U.S. patent number 3,798,446 [Application Number 05/308,994] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-19 for illuminator grid.
Invention is credited to Charles U. Deaton.
United States Patent |
3,798,446 |
Deaton |
March 19, 1974 |
ILLUMINATOR GRID
Abstract
An egg crate type of illuminator grid panel has longitudinal and
transverse baffles intersecting at slots in the top of one and the
bottom of the other, with a series of four-legged, star-shaped
parts, normally molded of plastic, attached to the underside of the
baffles at alternate intersections. These stars mask the
intersections and also the abutting or overlapping ends of baffles
of adjacent panels, which may be rectangular in shape. The end of
each leg of a star has a hook to engage a socket formed in the edge
of a notch at the bottom of each baffle, beneath alternate
intersections. Also, each star has upstanding fingers near the
center to engage the opposite side of each baffle. Numerous other
features relating to the hangers and panels, as well as to a
housing for the panels, are disclosed.
Inventors: |
Deaton; Charles U. (Golden,
CO) |
Family
ID: |
23196210 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/308,994 |
Filed: |
November 24, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/451; 52/28;
248/343 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
11/06 (20130101); E04B 9/34 (20130101); E04B
9/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
11/06 (20060101); F21V 11/00 (20060101); F21v
017/00 (); E04f 019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/146,147,51.11R,78LD,78LK ;248/343 ;42/27,28 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peters, Jr.; Joseph F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Van Valkenburgh; Horace B. Lowe;
Frank C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An illuminator grid adapted to be suspended beneath one or more
sources of light and comprising:
a series of substantially contiguous panels, each having a series
of intersecting, generally upright baffles; and
means attached to the underside of said panels for masking the
parts at the division between adjacent panels visible from beneath
said panels and for masking the underside of a plurality of
intersections of said baffles.
2. An illuminator gtid as defined in claim 1, wherein:
said masking means also covers the underside of a substantial
portion of said baffles adjacent said intersections.
3. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 1, wherein:
said masking means comprises a series of generally star-shaped
elements having four equally spaced legs.
4. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 3, wherein:
said baffles are provided with spaced notches in the bottom thereof
corresponding to the position of alternate intersecting baffles and
a notch at a lower corner of said baffles, said corner notches
alternating at the ends of said baffles extending in one direction
and said baffles extending transversely thereto.
5. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 4, wherein:
each of said notches is provided with a socket adjacent its lower
edge; and
said legs of said star-shaped elements have means at the ends
thereof for engaging said sockets.
6. An illuninator grid as defined in claim 1, wherein:
the baffles of a panel extending in one direction are provided with
slots extending downwardly from the top in spaced positions
corresponding to and for receiving the intersecting baffles;
said intersecting baffles have slots extending upwardly from the
bottom at positions corresponding to and for receiving said first
named baffles; and
said slots have widths in relation to the thickness of the baffles
received in said slots that pressure is necessary to insert said
baffles fully into the receiving slots.
7. An illuminator grid adapted to be suspended beneath one or more
sources of light and comprising:
a series of contiguous panels disposed in at least one row with
each panel having a series of intersecting, generally upright
baffles extending longitudinally of said row and another series
extending transversely to said row, with the ends of at least
longitudinal baffles of adjacent panels being in lateral
overlapping relationship;
means for suspending said panels beneath said light sources and
operatively associated with hinge means for downward pivotal
movement about a longitudinal axis at one side of each said panel
and releasable means for holding the opposite side of said panel in
generally horizontal position; and
the hinge axis of alternating panels being on one side of said row
and the hinge axis of the remaining panels on the opposite side of
said row, while an extending end of a longitudinal baffle of a
first panel overlaps the end of a longitudinal baffle of an
adjacent panel on the side of the latter opposite said hinge axis
of said first panel.
8. An illunimator grid as defined in claim 7, wherein said means
for suspending said panels includes:
a series of hanger brackets having a lower pintle for pivotally
engaging a transverse baffle adjacent the pivot end thereof and an
upper hook for releasably engaging a transverse baffle of a
laterally adjacent panel.
9. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 8, wherein:
said hanger brackets are provided with stop means above said upper
hook for engaging said transverse baffle upon upward movement from
said hook to minimize accidental removal of said baffle from said
hook.
10. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 8, wherein:
said hanger bracket is relatively flat to abut the sides of
transverse baffles attached thereto; and
said pintle and hook extend laterally from the same side of said
bracket.
11. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 10, wherein:
said transverse baffles have a lower hole adjacent one end for
pivotally engaging said pintle, and an upper hole adjacent the
opposite end for releasably engaging said hook.
12. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 11, wherein:
said lower pintle is upright and transverse to the plane of siad
hanger bracket,
said upper hook has a lower horizontal portion transverse to said
bracket and an outer portion upstanding from the outer end of said
lower portion;
said lower hole of a transverse baffle has portions of greater and
lesser height;
said upper hole of a transverse baffle has a generally inverted
trapezoidal shape; and
said hanger brackets are provided with a stop finger above said
upper hook which extends from one side of said bracket and is
provided with an outer depending portion.
13. An illuminator grid adapted to be positioned beneath one or
more sources of light and comprising:
a series of generally upright baffles extending longitudinally of
said grid and another series of generally upright baffles extending
transversely of said grid and intersecting said longitudinal
baffles; and
a series of generally star-shaped elements having four spaced legs
attached to the underside of said baffles at the intersections
thereof, with said legs extending on the underside of said baffles
away from said intersection.
14. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 13, wherein:
said star-shaped elements are provided with means for engaging said
baffles adjacent said intersection and for engaging said baffles
adjacent the ends of said legs.
15. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 14, wherein:
said baffles are provided with spaced notches in the bottom thereof
corresponding to the position of alternate intersecting
baffles.
16. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 15, wherein:
each of said notches is provided with a socket adjacent its lower
edge; and
said legs of said star-shaped elements have means at the ends
thereof for engaging said sockets.
17. An illuminator grid as defined in claim 14, wherein:
said means for engaging said baffles adjacent said intersection
comprise members upstanding from said star-shaped elements on
opposite sides of each baffle and adapted to restrain said baffles
at said intersection.
Description
The present invention relates to overhead illumination grids for
masking the glare of an illuminator from direct view, and more
particularly to overhead illumination grids which are formed as an
array of longitudinal and transverse interlocking strips or baffles
which, in the parlance of the trade, is sometimes referred to as an
egg crate type of illuminator grid. The invention, as hereinafter
set forth in detail, will be simply referred to as an illuminator
grid, it being understood that it is normally an egg crate type of
illuminator grid.
One objection to the use of an egg crate type of illuminator grid
resides in the fact that the grid may be required to cover a
substantial area and thus, the grid must be in sections, or panels,
to permit access to the lighting system above any portion of the
grid since it would be impractical to remove or hinge downwardly
the entire grid every time a light tube must be replaced. However,
the baffles at the edges where two adjacent panels abut each other
can never match perfectly, and this is very obvious to anyone
glancing at the grid. Such disconnected, mismatching baffles spoil
the general overall appearance of an illuminator grid.
Another disadvantage of an egg crate type of illuminator grid
resides in the tendency for a panel of these grids to rack
diagonally, especially when the panels are not held in frames.
The present invention was conceived and developed with the above
and other considerations in view and comprises, in essence, an
improved illuminator grid which is preferably formed by an array of
interconnected panels of selected modular proportions which are
secured together by overhead supports and are hinged to the
supports to permit any panel to be dropped from the array for
access to the light system thereabove. Also, the grid panels are
formed with notches at alternate junctures of the longitudinal and
transverse baffles to generally improve the appearance of the grid
and to conceal the locations where two adjacent panels abut each
other, when an array of simple, four-pointed "stars" is affixed to
the lower edges of the longituinal and transverse baffles. These
"stars," on the underside of the grid, not only provide an
ornamental design pleasing to view, but also rigidify each modular
panel of the grid to prevent racking movements thereof.
It follows that an object of the invention is to provide a novel
and improved illuminator grid, as of a simple, egg crate
construction, made up as an array of panels of selected modular
proportions that are connected and hinged to support members in a
manner which will permit easy access to any section of the lighting
system above the grid.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved
illuminator grid which is made up as an array of interconnecting
neat appearing modular panels arranged to produce a unified
appearance and completely avoid any unsightly edges where one panel
abuts against an adjacent panel.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved
illuminator grid panel made up of interlocking longitudinal and
transverse baffles which carries an ornamental "star" pattern at
its underside to enhance both the appearance of the grid and the
structural rigidity of the panel.
Other objects of the invention are to provide, in a novel and
improved illuminator grid, a simple, economical, neat appearing,
easily installed, rugged and durable unit.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more
fully hereinafter appear, the invention comprises certain
constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and elements
hereinafter described and illustrated in a preferred embodiment in
the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic, perspective view, looking
upwardly and showing an illuminator grid constructed according to
the invention, which is suspended from a hanger system, the view
indicating the panels making up the grid and illustrating a row of
panels which have been dropped to provide access to the light
system above the grid.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a portion of the grid, showing one panel
in full lines and a portion of an adjacent panel in broken lines,
the view showing only some of the "stars" or star-shaped decorative
bottom pieces which are fixed to the undersides of the longitudinal
and transverse baffles forming the grid.
FIG. 3 is a condensed top plan view of a panel of FIG. 2, but on an
enlarged scale and showing hanger members in section and portions
of adjacent panels in broken lines.
FIG. 3A is a top plan view, corresponding to a portion of FIG. 3
but on an enlarged scale, showing portions of two adjacent panels
in the same row but with overlapping baffles.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken along line 4--4 of
FIG. 3 but on an enlarged scale, of hangers connecting with
adjacent panels.
FIG. 5 is a condensed section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3, but
on an enlarged scale and showing particularly a longitudinal baffle
of the panel, with the panel hangers omitted.
FIG. 6 is a condensed side elevation, on the same scale as FIG. 5
and showing a longitudinal intermediate baffle.
FIg. 7 is a condensed side elevation, on the same scale as FIG. 5
and showing a transverse baffle of the panel.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along line 8--8 of
FIG. 3, but on an enlarged scale and showing one end of a first
support baffle which is removably connected to a suspension bracket
and the opposite end of an adjacent second support baffle, which is
also pivotally connected to the suspension bracket.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 8, but showing the
second pivotally connected support baffle rotated and dropped to a
hanging position.
FIG. 10 is an end view of a suspension bracket, as viewed from the
position of arrow 10 of FIG. 8, but on an enlarged scale and with
the position of the longitudinal baffles being shown in broken
lines.
FIG. 11 is a condensed side elevation of the suspension bracket and
hanger shown in FIG. 10, with a greater proportion of a hanger hook
being shown.
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a decorative four-point star piece
which is affixed to the underside of the baffles forming the
grid.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal section taken along line 13 --13 of FIg.
12.
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the grid
structure, showing particularly the manner in which the decorative
star piece is affixed to the bottom edges of the longitudinal and
transverse baffles.
FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail of a portion of one corner of a
bottom notch of the panels of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, with the outline of
the corresponding star piece shown in dash lines.
FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of an illuminator grid having
a single panel constructed in accordance with this invention.
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary section, taken along line 17--17 of FIG.
16 but on an enlarged scale.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, an illuminator grid G,
as in FIG. 1, is formed as a flat, reticulated structure which is
suspended from a ceiling by hangers H to define an apparent
illuminated ceiling of a room. An array of conventional lights, not
shown, will be disposed above this grid to provide illumination
which filters through the grid and to the room below. In the
present invention, this illuminator grid G will include an array of
square or rectangular panels P of any suitable unit or modular size
which permits the panels to be neatly fitter together to form the
illuminator grid. The panels P will form the central and major part
of the grid G and may be dropped for access to the lights
thereabove, as illustrated and as hereinafter described. In
addition, the grid G may include extended edge sections to fill in
portions of a ceiling where the panels will not fit or where hinged
panels are unnecessary. Such edge sections, which are not shown,
will be constructed with the same reticulated pattern as the panels
but of different size and without the dropping feature. This grid
G, and the panels P, are formed as interlocking arrays of regularly
spaced longitudinal and transverse baffles, and a distincitive
feature of the invention resides in the use of a series of regular,
four-pointed stars S, or star pieces, at the underside of the
baffles, which are only diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1 but
shown in FIG. 2.
Each panel P is formed of a selected number of longitudinal baffles
and an appropriate number of transverse baffles which may be
interlocked into a typical egg crate arrangement, with the openings
therethrough being uniform and square in section. The panel itself
may be square or rectangular in form and be made up of longitudinal
support baffles 25, longitudinal intermediate baffles 26 and
transverse baffles 27 which are illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7,
respectively. Each baffle is formed as a rigid strip of metal or
the like, having a selected width, or depth, and a length
corresponding with the panel size, as hereinafter described.
Each longitudinal baffle 25 and 26 is formed with an array of
evenly spaced, vertical slots 28, 28a or 28b at its upper edge, as
in FIGS. 5 and 6, to receive the transverse baffles, and each
transverse baffle 27 is formed with an array of like, evenly
spaced, vertical slots 29, 29', 29a or 29b at its lower edge to
receive the longitudinal baffles, with slots 28a and 28b at
opposite ends of baffles 25 and 26 and slots 29a and 29b at
opposite ends of baffles 27. Thus, the longitudinal and transverse
baffles are fitted together at junctures formed by the slots to
place their lower edges and upper edges in common planes with the
longitudinal baffles in spaced parallelism and the transverse
baffles in spaced parallelism and perpendicular to the longitudinal
baffles. Preferably, the width of each notch 28, 28a, 28b and each
notch 29, 29a, 29b is proportioned to the thickness of the
intersecting panel that a press fit is necessary for the
intersecting panel to enter the slot fully, so that each
longitudinal intermediate baffle 26, which is supported from a
series of transverse baffles 27, will be held securely against
loosening or depending from the remainder of the panel. A press fit
requiring several hundred pounds to assemble a panel, in suitable
jig, is not objectionable, since the force required to separate the
baffles at the slots will normally correspond to the force required
to push the baffles together. Rectangular notches 30 are formed in
the lower edge of each longitudinal and transverse baffle at
locations in alignment with alternating slots and in a manner which
provides for the notches 30 in the longitudinal baffles to meet the
notches 30 in the transverse baffles at common junctures and
thereby form pocket-link disruptions at the lower edges of the
panel grid, the pattern of the intermediate pockets K being in an
alternating sequence from row to row to hold an interlaced pattern
of four-pointed stars S at the underside of the grid panel in a
manner which places the end points of four adjacent stars at each
pocket, and are snapped into place, as hereinafter further
described.
The formation of a grid panel P involves placing the longitudinal
baffles in an alternating reversing arrangement, with the ends of
the baffles at each edge of the panel being staggered, as
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Likewise, the transverse baffles are
placed in a similar alternating reversing and staggered
arrangement. This is necessary because the interlaced pattern of
stars S, fitted to the underside of the grid panel, must also
interlace with a like pattern of stars on each adjacent panel P and
with the end points of the stars at the edges of the panels being
at edge pockets K' formed where two adjacent panels abut and corner
pockets K" where four panels meet.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a grid panel P may be described
commencing with a first longitudinal baffle as a support baffle 25.
Referring to FIG. 5, one end of this baffle has a notch 31 to form
a portion of a corner pocket K" below an end slot 28a near that end
of the baffle. Notch 31 is disposed below a convex angular edge 32,
which provides a tab for a purpose described later. Notches 30
below every other slot 28 are spaced across this baffle and the
opposite end of the baffle terminates at vertical edge 33 below a
concave angular edge 34, beyond a final slot 28b to define the edge
of an opposite corner pocket K".
The seond longitudinal baffle of the panel is an intermediate
baffle 26. This baffle is very similar to the support baffle, as is
apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, a notch 31 at
one end of the baffle 26 forms a portion of an edge pocket K' below
an end slot 28a. Notches 30 below every other slot 28 extend across
this baffle and the opposite end terminates at vertical edge 35
beyond a final slot 28b to define the edge of an opposite edge
pocket K'. However, this second longitudinal baffle 26 is reversed
from the corresponding position of the first baffle 25 so that the
slot 28b of this second baffle 26 is aligned with slot 28a of the
first baffle 25 to connect with a common transverse baffle 27.
Thus, the portion of the baffle 26 beyond slot 28b, terminating at
edge 26, supports the end point of a star S.
The third lngitudinal baffle of the panel P is another intermediate
baffle 26 which is oriented in the same manner as the first support
baffle 25, so that its slot 28a is aligned with the slot 28a of
baffle 25, but with slot 28b of the reversed intermediate baffle
26. This pattern is repeated, the fourth intermediate baffle 26
being reversed the same as the second, and so on, with the next to
the last baffle being another support baffle 25, oriented in the
same manner as the first baffle 25, and the final baffle 26 being
reversed with resepct thereto, as illustrated. It will be
understood that the intermediate pockets K, edge pockets K' and
corner pockets K", indicated in FIG. 3, are actually on the
underside of the grid.
The same pattern is used with the transverse baffles 27, by
alternately reversing these baffles as they extend across the
panel. The baffle 27 shown in FIG. 7 is provided with an end notch
37 which is below a vertical end edge 38 and forms a portion of an
edge pocket K' below an end slot 29a. Notches 30 below each slot
29' are spaced across the baffle and the opposite end of the baffle
terminates a vertical edge 39 beyond a final slot 29b, the edge 39
also defining te edge of an edge pocket K'. Referring to FIG. 3,
the slot 29a of the first transverse baffle 27 of the panel P fits
with slot 28a of the first mentioned longitudinal baffle 25 at a
corner pocket K", while the opposite end of the transverse baffle
carries the point of a projecting star. The second transverse
baffle is reversed, the third oriented the same as the first, and
so on, to complete the panel as illustrated.
The value of edge pockets K' and corner pockets K" will be evident,
since a support baffle 25 of one panel must be spaced from or
overlap the corresponding support baffle of each panel on opposite
sides thereof, while the ends of intermediate baffles must
similarly be spaced from or overlap the ends of the intermediate
baffles of each panel at the sides thereof, to permit the panels to
be swung downwardly without interference. Similarly, the ends of
each transverse baffle 27 must be spaced from or overlap the ends
of the transverse baffles of the panels at each end thereof, to
prevent interference during assembly of the grid or swing the panel
downwardly or upwardly. As will be evident, the stars S mask the
spaces between baffles of abutting panels or overlapping the same,
the visibility of which might otherwise be accentuated.
While baffles 25, 26 and 27 of adjacent panels P of FIG. 3 are
abutting, the longitudinal baffles 27 of FIG. 3A are shown in
overlapping relationship, it being understood that baffles 25 and
26 may overlap corresponding baffles of adjacent panels on each
side. Each baffle 27 of a panel P should overlap th baffles 27 of
each adjacent panel in the same row on the same side, as shown, but
opposite the hinge axis, so that the upper panel P of FIG. 3A may
be pivoted as indicated by arrow a, being hinged at the right side
of FIG. 3A, so that the extended end of each baffle 27 will move
away from the overlapped end of baffle 27 of the adjacent panel,
with notch 37 of the baffle 27, as in FIG. 3, clearing the end of
the star S beneath. Similarly, the lower panel P of FIG. 3A should
be pivoted as indicated by arrow a', being hinged at the left side
of FIG. 3A. The panels P in each row are thus hinged to pivot
downwardly in alternating directions, as shown in FIG. 1.
Each panel P should include at least two support baffles 25, one at
or adjacent each end of the panel and each support baffle will be
supported by two hangers H, one connecting with each end of the
baffle. The connection of both baffles of a panel P to the hangers
H is the same, and only one connection need be described; however,
it is to be noted that each hanger H will connect with a support
baffle 25 of an adjacent panel P.
Each hanger H, as in FIGS. 1, 10 and 11, may include a hooked
suspension wire 40 which extends upwardly to a suitable connection
at a ceiling or to any other overhead support 41. The length of the
suspension wires 40 may be selected to locate the panels at any
desired elevation. An elongated, flat bracket 42 is suspended from
a hook at the bottom of each wire 40, a hole 43 being provided at
the top of the bracket for the connection.
The lower portion of each flat bracket 42 is adapted to lie flatly
against and connect with the tap formed by the angular edge 32 of a
support baffle 25, which is provided with a trapezoidal hole 44, as
illustrated in FIG. 5. Flat bracket 42 also lies against and
pivotally connects with the opposite end of a corresponding support
baffle 25 of an adjacent panel. A second hanger H is at the other
end of the first mentioned support baffle 25, and it includes a
bracket 42 which lies against and pivotally connects with this
opposite end of the support baffle 25. This second hanger also lies
against and connects with the tab and of another corresponding
support baffle of another adjacent panel. This arrangement of
connecting support baffles with brackets 42 is repeated on the
other support baffles of the several panels.
For such connection, bracket 42 is provided with an upper hook 45
and a lower hook-shaped pintle 46, each of which may be punched
from the bracket, but with hook 45 essentially parallel and pintle
46 perpendicular to the plane of the bracket. Hole 44 fits over
hook 45, so that the baffle may be lifted to disconnect it from the
hook. However, a finger 47 is provided at the edge of the bracket,
above the baffle, to contact the top edge of the baffle when it is
raised and prevent the baffle from accidentally falling off the
hook. Thus, a positive effort is required to disconnect each baffle
from the hook 45 if it is desired to drop the panel.
At the opposite end of the baffle, concave edge 34 provides
clearance for the tab 32 of the connecting support baffle of the
adjacent panel. Also, a pivot hole 48 is provided near edge 33, a
short distance above the bottom of the baffle, for hingedly fitting
onto pintle 46, so that both support baffles may be pivoted about
the corresponding pintles and the panel swung downwardly for access
to the ceiling area above the illuminator grid, whenever the
opposite ends of the baffles 25 are disconnected from the hooks 45.
As in FIG. 5, pivot hole 48 preferably has a special configuration,
as of higher and lower parts, as shown, so that the hanger and
panel may be pulled closer together for passage of the end of
pintle 46 into the higher part of the hole, then further apart, so
that the pintle will enter the lower part of the hole, to retain
the supporting baffle and panel on the pintle when the panel is
swung downwardly or upwardly. As in FIG. 9, pivot hole 48 is so
located as to permit the pocket edge 33 of the baffle to swing into
the pocket with sufficient clearance to prevent jamming against
parts of an adjacent panel.
With the above arrangement, an illuminator grid G will consist of
longitudinal and transverse rows of panels P. The longitudinal rows
of panels are interlocked with a hanger H at or adjacent each
corner of each panel, each hanger supporting two adjacent panels.
Any one panel may be dropped for access to the space above the
illuminator grid. Each longitudinal row of panels may be formed the
same as an adjacent row of panels, in which case, the hinging about
hinge pintles 46 will be at the same side of all of the panels.
Also, the panels may be oppositely arranged, with the components
forming left hand and right hand arrays of longitudinal and
transverse baffles. In this arrangement, when the panels are
properly fitted together, the hinging will be at alternate sides of
the panels to drop the panels on opposite sides of an opening, as
illustrated in FIG. 1. In either event, at each corner of a group
of panels, it will be necessary to provide for two hangers, a
hanger H for the arrangement above described and illustrated in
FIG. 3 and a hanger H' for an opposite hand panel, as shown in FIG.
3 in dashed lines. An arrangement for using two adjacent hangers is
also indicated somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 1.
The four-pointed stars S or star pieces, which are affixed to the
underside of a panel, may be of any suitable synthetic resin, as by
injection molding, and these stars may be decorated or formed from
colored resin in any manner desired. Each star S, as in FIGS.
12-14, has a flat base 50, shaped as four comparatively narrow star
points or legs with a simple central nave. A short wall 51
circumscribes the base to give the edge of the star an appearance
of greater thickness, while the wall of adjacent legs merges into a
curved fillet at the nave. The distance between the ends of
opposing legs of each star is proportioned to span the distance
between two slots 30 of the panel baffles, so that the upper
surface of the base will rest against the undersurface of the
longitudinal and transverse baffles, with the wall at the points of
the star extending into pockets K formed by intersecting baffles. A
non-pocket intersection of longitudinal and transverse baffles will
then at at the center of the star. The wall at each point of the
star is formed with an inwardly extending hook 52 which is adapted
to engage a notch-like socket 53 in the pocket walls of the baffles
25, 26 and 27, as in FIGS. 5-7 and on an enlarged scale in FIG. 15.
As in FIG. 15, in addition to socket 53, the edge of each notch 30
is provided with an arcuate lower corner 54 to guide hook 52 for
snapping the stars into place. Each notch 31 and 37, as well as
edges 33, 36 and 39, are provided with a notch 53 and an arcuate
lower corner 54, for the same purpose. The walls at each point of
the star are reinforced by abutments 55 which provide a narrow slot
between them, wherein the lower edge of a baffle may snugly fit. An
array of spaced fingers 56 upstand from the nave of the star with
the arrangement being such as to engage each side of the crossed
baffles at each side of their intersection point, as in the manner
illustrated in FIG. 14. It is contemplated that the inherent
flexibility of the plastic material forming a star will permit each
star to be placed at the underside of intersecting panel baffles
and snapped into position with a light pressure, by forcing the
hooks 52 to snap into the sockets 53, as shown in FIG. 14.
The resulting panel structure can be thus formed into an
illuminator grid of a pleasing appearance, with the star patterns
at the underside effectively concealing, or subduing the fact that
this grid is a simple, egg crate type of illuminator grid. The
stars S further produce a relative minimum of obstruction to light
passing from above and downwardly through the spaces between the
intersecting baffles.
The alternate hinged relationship of panels in the same row and
with overlapping baffles, as described previously, may be utilized
with a conventional egg crate type of construction, as will be
evident from FIG. 3A, with the stars S omitted and with baffles 27
of FIG. 7, if desired, constructed without notch 37 or notches 30
or sockets 53. Thus, the upper panel P of FIG. 3A, when so
constructed, can be moved downwardly in the manner indicated by
arrow a and the lower panel, when so constructed, moved downwardly
in the manner indicated by arrow a', it being noted that these
arrows, while drawn in the plane of the figure, actually indicate a
movement perpendicular thereto but in the direction of the arrow
heads. As will be evident, the ends of each baffle 27 of a first
panel can be moved downwardly but will move away from the
overlapped end of the baffle 27 of each adjacent panel in the same
row, when the overlapping is on the side of the baffle of the
adjacent panel opposite the hinge axis of the first panel. Thus,
the panels, in alternating relation in the same row, when utilized
with the otherwise conventional egg crate construction, can be
moved downward to depend from the grid in the same manner as shown
for panels P in FIG. 1. The panels of as many rows as desired may
be similarly hinged for downward pivoting movement in alternating
relation, so that any one or more panels, in the same or different
rows, may be hinged downwardly for access to the illuminator above,
as for replacement of a light tube, as of the fluorescent type,
which has reached the end of its useful life. As will be evident,
overlapping baffles 25 and 26 do not produce the same problem,
since the hinge axis is perpendicular thereto. As will be evident,
the alternate hinging of the panels permits an overlap at the ends
of corresponding baffles and thus eliminates the light slit between
abutting or nearly abutting baffles of adjacent panels.
It will further be eveident that a panel may be removed by
releasing the holes 48 from the pintles 46 and also releasing the
holes 44 from the hooks 45, there being sufficient flexibility in
the construction to pull the baffle a short distance toward the
hanger involved for releasing the lower hole from the pintle and
raising the opposite end of the baffle, then shifting the end
outwardly from the hanger so that hole 44 will clear hook 45. The
panels may be replaced by the reverse of the operations described
above, which are applicable to the panels having the stars S or
panels with the more conventional egg crate baffle
construction.
It will also be evident that the baffles of each panel may be
molded integrally and the stars S may also be molded integrally
with the baffles, using a suitable material, such as plastic.
However, the stars S still cover or mask the area below the
abutment or overlapping of the baffles of adjacent panels and the
panels may be suspended from hangers in the manner described
above.
A single panel constructed in accordance with this invention may be
utilized as a grid for an illuminator, as in FIGS. 16 and 17, in
which a panel P' is supported in a more conventional manner by
bottom flanges 60 which extend inwardly from the lower ends of side
walls 61 and end walls 62 of a housing O. As in FIG. 17, a series
of conventional fluorescent tubes 63 may be mounted in conventional
end fixtures 64 for the tubes, with fixtures 64 mounted on the
inside of each end wall 62 of the housing, below a top 65. A series
of longitudinal baffles 66 and transverse baffles 67 of panel P'
may be constructed similarly to baffles 25, 26 and 27 in having
notches at the bottom similar to notches 30 of FIGS. 5-7, slots
similar to slots 28 in the longitudinal baffles and slots similar
to slots 29 in the transverse baffles. However, the ends of the
baffles do not require a particular configuration, since the ends
of the transverse baffles 67 rest on the flange 60 at each side of
the housing and the ends of longitudinal baffles 66 merely extend
to the flange 60 at each end of the housing. The notches similar to
notches 30 are provided with notch-like sockets similar to socket
53 of FIG. 14, as before.
The stars S attached to the underside of the baffles may be
constructed as described previously, although a series of special
stars S' are utilized around the edge of the panel, each having a
shortened leg 70, which extends generally to the inner edge of the
adjacent flange 60. The end of each leg 70 may be provided with a
hook similar to hook 52 of FIG. 14 to snap into the socket at one
edge of a narrower notch 30' adjacent the end of the corresponding
baffle. The length of shorter legs 70 may be increased from that
shown in FIG. 17, to accommodate different widths or lengths of
illuminators.
The panel P' of FIG. 16 may be removed from the housing O by
tipping one side upwardly and simultaneously moving it toward the
adjacent side wall of the housing, so that the opposite side of the
panel will clear flange 60 and the panel then moved downwardly and
laterally until the side tipped up clears flange 60 on that side.
The panel may be replaced by an operation which is essentially the
reverse of that involved in removing the panel. PReferably, the
width of the panel P', including the extension of transverse
baffles 67 beyond the stars S', is sufficiently greater than the
distance between the inner edges of side flanges 60 so that, in
horizontal position and resting on the ledges formed by side
flanges 60, the panel P' cannot fall out of the housing, even
though accidentally pushed against one of the side walls 61. Thus,
the overlap of the panel on each flange 60, when resting on the
flanges and positioned centrally, should be slightly greater than
one-half of the width of each flange 60.
I have now described certain preferred embodiments of my invention
and certain variations in considerable detail. However, it is
evident that others skilled in the art can build and devise
alternate and equivalent constructions, as well as devise numerous
changes and variations, which are nevertheless within the spirit
and scope of my invention.
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