US3724356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire resistant air bar for use in a suspended ceiling structure
Assignee: AIR FACTORS
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Filing: 1971-11-15
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1991-11-15
Abstract
Abstract The fire resistant air bar has high temperature resistant side rails for supporting the fire resistant ceiling tiles of a suspended ceiling, and for supporting an air plenum chamber; has high temperature resistant spacer bars located between the side rails with end tabs thereof extending through slots in the side rails to fasten thereto; has lower temperature melting spacers mounted on the spacer bars between the side rails; and has nested weir channel members located between the spacers, whereby when the spacers weaken or melt due to high temperature of a fire, the spacer bars maintain the spacing of the side rails to continue supporting the ceiling tiles for blocking the passage of the fire through the suspended ceiling.
Inventors
- 👤 R Lambert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:32
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C2/00; A62C2/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A fire resistant air bar for use in a suspended ceiling framework for mounting fire resistant ceiling tiles and for mounting an air plenum chamber with an outlet which directs conditioned air through the air bar and into the room below, said air bar having a pair of high temperature resistant side rails with flanges for receiving the ceiling tiles, and a pair of lower temperature-melting spacers located between the side rails for spacing the side rails to permit the flow of air therebetween, the improvement comprising the provision of: high temperature resistant spacing means positioned between the side rails for maintaining the spacing of the side rails during high temperatures after the spacers have weakened to enable the side rails to continue supporting the fire resistant ceiling tiles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A fire resistant air bar for use in a suspended ceiling framework for mounting fire resistant ceiling tiles and for mounting an air plenum chamber with an outlet which directs conditioned air through the air bar and into the room below, said air bar having a pair of high temperature resistant side rails with flanges for receiving the ceiling tiles, and a pair of lower temperature-melting spacers located between the side rails for spacing the side rails to permit the flow of air therebetween, the improvement comprising the provision of: high temperature resistant spacing means positioned between the side rails for maintaining the spacing of the side rails during high temperatures after the spacers have weakened to enable the side rails to continue supporting the fire resistant ceiling tiles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention as in claim 1 wherein the high temperature resistant spacing means includes at least a pair of spacer bars made of a material having a high melting point, said bars having end surfaces spaced correspondingly to the spacing between the inner surfaces of the side rails to be located therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as in claim 2 wherein fastening means is provided for fastening the bars to and between the side rails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention as in claim 3 wherein the fastening means includes the provision of tabs protruding from the end surfaces of the bars and the provision of slots in the side rails, said slots receiving said tabs to fasten the bars between the side rails.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as in claim 2 wherein the spacers are provided with suitable shaped cavities for receiving the spacer bars therein, said spacer bars being located in the cavities to be joined to the spacers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as in claim 1 wherein air control means is provided between the side rails for regulating the flow of conditioned air therebetween, wherein the spacers are formed to receive and mount the air control means and wherein said spacing means mounts the spacers between the side rails.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as in claim 6 wherein the spacing means includes a pair of spacer bars, and means for fastening the spacer bars to the side rails, and wherein the spacers includes a web and means for mounting the web to the spacer bars.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as in claim 7 wherein The means for fastening includes the provision of end tabs on the bars and slots in the side rails for receiving the end tabs to mount the spacing bars.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as in claim 7 wherein the mounting means includes the provision of a spacing bar receiving cavity in each web, said spacer bar being positioned in the cavity to mount the web thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3673945A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |