U.S. patent application number 11/359316 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-23 for acoustical panel ceiling system.
Invention is credited to Francisco Ortiz.
Application Number | 20070193131 11/359316 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38426697 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070193131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ortiz; Francisco |
August 23, 2007 |
Acoustical panel ceiling system
Abstract
A concealed suspension ceiling assembly with simplified support
structure for closely spaced ceiling tiles is described. The
ceiling tiles are kerfed and mounted on framing members suspended
from a supporting grid. V shaped torsion springs engage hooks on
the framing members and extend upwardly through slots in main tees
in an intersecting grid of main tees and cross tees. A tool is
inserted in the reveal between adjacent tiles to raise and lower a
selected tile. Tiles are lowered in predetermined sections to
permit access to the space above the suspended ceiling and also to
permit repair or replacement of individual tiles.
Inventors: |
Ortiz; Francisco; (Lakewood,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
PO BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
91109-7068
US
|
Family ID: |
38426697 |
Appl. No.: |
11/359316 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/144 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 9/0478 20130101;
E04B 9/045 20130101; E04B 9/26 20130101; E04B 9/0435 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/144 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/82 20060101
E04B001/82 |
Claims
1. An acoustic panel ceiling system comprising: a plurality of
ceiling panel framing members interconnected end to end to form a
four sided enclosure, each member having a flange at the bottom
thereof extending into the interior of the enclosure; a plurality
of notches formed along the top edge of each framing member
comprising a hook shaped element; a plurality of V shaped torsion
springs having a wound end engaged with a respective one of the
elements on the framing members and a pair of arms extending
upwardly and outwardly from the wound end, each arm having a hook
formed in the free end thereof; a grid for suspension from a
structure comprising main tees and intersecting cross tees; a
plurality of pairs of slots located at spaced intervals along the
main tees, the slots being adapted to receive the free ends of the
torsion spring arms; and a ceiling tile having a kerf formed around
the periphery thereof, the kerf being engaged with the flanges on
the framing members and adapted to abut adjacent ceiling tiles with
a minimal space between adjacent tiles.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the framing
members are connected by corner angles secured by pop rivets.
3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the framing
members are connected by bayonet clips.
4. A system according to claim 1 wherein each framing member has at
least two notches formed into the top edge of the member.
5. A system according to claim 1 wherein an alignment guide is
provided at a predetermined location on the outer face of each
framing member.
6. A system according to claim 4 wherein the alignment guides on
each facing framing member engage the guide on the adjacent framing
member.
7. A system according to claim 1 wherein a shelf is provided on the
outer face of each framing member.
8. A system according to claim 6 wherein the shelf is adapted to be
engaged by a mating shelf on a hand tool for raising and lowering a
selected ceiling tile.
9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the framing members are
fabricated of extruded aluminum.
10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the ceiling tiles are
acoustic tiles.
11. An acoustic panel ceiling system comprising: a plurality of
ceiling panel framing members interconnected end to end to form a
four sided enclosure, each member having a flange at the bottom
thereof extending into the interior of the enclosure; a plurality
of notches formed along the top edge of each framing member
comprising a hook shaped element; a plurality of V shaped torsion
springs having a wound end engaged with a respective one of the
elements on the framing members and a pair of arms extending
upwardly and outwardly from the wound end, each arm having a hook
formed in the free end thereof; a grid for suspension from a
structure comprising main tees and intersecting cross tees; a
plurality of pairs of slots located at spaced intervals along the
main tees, the slots being adapted to receive the free ends of the
torsion spring arms; and a ceiling tile secured to the framing
members and adapted to abut adjacent ceiling tiles with a minimal
space between adjacent tiles.
12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the ceiling tile is a
flat panel adhesively secured to the bottom edges of the framing
members.
13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the panel has a wood
veneer on the exterior face.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to a suspended acoustic
ceiling assembly with removable tile sections and more particularly
to a suspended acoustic ceiling structure wherein sections of the
acoustic tiles are selectively removable for enlarged access to a
plenum area above the ceiling. The supporting structure for the
acoustic tile sections is hidden from view of the persons in the
room below.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Suspended ceilings have been utilized in building
installations for many years. They are typically provided as a grid
work of main-runners and cross-runners suspended from the building
structure and supporting suitable infill material such as ceiling
tiles, light fixtures, air handling devices, etc. In most suspended
ceilings the runners have a form of an inverted "T", and thus, are
sometimes called main tees and cross tees. The grid tees are
usually formed from a strip of material which has been bent to form
a bulb or bead along the top edge of a central web with opposed
outwardly extending flanges located at the bottom edge of the
web.
[0003] Suspended ceilings are generally formed by hanging main tees
along one dimension of a room, the main tees being spaced apart a
distance equal to the length of a cross tee which is typically four
feet. The main tees are provided with apertures at a regular
spacing along the length of the main tee, the apertures receive a
strap extending between adjacent cross tees for connecting the
cross tees to each other and to the main tee. Typically opposed
cross tees are interconnected within the opening, the opposed cross
tees extending to either side of the web of the main tee. The
connection between the cross tee and the main tee and between
interconnected cross tees must, according to many present building
code standards, be able to support the ceiling in an emergency
situation, such as fire and seismic conditions. Thus the suspended
ceiling must provide sufficient integrity such that the connectors
will not disengage when exposed to a fire, and also should have
sufficient integrity so that in a seismic occurrence, such as an
earthquake, the connections will be maintained to enable the infill
material of the ceiling to be supported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention includes a main tee and cross tee suspended
from wires attached to a structural ceiling. The main tees have
slots for receiving the free end of arms on the upper end of
torsion springs. The wound bottom end of the torsion springs engage
hooks located at spaced intervals along acoustical panel framing
members. These panel framing members are joined at the corners by
various means such as pop rivets and bayonet fittings. The framing
members are structured with an inwardly extending lip or flange
along the length of the member at the bottom thereof. The lip
engages a kerf in the acoustic ceiling panels. The kerf extends
around the periphery of the panel and provides a mechanism for
engaging the lip and holding the panels in place.
[0005] Among the advantages of this invention are those resulting
from the fact that it facilitates the ceiling sections that may
conveniently be removed from a suspended ceiling structure
utilizing the aforementioned structure to provide large clearance
access into the plenum space above the ceiling for maintenance
personnel and for enabling infill materials such as ceiling tiles
and light fixtures to be supported directly from the structural
ceiling. The resultant appearance is an aesthetically pleasing
ceiling appearance with extremely small reveals between adjacent
ceiling tiles.
[0006] It is a further advantage of the invention to provide a
hidden supporting structure for a suspended ceiling wherein large
ceiling sections are removably supported without sagging.
[0007] Further advantages of the present invention result from the
fact that it enables the selectively shaped horizontal panel
framing members to be held rigidly parallel in predetermined spaced
relationship so that these assemblies can be suspended on wires
directly from the building structure above. The main tees, cross
tees and panel framing members provide a rigid grid without the
necessity of applying heavy structural channels which are
conventionally installed in prior art ceiling structures.
[0008] The ceiling produced by this invention is durable, rigid and
good looking while hiding the acoustic tile support elements from
the viewers located below the ceiling.
[0009] In practicing the invention, the ceiling supporting main
tees and cross tees are horizontally aligned and supported on wires
directly from the building structure. The tees in turn support
framing panels by means of v-shaped torsion springs which engage
hooks on the panels and extend upwardly to engage slots in the main
tees. Each of the panel frames has at its lower end, an acoustic
tile (panel) supporting flange extending transversely, i.e.,
horizontally inwardly from one side of the framing member. The
flanges on the framing members on opposite sides of a ceiling panel
are inserted into the kerf (slot) extending along the edge of the
tile. Panel framing members on the remaining two sides of the
enclosure then engage kerfs on the corresponding sides of the tile
and the four framing members are connected to each other at the
corners to complete the assembly.
[0010] The invention provides an acoustic panel ceiling system
comprising a plurality of ceiling panel framing members with ends
interconnected to form a four-sided enclosure, with each panel
member having a flange at the bottom thereof extending into the
interior of the enclosure. A plurality of notches are formed at
spaced intervals along the top edges of each framing member
comprising a hook-shaped element.
[0011] A plurality of v-shaped torsion springs having a wound end
at the bottom engage the hooks on the framing members and have a
pair of arms extending upwardly and outwardly from the wound end,
each arm having a hook formed in the free end thereof. A grid
suspended from the structure in which the ceiling system is to be
mounted is provided comprising main tees and intersecting cross
tees. A plurality of pairs of slots are located at spaced intervals
along the main tees, the slots being adapted to receive the free
ends of the torsion spring arms. A ceiling tile have a kerf formed
around the periphery thereof, is engaged with the flanges on the
framing members and adapted to abut adjacent tiles with a minimal
space between adjacent tiles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The various features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the
following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 as a perspective view of a typical portion of the
ceiling system showing the ceiling panel, the frame for receiving
the panel, the cross tees and main tees for supporting the panel
frames and panels and hanger wires for attaching the system to a
structure;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the system
according to the present invention showing main tees, cross tees
and hanger wires;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical perforated wood
ceiling panel attached to panel framing members for use in the
system according the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the panel assembly in FIG. 3
attached to the supporting tee assembly;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a sectional view in elevation showing a kerfed
acoustical ceiling panel and framing assembly attached to a main
tee and two cross tees;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a sectional view in elevation showing the panel
and framing assembly attached to main tees and cross tees with a
metal or vinyl ceiling panel attached thereto;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of a notch and hook or
clip construction on a typical panel framing member with the
torsion spring attached thereto.
[0020] FIG. 8A is a sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 6 prior
to insertion of a pull down tool into the reveal between adjacent
tiles.
[0021] FIG. 8B is a sectional view of the assembly in FIG. 6 with
the pull down tool engaged with a ledge on the panel member;
and.
[0022] FIG. 8C is a sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 6 with
one panel pulled down to enable disengagement of the ceiling tile
from the panel member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The invention 10 is shown in perspective view in FIG. 1. As
shown therein, the invention includes a plurality of main tees 12
and cross tees 14. The main tees 12 are provided with a plurality
of torsion spring slots 16 which are located at spaced intervals
along the length of the main tees in the flanges extending inwardly
from the bottom of the main tees. The main tees and the cross tees
provide support for the ceiling panel framing assembly which are
attached to the main tees by means of torsion springs 18 which are
connected to panel framing members 20 and extend upwardly from
torsion spring notches 22 to the torsion spring slots 16. The main
tee and cross tee assembly are supported by hangar wires 23 which
are connected to the tee assembly and extend upwardly to be
connected to the structure from which the ceiling system is to be
hung.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, a ceiling panel 24 is positioned below
the panel framing members 20. The ceiling panel 24 has a framing
slot or kerf 26 extending along the peripheral edge of the ceiling
panel. Flange 28 is formed at the bottom of the framing panel
members 20 and this flange is adapted and positioned to be engaged
in the framing slot 26 of the ceiling panel to hold the ceiling
panel in place. In assembly the ceiling panel is mounted to the
framing assembly by attaching two panel framing members on opposite
sides to the ceiling panel and engaging the same with the kerf
extending along the periphery of the ceiling panel. Subsequently,
the pair framing panels on the remaining two sides of the ceiling
panel are engaged at the corners with the first pair of panel
framing members and are secured at the corners by means of pop
rivets or a connector tab and connector slot configuration. As can
be seen from FIG. 1 torsion spring notches 22 are located at spaced
intervals along each panel framing member to provide flexibility in
terms of the way in which panel framing members to which the
torsion springs are attached to the tee assembly. Also, as shown in
FIG. 1, the torsion springs 18 are attached to two sides of the
four sided panel assembly.
[0025] The illustration in FIG. 2 shows the assembly of main tees
12 and cross tees 14 supported by hangar wires 23 in greater
detail. As shown therein, the main tees 12 are connected to cross
tees 14 by means of straps 32 which extend through vertical slots
34 in the main tees and fastened to the cross tees at the
intersections. Torsion spring slots 16 are located at spaced
intervals along the main tees. The vertical slots 34 are provided
at spaced intervals along the length of the main tees to provide
flexibility for mounting cross tees to accommodate different sizes
of ceiling tiles.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, shown therein is a ceiling panel
assembly 35 comprising the panel framing members 20 joined by
brackets 36 and pop rivet fasteners 38 which join the adjacent
panel framing members at the corners. The ceiling panel member is
attached to the panel framing members, either by means of a flange
extending around the panel framing members (see FIG. 1) and
engaging a kerf in the ceiling panel or, in the alternative, by
securing the ceiling panel to the underside of the flange by means
of adhesives or the like. As shown therein, the ceiling panel 40 is
a typical perforated wood panel 40 and attached thereto is a layer
of acoustic insulating material 41 such as Soundtex. The torsion
springs 18 are likewise depicted in FIG. 3 and are attached at the
torsion spring notches 22. The torsion springs 22 comprise arms 43
extending upwardly from a hinge or wound end 42 which engages a
folded-down tab or clip 44.
[0027] The ceiling panel assembly 35 of FIG. 3 is then attached to
the main tee and cross tee subassembly 46 as shown in FIG. 4. The
torsion spring arms 43 are inserted upwardly through torsion spring
slots 16 and the ceiling panel assembly 35 is raised until the
panel framing members are flush against the bottom side of the main
tees and cross tees. As will be discussed in more detail, the
ceiling panel frame assemblies 35 can be easily lowered by the use
of a stock tool which is inserted in the reveal between adjacent
ceiling panels 40 to engage the edge of a ceiling panel and pull it
downwardly causing the torsion springs 18 to slide downwardly
through the slots until hooks 48 at the end of the torsion spring
arms 43 engage flanges 50 in the main tees.
[0028] A sectional view in FIG. 5 shows a detail of the assembly of
the ceiling panel system supporting a typical acoustical fiberglass
panel 52. As shown therein, the main tee 12 is supported by hangar
wire 22. The main tee is shown in cross section and connected to
the main tee 12 are two cross tees 14. The cross tees are connected
to the main tee by strap 32. Two torsion springs 18 are shown
extending upwardly through the flanges of main tee 12. As shown
therein, the ceiling panels are in their raised position and the
panel framing members bear directly against the bottom of the main
tees and the cross tees. The torsion spring notches 30 on adjacent
panel members 52 are shown in opposed position and comprise
folded-down tabs or clips 44 to define hooks which are engaged with
hinges 42 at the bottom of each of the torsion springs. The flanges
28 of the panel framing members are shown engaged with the kerfs 26
of adjacent ceiling panels 24. The ceiling panel assembly of the
present invention features the close spacing of adjacent ceiling
panels with typically a 1/8th of an inch reveal between adjacent
acoustical fiberglass panels.
[0029] A sectional view similar to the view shown in FIG. 5 is
shown in FIG. 6, with main tee 12 being supported by hangar wire 22
and cross tees 14 joined to the main tee. In this figure the
acoustic panels with kerfed edges are replaced by a metal panels 53
which are secured to the flange of the panel framing member by
means of adhesives or similar fastening material. The ceiling panel
in this instance can be selected from a number of different choices
and in certain instances the visible side is covered with a veneer
55 to suit the particular requirements, application and location of
the ceiling system being installed. The reveal between metal panels
is typically 1/16th of an inch.
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a detail of a torsion spring notch 30 and
torsion spring 18. As shown therein, the notch 30 is formed in the
side of a panel framing member and a strap of material in the form
of a tab 51 in the center of the notch is bent and folded down to
define a hook or clip 54. The wound end or hinge 42 of the torsion
spring is engaged with the hook or clip and secured to the panel
member. The arms 43 of the torsion spring extend upwardly and are
terminated in hooks 48. The hooks limit the travel of the torsion
spring when the ceiling panel is lowered for purposes of gaining
access to the space above the ceiling panel system or for purposes
of changing ceiling panels.
[0031] Hook or clip 54 is oversize and provides ample space for
engagement with hinge 42. In assembly hinge 42 is engaged by tab 51
at the notch configuration at the factory as the tab is folded down
into its closed position to form the hook or clip. The oversize
dimensions of hook 54 provide space for torsion springs 18 to be
rotated 90.degree. forward to lie flat with the panel framing
assemblies for shipping to a job site. Assembly of the torsion
springs and hooks at the place of fabrication eliminates a number
of assembly steps at the job site thereby speeding the process of
installation and reducing the labor cost at installation.
[0032] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate the manner in which a ceiling
panel is lowered and then restored to its normal position. As shown
therein, a tool 56 having a long blade 57 with a plate 58 affixed
thereto, is inserted in the reveal between adjacent panels to
engage a ledge 60 formed into the edge of the panel member. The
plate 58 engages the ledge as shown in FIG. 8B preparatory to
pulling the ceiling panel downwardly. As shown in FIG. 8C, the
ceiling panel 24 is lowered and the torsion spring 18 is slid
downwardly through the torsion spring slots until the hooks 48 on
the torsion springs engage the flanges of the main tee and the
ceiling panel is thereby positioned at its lowest limit. After work
is done to either replace the panels or to work in the space above
the ceiling, the ceiling panel is then manually pressed upwardly
until it is flush with the adjacent ceiling panel and the assembly
is restored to its normal position.
* * * * *