US4377059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concealed ceiling system with accessible ceiling panels
Assignee: United States Gypsum Co
•
Filing: 1980-08-11
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Granted: 1983-03-22
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Expires: 2000-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A suspended ceiling system comprising a plurality of inverted-T runners. Kerfed edge ceiling tile supported by runners and concealing the bottom of the runners. At least one ceiling tile having a central portion removable therefrom by being separable along a substantially vertical fine cut made by high pressure fluid jet cutting.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert F. Kuhr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:54
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B9/00; E04B9/04; E04B9/0435; E04B9/0464; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0591
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A suspended ceiling system comprising: a plurality of inverted-T runners concealed within said system; kerfed edge ceiling tiles supported at said kerfed edges by said inverted-T runners, adjacent said tiles being in proximate contact along the lower edge surfaces thereof distal said inverted-T runners concealing said inverted-T runners from view below, wherein; at least one said ceiling tile in said system comprises a central portion coplanar with the remainder of said tile and optionally vertically demountable and separable from the remainder of said tile along a cut defining said central portion through said tile perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces thereof, said cut having a width no greater than 0.020 inches and further defining upon optional removal of said central portion a central opening within said ceiling tile wherein said central portion is recessed upwardly of the lower surface of said tile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A suspended ceiling system comprising: a plurality of inverted-T runners concealed within said system; kerfed edge ceiling tiles supported at said kerfed edges by said inverted-T runners, adjacent said tiles being in proximate contact along the lower edge surfaces thereof distal said inverted-T runners concealing said inverted-T runners from view below, wherein; at least one said ceiling tile in said system comprises a central portion coplanar with the remainder of said tile and optionally vertically demountable and separable from the remainder of said tile along a cut defining said central portion through said tile perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces thereof, said cut having a width no greater than 0.020 inches and further defining upon optional removal of said central portion a central opening within said ceiling tile wherein said central portion is recessed upwardly of the lower surface of said tile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The suspended ceiling system of claim 1 wherein the said ceiling tile comprising an optionally removable central portion comprises the entirety of said ceiling tiles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ceiling system of claim 1 wherein the central portion of the tile comprising an optionally vertically demountable central portion is removed therefrom, provided with kerfing on the edges thereof for adaptively receiving spline means, said central portion being reinserted into the central opening of said tile from the upper surface aspect thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ceiling system of claim 1 wherein the central portions of each of the tiles comprising an optionally vertically demountable and separable central portion are of identical geometric configuration and dimension and are situate identically within said tile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ceiling system of claim 4 wherein the central portion of each of said tiles is of identical geometric shape and defines central openings equidistant the periphery of said tiles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The suspended ceiling system of claim 1 wherein the optionally vertically demountable and separable central portion is vertically displaced upward and lower surface of said tile to remain in frictional engagement with the periphery of said central opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
A ceiling system comprising ceiling tiles comprising a peripheral portion and a central portion wherein the peripheral edge of said peripheral portion is provided with a kerf parallel the upper and the lower faces of said tile, said kerf being of depth sufficient to suspendedly receive during installation of said tile the edge of an inverted-T runner and to completely conceal said inverted-T runner from view below upon suspended juxtaposition of said tile with a next adjacent tile in ceiling assembly array, the central portion of said tile being optionally demountable before or after installation along a cut through said tile perpendicular to the planar surfaces and edge kerfing thereof, said perpendicular cut being of width no greater than 0.020 inches wherein said optionally vertically demountable central portion is recessed upwardly of the peripheral portion of said tile.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A ceiling system comprising ceiling tiles comprising a peripheral portion and a central portion wherein the peripheral edge of said peripheral portion is provided with a kerf parallel the upper and the lower faces of said tile, said kerf being of depth sufficient to suspendedly receive during installation of said tile the edge of an inverted-T runner and to completely conceal said inverted-T runner from view below upon suspended juxtaposition of said tile with a next adjacent tile in ceiling assembly array, the central portion of said tile being optionally demountable before or after installation along a cut through said tile perpendicular to the planar surfaces and edge kerfing thereof, said perpendicular cut being of width no greater than 0.020 inches wherein said optionally vertically demountable central portion is recessed upwardly of the peripheral portion of said tile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The suspended ceiling system of claim 7 wherein the said ceiling tile comprising an optionally removable central portion comprises the entirety of said ceiling tiles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ceiling system of claim 7 wherein the central portion of the tile comprising an optionally vertically demountable central portion is removed therefrom, provided with kerfing on the edges thereof for adaptively receiving spline means, said central portion being reinserted into the peripheral portion of said tile from the upper surface aspect thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ceiling system of claim 7 wherein the central portions of each of the tiles comprising an optionally vertically demountable and separable central portion are of identical geometric configuration and dimension and are situate identically within said tile.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ceiling system of claim 10 wherein the central portion of each of said tiles is of identical geometric shape define central openings equidistant the periphery of said tiles.
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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) | 1986-03-21 | 1986-09-20 | 1987-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-21 | 1990-09-20 | 1991-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-21 | 1994-09-20 | 1995-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |