Patent Application
20230056851
The present invention relates to suspended ceiling systems and more specifically to a connector for suspended ceiling systems.
Suspended ceiling systems are used in many different types of buildings e.g. to lower the ceiling, to provide sound dampening, to facilitate mounting of light sources and other building equipment and to provide an aesthetically pleasing interior ceiling. Suspended ceiling systems, as the name implies, are attached to a supporting structure of some sort, such as the ceiling structure of the building. Suspended ceiling systems usually comprises a plurality of ceiling tiles and a supporting structure in form of a grid. The grid comprises profiles which support the ceiling tiles. The grid often comprises main profiles forming the structural, load bearing structure of the grid which are connected to the ceiling. The main profiles are moreover often interconnected by cross profiles which are connected to the main profiles and together forms a grip pattering into which for instance ceiling tiles can be arranged.
The ceiling tiles may have sound-absorbing and/or sound-insulating properties in order to improve the acoustic environment of the room. In order to obtain a lightweight ceiling with satisfactory sound absorption, the tiles, for instance, may be made of a compressed fibre material such as mineral wool and especially glass wool. In addition to ceiling tiles, the profiles may also support various equipment such as lighting devices, ventilation equipment, inspection openings, detectors, cable trays, loudspeakers, signs, sprinklers etc.
Manufacturers of suspended ceiling systems continuously strive to improve the safety of the systems and, as with other equipment that is installed in public/residential buildings, suspended ceilings systems are subject to a number of safety requirements to be fulfilled for instance in case of fire. As an example, the suspended ceiling system may be of considerable weight, especially when taking into account the equipment that may be attached thereto. It is thus desired that the suspended ceiling system is not too rapidly adversely affected by the heat from a fire, and that it can withstand such circumstances at least for a certain period of time. It is also desired that equipment supported by the suspended ceiling systems does not fall in case of fire, as this not only causes a hazard to eventual persons being present below the ceiling, but also in that it may cause an obstacle for rescue/firefighting personnel trying to access the building.
In view of that stated above, the object of the present invention is to provide a secondary profile connector and a suspended ceiling system which mitigates some of the problems with prior art.
To achieve at least one of the above objects and also other objects that will be evident from the following description, a secondary profile connector having the features defined in claim 1 and a suspended ceiling system having the features defined in claim 6 are provided according to the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the device will be evident from the dependent claims.
More specifically, there is provided according to a first aspect of the present invention a secondary profile connector for a suspended ceiling system comprising a secondary profile associated with the secondary profile connector and a primary profile having a web provided with an opening for reception of the secondary profile connector. The secondary profile connector comprises a tongue arrangement insertable into the opening of the web of the primary profile for releasable connection of the secondary profile connector to the primary profile. The tongue arrangement comprises a tab portion which, in a connected state of the secondary profile connector, is configured to abut an insertion side of the web for defining a first insertion depth for the secondary profile connector. The tab portion is configured to be deformed in response to being pressed against the insertion side of the web with a force exceeding a threshold value for defining a second insertion depth while maintaining engagement with the insertion side of the web, the second insertion depth being greater than the first insertion depth. Longitudinal expansions of the secondary profile can thus be absorbed by the tab portions, which deforms elastically and/or plastically when the force exceeds the threshold value. This prevents unwanted elevated mechanical stress levels occurring in the joints between the profiles, which could cause failure thereof. Moreover, it facilitates keeping the desired shape of the suspended ceiling system which is formed by a number of primary and secondary profiles.
The tab portion may further be defined by a slit extending in a longitudinal direction of the secondary profile connector. The slit facilitates reliable deformation of the tab portion, reduces the risk of tab portion deformation affecting the tongue arrangement and defines the maximum insertion depth of the secondary profile connector.
Furthermore, the tab portion may comprise a distal end section which is configured to abut against the web in a position that does not coincide with a plane that is defined by the extension of a tongue arrangement base portion from which the tab portion extends. The tongue arrangement base portion preferably extends in a plane parallel with the insertion direction of the secondary profile connector. The above arrangement provides a tab portion which bends laterally upon being exerted to a force higher than the threshold value and that is uncomplicated to manufacture.
Further still, the tab portion may comprise a distal end section which is configured to abut against the web in a position that coincides with a plane that is defined by the extension of a tongue arrangement base portion from which the tab portion extends. A reduction in the bending moment generated by the deformation of the tab portion is thus achieved, which reduces eventual deformation of the secondary profile connector caused by said bending moment.
The tongue arrangement may further comprise a tongue configured for resilient lateral displacement in response to being subjected to a lateral force and comprising a hook member. The hook member, in the connected state of the secondary profile connector, is configured for a hooked engagement with a corresponding hook member of a secondary profile connector inserted into the opening from the opposite side of the web. The hook member provides an improved safety in the connection between the secondary profile connectors, reducing the risk of unintentional release of the connection. By the hook members resiliently snapping into engagement with each other during connection of two secondary profile connectors, no additional assembly or tools are required for achieving the improved safety.
In a second aspect of the invention is a suspended ceiling system provided which comprises a secondary profile connector according to the first aspect, a secondary profile associated with the secondary profile connector and a primary profile having a web provided with an opening. The secondary profile is releasably connectable to the primary profile by insertion of the secondary profile connector associated with the secondary profile into the opening in the web.
Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.
The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.
Referring firstly to
In the context of the present disclosure, a primary profile 200 is to be seen as a profile in a suspended ceiling system which is connected/suspended to/from the ceiling and a secondary profile 300 is in turn connected to and/or suspended by the primary profile 200. Preferably, the primary and secondary profiles 200, 300 are perpendicularly arranged in relation to one another such that they form a grid of profiles which can support for instance ceiling tiles and/or equipment such as ventilation devices, light sources etc.
However, it is also conceivable that also the secondary profile 300 is connected/suspended to/from the ceiling.
The secondary profile connector 100 comprises a tongue arrangement 102, the tongue arrangement 102 being configured to be received by an opening 204 in a web 202 of the primary profile (as shown in
Moreover, the tongue arrangement 102 comprises a tab portion 104 which, in a connected state of the secondary profile connector 100, is configured to abut an insertion side of the web 202 for defining a first insertion depth D1 for the secondary profile connector 100. The secondary profile 300 is during normal assembly inserted into the opening 204 in the web 202 until the tab portion 104 abuts the web 202. This defines the first insertion depth D1.
In certain situations, the secondary profiles 300 may be subject to thermal longitudinal expansion. The longitudinal expansion is especially critical to take into consideration in applications using a plurality of longitudinally arranged secondary profiles 300 and/or during extreme temperatures such as during a fire. Thermal expansion of an elongated profile is related to material thereof and to the length of the profile, which is effectively extended by each profile that is arranged longitudinally end-to-end one after the other. In such circumstances, thermal expansion could cause the grid of profiles in a suspended ceiling system to be deformed to the point where ceiling tiles and/or the profiles themselves becomes detached and falls from the suspended ceiling system.
Avoiding such situations is achieved in the present disclosure by that the tab portion 104 is configured to be deformed in response to being pressed against the insertion side of the web 202 with a force exceeding a threshold value. When the force exceeds the threshold value, the secondary profile connector 100 is pressed into a second insertion depth D2 while maintaining engagement with the insertion side of the web 202 as the tab portion 104 deforms. The second insertion depth D2 is greater than the first insertion depth D1. The deformable tab portion 104 can thus accommodate a certain degree of longitudinal expansion of each secondary profile 300, specifically the distance of D2-D1 on each secondary profile connector 100.
What is further shown in
The secondary profile connector 100 may further comprise a tongue arrangement base portion 116 which is arranged in a plane parallel to the base portion 112. The tongue arrangement base portion 116 may be laterally offset from the base portion 112. The tongue arrangement base portion 116 forms the portion from which the tab portion 104 extends, and it being laterally offset in relation to the base portion 112 facilitates longitudinal joining of two secondary profile 300 into lateral portions of the same opening 204 in the primary profile 200 while keeping the two longitudinally arranged secondary profiles 300 laterally/horizontally and vertically aligned with one another. The tongue arrangement base portion 116 preferably extends in a plane parallel to the insertion direction I of the secondary profile connector 100.
The secondary profile connector 100 may further comprise a longitudinal locking tongue 106. The longitudinal locking tongue 106 preferably also extends from the tongue arrangement base portion 116 and forms a part of the tongue arrangement 102. The longitudinal locking tongue 106 is configured to be elastically deformed during insertion of the secondary profile connector 100 into the opening 204 in the primary profile 200, and to elastically return to its original position once fully inserted and thus form a longitudinal lock against the side of the web 202 opposite the insertion side of the web 202. The longitudinal locking tongue 106 thus prevents unintentional release of the secondary profile connector 100 from the primary profile 200. The longitudinal locking tongue 106 has an L-shape when observed from the side, such that a vertical edge of the longitudinal locking tongue 106 which faces the side of the web 202 opposite the insertion side of the web 202 cooperates with said side of the web 202 to form the longitudinal lock.
The longitudinal locking tongue 106 may further be pressed in order to elastically deform the longitudinal locking tongue 106 in the lateral direction to release the secondary profile connector 100 from the primary profile 200, such that it can be withdrawn through the opening 204.
The secondary profile connector 100 may further comprise an alignment tongue 108. The alignment tongue 108 extends from the tongue arrangement base portion 116 and forms a part of the tongue arrangement 102. The alignment tongue 108 is configured to bias the secondary profile connector 100 into the preferred position in relation to the primary profile 200, preferably such that the web 302 of the secondary profile 300 is vertically arranged. This is achieved as the alignment tongue 108 cooperates with the opening 204 in the web 202 of the primary profile 200 upon insertion of the secondary profile 300 and biases the secondary profile connector 100 into the desired position/orientation. The alignment tongue 108 preferably comprises an upper portion which comprises a lateral bend such that it protrudes laterally such that it may resiliently cooperate with the opening 204 when the secondary profile connector 100 is in its connected state with the primary profile 200. The upper portion preferably further comprises a distal laterally inclined portion which facilitates insertion of the alignment tongue 108 into the opening 204, the inclined portion during insertion being pressed against the side of the opening 204 such that a resilient force from the lateral bend on the upper portion pushes the secondary profile connector 100 into its desired position.
In one embodiment, the alignment tongue 108 is configured to cooperate with the alignment tongue 108 of a longitudinally adjoining secondary profile connector 100 arranged in the same opening 204. The alignment tongues 108 will then press against each other such that the respective secondary profile connector will be biased into the correct orientation in relation to the primary profile 200.
Preferably, the alignment tongue 108 is arranged at a lower portion of the tongue arrangement 102 while the longitudinal locking tongue 106 is arranged above the alignment tongue 108.
The tab portion 104 may, as shown in
The tab portion 104 in
Turning now to
The secondary profile connector 100 shown in
In
Once in a connected state, the hook member 118 of the respective secondary profile connector 100 will prevent unintentional release of the two secondary profiles 300 from each other since the interlocking arrangement of the tongues 117 will cause the hooking members 118 to engage each other if the secondary profiles 300 are pulled apart. In order for the hook member 118 to achieve its connected or locking position, the tongue 117 must as mentioned be resiliently laterally deflected/displaced. The lateral inclination of the hook member 118 will cause the tongue 117 to deflect upon connection of two secondary profiles 300, as it will come into contact with the hook member 118 of a meeting secondary profile connector 100 during insertion/connection. In one embodiment, the hook member 118 has an extension in the longitudinal direction of the secondary profile 300 (or in the longitudinal direction of the secondary profile connector 100) being such that the respective hook member 118 on two adjoining secondary profiles 300 does not obstruct lateral movement of the tongue 117 when the secondary profile connectors 100 are in their connected state (i.e. when the secondary profile connector 100 is inserted to the first insertion depth D1). This facilitates connection and releasing of the secondary profiles 300 to/from each other. Release of the tongue 117 could be further facilitated by providing a laterally bent distal end portion to the tongue 117, which deflects away from the adjoining secondary profile connector 100 such that the tongue 117 may be pressed in order to release the connection.
The tongue 117 provides longitudinal locking in addition or as an alternative to the longitudinal locking tongue 106 which locks each secondary profile 300 to the primary profile 200, the tongue 117 allows locking of two adjacent secondary profiles 300 to each other. The tongue 117 and the hook member 118 thus contributes to the overall safety and structural integrity of the ceiling system.
In
The secondary profile connectors 100 may be released from the primary profile 200 by pressing the longitudinal locking tongue 106 to cause a lateral displacement until it can be withdrawn through the opening 204. In case of a longitudinal elongation of the secondary profile 300, for instance due to being subjected to heat, the tab portion 104 will bend or deform such that the secondary profile 300 can be inserted to the second insertion depth D2 or any position therebetween. It is to be realized that while the second insertion depth D2 is illustrated in
In
The secondary profile 300 in the embodiment shown in
Turning to
A secondary profile connector formed separately from the secondary profile may offer advantages such as freedom of choosing material and material thickness while a secondary profile connector formed integral with secondary profile may provide benefits in terms of manufacturing as it requires no assembly. The secondary profile connector 100 could be formed by stamping and/or punching directly on the material of the secondary profile 300.
In
In other embodiments, such a situation can be avoided by providing a tab portion 104 which deforms sufficiently easily such that it does not affect the shape of the secondary profile connector 100.
It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. Several modifications and variations are thus conceivable within the scope of the invention which thus is exclusively defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20155420.1 | Feb 2020 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/052169 | 1/29/2021 | WO |
