Ceiling modules

Claim 2

A rectangular ceiling module comprising a. panel means for defining a rectangular, planar ceiling area including a flat border around an open seat, the ceiling area defined by said panel means (including the area defined by said open seat) being from about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet and the area defined by said open seat being no more than about half the ceiling area defined by said panel means; and b. an H-shaped framework means above said planar ceiling area for supporting said panel means, said frame-work means comprising a pair of parallel end beams extending along opposed sides of said rectangular ceiling area and a bridging member extending between said end beams perpendicular to said end beams, said bridging member being secured at its ends to said end beams intermediate the ends of said end beams, at least a part of said bridging member being generally an inverted U in cross-section to form a lamp housing, an inner face of said lamp housing forming a reflector, and mounting means for positioning an electric light source in said lamp housing above said open seat in said panel means.

Claim 3

The module of claim 1 wherein the bridging member is an inverted U in cross-section throughout its length, said module including an air inlet in at least one end of said module above said ceiling-defining area, said air inlet communicating with said bridging member, and an air outlet in an upper surfuce of said bridging member, said bridging member forming an air passage from said air inlet to said air outlet.

Claim 4

The module of claim 2 including a ballast mounted in said bridging member between said air inlet and said air outlet.

Claim 5

The module of claim 1 including mounting brackets slidably secured to ends of said end beams.

Claim 6

In a ceiling comprising a plurality of rectangular modules and support means for supporting said modules in edge-spaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, the improvement comprising means for distributing air through a first of said channels into a space below said ceiling, said means for distributing air comprising a duct positioned above said first channel, said duct having an opening into said first channel, and means for returning air through a second of said channels, orthogonal to said first channel, into a space above said ceiling, said means for returning air comprising closure means above said second channel for restricting air flow through the upper margin of said second channel and a return passage through a first module adjacent said second channel, said first module comprising a lamp housing and an electric light source mounted in the lamp housing, said return passage comprising means in said first module adjacent said second channel for defining an inlet opening from said second channel into said first module, means in said lamp housing for defining an outlet opening from said lamp housing into said space above said ceIling, and means for defining an air return duct between said inlet opening and said outlet opening.

Claim 7

In a ceiling comprising a plurality of rectangular modules and support means for supporting said modules in edge-spaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, the improvement comprising means for distributing air through a first of said channels into a space below said ceiling, said means for distributing air comprising a duct positioned above said first channel, said duct having an opening into said first channel, and means for returning air through a second of said channels, orthogonal to said first channel, into a space above said ceiling, said means for returning air comprising closure means above said second channel for restricting air flow through the upper margin of said second channel and a return passage through a first module adjacent said second channel, said first module comprising a lamp housing and an electric light source mounted in the lamp housing, said return passage comprising means in said first module adjacent said second channel for defining an inlet opening from said second channel into said first module, means in said lamp housing for defining an outlet opening from said lamp housing into said space above said ceIling, and means for defining an air return duct between said inlet opening and said outlet opening.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 5 wherein each module comprises a ceiling-defining border surrounding an open seat, the area of said modules being at least twice the area defined by said open seat.

Claim 9

In a ceiling comprising a plurality of rectangular modules, each of said modules comprising panel means for defining a rectangular ceiling area of from about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet, at least some of said modules comprising an electric light source, and support means for supporting said modules in edge-spaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, the improvement comprising accessory mounting means in at least some of said channels for mounting a structure below said ceiling defining area at a point intermediate the corners of said modules, said accessory mounting means comprising a pair of spaced apart lips extending into said channel on opposite sides of said channel, said lips lying in a common horizontal plane, and at least one piece of mounting hardware supported by said lips.

Claim 10

In a ceiling comprising a plurality of rectangular modules, each of said modules comprising panel means for defining a rectangular ceiling area of from about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet, at least some of said modules comprising an electric light source, and support means for supporting said modules in edge-spaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, the improvement comprising accessory mounting means in at least some of said channels for mounting a structure below said ceiling defining area at a point intermediate the corners of said modules, said accessory mounting means comprising a pair of spaced apart lips extending into said channel on opposite sides of said channel, said lips lying in a common horizontal plane, and at least one piece of mounting hardware supported by said lips.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 7 wherein the modules each comprise a planar border surrounding an open seat, at least some of said modules comprising a light diffuser in saId open seat at least some others of said modules comprising a closure piece in said open seat, said closure piece having a broad surface lying substantially in the same plane as said planar border.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 7 wherein said support means comprise hanger means for supporting corners of said modules and said pair of lips comprises an outwardly extending lip on the edge of each of two adjacent edge-spaced modules.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 9 including a peripheral trim rail on each of said modules, said outwardly extending lip being provided on said trim rail.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 7 wherein the piece of mounting hardware is a channel nut.