Patent Application
20150040494
The invention relates to suspended ceiling construction and, in particular, to grid elements used with narrow utility channel systems.
Narrow channel systems are available for housing or otherwise locating various utility hardware in a conventional rectangular ceiling grid and tile construction. The channels are viewed as more harmonious or attractive than conventional arrangements for locating lights, air diffusers and returns, sprinklers and the like. Conventional arrangements, for example, dedicate a full grid module space to a single utility and, consequently, are more visually prominent than what is ordinarily needed to house a particular utility. The subject narrow channel systems, besides reducing the visibility of necessary utilities, can add to the attractiveness of a ceiling.
It is known to construct narrow utility channels by aligning a pair of conventional main runners or tees in close parallel relation. A number of inverted U-shaped yokes, spaced along the length of these main tees can be used to hold these main tees in parallel channel-forming relation at the ceiling plane. The yokes are located above the zone of the channel to provide space for utility hardware. This type of construction presents a need for a manner of trimming the ends of the hardware located in the channel such as panels, lights, grills or the like. Use of short cross runners or tees with conventional end connections for this purpose has proven to be difficult if not impractical.
The invention provides a cross member for narrow suspended ceiling channels which include a bulbous or three-dimensional lower flange. The cross member is useful for trimming the ends of typical utility components assembled in the channels while visually matching the profile of the surrounding suspended grid network. In accordance with the invention, a cross member with a three-dimensional lower flange can be constructed in two parts using a cross member carrier with a flat or two-dimensional flange and a three-dimensional cover. The preferred cover is arranged to be field mounted on the carrier after the carrier has been installed in the channel, typically in cross runner slots in main runners forming the channel.
The two-part cross member facilitates its assembly into a narrow channel because the visible three-dimensional cover part can be located with simple vertical motion onto the carrier part. Consequently, whereas the carrier part may require manipulation in a plane or planes to insert its ends in a pair of opposed cross runner slots, the three-dimensional cover part need not be subjected to the same. These separate installation steps can be, in total, less demanding in time and skill than what could be required if a single part was used.
In the disclosed embodiment, the carrier part has the shape of a conventional grid tee with an upper reinforcing bulb, a vertical web below the bulb, and a horizontal flange at a lower edge of the web. Advantageously, the end connectors are integrally stamped from the web material. The cover part is a U-shaped sheet metal channel stamping with out-turned narrow horizontal flanges on upper edges of the sides of the channel section. Local bendable tabs, integral with the flanges, are used to lock the cover in place on the carrier.
The main runner webs 14, as is normal, have regularly spaced vertical slots 19 for receiving end connectors 21 of intersecting cross runners 12. The opposed slots 19 of the main runners 11 are aligned with one another. The main runners 11 are held in spaced parallel alignment by suitable structure such as a plurality of longitudinally spaced inverted U-shaped yokes (only one is shown in
Commonly, the narrow channel 10 is constructed before any cross members to be associated with it are installed. With the channel 10 being, for example, 4 inches or 6 inches wide, as measured center-to-center between the runners 11 (or their metric equivalent of 100 and 150 mm), installation of cross members 22 to trim the ends of utility hardware in the channel 10 can be problematic.
The present invention comprehends a two-part cross member 22. A first part 23 of the cross member which serves as a carrier can have a conventional tee cross-section with a flat two-dimensional flange configuration. This description applies to the illustrated arrangement in
The carrier 23 can be formed by cutting short lengths of regular cross tee stock. The carrier 23 can have integral end connectors 30 stamped out of the web area of the tee stock.
The other cross member part is a cover 31 having a shape of the lower visible face of the main runners 11 forming the channel 10 (as well as the cross tees or runners 12). Referring to
In accordance with the invention, the carrier 23 of the cross member 22 is fully installed in the channel 10 before the cover 31 is assembled. In reference to
With the second end connector 30 fully received in its respective slot 19, the cover 31 is assembled on the carrier 23. This is accomplished by aligning the cover 31 below the carrier 23 and raising it vertically between the channel main runners 11 until its ribs 33 abut the carrier flange 24.
The ends of the cover center 32 are proportioned to fit below the main runner ribs 18 and abut the vertical side of the flange centers 17. When the cover 31 is properly positioned, the tabs 34 are manually bent inwardly over the carrier flange 24 to lock the cover 31 in place on the carrier 23. It will be understood from the foregoing that the cover 31 fits in place without extraneous manipulation that would risk scratching the visible painted sides of the main runner flange center 17.
The selected position of a cross member 22 will correspond to the end of a utility device or panel requiring a finished or integrated look and usually will be in line with a pair of cross runners 12. Note that the slots 19 are wide enough to receive the end connectors 21 of the cross runners as well as the end connectors 30 of the cross member carrier 23. Thus, the cross member 22 will continue the visual line transversely across the channel 10.
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.
