Vented suspension ceiling beam and suspension ceiling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858829-B2
Application number	US-201916368234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2019
Priority date	Mar 31, 2018
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to suspension ceiling grids, for example, suitable for holding a suspension ceiling composed of ceiling tiles. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a vented suspension ceiling support beam including an elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction. The body includes a vertical web, and opposing first and second flanges protruding laterally from the vertical web. A vent is formed through the first flange.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension ceiling ventilation system comprising:
a plurality of support beams arranged in a ceiling grid so as to form a plurality of grid openings in the ceiling grid, each of the support beams comprising an elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction, the body including a vertical web and opposing first and second flanges protruding laterally from the vertical web, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of support beams are vented support beams, each of the vented support beams including a vent formed through the respective first flange thereof and a channel disposed adjacent to the first and second flanges that is in fluid communication with the vent, wherein the channel is formed by a first side wall projecting down from an outer edge of the first flange and a second side wall projecting down from an outer edge of the second flange, and wherein the channel is enclosed in a box profile disposed below the first and second flanges that includes a slot opposite the first and second flanges;
a plurality of ceiling tiles, each of the ceiling tiles disposed in a respective grid opening of the ceiling grid so as to form a suspension ceiling, each of the ceiling tiles including a central body and a projection extending from an edge of the central body, wherein each of the projections is supported by a respective flange of an adjacent support beam such that a lower surface of the respective ceiling tile is flush with a lower end of the box profile of the adjacent support beam,
wherein the suspension ceiling provides a plenum space above the ceiling and an underlying space below the ceiling.

2. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the flanges of the support beams includes a contact area, and
wherein the ceiling tiles are supported by the respective contact areas of the support beams.

3. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein the contact area of the first flange of the vented support beam includes an outside portion of the first flange, and
wherein the vent through the first flange extends through an inside portion of the first flange.

4. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein each of at least a portion of the ceiling tiles include a gasket disposed at an outer edge thereof, wherein the gasket contacts a respective flange of at least one of the support beams.

5. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein the plenum space has a first pressure and the underlying space has a second pressure that is different from the first pressure so as to force air through the respective vents of the vented support beams.

6. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 5 , further comprising a duct providing fluid communication between the plenum space and a compressor.

7. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the vented support beams further comprises another vent formed through the second flange.

8. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the vented support beams the vent extends at least 6 inches in the longitudinal direction.

9. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the vented support beams the vent includes a plurality of holes disposed in a line along the longitudinal direction.

10. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein the slot extends in the longitudinal direction.

11. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the vented support beams the web includes adjacent first and second support walls, and the vent is disposed laterally outside of the first and second support walls.

12. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 11 , wherein in each of the vented support beams an inner surface of the first support wall abuts an inner surface of the second support wall.

13. A suspension ceiling ventilation system comprising:
a plurality of support beams arranged in a ceiling grid so as to form a plurality of grid openings in the ceiling grid, each of the support beams comprising an elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction, the body including a vertical web and opposing first and second flanges protruding laterally from the vertical web, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of support beams are vented support beams, each of the vented support beams including a vent formed through the respective first flange thereof;
a plurality of ceiling tiles, each of the ceiling tiles disposed in a respective grid opening of the ceiling grid so as to form a suspension ceiling, wherein the suspension ceiling provides a plenum space above the ceiling and an underlying space below the ceiling; and
a divider that separates a first section of the plenum space from a second section of the plenum space,
wherein the first section of the plenum space has a first pressure, the second section of the plenum space has a second pressure, and the underlying space has a third pressure that is between the first and second pressures so as to force air from the first section of the plenum space to the underlying space through respective vents of a first group of the vented support beams and to force air from the underlying space to the second section of the plenum space through respective vents of a second group of the vented support beams.

14. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 13 , wherein the divider is attached to one of the plurality of support beams.

15. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 13 , wherein the divider is integrally formed with one of the plurality of support beams.

16. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 13 , wherein each of the vented support beams further comprises a channel disposed adjacent to the first and second flanges, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the vent.

17. The suspension ceiling ventilation system according to claim 16 , wherein in each of the vented support beams the channel is formed by a first side wall projecting down from an outer edge of the first flange and a second side wall projecting down from an outer edge of the second flange.

Assignees

• Certainteed Ceilings Corp

Inventors

• Rapposelli Matthew
• Czyzewicz Robin C
• Etchart Randlett Isabelle
• Lembo Michael J
• Woolley David E

Classifications

• E04B9/02 Primary

  having means for ventilation or vapour discharge · CPC title

• E04B9/244

  comprising sealing means between the supporting construction and the slabs, panels, sheets or the like · CPC title

• E04B2009/026

  the supporting ceiling grid acting as air diffusers · CPC title

• E04B9/30

  characterised by edge details of the ceiling; e.g. securing to an adjacent wall · CPC title

• E04B9/068

  with double web · CPC title