Safety device for a hanging ceiling

Abstract

A safety device for preventing injury caused by the sharp cut ends of wire such as the wire used in suspended ceilings. The safety device is formed of a polymer material which can be a plenum rated material and includes a tubular section, the bore of which is open at one end and closed at the other end. The safety device also includes one or more wire gripping jaws, formed integrally with the tubular section, which project from the tubular section along its length. When using this safety device with a suspended ceiling, the sharp free end of the twisted wire is inserted into the open end of the tubular section which causes the one or more gripping jaws to grip the portion of the suspension wire that is extending down from the original ceiling. A relatively light pressure is applied to the device which causes the gripping jaws to open sufficiently to receive and grip the wire. Once the wire has been fully seated in the gripping jaws, the jaws will close around the wire, gripping the wire to secure the device in place.

1 . A suspended ceiling system comprising: 
 a support structure from which the suspended ceiling will suspend;    a grid of inverted T-shaped channels on which ceiling tiles are supported;    suspension wires secured to the support structure and extending down to the grid of inverted T-shaped channels and terminal cut ends;    apertures formed in the vertically extending portion of said inverted T-shaped channels;    the terminal cut ends of said suspension wires extending through the apertures formed in the T-shaped channels and being bent back and twisted around these same wires such that the cut ends are exposed;    safety devices having an elongated bore formed therein that is adapted to receive the exposed cut ends of the suspension wires; and    attaching mechanism for attaching the safety devices to the suspension wire above its twisted portion.    
     
     
         2 . A suspended ceiling system as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 said safety devices being formed of a plenum rated material.  
 
     
     
         3 . A suspended ceiling system as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 said attaching mechanisms being in the form of resilient gripping jaws that that will open when the jaws are held against the wire and a force is applied.  
 
     
     
         4 . A suspended ceiling system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said safety device comprises a unitary device including: 
 an elongated tubular section having an open end and a closed end, the bore of the tubular section being of a size to receive the exposed cut ends of said suspension wires;  
 a gripping jaw secured to said elongated tubular section, said gripping jaw including a gripping jaw tubular section, the bore of said gripping jaw tubular section being equal to or smaller than the diameter of said suspension wire, said gripping jaw tubular section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from its outer surface to its bore, said slot having a minimum width that is less than the diameter of said suspension wire.  
 
     
     
         5 . A suspended ceiling system as set forth in  claim 4  further comprising: 
 said safety devices being formed of a plenum rated material.  
 
     
     
         6 . An improved apparatus for hanging suspended ceiling structures from an overhead ceiling comprising: 
 a suspension wire formed of flexible wire and having a terminal cut end;    the terminal cut end of said suspension wire being bent back and twisted around itself such that the cut end is exposed;    a safety device having an elongated bore formed therein that is adapted to receive the exposed cut end of the suspension wire; and    attaching mechanism for attaching the safety devices to the suspension wire above the twisted portion.    
     
     
         7 . An improved apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising: 
 said safety devices being formed of a polymer material.  
 
     
     
         8 . An improved apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising: 
 said attaching mechanisms being in the form of resilient gripping jaws that that will open when the jaws are held against the wire and a force is applied.  
 
     
     
         9 . An improved apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said safety device comprises a unitary device including: 
 an elongated tubular section having an open end and a closed end, the bore of the tubular section being of a size to receive the a wire having a diameter of about {fraction (5/32)} of an inch;  
 a gripping jaw secured to said elongated tubular section, said gripping jaw including a gripping jaw tubular section, the bore of said gripping jaw gripping jaw tubular section being equal to or smaller than about {fraction (5/32)} of an inch, said gripping jaw tubular section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from its outer surface to its bore, said slot having a minimum width that is less than {fraction (5/32)} of an inch.  
 
     
     
         10 . An improved apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  further comprising: 
 said safety devices being formed of a plenum rated material.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method for the installation of suspended ceilings employing an improved safety device for protecting the installer from injury caused by the sharp ends of cut suspension wires comprising the steps of: 
 providing a channel for a suspended ceiling that has been suspended by a wire that has been connected to the channel, bent back and twisted around itself such that the cut end of the wire is exposed;    providing a protective device having an elongated bore formed therein;    inserting the exposed cut end of the wire into said elongated bore formed in the protective device;    securing the protective device to the wire at a location above the twist in the wire.    
     
     
         12 . A method for the installation of suspended ceilings as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the method includes the additional step of: 
 providing a closed bottom in the elongated bore formed in the protective device.  
 
     
     
         13 . A method for the installation of suspended ceilings as set forth in clam  11  wherein the method includes the following additional step: 
 providing the protective device with a gripping jaw that will function to secure the protective device to the wire at a location above the twist in the wire.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method for the installation of suspended ceilings as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the method includes the following additional step: 
 providing the protective device with a pair of gripping jaws that will function to secure the protective device to the wire at a location above the twist in the wire.  
 
     
     
         15 . A method for the installation of suspended ceilings as set forth in  claim 11  wherein: 
 the protective device that is provided is formed of a plenum rated material.  
 
     
     
         16 . A safety device for protecting against injury by the sharp cut ends of wires comprising a unitary device including: 
 an elongated tubular section having an open end and a closed end, the bore of the tubular section being of a size to receive a wire having a predetermined diameter;    a gripping jaw secured to said elongated tubular section, said gripping jaw including a gripping jaw tubular section, the bore of said gripping jaw tubular section being equal to or smaller than said predetermined dimension, said gripping jaw tubular section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from its outer surface to its bore, said slot having a minimum width that is less than said predetermined dimension.    
     
     
         17  A safety device for protecting against injury as set forth in  claim 16  further comprising: 
 said unitary device being formed of a plenum rated material.  
 
     
     
         18 . A safety device for protection against injury by the sharp cut ends of wires as set forth in  claim 16  and further comprising: 
 a second gripping jaw secured to said elongated tubular section, said second gripping jaw including a gripping jaw tubular section, the bore of said second gripping jaw being equal to or smaller than said given dimension, said second gripping jaw tubular section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from its outer surface to its bore, said slot having a minimum width that is less than said predetermined dimension.  
 
     
     
         19 . A safety device for protecting against injury as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising: 
 said unitary device being formed of a plenum rated material.