BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system of panels according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a panel according to the invention seen from the rear side hereof;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the panel shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the panel shown in FIG. 2 seen from the rear side hereof and provided with a sound-damping fabric extending over the rear side of the panel;
FIG. 5
a is a cross sectional view of two adjacent rows of panels in a system according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1, depicting panels suspended in their normal (upper) position and in their displaceable (lower) position;
FIG. 5
b shows displacement of a panel below an upper row of panels;
FIG. 5
c is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the suspension and guide system for the panels;
FIG. 5
d is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the suspension and guide system for the panels;
FIG. 5
e is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the suspension and guide system for the panels;
FIG. 5
f is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the suspension and guide system for the panels;
FIGS. 6
a, 6b and 6c show in perspective view various steps performed for displacement of a panel below an adjacent panel;
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a detail of an alternative embodiment of a system of panels according to the invention;
FIGS. 8
a, 8b and 8c are three alternative embodiments of releasable attachment means for the fabric to the rigid frame;
FIG. 8
d is a detailed view of a retainment cylinder shown in FIG. 8c;
FIGS. 9
a and 9b are schematic perspective representations of corner sections of the frame of the panels according to the invention, and
FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of releasable attachment means according to the invention for the fabric to the frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following, a detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention is given. The embodiments shown specifically relate to a suspended ceiling formed by panels according to the present invention, but it is understood that minor modifications of the suspension and guide means shown herein will enable the panels according to the invention to be used to form systems for covering walls, partitions etc. without departing from the basic spirit of the invention. Such alternative applications of systems of panels according to the invention are also covered by the independent claims and at least some of the corresponding dependent claims.
With reference to FIG. 1, there is thus shown a perspective view of one embodiment of a system of panels according to the invention used to form a suspended ceiling. The system comprises a plurality of rows R1, R2 . . . R6 of panels 2, each of the rows being in this embodiment separated from each other by intermediate channels 3, which can be used for the installation of for instance light armatures, sprinklers, loudspeakers etc. It should be understood, however, that the presence of these intermediate channels 3 is not a necessity, and that they could either be omitted altogether or some of the channels could be omitted, whereby corresponding adjacent rows would be placed in close proximity to each other.
With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of a single panel according to the invention. The panel basically comprises a substantially rigid frame consisting of lateral edge portions 4 and end portions 12 joined by corner portions 13, which will be described subsequently. Across the opening defined by the frame 4, 12 there is suspended a fabric 8, the fabric and the frame thus according to this embodiment forming a rectangular panel generally designated by reference numeral 2.
The panel 2 could in principle be of any dimensions, but typical dimensions would be approximately 2×4 meters. Hence, in order to attain sufficient lateral rigidity, a number of laterally extending beams 9 are provided on the rear side of the panel attached to either of the two lateral portions 4 of the frame. Apart from providing the necessary rigidity to the panel, at least some of these beams 9 serve as a means for suspending the panels from the fixed structure of the ceiling in a manner to be described in detail in the following.
The latter function could however also be provided with protrusions formed as an integral part of the frame or somehow attached to the frame in case of the frame being itself sufficiently rigid.
A lateral cross sectional view of a panel according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3. A specific design of the frame 4 is apparent from FIG. 3, the cross section of the frame according to this design being of a substantially triangular shape comprising rounded edge portions 5 and a bottom portion 6. The bottom portion is inclined relative to the general plane of the panel, whereby the fabric 8 suspended over the opening through the frame only rests against the rounded edge portion 5. On one of the legs of the triangle there is provided attachment means for the fabric and various alternative embodiments of these attachment means are described in the following. Along the upper part of the panel, the laterally extending beams 9 are situated attached to the frame by suitable means and at least some of these beams 9 are on either end hereof provided with rail wheels 10 attached to the end faces of the beams by appropriate fittings 11.
A variety of different fabrics can be used according to the specific application and pertinent characteristics of the fabric are for instance its transparency to light and/or sound and its fire-retarding ability. A presently preferred material is woven fibreglass. It should be noted, however, that a rigid panel could also replace the flexible material, if desired.
The rear part of the panel can be left open, but it is also possible in addition to the fabric suspended over the opening through the frame as described above to provide the frame with additional layers of material, for instance in order to influence its acoustical properties, thermal properties, etc. An example of this is shown in FIG. 4, where the rear part of the panel has been covered by an additional fabric 14 stretched over the rear part of the panel. Such fabric could if desired be replaced by a substantially rigid panel, or a panel—for instance of mineral wool etc.—could be included between layers of fabric suspended over the front and rear parts of the panel.
Referring now to FIG. 5a, there is shown a detail of the system of panels according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. Specifically the Figure shows panels 2′ and 2″ belonging to two adjacent rows of the system shown in FIG. 1 and separated from each other by the intermediate channel 3 as described previously. The cross section of the channel 3 is of an inverted U-shape with a substantially plane upper surface and substantially plane side portions forming the legs of the U-shape. The lower parts of the legs of the U are bent approximately 180 degrees to form rail members 3′ running along the longitudinal direction of the channel 3. The channel 3 is fixed to the solid structure of the building, in this case to the (not shown) ceiling above the system of panels by suitable attachment means 17 distributed along the length of the channel.
At the upper part of the side portions of the channel there are provided saddle members 15 open upwardly and at the end facing the panels and formed to accommodate the transversal beams 9 mounted on each of the panels as described previously. As shown in more detail in FIG. 5c, the beams 9 and the saddle members 15 are of a substantially square cross section in this embodiment, but it is understood that other cross sectional shapes could also be envisaged.
As perhaps most apparent from FIG. 5c, the panels can be moved from an upper level (a) in which they form a portion of the complete system of panels, for instance a suspended ceiling, and at which level they are in a fixed relation to the system as determined by the position of the saddle members 15 on the corresponding side portions of the channels 3 downwards to a lower level (b), in which position they can be displaced in the direction of the corresponding row and underneath panels of that row situated at the upper level (a). This displacement is shown in FIG. 5b. The movement from the upper level (a) to the lower level (b) is accomplished by lifting the beams 9 of the panel to be lowered upwardly out of the corresponding saddle members 15 as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 5c. The panel is then lowered, so that the rail wheels 10 of the panel are brought to rest on the corresponding rail members 3′ on the side portions of the channel 3. The panel can now be displaced along the rail members 3′ to a desired position, for instance underneath an adjacent panel of the particular row, whereby a passage to the space above the system of panels will be provided for instance for access to installations above the suspended ceiling.
The rail wheels 10 are attached to the end faces of the beams 9 by means of suitable fittings 11.
Movement of a panel from the upper level (a) to the lower level (b) and a subsequent displacement of the panel along the particular row and underneath a panel situated at the upper level (a) is shown in perspective in FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c.
A variety of alternative holder means for fixing the panels at the first level (a) can be devised and three specific embodiments hereof are depicted in FIGS. 5d, 5e and 5f, respectively.
Thus FIG. 5d shows holder means 15′ in principle corresponding to those shown in FIG. 5c (ref. numeral 15) and described in relation hereto. The only difference is that the holder means 15′ are provided with upwardly open slots 33 facing the side surface of the channel 3 and that the fitting 11 of the rail wheel 10 is mounted for rotation as indicated by the arrow D at the end of the corresponding beam 9. Thus, when the panel is situated at the first level (a), the fitting 11 with the rail wheel 10 can be brought into a position where it extends substantially parallel with the upper surface of the channel 3, thereby leaving the space above the panels free of these fittings and wheels so that these do not interfere with installations in the space above the panels.
Referring now to FIG. 5e there is shown a different embodiment of holder means 34 in the form of a body, which could for instance be shaped as a box as shown in the Figure and provided with a central recess 35 of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a mating tap 37 provided at the end face of the beam 9. The holder means 34 is furthermore provided with a downwardly extending passageway, which is made more narrow than the tap 37 through which the tap 37 can be inserted into the central recess 35. It is understood that this embodiment requires that either the holder means 34 or the tap 37 be made of a suitably resilient material to allow the tap to pass through the passageway 36 and into the recess 35. Also according to this embodiment, the fitting 11 can be mounted for rotation (arrow D) as described above.
Finally referring to FIG. 5f there is shown an alternative version of the holder means shown in FIG. 5e. In this embodiment, the passageway 36 has been omitted leaving only the recess 35 in the holder means 34. Instead the tap 37 can be retracted towards the end of the beam 9, the tap being accommodated in a suitable channel in the beam and provided with biasing means 38 (for instance a compression spring) biasing it towards the channel 3 and with a grip member 39 for manual retraction of the tap (arrow E).
It is understood that the above embodiments of holder means and corresponding means on the panels are only to be regarded as non-limiting examples and that other embodiments may be devised by a person skilled in the art departing form the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
As mentioned initially the layout of the system of panels according to the invention could deviate from the one shown in FIG. 1, for instance by the omission of some or all of the intermediate channels 3. A detail of a corresponding embodiment of the system according to the invention is shown in FIG. 7, where the U-shaped channel 3 has been replaced by a vertically extending fitting 31 on the lower end of which the rail members 3′ are formed. In this embodiment also the two attachment means 17 for attachment of the system to the solid structure above could of course be replaced by a single attachment means if desired.
Returning now to the layout of the individual panels according to the invention there are shown three alternative attachment means for releasable attachment of the fabric 8 to the frontal portion of the rigid frame 4, 12. By either of these alternative means it is possible to attach the fabric in the required tensioned manner over the opening of the frame and subsequently to dismantle the fabric from the frame for replacement, for instance in case of a damaged fabric or if a change of appearance should be desired.
With reference to FIG. 8a, there is thus shown a first embodiment of releasable attachment means according to the invention for the fabric stretched over the opening of the frame. These means comprise a dovetail slot 18 extending over the length of the corresponding part of the frame (i.e. along each of the lateral portions 4 of the frame and each of the end portions 12 of the frame) into which slot the fabric 8 is introduced. Specifically the fabric 8 is thus stretched over the opening of the frame, directed alongside the rounded edge portion 5 of the frame and from the edge portion 5 into the slot 18. After introduction into the slot the fabric is retained in the slot by means of a resilient clip 19 also of a dovetail shape, which due to its resiliency can be introduced into the slot 18. The clip is preferably provided with some kind of gripping means 20 to facilitate subsequent removal from the dovetail slot 18 in case removal of the fabric from the frame is desired.
An alternative embodiment of attachment means bearing some resemblance to the one shown in FIG. 8a is shown in FIG. 8b. According to this embodiment, the dovetail slot of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8a is replaced by a slot comprising serrated side walls formed for engagement with a mating resilient clip 22, which could (although this is not shown) also be provided with gripping means for easy removal of the clip from the slot.
A further alternative embodiment of attachment means for the fabric is shown in FIG. 8c. According to this embodiment, the dovetail slot and the slot with serrated side walls shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b have been replaced by a longitudinally extending cylindrical retainment channel 23 provided with an insertion opening 30 for insertion of the fabric 8 and for access to a retainment cylinder 24 accommodated within the channel and extending longitudinally throughout the length of the channel. The diameter of the retainment cylinder 24 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the retainment channel, whereby a space is left between the channel and the cylinder at the portion of the channel substantially opposite the insertion opening 30. The circumferential surface of the cylinder is provided with radially extending notches, of which only some are shown in the Figure formed for engagement with a protrusion extending radially inwards towards the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 24. Preferably the notches are formed along the complete circumference of the cylinder as shown in FIG. 8d. The circumferential surface of the cylinder could be knurled in order to increase friction between this surface and the fabric at a retaining contact surface 27 of the cylinder.
The function of the attachment means for the fabric 8 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8c is as follows: Initially, fabric 8—without tension—is introduced through the opening 30 and into the space 28 between the retainment channel and the cylinder. The cylinder 24 is rotated by means of a suitably designed tool 29, which can engage notches 25 formed in the cylinder, in the direction of the arrow C in the Figure. Due to friction between the knurled circumferential surface of the cylinder and the fabric, the fabric is pulled through the opening 30 and into the space 28 behind the cylinder. By this rotation, tension is built up in the fabric and the tension tends to pull the cylinder in the direction of the opening 30, whereby the fabric becomes clamped in the region 27 between the knurled circumferential surface of the cylinder and the corresponding contact face 32 of the frame. By means of the notches 25 and the tool 29, an appropriate tension can thus be attained in the fabric. If it is subsequently desired to loosen the fabric from the frame, the retainment cylinder 24 can be rotated in the opposite direction.
A modification of the cylinder 24 shown in FIG. 8c is shown in FIG. 8d comprising the pattern of notches 25 mentioned above. One of these notches 40 is, however, according to this modification extended radially inwards to a central region 41 of the cylinder 24. During initial attachment to the frame, the fabric is introduced through this extended notch 40 and into the central region 41, which can accommodate a sufficiently large amount of fabric, and after this the cylinder 24 is rotated as described above to tension the fabric. The provision of the extended notch and the central region facilitates tensioning of the fabric at the initial phase, where practically no tension is yet built up in the fabric.
Referring to FIGS. 9a and 9b there is shown a schematic perspective representation of an embodiment of corner sections of the frame of the panels according to the invention. The corner section 13 according to this embodiment is provided with extensions 13′ for insertion into corresponding profiles of the lateral edge portion 4 and the end portion 12 of the frame. In order to facilitate attachment of the fabric to the corner section, the corner section can be provided with a groove 42 for insertion of the corner portion of the fabric, and this portion of the fabric can furthermore be retained in the groove 42 by means of a resilient member 43, for instance a piece of flexible cord of a suitable diameter. Other retainment means can of course also be envisaged. The corner sections make it possible to assemble or disassemble the frame on site, which facilitates transport of the frame.
Referring now to FIG. 10 there is shown a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of attachment means for the fabric 8 to the frame. In one of the lateral side portions 4 of the frame there is provided a laterally displaceable member essentially comprising two portions, i.e. a guide portion 44 of such a shape that it can be at least partly accommodated within a corresponding guide channel 45 formed in the frame and displaced laterally herein, i.e. away from or towards the edge portion 5 of the frame. The other portion of the laterally displaceable member is the attachment portion 46, to which the fabric to be stretched over the open region of the frame is fastened. The fastening is accomplished by means of a resilient clip 47, but other means would also be conceivable. The laterally displaceable member is urged away from the edge portion 5 of the frame for instance by means of a compression spring 48. During insertion of the fabric in the attachment portion 46 of the laterally displaceable member, this member can be prevented from movement away from the edge portion 5 of the frame by means of a spacer 49 inserted between the laterally displaceable member and the frame structure. Once the fabric 8 is fastened appropriately, the spacer 49 is removed and the laterally displaceable pre-tension member caused by the spring 48 will maintain the fabric properly stretched out over the opening of the frame, even though the properties of the fabric may change over time and/or the frame for some reason should become slightly deformed. After mounting of the fabric, superfluous fabric is cut off at the edge of the frame, as indicated by reference numeral 50.
Although various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in the preceding parts of the detailed description, it is understood that a person skilled in the art may conceive other embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
1. system of panels
2. panel
3. intermediate channel
4. lateral portion of frame
5. edge portion of frame
6. bottom portion of frame
7. attachment means for fabric
8. fabric
9. transversal beam
10. rail wheel
11. fitting
12. end portion of frame
13. corner portion of frame
14. sound-attenuating material
15. saddle
16. rail
17. attachment means
18. dovetail slot
19. resilient clip
20. gripping means of resilient clip
21. serrated portion of attachment means for fabric
22. resilient clip
23. cylindrical retainment channel
24. retainment cylinder
25. radial notch
26. protrusion
27. retaining contact surface
28. space between retainment channel and cylinder
29. tool
30. insertion opening for fabric in frame
31. fitting
32. contact face
33. slot
34. holder means
35. recess
36. passageway
37. tap
38. biasing means
39. grip member
40. radial notch
41. central region of retainment cylinder
42. groove
43. resilient member
44. guide portion of laterally displaceable member
45. guide channel
45′ first inner surface of guide channel
45″ second inner surface of guide channel
46. attachment portion of laterally displaceable member
47. resilient attachment clip
48. compression spring
49. spacer
50. end of fabric
Patent Application
20080066394
