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US3640557A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Expansion splice

Assignee: Armstrong World Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1969-12-19
•
Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1989-12-19
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Abstract

Abstract A splice joint is used to fasten together two pieces of runner structure for a suspended ceiling. The splice is constructed to permit expansion of the runner structures should they be exposed to heat. The splice joint and runner structures are held together by a wire clip which, during expansion of the runner structures, will override a stop structure and move into a slot region to permit expansion of the runner structure.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ernest B Nute Jr
  • 👤 James C Ollinger

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 10:37
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B9/00; E04B9/06; E04B9/064; E04B9/08; E04B9/10; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/63; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/51; Y10T403/55; Y10T403/553; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7075; Y10T403/7077; Y10T403/7079; Y10T403/7083

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
An expansion splice for supporting grid systems and the like comprising a pair of grid runner members aligned with their longitudinal axes passing along the same axis and their ends spaced apart a short distance, a splice member placed in the space between the two grid runner members and overlapping the ends of the grid members a short distance, a hole structure in both a grid member and the splice member being in alignment, an elongated opening placed adjacent one of the hole structures of one of the above members, said opening being closely adjacent and partly merged with the hole structure, a means passing through the hole structures of both the splice member and the grid member to hold the two members from relative movement, and means positioned between the hole structure and the elongated opening at the merger thereof to retain the holding means passing through the hole structure and contain it within the hole structure, into the elongated opening and thereby permit relative movement between the grid member and splice member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 174 words
An expansion splice for supporting grid systems and the like comprising a pair of grid runner members aligned with their longitudinal axes passing along the same axis and their ends spaced apart a short distance, a splice member placed in the space between the two grid runner members and overlapping the ends of the grid members a short distance, a hole structure in both a grid member and the splice member being in alignment, an elongated opening placed adjacent one of the hole structures of one of the above members, said opening being closely adjacent and partly merged with the hole structure, a means passing through the hole structures of both the splice member and the grid member to hold the two members from relative movement, and means positioned between the hole structure and the elongated opening at the merger thereof to retain the holding means passing through the hole structure and contain it within the hole structure, into the elongated opening and thereby permit relative movement between the grid member and splice member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein there are two sets of hole structures on both the splice member and the grid member and a wire clip is used to pass through the aligned hole structures in the grid member and the splice member to function as the means retaining the two members together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein further means are provided to hold the grid member and splice member together, said further means being a tab on one member and a coacting slot on the other member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2721633A Cited
US2830683A Cited
US3089570A Cited
US3152670A Cited
US3149704A Cited
US3189138A Cited
US3284977A Cited
US3457688A Cited
FR1448983A Cited

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

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