Concealed grid system

Claim 2

A runner structure for use in a grid assembly forming a part of a concealed type of grid system with accessibility above the panels to be supported thereby, comprising a support member, and a supportable member adapted to be supported from said support member, said support member being constructed at its ends for engagement with respective main runners for support thereby, said support and supportable members each having a vertically directed longitudinally extending portion terminating at its lower edge in a longitudinal flange extending horizontally outward from a face of the associated vertically directed portion, said support member having means thereon extending laterally outwardly from the opposite face of said vertically directed portion forming means for interlocking engagement with cooperable means on said supportable member, said means on said support member being constructed for engagement with such cooperable means by upward movement of the latter means relative to said support member, with said vertically directed longitudinally extending portions iN side-by-side relation and said flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions therefrom and disposed in a common plane, such cooperable means being disengageable upon application of downwardly directed force upon such adjacent portion of such an engaged supportable member.

Claim 3

A runner member according to claim 1, wherein said support member is of generally L-shape in transverse cross-section.

Claim 4

A runner member for use in a grid assembly forming a part of a concealed type of grid system with accessibility above the panels to be supported thereby, comprising a support member constructed at its end for engagement with respective main runners for support thereby, said support member having a vertically directed longitudinally extending portion terminating at its lower edge in a longitudinal flange extending horizontally outward from a face of said vertically directed portion, said support member having means thereon extending laterally outwardly from the opposite face of said vertically directed portion forming means for interlocking engagement with cooperable means on a supportable member adapted to be supported from said support member, said means on said support member being constructed for engagement with such cooperable means by upward movement of the latter means relative to said support member, whereby such cooperable means may be disengaged upon the application of downwardly directed force upon such adjacent portion of such an engaged supportable member, said support member also having a longitudinal flange means extending horizontally outward from the other face of said vertically directed portion, the section of said member adjacent said first mentioned means being generally L-shape in transverse cross-section.

Claim 5

A runner member for use in a grid assembly forming a part of a concealed type of grid system with accessibility above the panels to be supported thereby, comprising a support member constructed at its end for engagement with respective main runners for support thereby, said support member having a vertically directed longitudinally extending portion terminating at its lower edge in a longitudinal flange extending horizontally outward from a face of said vertically directed portion, said support member having means thereon extending laterally outwardly from the opposite face of said vertically directed portion forming means for interlocking engagement with cooperable means on a supportable member adapted to be supported from said support member, said means on said support member being constructed for engagement with such cooperable means by upward movement of the latter means relative to said support member, whereby such cooperable means may be disengaged upon the application of downwardly directed force upon such adjacent portion of such an engaged supportable member, said support member also having a longitudinal flange means extending horizontally outward from the other face of said vertically directed portion, the section of said member adjacent said first mentioned means being generally L-shape in transverse cross-section.

Claim 6

A runner member according to claim 3, wherein said flange means comprises a pair of spaced aligned flanges, the adjacent ends of which define the length of said L-shaped section.

Claim 7

A runner member according to claim 1, wherein said means on said support member forms a receiving space for means interlocable therewith on such a supportable member.

Claim 8

A grid runner member according to claim 5, wherein said means forming said receiving space includes at least a relatively resilient portion, whereby the interlockable means on such other member may enter said receiving space by temporarily springing said resilient portion out of its normal position.

Claim 9

A runner member for use in a grid assembly forming a part of a concealed type of grid system with accessibility above the panels to be supported thereby, comprising a support member constructed at its ends for engagement with respective main runners for support thereby, said support member having a vertically directed longitudinally extending portion terminating at its lower edge in a longitudinal flange extending horizontally outward from a face of said vertically directed portion, said support member having means thereon extending laterally outwardly from the opposite face of said vertically directed portion forming means for interlocking engagement with cooperable means on a supportable member adapted to be supported from said support member, said means on said support member being constructed for engagement with such cooperable means by upward movement of the latter means relative to said support member, whereby such cooperable means may be disengaged upon the application of downwardly directed force upon such adjacent portion of such an engaged supportable member, said means on said support member forming a receiving space for means interlockable therewith on such a supportable member, and includes at least a relatively resilient portion, whereby the interlockable means on such other member may enter said receiving space by temporarily springing said resilient portion out of its normal position, said means forming a receiving space comprising a generally rectangularly-shaped relatively resilient strip of material cut from the material of the vertically dirEcted portion of said support member, said strip being joined along its upper edge to said portion and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, the lower portion of such strip being formed to provide said receiving space at the inner side thereof.

Claim 10

A runner member for use in a grid assembly forming a part of a concealed type of grid system with accessibility above the panels to be supported thereby, comprising a support member constructed at its ends for engagement with respective main runners for support thereby, said support member having a vertically directed longitudinally extending portion terminating at its lower edge in a longitudinal flange extending horizontally outward from a face of said vertically directed portion, said support member having means thereon extending laterally outwardly from the opposite face of said vertically directed portion forming means for interlocking engagement with cooperable means on a supportable member adapted to be supported from said support member, said means on said support member being constructed for engagement with such cooperable means by upward movement of the latter means relative to said support member, whereby such cooperable means may be disengaged upon the application of downwardly directed force upon such adjacent portion of such an engaged supportable member, said means on said support member forming a receiving space for means interlockable therewith on such a supportable member, and includes at least a relatively resilient portion, whereby the interlockable means on such other member may enter said receiving space by temporarily springing said resilient portion out of its normal position, said means forming a receiving space comprising a generally rectangularly-shaped relatively resilient strip of material cut from the material of the vertically dirEcted portion of said support member, said strip being joined along its upper edge to said portion and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, the lower portion of such strip being formed to provide said receiving space at the inner side thereof.

Claim 11

A runner member for use in a grid assembly forming a part of a concealed type of grid system with accessibility above the panels to be supported thereby, comprising a support member constructed at its ends for engagement with respective main runners for support thereby, said support member having a vertically directed longitudinally extending portion terminating at its lower edge in a longitudinal flange extending horizontally outward from a face of said vertically directed portion, said support member having means thereon extending laterally outwardly from the opposite face of said vertically directed portion forming means for interlocking engagement with cooperable means on a supportable member adapted to be supported from said support member, said means on said support member being constructed for engagement with such cooperable means by upward movement of the latter means relative to said support member, whereby such cooperable means may be disengaged upon the application of downwardly directed force upon such adjacent portion of such an engaged supportable member, said means on said support member forming a receiving space for means interlockable therewith on such a supportable member, and includes at least a relatively resilient portion, whereby the interlockable means on such other member may enter said receiving space by temporarily springing said resilient portion out of its normal position, said means forming a receiving space comprises a generally rectangularly-shaped relatively resilient strip of material, said strip having its upper edge portion seated upon and joined to said vertically directed portion and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, the lower portion of such strip being formed to provide said receiving space at the inner side thereof.

Claim 12

A runner member for use in a grid assembly forming a part of a concealed type of grid system with accessibility above the panels to be supported thereby, comprising a support member constructed at its ends for engagement with respective main runners for support thereby, said support member having a vertically directed longitudinally extending portion terminating at its lower edge in a longitudinal flange extending horizontally outward from a face of said vertically directed portion, said support member having means thereon extending laterally outwardly from the opposite face of said vertically directed portion forming means for interlocking engagement with cooperable means on a supportable member adapted to be supported from said support member, said means on said support member being constructed for engagement with such cooperable means by upward movement of the latter means relative to said support member, whereby such cooperable means may be disengaged upon the application of downwardly directed force upon such adjacent portion of such an engaged supportable member, said means on said support member forming a receiving space for means interlockable therewith on such a supportable member, and includes at least a relatively resilient portion, whereby the interlockable means on such other member may enter said receiving space by temporarily springing said resilient portion out of its normal position, said means forming a receiving space comprises a generally rectangularly-shaped relatively resilient strip of material, said strip having its upper edge portion seated upon and joined to said vertically directed portion and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, the lower portion of such strip being formed to provide said receiving space at the inner side thereof.

Claim 13

A runner member according to claim 1, wherein said cooperable means comprises a projection constructed to enter a receiving space on such a support member for effecting an interlock between the two members.

Claim 14

A runner member according to claim 9, wherein said projection is in the form of a laterally offset bead extending longitudinally along the top edge portion of the vertically directed portion of said other member.

Claim 15

A grid structure according to claim 10, wherein said bead is of angular transverse cross-section.

Claim 16

A runner member according to claim 1, wherein said supportable member is constructed at one end for engagement with and support by the flange of a transversely extending runner.