WO2023052399A1

WO2023052399A1 - Clip

Info

Publication number: WO2023052399A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/076938
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michiel Langeveld
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries B.V.
Priority date: 2021-10-01
Filing date: 2022-09-28
Publication date: 2023-04-06
Also published as: GB202114086D0; GB2611344A

Abstract

A clip for attachment to a ceiling panel beam having an elongate web portion with opposite respective first and second sides and extending longitudinally in a first direction and in an orthogonal second direction from a bulb portion at a first longitudinal edge to oppositely extending flange portions at an opposite second longitudinal edge, each respective flange portion extending in the first direction and in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions and extending in the third direction to a respective hem at the respective distal edge of the respective flange portion, each respective hem including a respective wall facing the web portion. The clip includes: a longitudinally extending shoulder portion to be located adjacent the first longitudinal edge of the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam, the longitudinally extending shoulder portion having opposite first and second lateral edges; a first leg extending from the first lateral edge of the shoulder portion and a second leg extending from the second lateral edge of the shoulder portion and extending parallel with the first leg so as to define a space therebetween for receiving the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam. The first leg includes, spaced from the first lateral edge of the shoulder, a first protrusion extending towards the second leg for locating at one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on the opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction. The first protrusion is configured to bite into the respective first side of the web portion facing the first leg. The first leg includes a first locking tab extending from the first leg away from the second leg, with the first protrusion located between the first locking tab and the shoulder, the first locking tab being configured to engage with the wall of the respective hem of the ceiling panel beam and, thereby, to resiliently deflect the first leg towards the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam and press the first protrusion to bite into the respective first side of the web portion and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction.

Description

CLIP

The present invention relates to a clip, in particular to a clip for attachment to a ceiling panel beam, and to a ceiling system including the clip and a ceiling panel beam.

It is known to provide a grid of ceiling panel beams having clips for supporting ceiling panels, for example ceiling panels provided with suspension parts to be suspended from respective clips. Such an arrangement is described in WO 2016/085849.

Although such arrangements are useful and effective, it is recognised herein that there can be problems relating to the clips sliding along the length of the ceiling panel beams. It would be desirable to secure the clips at their respective positions. Although fasteners may be available to secure clips in this way, use of such fasteners is troublesome to the fitter.

According to the present invention, there is provided a clip for attachment to a ceiling panel beam having an elongate web portion with a bulb portion and opposite respective first and second sides, the elongate web portion extending longitudinally in a first direction and in an orthogonal second direction from the bulb portion at a first longitudinal edge to oppositely extending flange portions at an opposite second longitudinal edge, each respective flange portion extending in the first direction and in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions and extending in the third direction to a respective hem at the respective distal edge of the respective flange portion, each respective hem including a respective wall facing the web portion. The clip includes: a longitudinally extending shoulder portion to be located adjacent, in particular above, the bulb portion at the first longitudinal edge of the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam, the longitudinally extending shoulder portion having opposite first and second lateral edges; a first leg extending from the first lateral edge of the shoulder portion; and a second leg extending from the second lateral edge of the shoulder portion and extending parallel with the first leg so as to define a space therebetween for receiving the bulb of the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam. The first leg includes, spaced from the first lateral edge of the shoulder, a first protrusion extending into said space towards the second leg for locating at one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge, in particular below the bulb portion, when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on the opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction. The first protrusion is configured to bite into the respective first side of the web portion facing the first leg. The first leg includes a first locking tab extending from the first leg away from the second leg, with the first protrusion located between the first locking tab and the shoulder, the first locking tab being configured to engage with the wall of the respective hem of the ceiling panel beam and, thereby, to resiliently deflect the first leg towards the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam and press the first protrusion to bite into the respective first side of the web portion and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction.

In this way, not only does the first protrusion retain the clip on the ceiling panel beam in the second direction, but it also secures the clip at its longitudinal position along the ceiling panel beam. The arrangement provides a convenient and simple mechanism for the fitter to place and then secure the clip at its desired position.

Although it may be sufficient to provide only one first protrusion on the first leg, the first leg may additionally include, spaced from the first lateral edge of the shoulder, an additional first protrusion extending into said space towards the second leg for locating at said one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge, in particular below the bulb portion, when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction. The additional first protrusion is configured to bite into the respective first side of the web portion facing the first leg and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction.

Where a first leg has an extent in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder portion, the first protrusion and additional protrusion are spaced in that longitudinal extent and may be spaced similarly along the side of the bulb portion of the panel. With the two protrusions spaced longitudinally in this way, twisting of the clip about an axis in the third direction may be resisted and overall stability and security of the clip may be improved.

The first protrusion and the additional first protrusion may extend partially in opposite directions parallel with the first direction. In this way, the first protrusion and additional first protrusion may bite into the first side of the web portion more effectively in one of those respective opposite directions. As a result, one of the first protrusion and the additional first protrusion may be more effective at preventing movement of the clip in one of the opposite directions and the other of the first protrusion and the additional first protrusion may be more effective in preventing movement in the other of the opposite directions.

Although it may be sufficient to provide only a first protrusion and a first locking tab on the first leg, it is also possible to provide the second leg with a similar protrusion and locking tab. In other words, a second leg may include, spaced from the second lateral edge of the shoulder, a second protrusion extending into said space towards the first leg for locating at said one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge, in particular below the bulb portion, when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction. The second protrusion is configured to bite into the respective second side of the web portion facing the second leg. The second leg includes a second locking tab extending from the second leg away from the first leg, with the second protrusion located between the second locking tab and the shoulder, the second locking tab being configured to engage with the wall of the respective hem of the ceiling panel beam and, thereby, to resiliently deflect the second leg towards the elongate portion of the ceiling panel beam and press the second protrusion to bite into the respective second side of the web portion and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction.

As with the first leg, for additional security and stability, the second leg may include an additional protrusion. In other words, the second leg may include, spaced from the second lateral edge of the shoulder, an additional second protrusion extending into said space towards the first leg for locating at said one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge, in particular below the bulb portion, when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction. The additional second protrusion is configured to bite into the respective second side of the web portion facing the second leg and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction. The protrusion or protrusions (in other words the first protrusion, the first additional protrusion, the second protrusion and/or the additional second protrusion) may take any appropriate shape or form for pressing into and biting into the respective side of the web portion. One appropriate form is a triangular shape. The distal comer or apex of the triangular shape may be provided to bite into the respective side of the web portion.

As noted above, the clip may be provided for supporting or suspending a suspension part attached to a ceiling panel. Thus, in this respect, one or both of the first leg and the second leg may include a support part configured to engage with a suspension part, such as a suspension spring, for suspending a ceiling panel from the clip.

The first leg may include a first support part extending from the first leg away from the second leg and configured to engage with a suspension part, such as a suspension spring, for suspending a ceiling panel from the clip.

The second leg may include a second support part extending from the second leg away from the first leg and configured to engage with a suspension part, such as a suspension spring or a suspension bracket, for suspending a ceiling panel from the clip.

The clip may be provided in combination with at least one suspension part for a ceiling panel.

The bulb portion may include at said first side and at said one side towards the second longitudinal edge, a lower wall portion facing the second longitudinal edge. At least said first protrusion is configured to bite into said lower wall portion.

The bulb portion may include at said first side and at said one side towards the second longitudinal edge, a lower wall portion facing the second longitudinal edge. At least said second protrusion is configured to bite into said lower wall portion.

The clip may be formed from a single flat sheet bent to form at least the shoulder part and the first and second legs, including the protrusion or protrusions and the locking tab or locking tabs.

The clip may be provided in combination with a ceiling panel beam having an elongate web portion with opposite respective first and second sides and extending longitudinally in a first direction and in an orthogonal second direction from a bulb portion at a first longitudinal edge to oppositely extending flange portions at an opposite second longitudinal edge, each respective flange portion extending in the first direction and in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions and extending in the third direction to the respective hem at respective distal edge of the respective flange portion, each respective hem including a respective wall facing the web portion.

According to the present invention there is also provided a ceiling system including the clip and at least one of the ceiling panel beams.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a grid of ceiling panel beams with which a clip of the present invention can be used;

Fig. 2 illustrates a ceiling panel to be suspended by the grid of fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates a suspension part of the ceiling panel of fig. 2;

Fig. 4 illustrates a ceiling panel of fig. 2 suspended from the grid of fig. 1 using clips;

Fig. 5 illustrates a clip embodying the present invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates the clip of fig. 5 fitted to a ceiling panel beam;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the clip of fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 illustrates a flat sheet before bending to form the clip of fig. 5.

A clip according to the present invention is applicable to a ceiling panel beam of an arrangement such as illustrated in fig. 1.

A grid of ceiling panel beams 10 is provided. In the illustrated arrangement, an array of parallel upper ceiling panel beams 10 is attached to an array of parallel lower ceiling panel beams 10 so as to form a grid structure. As illustrated, the upper ceiling panel beams 10 may be orientated perpendicular to the lower ceiling panel beams 10.

Fasteners 12 of any appropriate type may be used to connect the lower ceiling panel beams 10 to the upper ceiling panel beams 10.

Hangers 14 of any appropriate type may be attached to ceiling panel beams 10 so as to support/suspend the grid from an architectural structure such as a ceiling.

The grid may be used to suspend a panel such as a ceiling panel 20 illustrated in fig. 2.

The illustrated ceiling panel 20 is provided with, on its upper side, a plurality of suspension parts 22 including respective suspension springs 24.

As will be seen more clearly in fig. 3, the suspension part 22 is secured to the upper side of the ceiling panel 20 for example using fasteners such as screws. It includes a bracket secured to the upper side of the ceiling panel and a suspension spring 24 with arms 26 and 28 which are resiliently biased away from each other.

Clips 30 according to the present invention may be secured to the ceiling panel beams 10 at locations appropriate for engaging with respective suspension parts 22. In this way, as illustrated in fig. 4, the ceiling panels 20 are supported and suspended from the grid of the ceiling panel beams 10. In other arrangements, suspension parts may be provided merely as suspension brackets and the clips engage directly with the suspension brackets to support the ceiling panel.

One embodiment of a clip according to the present invention is illustrated in fig. 5.

As illustrated, the clip 30 includes a first support part 32 and a second support part 34. The first support part 32 defines an open ended channel 36 for receiving an arm 26 of the suspension spring 24 of a suspension part 22. Similarly, the second support part 34 defines an open ended channel 38 for receiving an arm 28 of the suspension spring 24 of a suspension part 22. In order to install a ceiling panel 20 in a state suspended by a grid of ceiling panel beams 10, a respective pair of arms 26, 28 of a suspension spring 24 of a suspension part 22 are resiliently biased towards one another so that they may be moved into and along the respective channels 36, 38 of a clip 30. Once released, the arms 26, 28 resiliently engage within the respective channels 36, 38 so as to maintain the suspension part 22 suspended from the respective clip 30.

As illustrated in fig. 5(a), the clip 30 includes a shoulder portion 40. The shoulder portion 40 has a longitudinal extent and extends between a first lateral edge 42 and a second lateral edge 44. In use, as will be discussed below, when the clip 30 is fitted to a ceiling panel beam 10, the shoulder portion 40 is located above the ceiling panel beam 10 with its longitudinal extent in line with the longitudinal extent of the ceiling panel beam 10.

A first leg 50 extends from the first lateral edge 42 of the shoulder portion 40. Similarly, a second leg 60 extends from the second lateral edge 44 of the shoulder portion 40. The first and second legs 50, 60 extend parallel with one another and define a space 46 between them for fitting over and receiving therebetween a ceiling panel beam 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second legs 50, 60 have a planar form and extend not only from the first and second lateral edges 42, 44 but also have an extent parallel with the longitudinal extent of the shoulder portion 40. For a clip 30 fitted to a ceiling panel beam 10, there may be considered three orthogonal directions as illustrated in fig. 5(a). In particular, the first and second legs 50, 60 have a longitudinal extent in a first direction X and extend from the first and second lateral edges 42, 44 in a second direction Y. Similarly, the shoulder portion 40 has a longitudinal extent in the first direction X and extends between its first and second lateral edges 42, 44 in a third direction Z.

The clip 30 attached to a ceiling panel beam 10 is illustrated in fig. 6.

As illustrated, the ceiling panel beam 10 has an elongate web portion 100 extending longitudinally in the first direction X. The web portion 100 has opposite respective first and second sides, with the first side 102 showing in fig. 6. The web portion 100 thus extends both longitudinally in the first direction X and also extends in the second direction Y.

At a first longitudinal edge of the web portion 100, the web portion 100 includes a bulb portion 110. In particular, the bulb portion 110 is a portion of the web portion 100 of the ceiling panel beam 10 having a greater thickness (in the third direction Z) than the rest of the web portion 100. This may be formed by folding and bending the plate material from which the ceiling panel beam 10 is formed or as part of an extrusion. The bulb portion 110 thus forms a lower wall 112 facing downwardly towards a second longitudinal edge of the web portion 100. The web portion 100 extends from the bulb portion 110, for example the lower wall 112, in the second direction Y to the second longitudinal edge from which flange portions 120, 122 extend. In particular, the flange portions extend away from each other in the third direction Z and, of course, similarly extend in the first direction X along the second longitudinal edge of the web portion 100. As illustrated, the flange portions 121, 122 are parallel with one another and perpendicular to the web portion 100.

Each respective flange portion 120, 122 extends to a free distal edge (away from the second longitudinal edge of the web portion 100). At each respective distal edge, there is formed a respective hem, with the hem 124 of the first flange portion 120 illustrated in fig- 6.

Each hem 124 is thicker than the remainder of its respective flange portion 120. Each hem may be formed by folding the distal edge of the flange portion up and over onto itself or formed as part of an extrusion. The hem 124 provides a wall 126 extending upwardly parallel with the second direction Y and facing the web portion 100, in particular the first side 102. The hem of the other flange portion 122 similarly has a wall extending upwardly parallel with the second direction Y and facing the web portion 100, in particular the second side. In this way, the wall 126 of the heml24 (of each flange portion) defines with the web portion 100 a space having a predetermined width in the third direction Z.

As illustrated in fig. 6, the web portion 100 of a ceiling panel beam 10 may be received between the first leg 50 and second leg 60 of the clip 30, in particular the space 46. In such a state, the bulb portion 110 of the ceiling panel beam 10 is located adjacent the shoulder 40 of the clip, below the shoulder 40 as illustrated and in use.

Spaced from the shoulder 40, the first leg 50 includes a first protrusion 52 which extends in the third direction Z into the space 46 towards the second leg 60 and, when fitted to a ceiling panel beam 10, towards the first side 102 of the web portion 100. The spacing of the first protrusion 52 from the first lateral edge 42 of the shoulder 40 corresponds to the extent of the bulb portion 110 of the ceiling panel beam 10. In other words, when fitted to a ceiling panel beam 10, the first protrusion is located at one side of the bulb portion 110 towards the second longitudinal edge in particular below the lower wall 112 of the bulb portion 110 as illustrated. Because, as described above, the bulb portion 110 has a greater thickness in the third direction Z than the remainder of the web portion 100, the location of the first protrusion 52 extending beneath the lower wall 112 of the bulb portion 110 restricts or prevents the clip 30 from being removed from the ceiling panel beam 10. In other words, the protrusion 52 obstructs movement of the bulb 110 in the second direction Y and prevents the ceiling panel beam 10 from being moved away from the clip 30 in the second direction Y. To remove the clip 30 from the ceiling panel beam 10, it is necessary to flex resiliently the first leg 50 away from the second leg 60 such that the first protrusion 52 may pass by the bulb portion 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, an additional first protrusion 54 is provided on the other side of the first leg 50 (in the first direction X). By providing the first and additional first protrusions 52, 54, the first leg 50 and clip 30 are more securely held to the ceiling panel 10.

It will be appreciated that the second leg may similarly be provided with a second protrusion 62 spaced from the second lateral edge 44 of the shoulder 40. Indeed, the second leg 60 may also be provided with an additional second protrusion 64 on the opposite side of the leg 60 in the first direction X. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the first leg 50 includes the first protrusion 52 and additional first protrusion 54 configured to extend underneath the bulb portion 110 into the space 46 towards the first side 102 of the web portion 100 and the second leg 60 includes the second protrusion 62 and additional second protrusion 64 extending underneath the bulb 110 into the space 46 towards the second side of the web portion 100. The protrusions thus act to hold the clip 30 on the ceiling panel beam 10 by restricting movement of the web portion 100 away from the clip 30 in the second direction Y.

As illustrated, the first leg 50 also includes a first locking tab 70. The locking tab 70 is located at a lower portion of the first leg 50, in other words distal from the shoulder 40. It extends from the first leg 50 in a direction away from the second leg 60, namely in the third direction Z as illustrated. The first protrusion 52, and indeed the additional first protrusion 54, is thus at a position on the first leg 50 between the first lateral edge 42 of the shoulder 40 and the first locking tab 70.

In the illustrated arrangement, the first locking tab may not necessarily be perpendicular to the first leg 50 but, instead, be angled slightly downwardly in the second direction Y, in particular at an obtuse angle with respect to the web portion 100.

The first locking tab 70 extends away from the first leg 50 by at least an amount corresponding to the space defined between the wall 126 of the hem 124 of the first flange 120 and the first side 102 of the web portion 100.

In use, as illustrated in fig. 6, with the clip 30 fitted to a ceiling panel beam 10 (and the web portion 100 received in the space 46 between the first and second legs 50, 60), the first leg 50 is flexed resiliently towards the web portion 100 allowing a distal edge 72 of the first locking tab 70 to engage with and abut the wall 126 of the hem 124. Once engaged in this way, the wall 126 of the hem 124 maintains the first leg 50 in its resiliently flexed state. Noting that the first protrusion 52 (and additional first protrusion 54) is located between the first locking tab 70 and the first lateral edge 42 of the shoulder 40 (about which the first leg 50 flexes), the first protrusion 52 (and additional first protrusion 54) is pressed resiliently towards and against the first side 102 of the web portion 100 beneath (to one side of) the bulb portion 110.

The first protrusion 52 is configured to bite into the first side 102 of the web portion 100 facing the first leg 50. In some arrangements, the first protrusion 52 (and additional first protrusion 54) bites into the lower wall 112 of the bulb portion 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the first protrusion 52 (and additional first protrusion 54) are of triangular shape. The triangular shape has a comer 56 configured to bite into the web portion 100.

Because the first protrusion 52 is pressed against and bites into the first side 102 of the web portion 100, optionally the lower wall 112, it resists movement of the clip 30 relative to the web portion 100 in the first direction. Hence, a user may position a clip 30 appropriately along a ceiling panel beam 10, flex the first leg 50 so as to engage the first locking tab 70 against the wall 126 of the corresponding hem 124 and, thereby, secure the clip 30 at its position along the ceiling panel beam 10.

Both the first protrusion 52 and the additional first protrusion 54 will resist movement in both opposite directions parallel to the first direction X. However, one of the first protrusion and the additional first protrusion may be angled partly in one of the opposite directions and the other angled in partly the other of the opposite directions. In this way, one of the first protrusion and the additional first protrusion may be more effective in resisting movement in one direction and the other more effective in resisting movement in the other direction. In particular, movement in one direction will cause the respective protrusion to dig into the side of the web portion 100, rather than drag beside it.

In the illustrated arrangement, the second leg 60 is similarly provided with a second locking tab 80 with a distal edge 82 for engaging with the wall of the hem of the second flange 122. Thus, similarly, the second leg 60 may be flexed resiliently towards the first leg 50 and the web portion 100 and engaged with the respective wall of the respective hem so that the second leg 60 is held resiliently towards the web portion 100 and its respective second protrusion 62 (and additional second protrusion 64) held pressing against and biting into the respective second side of the web portion 100, optionally the lower wall 112 of the bulb portion.

In the arrangement illustrated in fig. 5(a), there is only one first locking tab 70 and only one second locking tab 80. However, it is possible to provide the clip with additional locking tabs spaced in the longitudinal direction of the clip.

In the clip illustrated in fig. 5(b), there is provided a second locking tab 80a with a distal edge 82a and also an additional second locking tab 80b with a distal edge 82b. Furthermore, the clip is provided not only with a first locking tab 70a with a distal edge 72a, but also an additional first locking tab 70b with a distal edge 72b (illustrated in fig. 8(b) to be discussed below). By using a pair of first locking tabs and a pair of second locking tabs in this way, the clip may be secured to a ceiling beam more securely. In particular, the pairs of locking tabs resist rotational movement of the clip about an axis in the third direction Z.

In the arrangement discussed above, the first support part 32 includes only one open-ended channel 36 and the second support part 34 includes only one open-ended channel 38. However, one clip may be provided with multiple open-ended channels so as to receive and support multiple suspension parts or at least multiple parts, such as springs, of a suspension part.

It is possible to provide a clip with pairs of first locking tabs and pairs of second locking tabs with only a single open-ended channel 36 and a single open-ended channel 38. However, the arrangement illustrated in fig. 5(b) includes a second support part 34 with a first open-ended channel 38a and an additional first open-ended channel 38b. Similarly, the first support part 32 defines not only a first open-ended channel 36a, but also an additional first open-ended channel 36b (as illustrated in fig. 8(b) to be discussed below).

Fig. 7 illustrates a cross section through the clip 30.

The additional first protrusion 54 and the additional second protrusion 64 are illustrated protruding inwardly of the clip 30 into the space 46 towards the opposite second leg 60 and first leg 50 respectively.

In one preferred arrangement, the clip may be formed from a single flat sheet which is then bent to form all of the various portions of the clip. Fig. 8(a) illustrates an appropriate flat sheet for bending to form the clip 30 as described in relation to figs. 5(a), 6 and 7. Fig 8(b) illustrates an appropriate flat sheet for bending to form the clip as described in relation to fig. 5(b). In particular, it illustrates the first locking tab 70a as well as the additional first locking tab 70b, the second locking tab 80a as well as the additional second locking tab 80b, the first open-ended channel 36a as well as the additional first open-ended channel 36b, and the second open-ended channel 38a as well as the additional second open-ended channel 38b.

Claims

1. A clip for attachment to a ceiling panel beam having an elongate web portion with a bulb portion and opposite respective first and second sides, the elongate web portion extending longitudinally in a first direction and in an orthogonal second direction from the bulb portion at a first longitudinal edge to oppositely extending flange portions at an opposite second longitudinal edge, each respective flange portion extending in the first direction and in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions and extending in the third direction to a respective hem at the respective distal edge of the respective flange portion, each respective hem including a respective wall facing the web portion, the clip including: a longitudinally extending shoulder portion to be located adjacent the bulb portion at the first longitudinal edge of the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam, the longitudinally extending shoulder portion having opposite first and second lateral edges; a first leg extending from the first lateral edge of the shoulder portion; and a second leg extending from the second lateral edge of the shoulder portion and extending parallel with the first leg so as to define a space therebetween for receiving the bulb portion of the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam; wherein: the first leg includes, spaced from the first lateral edge of the shoulder, a first protrusion extending into said space towards the second leg for locating at one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on the opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction; the first protrusion is configured to bite into the respective first side of the web portion facing the first leg; and the first leg includes a first locking tab extending from the first leg away from the second leg, with the first protrusion located between the first locking tab and the shoulder, the first locking tab being configured to engage with the wall of the respective hem of the ceiling panel beam and, thereby, to resiliently deflect the first leg towards the elongate web portion of the ceiling panel beam and press the first protrusion to bite into the respective first side of the web portion and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction.

2. A clip according to claim 1 wherein the first leg includes, spaced from the first lateral edge of the shoulder, an additional first protrusion extending into said space towards the second leg for locating at said one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction, the additional first protrusion being configured to bite into the respective first side of the web portion facing the first leg and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or 2 wherein: the second leg includes, spaced from the second lateral edge of the shoulder, a second protrusion extending into said space towards the first leg for locating at said one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction; the second protrusion is configured to bite into the respective second side of the web portion facing the second leg; and the second leg includes a second locking tab extending from the second leg away from the first leg, with the second protrusion located between the second locking tab and the shoulder, the second locking tab being configured to engage with the wall of the respective hem of the ceiling panel beam and, thereby, to resiliently deflect the second leg towards the elongate portion of the ceiling panel beam and press the second protrusion to bite into the respective second side of the web portion and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction.

4. A clip according to claim 3 wherein the second leg includes, spaced from the second lateral edge of the shoulder, an additional second protrusion extending into said space towards the first leg for locating at said one side of the bulb portion of the web portion towards the second longitudinal edge when the web portion is received between the first and second legs with the first and second legs on opposite respective first and second sides of the web portion thereby to restrict movement of the web portion away from the clip in the second direction, the additional second protrusion being configured to bite into the respective second side of the web portion facing the second leg and, thereby, resist movement of the clip relative to the web portion in the first direction.

5. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the protrusion or protrusions are of triangular shape with a corner of the triangular shape configured to bite into the web portion.

6. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the first leg includes a first support part extending from the first leg away from the second leg and configured to engage with a suspension part, such as a suspension spring, for suspending a ceiling pane; from the clip.

7. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the second leg includes a second support part extending from the second leg away from the first leg and configured to engage with a suspension part, such as a suspension spring or suspension bracket, for suspending a ceiling panel from the clip.

8. A clip according to claim 6 or 7 in combination with at least one suspension part for a ceiling panel.

9. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the bulb portion includes at said first side and at said one side towards the second longitudinal edge, a lower wall portion facing the second longitudinal edge, and at least said first protrusion is configured to bite into said lower wall portion.

10. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the bulb portion includes at said first side and at said one side towards the second longitudinal edge, a lower wall portion facing the second longitudinal edge, and at least said second protrusion is configured to bite into said lower wall portion.

11. A clip according to any preceding claim formed from a single flat sheet bent to form at least the shoulder part and the first and second legs, including the protrusion or protrusions and the locking tab or locking tabs.

12. A clip according to any preceding claim in combination with a ceiling panel beam having an elongate web portion with a bulb portion and opposite respective first and second sides, the elongate web portion extending longitudinally in a first direction and in an orthogonal second direction from the bulb portion at a first longitudinal edge to oppositely extending flange portions at an opposite second longitudinal edge, each respective flange portion extending in the first direction and in a third direction orthogonal

14 to the first and second directions and extending in the third direction to a respective hem at the respective distal edge of the respective flange portion, each respective hem including a respective wall facing the web portion.

13. A ceiling system including: a ceiling panel beam having an elongate web portion with a bulb portion and opposite respective first and second sides, the elongate web portion extending longitudinally in a first direction and in an orthogonal second direction from the bulb portion at a first longitudinal edge to oppositely extending flange portions at an opposite second longitudinal edge, each respective flange portion extending in the first direction and in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions and extending in the third direction to a respective hem at the respective distal edge of the respective flange portion, each respective hem including a respective wall facing the web portion; and a clip according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

15