US3911638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vertical ceiling assembly and clip elements therefor
Assignee: Novelis Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-22
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1994-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A ceiling assembly including a plurality of suspended stringers parallel to each other and an array of horizontally elongated panels extending beneath and transversely of the stringers in spaced parallel relation to each other with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically, wherein the panels are suspended from the stringers by means of clip elements each having an upper portion received in slots in a stringer and a lower, spring clip portion gripping an upper marginal portion of a panel. Each stringer is a downwardly-opening channel member having paired opposed slots formed therein. The upper portion of each clip element has a pair of opposed tabs respectively received in an opposed pair of such slots, and shaped so as to be readily insertable but to be effectively locked in place after insertion in the stringer slots. The clip elements can be bent intermediate their upper and lower portions for orienting the major surface planes of the panels at a desired angle to the stringers, so that the panel major surface planes are vertical when the stringers are pitched at an angle to the horizontal, as over a stairway.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Englund
- 👤 Stephen Popek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:00
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B9/00; E04B9/06; E04B9/10; E04B9/34; E04B9/36; E04B9/366
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A ceiling assembly comprising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; each of said stringers being a downwardly opening channel member having two downwardly diverging legs, said slots being provided in opposed pairs in said legs and extending transversely of the length of said stringers; and f. the upper portion of each said clip element comprising a pair of opposed tabs respectiveLy inserted in opposed slots formed respectively in the two legs of one of said stringers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A ceiling assembly comprising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; each of said stringers being a downwardly opening channel member having two downwardly diverging legs, said slots being provided in opposed pairs in said legs and extending transversely of the length of said stringers; and f. the upper portion of each said clip element comprising a pair of opposed tabs respectiveLy inserted in opposed slots formed respectively in the two legs of one of said stringers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a. each of said slots has opposite side edges lying in parallel planes; and b. the tabs of each said clip element are respectively bent in opposed directions out of parallelism with the side edges of the slots in which they are inserted, for engagement with edges on respectively different sides of the slots in which they are inserted, thereby to stabilize the position of the clip element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein one of the tab members of each said clip element has a greater horizontal extent than the other tab member of the same clip element, to facilitate insertion of the tabs into opposed slots of a stringer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein each tab of each said clip element has an upwardly and outwardly sloping lower edge with a shoulder provided therein to engage the lower edge of a slot in which the tab is inserted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring clip portion of each said clip element comprises a plurality of depending spring fingers alternately resiliently biased in opposite directions for gripping the upper marginal portion of a panel inserted between them.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has at least one longitudinal rib formed therein, and b. the spring fingers of each said clip elements have at least one groove formed therein for register with said one rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
An assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has a second longitudinal rib formed therein below and parallel to said one rib, and b. the lower extremity of each spring finger of each said clip element is bent to conform to said second rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said stringers extend horizontally at a common level, and wherein the upper and lower portions of each said clip element are formed integrally and lie substantially in a common vertical plane, for suspending panels with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said stringers are pitched with their long dimensions at a common angle to the horizontal, and wherein the upper and lower portions of each said clip element are formed integrally, with the lower portion lying substantially in a vertical plane and the upper portion bent at an angle thereto, for suspending panels from the pitched stringers with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
169 words
A ceiling assembly comprising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; e. the spring clip portion of each said clip element comprising a plurality of depending spring fingers alternately resiliently biased in opposite directions for gripping the upper marginal portion of a panel inserted between them.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
169 words
A ceiling assembly comprising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; e. the spring clip portion of each said clip element comprising a plurality of depending spring fingers alternately resiliently biased in opposite directions for gripping the upper marginal portion of a panel inserted between them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
An assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has at least one longitudinal rib formed therein, and b. tHe spring fingers of each said clip element having at least one groove formed therein for register with said one rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
An assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has a second longitudinal rib formed therein below and parallel to said one rib, and b. the lower extremity of each spring finger of each said clip element is bent to conform to said second rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
199 words
A ceiling assembly comrising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; e. said stringers being pitched with their long dimensions at a common angle to the horizontal; and f. the upper and lower portions of each said clip element being formed integrally, with the lower portion lying substantially in a vertical plane and the upper portion bent at an angle thereto, for suspending panels from the pitched stringers with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
199 words
A ceiling assembly comrising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; e. said stringers being pitched with their long dimensions at a common angle to the horizontal; and f. the upper and lower portions of each said clip element being formed integrally, with the lower portion lying substantially in a vertical plane and the upper portion bent at an angle thereto, for suspending panels from the pitched stringers with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3774024A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |