Ceiling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11274441-B2
Application number	US-202016866389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2020
Priority date	Sep 21, 2017
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

Described herein is a ceiling system in one embodiment includes a grid support member, ceiling panel, and grid hanger configured to support the grid support member in a suspended manner from an overhead structural support. The grid hanger includes a mounting bracket configured for attachment to the structural support and a hanger member. The hanger member is adjustable in a plurality of selectable mounting positions relative to the mounting bracket, thereby allowing the mounted height of the grid support member to be adjusted in the field. In some embodiment, the hanger member is further angularly adjustable relative to the mounting bracket to avoid installation obstacles. Locking elements are provided to secure the hanger member in the selected mounting position. In one embodiment, the grid support member may have a T-shaped cross section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grid hanger assembly for mounting a ceiling system, the grid hanger assembly comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to be mounted to an overhead support structure, the mounting bracket comprising a side flange, a bottom flange, and a spring clip that comprises a plurality of spring arms each having a guide hole defined by an edge;
a single elongated hanger member slideably coupled to the spring clip, the elongated hanger member comprising a coupling end configured to engage a grid support member of the ceiling system and a plurality of index notches positioned in a vertically spaced apart manner along a length of the elongated hanger member;
wherein the guide holes are diamond shaped;
wherein the spring clip is deformable between an unlocked position allowing adjustment of the elongated hanger member relative to the mounting bracket and a locked position whereby the edges that define the guide holes of the plurality of spring arms engage one or more of the plurality of index notches to prevent adjustment of the elongated hanger member relative to the mounting bracket; and
wherein the mounting bracket further comprises at least one flexible cantilevered securement tab comprising a bottom end formed integrally with the side flange and a pointed free end.

2. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spring arms extend outwardly at an oblique angle in relation to each other forming a generally V-shaped structure.

3. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises a bottom flange and a side flange which are configured to engage the overhead support structure when the mounting bracket is mounted thereto, and wherein the spring arms extend outwards from a front side of the side flange of the mounting bracket in a direction opposite to the bottom flange which extends perpendicularly from a rear side of the side flange.

4. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spring arms are located midway between vertical peripheral side edges of the mounting bracket.

5. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 3 , wherein a top one of the spring arms projects vertically above a top edge of the side flange and a bottom one of the plurality of spring arms projects vertically below a bottom edge of the side flange.

6. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 3 , wherein each spring arm comprises an intermediate portion joined to the side flange and a horizontal terminal end obliquely angled to the intermediate portion, the intermediate portion of each spring arm oriented obliquely to the side flange.

7. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket is horizontally elongated having a greater width than height.

8. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated hanger member comprises an intermediate portion that extends from a bottom end to a top end and comprises a front surface and a rear surface, the coupling end comprising a hook that extends from the front surface of the intermediate portion, and wherein the plurality of index notches are formed into the front surface of the intermediate portion.

9. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of index notches are uniformly spaced apart along the length of the elongated hanger member.

10. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a pair of resiliently flexible cantilevered securement tabs movable relative to a body of the mounting bracket, each resiliently flexible cantilevered securement tab having a pointed end configured to engage the overhead support structure.

11. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of index notches comprises a recess in an outer surface of the elongated hanger member, and wherein in the locked position a portion of the edge of each of the plurality of spring arms nests within one of the recesses formed by one of the plurality of index notches.

12. The grid hanger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling end of the elongated hanger member is a J-shaped hook.

13. A ceiling system comprising:
an overhead support structure;
a grid support member defining a longitudinal axis, the grid support member comprising a longitudinally-extending horizontal bottom flange, a bulbous top stiffening channel, and a vertical web extending upwards from the flange to the stiffening channel;
a ceiling panel supported by the grid support member;
a mounting bracket mounted to the overhead support structure, the mounting bracket comprising a side flange, a bottom flange, and a spring clip that comprises a plurality of spring arms each having a guide hole that is defined by an edge;
a single elongated hanger member slideably coupled to the spring clip, the elongated hanger member comprising a plurality of index notches;
wherein the guide holes are diamond shaped;
wherein the spring clip is deformable between an unlocked position allowing adjustment of the hanger member relative to the mounting bracket and a locked position whereby the edges that define the guide holes of the plurality of spring arms engage the elongated hanger member within one or more of the plurality of index notches to prevent adjustment of the elongated hanger member relative to the mounting bracket; and
wherein the mounting bracket further comprises at least one flexible cantilevered securement tab comprising a bottom end formed integrally with the side flange and a pointed free top end.

14. The ceiling system according to claim 13 , wherein the spring arms extend outwardly at an oblique angle in relation to each other forming a generally V-shaped structure.

15. The ceiling system according to claim 13 , wherein the elongated hanger member comprises a J-shaped hook that extends through an opening in one of the grid support members to couple the elongated hanger member to the grid support member and thereby hang the grid support member from the overhead support structure.

16. The ceiling system according to claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of index notches comprises a recess in an outer surface of the elongated hanger member, and wherein in the locked position a portion of the edge of each of the plurality of spring arms nests within one of the recesses formed by one of the plurality of index notches.

17. The ceiling system according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of index notches are uniformly spaced apart along a length of the elongated hanger member.

18. The ceiling system according to claim 13 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises a pair of securement tabs movable relative to a body of the mounting bracket, each securement tab having a pointed end engaged with the overhead support structure to mount the mounting bracket to the overhead support structure.

19. A ceiling system comprising:
an overhead support structure;
a grid support member defining a longitudinal axis, the grid support member comprising a longitudinally-extending horizontal bottom flange, a bulbous top stiffening channel, and a vertical web extending upwards from the flange to the stiffening channel, the vertical web comprising mounting holes configured to receive and engage a coupling end of an elongated hanger member and vertical elongated slots;
a ceiling panel supported by the grid support member;
a mounting bracket mounted to the overhead support structure, the mounting bracket comprising a side flange, a bottom flange, and a spring clip that comprises a pluralit

Assignees

• Armstrong World Ind Inc
• Awi Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Place Kain A
• Harnish Scott D
• Markley Jeffrey T
• White Ian V
• Mcdermott Ian
• Hooper Jr James F
• Bergman Todd M
• Rice David E

Classifications

• F16B7/0493 Primary

  forming a crossed-over connection · CPC title

• E04B9/067

  with inverted T-shaped cross-section · CPC title

• E04B9/20

  adjustable · CPC title

• E04B9/068

  with double web · CPC title

• E04B9/205 Primary

  by means of a resilient clip · CPC title