US3343310A

US3343310A - Overhead ceiling structure with an integral fixture assembly

Info

Publication number: US3343310A
Application number: US411297A
Authority: US
Inventors: Netz Norman; Emanuel D Bauman; Baranowski Eugene; Freedman Seymour
Original assignee: Integrated Systems Inc
Current assignee: Integrated Systems Inc
Priority date: 1964-11-16
Filing date: 1964-11-16
Publication date: 1967-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-26

Description

Sept. 26, 1967' N. NETZ ETAL 3,343,310

OVERHEAD CEILING STRUCTURE WITH AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY FilediNov. 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ,l joo' 94- g1 INVENTORS NORMAN Ne-rz,EmnuueLb-E nummo,

44 QMQWQYW EueeueBmzmowsngevmoueFa-esomau ATTORNEY Sept. 26, I I N. NETZ ETAL 3, ,3 0

' ovE Sept. 26, 1967- N. NETZ' ET'AL OVERHEAD CEILING STRUCTURE WITH-AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed. Nov. 16, 1 964 INVENTORS Nos'zmnu Ne-rz EMANUEL BAUMAN,

EUGENEBARANOWS K fi f SEYMOUR Flze eomu I "12% m mm ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1967 N. N ETZ ETAL 3,

OVERHEAD CEILING STRUCTURE WITH AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4- U v INVENTORS NORMAN Ne-rz,EmA-us-LD.BnuMAN,

Eugen eBA'RaNowsm sevmuaFaeeowm ownmmm ATTORNEY Sept.- 26 1 967 I N. 'YNETZ ETAL I 3,343,310

OVERHEAD CEILING-STRUCTURE WITH AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY s Sheets-Sheet 5' Filed Nov. 16, 1964 //vv/vr01f NORMAN NE-rz, EMANUEL. P. BAuMAN, E ueeNE BnnAuowsxfiSevmounFeeewm lllllllllll United States Patent OVERHEAD CEILING STRUCTURE WITH AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY Norman Netz, Bloomfield, Conn., Emanuel D. Bauman,

Loudonville, N.Y., and Eugene Baranowski, Forestville, and Seymour Freedman, West Hartford, Conn., assignors to Integrated Systems, Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Nov. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 411,297

7 Claims. (Cl. 52-28) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An overhead ceiling with an integrated fixture assembly, the fixture assembly being supported by yoke means including brackets at the apex of angularly related rail means.

The present invention relates to supports employed primarily in overhead structures such as suspended ceilings in the integration of ancillary lighting, ventilation or like equipment into the ceiling.

Under certain urrent construction procedures, interior ceilings of substantial area are connected to an overhead roof or roof superstructure, the interior ceilings being generally known as suspended ceilings. In such ceilings, it has been found necessary and/or desirable to incorporate lighting or ventilating systems of various types, including upwardly spaced or coved lighting and ventilating means. It is a basic objective of the present invention to supply improved supporting means for the incorporation of the illumination or ventilation means into the ceilings, the supports being of a construction and assembly such that the system is fully compatible with available structural materials for the construction of suspended ceilings.

Another object and advantage hereof resides in the provision of supports as aforesaid, usable with existing ceiling hardware, and readily applicable to existing ceilings without drastic modification or reconstruction thereof.

A further object resides in the provision of supports of standard modular dimension having new and novel bracket means whereby the supports and appurtenant apparatus are readily substituted for existing modules.

Additional objects include the provision of supports adapting the ceiling to fixture mounting in such manner as to reduce glare while maintaining uniformity of brightness, and wherein the mounting provides a cutoff point for visual comfort in the line of sight; an arrangement providing greater and more uniform distribution of light; and one adapted for the employment of standard lighting and/ or ventilating fixtures.

Yet another object is to provide a support for fixtures as aforesaid wherein the fixtures are easily maintained, are readily accessible from the underside for cleaning, repair or replacement of components, and maybe used either with or without shields, diffusers, or other accessories.

An additional object of importance pertains to the construction and assembly of supports of this type from standard stock, with the result that the supports are non- 3,343,310 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of suspended ceiling construction with a first form of support of the instant invention in use therewith;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, foreshortened, transverse sectional View on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged, detail cross sectional view on the line 33 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of details, substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of suspended ceiling construction hereof embodying a second form of support within the scope of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a partially disassembled, foreshortened perspective view of the support as employed in the embodiment of the invention in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 6, but showing the ararngement of adjacent fixtures when disassembled;

FIGURE 8 discloses apex members as constructed in an intermediate form of yoke member hereof;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in'FIGURES 6 and 7;

. FIGURE 10 is a detail sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of the apex portion of another form of support of this invention;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the apex portion per se of the member of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 13 shows still another embodiment of the support in front elevation;

FIGURE 14 is a partially disassembled perspective of the device of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged sectional view, showing details, taken on the line 15--15 of FIGURE 13, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of yet another form of yoke member and its apex portions;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1717 of FIGURE 16, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of another form of the invention;

FIGURE 19 is a front elevation of the apex and adjacent portions of the yoke member of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 shows yet another arrangement within the broad scope hereof; and

FIGURE 21 is a transverse section on the line 21-21 of FIGURE 20, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, and referring initially to the form shown in FIG- URES 1-4, the support assembly and ceiling construction hereof are generally designated therein by reference numeral 30. The ceiling construction per se includes at least one pair of spaced apart

longitudinal rail members

32, 34,

and transverse rail members 36. The rail members are of inverted T-shape and each has an upstanding leg 38 with a bead 40 at its upper end, and distal and

proximal ledges

42, 44. The rail members are suspended in a grid arrangement, as shown, from some overhead anchorage such as a roof or roof beams (not shown) by hangar cables 46 with loops 48 engaged in openings formed in the legs 38 below the beads 40.

Horizontally arranged blocks 50 of interior celing material, such as acoustical tile or the like, are suspended on the

ledges

42 and 44 of the transverse rail members and on the distil ledges of the horizontal rail members. The blocks 50 thus form an interior ceiling disposed in a given substantially horizontal plane.

A plurality of yoke assemblies 52 is provided for extension between selected pairs of

longitudinal rails

32 and 34 for the mounting of upwardly spaced equipment. The yoke assemblies 52 comprise upwardly and inwardly inclined side members 54, each of which has an upper end 56 and a lower end 58, a pair of longitudinal

top rails

60, 62 suspended from the overhead support by top hanger cables 64 and substantially identical to the

rails

32, 34, and apex members 66. The side members 54 are of the inverted T-shaped material employed in fabrication of the rails, and include central stems 67 and side ledges 68, while the top rails have inner and

outer ledges

70 and 72 and upwardly extending legs 74. Blocks 76 of ceiling material are supported between the side members on ledges 68 and on the proximal ledges 44 and outer ledges 72 of the rails. The side members are positioned and maintained in place in their inclined positions by upper and lower brackets 78 and 80.

The upper brackets 78 each comprise a fiat tongue 82 secured to the side member and projecting outwardly therefrom, and hook portion 84 engaged about the legs 74 of the

top rails

60 and 62. Lower brackets 80 are described more fully hereinafter in respect of their employment in a subsequently disclosed form of the invention.

The apex members 66 of the yoke assembly comprise cross members 86 of inverted T-shaped material with side ledges 88 and dividers 90 which extend over the ledges 70 of the top rails. Hooks 92 are connected to the divider ends and extend about the rail legs 74. A plurality of substantially rectangular, elongated fixture housings 94 is provided. The housings 94 are substantially hollow and have a top 95, sides 96, bases 98, and ends 100, and the bases are supported on the inner ledges 70 with the ends 100 resting on the side ledges 88 of the cross members 86. The fixture housings contain apparatus such as fluorescent lighting equipment 102, which is retained in such manner that bulbs 104 and other portions requiring maintenance and replacement are readily accessible from below.

Since the

longitudinal rails

32 and 34 comprise standard equipment, the supporting assembly hereof is readily employed in existing structures.

In FIGURES 5-10', inclusive, a modification employing a unitary yoke assembly 200 is disclosed. The basic ceiling construction is as previously described, like reference numerals being employed with the letter asupplied for distinction. As best shown in FIGURE 6, each of the unitary yokes 200 comprises a pair of upwardly and inwardly inclined side members 52a, the upper ends 56a of which are joined by an apex member 202. The member 202 comprises an elongated, substantially rectangular bight portion 204 having ends 206, 208 and a lower edge 210. The edge 210 has

horizontal tabs

212 and 214 extended in opposite directions therefrom, and

side arms

216 and 218 depend from the

ends

206 and 208, respectively. Angle plates 220 are connected to the arms and to the ends 560 of the side members 52 as by rivets 222.

The brackets 80a (identical to brackets 80) are shown in FIGURE 6, and will be seen therein to comprise a pair of oppositely arranged elements each having a central portion 224 with a plate 226 connected to the lower ends 58a of the side members. A leg member 228 is connected to each central portion and a foot 230 extends from the leg in such manner as to extend substantially parallel to the adjacent leg 38a of the

rail

32 or 34. As seen in the drawing, the plates 226 of each bracket are spaced apart by reason of their connection on opposite sides of the ends 58a, and one foot member 230 of each bracket has an outwardly struck peg 232. The legs 38a have

slots

234 and 236 formed therein, the slot 236 being arranged to receive the peg 232 which is bent as shown in FIGURE 9 after insertion therethrough. The terminal end of each transverse rail 36a is stepped at 238 as shown in FIGURE 6, and has an extended engagement lip 240 which extends through the slot 234 and into the space between the plates 226. Thus, the longitudinal and transverse rails and the yoke assemblies are effectively interlocked together, and relative shifting of the parts is prevented.

Fixture housings 94a are engaged with the yoke bight portions 204 by placement of the

tabs

212 and 214 into the open ends 100a thereof to rest the tops 95a thereonthe sides 96a fitting against and being engaged by the ends 242 of the ledges of the side members 52a.

At locations intermediate the terminal ends 100w of the housing 94a, intermediate yoke assemblies 244 are provided for each transverse rail 36a. The intermediate yoke 244 frictionally engages the housing 94a including support by the ends 242, but is devoid of other connection therebetween. The connection between its outer ends and the

longitudinal rails

32a, 34a is as described with respect to the main yokes.

In yet another form of the invention, specifically shown in FIGURES 11 and 12, reference numerals for elements corresponding to those in the first described forms bear a letter b for distinction. This form of the device includes a unitary yoke 52b with an apex member 202b. The apex 202b has a bight portion 20% having integral angle plates 22% secured to the side member ends 56b by rivets 222b or the like. The bight portion has an upper edge 300 and oppositely struck, substantially horizontal tabs 212b and 21 4b extend outwardly therefrom, leaving upstanding division tabs 302 therebetween. The apex member 202b functions in a manner substantially like that of the member 202. As seen in FIGURE 11, the tops 95b of the fixture housings 94b are rested on the extended horizontal tabs 212b and 214b, the division tabs 302 functioning to separate the fixtures and prevent direct abutment thereof which could render certain maintenance procedures more difficult to accomplish.

A quite similar yoke arrangement 52c is shown in FIG- URES 13-15, this particular form having the characteristic of assembly from separable components. In this arrangement, the stems 67c of the sides 540 are of open channel form defining a trough 400 as shown in FIG- URE 15. An apex member 202c has a bight portion 2040 with downwardly inclined angle plates 212c connected thereto at bend portions 402. The angle plates have rigidifying ribs 404 which serve additionally as handle means therefor, and are inserted into the trough and frictionally held therein by the stems 670. The bight 204c has an upper edge 3000 over which saddles 406 of U-shape are mounted, the saddles having outwardly horizontal tabs 212c and 214a functioning to engage the top 950 of housing 94c. In the event of usage of the yoke 520 in an intermediate location, saddles 406 are omitted but the arrangement is otherwise the same.

In FIGURES 16 and 17 a slight modification 52d of the yoke arrangement is disclosed which may be employed either with or Without the hereinbefore mentioned saddles. In this construction, the stem sides 67d have outwardly flared entry ends 500 to the channels or troughs 400d. The apex member 202d has a fiat bight portion 20411 from the ends of which extend angle plates 212d engaged in the channels between the stem sides 67d.

Rivets 502 extend through the stem sides and angle plates to secure the same together.

In the disclosure of FIGURES 18- and 19, the yoke 52e has an apex member 2022 formed of inverted T- shaped stock, having a bight portion 204:; with ends 206e, 208a. Angle plates 212s are secured by rivets 222e to the ends of the bight and to the adjacent ends 56e of the sides 54c. The bight portions have ledge members 600 therebeneath to which fixture housings 940 are secured by any suitable means, such as welding, or the like, and the bulbs 104e may be covered with a shroud 602 if desired. The bights 2042 have apertures 604 formed therein whereby cables 606 to the overhead support are attached if necessary.

Each of the angle plates 212a has a slot 608 therein, and angularly disposed top rail elements 610 have projecting teeth 612 engaged therein. A top covering 614 of ceiling material is mounted between the inward ledges 616 thereof.

In the adaptation of this apparatus to the support of particularly heavy equipment, a support yoke assembly 52 as shown in FIGURES 19 and 20 is sometimes desirable. In such assembly, pairs of longitudinal top rails 60], 62f are suspended on cables 64 between selected pairs of longitudinal rails (not shown). Slanted side members 54 have upper ends 56 connected to the top rails by means of hook means 700 each comprising body portions 702 connected to the ends 56 by rivets 704 and projecting hooks 706 engaged about the upstanding legs 74 of the rails. An open grill member 202] forming an apex member, has an outer frame 710 of substantially rectangular configuration extending between the rail members, there being angular vanes 712 mounted therein. An air supply duct 714, including a conduit 716 and a rectangular outlet 718 overlying the frame 710 is mount- 7 ed over the grill member to distribute air therethrough.

It will be recognized that equipment other than the supply duct 714 could be employed in this arrangement, such as other heating, cooling, lighting, or analogous means.

It will be noted that, in each of the specified arrangements, apparatus readily employed in existing ceilings is supplied, and each includes a means for the upward spacing of equipment such as lighting or ventilating equipment in upwardly coved relation to the general flatwise extent of the ceiling.

Having described and illustrated several embodiments of this invention in some detail, it will be understood that these descriptions and illustrations are olTered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suspended ceiling construction having transverse and longitudinal rail members, ceiling materials supported between the rail members, and at least one pair of opposing, open rail members, a fixture support assembly comprising:

at least one elongated fixture housing mounted in upwardly coved relation between said one pair of open rail members in said fixture support assembly;

fixture means associated with said housing;

a plurality of yoke assemblies, each including upwardly inclined side members and apex means, the side members each having an upper end and a lower end;

the apex means including transversely arranged apex elements which correlate the respective side member upper ends in a manner such that the fixture housing is engaged and supported thereby;

each fixture housing being mounted between the upper ends of the side members;

means connecting the lower ends of the side members to.the rail members of said one pair at spaced locations;

engagement means associated with the side members for retaining blocks of ceiling material;

blocks of ceiling material between the side members engaged by said engagement means;

the blocks being upwardly and inwardly inclined from the ceiling; and

the blocks being inclined to the fixture housing to span the distance between said one pair of open rail members and to locate the fixture housing in said upwardly coved relation to the one pair of rail members.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the means connecting the lower ends of the side members to the rail members comprise brackets interlocked with said rail members. 4

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the engagement means for the blocks of ceiling material comprise lateral ledges on said side members.

4. The invention of claim 1, and:

means extended from the apex means to engage the fixture housings, said means comprising oppositely arranged, substantially horizontal tabs extending from said apex means.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the yoke assemblies are of unitary form and include an apex member with a bight portion having integral angle plates; and

horizontal tabs extending outwardly from the bight portion for engagement with the housings.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the yoke assemblies are of separable form;

the apex members have bight portions with downwardly inclined angle plates secured thereto; and

saddles secured to the bight portions and having horizontal tabs thereon engaging the fixture housings.

7. In an overhead ceiling construction which includes a roof structure, at least one pair of spaced apart, longitudinal rail members, at least one pair of transverse rail members secured to the longitudinal rail at spaced intersections, each rail member being of inverted T-shape and having an upstanding leg and distal and proximal ledges on opposite sides of the leg, hanger cables secured to the legs and to the roof structure to support the rail members in downwardly spaced substantially parallel 1ocations, and the longitudinal rail member distal ledges supporting horizontally arranged blocks of ceiling material thereon forming a ceiling disposed in a given plane, substantially, a coved lighting fixture and support assembly comprising:

a plurality of yoke assemblies, each including upwardly and inwardly inclined side members, the side members having upper and lower ends;

the lower ends of the side members having brackets thereon;

the legs of the rail members having slots formed therein adjacent said intersections;

the brackets having a central portion, legs extendingfrom the central portion, and foot members secured to the legs, the foot members having peg members thereon engaged in the slots of the rail members whereby the side members are connected to the longitudinal rail members at said intersections;

the transverse rail members being interlocked with the brackets at said intersections;

each side member being ofinverted T-shape and having side ledges;

ceiling panels supported on the ledges of the side members in opposing, upwardly angled relation to the plane of the horizontal blocks;

an elongated fixture housing secured between the upper ends of the yoke side members;

illumination means connected to the fixture housing;

and

apex means interconnecting the yoke side member upper ends.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Chambers 52-28 X Naysrnith 5228 X Jacobson 52489 X Jorn 2409 Winkler 240*-9 Kurek 240'9 X Sorenson 52484 8 3,015,375 1/1962 Lickliter 287189.36 3,239,035 3/1966 Znamirowski 52484 X OTHER REFERENCES 5 Architectural Forum, February 1946, pages 98 and 99.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary ExaminJer.

M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A SUSPENDED CEILING CONTRUCTION HAVING TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINAL RAIL MEMBES, CEILING MATERIALS SUPPORTED BETWEEN THE RAIL MEMBERS, AND AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF OPPOSING, OPEN RAIL MEMBERS, A FIXTURE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED FIXTURE HOUSING MOUNTED IN UPWARDLY COVED RELATION BETWEEN SAID ONE PAIR OF OPEN RAIL MEMBERS IN SAID FIXTURE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY; FIXTURE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HOUSING; A PLURALITY OF YOKE ASSEMBLIES, EACH INCLUDING UPWARDLY INCLINED SIDE MEMBERS AND APEX MEANS, THE SIDE MEMBERS EACH HAVING AN UPPER END AND A LOWER END; THE APEX MEANS INCLUDING TRANSVERSELY ARRANGED APEX ELEMENTS WHICH CORRELATE THE RESPECTIVE SIDE MEMBER UPPER ENDS IN A MANNER SUCH THAT THE FIXTURE HOUSING IS ENGAGED AND SUPPORTED THEREBY; EACH FIXTURE HOUSING BEING MOUNTED BETWEEN THE UPPER ENDS OF THE SIDE MEMBERS; MEANS CONNECTING THE LOWER ENDS OF THE SIDE MEMBERS TO THE RAIL MEMBERS OF SAID ONE PAIR AT SPACED LOCATIONS; ENGAGEMENT MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SIDE MEMBERS FOR RETAINING BLOCKS OF CEILING MATERIAL; BLOCKS OF CEILING MATERIAL BETWEEN THE SIDE MEMBERS ENGAGED BY SAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS; THE BLOCKS BEING UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY INCLINED FROM THE CEILING; AND THE BLOCKS BEING INCLINED TO THE FIXTURE HOUSING TO SPAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID ONE PAIR OF OPEN RAIL MEMBERS AND TO LOCATE THE FIXTURE HOUSING IN SAID UPWARDLY COVED RELATION TO THE ONE PAIR OF RAIL MEMBERS.