Panel Mounting System

Abstract

A panel mounting system for mounting ceiling and other panels is disclosed, wherein a bracket attached to the ceiling or other surface interlocks loosely but positively with a bracket attached to the panel, such that the position of the panel on the mounting surface can be adjusted before the panel is finally tacked down. In a ceiling panel application, the bracket supports the weight of the panel while allowing for adjustment of the panel, thus facilitating installation of the panel.

1 . A panel mounting system, comprising: 
 (a) an interlocking bracket having a first part with a strip shape and a second part with a strip shape, said first part adapted for attachment to a mounting surface and said second part adapted for attachment to a panel; and    (b) a portion of said first part interlocking with a portion of said second part such that said panel becomes attached to said mounting surface; and    (c) the width of said interlocking portion of said first part being substantially different than the width of said interlocking portion of said second part, such that the position of said first part is adjustable in the width-wise dimension relative to the position of the second part and said panel can move parallel to said mounting surface after said panel becomes attached to said mounting surface.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first part has a channel located thereon and said second part has a first member adapted to fit within said channel in order to interlock said first part and said second part.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said channel has an opening at a bottom thereof and said second part has a second member disposed outside said channel and connected to said first member through said opening.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the width of said first member is substantially less than the width of said channel.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first part has a plurality of through-holes located thereon, for attaching said first part to said mounting surface.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said first part is attached to said mounting surface with screws located in said through-holes.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second part has a plurality of through-holes located thereon, for attaching said second part to said panel.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said second part is attached to said panel with screws located in said through-holes.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second part is attached to said panel with adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting surface is a ceiling.  
   
   
       11 . An interlocking bracket for adjustably attaching a first object to a second object, comprising: 
 (a) a female part having a strip shape, an upper wall, side walls, and a lower wall with an opening located thereon, said upper wall, side walls, and lower wall defining a channel open at a bottom portion thereof, and said upper wall adapted for attachment to said first object; and    (b) a male part having a strip shape, an upper member, lower member, and a connection between said upper member and said lower member, said lower member adapted for attachment to said second object; and    (c) said male part adapted to interlock with said female part such that said upper member fits within said channel and said lower member is disposed outside said channel, and said connection is disposed in said opening; and    (d) the width of said upper member being substantially less than the width of said channel, such that said upper channel can travel back and forth along the width of said channel in order to adjust the position of said second object relative to the position of said first object,    whereby said first object is adjustably attached to said second object.    
   
   
       12 . The interlocking bracket of  claim 11 , wherein said first object is a mounting surface and said second object is a panel.  
   
   
       13 . The interlocking bracket of  claim 12 , wherein said mounting surface is a ceiling.  
   
   
       14 . The interlocking bracket of  claim 11 , wherein said female part has a plurality of through-holes located thereon, for attaching said female part to said first object.  
   
   
       15 . The interlocking bracket of  claim 14 , wherein said female part is attached to said first object with screws located in said through-holes.  
   
   
       16 . The interlocking bracket of  claim 11 , wherein said male part has a plurality of through-holes located thereon, for attaching said male part to said second object.  
   
   
       17 . The interlocking bracket of  claim 16 , wherein said male part is attached to said second object with screws located in said through-holes.  
   
   
       18 . The interlocking bracket of  claim 11 , wherein said male part is attached to said second object with adhesive.  
   
   
       19 . A method for attaching a panel to a mounting surface, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a bracket with an interlocking first part and second part, the width of the interlocking portion of said first part being substantially different than the width of the interlocking portion of said second part, such that the position of said first part is adjustable in the width-wise dimension relative to the position of the second part;    (b) attaching said first part to said mounting surface;    (c) attaching said second part to said panel;    (d) interlocking an end of said first part with an end of said second part and sliding said first and second parts together to attach said mounting surface to said panel;    (e) moving said panel parallel to said mounting surface to adjust the position of said panel relative to said mounting surface;    (f) securing said panel in position, to restrict said movement of said panel parallel to said mounting surface.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said mounting surface is a ceiling.