Connector structure for suspended ceilings and the like

Claim 2

An improved connector structure for joining a plurality of ceiling panel support members in a desired pattern; said improved connector structure comprising: a connector member, and means for connecting the ends of a plurality of ceiling panel support members to said connector member, wherein said connector member comprises a wall member provided with a plurality of space, upwardly opening slots, and wherein said connecting means comprise a plurality of connecting clips releasably retained in said slots in said wall member for securing the ends of ceiling panel support members to said connector member; and further comprising a cover member adapted to be placed over the upper edge of said wall member to prevent accidental removal of said connector clips from said slots; said cover member having a peripheral edge provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches; each of said notches being adapted to receive an edge portion of a ceiling panel support bar which is attached to said connector member; whereby the engagement of the edge of the support bar with one of said notches in said peripheral edge of said cover member will prevent rotation of said cover member relative to said connector member.

Claim 3

An improved connector structure for joining a plurality of ceiling panel support members in a desired pattern; said improved connector structure comprising: a connector member, and means for connecting the ends of a plurality of ceiling panel support members to said connector member, wherein said connector member comprises a wall member provided with a plurality of space, upwardly opening slots, and wherein said connecting means comprise a plurality of connecting clips releasably retained in said slots in said wall member for securing the ends of ceiling panel support members to said connector member; and further comprising a cover member adapted to be placed over the upper edge of said wall member to prevent accidental removal of said connector clips from said slots; said cover member having a peripheral edge provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches; each of said notches being adapted to receive an edge portion of a ceiling panel support bar which is attached to said connector member; whereby the engagement of the edge of the support bar with one of said notches in said peripheral edge of said cover member will prevent rotation of said cover member relative to said connector member.

Claim 4

An improved connector structure for joining a plurality of ceiling panel support members in a desired pattern; said improved connector structure comprising: a connector member, and means for connecting the ends of a plurality of ceiling panel support members to said connector member, wherein said connector member comprises a wall member provided with a plurality of space, upwardly opening slots, and wherein said connecting means comprise a plurality of connecting clips releasably retained in said slots in said wall member for securing the ends of ceiling panel support members to said connector member; and further comprising a cover member adapted to be placed over the upper edge of said wall member to prevent accidental removal of said connector clips from said slots; said cover member having a peripheral edge provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches; each of said notches being adapted to receive an edge portion of a ceiling panel support bar which is attached to said connector member; whereby the engagement of the edge of the support bar with one of said notches in said peripheral edge of said cover member will prevent rotation of said cover member relative to said connector member.

Claim 5

An improved connector structure for joining a plurality of ceiling panel support bars in a desired pattern, comprising: a generally flat plate having an outer peripheral edge; an upstanding skirt portion on said outer peripheral edge of said flat bottom plate; said upstanding skirt portion comprising a plurality of substantially straight segments joined end-to-end; an upstanding cylindrical outer wall mounted on said flat bottom plate; said outer cylindrical wall having a plurality of upwardly opening, circumferentially spaced slots therein; a cylindrical inner wall spaced radially inward from said outer cylindrical wall; a plurality of clips disposed in said slots in said outer cylindrical wall for connecting a plurality of ceiling panel support bars to said outer cylindrical wall; each of said clip means comprising tab means for engaging the slotted end of a ceiling panel support bar, bottom flange means adapted to engage said flat bottom plate between said upstanding skirt portion and said outer peripheral wall; and side flange means adapted to fit in the annular space defined between said inner and outer cylindrical walls; a pair of mounting ears attached to said outer cylindrical wall and extending radially outward therefrom; each of said mounting ears including a groove and an overhanging lip above the upper edge of said outer cylindrical wall; and an annular cover member for covering the upper edge of said outer cylindrical wall; said cover member including a pair of circumferentially spaced slots adapted to receive said overhanging lips on said mounting ears; each of said slots in said cover member being stepped and including a step portion adapted to fit within the groove in one of said mounting ears, under said overhanging lip, to lock the cover member on the top of saId outer cylindrical wall; said cover member further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches in its outer peripheral edge for receiving the vertical end edges ceiling panel support bars to be joined.

Claim 6

An improved connector structure for joining a plurality of ceiling panel support bars in a desired pattern, comprising: a generally flat plate having an outer peripheral edge; an upstanding skirt portion on said outer peripheral edge of said flat bottom plate; said upstanding skirt portion comprising a plurality of substantially straight segments joined end-to-end; an upstanding cylindrical outer wall mounted on said flat bottom plate; said outer cylindrical wall having a plurality of upwardly opening, circumferentially spaced slots therein; a cylindrical inner wall spaced radially inward from said outer cylindrical wall; a plurality of clips disposed in said slots in said outer cylindrical wall for connecting a plurality of ceiling panel support bars to said outer cylindrical wall; each of said clip means comprising tab means for engaging the slotted end of a ceiling panel support bar, bottom flange means adapted to engage said flat bottom plate between said upstanding skirt portion and said outer peripheral wall; and side flange means adapted to fit in the annular space defined between said inner and outer cylindrical walls; a pair of mounting ears attached to said outer cylindrical wall and extending radially outward therefrom; each of said mounting ears including a groove and an overhanging lip above the upper edge of said outer cylindrical wall; and an annular cover member for covering the upper edge of said outer cylindrical wall; said cover member including a pair of circumferentially spaced slots adapted to receive said overhanging lips on said mounting ears; each of said slots in said cover member being stepped and including a step portion adapted to fit within the groove in one of said mounting ears, under said overhanging lip, to lock the cover member on the top of saId outer cylindrical wall; said cover member further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches in its outer peripheral edge for receiving the vertical end edges ceiling panel support bars to be joined.

Claim 7

In a connector structure for joining a plurality of support members: the combination therewith of a connector member comprising a wall member having a plurality of spaced slots; a plurality of connecting clips separate from said support members and received in said slots in said wall member, said clips being affixed to the ends of said support members to secure said support members to said connector member; said wall member comprising an outer peripheral member; said connector member further comprising an inner peripheral wall member spaced inwardly from said outer peripheral member to define a generally annular space between said wall members receiving and confining said clips radially of said connector member; each of said clips including oppositely directed side flanges disposed in said annular space between said wall members.

Claim 8

In a connector structure for joining a plurality of support members: the combination therewith of a connector member comprising a wall member having a plurality of spaced slots; a plurality of connecting clips separate from said support members and received in said slots in said wall member, said clips being affixed to the ends of said support members to secure said support members to said connector member; said wall member comprising an outer peripheral member; said connector member further comprising an inner peripheral wall member spaced inwardly from said outer peripheral member to define a generally annular space between said wall members receiving and confining said clips radially of said connector member; each of said clips including oppositely directed side flanges disposed in said annular space between said wall members.

Claim 9

In a connector structure as defined in claim 3; said connector member including an upstanding peripheral skirt spaced laterally outwardly from said outer peripheral member; each of said connecting clips further including flange means disposed between said outer peripheral member and peripheral skirt.

Claim 10

In a connector structure for joining a plurality of support members: the combination therewith of a connector member comprising a wall member having a plurality of spaced slots; a plurality of connecting clips separate from said support members and received in said slots in said wall member, said clips being affixed to the ends of said support members to secure said support members to said connector member; said support members having end slots; each of said clips including tab means extending in an end slot of a support member for securing said support member to said connector member.

Claim 11

In a connector structure for joining a plurality of support members: the combination therewith of a connector member comprising a wall member having a plurality of spaced slots; a plurality of connecting clips separate from said support members and received in said slots in said wall member, said clips being affixed to the ends of said support members to secure said support members to said connector member; said support members having end slots; each of said clips including tab means extending in an end slot of a support member for securing said support member to said connector member.

Claim 12

In a connector structure: a plurality of ceiling panel support members having vertical slots in their end portions; a connector member comprising a bottom portion and a wall member extending upwardly from said bottom portion and having a plurality of spaced slots; a plurality of connecting clips separate from said support members and received in said slots in said wall member; the vertical slots of said support members receiving said clips to affix said support members to said connector member; the ends of said support members bearing against the periphery of said bottom portion.

Claim 13

In a connector structure: a plurality of ceiling panel support members having vertical slots in their end portions; a connector member comprising a bottom portion and a wall member extending upwardly from said bottom portion and having a plurality of spaced slots; a plurality of connecting clips separate from said support members and received in said slots in said wall member; the vertical slots of said support members receiving said clips to affix said support members to said connector member; the ends of said support members bearing against the periphery of said bottom portion.

Claim 14

In a connector structure as defined in claim 6; said periphery of said bottom portion having a plurality of straight segments; the end of each of said support members engaging one of said straight segments.