Field installation clip for exposed grid systems

Claim 2

A field installation clip adapted to secure two grid beam members in normal relationship to each other, comprising a template engaging member, having a grid beam mating slot, defined by at least two substantially parallel edges; a plurality of grid beam engaging keepers disposed along a first planar surface of said template engaging member adapted to slidably engage selected portions of a first grid beam member, at least one of said grid beam engaging keepers being formed along a first defining edge of said template engaging member; a C-frame fastening member integrally formed along a second defining edge of said template engaging member and extending laterally of a second planar surface thereof, said C-frame fastening member comprising a planar stay portion, a plurality of supporting legs projecting downwardly from said planar stay portion arranged to align said C-frame fastening member along a second grid beam member, an inwardly concave engaging member projecting outwardly from the upper portion of said planar stay disposed for slidable engagement with said second grid beam member in normal disposition to said first grid beam member and a plurality of restraining elbows projecting inwardly from the lip of said concave engaging member within the grid beam engaging space formed by said concave engaging member to prevent accidental disengagement of said second grid beam member therefrom.

Claim 3

A field installation clip adapted to releasably lock two grid beam members in normal relationship to each other, comprising a template engaging member, having a grid beam mating slot, defined by at least two substantially parallel edges; a plurality of grid beam engaging keepers disposed along a first planar surface of said template engaging member adapted to slidably engage selected portions of a first grid beam member, a first grid beam engaging keeper being formed along a first defining edge of said template engaging member, and a pair of grid beam engaging keepers in constant alignment along said first planar surface of said template engaging member and in spaced relationship to a second defining edge of said template engaging member; an angularly disposed flare extension projecting oblIquely from a second planar surface of said template engaging member arranged to align said template engaging member along selected portions of said first grid beam engaging member; a C-frame fastening member integrally formed along said second defining edge of said template engaging member and projecting laterally from said second planar surface thereof, said C-frame fastening member comprising a planar stay portion, a plurality of supporting legs projecting downwardly from said planar stay portion arranged to align said C-frame fastening member along a second grid beam member, an inwardly concave engaging member, projecting outwardly from the upper portion of said planar stay, disposed for slidable engagement with said second grid beam member in normal disposition to said first grid beam member and having an interlocking finger accommodating notch in the crest thereof and a pair of restraining elbows projecting inwardly from the lip of said concave engaging member within the grid beam engaging space formed by said concave engaging member to prevent accidental disengagement of said second grid beam member therefrom.

Claim 4

A field installation clip adapted to releasably lock two grid beam members in normal relationship to each other, comprising a template engaging member, having a grid beam mating slot, defined by at least two substantially parallel edges; a plurality of grid beam engaging keepers disposed along a first planar surface of said template engaging member adapted to slidably engage selected portions of a first grid beam member, a first grid beam engaging keeper being formed along a first defining edge of said template engaging member, and a pair of grid beam engaging keepers in constant alignment along said first planar surface of said template engaging member and in spaced relationship to a second defining edge of said template engaging member; an angularly disposed flare extension projecting oblIquely from a second planar surface of said template engaging member arranged to align said template engaging member along selected portions of said first grid beam engaging member; a C-frame fastening member integrally formed along said second defining edge of said template engaging member and projecting laterally from said second planar surface thereof, said C-frame fastening member comprising a planar stay portion, a plurality of supporting legs projecting downwardly from said planar stay portion arranged to align said C-frame fastening member along a second grid beam member, an inwardly concave engaging member, projecting outwardly from the upper portion of said planar stay, disposed for slidable engagement with said second grid beam member in normal disposition to said first grid beam member and having an interlocking finger accommodating notch in the crest thereof and a pair of restraining elbows projecting inwardly from the lip of said concave engaging member within the grid beam engaging space formed by said concave engaging member to prevent accidental disengagement of said second grid beam member therefrom.

Claim 5

A field installation clip adapted to releasably lock two grid beam members in normal relationship to each other, comprising a template engaging member, having a substantially rectangular grid beam mating slot, defined by at least two substantially parallel edges; a plurality of grid beam engaging keepers disposed along a first planar surface of said template engaging member adapted to slidably engage selected portions of a first grid beam member, a first grid beam engaging keeper being formed along a first defining edge of said template engaging member, and a pair of grid beam engaging keepers in constant alignment along said first planar surface of said template engaging member and in spaced relationship to a second defining edge of said template engaging member; a narrow channel member defined along a first edge by said first grid beam engaging keeper and along a second edge by said grid beam mating slot, said second edge being louvered from said first planar surface of said template engaging member; an angularly disposed flare extension projecting obliquely from a second planar surface of said template engaging member arranged to align said template engaging member along selected portions of said first grid beam engaging member; a C-frame fastening member integrally formed along said second defining edge of said template engaging member and projecting laterally from said second planar surface thereof, said C-frame fastening member comprising a planar stay portion, a plurality of supporting legs projecting downwardly from said planar stay portion arranged to align said C-frame fastening member along a second grid beam member, an inwardly concave engaging member, projecting outwardly from the upper portion of said planar stay, disposed for slidable engagement with said second grid beam member in normal disposition to said first grid beam member and having an interlocking finger accommodating notch in the crest thereof to accommodate a field installation clip interlocking finger of a field installation clip in projected image alignment across said second grid beam member, a field installation clip interlocking finger adjacent said interlocking finger accommodating notch projecting obliquely from said concave engaging member, and a pair of restraining elbows projecting inwardly from the lip of said concave engaging member within the grid beam engaging space formed by said concave engaging member to prevent accidental disengagement of said second grid beam member therefrom.

Claim 6

A field installation clip adapted to releasably lock two grid beam members in normal relationship to each other, comprising a template engaging member, having a substantially rectangular grid beam mating slot, defined by at least two substantially parallel edges; a plurality of grid beam engaging keepers disposed along a first planar surface of said template engaging member adapted to slidably engage selected portions of a first grid beam member, a first grid beam engaging keeper being formed along a first defining edge of said template engaging member, and a pair of grid beam engaging keepers in constant alignment along said first planar surface of said template engaging member and in spaced relationship to a second defining edge of said template engaging member; a narrow channel member defined along a first edge by said first grid beam engaging keeper and along a second edge by said grid beam mating slot, said second edge being louvered from said first planar surface of said template engaging member; an angularly disposed flare extension projecting obliquely from a second planar surface of said template engaging member arranged to align said template engaging member along selected portions of said first grid beam engaging member; a C-frame fastening member integrally formed along said second defining edge of said template engaging member and projecting laterally from said second planar surface thereof, said C-frame fastening member comprising a planar stay portion, a plurality of supporting legs projecting downwardly from said planar stay portion arranged to align said C-frame fastening member along a second grid beam member, an inwardly concave engaging member, projecting outwardly from the upper portion of said planar stay, disposed for slidable engagement with said second grid beam member in normal disposition to said first grid beam member and having an interlocking finger accommodating notch in the crest thereof to accommodate a field installation clip interlocking finger of a field installation clip in projected image alignment across said second grid beam member, a field installation clip interlocking finger adjacent said interlocking finger accommodating notch projecting obliquely from said concave engaging member, and a pair of restraining elbows projecting inwardly from the lip of said concave engaging member within the grid beam engaging space formed by said concave engaging member to prevent accidental disengagement of said second grid beam member therefrom.

Claim 7

The field installation clip of claim 3 wherein said angularly disposed flare extension comprises plural supporting legs in spaced relationship to each other projecting obliquely from said second planar surface of said template engaging member, said plural supporting legs being arranged to align said template engaging member along selected portions of said first grid beam engagiNg member.

Claim 8

In a suspended ceiling grid structure having a main runner and transverse cross-T, said main runner and cross-T each having an axially upstanding web and a pair of axially extending flanges projecting horizontally from the upstanding web, said cross-T web having a vertically elongated field installation clip aperture located at an intermediate height in said cross-T web in spaced relationship to a trimmed end of said cross-T, the improvement comprising a field installation clip engaging said cross-T for releasably locking said cross-T to said main runner in normal relationship comprising a template engaging member, having a cross-T mating slot, defined by at least two substantially parallel edges; a plurality of cross-T engaging keepers disposed along a first planar surface of said template engaging member adapted to slidably engage selected portions of said cross-T, a first cross-T engaging keeper being formed along a first defining edge of said template engaging member engaging said cross-T web along a first vertical side wall defining, in part, said vertically elongated field installation clip aperture, and a pair of grid beam engaging keepers in constant alignment along said first planar surface of said template engaging member and in spaced relationship to a second defining edge of said template engaging member engaging said cross-T web along selected portions of the trimmed edge thereof; a narrow channel member defined along a first edge by said first cross-T engaging keeper and along a second edge by said cross-T mating slot, said second edge being louvered from said first planar surface of said template engaging member and engaging said cross-T web along a second vertical side wall defining, in part, said vertically elongated field installation clip aperture; an angularly disposed flare extension projecting obliquely from a second planar surface of said template engaging member arranged to rest along an axially extending flange projecting horizontally from said upstanding web when said cross-T engaging keepers plurally engage said cross-T web; a C-frame fastening member securing said main runner to said cross-T integrally formed along said second defining edge of said template engaging member and projecting laterally from said second planar surface thereof, said C-frame fastening member comprising a planar stay portion, a pair of supporting legs projecting downwardly from said planar stay portion arranged to align said C-frame fastening member along an axially extending flange projecting horizontally from said main runner web, an inwardly concave engaging member, projecting outwardly from the upper portion of said planar stay, releasably locked to said main runner in normal disposition to said cross-T and having an interlocking finger accommodating notch in the crest thereof to accommodate a field installation clip interlocking finger of a field installation clip in projected image alignment fastened across an adjacent portion of the same main runner, a field installation clip interlocking finger adjacent said interlocking finger accommodating notch projecting obliquely from said concave engaging member, and a pair of restraining elbows projecting inwardly from the lip of said concave engaging member within the main runner engaging space formed by said concave engaging member to prevent accidental disengagement of said main runner therefrom.

Claim 9

In a suspended ceiling grid structure having a main runner and transverse cross-T, said main runner and cross-T each having an axially upstanding web and a pair of axially extending flanges projecting horizontally from the upstanding web, said cross-T web having a vertically elongated field installation clip aperture located at an intermediate height in said cross-T web in spaced relationship to a trimmed end of said cross-T, the improvement comprising a field installation clip engaging said cross-T for releasably locking said cross-T to said main runner in normal relationship comprising a template engaging member, having a cross-T mating slot, defined by at least two substantially parallel edges; a plurality of cross-T engaging keepers disposed along a first planar surface of said template engaging member adapted to slidably engage selected portions of said cross-T, a first cross-T engaging keeper being formed along a first defining edge of said template engaging member engaging said cross-T web along a first vertical side wall defining, in part, said vertically elongated field installation clip aperture, and a pair of grid beam engaging keepers in constant alignment along said first planar surface of said template engaging member and in spaced relationship to a second defining edge of said template engaging member engaging said cross-T web along selected portions of the trimmed edge thereof; a narrow channel member defined along a first edge by said first cross-T engaging keeper and along a second edge by said cross-T mating slot, said second edge being louvered from said first planar surface of said template engaging member and engaging said cross-T web along a second vertical side wall defining, in part, said vertically elongated field installation clip aperture; an angularly disposed flare extension projecting obliquely from a second planar surface of said template engaging member arranged to rest along an axially extending flange projecting horizontally from said upstanding web when said cross-T engaging keepers plurally engage said cross-T web; a C-frame fastening member securing said main runner to said cross-T integrally formed along said second defining edge of said template engaging member and projecting laterally from said second planar surface thereof, said C-frame fastening member comprising a planar stay portion, a pair of supporting legs projecting downwardly from said planar stay portion arranged to align said C-frame fastening member along an axially extending flange projecting horizontally from said main runner web, an inwardly concave engaging member, projecting outwardly from the upper portion of said planar stay, releasably locked to said main runner in normal disposition to said cross-T and having an interlocking finger accommodating notch in the crest thereof to accommodate a field installation clip interlocking finger of a field installation clip in projected image alignment fastened across an adjacent portion of the same main runner, a field installation clip interlocking finger adjacent said interlocking finger accommodating notch projecting obliquely from said concave engaging member, and a pair of restraining elbows projecting inwardly from the lip of said concave engaging member within the main runner engaging space formed by said concave engaging member to prevent accidental disengagement of said main runner therefrom.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said angularly disposed flare extension of said field installation clip comprises plural supporting legs in spaced relationship to each other projecting obliquely from said second planar surface of said template engaging member, said plural supporting legs being arranged to align said template engaging member along selected portions of said cross-T and rest along an axially extending flange projecting horizontally from said upstanding web when said cross-T engaging keepers plurally engage said cross-T web.