U.S. patent number 3,624,388 [Application Number 04/789,146] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-30 for hanger assembly for modular panels.
Invention is credited to Philip W. Pfeiffer, Robert A. D. Schwartz.
United States Patent |
3,624,388 |
Schwartz , et al. |
November 30, 1971 |
HANGER ASSEMBLY FOR MODULAR PANELS
Abstract
A hanger assembly for supporting a light-transmitting panel in
vertically spaced positions relative to a hanger rod in which legs
depend from said rods through an aperture in the panel and a
retaining disk is inserted between the legs to spread them into an
operative panel supporting position.
Inventors: |
Schwartz; Robert A. D.
(Oakland, CA), Pfeiffer; Philip W. (San Mateo, CA) |
Family
ID: |
27412919 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/789,146 |
Filed: |
January 6, 1969 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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688284 |
Sep 22, 1967 |
3480246 |
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464122 |
Jun 15, 1967 |
3368070 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
9/04 (20130101); E04B 9/32 (20130101); F21V
21/02 (20130101); F21Y 2103/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
9/04 (20060101); F21V 21/02 (20060101); F21V
21/00 (20060101); F21s 001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/9,51.11,78,78LD,92,93,96 ;248/343,327 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Matthews; Samuel S.
Assistant Examiner: Mathews; Alan
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a division of a copending application Ser. No. 688,284
filed Sept. 22, 1967 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,246, which is in turn
a division of application Ser. No. 464,122, filed June 15, 1967,
now U.S. Pat. No. 3,368,070, issued Feb. 6, 1968.
Claims
We claim:
1. A hanger assembly for supporting a light-transmitting panel
below a lighting fixture from a hanger rod depending from a
structure above said panel and in which said panel is provided with
an aperture and a shoulder extending transversely of the axis of
the aperture, said panel being also provided with a plurality of
adjacent cells with said aperture being in communication with one
of said cells and said shoulder is spaced above the bottom of said
one cell, said assembly including a web threadedly engaged with
said hanger rod for vertical adjustment thereon and a pair of
flexible legs depending from said web for passing through said
aperture in said panel, said assembly further including a separate
retaining member extending between and engaging free end portions
of said legs for maintaining said legs in a spread position, said
retaining member being of light-transmitting materials and having a
peripheral edge configuration generally conforming to the edge
configuration of said cell, said retaining member having opposed
notches for receiving said legs whereby said member and legs are
interlocked for unitary rotation about the axis of said aperture,
means on said assembly adapted for sliding rotatable engagement
with said shoulder whereby said panel is supported on said hanger
and whereby rotation of said assembly on said hanger will
vertically adjust the position of said panel.
2. A hanger assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said
retaining member is in slidable rotatable engagement with said
shoulder.
3. A hanger assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said legs are
provided with outwardly extending flanges in slidable rotatable
engagement with said shoulder.
4. A hanger assembly for supporting a light-transmitting panel
below a lighting fixture from a hanger rod depending from a
structure above said panel and in which said panel is provided with
an aperture and a plurality of adjacent cells, at least one of said
cells being in alignment with said aperture and having an inwardly
directed shoulder spaced above the bottom of said one cell, said
assembly including a web threadedly engaged with said hanger rod
for vertical adjustment thereon and a pair of flexible legs
depending from said web for passing downwardly through said
aperture into said one cell, said assembly further including means
extending between and engaging free end portions of said legs for
releasably maintaining said legs in a spread position, and means on
said assembly adapted for rotatable supporting engagement with said
shoulder whereby said panel is supported on said hanger and said
assembly is rotatable relative to said panel.
5. A hanger assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which said
supporting means comprise outwardly extending flanges adjacent the
ends of said legs.
6. A hanger assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which said
leg-spreading means is provided with opposed notches for receiving
said legs.
7. A hanger assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which said
leg-spreading means is provided with peripheral edge portions
generally conforming to adjacent portions of the inner edge
configuration of said one cell.
8. A hanger assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which said
leg-spreading means comprises a disclike element having
diametrically opposed notches for receiving said legs, and further
having a peripheral edge configuration generally conforming to the
edge configuration of said one cell.
Description
This invention relates to louvered panel systems of the type used
as light-transmitting media such as in the ceiling or walls of a
room, and more particularly, to an improved modular panel of this
type, and a hanger and attachment clip therefor.
In the lighting of rooms, particularly larger rooms such as are
found in office and industrial buildings, it is now common to
provide a "false" ceiling below light fixtures to provide, in
effect, a luminous ceiling. These false ceilings are often in the
form of open grillwork or louver panels which, when the ceiling is
viewed at an angle, act to reduce the brightness of the light and
shield or hide the light fixtures from view while permitting direct
passage of light to the room below. For many installations, though,
it is more desirable to utilize a closed louver panel system for
the ceiling wherein a transparent or translucent backing sheet or
membrane is provided on the upper side of the louver panels in
order to diffuse or refract the light reaching the room to be
illuminated. Such closed louver panels provide a ceiling in which
the light fixtures are completely hidden from view to provide a
true luminous ceiling effect, and by which, by proper design of the
sheet backing, the intensity and quality of the light can be
closely controlled.
In general, however, closed louver panel ceilings have not been
accepted by the art since, with present designs, the joints between
adjoining panels have not been sufficiently good to prevent the
leakage of direct light to the area being illuminated. This leakage
of light makes the joints highly noticeable and visible. In order
to reduce this undesirable leakage of direct light, closed louver
panels have in the past been made in unusually large sizes to
thereby reduce the number of joints. However, besides not
completely eliminating the existence of points and the resulting
leakage of light, the large panels are not as versatile as smaller
ones in the provision of ceilings of different dimensions and
shapes. In another presently employed method of eliminating the
leakage or passage of direct light through joints, a metal lattice
or grid structure is provided upon which the panels are laid with
the grid structure covering the joints. Besides being expensive,
though, these grids structures are themselves unsightly and give
the ceiling a sectional appearance.
The instant invention provides a modular closed louver panel
capable of being assembled with a plurality of like modular panels
to provide a larger continuous panel having no visible joints and
through which no direct light is permitted to pass. Further, the
modular panel interlocks with adjacent panels to assure proper and
stable assembly of a plurality of the panels. Clip means are also
provided for securing adjoining modular panels together, and hanger
means are provided to facilitate hanging the resulting closed
louver ceiling below light fixtures. Both the clip means and the
hanger means are especially adapted to prevent the direct passage
of light thereabout through the ceiling.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a modular
closed louver panel which is especially designed to be easily
assembled with a plurality of like modular panels into a large
continuous panel having no visible joints.
A further object of the invention is to provide a modular closed
louver panel which can be assembled with a plurality of like panels
into larger panels of various dimension and peripheral shapes.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a modular closed
louver panel which is adapted to transmit light and which can be
assembled with similar panels to provide a larger continuous
light-transmitting panel having no visible joints between the
panels and no other apertures through which direct light can
pass.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved
clip for securing adjoining closed louver panels together in an
efficacious and simple manner and which is designed to not permit
direct passage of light through the panels at their point of
securance.
And still another object of the invention is to provide a hanger
system capable of hanging a closed louver panel beneath a light
fixture without causing an undesirable aperture to result in the
panel through which light from the light fixture can directly
pass.
The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage,
some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the
following description of the preferred form of the invention which
is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the
specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in
the showing made by the said drawings and description may be
adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the
claims.
Referring to the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a modular closed louver panel of the
invention positioned for engagement with a similar modular panel
which is only fragmentarily shown;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the panels depicted in FIG.
1, taken on a plane indicated by the line 2--2;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the panels of FIG. 1 after
having been joined to form a larger, continuous panel;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the panels of FIG. 3 taken along a
plane indicated by the line 4--4 of FIG. 3 and depicting the joint
between the panels;
FIG. 5 is a reduced perspective view of panels of the invention
secured together and supported beneath a light fixture;
FIG. 6 is a reduced plan view of another embodiment of a modular
panel of the invention having a different louver or grillwork
configuration.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a clip especially
designed to facilitate securing adjoining modular panels together
to form a continuous larger panel;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the adjoining panels of
FIG. 3 taken on a plane indicated by the line 8--8 of FIG. 3 and
depicting a clip of the invention securing two modular panels
together;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a hanger system for
supporting a closed louver panel beneath a lighting fixture, and
depicting its relationship to a panel;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the hanger of FIG.
9.
A modular closed louver panel of the invention is generally
indicated in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 11. Such panel
comprises a membrane or sheet backing 12 having a decorative
grillwork or louver structure on the side thereof to be exposed to
the room being lighted. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the
louver comprises a plurality of adjacent and adjoining cylindrical
cells 13. Backing 12 and cells 13 are desirably molded integrally
as one piece and can be of any of the materials commonly utilized
as louver or light panel structures. For example, they can be of
transparent or translucent plastic. While backing 12 is depicted as
being a flat planar sheet, it is to be appreciated that it can be
of other forms, such as a prismatic sheet.
As mentioned before, closed louver panels of the general type to
which the invention relates are known. However, in the past, it has
not been possible to join adjacent panels together with assurance
that the joints will not leak light or otherwise be visible. The
instant modular panel, however, is especially adapted to have
similar panels joined to every edge thereof to form a larger
continuous panel without the joints being visible. Because of this,
the modular panel can be made of a size much smaller than the size
that most panels are, and thus, the modular panel of the invention
affords great versatility in providing continuous panels of desired
shapes and sizes. To provide the desired joining of panel 11 to
similar panels, such panel has extensions 14 protruding from two
adjacent edges of the panel which generally conform to the pattern
of the louvers of the panels to which it is to be joined. In the
embodiment described, these extensions are actually continuations
of the backing 12 and their configurations generally conform to the
cylindrical cell pattern 13. That is, the extensions 14 have convex
semicircular configurations which are adapted to mate with concave
semicircular recesses 16' in another identical panel 11'. As best
seen from FIG. 2, the edge portions of the recesses 16' will be
directly above the mid point of the inside cylindrical walls 17' of
the exterior cells 13' of panel 11' when the cell is arranged
beneath a light fixture. Thus, when the panel 11 is adjoined to
panel 11' with extensions 14 mating with recesses 16' the joints
between the extensions 14 and the recesses 16' are shielded by the
cylindrical cell walls 17'. If the joint itself is not completely
opaque, therefore, the cell walls 17' prevent light from passing
directly to the area to be illuminated. Because of this shielding,
the existence of minor imperfections in the joint due to practical
limitations imposed by manufacturing or expansion or contraction of
the panels is immaterial. A shoulder 18' is provided about the
inner periphery of each of the exterior edge cells to mate with the
undersurface of the extensions 14 to assure that the joint is not
visible without the necessity of making cell walls 17' unduly
thick. Shoulder 18' also provides a relatively large surface in
contact with the undersurfaces of the extensions to facilitate
securing of the panels together thereat, if desired, by any of the
conventional means. For the sake of uniformity in appearance, each
of the cells of the panels 11 and 11' has a shoulder 18 and 18',
respectively, about its inner periphery.
Besides preventing the leakage of light at the joints between the
panels, the mating of extensions 14 with recesses 16' interlocks
the panels and assures proper and stable alignment therebetween.
That is, the panels only fit together with the cells of one aligned
with the cells of the other, and when the cells are so aligned the
panels are prevented from lateral movement relative to one
another.
The outside edge of the cylindrical walls 17' of panel 11', and the
similar outside cylindrical walls 17 of panel 11 are flattened so
that when the panels are moved together with these cylindrical
walls, the meeting points of the walls define a wall of a thickness
equal to thickness of the walls of the other cylinders 13 of the
panels. This further assures that the joint between adjoining
panels is not visible.
The modular panels 11 and 11' are shown in adjoining relationship
in FIGS. 3 and 4. Since the joint therebetween is not readily
discernible, it has been indicated by the arrow marked C. It is
apparent from these figures that when the panels are so joined,
they appear to be one continuous panel.
The other two adjacent edges of panel 11 have recesses 16 therein
identical to the recesses 16' of panel 11. These recesses are
adapted to mate with extensions on other panels (not depicted)
identical to the extensions 14. It is thus apparent that a
plurality of panels can be adjoined together to provide a large
panel of a desired size and shape. In this regard, it is to be
noted that panels can be secured to panel 11 on every side
thereof.
While the panel 11' is identical to the panel 11, it is to be
appreciated that this is not necessary. In some instances it might
be desirable to provide a "checkerboard" pattern for the composite
closed louver panel. To do so the panel 11 can be joined with
panels of dissimilar louver design. Then, the extensions 14 of
panel 11 will generally conform to the design of the louver of the
dissimilar panels so that the joints between the extensions and
recesses conforming to the louvers will be shielded by the louver
cell walls. Likewise, the dissimilar panels will have extensions
thereon conforming to the recesses 16 of panel 11.
Another panel 18 of the invention having a different louver design
or pattern is depicted in FIG. 6. In this panel, the louver is
comprised of adjoining diamond shaped cells 19. Extensions 21
protruding from this panel have a configuration designed to mate
with recesses on a panel having similar diamond shaped cells. This
panel itself has such recesses 22 generally conforming to the
louver pattern along the two edges thereof not having extensions
21. It is, of course, to be appreciated that louver patterns other
than the diamond-shaped and cylindrical cells patterns described
are also within the scope of the invention.
While, if desired, modular panels of the invention can be secured
together in any conventional manner such as by means of an adhesive
or high-frequency welding or shoulders 18 to extensions 14, the
invention includes a clip 23 which facilitates assembly of a
plurality of these panels in a rapid and simple manner. This clip
is shown in perspective in FIG. 7 and comprises a U-portion 24 for
gripping together adjacent louver cells of two adjoining panels.
Further, means are provided on the clip for securing it to the
panels. More particularly, one of the legs of the U-portion extends
upward to form a cylindrical shank 26, and has a horizontally
extending bar 27 integrally secured to its free end. The material
of clip 23 is desirable similar to, and of the same color, as, the
material from which the modular panels are made. When it is of such
a material, the clip is unobtrusive and does not form light
shadows.
Clip 23 is also desirably flexible in order to facilitate its
securance to the panels. As shown in FIG. 8, when the clip is
assembled to the panels, U-portion 24 grips between its legs the
adjacent cylindrical walls adjoining modular panels, and shank 26
extends through an aperture 28 within an extension 14 of panel 11.
The aperture 28 is circular and of a size to just receive shank 28
so that light cannot directly pass thereabout to the area being
illuminated. The bar 27 has a flat under surface portion which
abuts against the upper surface 29 of backing 12 of panel 11. In
this manner, bar 27 and shank 26 act to hold the U-portion of the
clip in engagement with the aforesaid adjacent cell walls.
Desirably, the clip 23 is inserted into the aperture 28 of each of
the panels at the place of manufacture. Then, when the panels are
assembled at the installation, they can be easily and simply
secured together. Because of the resiliency of the clip, the
U-portion can be snapped over the adjacent cell walls of adjoining
panels by rotating the clip to secure them together. When the clip
is in such securing position, it should be noted that shank 26
engages shoulder 18' of panel 11' and thereby urges the upper
portion of cell wall 17 against the adjacent cell wall to assure
tight relationship between the panels. The bar 27 acts to prevent
vertical movement of the panel 11' with respect to panel 11.
In providing a conventional closed louver light-transmitting panel
beneath a lighting fixture, it is now common to utilize a lattice
framework since the use of a conventional hanger results in an
undesirable aperture in the panel. The instant invention includes
as an important part thereof a hanger which obviates the necessity
of these lattice structures and does not result in an aperture in
the panel. A preferred embodiment of the hanger system of the
invention is depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. Such hanger system
includes a hanger rod 31 adapted at one end to be secured to a
structure such as an upper ceiling (not shown) above the position
at which the light-diffusing panel is desired to be supported. The
depending free end 32 of such rod is threaded as depicted.
A hanger member 33 is provided for securing the panels to hanger
rod 31. This hanger member includes a web 34 having alternating
threaded half-cylinders 36 for threadably receiving end 32 of
hanger rod 31. Two flexible legs 37 depend from web 34 and are
adapted to extend through a cylindrical aperture 38 within panel
11. Aperture 38 is through backing 12 coaxially with one of the
cylindrical cells 13. The periphery of this aperture corresponds to
the periphery of the shoulder 18 within the cell.
Each of the legs 37 has an enlarged foot portion 41 which provides
an inwardly extending flange 42 for engagement with a discoidal
retaining members 43. Such retaining members 43 is of a size to fit
within the cylindrical cell below aperture 38 and abut against the
shoulder 18. It has notches 44 in its edge adapted to receive the
legs 37. When the legs are so received within notches 44, the
retaining member acts to spread the legs apart, and the shoulders
42 abut against the retaining member to hold it in position. A nub
46 is provided on the inner surface of each leg to assure that the
retaining member cannot move upward with respect to the legs and,
in this manner, come out of position. It should be noted that the
exterior side configurations of the feet portion 41 will coincide
with the periphery of the retaining member when it is so
supported.
The manner in which the hanger system is assembled to support panel
11 should be apparent from the above. The flexible legs of hanger
member 33 are brought together are inserted through aperture 38
from above the panel. To facilitate holding of the legs together as
they are so inserted, a pin 47 is provided on one of the legs over
which the other leg can be hooked. After the legs are inserted,
they are released from one another and retaining member 43 is
attached thereto as shown in FIG. 9. Then the panel and hanger can
be raised to a hanger rod 31, and the hanger rotated, such as by
means of a tab 48 on retaining member 43 to threadably receive the
rod 31. It should be noted that tab 48 is provided by forming the
retaining member with an indentation 49 on one side thereof. In
this manner the retaining member can be made of uniform thickness
so that no undesirable shadows are caused thereby.
It is to be noted that shoulder 18 of the panel will rest upon the
periphery of retaining member 43 and thus the retaining member acts
to close off the aperture 38. In this regard it should be noted
that both the retaining member 43 and shoulders 51 on the leg feet
41 provide support for the panel. Furthermore, it is possible to
level the height of a plurality of panels supported by hangers of
the invention, by simply rotating the individual hangers by means
of the retaining member and thereby vertically moving its
associated panel. In this regard it is to be noted that the
retaining member can be turned over so that the indentation is on
the undersurface thereof, and provides a notch for a screwdriver to
facilitate such adjustment. Hanger 33, and disc 43 should be of a
light-transmitting material corresponding to that of the panels in
order that they will be unobtrusive and not cause undesirable
shadows.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with the
forming of large continuous panels for ceilings, it is to be
appreciated that panels formed with modular panels of the invention
can be used in other lighting structures such as a light fixture.
Further, while the concept of the invention has been described with
respect to light-transmitting panels, it is to be realized that it
is especially applicable to opaque panels utilized for various
purposes such as in a decorative wall structure. The invention
provides the advantage of permitting various size and shapes of
decorative composite panels in such a structure without the joints
between adjoining modular panels being visible.
* * * * *