US2943367A - Ceiling structure - Google Patents

Description

July 1960 HERBERT K. WONG 2,943,367

CEILING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 2. .1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

INVENTOR. 3 Herbert K Wong Attorneys July 5, 1960 HERBERT K. WONG 2,943,367

CEILING STRUCTURE Filed Dec 2. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F i g. 3

5-6 I03 I? l2 l4 l3 F i g. 4

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INVENTOR. Herbert K Wong Attorneys CEILING STRUCTURE Herbert K. Wong, San Francisco, Calif., assignor by mesne assignments, to University of Illinois lioundation, Urbana, 111., a non-profit organization of Ilhnors,

Filed Dec. 2, 1955, Ser. No. 550,543

Claims. (Cl. 20-4) This invention relates to ceiling structures consisting of light-weight panels supported by a grid, and in particular to improvements in such structures whereby the panels are securely held in place within the grid but may easily and quickly be removed when desired for cleaning or for other purposes.

In modular ceiling structures, having a plurality of panels arranged side-by-side like tiles to cover a ceiling area, it is often desirable to use light-weight ceiling panels, made from thin embossed sheets of plastic or the like, which may have sound-absorbing properties and which may be translucent for transmitting and diffusing light from lighting fixtures installed above the ceiling. The panels are usually supported by a grid of T-beams or runners having horizontal flanges that underlie and support peripheral portions of the panels.

Because of the light weight of the panels, retaining or hold-down means must be provided to prevent upward displacement of the panels by gusts of air or the like. Provisions should be made for releasing or unlocking the retaining means to facilitate installation of the panels and to permit quick and easy removal of the panels for cleaning, for replacement of lamps in the lighting fixtures, and for other purposes.

Heretofore, the retaining means in such ceiling structures have been fairly complex and expensive, or have had other disadvantages. Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide an improved modular ceiling structure having panel-retaining members'of the utmostsimplicity, which are exceptionally inexpensive to manufacture and to install. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of this invention, an improved modular ceiling structure has light: weight panels, each with a periphery containing one or more indentations or notches. The panels are supported by a grid of runners, each having an upstanding web and a horizontal flange that underlies a peripheral portion of a panel for supporting the same. Movable and stationary retaining members are mounted upon the webs of runners located on opposite peripheral sides of the panel, and each of these retaining members has a flange that overlies a peripheral edge of the panel to prevent upward displacement of the panel by air currents and the like. The flange of each movable retaining member can be moved into alinement with a notch in the periphery of a panel, to facilitate installation of the panels and to permit quick and easy removal of the panels when desired.

The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings,

Fig'.' 1 is a fragmentary top view of a ceiling structure embodying principles of this invention, showing one ceiling panel and the supporting and retaining structure therefor;

. Patented, July 5, 1 960 Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a cross-runner of the same-ceiling structure;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a stationary retaining member of the same ceiling structure;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a, movable retaining member of the same ceiling structure; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing an. alternative movable retaining member.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, a ceiling panel consists or two parallel nested embossed sheets, 1' and 2, preferably made of lightweight plastic material. Sheets 1 and 2 may be translucentv for transmitting and diffusing light from lighting fixtures (not shown) mounted above theceiling structure, or, if light transmission is not desired, sheets 1 and 2 may be opaque. Flat peripheral portions of sheets 1 and 2 are in contact, as shown, while central portions thereof are embossed outward to, provide an air chamber that enhances the sound-absorbing characteristics of the panel and also improves the light-diffusing properties. If desired, one of the sheets 1 and 2 may be omitted, in which case the panel will consist of a single plastic sheet. Furthermore, within the scope of broader principles of this invention, panels of other materials such as conventional acoustic tile may be employed.

Sheets 1 and 2 have nested upstanding peripheral flanges, as shown, which strengthen the periphery of the panel and have other purposes that will become apparent as the description proceeds. These flanges are indented, as shown, to form one or more notches 3 in the periphery of the panel. Only one notch 3 is essential, but preferably each of the four peripheral sides of the panel'has a pair of such notches, positioned symmetrically withrespect to the' center of that panel side, so that thepanel may be installed in any desired position. i The periphery of the panel preferably is square, and it may beof any desired size. According to" the scale of the drawings, the panel illustrated'is about eight 'inches squ are, but in' practice larger panels are generally used. Most frequent ly in practice, each panel is' about twenty-four inches square, and in some cases the panels may be'forty-eight inches square, or larger. Panels that are not square, and in particular rectangular panels that are longer than' they are wide, may also be used in some instances.

The panel is supported by a rectangular grid consisting of parallel main runners 4 and 5 and cross-runners6 and 7 extending perpendicular to the main runners. 'Consequently, each panel is supported by four runners. Any desired number of panels and runners may be employed to form a modular ceiling structure covering any desired ceiling area. The cross-runners may be attached to the main runners by any suitable means (not shown). The

grid of runners is supported by conventional hangers or wires attached to portions of the building.

Each of the runners is an inverted T-beam having an I upstanding web and horizontal flanges integral therewith and perpendicular thereto. Flanges of the four runners supporting each panel are in a common plane andunderlie and support the periphery of the panel. The panel may be installed from below the. grid by inserting it diagonally edgewise through the openingbetween the runners, then turning the panel fiat so that its periphery lies upon the runner flanges, Althquglrthe weighfo f the panel tends to hold it in. place, becausethe p very light it may be displaced upward by a gust ior c rent of air in the room. Consequently, retaining means are required to prevent such upward displacement of the panel after it is installed in place, while'per mitting'easy removal of the panelwhen such is desired for cleaning the panel or other purposes.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the re taining means for the panel consist of a stationary retaining member 8 mounted on cross-runner '7, and a movable retaining member. 9 mounted on cross-runner 6. Alternatively, both retaining members may be 'of the movable type. If desired, retaining members 8 and'9 may be mounted on the main runners 4 and 5 instead of on the cross-runners 6 and 7, or more than two retaining members may be used. The two retaining members have flanges that overlie opposite peripheral side portions of the panel, thereby holding the panel securely in place andpreventing upward displacement thereof. Retaining member 9 is movable lengthwise to a certain extent along runner 6, so that its upper flange, which is smaller than notch 3 in the panel periphery, can be brougth into alinement with notch 3 for easy installation and removal of the panel.

A side elevation of cross-runner 6 is shown in Fig. 3, and cross-runner 7 is identical thereto. The web of each cross-runner contains two horizontal slots 10 and 11 that are used in attaching the retaining members to the cross-runners. Slots 1.0 and 11 are identical, and preferably are symmetrically placed relative to the center of the cross-runner. Each cross-runner has two slots so that two retaining members may be attached thereto, the two retaining members being generally placed on opposite sides of the web for retaining two panels on opposite sides of the runner. Since each side of the panel has two symmetrically positioned notches, either retaining member may be attached through either of the symmetrically positioned slots 10 and 11. Slot 10, which is identical to slot 11, has a straight horizontal upper edge, and has a lower edge consisting of two flat depressions 12 and 13 at opposite ends of the slot between a higher flat portion or plateau 14, as shown. Preferably the sides of plateau 14 are slanting or oblique.

The stationary retaining member 8 is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The stationary retaining member is punched from a single sheet of metal and is bent into the shape shown. Major portions thereof are flat, coplanar and vertical, and when installed are adjacent to and in contact with a side of the runner web, as is best shown in Fig. 2. A lengthwise portion 15 at the top of the stationary retaining member is folded outward, away from the panel, and when installed extends over the top and down the opposite side of the runner web, as shown. A longitudinal folded portion of the retaining member is bent inward, toward the panel, perpendicular to the vertical portions and forms a horizontal flange 16 that overlies a peripheral portion of the ceiling panel. A tab 17, offset outward from a vertical portion at the bottom of retaining member 8, extends through a horizontal slot of the web and down the opposite side of the web. Just above tab 17 in the same vertical portion, there is a U-shaped cut forming another tab 18 that is bent outward through the slot of the web after installation of the retaining member to hold the retaining member securely in place.

Preferably, all portions of retaining member 8 except tab 18 are bent to the shapes shown before the retaining member is mounted on the runner. Installation of the retaining member on the runner is accomplished by inserting tab 17 through one of the horizontal slots 10 and 11 in the runner web, so that the major vertical portions of member 8 are in contact with one side of the web, and then pressing the retaining member downward so that tab 17 and the folded portion 15 firmly engage the opposite side of the web to hold the retaining member in place. Tab 18 is then bent through the horizontal slot in the web, and is adjacent to the upper edge of the slot. This prevents substantial upward movement of the retaining member relative to the web, and thus securely attaches it to the runner.

Tab 17 preferably is substantially equal to length to each of the horizontal slots 10 and 11, so that retaining member 8 is substantially stationary on the runner after it has been installed, although tab 17 may be somewhat shorter, if desired. Since tab 18 can be bent through the slot simply by pressing upon this tab with a screwdriver or the like, mounting of the retaining member upon the cross-runner is easily accomplished at the construction site. The construction of the retaining member is exceptionally simple and inexpensive, since it is merely punched and bent from a single sheet of metal.

Movable retaining member 9 is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. This member also is punched from a single sheet of metal and bent to the shape shown. A vertical portion of member 9 is adjacent to and in contact with one side of the web of runner 6, as is best shown in Fig. 2. The top portion of member 9 is bent inward toward the panel to form an upper horizontal flange 19 that overlies a peripheral side portion of the ceiling panel, while the bottom portion of member 9 is bent inward to form a lower horizontal flange 20 that underlies the peripheral portion of the ceiling panel and lies immediately above the horizontal flange of runner 6. A tab 21 is offset outward from the vertical portion of member 9 and extends through slot 10 in the runner web and down the opposite side of the web, thereby attaching retainer member 9 to runner 6. Immediately above tab 21 in the vertical portion there is a U-shaped cut forming a tab 22 that is bent outward through slot 10 when the retaining member is installed on the runner.

To install retaining member 9, tab 21 is inserted through slot 10, with the vertical portion of member 9 in contact with a side of the runner web, and the retaining member is pressed downward until tab 21 engages the opposite side of the runner web. Tab 22 is then bent outward through the slot 10, adjacent to the upper edge of the slot. This prevents substantial upward movement of the retaining member, and thus prevents its accidental removal from the runner. The length of tab 21 is considerably smaller than the slot 10, so that retaining member 9 can be moved lengthwise along the runner 6. A depending tab 23, bent downward from the end of flange 20, extends below the horizontal runner flange, and thus provides a convenient means for moving retaining member 9 lengthwise along the runner.

The length of tab 21 is substantially equal to the length of flat depressions 12 and 13 at opposite ends of slot 10. When tab 21 rests in depression 12, flange 9 overlies a peripheral portion of the ceiling panel and locks the panel in position. When tab 21 rests in depression 13, flange 9 is alined with notch 3 so that the panel can be pushed upward to remove it from the supporting grid. The plateau 14 between depressions 12 and 13 prevents accidental movement of member 9 from its locked" position to its unlocked position, since the combined weight of member 9 and the ceiling panel resting upon flange 20 tends to hold tab 21 within depression 12. However, the retaining member can easily be moved to its unlocked position by a slight pressure upon tab 23, whenever such is desired. This movement is facilitated by the slanting sides of plateau 14.

An alternative form of the removable retaining member is shown in Fig. 6. This member, also punched from a single sheet of metal, has a folded upper portion 24 that engages the top of the runner web in the same manner as does the folded portion 15 of retaining member 8. An upper horizontal flange that overlies the peripheral portion of the ceiling panel is formed by a lengthwise fold 25, as shown. Oflset tab 26 extends through the slot 10 in the same manner as the tab 21 of member 9. Lower flange 27 underlies a peripheral portion of the ceiling panel and lies just above the horizontal flange of the cross-runner. A depending tab 28 may be folded under the horizontal flange of the runner to assist in holding the retaining member in place on the cross-runner.

It should be understood that this invention in its broader aspects is not limited to specific embodiments herein illustrated and described, and that the following claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications that do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A ceiling structure comprising a ceiling panel having a periphery containing a notch, a grid of runners having horizontal flanges and upstanding webs, said runner flanges underlying and supporting the periphery of said panel, and a retaining member attached to and movable lengthwise along the web of one of said runners, said retaining member having a flange overlying the periphery of said panel for holding the panel in place, said flange of the retaining member being smaller than said notch so that said panel can be removed when said member is moved to a position where said retaining member flange is alined with said notch.

2. A ceiling structure comprising a panel having a rectangular periphery, said periphery having a first side containing a notch and a second side opposite said first side, a rectangular grid of runners each having a horizontal flange and an upstanding web, said runner flanges underlying and supporting the periphery of said panel, a stationary retaining member mounted on one of said runners, said stationary member having a flange overlying said second peripheral side of the panel, a movable retaining member mounted on another of said runners, said movable member having upper and lower flanges respectively overlying and underlying said first peripheral side of the panel, whereby said panel is held in place, said upper flange being smaller than said notch, said movable member being attached to and movable lengthwise along the web of a runner so that said upper flange can be brought into alinement with said notch, whereby said panel can be removed, said lower flange lying immediately over the runner flange, and a tab depending from said lower flange for moving said movable member.

3. A ceiling panel comprising two parallel nested sheets having flat rectangular peripheral portions in contact with each other and having outwardly embossed central portions, said sheets having nested upstanding peripheral flanges, said flanges being indented to form a notch in a peripheral side of the panel.

4. In a supporting structure for ceiling panels, the combination comprising a runner having a horizontal flange and an upstanding web, said web containing a horizontal slot, and a retaining member having a vertical portion and a horizontal flange, said vertical portion being adjacent to one side of said web and having an offset tab extending through said slot and engaging the other side of said web to attach said retaining member to said runner.

5. In a supporting structure for ceiling panels, the combination comprising a runner having a horizontal flange and an upstanding web, said web containing a horizontal slot, and a retaining member having a vertical portion and a horizontal flange, said vertical portion being adjacent to one side of said web, said vertical portion having upper and lower tabs extending through said slot, said upper tab being adjacent to the upper edge of said slot and said lower tab being bent over the lower edge of said slot and extending downward adjacent to the opposite side of said web.

6. In a supporting structure for ceiling panels, the combination comprising a runner having a horizontal flange and an upstanding web, said web containing a horizontal slot, and a retaining member having upper and lower vertical major portions adjacent to one side of said web, the top of said upper vertical portion being folded over the top of said web into engagement with the opposite side thereof, a tab offset from said lower vertical portion extending through said slot and engaging the opposite side of said web, and a longitudinal folded portion between and bent perpendicular to said vertical portions to form a horizontal flange.

7. In a supporting structure for ceiling panels, the combination comprising a runner having a horizontal flange and an upstanding web, said web containing a horizontal slot, and a retaining member having a vertical portion and a horizontal flange, said vertical portion being adjacent to one side of said web and having an oifset tab extending through said slot and engaging the other side of said Web to attach said retaining member to said runner, the length of said tab being smaller than the length of said slot, whereby said retaining member is movable lengthwise along said runner.

8. A panel-retaining member for ceiling structures, consisting of a one-piece metal sheet having a flat portion and a horizontal flange bent perpendicularly thereto, having an offset tab bent out from said flat portion on the side thereof opposite said flange, and having a U-shaped cut in said flat portion between said tab and said flange.

9. A panel-retaining member for ceiling structures, consisting of a one-piece metal sheet having two coplanar substantially flat portions, and having a longitudinal folded portion between and bent perpendicular to said flat portions to form a flange, one of said flat portions having a folded edge, the other of said flat portions having an offset tab, said folded edge and said offset tab being bent out from said flat portions on the side thereof opposite said flange.

10. A panel-retaining member for ceiling structures, consisting of a one-piece metal sheet having two parallel flanges bent substantially perpendicular to and on the same side of a flat portion therebetween, said flat portion having an offset tab bent out from the side thereof opposite said flanges, said flat portion having a U-shaped cut between said tab and one of said flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 683,799 Reavis Oct. 1, 1901 923,156 Downie June 1, 1909 999,509 Lydon Aug. 1, 1911 1,161,316 Jones Nov. 23, 1915 1,644,940 Moyer Oct. 11, 1927 1,707,008 Havemeyer Mar. 26, 1929 1,975,002 Heerwagen Sept. 25, 1934 1,978,632 Hoff Oct. 30, 1934 1,997,580 Gibson Apr. 16, 1935 2,009,512 Ofiutt July 30, 1935 2,027,004 Stewart Jan. 7, 1936 2,157,316 Arkus May 9, 1939 2,569,941 Mastrangelo et al. Oct. 2, 1951 2,728,595 Wong Dec. 27, 1955

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