WO2018104713A1

WO2018104713A1 - Sign

Info

Publication number: WO2018104713A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/053646
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Wood
Original assignee: Damar Interiors (North West) Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-05
Filing date: 2017-12-04
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Also published as: GB2557301A; GB201620672D0

Abstract

A sign (10) for a suspended ceiling (100) comprises a maintainer (12) adapted to maintain the sign (10) on a grid (102) of the suspended ceiling (100) so that the sign (10) occupies a cell (106) of the suspended ceiling (100) and a display portion (14) adapted to, in use, project below the cell (106) to display a message (24).

Description

Sign

The invention relates to a sign for suspended ceiling. A suspended (sometimes referred to as dropped) ceiling typically comprises a grid of metal T-sections, suspended by wires from an overhead structure. Cells are formed between the metal T-sections of the grid, with each cell typically filled by a lightweight ceiling tile supported by the grid. Signs can be used in combination with a suspended ceiling. A sign is an object which displays a message, for example, to direct people, alert people and so on. Prior art signs typically hang below a grid member of the grid. Such signs can be difficult to fit and often require modification of the grid member.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a sign for a suspended ceiling, the sign comprising: a maintainer adapted to maintain the sign on a grid of the suspended ceiling so that the sign occupies a cell of the suspended ceiling; and a display portion adapted to, in use, project below the cell to display a message. This sign is easier to fit than a prior art sign, as it simply replaces a modular tile or a light fitting.

In one example, the sign is adapted to occupy the entirety of the cell. This means that the size of the sign can be maximised, increasing the visibility of the message, and allows the sign to be better supported by the grid.

In one example, wherein the maintainer comprises a first pair of opposed lips adapted to sit on the grid to maintain the sign on the grid.

In one example, the maintainer comprises a second pair of opposed lips adapted to sit on the grid so that the four lips sit on four sections of the grid surrounding the cell to maintain the sign on the grid. In one example, the lips are continuous.

In one example, the display portion comprises a first face, the first face adapted to extend downwardly in use. In one example, the display portion comprises four first faces, each first face adapted to face outwardly from the cell in use. This increases the visibility of the sign from four directions.

In one example, each first face is adapted to abut a section of the grid. In one example, each first face is angled so that, in use, the distance from the first face to a centre of the cell decreases with distance from the suspended ceiling.

In one example, the display portion comprises a second face, the second face adapted to be substantially horizontal in use.

In one example, an in use bottommost edge of each of the first faces connects to a respective edge of the second face. In one example, the sign is substantially of a rectangular frustum shape

In one example, the display portion is adapted to project below the cell by at least 100 mm. In one example, the display portion is adapted to project below the cell by substantially

150 mm.

In one example, the sign comprises a light arranged to illuminate the display portion. In one example, the sign the light is located behind the display portion, in use, and the display portion is translucent.

In one example, the cell is a standard European cell. In one example, the cell is a standard US cell.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a suspended ceiling comprising a grid and a sign according to the first aspect (which might, together, be referred to as a system, a kit of parts, or an assembly), wherein the grid defines a cell, and the sign is maintained on the grid so that the sign occupies the cell and the display portion projects below the cell to display the message.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing a sign in a suspended ceiling, the suspended ceiling having a grid defining a cell, the method comprising maintaining the sign on the grid so that the sign occupies the cell and a display portion of the sign projects below the cell to display a message.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a sign; Figure 2 is a bottom view of a sign;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a sign;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a suspended ceiling, seen from below; and Figure 5 is a diagram which shows a method of installing a sign in a suspended ceiling.

Referring to Figures 1 , 2 and 3 there is shown a sign 10. The sign 10 comprises a maintainer 12 and a display portion 14. The maintainer 12 comprises a first pair of lips 16a, 16b and a second pair of lips 18a,

18b. The lips 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b project outwardly from an in use upper edge of the display portion 14. The lips project in an in use horizontal direction. The lips 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b are elongate, each having a longer length (as measured in the direction in which the lip 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b extends along a side of the sign) than its distance of outward projection. The lips 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b are planar, having a thickness which is less than the distance of outward projection. The lips 16, 16b, 18a, 18b project outwardly by 30mm.

The lips 16a, 16b of the first pair are on opposite sides of the sign 10 and extend parallel to each other. The lips 18a, 18b of the second pair are on opposite sides of the sign 10 and extend parallel to each other. The lips 18a, 18b of the second pair extend in a direction which is perpendicular to a direction in which the lips 16a, 16b of the first pair extend. The upper edge of the display portion 14 has a rectangular shape.

Each lip 16a, 16b of the first pair connects to both lips 18a, 18b of the second pair, so that the lips 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b form a continuous rim around the upper edge of the display portion 14.

The lips 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b have the same lengths as each other, because the upper edge of the display portion 14 has a square shape in this example. Each lip 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b has a length of 596mm, so that the sign fits a standard UK suspended ceiling (see below for an explanation of this). The length of each lip 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b extends beyond the upper edge of the display portion 14, as it includes the lengths of the outward projections of adjacent lips 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b. The display portion 14 comprises four first faces 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. Each first face 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d connects to a respective one of the lips 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b at the upper edge of the display portion 14. The display portion 14 comprises a second face 22. The second face 22 connects to each of the first faces 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d at an in use lower edge of each of the first faces 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. The sign 10 forms a continuous surface, such that the lips 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b provide the only free edge.

Each first face 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d has an outward facing surface, for displaying a message (see below). Each first face 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d extends downwardly in use, but is angled inwardly, so that the distance from the first face 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d to a centre of the sign 10 decreases with distance from the upper edge of the display portion 14. Each first face 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d extends 150mm downwardly in use. Each first face 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is planar and has a trapezoidal shape. The first faces 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d form a continuous surface around the display portion 14.

The second face 22 is planar and is horizontal in use. The second face 22 is square. The sign 10 has a square frustum shape. The second face 22 comprises an in use downward facing surface, for displaying a message. The sign comprises a light (not shown) to illuminate the display portion 14. The light is located within the display portion 14, which is translucent. This might allow the message to be visible but not the actual light or objects in the suspended ceiling. The sign 10 is a housing (e.g. a cavity) for receiving the light. The sign 10 is integrally formed as single unit. The sign 10 is manufactured from plastic using a moulding process.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a suspended ceiling 100. The suspended ceiling 100 comprises a grid 102, which comprises a first grid member 104a, a second grid member 104b, a third grid member 104c and a fourth grid member 104d. The grid members 104a-d define a cell 106. The cell 106 is square. The cell 106 is a standard UK cell, which means that its centre is spaced 600mm from centres of adjacent cells (not shown). The grid members 104a-d are metal T-sections. The suspended ceiling 100 comprises the sign 10 (as shown in Figures 1 to 3). In use, the maintainer 12 maintains the sign 10 on the grid 102 so that the sign 10 occupies a cell 106. The sign 10 extends fully across the cell 106, extending between the first grid member 104a and the second grid member 104b, which are parallel to each other. The sign 10 extends between the third grid member 104c and the fourth grid member 104d, which are parallel to each other. The sign 10 occupies the entirety of the cell 106, covering the entire area of the cell 106. The upper edge of the display portion 104 has the same shape as the cell 106.

The two lips of the first pair 16a, 16b sit on (i.e. rest on) the first and second grid members 104a, 104b respectively, and the two lips of the second pair 18a, 18b sit on (i.e. rest on) the third and fourth grid members 104c, 104d respectively to maintain the sign 10 on the grid.

The display portion projects below the cell 106 to display the message 24. Each of the first faces 20a-d abuts a respective grid member 104a-d.

The message 20a comprises text and icons. In the example of Figure 4, the message 24 is displayed on only one of the first faces 20a. In other examples, messages are displayed on any of the first faces or on the second face.

The sign may be used in ceilings having cells sized differently from a standard cell (e.g. different from a UK standard cell). The sign may be used in a standard European cell, which has a centre-to-centre spacing of 500mm. The sign may be used in a rectangular cell, for example, in a rectangular cell with centre-to-centre spacing of 600mm in a first direction and 1200mm in a second direction. In each case, the sign is of a size and shape such that it fits within the cell (i.e. between the grid members), with its lips projecting a sufficient distance to sit on the grid sections and maintain the sign on the grid.

In other examples, the second face may be shaped differently. The second face may be circular, with the first faces modified so that they connect to the circular second face.

In other examples, the sign does not occupy the entirety of the cell. However, in such examples, a portion of the sign itself is located largely within or crosses the plane of the cell, with the display portion projecting below this plane (e.g. toward the ground, in use). Preferably, in such examples, the sign extends between at least two grid members to maintain the sign on the grid. Preferably, the at least two grid members are parallel and/or adjacent grid members. Again, this allows the sign to be more easily fitted in a new or existing suspended sealing.

In other examples, the display portion may extend downwardly more than 150mm in use. In other examples, the display portion may extend downwardly less than 150mm in use. The extent of the downward extent of the display portion might depend on the application and the mould used to manufacture the sign. Referring to figure 5, there is shown a method 200 of installing a sign in a suspended ceiling. The suspended ceiling has a grid defining a cell. The method 200 comprises a step 202 of maintaining the sign on the grid so that the sign occupies the cell. The method 200 comprises a subsequent step 204 during which a display portion of the sign projects below the cell to display a message. The method 200 may be applied to sign 10 and the suspended ceiling 100 described above. The method might also comprise replacing a tile in a grid/cell with the described sign.

Again, the fact that the sign is arranged to occupy the cell means that it is easier to fit the sign where a tile of the ceiling could be used, or to replace such a tile.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1 . A sign for a suspended ceiling, the sign comprising:

a maintainer adapted to maintain the sign on a grid of the suspended ceiling so that the sign occupies a cell of the suspended ceiling; and

a display portion adapted to, in use, project below the cell to display a message.

2. A sign according to claim 1 , wherein the sign is adapted to occupy the entirety of the cell.

3. A sign according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maintainer comprises a first pair of opposed lips adapted to sit on the grid to maintain the sign on the grid.

4. A sign according to claim 3, wherein the maintainer comprises a second pair of opposed lips adapted to sit on the grid so that the four lips sit on four sections of the grid surrounding the cell to maintain the sign on the grid.

5. A sign according to claim 4, wherein the lips are continuous.

6. A sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the display portion comprises four first faces, each first face adapted to extend downwardly and to face outwardly from the cell in use.

7. A sign according to claim 6, wherein each first face is adapted to abut a section of the grid.

8. A sign according to claims 6 or 7, wherein each first face is angled so that, in use, the distance from the first face to a centre of the cell decreases with distance from the suspended ceiling.

9. A sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the sign is substantially of a square frustum shape.

10. A sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the display portion is adapted to project below the cell by at least 150 mm.

1 1 . A sign according to any preceding claim, further comprising a light arranged to illuminate the display portion.

12. A sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the cell is a standard European

13. A suspended ceiling comprising a grid and a sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the grid defines a cell, and the sign is maintained on the grid so that the sign occupies the cell and the display portion projects below the cell to display the message.

14. A method of installing a sign in a suspended ceiling, the suspended ceiling having a grid defining a cell, the method comprising maintaining the sign on the grid so that the sign occupies the cell and a display portion of the sign projects below the cell to display a message.