Ceiling and wall panel clips

Abstract

Ceiling and wall panel clip assemblies are characterized by wall and ceiling panel clips having extending fingers that engage companion U-shaped spring-steel panel clips attached to various panels for securing the panels to a framework or grid on the wall or ceiling of a structure. The ceiling panel clip includes a main tee characterized by a main tee leg, typically fitted with a top cross member and a bottom cross member and extending downwardly to a finger mount that mounts the three fingers which engage the corresponding panel clips in a friction-fit. In one embodiment the ceiling panel clips accommodate a support clip fitted over the top of the main tee at the top cross member and having a flange and a downwardly-extending leg attached to a lanyard secured to a decorative ceiling panel, for safety purposes. The wall panel clips include a finger mount flange for supporting the three outwardly-extending panel fingers that engage the companion panel clips attached to selected wall panels. Mount openings are provided in the finger mount flange for receiving screws and securing the finger mount flange to a wall structure or a wall and mounting the panels on the wall structure or wall by engaging the respective panel clips and corresponding fingers attached to the finger mount flange, in a friction-fit.

1 . A clip assembly for connecting a panel to a structure, said clip assembly comprising a structure clip characterized by a base connected to the structure and at least three fingers extending from said base in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other and at least one panel clip provided on the panel for engaging said fingers of said base and securing the panel to the structure.  
   
   
       2 . The clip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the structure includes a ceiling grid attached to a ceiling and wherein said base comprises a finger mount mounting said fingers and a main tee leg extending from said finger mount in substantially perpendicular relationship, wherein said main tee leg engages the ceiling grid for supporting said structure clip and the panel beneath the ceiling.  
   
   
       3 . The clip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the structure includes at least one cross-tee connected to a ceiling and at least one 2-way clip connecting the cross-tee and wherein said base comprises a finger mount mounting said fingers; a main tee leg extending from said finger mount in substantially perpendicular relationship; and at least one cross-member spaced from said finger mount, said cross-member extending from said main tee leg, wherein said main tee leg engages the 2-way clip for supporting said structure clip and the panel beneath the ceiling.  
   
   
       4 . The clip assembly of  claim 2  comprising a support clip engaging said main tee leg and a lanyard connected to said support clip and the panel for securing the panel to said support clip.  
   
   
       5 . The clip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the structure includes a wall structure and wherein said base comprises a finger mount flange for seating on the wall structure and mounting said three fingers and a plurality of fastener mount openings provided on said finger mount flange for receiving fasteners and securing said finger mount flange to the wall structure.  
   
   
       6 . The clip assembly of  claim 3  comprising a support clip engaging said main tee leg and a lanyard connected to said support clip and the panel for securing the panel to said support clip.  
   
   
       7 . The clip assembly of  claim 1  comprising at least one gripping element provided on each of said fingers for gripping said at least one panel clip.  
   
   
       8 . The clip assembly of  claim 2  comprising: 
 (a) a support clip engaging said main tee leg and a lanyard connected to said support clip and the panel for securing the panel to said support clip; and    (b) at least one gripping element provided on each of said fingers for gripping said at least one panel clip.    
   
   
       9 . The clip assembly of  claim 5  comprising a shoulder provided on each of said fingers for removably receiving the wall panel clips on the panel.  
   
   
       10 . A ceiling panel clip assembly for supporting ceiling panels from a ceiling structure, said ceiling panel clip assembly comprising a plurality of ceiling panel clips, each characterized by a main tee engaging the ceiling structure; a finger mount provided on said main tee and three fingers projecting from said finger mount in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other; and a plurality of panel clips mounted on said ceiling panels for removably engaging said fingers on said finger mount, respectively, and removably mounting the ceiling panels on said ceiling panel clips.  
   
   
       11 . The ceiling clip assembly of  claim 10  wherein said ceiling panel clips each comprises at least one cross-member provided on said main tee in spaced-apart relationship with respect to said finger mount for engaging the ceiling structure.  
   
   
       12 . The ceiling clip assembly of  claim 11  comprising a support clip engaging said at least one cross-member on said main tee leg of said ceiling panel clip and a lanyard connected to said support clip and the ceiling panels for securing the ceiling panels to said support clip.  
   
   
       13 . The ceiling clip assembly of  claim 11  wherein said at least one cross-member comprises a top cross-member defining one end of said main tee and a bottom cross-member provided on said main tee of said ceiling panel clip between said top cross-member and said finger mount.  
   
   
       14 . The ceiling clip assembly of  claim 13  comprising support clip engaging said top cross-member on said main tee leg of said ceiling panel clip and a lanyard connected to said support clip and the ceiling panels for securing the ceiling panels to said support clip.  
   
   
       15 . The ceiling clip assembly of  claim 10  comprising at least one gripping element provided on each of said fingers for gripping said at least one panel clip.  
   
   
       16 . The ceiling clip assembly of  claim 15  comprising a support clip engaging said top cross-member on said main tee leg of said ceiling panel clip and a lanyard connected to said support clip and the ceiling panels for securing the ceiling panels to said support clip.  
   
   
       17 . A wall clip assembly for mounting panels on a wall structure, comprising a plurality of wall panel clips, each characterized by a finger mount flange for seating on the wall structure; a plurality of fastener openings provided in said finger mount flange; fasteners extending through said fastener openings and at least into the wall structure for securing said finger mount flange to the wall structure; three fingers extending from said finger mount flange in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other; and a resilient panel clip provided on each of the panels for engaging said three fingers on said finger mount flange, respectively, and removably mounting the panels on the wall structure.  
   
   
       18 . The wall clip assembly of  claim 17  comprising at least one gripping element provided on each of said fingers for gripping said at least one panel clip.  
   
   
       19 . The wall clip assembly of  claim 17  comprising a shoulder provided on each of said fingers for removably receiving the wall panel clips on the panel.  
   
   
       20 . A clip assembly for connecting panels to a structure comprising a structure clip having a base for connection to the structure and three fingers extending from said base in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other and a pair of resilient panel clips provided on the panel for engaging said fingers on said base and removably securing the panel to the structure.