Corrosive resistant grid construction for a suspended ceiling

Claim 2

For a suspended ceiling assembly comprising a grid of parallel supporting members and cross-members extending between adjacent supporting members, said supporting members having means to support cross-members against movement in one direction, a clamp for joining a cross-member to a supporting member, comprising: (a) two keepers; (b) a cross segment; (c) an intermediate portion resiliently joining said two keepers to said cross segment; said two keepers being disposed for association with two openings in said supporting member, each opening for receiving a portion of one of said keepers, and a side of said supporting member for abutting another portion of each of said keepers so that movement of said cross segment in a direction opposite said one direction stresses said clamp; said cross segment for moving in said direction opposite said one direction when said keepers are associated with said two openings in said supporting member and said side of said supporting member and for abutting said cross-member opposite said means to supporting order to urge said cross-member against said means to support.

Claim 3

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said means to support said cross-member against movement in one direction comprises a flange extending from said supporting member.

Claim 4

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion includes two bent arms for lying adjacent either side of said one member.

Claim 5

The clamp of claim 1 wherein each said keeper has an integrally formed foot for overlying ceiling panels supported by said grid members.

Claim 6

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion includes two arms for extending adjacent either side of said cross-member.

Claim 7

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion is integrally formed with said cross segment and said two keepers.

Claim 8

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said grid members are of a material which withstands corrosive environments.

Claim 9

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said grid members are formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic.

Claim 10

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said clamp is integrally formed and made of stainless steel.

Claim 11

For a suspended ceiling assembly comprising a grid of parallel supporting members and cross-members extending between adjacent supporting members, said supporting members and said cross-members having a generally T-shaped cross sectional configuration providing a vertically extending web with two flanges at the lower end of said web extending substantially normally thereto, the flanges of said supporting members supporting said cross-members against movement in one direction, a clamp for joining a cross-member to a supporting member, comprising: (a) keeper means; (b) a cross segment; (c) an intermediate portion resiliently joining said keeper means to said cross segment said keeper means being disposed for association with means associated with said supporting member so that movement of said cross segment in a direction opposite said one direction stresses said clamp; said cross segment for moving in said direction opposite said one direction when said keeper means is associated with said means associated with said supporting member and for abutting said cross-member opposite one of the flanges of said supporting member in order to urge said cross-member against said flange of said supporting member.

Claim 12

For a suspended ceiling assembly comprising a grid of parallel supporting members and cross-members extending between adjacent supporting members, said supporting members and said cross-members having a generally T-shaped cross sectional configuration providing a vertically extending web with two flanges at the lower end of said web extending substantially normally thereto, the flanges of said supporting members supporting said cross-members against movement in one direction, a clamp for joining a cross-member to a supporting member, comprising: (a) keeper means; (b) a cross segment; (c) an intermediate portion resiliently joining said keeper means to said cross segment said keeper means being disposed for association with means associated with said supporting member so that movement of said cross segment in a direction opposite said one direction stresses said clamp; said cross segment for moving in said direction opposite said one direction when said keeper means is associated with said means associated with said supporting member and for abutting said cross-member opposite one of the flanges of said supporting member in order to urge said cross-member against said flange of said supporting member.

Claim 13

The clamp of claim 10 wherein the end portions of the flanges of said cross-members are removed to a distance equivalent to the width of a flange of said supporting members.

Claim 14

The clamp of claim 11 wherein the top surface of the web of each cross-member contains a notch proximate each end of the cross-member into which the cross segment of two said clamps may be received.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the means to support the first mentioned member against movement in one direction comprises a flange extending from said second mentioned member.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15 including the step of: (d) continuing to insert said end until the cross segment of said clamp snaps into a notch provided in said first mentioned member.

Claim 21

The method of claim 16 including the step of: (e) inserting the keepers of a second clamp of the type having two keepers, a cross segment and an intermediate portion integrally joining said keepers to said cross segment through said openings in said second mentioned member from the side of said second mentioned opposite said first mentioned member; (f) manipulating said second clamp so that a portion of said keepers lie adjacent the side of said second mentioned member which is proximate said first mentioned member and co-operate with a portion of said keepers extending through said openings so that movement of said cross segment of said second clamp in a direction opposite said one direction stresses said clamp; (g) inserting the end of a longitudinally extended member between means associated with said second mentioned longitudinally extended member for supporting said third mentioned longitudinally extended member against movement in said one direction and said cross segment of said second clamp thereby displacing said cross segment of said second clamp in said direction opposite said one direction and stressing said second clamp.

Claim 22

The method of claim 16 wherein the second mentioned longitudinally extending member is one of a plurality of parallel support members and the first mentioned longitudinally extending member is one of a plurality of cross-members stretching between adjacent support members which, when joined, form a grid of members for use in supporting ceiling panels in a suspended ceiling assembly.

Claim 23

The method of claim 15 wherein the members and the clamp are made of a corrosion-resistant material.

Claim 24

The method of claim 15 wherein the members are made of fiberglass reinforced plastic and the clamp is integrally formed and made of stainless steel.