US3139162A - Paneling structure for a ceiling, wall or similar surface - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1964 R. E. SPANGENBERG 3,139,162

PANELING STRUCTURE FOR A CEILING, WALL OR SIMILAR SURFACE Filed July 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f1 7- 5 INVENTOR l bberff' Spa 8pm ATTORNEYS June 1964 R. E. SPANGENBERG 3,139,162

PANELING STRUCTURE FOR A CEILING, WALL OR SIMILAR SURFACE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1960 INVENTOR June 1964 R. E. SPANGENBERG 3,139,162

PANELING STRUCTURE FOR A CEILING, WALL OR SIMILAR SURFACE Filed July 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,139,162 PANELHIG STRUCTURE FOR A CEILING, WALL 0R SllVIILAR SURFACE Robbert Ernst Spangenberg, The Hague, Netherlands, as-

signor to Hunter Douglas International Corporation, New York, N.Y.., a corporation of New York Filed .iuly 26, 1960, Ser. No. 45,335 Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 1, 1959 7 Claims. (Cl. 189-88) This invention relates to a paneling structure for a ceiling, wall or similar surface, comprising panels which are arched at their longitudinal edges and are supported by bearers, said bearers being carried by joists, and aims at providing a paneling structure of this kind which may be easily and quickly mounted and which has a firm surface and a pleasing appearance.

The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of such a paneling structure.

This is accomplished with the paneling structure according to the invention in that the bearers are fastened to the joist by means of fastening means which are so constructed that they may be brought into an intermediate position in the joists in which position the bearers are supported in some distance from the joists and into a final position in which the edges of the panels are firmly clamped between the bearer and the joists or some other support. One account of the fact that each bearer is adapted to be brought into an intermediate position in which it is located at a distance from the joists which may consist for example of channel-profiles, one of the longitudinal edges of a panel may be hooked around the edge of a joist, said panel then having an inclined position. Thereafter the panel is swung parallel to the surface to be paneled, whereupon the first bearer is brought into its final position and a second bearer in its intermediate position, one edge of said second bearer supporting the other longitudinal edge of the first panel. Subsequently one of the longitudinal edges of a second panel is hooked around the other longitudinal edge of the second bearer, whereupon the second bearer is brought into its final position so that consequently the two longitudinal edges thus supported of the two adjacent panels are firmly clamped etc. According to the invention it is also possible first to arrange all bearers in an intermediate position, whereupon the panels are placed with their longitudinal edges on said bearers and subsequently all bearers are pressed into their final position. Obviously the panels should then consist of such material as to allow said panels to be somewhat bent.

The bearers may have any profile but according to the invention they preferably consist of rigid channel-profiles of sheet metal of which the edges are arched or turnedup in accordance with the edges of the panels.

In order to obtain a nice result as a whole the panels may have such a trough-like profile that they are lying in or almost in one plane with the connecting portion of the legs of the bearers.

A very simple and sturdy construction may be achieved if in the joists there are provided holes or recesses for receiving the fastening means. Said fastening means are then firmly held in these holes so that they cannot move.

According to the invention the fastening means may consist of bent resilient strips having a head portion and two legs, said head portion resting with its edges on the arched or turned-up edges of the bearers, each of the legs having at least two arched or outwardly bent portions by which the intermediate position and the final position of the bearers are defined. The head portion is preferably made so large that it is easily slidable in a bearer. The outwardly bent portions of the legs of the fastening means may consist of lips of which the free end points towards the head portion of the fastening means. A preferred embodiment of the fastening means according to the intion is characterized in that each of the legs has a bent portion defining the final position of the bearers and a resilient lip defining the intermediate position and also serving as a locking means, said lip preventing the paneling from moving further out of the joists than the intermediate position of the fastening means. However, the bent portions present the possibility of bringing the bearers from their final position into an intermediate position so that for example a damaged panel may be easily replaced by a new one or panels may be removed to obtain access to the space above the paneling.

According to the invention the fastening means may also consist of press studs which are each provided with two accommodations for the head of the press stud, of which press studs one portion is provided in the joists and the other portion in the bearer. This other portion of the press stud may be integral with the bearer.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing by way of example some embodiments of the paneling according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows in perspective a ceiling paneling according to the invention, some parts being shown in section for claritys sake.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show part of FIG. 1 on a larger scale, in which the bearers are in the intermediate and in the final position respectively.

FIG. 4 shows a fastening means in perspective.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views of a modification of the fastening means for the paneling, the fastening means being in the intermediate and in the final position respectively.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment in the same manner as FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 is a section of another embodiment of a fastening means.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 a number of joists 1 is fixed by means of rods 2 to the beams 3 of a floor. In these joists these are provided at regular intervals in accordance with the width of the mounted panels 4 holes 5 for receiving fastening means 6.

As is apparent from FIG. 4 the fastening means 6 comprise a resilient metal strip, for example of steel, which is so bent that a head 7 with two bearing surfaces 8 is formed. On these bearing surfaces 8 the arched edges 9 of a bearer 10 are resting, said bearer having mainly a channel-shaped profile. The fastening means 6 shown in FIG. 4- comprises two legs of which each leg has a curved portion 11 and a lip 12 pointing towards the head 8. When a fastening means 6 is pressed into a hole 5 of a joist 1, after said fastening means has been slid in a bearer 10, the lips 12 come to rest on the inner surface of the joist 1. Then the bearer 10 cannot be separated anymore from the joist 1, since the lips 12 prevent such a separation and thereby provide a locking means. As is apparent from FIG. 2 the bearer is then still located at a distance from the joist 1 so that a panel may be hooked around the free longitudinal edge of the bearer 10. For this purpose said panel is held in an inclined position and after it has been hooked around the free longitudinal edge of the bearer 10 said panel is against the joists 1. Thereafter the next bearer may be so fixed to the joists 1 that it assumes an intermediate position. By exerting a pressure on the previously mounted bearer said bearer may then be brought into its final position in which both longitudinal edges of the two adjacent panels supported by said bearer are firmly clamped between the joists 1 and said bearer 16 (FIG. 3).

The panels 4 are trough-shaped with arched longitudinal edges. The profile of these arched longitudinal edges corresponds to the profile of the arched longitudinal edges of the bearers so that the panels are well supported. In the case of the acoustic ceiling shown in FIG. 1 there is provided on the panels 4 a strip 13 of porous paper or other material, a sound-absorbing filling 14 being arranged on said strip 13. The height of the trough-like shape of the panels 4 equals the height of the bearers It In the embodiment of the paneling structure according to FIGS. 5 and 6 fastening means 15 are applied which comprise a bipartite head. Each of the parts of this bipartite head is formed by a bent strip-like portion of which the free ends engage with the arched edges 9 of the bearer 10. Each of the legs of said fastening means 15 comprises two bent portions 16, 17. The bent portions 16 are so constructed that they comprise a flat or almost flat portion 18 preventing the paneling from dropping oif the joists 1. The bent portions 17 are so constructed that the bearers 10 maybe brought from their final position again into the intermediate portion. However, this requires a strong force so that this cannot be effected without tools. A simple rod or lever, however, is already suitable to bring the bearers 10 into their intermediate position. From FIG. 5 it appears that the arched edges of the panels 4- may be easily placed on the arched edges 9 of the bearers 10. As is apparent from FIG. 6 the arched edges of the panels 4 are firmly clamped between the joists 1 and the arched edges 9 of the bearers 10.

FIGS. 7-9 show an embodiment of the paneling structure according to the invention in which press stud type fastening means 19, are provided to keep the panels 4 in place. The portion 19 of the press stud19, 20 fastening means is formed by the bearer which is provided with a number of projections 21 having a head 22. The head 22. of each projection 21 co-operates with the portion 20 of the press stud 19, 20. This portion 20 has two accommodations 23, 24 for the head 22. FIG. 7 shows the position of the parts in which the head 22 is in the accommodation 24 so that the portion 19 is located at some distance from the joist 1. In this position the arched edges of the panels 4 are placed on the longitudinal edges of the portion 19. FIG. 8 shows the parts in the position in which the head 22 is in the upper accommodation 23 of the portion 20. In this position the edges of the panels 4 are firmly clamped between the edges of the portion 19 and the portion 20.

The portions 20 may consist for example of a synthetic material and, as appears from FIG. 9, these portions are provided with slots 25 engaging with two opposite edges of a hole 5 in the joist 1. When the portion 20 is put in place a tongue 26 of the joist 1 is so bent that said portion 20 cannot move.

In order to prevent the head 22 from unintentionally leaving the accommodation 24 said head is provided at its lower side with a flat rim co-operating with a flat rim of the accommodation 24.

It is obvious that the part 21, 22 may also be constructed as a detached part so that it may be slid in a joist as applied in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of such a fastening means 27 which is so bent from a resilient metal strip that it has a longitudinal head 28. This fastening means is adapted to he slid in a bearer 10 according to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. It is obvious that the accommodations 23 and 24 of the portion 20 must likewise have a longitudinal shape.

I claim:

1. A paneling structure for ceilings, walls and similar surfaces, comprising panels having arched longitudinal rims, bearers supporting the panels at their rim, supporting means provided with holes, and fastening means fitting into the holes of the supporting means for securing the bearers to said supporting means, said fastening means having first portions for securing the bearers to the supporting means in a first intermediate position, in which position the bearers are supported at a distance from said supporting means, and having second portions for supporting the bearers in a second final position, in which the rims of the panels are firmly clamped between the bearers and the supporting means, the first portions of the fastening means for supporting the bearers in the intermediate position being constructed as locking means for said fastening means, and the second portions being so constructed that the fastening means can always be brought back into their first position without removing the panels.

2. A paneling structure for ceilings, walls and similar surfaces, comprising panels having arched longitudinal rims, bearers having arched edges for supporting the panels at their rims, supporting means provided with holes, and fastening means fitting into the holes of the fastening means for securing the bearers to said supporting means, said fastening means including a bent resilient strip having a head portion and two legs, said head portion resting with its edges against the arched edges of the bearers, each of the legs of the fastening means having a first outwardly bent portion for securing the bearers to the supporting 'means in a first intermediate position, in which position the bearers are supported at a distance from said supporting means, each of the legs of the fastening means having a second portion for supporting the bearers in a second final position, in which the rims of the panels are firmly clamped between the bearers and the supporting means, the portions for defining the intermediate first position being constructed as locking means for said fastening means and the portions for defining the second final position being so constructed that the fastening means can always be brought back into their first position without removing the panels.

3. A panel structure for ceilings, walls and similar surfaces, comprising panels having arched longitudinal rims bearers having arched edges for supporting the panels at their rims, supporting means provided with holes, and fastening means fitting into the holes of the supporting means for securing the bearers to said supporting means, said fastening means including a bent resilient strip having a head portion and two legs, said head portion resting with its edges against the arched edges of the bearers, each of the legs of the fastening means having a first portion containing a lip provided with a free end pointing towards the head portion of the fastening means, said lips securing the bearers to the supporting means in a first intermediate position, in which position the bearers are supported at a distance from said supporting means, said lips being constructed as locking means for said fastening means, and each of said legs having second portions for supporting the bearers in a second final position in which the rims of the panels are firmly clamped between the bearers and the supporting means, said portions for defining the final position being constructed so that the fastening means can always be brought back into their first position without removing the panels.

4. A panel structure for ceilings, walls and similar surfaces, comprising panels having arched longitudinal rims, bearers supporting the panels at their rims, supporting means provided with holes, and fastening means fitting into the holes of the supporting means for securing the bearers to said supporting means, said fastening means including press stud means of elastic material and containing a portion having two accommodation positions for a head portion of the press stud means, one portion of said press stud means being provided in the supporting means and the other portion in the bearers, said two accommodation positions defining an intermediate first position and a final second position of said bearers, the portions for defining the intermediate first position being constructed as locking means for said fastening means, whereas the portions for defining the final position are constructed so that the fastening means always can be brought back into their first position without removing the panels.

5. A paneling structure according to claim 4, wherein said other portion of the press stud means which is the head portion is integral with the bearers.

6. A fastening means for a paneling structure for ceilings, walls and similar surfaces, comprising panels having arched longitudinal rims, bearers for supporting said panels at the rims thereof, said bearers being fastened to supporting means by fastening means fitting into holes of said supporting means, said fastening means including a bent resilient strip and containing a head portion and two resilient legs, of which, when viewed from the head towards the free end of the resilient legs, each resilient leg has a lip portion pointing towards the head of the fastening means and defining an intermediate first position of said fastening means and a bent portion defining the final second position of said fastening means, the portions for defining the intermediate first position being constructed as locking means for said fastening means, whereas the portions for defining the final position are constructed so that the fastening means always can be brought back into their first position Without removing the panels.

7. A fastening means for a paneling structure for ceilings, walls and similar surfaces, comprising panels having arched longitudinal rims, bearers for supporting the panels at the rims thereof, said bearers being fastened to supporting means by fastening means fitting into holes of said supporting means, said fastening means including a bent resilient strip and containing a head portion and two resilient legs, of which, when viewed from the head to wards the free end of the resilient legs, each resilient leg has two bent portions, one of said bent portions defining an intermediate first position of said fastening means and also serving as a locking means for the bearers, the other bent portion defining the final second position of said fastening means, the bent portion for defining the final position of said fastening means being constructed so that the fastening means always can be brought back into their first position without removing the panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,417 Ellingwood Aug. 5, 1930 2,156,669 Van Uum May 2, 1939 2,219,382 Conlon Oct. 29, 1940 2,476,506 Olsen July 19, 1949 2,720,289 Henrickson Oct. 11, 1955 2,998,112 Burgin Aug. 29, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 746,007 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1956

Claims (1)

1. A PANELING STRUCTURE FOR CEILINGS, WALLS AND SIMILAR SURFACES, COMPRISING PANELS HAVING ARCHED LONGITUDINAL RIMS, BEARERS SUPPORTING THE PANELS AT THEIR RIM, SUPPORTING MEANS PROVIDED WITH HOLES, AND FASTENING MEANS FITTING INTO THE HOLES OF THE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SECURING THE BEARERS TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID FASTENING MEANS HAVING FIRST PORTIONS FOR SECURING THE BEARERS TO THE SUPPORTING MEANS IN A FIRST INTERMEDIATE POSITION, IN WHICH POSITION THE BEARERS ARE SUPPORTED AT A DISTANCE FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, AND HAVING SECOND PORTIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE BEARERS IN A SECOND FINAL POSITION, IN WHICH THE RIMS OF THE PANELS ARE FIRMLY CLAMPED BETWEEN THE BEARERS AND THE SUPPORTING MEANS, THE FIRST PORTIONS OF THE FASTENING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE BEARERS IN THE INTERMEDIATE POSITION BEING CONSTRUCTED AS LOCKING MEANS FOR SAID FASTENING MEANS, AND THE SECOND PORTIONS BEING SO CONSTRUCTED THAT THE FASTENING MEANS CAN ALWAYS BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THEIR FIRST POSITION WITHOUT REMOVING THE PANELS.

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