Suspended ceiling assembly

Abstract

A suspended ceiling assembly and method for mounting such an assembly to provide an inner ceiling suspended under the framework of a roof. The assembly includes a plurality of suspension beams suspended in parallel to each other under the framework by cables. A plurality of mounting rails are mounted transversally underneath the suspension beams with the help of connecting members. The connecting members each have a sleeve-shaped body for enclosing a cross-section of a corresponding suspension beam therein, fasteners for fastening the sleeve-shaped body to this corresponding suspension beam, and a hook-shaped bottom portion engageable with the top flange of a corresponding mounting rail for supporting this mounting rail. The ceiling tiles are mounted between the bottom mounting portions of adjacent mounting rails. Advantageously, the assembly according to this invention is versatile and allows to easily mount an inner ceiling of a desired shape to any framework.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A suspended ceiling assembly for mounting an inner ceiling under a framework of a roof, the assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of suspension beams suspendable underneath the framework in a parallel relationship to each other;    a plurality of cables for connecting the suspension beams to the framework, each of said cable having a length adapted to suspend a corresponding suspension beam at a predetermined distance from said framework;    a plurality of mounting rails each transversally mountable underneath at least two of the suspension beams, each of said mounting rails having a top flange and a bottom mounting portion;    a plurality of connecting members, each of said connecting members being devised for connecting the top flange of one of the mounting rails to one of the suspension beams, each of said connecting member comprising a sleeve-shaped body for enclosing a cross-section of a corresponding suspension beam therein, fasteners for fastening said sleeve-shaped body to said corresponding suspension beam, and a hook-shaped bottom portion engageable with the top flange of a corresponding mounting rail for supporting said mounting rail; and    a plurality of ceiling tiles each mountable between the mounting portions of adjacent mounting rails, for forming said inner ceiling.    
     
     
         2 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners comprise nuts and bolts.  
     
     
         3 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein each suspension beam has a C-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         4 . A suspended ceiling assembly according the  claim 1 , wherein the ceiling tiles are made of metal.  
     
     
         5 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said mounting rails has an S-shaped cross-section forming a top hook defining the top flange and a bottom hook defining the mounting portion.  
     
     
         6 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein each ceiling tile comprises: 
 a panel having a back surface and a first and a second set of two opposed parallel edges;    a hooking member projecting from the back surface of the panel along one of said parallel edges of the first set and towards said panel, said hooking member being engageable with the bottom hook of an adjacent mounting rail; and    a first L-shaped member projecting from the back surface of the panel along another one of said parallel edges of the first set and away from said panel, said first L-shaped member being engageable with the hooking member of an adjacent ceiling tile when said hooking member of an adjacent ceiling tile is engaged with the bottom hook of one of the mounting rails.    
     
     
         7 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said hooking member is provided with at least one pin rigidly projecting therefrom; and    said first L-shaped member is provided with at least one opening therein engageable with the at least one pin of said hooking member of an adjacent ceiling tile.    
     
     
         8 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein each ceiling tile further comprises a first and a second L-shaped side member each projecting from the back surface of the panel along one of said parallel edges of the second set and towards said panel, the first side member being provided with a tab resiliently projecting therefrom outwardly from the ceiling tile, and the second side member being provided with a slit adapted to receive the tab of an adjacent ceiling tile therein when said ceiling tile and adjacent ceiling tile are mounted between the mounting portions of adjacent mounting rails.  
     
     
         9 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a number of the plurality of mounting rails each have an I-shaped cross-section having: 
 a middle portion;    a top portion defining said top flange and forming two top hooks extending on either sides of the middle portion, each of said top hooks being engageable with one of the connecting members; and    a base portion defining said bottom mounting portion and forming two bottom hooks for mounting one of the ceiling tiles thereto, said bottoms hooks extending on either side of the middle portion.    
     
     
         10 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein each ceiling tile comprises: 
 a panel having a back surface and a first and a second set of two opposed parallel edges;    a first and a second hooking members each projecting from the back surface of the panel along one of said parallel edges of the first set and away from said panel, each of the first and second hooking member being engageable with one of the bottom hooks of an adjacent mounting rail.    
     
     
         11 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein each ceiling tile further comprises a first and a second L-shaped side member each projecting from the back surface of the panel along one of said parallel edges of the second set and towards said panel, the first side member being provided with a tab resiliently projecting therefrom outwardly from the ceiling tile, and the second side member being provided with a slit adapted to receive the tab of an adjacent ceiling tile therein when said ceiling tile and adjacent ceiling tile are mounted between the mounting portions of adjacent mounting rails.  
     
     
         12 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mounting rails has a C-shaped cross-section having: 
 a middle portion;    a top portion defining said top flange and forming a top hook extending on one side of the middle portion, said top hook being engageable with one of the connecting members; and    a base portion defining said bottom mounting portion and forming a bottom hook for mounting one of the ceiling tiles thereto, the bottom hook extending on said one side of the middle portion.    
     
     
         13 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein each ceiling tile comprises: 
 a panel having a back surface and a first and a second set of two opposed parallel edges;    a first and a second hooking members, each projecting from the back surface of the panel along one of said parallel edges of the first set and away from said panel, either of the first and second hooking member being engageable with the bottom hook of an adjacent mounting rail.    
     
     
         14 . A suspended ceiling assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each ceiling tile further comprises a first and a second L-shaped side member each projecting from the back surface of the panel along one of said parallel edges of the second set and towards said panel, the first side member being provided with a tab resiliently projecting therefrom outwardly from the ceiling tile, and the second side member being provided with a slit adapted to receive the tab of an adjacent ceiling tile therein when said ceiling tile and adjacent ceiling tile are mounted between the mounting portions of adjacent mounting rails.  
     
     
         15 . A method for mounting an inner ceiling under a framework of a roof, the method comprising steps of: 
 a) suspending a plurality of suspension beams underneath the framework in a parallel relationship to each other, a plurality of cables being provided for connecting the suspension beams to the framework, each of said cable having a length adapted to suspend a corresponding suspension beam at a predetermined distance from said framework;    b) mounting a plurality of mounting rails transversally underneath at least two of the suspension beams, each of said mounting rails having a top flange and a bottom mounting portion, a plurality of connecting members being provided for connecting the top flange of each one of the mounting rails to a corresponding suspension beam, each connecting member comprising a sleeve-shaped body for enclosing a cross-section of a corresponding suspension beam therein, fasteners for fastening said sleeve-shaped body to said corresponding suspension beam, and a hook-shaped bottom portion engageable with the top flange of a corresponding mounting rail for supporting said mounting rail; and    c) mounting a plurality of ceiling tiles between the mounting portions of adjacent mounting rails, thereby forming said inner ceiling.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein each mounting rail mounted in step b) has an S-shaped cross-section forming a top hook defining the top flange and a bottom hook defining the mounting portion.