Patent US4361078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3782055A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3782055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Expansion joint assembly for ceiling grid system
Assignee: Trend Ceilings Systems Co
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Filing: 1972-01-27
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-01-27
Abstract
Abstract An expansion joint assembly for the grid system of a suspended ceiling subject to severe expansion and contraction forces caused by temperature changes. The aligned ends of main grid members are joined together by a one piece expansion joint control member having provision for limited lost motion and including tangs designed for limited deflection in response to either expansion or contraction of the grid members. By this technique stresses acting lengthwise of the main grid members are distributed from end to end of the grid members in any row, the tangs flexing if necessary to absorb and accommodate further expansion or contraction. The control member of the joint assembly also includes tabs having multiple functions including holding a grid joint assembled and limiting expansion and contraction as well as excessive flexing of the tangs.
Inventors
- 👤 W Spencer
- 👤 J Dorius
- 👤 J Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:59
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B9/00; E04B9/06; E04B9/064; E04B9/08; E04C; E04C2/00; E04C2/30; E04C2/42; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An expansion joint interconnecting the normally spaced apart aligned adjacent ends of first and second alUminum ceiling support grid members, said grid members each having a normally horizontally extending flange lying in an upright plane, said flanges each having at least one opening, an expansion control member overlapping said openings and extending along one face of said upright flanges with load absorbing tangs extending therefrom into respective ones of said openings, said tangs having a portion thereof inclined to the length of said flanges with a free end edge thereof located initially substantially against a juxtaposed edge of the associated one of said openings and cooperating therewith to hold the adjacent ends of said grid members normally spaced apart by a predetermined distance and to resist movement of said grid members relative to one another, and means holding said control member assembled to said first and second members without restricting longitudinal movement of said first and second members relative to one another under normal thermal expansion and contraction conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
An expansion joint interconnecting the normally spaced apart aligned adjacent ends of first and second alUminum ceiling support grid members, said grid members each having a normally horizontally extending flange lying in an upright plane, said flanges each having at least one opening, an expansion control member overlapping said openings and extending along one face of said upright flanges with load absorbing tangs extending therefrom into respective ones of said openings, said tangs having a portion thereof inclined to the length of said flanges with a free end edge thereof located initially substantially against a juxtaposed edge of the associated one of said openings and cooperating therewith to hold the adjacent ends of said grid members normally spaced apart by a predetermined distance and to resist movement of said grid members relative to one another, and means holding said control member assembled to said first and second members without restricting longitudinal movement of said first and second members relative to one another under normal thermal expansion and contraction conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means holding said expansion control member assembled to said first and second grid members includes lugs clenchable about a portion of each of said grid members and along axes parallel to the length of said grid members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said tangs include a plurality thereof on each end portion of said expansion control member positioned in and closely adjacent a respective one of the opposite ends of an associated one of said openings in the upright flange of said first and second grid members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 3 characterized in that the tangs on each end of said control member are inclined in opposite directions and cooperate with an associated opening to urge a juxtaposed one of said first and second members toward and away from one another depending upon the direction of the ambient temperature change.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said plurality of tangs are spaced widely from one another on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said grid members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said openings in said upright flanges extend crosswise of the width thereof, said tangs on said control member extending into said openings near the upper and lower edges of said upright flanges and at the diagonally opposed portions thereof, said tangs being inclined oppositely to one another and relative to the longitudinal center line of said upright flanges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said tangs are flexible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said tangs are resilient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
An expansion joint assembly for use in interconnecting the adjacent ends of a plurality of aligned ceiling support grid members and capable of restraining the same against relative rotary movement about their longitudinal axes, said grid members including wide upright flanges formed adjacent their ends with long wide openings, an elongated expansion control member formed from heavy gauge sheet metal sized to lie against said upright flanges in an area bridging the adjacent spaced apart ends thereof, said control member having tangs projecting from the opposite lateral portions thereof and projecting into the diagonally opposed corners of said openings, each of said tangs including a free end portion projecting and inclined oppositely to one another with an end edge of each positioned in close proximity to the opposed edges of an associated one of said openings and in position to engage one of said edges depending upon whether said grid members expand or contract in response to a change in ambient temperature, and means holding said expansion control member assembled across the aligned ends of said grid members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
An expansion joint assembly for use in interconnecting the adjacent ends of a plurality of aligned ceiling support grid members and capable of restraining the same against relative rotary movement about their longitudinal axes, said grid members including wide upright flanges formed adjacent their ends with long wide openings, an elongated expansion control member formed from heavy gauge sheet metal sized to lie against said upright flanges in an area bridging the adjacent spaced apart ends thereof, said control member having tangs projecting from the opposite lateral portions thereof and projecting into the diagonally opposed corners of said openings, each of said tangs including a free end portion projecting and inclined oppositely to one another with an end edge of each positioned in close proximity to the opposed edges of an associated one of said openings and in position to engage one of said edges depending upon whether said grid members expand or contract in response to a change in ambient temperature, and means holding said expansion control member assembled across the aligned ends of said grid members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said means holding said expansion coNtrol member assembled to said grid members comprises tabs integral with said control member and having their ends extending through openings in said grid members and clenched over one edge thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 10 characterized in that said openings are so proportioned relative to said clenched tabs as to permit limited relative movement of said grid members in opposite directions lengthwise of said grid members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 9 characterized in that the flanges of said grid members are formed with a plurality of elongated narrow openings disposed along the opposite lateral edges of said control member near the opposite ends thereof, and assembly tabs projecting from the lateral edges of said control member disposed to fit into a respective one of said long narrow openings as said control member is moved into assembly position over one end thereof, the portions of said tabs projecting beyond the other ends of said openings being clenchable to lock said control member loosely and slidably assembled to said grid members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 12 characterized in that said tabs are initially assembled to lie between the opposite ends of elongated openings and cooperating with one or the other ends thereof to limit relative movement of said grid members lengthwise of one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said tangs are deflectable in response to contraction and expansion of said grid members due to temperature changes and effective to transfer stresses between grid members via said expansion control members thereby to distribute stresses lengthwise of a ceiling grid system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said tangs flex in response to thermal expansion and contraction of said grid members thereby to distribute stresses lengthwise of said grid members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An expansion joint as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said tangs are resilient and effective to transmit stresses between said grid members by way of said expansion control member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |