The invention relates to suspended ceiling systems and, in particular, to a novel clip for suspending a pair of main tees in parallel relation.
Certain ceiling treatments or designs utilize main tees in relatively closely spaced pairs to give a ceiling a distinctive appearance and/or to provide an intermediate space for lighting, HVAC systems, sprinkler systems and like services. It is known to use a series of special clips to support a pair of main tees in parallel relation. Such clips, typically, are suspended directly from overhead structure by steel wire. In certain geographic areas, local codes or requirements prohibit suspended ceilings from being suspended from overhead structure directly by plain wire ties. For example, in some areas, a C-channel must first be hung from the overhead structure and a suspended ceiling, fixtures and-like elements must be hung from these intermediate channels. As far as is known, there are no available clips or brackets that can be easily and quickly attached to the suspension channels that, in turn, can support a pair of main tees in a uniform parallel spacing.
The invention provides a clip that is compatible with overhead channel suspension and which supports a pair of grid main tees in precise parallel alignment. The clip of the invention is easy to use and thereby saves installation time and avoids fatigue on the part of the installer.
In its preferred form, the clip is arranged to work with prior art “drop clip” hangers compatible with the required overhead suspension channels. As disclosed, the clip is coupled to a hanger with simple manipulation of the hanger and clip elements without the need for the use of tools and/or separate fasteners. The compatibility of the disclosed clip with conventional drop clip C-channel hangers significantly reduces the cost and complexity of the tooling required to make the clip and, therefore, reduces the costs involved in making the clip. Additionally, the clip affords the known benefits of similar clips in producing a uniform spacing between the grid tee pairs which spacing is critical since variations are conspicuous to even the casual observer.
A system 10 for suspending a pair of grid tees 11 in a uniformly spaced parallel arrangement is shown in
A clip 36 of the invention serves to suspend the grid tees 11 from the drop clip body 18 and, therefore, from the structural channel 16 to which the drop clip assembly 17 is attached. The clip 36, in the illustrated form, is a sheet metal stamping having the general form, when installed, of an inverted rectangular pan. The corners of the clip 36 are notched as required for receiving the bulbs 14 of the grid tees 11. More particularly, the clip 36 has a generally planar, rectangular main section 37 from which depend downwardly bent opposed flanges 38, 39 and 41, 42. The flanges 38, 39 are mirror images of one another and each includes an inwardly bent tab 46 spaced vertically below the main section 37 a distance at least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the vertical height of the reinforcing bulb 14 of a grid tee. Another flange 41, extending transversely between the imaginary planes of the flanges 38, 39, includes a pair of tabs 47 spaced from the plane of the main section 37 a distance equal to or slightly greater than the height of a reinforcing bulb 14. The flanges 41 and 42 serve to stiffen the main section 37 of the clip 36 and keep it in a planar configuration under normally expected service conditions. The horizontal lengths of the flanges 41, 42 are somewhat less than the inside dimension between the opposed flanges 38, 39 so that, as shown in
Disposed on opposite sides of an imaginary vertical mid-plane transverse to its length, the clip 36 has a pair of elongated transverse slots 53. In the illustrated example, the slots 53 extend across substantially the full width of the clip main section 37. The slots 53 are spaced from one another to leave a central land portion 54 that, preferably, has a width equal or substantially equal to the width of a conventional reinforcing bulb 14, for example, nominally ¼″. The slots 53 are sufficiently wide and long to allow the free passage therethrough of the channel formations 27, 28 of the drop clip legs 23-35.
The clip 36 is joined and locked, i.e. coupled, to the drop clip assembly 17 in the following manner, conveniently at the job site by the grid installer without tools. The drop clip legs 23-25, in their laterally spread condition shown in
It should be evident that this disclosure is by way of example and that various changes may be made by adding, modifying or eliminating details without departing from the fair scope of the teaching contained in this disclosure. The invention is therefore not limited to particular details of this disclosure except to the extent that the following claims are necessarily so limited.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20060283132 A1 | Dec 2006 | US |