US3035669A

US3035669A - Ceiling connecting means for a partition wall

Info

Publication number: US3035669A
Application number: US28673A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond K Graff
Original assignee: Aetna Steel Products Corp
Current assignee: Aetna Steel Products Corp
Priority date: 1960-05-12
Filing date: 1960-05-12
Publication date: 1962-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-22

Description

May 22, 1962 R. K. GRAFF 3,035,669

CEILING CONNECTING MEANS FOR A PARTITION WALL Filed May 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l 711 UM M INVENTOR.

i E fqynouo K. G/PAFF i BY GL y 1962 R. K. GRAFF 3,035,669

' CEILING CONNECTING MEANS FOR A PARTITION WALL Filed May 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. fay/10170 K. G A/ F 4 FOR/Y6 7 nited States Patent Office 3,935,669 Patented May 22, 1952 3,035,669 CEILING CONNECTING MEANS FOR A PARTITIGN WALL Raymond K. Graif, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Aema Steel Products Corp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 12, 1960, Ser. No. 28,673 10 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to a partition wall and, more particularly, to means for connecting the wall panels of the partition wall to a ceiling or a ceilingmember or runner.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide ceiling connecting means for a partition wall which permits the wall panels of the partition to be connectedto the ceiling or ceiling member without the necessity of drilling or screwing or otherwise defacing the ceiling or ceiling member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling connecting means for a partition wall which permtis quick and easy installation of the partition and the connection thereof to the ceiling or ceiling members.

A further object is to provide ceiling connecting means of the type indicated which has provision for drawing adjacent ends of adjacent ceiling channel members of the ceiling connecting means to each other.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of a partition wall in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FiG. 4 is a vertical side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the relationship of the parts of the ceiling connecting means at adjacent ceiling channel members;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a clip member in accordance with the invention and illustrates the relationship of said member to a ceiling support member;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ceiling connecting means of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vertical post member for a wall panel.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIG. 1, the partition wall 10 includes a plurality of

wall panels

12, 14 and 16 disposed in end-to-end relation and positioned below a longitudinally extending ceiling member or runner 18 which, as herein illustrated, is constituted by an inverted T-bar. As best seen in FIG. 2, the vertical leg 29 of the T-bar is secured to the ceiling or overhead by any suitable means, indicated by reference numerel 22. The horizontal legs or flanges 24 of the T- bar are adapted to support ceiling tiles 26. It will be understood that T-bars 18 may extend lengthwise as well as widthwise of the room or space in which it is desired to erect the partition walls and more than one T-bar may be provided, as desired.

In accordance with the invention and as best illustrated in FIG. 6, a clip member 28 is provided which is adapted to releasably engage the horizontal legs 24 of the ceiling member and which is disengageable from said member by turning said clip member in its own plane.

More particularly, clip member 28 is an elongated member made preferably from sheet material and comprises horizontally extending flanges 30 and a longitudinally extending recess 32 disposed between said flanges. Recess 32 is defined by vertically downwardly diverging sides 34 and horizontally connecting part 36. Inturned gripping portions 38 are provided-at opposite corners of the clip member and extend upwardly and inwardly of the side edges 40 of the member. It will be noted that the remaining corners of the clip member are not provided with gripping portions 38 and are free from any ohstructions.

To releasably secure clip member 28 to ceiling member 18, the clip member is placed in transverse relation to the ceiling member with the upper surfaces of flanges 30 in abutting surface-to-surface contact with the undersurfaces of horizontal legs 24 of the ceiling member, as shown in FIG. 6. Upon turning said clip member in its own plane in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, inturned gripping portions 38 of the clip member engage side edges 42 of the ceiling member 18 and in this manner the clip member is releasably connected to the ceiling member and can only be disengaged from said ceiling member by movement in its own. plane in a counterclockwise direction. It will be understood that a plurality of clip members 28 may be provided spaced longitudinally along the length of ceiling member 18 and the number of clip members will depend upon the length of the ceiling member as well as the length of the wall panels of the partition. It will also be noted that the clip members are releasably secured to the ceiling member without the necessity of any drilling or screwing or other defacement of the ceiling member.

A plurality of ceiling channel members 44 are provided which are mountable on the spaced clip members 28 and extend longitudinally in abutting end-to-end relation lengthwise of the ceiling member 18. More particularly, each channel member is a longitudinally extending member having horizontal flanges 46 and a recess 48 disposed intermediately of flanges 46 and constituted by vertically downwardly diverging sides 50 and horizontal connecting part 52. The angle of divergence of sides 50 of the channel member is approximately the same as the angle of divergence of the sides 34 of the clip member and the distance between the inner surfaces of sides 56 of the channel member is slightly less than the distance between the outer surfaces of sides 34 of the clip member, so that the sides of the channel member may frictionally engage the corresponding sides of the clip member, whereby the channel member may be removably mounted on the clip member. The channel member is also provided with vertically downwardl extending flanges '54.

After the clip members 28 are mounted on the T-bar ceiling member 18 at spaced intervals along the length thereof, the channel members 44 are mounted on the clip members by positioning the channel member immediately below the respective clip members and with a slight vertical movement upwardly the inner surfaces of sides 50 of the channel member frictionally engage the outer surfaces of sides 34 of the clip member with part 36 of the clip member nested within recess 48 of the channel member, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. In this manner the channel members are removably mounted on the clip members and are supported by said clip members. It will be understood that the channel members may be of any convenient length and are mounted on the clip members so that the adjacent ends of adjacent channel members are in abutting relation. It will be also understood that one or more clip members may be used to support a channel member, as desired. A layer 56 of a suitable material, for example plastic foam, may be provided hetween the clip member 28 and the channel member 44 to function as a light and sound barrier between the ceiling member 13 andthe upper part of the partition wall.

To assure that adjacent ends of adjacent ceiling channel members are in abutting relation with each other, a clip member 28 is preferably provided at said adjacent ends of adjacent channel members, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. A threaded hole 58 is provided inwardly of each end of the clip member in part 36 thereof which defines the bottom of the recess 32 of the clip member. A clearance hole 60 is provided inwardly of each adjacent end of adjacent channel members in part 52 of the channel member which defines the bottom of recess 48 of the channel member. The distance between holes 58 of the clip member is slightly less than the distance between holes 60 of adjacent channel members so that holes 58 are in overlapping relation with holes 60, respectively. Accordingly, when screws 62 are inserted through holes 60 and screwed into holes 58, respectively, the adjacent I ends of the adjacent channel members are drawn together in abutting end-to-end relation. In this manner a tight joint is provided between the adjacent ends of adjacent channel members. It will be noted that the ends of screws 62 are disposed in recess 32 of the clip member and do not come in contact with the horizontal portion of ceiling member 18 so that the undersurface of said member is not marred.

With the clip members. and the channel members connected to the ceiling member 18, in the manner just de scribed, the wall panels of partition wall may now be installed and connected to the ceiling channel members 44. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 8, it is seen that each vertical edge 64 of the wall panel is provided with a vertically extending post 66. Post 66 includes a pair of outer sides 68, a pair of inner sides 70, a pair of transverse connecting parts 72 and transverse part 74, all in integral relation with each other. Sides 68 are provided with inturned portions 76, respectively. A pair of laterally spaced vertically extending members 78 have sides 80 holding the sides 82, respectively, of the associated wall panel. Members 78 are provided with vertically extending parts 84 which engage the inner surfaces of sides 70 of post 66. A plurality of bolts 86 are spaced vertically along the length of the post 66 and each bolt has secured thereto a resilient disk-shaped member 88 which engages transverse parts 90 of members 78. The posts 66 are provided with vertically spaced holes 92 through which the bolts 86 pass.

A U-shaped jack leg 94 straddles sides 70 of post 66 and has vertically extending slots 96 in the transverse part 97 thereof through which bolts 86 pass, thereby permitting vertical adjustable movement of the jack leg. Nuts 98 secure the jack leg in its adjusted position and resilient members 88 retain members 78 in position so that sides 86 thereof hold the wall panels and maintain said wall panels in vertical position. Vertically extending snap-on members 100 are provided which enclose the space between adjacent members 78 of adjacent wall panels. The snap-on members have inturned portions 102 which engage inturned portions 76 of the post 66. Suitable means, not shown, connect adjacent posts 66 and adjacent jack legs 94 to each other to prevent horizontal displacement of one wall panel with respect to the other.

The upper end of each jack leg 94 includes a cut-out portion 104 which conforms in contour to the sides 50 and part 52 of the ceiling channel member 44. Accordingly, to connect the jack leg 94 to the ceiling channel member 44, nuts 98 are loosened and the jack leg is moved vertically until cut-out 104 straddles sides .59 and part 52 of the ceiling channel member. In this position, edges 106 of the jack leg are contained between the inner surfaces of flanges 54 of the channel member and are in slidingrelation therewith. In this manner the jack leg is engaged by the ceiling channel member to eifect the connection betweenthe wall panels and the ceiling member 18.

A pair of snap-on members 108 is provided to cover the space between the top 110 of the wall panel and the ceiling tiles 26. For this purpose the top of the wall panels are provided with resilient fingers 112 which engage cooperating parts 114 of the snap-on members 108 for retaining said members in place. 7 It will be understood that the wall panels may be connected to the floor in any suitable manner.

While I have shown and described the preferred mode of practicing my invention, it will be understood that various changesmay be made therein and will occur to skilled artisans in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the invention as herein specifically stated or described, except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Ina partition wall construction including a plurality of wall panels disposed in end-to-end relation and positioned-below alongitudinally extending ceiling runner; means for connecting said wall panels to said ceiling runner, comprising a plurality of clip members spaced along said ceiling runner, and releasably engaged therewith and disengageable therefrom by turning said clip members in their own planes, respectively, a plurality of channel members extending in end-to-end relation and being releasably secured to said clip members, and connecting means between said channel members and said Wall panels.

2. In a partition Wall construction including a plurality of wall panels disposed in end-to-end relation and positioned below a longitudinally extending ceiling runner; means-for connecting said wall panels to said ceiling runner, comprising a plurality of clip members spaced along said ceiling runner and releasably engaged therewith and disengageable therefrom by turning said clip members in their own planes, respectively, a plurality of channel members extending in end-to-end relation, said clip members and said channel members each having releasably engaging parts for releasably connecting said clip members and said channel members to each other, and connecting means between said channel members and said wall panels.

3. In a partition wall construction including a plurality of wall panels disposed in end-to-end relation and positioned below a longitudinally extending ceiling runner; means for connecting said wall panels to said ceiling runner, comprising a plurality of clip members spaced along said-ceiling runner and releasably engaged therewith and disengageable therefrom by turning said clip members in their own planes, respectively, a plurality of channel members extending in end-to-end relation, said clip members and said channel members each having releasably engaging parts for releasably connecting said clip members and said channel members to each other, said channel members being releasable from said clip members by vertical downward movement of said channel members, and connecting means between said channel members and said wall panels.

4. In a partition wall construction including a plurality of wall panels disposed in end-to-end relation and positioned below a longitudinally extending ceiling runner; means for connecting said wall panels to said ceiling runner, comprising a plurality of clip members spaced along said ceiling runner and releasably engaged therewith and disengageable therefrom by turning said clip members in their own planes, respectively, a plurality of channel members extending in end-to-end relation, said clip members and said channel members each having releasably engaging parts for releasably connecting said clip members and said channel members to each other, each of said releasably engaging parts of said clip members and said channel members comprising downwardly diverging laterally spaced parts, said downwardly diverging parts of said clip members being nested in the downwardly diverging parts of said channel members in frictic al engagement there= l1 and releasable therefrom by downward movement of said channel members, and connectmg means between said channel members and said wall panels.

5. In a partition wall construction comprising a ceiling 'unner having longitudinally extending horizontal flanges and means intermediate said and extending upwardly therefrom for securing said runner to the ceiling, said partition wall also comprising a plurality of wall panels mounted in end-mend wall-defining relation; means for releasabiy securing said panels to said ceiling runner comprising a longitudinally extending channel member disposed below said flanges of the ceiling runner, a plurality of horizontally spaced clips releasably engaging said ceiling runner and said channel member and connecting them to each other, and means secured to and extending upwardly beyond said wall panels and connected to said channel member.

6. In a partition wall construction comprising a ceiling runner having longitudinally extending horizontal flanges and intermediate said flanges and extending upwardly tmrefrorn for securing said runner to the ceiling, said partition wall also comprising a plurality of wall panels mounted end-to-end wall-defining relation; means for releasably securing said panels to said ceiling runner comprising a longitudinally extending channel member di nosed below said flanges of the ceiling runner, a plura y of horfontally spaced clips releasably engaging said ceiling runner and said channel member and connecting them to each other, said clip members being disengagefrom said ceiling runner by turning said clip memers in their own planes, respectively, and means secured to and extending upwardly beyond said wall panels and connected to said channel member.

7. In a partition wall construction comprising a ceiling runner having longitudinally ext nding horizontal flanges and means intermediate said flanges and extending upwardly therefrom for securing said runner to the ceiling, said partition wall also comprising a plurality of wall panels mounted in end-to-end wall-defining relation; means for releasably securing said panels to said ceiling runner comprising a longitudinally extending channel member disposed below said flanges of the ceiling runner, a plurality of horizontally spaced clips releasably engaging said ceiling runner and said channel member and connecting them to each other, and said clip members and said channel member each being provided with cooperating connecting parts reieasably engaged with each other for connecting said channel member to said clip members, and means secured to and extending up'v'ardly beyond said wall panels and connected to said channel member.

8. In a partition wall construction comprising a ceiling runner having longitudinally extending horizontal flanges and means intermediate said flanges and extending upwardly therefrom for securing said runner to the ceiling, said partition wall also comprising a plurality of wall panels mounted in end-to-end wall-defining relation; means for releasably securing said panels to said ceiling runner comprising a longitudinally extending channel member disposed below said flanges of the ceiling runner, a plurality of horizontally spaced clips releasably engaging said ceiling runner and said channel member and connecting them to each other, said clip members and said channel member each being provided with cooperating connecting parts releasabiy engaged with each other for connecting said channel member to said clip members, each of said cooperating connecting parts comprising downwardly diverging laterally spaced parts, said downwardly diverging parts of said clip members being nested in the downwardly diverging parts oi said channel member in frictional engagement tberewttn and releasable therefrom by downward movement of said channel memher, and means secured to and extending upwardly beyond said Wall panels and connected to said channel member.

9. In a partition wall construction comprising a ceiling runner having longitudinally extending horizontal flanges and means intermediate said flanges and extending upwardly therefrom for securing said runner to the ceiling, said partition wall also comprising a plurality of wall panels mounted in end-to-end wall-defining relation; means for releasably securing said panels to said ceiling runner comprising a longitudinally extending inverted channel member disposed below said flanges of the ceiling runner, a plurality of horizontally spaced clips releasably engaging said ceiling runner and said channel member and connecting them to each other, and means secured to and extending upwardly beyond said wall panels and connected to said channel member, said inverted channel member having laterally spaced downwardly extending flanges, said upwardly extending means having a member disposed within said flanges of said channel member and in sliding relation therewith.

10. In a partition wall construction comprising a ceiling runner having longitudinally extending horizontal flanges and means intermediate said flanges and extendig upwardly therefrom for securing said runner to the ceiling, said partition wall also comprising a plurality of wall panels mounted in end-to-end wall-defining relation; means for releasably securing said panels to said ceiling runner comprising a longitudinally extending inverted channel member disposed below said flanges of the ceiling runner, a plurality of horizontally spaced clips releasably engaging said ceiling runner and said channel member and connecting them to each other, said clip members and said channel member each being provided with cooperating connecting parts releasably engaged with each other for connecting said channel member to said clip members, each of said cooperating connecting parts comprising downwardly diverging laterally spaced parts, said downwardly diverging parts of said clip members being nested in the downwardly diverging parts of said channel member in frictional engagement therewith and releasable therefrom by downward movement of said channel member, and means secured to and extending upwardly beyond said wall panels and connected to said channel member, said inverted channel member having laterally spaced downwardly extending flanges, said upwardly ex tending means having a member disposed within said flanges of said channel member and in sliding relation therewith, said member of said upwadly extending means having a cut-out portion in straddling relation with said downwardly diverging parts of said channel member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES iATENTS