US3969864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire resistant ceiling construction
Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1974-10-04
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Granted: 1976-07-20
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Expires: 1994-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A fire resistant ceiling for a building having a space grid construction comprised of a plurality of horizontally extending space trusses with bottom chords or bases thereof having oppositely directed flanges supporting fire resistant ceiling panels thereon, and grid protecting fire resistant panels secured to the space truss bottom chords between adjacent edges of the ceiling panels to protect the space trusses from fire.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred J. Stephenson
- 👤 Donald J. Rush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:25
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B9/00; E04B9/06; E04B9/065; E04B9/02; E04B9/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system, comprising: a plurality of steel space trusses arranged to form a rectangular space grid ceiling construction, said trusses having base members with opposite, horizontally outwardly extending flanges thereon; rectangularly shaped, fire resistant ceiling panels supported at their opposite edges on top of said flanges in spanning relationship to adjacent base members and leaving exposed therebeneath a lower portion of the base members; rectangularly shaped, fire resistant grid protecting panels having a width substantially the same as the width of the exposed portion of the base members and secured to the underside of the flanges of the base members; and separate, elongate channel members having a generally vertical wall with top and bottom edges and generally horizontal top and bottom walls on the top and bottom edges of the vertical wall, the bottom wall thereof engaged under an adjacent edge of the grid protecting panel and the top wall thereof engaged directly over and against an adjacent flange of a base member, the channel members having a length substantially the same as the length of the panel members, to readily releasably attach the grid protecting panel members in position against the underside of the base members to protect the base members from heat and fire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system, comprising: a plurality of steel space trusses arranged to form a rectangular space grid ceiling construction, said trusses having base members with opposite, horizontally outwardly extending flanges thereon; rectangularly shaped, fire resistant ceiling panels supported at their opposite edges on top of said flanges in spanning relationship to adjacent base members and leaving exposed therebeneath a lower portion of the base members; rectangularly shaped, fire resistant grid protecting panels having a width substantially the same as the width of the exposed portion of the base members and secured to the underside of the flanges of the base members; and separate, elongate channel members having a generally vertical wall with top and bottom edges and generally horizontal top and bottom walls on the top and bottom edges of the vertical wall, the bottom wall thereof engaged under an adjacent edge of the grid protecting panel and the top wall thereof engaged directly over and against an adjacent flange of a base member, the channel members having a length substantially the same as the length of the panel members, to readily releasably attach the grid protecting panel members in position against the underside of the base members to protect the base members from heat and fire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system as in claim 1, wherein a perimeter channel is connected between adjacent wall trim and an adjacent base member of a space truss at the perimeter of a ceiling to protect the base member from fire, said perimeter channel having a horizontal wall with a depending flange at one edge thereof received between one wall trim and the wall, and a vertical wall at the other edge thereof extending upwardly to approximately the level of the flange of the base member, the upper edge of the vertical wall having a horizontal flange lying over the top of the flange of the base member and a vertical flange extending upwardly therefrom and against which the edge of a ceiling panel is abutted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system as in claim 1, wherein the grid protecting panels comprise white mineral fiberboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system as in claim 1, wherein grid panel intersection covers are secured to the grid protecting panels therebeneath at the intersections of the panels with one another at the juncture of transversely extending and longitudinally extending base members of the space trusses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system as in claim 4, wherein the intersection covers each comprises a substantially rectangularly shaped plate having an upstanding bendable tab at each of the four corners thereof, said plate being engaged against the bottom end surface portions of the grid protecting panels and the tabs being bent horizontally at their upper ends over the top end surface portions of the grid protecting panels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system as in claim 5, wherein the bendable tabs each have a transverse slot therein defining a weakened area about which the tab is bent with the upper end of the tab disposed against the adjacent upper surface of the grid protecting panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system as in claim 4, wherein said top and bottom walls have an at-rest position deflected inwardly toward one another, and when in use being resiliently deflected outwardly to thus impart a resilient clamping action on the adjacent grid protecting panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A fire resistant space grid ceiling system as in claim 7, wherein a vertically upward extending flange is on the top wall of the channel, and the adjacent edge of a ceiling panel abuts against said vertically extending flange, and the free edge of the bottom wall is bent reversely upon itself to define a yieldable panel engaging means to enhance the gripping action of the channel on an associated panel.
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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) | 1979-07-20 | 1980-01-19 | 1980-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-20 | 1984-01-19 | 1984-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-20 | 1988-01-19 | 1988-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |