Ceiling and wall structures having curved panels

Claim 2

In a ceiling structure for a room which is bounded by walls, the combination of: a plurality of ceiling panels curved in the general shape of an arch, each ceiling panel having opposite longitudinal edges; a plurality of rigid ceiling beams for supporting said ceiling panels, each beam being an elongate structure generally box shaped in section; a pair of rigid beam members extending along opposite sides of each beam in spaced apart relation; a plurality of spacer elements extending between each pair of beam members at selected locations along the length of the beam to retain said beam members in spaced apart relation; means for adjusting each spacer element in a manner to vary the spacing between each pair of beam members; means for supporting said beams at an elevated position in generally horizontal extension between the walls of the room with the beams spaced apart in substantially parallel relationship to one another; and cooperating means on said beams and panel edges for mounting the ceiling panels in extension between the repsective beams with said panels maintained in the general shape of an arch.

Claim 3

A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cooperating means includes a groove formed in each beam at an inclined angle, said grooves being sized to closely receive said panel edges in a manner to support the ceiling panels in arch shaped extension between the beams.

Claim 4

A combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said ceiling panels are flexible and have a substantially flat unflexed shape, the close fit of the panel edges in said grooves providing the sole means for coupling the panels with the grooves.

Claim 5

A combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said ceiling panels has an end abutting the end of an adjacent ceiling panel to form a joint therebetween and including: a strip of trim material for covering said joint, said strip having opposite ends; and a notch formed in each beam adjacently below said groove to receive an end of said strip, thereby supporting said strip from the beams in arch shaped extension along the underside of said joint.

Claim 6

A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said room includes ceiling joists and said beam supporting means includes a plurality of generally vertical hangers secured to said ceiling joists and to said beams.

Claim 7

A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein each spacer element includes: a pair of brackets secured to the respective beam members in each pair, said brackets overlapping one another; and relesable means for attaching said brackets to one another in overlapping relationship.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 1, including: a wall beam secured in extension along one of the walls in generally parallel relationship with said ceiling beams; and a curved panel extending between said wall beam and one of said ceiling beams.

Claim 9

A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the room has a floor and including: a wall beam secured in extension along one of the walls at a location above the floor and in generally parallel relationship with said ceiling beams; and a curved panel extending substantially between the floor and said wall beam.

Claim 10

A combination as set forth in claim 8, including a curved panel extending between said wall beam and one of said ceiling beams.

Claim 11

A partition structure for a room having a floor, said partition structure comprising: a pair of rigid beams extending generally upwardly from the floor at spaced apart locations, each beam being generally box shaped in section; a pair of rigid beam members extending along opposite sides of each beam in spaced apart relation; a plurality of spacer elements extending between each pair of beam members at selected locations along the length of the beam to retain said beam members in spaced apart relation; means for adjusting each spacer element in a manner to vary the spacing between each pair of beam members; a flexible panel having opposite vertical edges and a generally flat unflexed shape; and a groove presented in each beam and extending substantially the length thereof, said grooves being sized to closely receive the edges of said panel to mount same in extension between the beams and being oriented to retain said panel in a curved shape, with the tendency of the panel to move to a flat unflexed condition exerting forces that retain said panel edges in said grooves.

Claim 12

A partition structure for a room having a floor, said partition structure comprising: a pair of rigid beams extending generally upwardly from the floor at spaced apart locations, each beam being generally box shaped in section; a pair of rigid beam members extending along opposite sides of each beam in spaced apart relation; a plurality of spacer elements extending between each pair of beam members at selected locations along the length of the beam to retain said beam members in spaced apart relation; means for adjusting each spacer element in a manner to vary the spacing between each pair of beam members; a flexible panel having opposite vertical edges and a generally flat unflexed shape; and a groove presented in each beam and extending substantially the length thereof, said grooves being sized to closely receive the edges of said panel to mount same in extension between the beams and being oriented to retain said panel in a curved shape, with the tendency of the panel to move to a flat unflexed condition exerting forces that retain said panel edges in said grooves.

Claim 13

A partition structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said grooves are disposed at angles retaining said panel in a compound curvature with the panel being in the general shape of an "S" in section.

Claim 14

A partition structure as set forth in claim 10, including: a third rigid beam assembly extending generally upwardly from the floor and spaced substantially equidistantly from the beams in said pair; a second flexible panel extending in curved fashion between said third beam assembly and one of the beams in said pair; and a third flexible panel extending in curved fashion between said third beam assembly and the other beam in said pair, each of said panels being curved in a manner to present an outwardly facing concave surface.

Claim 15

In a ceiling structure for a room which is bounded by walls, the combination of: a plurality of ceiling panels curved in the general shape of an arch, each ceiling panel having opposite longitudinal edges; a plurality of rigid ceiling beams for supporting said ceiling panels, each beam being an elongate structure generally box shaped in section; a pair of rigid beam members extending along opposite sides of each beam in spaced apart relation, said beam members having lower edges; a bottom beam section for each beam; magnetic means for releasably retaining the respective bottom beam sections in extension between the lower edges of said beam members to cover said beam members from the bottom and provide a compartment interiorly of each beam between the beam members thereof; means for supporting said beams at an elevated position in generally horizontal extension between the walls of the room with the beams spaced apart in substantially parallel relationship to one another; and cooperating means on said beams and panel edges for mounting the ceiling panels in extension between the respective beams with said panels maintained in the general shape of an arch.

Claim 16

In a ceiling structure for a room which is bounded by walls, the combination of: a plurality of ceiling panels curved in the general shape of an arch, each ceiling panel having opposite longitudinal edges; a plurality of rigid ceiling beams for supporting said ceiling panels, each beam being an elongate structure generally box shaped in section; a pair of rigid beam members extending along opposite sides of each beam in spaced apart relation, said beam members having lower edges; a bottom beam section for each beam; magnetic means for releasably retaining the respective bottom beam sections in extension between the lower edges of said beam members to cover said beam members from the bottom and provide a compartment interiorly of each beam between the beam members thereof; means for supporting said beams at an elevated position in generally horizontal extension between the walls of the room with the beams spaced apart in substantially parallel relationship to one another; and cooperating means on said beams and panel edges for mounting the ceiling panels in extension between the respective beams with said panels maintained in the general shape of an arch.

Claim 17

A combination as set forth in claim 13, including: a light assembly; means for mounting said light assembly in said beam compartment; and a translucent portion of said bottom beam section underlying said light assembly.

Claim 18

In a ceiling structure for a room which is bounded by walls, the combination of: a plurality of ceiling panels curved in the general shape of an arch, each ceiling panel having opposite longitudinal edges; a plurality of hollow, box-like ceiling beams each including a pair of elongate beam members spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the beam to present a hollow compartment interiorly of the beam between said beam members; a bottom section for each beam adapted to cover said compartment from the bottom; means for mounting the respective bottom beam sections between the lower portions of the beam members in each ceiling beam in position to cover said compartments from the bottom; means for supporting said beams at elevated positions in generally horizontal extension between the walls of the room with the beams spaced apart in substantially parallel relationship to one another; a light assembly mounted within at least one of said compartments above said bottom beam section and between said beam members; and a translucent portion of said bottom beam section underlying said light assembly.

Claim 19

In a ceiling structure for a room which is bounded by walls, the combination of: a plurality of ceiling panels curved in the general shape of an arch, each ceiling panel having opposite longitudinal edges; a plurality of hollow, box-like ceiling beams each including a pair of elongate beam members spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the beam to present a hollow compartment interiorly of the beam between said beam members; a bottom section for each beam adapted to cover said compartment from the bottom; means for mounting the respective bottom beam sections between the lower portions of the beam members in each ceiling beam in position to cover said compartments from the bottom; means for supporting said beams at elevated positions in generally horizontal extension between the walls of the room with the beams spaced apart in substantially parallel relationship to one another; a light assembly mounted within at least one of said compartments above said bottom beam section and between said beam members; and a translucent portion of said bottom beam section underlying said light assembly.

Claim 20

A combination as set forth in claim 15, including means for detaching said bottom beam section from at least one of said beam members to provide access to said compartment.

Claim 21

A combination as set forth in claim 15, including: a releasable latch connecting said bottom beam section to one beam member in each pair; and a hinge connecting said bottom beam section to the other beam member in each pair in a manner permitting the bottom beam section to swing about said hinge after release of said latch.