Adaptable ceiling tile system

Abstract

An adaptable ceiling tile structure and a suspended ceiling system utilizing such ceiling tiles is disclosed. The basic ceiling tiles include a peripheral frame surrounding a single primary opening. A cover layer, such as a fabric or scrim may be stretched across the opening and attached to the frame with a support surface defining the primary plane of the cover layer and an offset portion defining a peripheral recess. The ceiling tile may be customized with premanufactured trim pieces that include end portions configured for insertion into the peripheral recess and an intermediate portion that can be attached to the cover layer. Once the trim piece is in place, a portion of the peripheral frame and the cover layer can be removed, typically by cutting, to complete the customized ceiling tile.

1 . An adaptable ceiling tile system comprising: 
 a ceiling tile comprising a peripheral frame defining a single primary opening, the peripheral frame configured to provide a support surface and an offset surface; and    a cover layer extending across the opening and onto the support surface, the cover layer cooperating with the offset surface to form a recess.    
     
     
         2 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the cover layer is attached to the peripheral frame by one or more fastening methods selected from a group consisting of adhering, stapling, welding, crimping, pressing, retaining and stitching.    
     
     
         3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the peripheral frame is configured to allow deflection of the offset surface in a direction away from the cover layer.    
     
     
         5 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the cover layer is a scrim (veil); and    the peripheral frame is a polymeric composition.    
     
     
         6 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the polymeric composition includes a reinforcing structure.    
     
     
         7 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the peripheral frame includes a mounting surface, the mounting surface being offset from the supporting surface.    
     
     
         8 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the peripheral frame includes a recess adjacent the supporting surface, the recess configured for receiving a retainer element for fixing the cover layer to the peripheral frame.    
     
     
         9 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a retaining structure extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the cover layer; and    an access opening provided in the peripheral frame for deflecting the retaining structure.    
     
     
         10 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a retaining structure extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the cover layer; and    a deflection element configured whereby movement of the deflection element will deflect the retaining structure.    
     
     
         11 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 an extended portion of the peripheral frame for reducing the apparent separation between adjacent ceiling tiles.    
     
     
         12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method of preparing a custom ceiling tile having a reduced opening comprising: 
 obtaining a base ceiling tile, the base ceiling tile comprising a peripheral frame defining a single primary opening, the peripheral frame configured to provide a support surface and an offset surface, a cover layer extending across the opening and onto the support surface, the cover layer cooperating with the offset surface to form a recess;    determining the necessary modifications to the primary opening required to produce the reduced opening;    configuring a trim element for producing the reduced opening;    inserting a portion of the trim element into the recess and attaching a contact surface to the cover layer to define a reduced periphery; and    removing portions of the peripheral frame and cover layer that extend beyond the reduced periphery.    
     
     
         14 . A method of preparing a custom ceiling tile having a reduced opening according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the trim element is selected from standard configurations selected from a group consisting of straight, angled and curved trim elements.    
     
     
         15 . A method of preparing a custom ceiling tile having a reduced opening according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the trim element is selected from standard configurations selected from a group consisting of straight, right angle and arcuate trim elements.    
     
     
         16 . A ceiling tile installation system comprising: 
 a suspended grid configured for supporting a plurality of base ceiling tiles and a custom ceiling tile;    base ceiling tiles having a regular polygonal shape periphery defined by a peripheral frame defining a single primary opening, the peripheral frame configured to provide a support surface and an offset surface, a cover layer extending across the opening and onto the support surface, the cover layer cooperating with the off-set surface to form a recess; and    the custom ceiling tile having an irregular periphery formed by modifying a base ceiling tile by configuring a trim element and inserting a portion of the trim element into the recess and attaching a contact surface of the trim element to the cover layer to define the irregular periphery and removing portions of the peripheral frame and cover layer that extend beyond the irregular periphery to form the custom ceiling tile.    
     
     
         17 . A ceiling tile installation system according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 retaining structures provided on the ceiling tiles, the retaining structures cooperating with the suspended grid to maintain the position of installed ceiling tiles.    
     
     
         18 . A ceiling tile installation system according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 openings are provided in the peripheral frames of the ceiling tiles for accessing and releasing the retaining structures to allow for ceiling tile removal.    
     
     
         19 . A ceiling tile installation system according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the peripheral frame have an extended portion configured for concealing a portion of the suspended grid and reducing an observed spacing between adjacent tiles.    
     
     
         20 . An adaptable ceiling tile system comprising: 
 a ceiling tile comprising a peripheral frame defining a single primary opening, the peripheral frame configured to provide a support surface and an offset surface; and    a cover layer extending across the opening and onto the support surface, the cover layer cooperating with the offset surface to form a recess; and    a trim element having a portion configured for insertion into the recess to define a reduced opening and a contact surface that can be attached to the cover layer.    
     
     
         21 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the offset surface includes projecting structures for retaining the inserted portion of the trim element.    
     
     
         22 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a stop element extending from the offset surface toward the cover layer for limiting the movement of the portion of the trim element into the recess.    
     
     
         23 . An adaptable ceiling tile system according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the cover layer is a scrim (veil); and    the peripheral frame is a polymeric composition.