US3055466A

US3055466A - Support for tile ceiling

Info

Publication number: US3055466A
Application number: US759502A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald A Brown
Original assignee: DONN PROD Inc
Current assignee: DONN PRODUCTS Inc; DONN PROD Inc
Priority date: 1958-09-08
Filing date: 1958-09-08
Publication date: 1962-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1979-09-25

Description

Sept. 25, 1962 D. A. BOWN 3,055,466

SUPPORT FOR TILE CEILING Filed Sept. 8, 1958 ATTORNEYS.

United States latent 3,955,466 SUPPRT FR TELE CEILING Donald A. Brown, Westlake, hio, assigner to Donn Products Incorporated, Westlake, Ghio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,502 1 Claim. (Cl. l89--37) This invention relates to a beam member, commonly referred to as a runnen which finds particular use as a support for a tile ceiling. Such ceilings are constructed from a multiplicity of contiguous square or rectangular cellulose tiles having kerfed edges into which flanges on inverted T-shaped runners are fitted to support the tiles. It is important in constructing a ceiling of this type that the individual tiles abut snugly along each edge with the adjacent tiles and lie in the same plane therewith. If one tile projects above or below the plane of an adjoining tile, an unsightly appearance results.

Heretofore, inverted T-shaped runner beams have been formed from a metal strip having one flat flange that supports the tile completely and a second flange containing a step that supports the tile only along the marginal edge thereof. As a result, the weight of the tile resting on the second flange is not supported continuously over the entire area of the kerfed edge as is the opposed tile supported by the first flange. Since the runner is suspended from a furring strip and is able to pivot about the top edge of the web, the uneven distribution of weight from the tiles causes the runner to tilt, which results in lowering the edge of the tile supported by one flange and raising the edge of the abutting tile supported by the other flange.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved runner construction formed from a single strip of metal characterized by the ability to remain in vertical position because of equal distribution of the weight of the tiles upon each flange of the runner.

Another object is to provide a runner having centering protuberances projecting from opposed sides of the web to prevent one flange from seating more deeply in the tile kerf than the opposed flange, thereby assuring equal weight distribution on the flange.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a runner constructed in accordance with the invention showing its connection with a furring strip;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken through the runner construction of FIGURE 1 which illustrates how the acoustical tiles having kerfed edges are supported thereby;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an alternative construction having centering protuberances formed in the web;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section through the runner of FIGURE 3 and adjoining tiles supported thereby; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4.

In order to construct runners at minimum cost it is essential that the amount of metal employed be as little as possible. Consequently, in forming runner constructions from strip or sheet material it is essential that the bending be done to utilize a minimum amount of metal while at the same time providing rigidity and uniform supporting flanges for kerfed tile. Furthermore, the bending configuration must be relatively simple so that complicated dies and drawing technique are not necessary.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the runner construction is designated generally by the numeral and consists of an inverted, generally T-shaped beam member which is secured in inverted position to a furring over the strip on itself to bring strip 12 by means of a clip or hook 14. The furring strips may be secured to the joists of the floor above and run in one direction, while the runners ifi secured to the furring strips run substantially at right angles thereto. The furring strip may be made from sheet metal shaped in the form of a channel. It will be noted that the clip 14 snaps over the top of the furring strip and under the top flange 16 of the runner. Consequently, the runner can be pivoted to some extent about an axis running along the top longitudinal edge of the runner web l. Because of this fact it is essential that the kerfed tile supported by the lower flanges 2li and Z2 provide uniform support for the surface which bears against them. Uneven distribution of the load will result in tilting the runner. Tiles 30 and 32 have peripheral grooves or

kerfs

34, 36 cut in the edge thereof and of such size as to receive the flanges 2li and 22. The edges of the tile 38, lll above the

kerfs

34, 36 are trimmed slightly to take care of the thickness of the web 18. The edges below the kerfs abut tightly, as indicated at 4l. Although the tile illustrated in this invention is of the cellulosic board type, it will be understood that it may be made from other materials including metal or plastic.

The runner shown in FIGURE l is made from a single strip of metal which is bent over at one edge to form the horizontal top flange 16 and bent at the lower edge to form the

flanges

20 and 22. The first flange Ztl is of a double thickness of metal which results from doubling its other edge back past the web to form the second flange 22. The inner thickness of the flange 20 is continuous with the web 18 and the outer thickness extends just past the web and then turns upwardly, as indicated at 24, before extending outwardly in the plane of the inner thickness to form the second flange. The edge of the second flange 22 is turned under, as indicated at 26, to provide a double thickness of metal along the marginal edge thereof. It will be noted that the bearing surfaces 27 and 28 of flanges 2t) and 22 lie in a single plane, and are not broken by steps. Thus, the upper surfaces of the

kerfs

34 and 36 cut in the edge of the tiles 30 and 32 are completely supported as they bear against the flanges in supporting the weight of the tiles. The marginal turn-under 26 provides sufficient thickness to take up the entire width of the kerf and prevent the tile from moving up or down with respect to the flange.

Because of the uniform, continuous support provided by

flanges

20 and 22 there is no tendency for the runner lll to pivot about the web at its upper longitudinal edge, which is the case where, for example, the flange 22 has its marginal edge bent upwardly rather than downwardly.

In FIGURE 3 I have shown a modification of my invention which provides protuberances 44 projecting from opposed sides of the web 13. It will be noted that these protuberances are formed by shaping the metal so that a dimple is provided therein. Protuberances are spaced on a line along the length of the runner and project alternately in one direction and then in the other. In runners used for standard l2 acoustical cellulose tiles, which runners are about 3%1 high, the protuberances extend outwardly approximately 1&2. These protuberances cause the tiles which are slid onto the flanges Ztl and 22 to become centered so that one is not seated more deeply than the other. The action of the protuberances f4 in centering the tile is best illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. The protuberances on one` side of the web take care of the tile which cooperates with that flange and the protuberances on the other side cooperate with the opposed tile supported by the other flange. Consequently, by insuring accurate centering of the web between abutting tiles, uniform weight distribution on the flanges is assured and, hence, the possibility of tilting of the runner due to uneven distribution of weight is eliminated.

FIGURE 3 shows another modification of my invention wherein the runner carries a ridge 42 in the upper flange 16. The ridge runs parallel with the web and projects toward the second flange 22. The construction has further been modified in the provision of a groove 25 resulting from spacing the step 24 a short distance from the base of the web 18 before causing it to turn upwardly in forming the flange 22. rThe groove 25 and the channel 43 formed between the web and the ridge 42 in the upper flange 16 are adapted to receive an L-shaped extension arm for detachably connecting the end of one runner to the next. The extension arm comprises no part of the present invention but is described in detail in my copending application Serial No. 759,500, filed September 8, 1958, now Patent No. 2,984,946.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that by forming the runner in accordance with my invention, maximum rigidity and support are provided utilizing the least amount of metal. Furthermore, the runner is formed from a single strip of metal and requires no finishing operations after leaving the dies. The runners can, therefore, be produced at relatively low cost.

Although I have illustrated and described preferred forms of my invention, it will be understood that Various modifications in the construction can be made Without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A metal runner for supporting kerf-edged tile comprising an elongated web strip having a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal edges, a suspension flange strip continuous with said web strip along one longitudinal edge thereof,

a supporting flange strip continuous with said web strip along the other longitudinal edge thereof, a return bend in said supporting flange strip providing a double thickness first flange normal to said web strip along one side thereof, the outer thickness of said first flange extending beyond said other web strip longitudinal edge, a step curve in said supporting flange strip continuous with said outer thickness along said other web strip longitudinal edge and providing a flange strip portion lying in the same plane with the inner thickness of said rst flange, said step curve providing a longitudinal groove between said flange strip portion and said other web strip longitudinal edge, a return bend in said supporting flange strip continuous with said flange strip portion providing a double thickness second flange normal to said web strip along a side thereof opposite to the first-named web strip side and in the same plane with said first flange, said supporting flange strip terminating in the outer thickness of said second flange adjacent to said return bend therein, said first and second flanges being adapted for insertion into kerf-edged tiles and for supporting the tiles in abutting relation thereon with said double thicknesses filling the kerf width, and a plurality of longitudinal spaced-apart short protuberances formed in said web strip and projecting alternately from the opposite sides thereof for centering the web strip between the supported tiles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,984,028 MacLeod Dec. 11, 1934 2,807,993 Ericson Oct. l, 1957 2,882,558 Jacobson et al. Apr. 21, 1959 2,984,946 Brown May 23, 1961