US3640042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Access-providing direct suspended ceiling structure with removable locked-in tile sections
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-07-11
•
Granted: 1972-02-08
•
Expires: 1989-07-11
Abstract
Abstract An access-providing, rigid, properly aligned, suspended ceiling structure for acoustic tiles and the like is described, having removable locked-in tile sections and hidden support structure. The structure employs selectively shaped horizontal parallel beams which have flanges to fit within tile kerfs to provide a tile-supporting structure, which is hidden from view of persons in the room below. Spacer bars extend across between the beams and rigidly anchor them in place. Enlarged ceiling sections are removable by the employment of crossbars sized to fit in tile kerfs between beams with the ends of the crossbars being provided with selectively sized cutouts to permit free longitudinal, unobstructed movement of slidable splines located on the beam flanges. The slidable splines have lengths smaller than tile dimensions supported by the beam flanges and are movable within tile kerfs for ceiling section removal. The horizontal parallel beams are shaped to provide a high load-carrying capability, with their shaping advantageously employed to enhance removability of individual tiles.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce W Kidney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:21
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B9/00; E04B9/22; E04B9/24; E04B9/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
In a suspended ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable tiles, each having peripherally located kerfs and having horizontally mounted parallel spaced longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal web and a horizontally disposed longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of the web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support a plurality of tiles, supporting splines slidably mounted on the tile-supporting flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, each of said splines having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the other side thereof and with the member located generally coplanar with the supporting flange for sliding within tile kerfs, said splines having lengths smaller than the tile dimensions supported by the supporting flange for tile removal upon the longitudinal movement of a spline along the supporting flange, the improvement comprising crossbars mounted generally transversely to and between webs of adjacent supporting beams, said crossbars being sized and shaped to fit between adjacent supporting beam webs to assure unobstructed longitudinal movement of splines, with each of said crossbars further having a cross-tile-supporting flange located in general coplanar relationship with the supporting beam flange and extending generally transversely from a side of the lower edge of the crossbar to fit within tile kerfs, said crossbars being removable along with tiles upon selective longitudinal movement of splines along flanges of the supporting beams, the cross flanges of the crossbars being sized to terminate with selective clearance from the webs of the longitudinal supporting beams to permit free longitudinal movement of the splines with the webs of the crossbars having an effective length sufficient to maintain clearance of cross flanges from the longitudinally moving splines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
In a suspended ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable tiles, each having peripherally located kerfs and having horizontally mounted parallel spaced longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal web and a horizontally disposed longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of the web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support a plurality of tiles, supporting splines slidably mounted on the tile-supporting flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, each of said splines having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the other side thereof and with the member located generally coplanar with the supporting flange for sliding within tile kerfs, said splines having lengths smaller than the tile dimensions supported by the supporting flange for tile removal upon the longitudinal movement of a spline along the supporting flange, the improvement comprising crossbars mounted generally transversely to and between webs of adjacent supporting beams, said crossbars being sized and shaped to fit between adjacent supporting beam webs to assure unobstructed longitudinal movement of splines, with each of said crossbars further having a cross-tile-supporting flange located in general coplanar relationship with the supporting beam flange and extending generally transversely from a side of the lower edge of the crossbar to fit within tile kerfs, said crossbars being removable along with tiles upon selective longitudinal movement of splines along flanges of the supporting beams, the cross flanges of the crossbars being sized to terminate with selective clearance from the webs of the longitudinal supporting beams to permit free longitudinal movement of the splines with the webs of the crossbars having an effective length sufficient to maintain clearance of cross flanges from the longitudinally moving splines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross flanges of the crossbars are provided with vertical protrusions sized to locate said cross flange in tile kerfs with reduced vertical play between tiles and crossbars and maintain the tile portions between supporting bars in horizontal alignment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The assembly aS claimed in claim 2, wherein the vertical protrusions are discreet portions with limited longitudinal dimensions, said crossbar flanges providing tile support between supporting beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
270 words
An acoustic ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable acoustic tile sections with tiles having peripherally located kerfs comprising horizontally mounted parallel longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal web and a horizontally disposed longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of the web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support a plurality of tiles, supporting splines slidably mounted on the tile-supporting flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, each of said splines having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the other side thereof and with the member located generally coplanar with the supporting flange for sliding within tile kerfs, said splines having lengths smaller than the tile dimensions supported by the supporting flange for tile removal upon the longitudinal movement of a spline along the supporting flange, crossbars each mounted generally transversely between webs of adjacent supporting beams, said crossbars having longitudinal webs of a length to fit between adjacent supporting beam webs and selectively shaped to assure unobstructed longitudinal movement of splines, with each of said crossbars further having a crossbar-supporting flange located in general coplanar relationship with the supporting beam flange and extending generally transversely from a side of the lower edge of the web of the crossbar to fit within tile kerfs, said crossbar flanges providing tile support between supporting beams, said tile support commencing at a point spaced from the beams by a distance sufficient to permit unobstructed movement of splines, said crossbars being removable along with tiles therebetween upon selective longitudinal movement of splines along flanges of the supporting beams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
270 words
An acoustic ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable acoustic tile sections with tiles having peripherally located kerfs comprising horizontally mounted parallel longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal web and a horizontally disposed longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of the web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support a plurality of tiles, supporting splines slidably mounted on the tile-supporting flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, each of said splines having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the other side thereof and with the member located generally coplanar with the supporting flange for sliding within tile kerfs, said splines having lengths smaller than the tile dimensions supported by the supporting flange for tile removal upon the longitudinal movement of a spline along the supporting flange, crossbars each mounted generally transversely between webs of adjacent supporting beams, said crossbars having longitudinal webs of a length to fit between adjacent supporting beam webs and selectively shaped to assure unobstructed longitudinal movement of splines, with each of said crossbars further having a crossbar-supporting flange located in general coplanar relationship with the supporting beam flange and extending generally transversely from a side of the lower edge of the web of the crossbar to fit within tile kerfs, said crossbar flanges providing tile support between supporting beams, said tile support commencing at a point spaced from the beams by a distance sufficient to permit unobstructed movement of splines, said crossbars being removable along with tiles therebetween upon selective longitudinal movement of splines along flanges of the supporting beams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 4 and further including spacer bars mounted between adjacent supporting beams to maintain said crossbars in effectively close supporting relationship with splines and supporting beam flanges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the spacer bars are provided at the ends thereof with bendable tabs sized to engage the supporting beams.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the upper portions of the webs of supporting beams are selectively enlarged to form a grippable edge, and wherein the spacer bars are provided at ends thereof with a slot sized to snugly engage the grippable edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the spacer bars are provided with laterally bendable tabs located to enlarge the slots for insertion of the beam-grippable edge therein, and to capture the beam within the slot upon a substantially coplanar bending of a tab.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the grippable beam edge is rectangularly shaped and the slot is rectangular with the tab sized to snugly engage a portion of the beam web upon a coplanar bending of the tab.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of the webs of the supporting beams are provided with a longitudinally extending transverse lateral protrusion generally located opposite tiles for slight displacement thereof to enhance accessibility to splines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said lateral protrusion is formed of a longitudinally extending substantially rectangular deformation in the supporting member web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the supporting beam is further provided with an upper enlargement sized to define with the web and the lateral enlargement an open channel, and beam splices sized to snugly fit within the channel for beam support.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 4 and wherein the beams at the upper web end thereof are provided with an enlarged griPpable edge and beam clips having slots sized to capture the grippable beam edge, said clips having laterally bendable tabs located to enlarge the clip slots for grippable edge insertion with said edge being captured in the slot upon generally planar closure of the laterally bendable tab.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the upper end of the clip includes a transversely extending flange having a bendable lip end for clip mounting.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
218 words
An acoustic ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable acoustic tiles having peripherally located kerfs comprising horizontally mounted parallel-spaced longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of a web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support a plurality of tiles on said one side, supporting splines slidably mounted on the tile-supporting flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, each of said splines having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the other side thereof and with the member located generally coplanar with the supporting flange for sliding within tile kerfs on said other side, said splines having lengths smaller than the tile dimensions supported by the supporting flange for tile removal upon the longitudinal movement of a spline along the supporting flange, the web of each of said supporting beams being provided with a laterally extending protrusion protruding from said other side of said web from said flange, said protrusion being located at tile height on the web on one side only for lateral displacement of the joint between tiles by a preselected distance toward said other side to facilitate insertion of a thin blade in said joint for longitudinal movement of splines from below of the ceiling structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
218 words
An acoustic ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable acoustic tiles having peripherally located kerfs comprising horizontally mounted parallel-spaced longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of a web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support a plurality of tiles on said one side, supporting splines slidably mounted on the tile-supporting flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, each of said splines having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the other side thereof and with the member located generally coplanar with the supporting flange for sliding within tile kerfs on said other side, said splines having lengths smaller than the tile dimensions supported by the supporting flange for tile removal upon the longitudinal movement of a spline along the supporting flange, the web of each of said supporting beams being provided with a laterally extending protrusion protruding from said other side of said web from said flange, said protrusion being located at tile height on the web on one side only for lateral displacement of the joint between tiles by a preselected distance toward said other side to facilitate insertion of a thin blade in said joint for longitudinal movement of splines from below of the ceiling structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The acoustic ceiling assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the longitudinal protrusion is located on the other side of the web opposite of the flange side.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
226 words
An acoustic ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable acoustic tiles having peripherally located kerfs comprising horizontally mounted parallel-spaced longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal web and a horizontally disposed longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of the web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support a plurality of tiles, supporting splines slidably mounted on the tile-supporting flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, each of said splines having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the other side thereof and with the member located generally coplanar with the supporting flange for sliding within tile kerfs, said splines having lengths smaller than the tile dimensions supported by the supporting flange for tile removal upon the longitudinal movement of a spline along the supporting flange, the web of each of said supporting beams being provided with a laterally extending rectangular cross-sectional shaped protrusion on the web and located at tile height for lateral displacement of tiles by a preselected distance to facilitate longitudinal movement of splines from below of the ceiling structure, the upper part of the beam terminating in a rectangular enlargement sized to define with the rectangular protrusion an open longitudinal splice-retaining channel, and a splice sized to snugly fit within the splice channel to maintain beams in horizontal alignment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
226 words
An acoustic ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable acoustic tiles having peripherally located kerfs comprising horizontally mounted parallel-spaced longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal web and a horizontally disposed longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of the web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support a plurality of tiles, supporting splines slidably mounted on the tile-supporting flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, each of said splines having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the other side thereof and with the member located generally coplanar with the supporting flange for sliding within tile kerfs, said splines having lengths smaller than the tile dimensions supported by the supporting flange for tile removal upon the longitudinal movement of a spline along the supporting flange, the web of each of said supporting beams being provided with a laterally extending rectangular cross-sectional shaped protrusion on the web and located at tile height for lateral displacement of tiles by a preselected distance to facilitate longitudinal movement of splines from below of the ceiling structure, the upper part of the beam terminating in a rectangular enlargement sized to define with the rectangular protrusion an open longitudinal splice-retaining channel, and a splice sized to snugly fit within the splice channel to maintain beams in horizontal alignment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
234 words
In an acoustical ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable acoustic tiles having peripherally located kerfs and including horizontally mounted parallel-spaced longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal web and a horizontally disposed longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of the web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support the tiles on saiD one side thereof and with tile-supporting splines longitudinally slidably mounted on the flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, the splines each having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the opposite side thereof from said flange for supporting tiles on said opposite side, the improvement comprising a lateral protrusion extending laterally of the web of the longitudinal supporting beams on one side only of the web, said protrusion being located on the opposite side thereof from said flange, said lateral protrusion being sized and located to engage the end surfaces of the tiles above the kerf on said opposite side for producing a slight offset of the joint between the tiles on said one side and opposite side of said web, said offset of the joint being in a direction toward said opposite side to enable insertion of a thin blade upwardly through said offset joint and beside said web for engagement with a spline to produce sliding movement thereof for selective removal of acoustic tiles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
234 words
In an acoustical ceiling assembly formed of selectively removable acoustic tiles having peripherally located kerfs and including horizontally mounted parallel-spaced longitudinal supporting beams, each beam having a longitudinal web and a horizontally disposed longitudinal tile-supporting flange extending generally transversely from one side of the lower edge of the web and sized to fit within tile kerfs to support the tiles on saiD one side thereof and with tile-supporting splines longitudinally slidably mounted on the flange for sliding movement therealong and within tile kerfs, the splines each having a tile-supporting member extending generally transversely from the web on the opposite side thereof from said flange for supporting tiles on said opposite side, the improvement comprising a lateral protrusion extending laterally of the web of the longitudinal supporting beams on one side only of the web, said protrusion being located on the opposite side thereof from said flange, said lateral protrusion being sized and located to engage the end surfaces of the tiles above the kerf on said opposite side for producing a slight offset of the joint between the tiles on said one side and opposite side of said web, said offset of the joint being in a direction toward said opposite side to enable insertion of a thin blade upwardly through said offset joint and beside said web for engagement with a spline to produce sliding movement thereof for selective removal of acoustic tiles.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
In an acoustical ceiling assembly, the improvement as claimed in claim 18, in which said lateral protrusion extends longitudinally of the web of the supporting beams.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
65 words
In an acoustical ceiling assembly, the improvement as claimed in claim 18, in which said lateral protrusion is a rib extending continuously longitudinally of the web of the supporting beams on one side only of the web and positioned above the lower edge of the web to be engaged by and thereby to limit the upward insertion of a thin blade through said offset joint.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
108 words
In an acoustical ceiling assembly, the improvement as claimed in claim 18, in which the lateral protrusion is positioned below the upper edge of the web of the supporting beams and extends continuously longitudinally of the web, the upper edge of the web has an enlargement extending longitudinally therealong, and said enlargement, said lateral protrusion and the web extending therebetween define an open channel located above said protrusion, said open channel facing toward said other side of the web and being adapted to snugly receive a beam-splicing element extending longitudinally therein, said open channel providing longitudinal alignment and vertical support of such beam splice element fitting snugly therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |