Suspended ceiling support structure

Abstract

A ceiling support system for a suspended ceiling is provided that includes resilient clamps for attachment to the undersigned surface of a structural ceiling and interengaging ceiling runners that are shaped to be fitted into and be grasped by such clamps. The engagement edge of the runner is shaped to allow the runner to maintain a bistable positions: a normal, ceiling panel supporting orientation, and a canted orientation for installation of ceiling panels.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A supporting framework for a suspended ceiling comprising: 
 (1) a plurality of resilient clamps for fastening in place beneath components of a structural ceiling, said clamps each having a baseplate and resiliently expandable sides terminating at a pair of lips that define a nip, said baseplate and sides defining an internal receiving space, and    (2) longitudinal ceiling runners which are generally of an inverted “T” shaped in cross-section, having a pair of laterally extending support flanges that provide ledge surfaces for carrying ceiling panels, and an upwardly directed clamp-engaging leg with a web portion and an enlarged, peripheral, clamp-engaging edge that is remote from the lateral flanges,    wherein said clamp-engaging edge is of a shape which permits the runner to maintain two bistable orientations with respect to the clamp when the clamp is engaged with the runner    
     
     
         2 . A method of installing ceiling panels of a suspended ceiling comprising the steps of: 
 (1) providing a plurality of resilient clamps and fastening such clamps in place beneath components of a structural ceiling, said clamps each having a baseplate and resiliently expandable sides terminating at a pair of lips that define a nip, said baseplate and sides defining an internal receiving space;    (2) providing a plurality of longitudinal ceiling runners which are generally of an inverted “T” shaped in cross-section, each having a web and a pair of laterally extending support flanges that provide ledge surfaces for carrying ceiling panels, and an upwardly directed clamp-engaging leg having a web portion and an enlarged peripheral clamp-engaging edge that is remote from the lateral flanges,    wherein said clamp-engaging end is of a shape which permits the runner to maintain two bistable orientations with respect to the clamp when the clamp is engaged with the runner    (3) placing the clamp-engaging edge of a runner at the nips of said clamps and pressing such edge through the lips of said clamps to penetrate into the internal receiving space of the clamp whereby the runner is held in place by the clamp through the action of the lips grasping the web portion of the runner and/or surfaces on the peripheral edge of the clamp-engaging leg;    (4) canting at least one of said runners out of alignment with the orientation of an adjacent runner to provide space for a ceiling panel to be placed between said canted runner and said another runner;    (5) inserting a ceiling panel therebetween; and,    (6) realigning said runners to retain the ceiling panel in place.    
     
     
         3 . A framework as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 (1) the enlarged, peripheral edge of the clamp-engaging leg of the runner is pointed and tapered with an entry taper surface that provide an easy entry and passage of such edge through the lips of the nip, and  
 (2) the flange side of said peripheral edge is provided with a surface oriented at an angle to the clamp which permits the tapered surface and flange side of the peripheral edge to be grasped between the lips of a clamp, such that said lips will be spread apart when the runner is rotated in either lateral direction.  
 
     
     
         4 . A framework as in  claim 3  wherein the peripheral edge is arrow-head shaped in cross-section.  
     
     
         5 . A framework as in  claim 1  wherein the height of the web from the lateral flanges to the enlarged edge allows the enlarged edge to pass into the internal receiving space of the clamp, providing a range of positions at which the lips may grasp the web.  
     
     
         6 . A framework as in  claim 1  wherein the sides of the clamp are angled less sharply towards each other as such sides approach the nip to increase the rate of increase of the force required to remove the runner from the clamp.  
     
     
         7 . A framework in  claim 1  wherein; 
 (1) the clamps are generally triangular in cross-section with the baseplate of the clamp dished inwardly into the interior receiving space of the clamp; and  
 (2) a fastening hole is formed in the baseplate through which are fastener may pass to engage with the structural ceiling whereby the retention force at the nip of the clamp can be varied in accordance with the tightness with which a fastener engages the structural ceiling.  
 
     
     
         8 . A framework as in  claim 7  wherein the sides of the clamp are notched along the lips to provide access for a fastener engagement tool to reach a fastener positioned in the fastening hole.  
     
     
         9 . A framework as in  claim 1  in combination with an installed drop ceiling support system having installed runners comprising a joining plate means coupled to the installed runners on their underside and coupled to resilient clamps positioned beneath the joining plate means.