Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A clip 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d or 13e for a suspended ceiling comprising a grid of elongate ceiling members 1, la or lb, 1', 2, 4 with spaces therebetween, which ceiling members comprise margin ceiling members 1, la or 1b, 1 1 , 2 defining an opening which is substantially larger than said spaces and is closed by a removable panel 3 also comprising a grid of elongate ceiling members 9, 9a or 9b whose ends (10, 10a or lOb) butt or nearly butt against the sides of the margin ceiling members and at least some of whose ends have a detent piece 10, 10a or 10b defining a detent, the clip being for securing the end of a panel ceiling member to the side of a margin ceiling member and comprising a bridge portion 14, 14a, 14b or 14e which will span the margin ceiling member, means 21 for limiting the downward movement of the clip with respect to the margin ceiling member, and retaining portions 15, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d or 15 e which will extend down the sides of the margin ceiling member, at least one of the retaining portions being movable and sprung towards the other retaining portion and having a detent portion 16, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d or 16e which will pass behind the detent piece in the panel ceiling member and enter the detent to retain the end of the panel ceiling member in position, characterised in that the clip has a securing portion 17, 17a or 17b which will engage with a detent 12' or 8 on the margin ceiling member when the clip is pushed down onto the margin ceiling member and will prevent the clip moving up with respect to the margin ceiling member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
A clip 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d or 13e for a suspended ceiling comprising a grid of elongate ceiling members 1, la or lb, 1', 2, 4 with spaces therebetween, which ceiling members comprise margin ceiling members 1, la or 1b, 1 1 , 2 defining an opening which is substantially larger than said spaces and is closed by a removable panel 3 also comprising a grid of elongate ceiling members 9, 9a or 9b whose ends (10, 10a or lOb) butt or nearly butt against the sides of the margin ceiling members and at least some of whose ends have a detent piece 10, 10a or 10b defining a detent, the clip being for securing the end of a panel ceiling member to the side of a margin ceiling member and comprising a bridge portion 14, 14a, 14b or 14e which will span the margin ceiling member, means 21 for limiting the downward movement of the clip with respect to the margin ceiling member, and retaining portions 15, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d or 15 e which will extend down the sides of the margin ceiling member, at least one of the retaining portions being movable and sprung towards the other retaining portion and having a detent portion 16, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d or 16e which will pass behind the detent piece in the panel ceiling member and enter the detent to retain the end of the panel ceiling member in position, characterised in that the clip has a securing portion 17, 17a or 17b which will engage with a detent 12' or 8 on the margin ceiling member when the clip is pushed down onto the margin ceiling member and will prevent the clip moving up with respect to the margin ceiling member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The clip of Claim 1. wherein said downward movement limiting means are slots 21, open downwards, positioned to interengage with slots 7 in the edges of the sides of the margin ceiling member 1, la or lb, which former slots 21 also locate the clip 13, 13a, 13b, 13c. 13d or 13e transversely with respect to the margin ceiling member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The clip of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the securing portion 17 is an inwards projection on a retaining portion 15, 15b. 15c, 15d or 15e, for engaging in a detent 12' formed by a recess or opening in the margin ceiling member 1 or lb.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The clip of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the bridge portion 14 is on one side only of the top of the clip, joining the two retaining portions 15.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The clip of Claim 4, wherein the lower part.of the bridge portion 14 is formed as a tapered blade 20 to help guide the clip 13 down into position when it is placed on the margin ceiling member 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The clip of Claim 4 or 5 and also of Claim 2, wherein said former slots 21 are defined between the bridge portion 14 and the retaining portions 15.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The clip of any one of the preceding Claims, and comprising a spacer part of such a width as to engage snugly between two spaced side walls of the margin ceiling member 1 and prevent substantial inwards bowing of the margin ceiling member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The clip of Claim 7, wherein said spacer part is above or at roughly the same level as the securing portion 17.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The clip of Claim 7 or 8, wherein said spacer part is directly connected to the bridge portion 14.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
186 words
A suspended ceiling comprising a grid of elongate ceiling members 1, la, or lb, 1', 2, 4 with spaces therebetween, which ceiling members comprise margin ceiling members 1, la or lb, 1'. 2 defining an opening which is substantially larger than said spaces and is closed by a removable panel 3, the panel also comprising a grid of ceiling members 9, 9a or 9b whose ends (10, 10a or lOb) butt or nearly butt against the sides of the margin ceiling members 1, la or lb, 1', 2, the ends of at least some of the panel ceiling members being secured to margin ceiling members by clips 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d or 13e, the respective ends having a detent piece 10, 10a or 10b defining a detent for engagement by a movable and sprung detent portion 16, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d or 16e of the clip, characterised in that each clip has a securing portion 17, 17a or 17b which engages with a detent 12' or 8 on the margin ceiling member, to prevent the clip moving up with respect to the margin ceiling member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
186 words
A suspended ceiling comprising a grid of elongate ceiling members 1, la, or lb, 1', 2, 4 with spaces therebetween, which ceiling members comprise margin ceiling members 1, la or lb, 1'. 2 defining an opening which is substantially larger than said spaces and is closed by a removable panel 3, the panel also comprising a grid of ceiling members 9, 9a or 9b whose ends (10, 10a or lOb) butt or nearly butt against the sides of the margin ceiling members 1, la or lb, 1', 2, the ends of at least some of the panel ceiling members being secured to margin ceiling members by clips 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d or 13e, the respective ends having a detent piece 10, 10a or 10b defining a detent for engagement by a movable and sprung detent portion 16, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d or 16e of the clip, characterised in that each clip has a securing portion 17, 17a or 17b which engages with a detent 12' or 8 on the margin ceiling member, to prevent the clip moving up with respect to the margin ceiling member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The ceiling of Claim 10, wherein the margin ceiling members 1, la, lb which are provided with the clips 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d or 13e are locked to main swpport ceiling members 2 with which they are connected by securing means 8 which prevent the margin ceiling members moving up with respect to the main support 1 ceiling members when the panel 3 is pushed up into position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
250 words
A method of inserting a panel 3 in a suspended ceiling which comprises a grid of elongate ceiling members 1, la or lb, 1'. 2, 4 with spaces therebetween, which ceiling members comprise margin ceiling members 1. la or lb, 1' defining an opening which is substantially larger than said spaces and into which the panel is to be inserted, the panel also comprising a grid of ceiling members 9, 9a or 9b whose ends (10. 10a or lOb) will butt or nearly butt against the sides of the margin ceiling members and at least some of whose ends have respective detent pieces 10, 10a or 10b defining detents, wherein clips 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d or 13c are put over the margin ceiling members so as to engage panel ceiling members having said detents, the clips each having retaining portions 15, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d or 15e which extend down the sides of the margin ceiling member, at least one of the retaining portions being movable and sprung towards the other and having a detent portion 16, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d or 16e, and the panel is pushed up into the opening so that said movable and sprung retaining portions pass down behind the detent,. pieces in the panel ceiling members and said detent portions enter the detents in the panel ceiling members and retain the ends of the panel ceiling members in position, characterised in that the clips are those of any one of Claims 1 to 10.