in the grid to be constructed and thus corresponding approximately to one lateral dimension of the acoustical tiles 10, while the spacing between the main members 11 will correspond approximately to the other lateral dimension of the acoustical tiles.

In making grid structures of this type, it is necessary not only that the transverse members 12 be firmly Supported by the main members 11 at the proper locations or intersections, but also that the bottom flanges of the adjoining members be absolutely flush and be held tightly together, so that no irregularities and no openings in the joints will be apparent in the ceiling grid structure who viewed from below.

In the carrying out of my invention, the transverse members 12 are cut the desired length, such length being equal to the spacing between the main members 11, or, more exactly, to the spacing between the edges of the flanges of successive main members. In addition to being cut in such predetermined length, the transverse members 12, in the carrying out of my invention, are each formed with a pair of spaced, longitudinally-aligned rectangular tongues 16 at one end, the tongues being located at predetermined distances in from such end (see ure 3). These tongues extend in the same direction and extend towards the adjacent end of the transverse member, and the tongues are slightly offset so as to extend in a plane parallel to the plane of the center rib of the transverse member. The shape, formation and relative location of these tongues 16 will be noted upon referring to Figures 3 and 6.

For connecting each successive pair of aligned transverse members I employ a special saddle-shaped or U-shaped clip 17, which constitutes an important part of my invention. The clips 17 are all identical, and, as evident, are so formed as to be slipped over the ends of the center ribs of each successive pair of aligned trans verse members 12, the clip then extending over and resting upon the interposed main member 11. Each clip 17 is notched at the center, as shown at 13 in Figure 4. The Width of the notch 18 is made greater than the thickness of the center rib of the main members 11 for a reason to be presently explained, and the notch 18 is cut to exactly the right depth in conjunction with the deplh of the notches 15 in the main members 11, so that when the clip is set on a main member 11, with its notch 18 resting in a notch 15' of a main member, the inside surface of the top or saddle of the clip will be exactly even with the top edge of the center rib of the supporting main member. Each clip 17 is formed with pairs of cut-out openings 19 in its side walls. These cut-out openings 19 are located near one end of the clip and are so positioned as to register with the pair of tongues 16 when that por tion of the clip is slid down into position on that end of a transverse member in which the tongues are located.

When the clip has been set on the tongued end of one transverse member and is positioned at the desired location on the main member 11, with the notch 18 of the clip resting in a notch 15 of the main member, then the opposite end of a second transverse member 12 is slid into place in the opposite end of the clip 17, as illustrated in Figure 5, and the two aligned transverse members are brought into engagement respectively with the adjacent edges of the flanges 13 of the interposed main member. When the two transverse members 12, 12 and their connecting clip 17 have been correctly positioned with respect to the main member 11 (as illustrated in Figure 5), the clip 17 is rigidly secured to the second transverse member (thus, the transverse member on the right, as viewed in Figure 5), by partially punching out two series of opposed tongue-like indentations 25B, 2 1 (Fig. 7) through the side walls of the clip and the interposed rib of the second transverse member. The partial punching out of these two series of opposed, or oppositely arranged tongue-like indentations can be easily done with a simple punch-out press of well known construction, and this operation results in rigidly locking the clip and the end of the second transverse member together. Other means could, of course, be employed for accomplishing the same purpose, as, for example, providing holes through the clip and the center rib of the second transverse member and then securing the clip and transverse member together by rivets or bolts. However, the punch ing out of the two series of locking indentations or tongues in the manner described is simpler, quicker and cheaper, and consequently I prefer this means of securing the clip to the second transverse member in the carrying out of my method.

When the clip 17 has been rigidly secured to the second transverse member 12, the final step in the completion of the joint connection consists in thrusting the two tongues 16, 16 into further ofiset position by pressing these tongues out through the receiving openings 19 in the clip 17. This is also done very easily and quickly with a simple punch-out tool.

It will be noted, by comparing Figures 7 and 8, that the forcible thrusting of the tongues 16, 16 into this further offset position not only locks the first transverse member and the clip 17 together but also exerts a force to cause the first transverse member and the clip to move relatively slightly in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 8.

Since the clip 17 has previously been rigidly connected to the second transverse member any such relative movement between the clip and the first transverse member in opposite directions would produce corresponding movement of the two transverse members towards each other and thus into tighter pressing engagement with the respective flange edges of the intervening main member 11.

The manner in which this force is set up, tending to pull the two transverse members against the main member, will be understood from. a comparison of Figures 7 and 8. It is due to the fact that as the extent to which the tongues 16, 16 are offset is increased the attaching portion 16A of each tongue is made to assume more nearly a right angle position with respect to the side wall of the clip, and in this manner is thrust more firmly against the abutting edge in the opening 19 in the clip through which the tongue extends. While any resulting movement of the two transverse members towards each other in this manner would, at most, be only a very small fraction of an inch, nevertheless the exertion of this force is suflicient to accomplish the purpose of setting both transverse members into tighter engagement with the respective flange edges of the intervening main member 11, with the result that the desired tight joint connection is established and maintained. This is a very important feature of my invention and this tightening of the joint is also achieved with a minimum of labor. The fact that the width of the notch 18 of the clip is made greater than the thickness of the center rib of the main member 11 makes possible any such self-adjustment of the two transverse members and connecting clip with respect to the main member 11.

For supporting the ceiling grid structure and attaching the adjacent ends of the various T-shaped members to the side walls of the room, I provide a wall strip 22 (Figures 1 and 2) adapted to be attached to each wall W by nails or screws. a bottom horizontal flange 23 which is arranged to extend in the same horizontal plane as the bottom flanges of the members 11 and 12. The height of the wall strip 22 is made to correspond to the height of the center ribs of be members 11 and 12 and the upper half of the wall strip is slightly offset outwardly from the wall.

An end clip 24 having two separate saddle portions 25 and 26 (Figure 1), is formed with a center right angle bend. One saddle portion 25 is set over the top of the wall strip 22 and the other saddle portion 26 is set on the center rib of the end of the T-shaped member which is to be secured to the wall. When the end clip 24 and the end of the T-shaped member to be secured to the wall are in proper position, and thus with the end of the flanged bottom of T-shaped member set against and flush with the bottom flange 23 of the wall member 22, the saddle portion 26 of the clip 24 is rigidly secured to the center rib of the T-shaped member. This is done preferably by partially punching out two series of opposed tongue-like The wall strip 22 is formed with I indentations 27 and 28 (Figures 1 and 2), through the walls of the saddle portion 26 and the interposed rib of the T-shaped member, similar to the partially punchedout indentations 20 and 21 previously described. This causes the end of the T-shaped member to be rigidly secured to the clip 24 and the clip 24 then serves to hold the end of the T-shaped member in place on the wall member 22. Thus, the ends of all the T-shaped members of the grid structure adjacent the wall surfaces are quickly and easily attached to the wall member 22.

Since the clips 24, as well as the clips 17, are prefabricated, the clips 17 being provided with the openings 19, and since each transverse T-shaped member is also preformed with the pair of tongues 16, 16 located near one end, the setting up of the grid, the securing of the same in place, and the forming and tightening of each joint in the grid can all be done with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

Minor modifications would be possible in the grid structure which I have illustrated and described without departing from the principle of my invention, but when my invention is employed specifically in the forming of metal grids for acoustical ceilings and the like, which I believe to be its most important use, I consider that the forming of the grid structure in exactly the way I have described to be the preferred manner of carrying out my invention.

I claim:

1. In a metal ceiling grid construction of the character described comprising parallel main members and aligned transverse members, said members being of inverted T-shape with a vertical center rib and a bottom horizontal flange and the bottom flanges of said main members and of said transverse members extending in the same horizontal plane, the improved means for securing a pair of successive aligned transverse members together supported on a main member therebetween with the ends of the bottom flanges of said pair of transverse members firmly thrust against the respective longitudinal edges of the bottom flange of said main member, said means consisting of an inverted U-shaped clip fitting over and joining the adjacent ends of the center ribs of said transverse members, the top edge of the center rib of said main member having a rectangular notch corresponding in width to the outside width of said clip, said clip extending through said notch, the bottom edges of the walls of said clip having a registering pair of notches centrally located on said clip, said center rib of said main member received in said notches of said clip, the width of said notches in said walls of said clip exceeding the thickness of said center rib of said main member, and thus enabling said clip to be slightly movable longitudinally on said main member center rib, one end of said clip rigidly and permanently secured to the center rib of one of said transverse members, the walls of said clip near the other end of said clip formed with two pairs of identical rectangular, transversely aligned openings, the remote edges of said openings with respect to said main member being vertical, a pair of rectangular tongues on the center rib of the other transverse member, the fold lines for said tongues being vertical, said tongues being of approximately the same size as said openings in said clip walls and in registration 6 t therewith, said tongues extending toward said main member, and said tongues pressed into outwardly-ofiset position through the openings in one of the walls of said clip with as much as possible of each offset tongue parallel with said clip, the engagement of said tongues with said remote edges of the clip openings through which said tongues are pressed resulting in a thrust of said transverse members against said main member.

2. A metal grid construction comprising parallel main members and aligned transverse members, said members being identical in cross section and being of inverted T-shape with a center rib and a bottom flange, the bottom flanges of said main members and said transverse members extending in the same plane, each pair of successive aligned transverse members secured together and sup ported on an interposed main member by means of an inverted U-shaped clip fitting over and joining the adjacent ends of the center ribs of the transverse members in the pair, the top edge of the center rib of the interposed main member having a rectangular notch corresponding in width to the outside width of said clip, said clip extending through said notch, the bottom edges of the walls of said clip having a registering pair of notches centrally located on said clip, said center rib of said main member received in said notches of said clip, the width of said notches in said walls of said clip exceeding the thickness of said center rib of the interposed main member so as to enable said clip to be slightly movable longitudinally on said main member center rib, one end of said clip rigidly and permanently secured to the center rib of one of the transverse members of the pair, the walls of said clip near the other end of said clip formed with two pairs of identical, transversely-aligned openings, the remote edges of said openings with respect to the interposed main member being parallel to the center rib of the interposed main member, a pair of tongues on the center rib of the other transverse member of the pair, the fold lines for said tongues being parallel to the center rib of the interposed main member, said tongues being of approximately the same size and shape as said openings in said clip walls and in registration therewith, said tongues extending toward the interposed main member, and said tongues pressed outwardly into offset position through the openings in one of the walls of said clip with as much as possible of each offset tongue parallel with said clip, the engagement of said tongues with said remote edges of the clip openings through which said tongues are pressed resulting in an added thrust of the pair of transverse members against the interposed main member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,000 Clarke et a1. June 10, 1890 1,412,763 Buckingham Apr. 11, 1922 1,420,099 Hauser June 20, 1922 1,956,809 Robertson May 1, 1934 2,049,925 Rafter Aug. 4, 1936 2,120,725 Zanin June 14, 1938 2,254,558 Williams Sept. 2, 1941 2,351,127 Hodson June 13, 1944 2,710,679 Bibb et a1 June 14, 1955

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