Tray ceiling for drop ceilings and method of manufacture and installation therefor

Abstract

A tray ceiling for drop ceilings and method of manufacture and installation therefor, wherein a selected area of foam panels and associated intersecting and supporting T-bars of a drop ceiling are removed to form an open area or clearing bordered by a perimeter of T-bars, thereby enabling a suitably dimensioned tray ceiling of simple and light-weight construction to be received, seated, and supported on the perimeter of T-bars, and wherein the tray ceiling is sufficiently structured to support the weight of conventional light fixtures and/or ceiling fan assemblies recessedly mounted therewithin.

1 . A tray ceiling for installation within a drop ceiling, said tray ceiling comprising: 
 a configuration adapted to be supported by the support bars of the drop ceiling.    
   
   
       2 . The tray ceiling of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration of said tray ceiling comprises a plurality of side walls in communication with an upper wall.  
   
   
       3 . The tray ceiling of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of side walls and said upper wall are formed from a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of Birchwood, balsa wood, light-weight wood, plastics, polyvinyl chloride, fiber-plastic composites, rigid expanded foam polyvinyl chloride, rigid expanded polystyrene, structured foam, cellulose materials, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The tray ceiling of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of side walls and said upper wall are structurally reinforced via a plurality of braces.  
   
   
       5 . The tray ceiling of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of braces is manufactured from a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of Birchwood, balsa wood, pine, light-weight wood, sheet metals, metals, plastics, polyvinylchloride, fiber-plastic composites, rigid expanded foam polyvinyl chloride, rigid expanded polystyrene, structured foam, cellulose materials, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The tray ceiling of  claim 1 , wherein said tray ceiling is selected from the group consisting of double tray ceilings, hexagonally-shaped tray ceilings, octagonally-shaped tray ceilings, square-shaped tray ceilings, rectangularly-shaped tray ceilings, circularly-shaped tray ceilings, and ovally-shaped tray ceilings.  
   
   
       7 . The tray ceiling of  claim 1 , wherein said tray ceiling is an integrally formed unit.  
   
   
       8 . The tray ceiling of  claim 1 , wherein the support bars are selected from the group consisting of T-bars, tracks, rails, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The tray ceiling of  claim 8 , wherein a selected area of the support bars and associated drop ceiling panels are removed to yield an open area bordered by a perimeter of support bars.  
   
   
       10 . The tray ceiling of  claim 9 , wherein said tray ceiling is supported by the perimeter of support bars.  
   
   
       11 . The tray ceiling of  claim 1 , wherein said tray ceiling is adapted to receive a light fixture or ceiling fan assembly.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for enabling the recessed mounting of an overhead light source or fan assembly to a drop ceiling, said apparatus comprising: 
 a tray ceiling adapted to be installed within and supported by the support bars of the drop ceiling, wherein the overhead light source or fan assembly is recessedly mounted to said tray ceiling.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for increasing the floor-to-ceiling height of a selected area of a drop ceiling, said apparatus comprising: 
 a tray ceiling adapted to be installed within and supported by the support bars of the drop ceiling.    
   
   
       14 . The tray ceiling of  claim 13 , wherein said tray ceiling comprises a plurality of side walls in communication with an upper wall.  
   
   
       15 . The tray ceiling of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of side walls and said upper wall are formed from a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of Birchwood, balsa wood, light-weight wood, plastics, polyvinyl chloride, fiber-plastic composites, rigid expanded foam polyvinyl chloride, rigid expanded polystyrene, structured foam, cellulose materials, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The tray ceiling of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of side walls and said upper wall are structurally reinforced via a plurality of braces.  
   
   
       17 . The tray ceiling of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of braces is manufactured from a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of Birchwood, balsa wood, pine, light-weight wood, sheet metals, metals, plastics, polyvinylchloride, fiber-plastic composites, rigid expanded foam polyvinyl chloride, rigid expanded polystyrene, structured foam, cellulose materials, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The tray ceiling of  claim 13 , wherein said tray ceiling is selected from the group consisting of double tray ceilings, hexagonally-shaped tray ceilings, octagonally-shaped tray ceilings, square-shaped tray ceilings, rectangularly-shaped tray ceilings, circularly-shaped tray ceilings, and ovally-shaped tray ceilings.  
   
   
       19 . The tray ceiling of  claim 13 , wherein said tray ceiling is an integrally formed unit.  
   
   
       20 . The tray ceiling of  claim 13 , wherein the support bars are selected from the group consisting of T-bars, tracks, rails, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The tray ceiling of  claim 20 , wherein a selected area of the support bars and associated drop ceiling panels are removed to yield an open area bordered by a perimeter of support bars.  
   
   
       22 . The tray ceiling of  claim 21 , wherein said tray ceiling is supported by the perimeter of support bars.  
   
   
       23 . The tray ceiling of  claim 13 , wherein said tray ceiling comprises a centrally-disposed brace adapted to support a light fixture or ceiling fan assembly mounted to said tray ceiling, wherein said tray ceiling comprises a throughhole for channeling therethrough electrical wires housed above the drop ceiling for electrical engagement of same to the recessedly mounted light fixture or ceiling fan assembly.  
   
   
       24 . A method of increasing the floor-to-ceiling height of a selected area of a drop ceiling, said method comprising the steps: 
 a. removing ceiling panels and intersecting support bars from the selected area of the drop ceiling to create an open area bordered by a perimeter of support bars;    b. inserting into the open area a tray ceiling dimensioned and adapted to be supported by the perimeter of support bars of the drop ceiling.    
   
   
       25 . A method of increasing the floor-to-ceiling height of a selected area of a drop ceiling, said method comprising the steps: 
 a. removing ceiling panels and intersecting support bars from the selected area of the drop ceiling to create an open area bordered by a perimeter of support bars;    b. framing within the open area a tray ceiling dimensioned and adapted to be supported by the perimeter of support bars of the drop ceiling.