Concealed accessible suspended ceiling system

Abstract

A multiplicity of suspension members for the ceiling tiles are provided for suspending the tiles from a multiplicity of runners. Each suspension member comprises a longitudinal flange portion, the opposite sides of the flange portion each being connected to a side flange, the side flanges on opposite sides pointing in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal flange. To allow suspending the suspension member from a runner, the side of the first flange pointing away from the longitudinal flange terminates in suspension means, preferably comprising a hooked profile. The second side flange points in a downward direction and is provided with a third flange which also extends at an angle with respect to the second flange. The third flange is adapted to engage a corresponding slit or groove provided in at least one of the sides of the ceiling tile or panel, or to engage the bottom surface of the ceiling tile.

1 . A suspended ceiling comprising a suspension system having at least one runner for suspending at least one ceiling panel, adjacent runners defining between them a space for receiving the at least one ceiling panel, the at least one ceiling panel comprising a top face facing the suspension system and a bottom face opposite the top face, the bottom face facing a space to be covered by the suspended ceiling, at least one suspension member connected to the at least one ceiling panel for suspending the at least one ceiling panel to the suspension system, wherein 
 the suspension member comprises on a first side first suspension means for suspending the ceiling panel and the suspension member from the suspension system, and on a second side opposite the first side taken in height direction of the suspension member, at least one attachment member for attachment of a first ceiling panel to the suspension member in such a way that the ceiling panel is held and maintained by the attachment member, the first suspension means being disposed at a first distance d 1  from the attachment member taken in height direction of the suspension member, which first distance d 1  is chosen such that it is sufficiently large to accommodate between the top face of the first ceiling panel and the first suspension means a second ceiling panel in thickness direction of the second ceiling panel, and the first suspension means being disposed at a second distance d 2  from the upright side edge of the ceiling panel attached to the attachment member, which is sufficient to accommodate a part of the second ceiling panel attached to a second suspension member in width direction of the ceiling panel in such a way as to permit suspending a ceiling panel between the first and a third panel positioned on opposite sides of the ceiling panel.    
   
   
       2 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 1  in which the at least one attachment member comprises an abutment edge which is provided to abut against at least part of the top face and at least one upright side face of the ceiling panel.  
   
   
       3 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which the abutment edge comprises clamping means for clamping the ceiling panel along at least part of the top face and part of the upright side face of the ceiling panel.  
   
   
       4 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 3  in which the clamping means comprise a first top flange abutting against the top face of the ceiling panel, a second side flange abutting against at least part of a side face of the ceiling panel.  
   
   
       5 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 4  in which the clamping means further comprise a third flange which protrudes from the second flange at a position of the bottom face of the panel, and is provided to clamp the at least one panel between the first top flange and the third bottom flange along part of respectively the top and bottom face of the ceiling panel.  
   
   
       6 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 4  in which the clamping means further comprise a third flange which protrudes from the second flange towards the panel and is provided to be received within an interior part of the panel, at a position between the top and bottom face of the ceiling panel.  
   
   
       7 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 6  in which at least one upright side face of the ceiling panel comprises at least one groove at a position between the top and bottom face of the panel for receiving the third flange, in view of clamping the ceiling panel within the clamping means between at least part of the top face of the ceiling panel and the groove.  
   
   
       8 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 7  in which the groove extends over a substantial length of the side face of the ceiling panel and the clamping means extend over a substantial length of the groove.  
   
   
       9 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 8  in which the third flange is connected to the second flange in a resilient manner.  
   
   
       10 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 8  in which the third flange is made as a resilient member.  
   
   
       11 . A ceiling suspension system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the at least one suspension member is slideably mountable to the building construction.  
   
   
       12 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 3  in which the suspension means are provided to suspend the ceiling panel in a direction parallel to the upright side attached to the clamping means.  
   
   
       13 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 3  in which the suspension means are provided to suspend the ceiling panel to the suspension system in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upright side attached to the clamping means.  
   
   
       14 . A ceiling suspension system as claimed in  claim 1  in which at a side of the ceiling panel remote from the ceiling suspension system, facing bottom edges of facing ceiling panels are chamfered.  
   
   
       15 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 1  in which all ceiling panels have the same or a different length.  
   
   
       16 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 1  in which all ceiling panels have the same or a different width.  
   
   
       17 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 1  in which facing side faces of adjacent panels connecting the upright sides ( 4 ,  14 ) to which the corresponding suspension members are attached, have complementary engaging surfaces.  
   
   
       18 . A suspended ceiling as claimed in  claim 1  in which facing side faces of adjacent panels connecting the upright sides attached to the corresponding suspension members, have complementary stepped surfaces.  
   
   
       19 . A ceiling suspension system comprising: 
 a plurality of generally rectangular ceiling tiles having first and second opposed edges;    a grid comprising a plurality of parallel elongated runners suspended from a building structure; and    a plurality of suspension members adapted to capture the opposed edges of the ceiling tiles and comprising a longitudinal flange adapted to overlie the upper surface of a ceiling tile, a first side flange extending upwardly from the longitudinal flange and terminating in a hook adapted to cooperate with a fixation clamp, a second side flange depending downwardly from the longitudinal flange and adapted to lie along at least a portion of the edge of a ceiling tile, and a third flange depending from the second flange, the third flange being generally parallel to the longitudinal flange so that the edge of the ceiling tile is captured by the suspension member between the longitudinal flange and the third flange.    
   
   
       20 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the opposed edges of the ceiling tiles include an elongated slot intermediate the upper and lower surfaces of the ceiling tile, the slot adapted to receive the third flange of the suspension member.  
   
   
       21 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the third flange of the suspension member engages the lower surface of the ceiling tile.  
   
   
       22 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the second flange comprises at least one projection and a complementarily-shaped recess along the length thereof for positively locating the suspension member of a first ceiling tile with the suspension member of an adjacent second ceiling tile.  
   
   
       23 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the longitudinal flange comprises a rib extending downwardly therefrom for strengthening the longitudinal flange and for providing a surface for engaging the upper surface of the ceiling tile.  
   
   
       24 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the second side flange is stepped inwardly so as to cooperate with an adjacent suspension carrier to provide a reveal between adjacent ceiling tiles.  
   
   
       25 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the third flange comprises an edge with projections along the length thereof adapted to bite into the ceiling tiles.  
   
   
       26 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the ceiling carriers are sized in length to correspond to the length of the ceiling tiles.  
   
   
       27 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the third flange comprises a dog leg profile for providing an engagement surface with the ceiling tile.  
   
   
       28 . The ceiling suspension system of  claim 19  wherein the runners comprise an inverted T-shaped cross-section with a central web with opposed flanges depending therefrom, the opposed flanges each having a further flange extending upwardly therefrom for capturing the hook of the suspension member so as to prevent disengagement of the suspension member from the runner by horizontal movement of the ceiling tile.