US2963132A

US2963132A - Fastening system

Info

Publication number: US2963132A
Application number: US402712A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry S Rosenbaum
Original assignee: EASTERN PROD CORP
Current assignee: Eastern Products Corp; EASTERN PROD CORP
Priority date: 1954-01-07
Filing date: 1954-01-07
Publication date: 1960-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 1977-12-06
Also published as: US2963130A

Description

Dec. 1950 H. s. ROSENBAUM 2963132 FASTEN1NG SYSTEM Filed Jan. '7. 1954 INVENTOR FASTENING SYSTEM Harry S. Rosenbaum, Baltimore, Md., assignor to EaStern Products Corporation, a corporation of Marylaud Filed Jan. 7, 1954, Set. N0. 402,712

4 Claims. (C1. 189-88) The present invention relates to a ceiling construction in a building assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fastening system for a suspended ceiling system in which the ceiling boards utilized there- With are readily rernoved for replacement thereof or for the purpose of gaining access to the space above the boards.

lt has been the practice in recent years in the constructin of modern buildings and in the renovation of antiquated buildings to employ a suspended ceiling system Wherein individually secured panels or ceiling boards are positioned in the suspended co-nstruotion. Generally, the'se ceiling boards have sound dea dening 01 acoustical characteristics and, in addition, are pleasing in appeara.nce.

Prior to the instant invention, the heretofore known ceiling, boards or panels were cons tructed such that they were permanently mounted in position. Thus, if a panel were to be replaced er i f it were necessary to gain access to the space above the ceiling, considerable time, labor and effort were expended in removing the panels. Moreover, oftentimes a single panel or group of panels would become damaged and would thereby have to be replaced. Hera again, considerable difiiculty was experienced in removing the defective panels. In addition, the replacernent panel did not always effect a true fit With the assembled panels, thereby destroying the appearance of the ceiling. 7 lt is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a suspended ceiling construction wherein each individual ceiling panel is securely locked in osition but is removable as desirecl.

Another object of the present invention is tq provide a ceiling construction which includes a panel fastening sys tem whe reby cross bars are firmly secured to supporting members, the supporting mernbers and cross bars. having flanges for the ends of the ceiling panels.

Still another object cf the present invention is to provide a clip for securing the cross bars to the supporting members, the clip being easily assembled in position with the supporting members and cross bars.

Still another object of the present invention is td provide a locking device whereby the ceiling panels or boards may be locked in position in the ceiling assembly but may be conveniently removed from the locked position, as desired. V

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a locking element for ceiling panels 01' boards Whereby a portion of the locking element extends below the ceiling panel or board, thereby providing for instant operation of the locking device when the ceiling board is to be replaced or removed.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instaut invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view cf the ceiling construction embodied in the present invention illustrating the manner ite Sites Patent in which the cross bars are secured in position between the supporting members by the clips and further illustrating the position of the locking elements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of Fig. 1 illustrating the clip secured to a supporting member and a cross bar, showing in particular a locking element;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view cf the c1ip and locking element embodied in the present invention as secured to a cross bar;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clip and cross bar with a Portion cf a supporting member shown in section; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the clip and cross bar with a portion of the supporting member shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, the ceiling construction embodied in the present invention is illustrated and includes a pair of parallel elongated supporting members generally indicated at 10. lt is understood that only a portion of the ceiling is shown in Fig. l, the complete ceiling construction including a plurality of the supporting members 10. It is also understood that supporting members 10 may be spliced together to form continuous lengths when large ceiling areas are to be enclosed. The supporting members 10 are adapted to depend f-rom the existing ceiling or from structural members or beams by any convenient means, such as, for example,

in Fig. 5, is shaped to include an upper rib 16, vertical'

portions

18, 20 and

horizontal flanges

22, 24. A flange cover 26 is clipped to the

flanges

22, 24 and the under side thereof is thereby exposed to the interior of the room and in order to eflect a modern and pleasing appearance, the underside of the flange cover 26 may be enameled with any suitable color.

Ceiling panels or boards 28, which are formed in desirable lengths, are positioned on the

flanges

22, 24 of the supporting members 10, and although any type cil ing board may be employed in the present invention, it is generally preferred that the ceiling boards 28 be formed of an acoustical material. As shown in Fig. 1, the ceiling boards 28 are positioned end-to-end and engage cross bars, one 0f which is shown generally at 30. Referring to Fig. 2, the cross bar 30 is shown formed in an inverted T sectio-n and includes a vertical portion 32 and

horizontal flange portions

34 and 36. The

flanges

34 and 36 are capped by a flange cover 38, which may have its underside colored with any suitable enamel, such as described above in connection with the supporting men1- ber flange cover 26. It is apparent that ceiling boards 28 are thus confined between the supporting members 10, and cross bars 30, and are supported on the flanges thereof.

In order to secure the cross bars 30 to the supporting members 10, clips are provided, one of which is general.ly indicated at 40 in Fig. 3. The clip 40 is adapted to be pre-assembled with the cross bar 30 and is rigidly secured to the and thereof in a manner to be described below. Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, the clip 40 is shown comprising a body portion 42 and a head 44 integrally joined to the body portion. The lower portion of the body portion 42 is formecl with a cut-out section 45 from which is formed an outwardly projecting tongue 46. Extending, lengthwise o-f the body portion 42 and forrned a.long the upper edge thereof is an overhanging elongated Ing 48. The overhanging lug 48 extends substantially parallel. with the body portion 42 and thereby forms a slot therebetween. In assembling the Clip 40 with the cross bar 30, the vertical portion 32 is received in thC slot between the overhanging lug 48 and the clip body portion 42. In order to rigidly sec ure the Clip 40 to the cross bar 30, the tongue 46 projects through an aligned opening 50 formed in the vertical portion 32 of the cross bar and is turned upwardly to engage the Clip body portion 4-2. When the Clip 40 is assembled With the cross bar, Eh endrrmost portion of the cross bar extends tne length of the Clip body portion, terminating at the clip head portion 44. Referring to Fig. 5, the head portion 44 is shown projecting outwardly from the cross bar 30 and is adapted to engage a supporting member ll0, thereby securing the cross bar to thC supporting rnember. Tl1e head portion 44 is formed with

projections

52 and 54 which are adapted to extend through an opening 56 formed in the

vertical portions

18, 20 of the supporting members.

Shoulders

58 and 60 are formed on the upper and lowermost ends of the head portion 44 and a1e adapted to contact the vertical portion 20 of the supporting mernber 10. When the Clip 40 is assernbled with a supporting member 10, a cleat 62 having a neck 64 integrally joined to the head portion 44 of the ciip extends through the opening 56 along with the

projections

52 and 54. The

shoulders

58 and 60 abut against the vertical portion cf the supporting member and tl1ereby prevent further movement cf the Clip. In order to rigidl-y secure the Clip 40 to the supporting member 10, the cleat 62 is twisted from a vertical position shown in Fig. 3 to a horizontal position illustrated in Figs. l, 4 and 5. By twisting the cleat 62, the neck portion 64 is fore-shortened and the

shoulders

58 and 60 are thereby drawn into secure engagement With the vertical portion of the supporting member 10. Bach end of the cross bar 30 is secured to a Clip 40 which is in turn rigidly secured to a supporting member 10 (see Fig. l). With the cross bars 30 secured between the supporting members 10, the Ceiling boards 28 are dropped in place on the horizontal flanges which are formed 011 the supporting members and cross bars, and the ceiling boards are thereby retained in osition thereon.

In Order to prevent the ceiling boards 28 from being mov.ed upwardly and to securely lock them in position on the flanges of the supporting members 10 and cross bars 30, the present invention incorporates a locking device, the locking-device being formed as a part of the Clip 40. The body portion 42 of the Clip 40 is formed with a vertically extending raised rib 66 :1 the endmost portion opposite t.he head portion 44 thereof, the vertically extending raised rib 66 forming a vertical groove or slot 68, as seen in Fig. 4. A key 0r locking element is positioned in the slot 68 and comprises an enlarged head 70, a shank portion 72, and a foot portion 74. The enlarged head 70 projects above the cross bar 30 and in the locking position is adapted to be rotated until the 2o is thereof is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis cf ihe cross bar. As shown in Fig. l, one set of locking elements has been romated to move the enlarged heads into engagernent Witn the upper surface of the ceiling boards 23, thereby lock ing the ceiling boards from upward movement. The other set of locking elements is illustrated in the unlocked position. In order to rotate the locking element thereby turning the head 70, a finger 76 is formed on t'ne foot portion 74 and projects downwardly through adjacent ceiling boards 28 to the underside thereof. The finger 76 thereby provides a convenient means for rotating tl1e locking element but is positioned so that it presents only the lower tip thereof to the underside of the ceiling C011- struction and therefore is not readily discernible. In order unlock the ceiling boards for rernoval or replacoment thereof, it is apparent that the finger 76 0f each locking element is moved sufliciently to pivotally turn the enlarged head 56 until the longitudinal axis thereof is parallel with tl1e longitudinal zucis of the cross bar. The ceiling board may then be lifted upwardly and access to the space above the ceiling board is provided. If the ceiling board need be replaced, then this is easily accornplished and a new ceiling board may be positioned 011 the horizontal flanges of the cross bars 30 and supporting members 10 and then locked into position by means of the locking elements.

It is apparent that the ceiling construction described erein may be assembled with any heretofore lmown type ceiling structural members. Moreover, any heretofore known ceiling may be modified to incorporate the ceiling construcion described herein without requiring elaborate changes. The cross bars are easily and quickly assembled With the supporting members by utilizing the new type Clip and a rigid construction is forrned thereby. Bach ceiling board or panel is individually locked into place and may be separately removed, as desired. This not only enables the ceiling board or panel to oe replaced, but, in addition, aifords accessibility to the space above the ceiling boards. Furtherrnore, the undarside of the supporting mem'bers and cross bars provides an attractive design that may be modified With tne change in size of the ceiling boards. This presents hoth a pleasing and modern efl?ect.

lt will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and describecl in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is clairned is:

1. In a ceiling construction, a plurality of supporting members, a plurality of cross bars secured to said supporting members, ceiling boards supported by said supporting members and cross bars, and means for locking said ceiling boards from upward movement, said locking means including a Clip secured to each end 0f said cross bars, a rib formed on the surface of said clip defining a vertically extending slot, a key located in said slot and engaging a face of the adjacent cross bar, said key including an elongated head extending above said slot, a shank portion extending through said slot, a foot portion integral with said shank portion and extending at right angles thereto, and a finger portion joined to said foot portion and projecting between and below two adjacent ceiling boards, said finger portion being movable to rotate said head into engagement with the adjacent ceiling boards, thereby locking said ceiling boards from upward movement.

2. In a ceiling construction, means for supporting seiling boards, said supporting means including supporting members and cross bars, a Clip structure secured to each of said cross bars, said clip structure including a body portion having a rib formed thereon defining a vertically extending slot, a key extending between adjacent ceiling boards and having a shank extending through said slot, an elongated head and a foot joined to said shank and extending above and below said rib respectively, said foot contacting the and of said rib and a portion of said cross bar upon Which a ceiling board is supported to prevent endwise movement of said key, said key head engaging the upper side of said ceiling boards, and a finger portion joined to said foot and projecting below the underside of said ceiling boards, said finger portion being rotated to move said head to an unlocking position for unlocking said ceiling boards, thereby providing for upward movement thereof.

3. In a ceiling construction, a plurality of supporting members, a plurality of cross bars secured to said supporting members, ceiling boards supported by said supporting members and cross bars, and means for locking said ceiling boards from upward movement, said locking means including Clip means at one and cf one of said cross bars, a rib at the surface of said Clip means defining a vertically extending slot, a key located in said slot and engaging a face of the one cross bar, said key including an elongated head extending above said slot, a shank portion extending through said s1ot, a foot portion integral with said shank portion and extending at right angles thereto, and a finger portion joined to said foot portion and projecting between and below two adjacent ceiling boards, said finger portion being movable to rotate said head into engagement with the adjacent ceiling boards, thereby locking said ceiling boards from upward movement.

4. In a ceiling construction, means for supporting ceiling boards, said supporting means including supporting members and cross bars, a clip structure on one of said cross bars, said clip structure including a body portion defining a vertically extending opening, a key extending between adjacent ceiling boards and having a shank extending through and journaled in said opening, an elengated head and a foot joined to said shank and extending above and below said opening respectively, said foot engaging the body portion forming said opening and a portion of said cross bar upon which a ceiling board is supported to prevent endwise movement of said key, said key head engaging the upper side of said ceiling boards, and a finger portion joined to said foot and projecting below the underside of said ceiling boards, said finger portion being rotated to move said head to an unlocking position for unlocking said ceiling boards, thereby providfing for upward movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 395,129 Gardner et a1. Dec. 25, 1888 2,073036 Voigt Mar. 9, 1937 2,406315 Blocher Aug. 27, 1946 2,485090 Finch Oct. 18, 1949 2620,906 Ketchum Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 578,821 Great Britain July 12, 1946