Reinforced ceiling runner

Claim 1

An inverted T-bar runner structure for suspended ceilings comprising: (a) an inverted T-shaped runner member having a vertical web with two horizontal flanges at the base of the web with one of each horizontal flange disposed perpendicularly on each side of the vertical web, (b) the vertical web being formed of two pieces of material side by side with the runner being formed from a single piece of material and the single piece of material being bent at the top of the vertical web so that the two pieces of material forming the vertical web are joined together at the top of the vertical web, but are normally unjoined at the base of the vertical web where the horizontal flanges extend outwardly from the vertical web, (c) a strip of material positioned against the underside of the horizontal flanges with the edges of the strip of material extending around and slightly over the outer edges of the horizontal flanges, and (d) the improvement comprising: (1) providing a series of vertical lances in the region of the base of the vertical web to fasten together the two pieces of material forming the vertical web in the region about 1/2" above the base of the vertical web adjacent where the horizontal flanges are formed, said lances being spaced about 2" apart, and (2) said lances being formed by displacing a portion of the one piece of material forming the vertical web into the plane of the other piece of material forming the vertical web to mechanically bond the two pieces of material together.