US4470239A — Suspended ceiling grid system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 293 words

A supporting grid system for suspension ceilings and the like, comprising a plurality of assembled and interconnected main and cross runners cooperating to define tile openings, each of said runners including a pair or resilient webs, tile supporting flanges extending outwardly from the lower end portions of said webs, and means supporting the webs in such a manner that the lower end portions of said webs are normally spaced apart when said runners are assembled and in an unstressed condition, the lower portions of said webs being capable of being moved toward each other in response to forces applied thereto by associated edges of tile positioned in said openings and supported on said flanges, said movement resiliently stressing said webs to cause said webs to center said tile, a longitudinally disposed reinforcing member integrally connected to each of said webs at the upper extremity thereof, at least one pair of aligned slots in said main runner webs, and locking connector means projecting from at least one end of each of said cross runner webs for supporting said cross runners on said main runners through said pair of slots, said connector means including a substantially hook shaped end projecting from each of said cross runner webs, and said slots are so shaped as to compress said resilient cross runner webs inwardly upon insertion of said hook shaped ends through said slots until a portion of said hook shaped ends passes through said slot that is further from the point of entry thereof where upon compression on said webs is relieved and said portions are extended an overlapping relation surface portions of said web adjacent the side edges of said last mentioned slot to thereby prevent said cross runners from being pulled through said slots.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 293 words

A supporting grid system for suspension ceilings and the like, comprising a plurality of assembled and interconnected main and cross runners cooperating to define tile openings, each of said runners including a pair or resilient webs, tile supporting flanges extending outwardly from the lower end portions of said webs, and means supporting the webs in such a manner that the lower end portions of said webs are normally spaced apart when said runners are assembled and in an unstressed condition, the lower portions of said webs being capable of being moved toward each other in response to forces applied thereto by associated edges of tile positioned in said openings and supported on said flanges, said movement resiliently stressing said webs to cause said webs to center said tile, a longitudinally disposed reinforcing member integrally connected to each of said webs at the upper extremity thereof, at least one pair of aligned slots in said main runner webs, and locking connector means projecting from at least one end of each of said cross runner webs for supporting said cross runners on said main runners through said pair of slots, said connector means including a substantially hook shaped end projecting from each of said cross runner webs, and said slots are so shaped as to compress said resilient cross runner webs inwardly upon insertion of said hook shaped ends through said slots until a portion of said hook shaped ends passes through said slot that is further from the point of entry thereof where upon compression on said webs is relieved and said portions are extended an overlapping relation surface portions of said web adjacent the side edges of said last mentioned slot to thereby prevent said cross runners from being pulled through said slots.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system according to claim 1, wherein said portion of said hook-shaped ends is inclined at an angle corresponding to the angle of inclination of said surface portions of said webs.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system according to claim 1, wherein said slots have curved side edges, flat top edges and a notched bottom edge whereby said connectors are compressed inwardly by said side edges to pass through said notched bottom end upon insertion thereof through said slots.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system according to claim 3, wherein the vertical extent of said connectors corresponds substantially to the vertical extent of said slots.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 188 words

A narrow face grid suspension ceiling and the like comprising a plurality of elongated grid members including a bulb along an upper edge, depending means depending from said bulb, and narrow panel supporting flanges extending in opposite directions from the depending means at the extremity thereof remote from said bulb, said members being substantially symmetrical with respect to a central vertical plane, said grid members being interconnected to define a plurality of rectangular panel openings having a modular size determined by the spacing between said central planes of said grid members on opposite sides of said openings, said flanges being exposed to view below said ceiling and extending around and defining said openings, and panels having lateral dimensions less than said modular size and a lower face extending to the lateral edges thereof, said lower face resting on said flanges, said depending means centering said panels in said openings and spacing said lateral edges from said central planes, said flanges having a lateral width insufficient to provide proper support for noncentered panels by sufficiently wide to engage in support panels centered in said openings by said depending means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 188 words

A narrow face grid suspension ceiling and the like comprising a plurality of elongated grid members including a bulb along an upper edge, depending means depending from said bulb, and narrow panel supporting flanges extending in opposite directions from the depending means at the extremity thereof remote from said bulb, said members being substantially symmetrical with respect to a central vertical plane, said grid members being interconnected to define a plurality of rectangular panel openings having a modular size determined by the spacing between said central planes of said grid members on opposite sides of said openings, said flanges being exposed to view below said ceiling and extending around and defining said openings, and panels having lateral dimensions less than said modular size and a lower face extending to the lateral edges thereof, said lower face resting on said flanges, said depending means centering said panels in said openings and spacing said lateral edges from said central planes, said flanges having a lateral width insufficient to provide proper support for noncentered panels by sufficiently wide to engage in support panels centered in said openings by said depending means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 60 words

A suspension ceiling or the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein said depending means include two symmetrically located webs which are spaced apart at the lower edges thereof to position said flanges of said grid members laterally spaced from each other, said flanges and said webs cooperating to define an upwardly extending recess lengthwise of said grid members.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

A suspension ceiling and the like as set forth in claim 6 wherein said laterally spaced webs engage said edges of said panels and operate to center said panels in said opening.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

A suspension ceiling and the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein said depending means include web means providing laterally spaced portions engaging said edges of said panels and operating to center said panels in said openings.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

A suspension ceiling and the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein said web means are resilient and engage said edges of said panels to resiliently center panels and said openings.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

A suspension ceiling and the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein said depending means provide laterally spaced portions adjacent to and said flanges engaging said edges of said panels and operating to center said panels and said openings.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

A suspension ceiling and the like as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lower face of said panels engage the associated of said flanges along the entire width of said flanges.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-09-11	1988-03-12	1988-09-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-09-11	1992-03-12	1992-09-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-09-11	1996-03-12	1996-09-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Suspended ceiling grid system

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