Suspended ceiling system

Abstract

A mounting bracket is provided for attaching a suspended ceiling molding having a longitudinal slot to a main ceiling structure as part of a suspended coffered ceiling. The mounting bracket has an intermediate portion from which opposite wing portions project. Back sides of the wing and intermediate portions form together a surface positionable directly against the main ceiling structure. Each wing portion has one or more holes for passage of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure. A front side of the intermediary portion protrudes relative to front sides of the wing portions. A clipping arrangement project from the front side of the intermediary portion and is clippingly engageable with the slot of the ceiling molding so that the ceiling molding interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot.

1 . A mounting bracket for attaching a suspended ceiling molding to a main ceiling structure, the ceiling molding having a longitudinal slot, the mounting bracket comprising:
 an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions projecting from the intermediate portion, the wing and intermediate portions having opposite back and front sides, the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions forming together a surface positionable directly against the main ceiling structure, each wing portion having at least one hole extending between the front and back sides for passage of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure, the front side of the intermediary portion protruding relative to the front sides of the wing portions; and   a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot of the ceiling molding so that the ceiling molding interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the slot has opposite inner shoulder surfaces between which the clipping arrangement is insertable, the clipping arrangement having opposite clip portions extending at a distance from the front side of the intermediary portion and projecting away from each other so that the clip portions snappingly engage against respective ones of the shoulder surfaces when the clipping arrangement reaches the clipping position inside the slot, thereby interlocking the ceiling molding with the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 2 , wherein the slot is a T-slot having an undercut below a plane of the ceiling molding and defining the inner shoulder surfaces, and the clipping arrangement has two spaced apart generally parallel resiliently depressable tab portions extending outwardly from the front side of the intermediary portion, the clip portions respectively projecting from opposite outer surfaces of the resilient tab portions and having respective flange surfaces extending beyond respective facing edges of the shoulder surfaces when the clipping arrangement is in the clipping position inside the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 3 , wherein each clip portion has a wedge shape forwardly tapering in a direction away from the front side of the intermediary portion, the wedge shape having a back surface forming the flange surface of the clip portion. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 3 , wherein the tab portions have outer tab surfaces facing away from each other and spaced apart from each other by a distance substantially corresponding to a width of a gap of the slot so that the outer tab surfaces extend substantially against facing surfaces defining the gap of the slot when the clipping arrangement is in the clipping position inside the slot. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 2 , wherein the front side of the intermediary portion has a generally flat surface, and the distance of the clip portions with respect to the flat surface substantially corresponds to a distance between the inner shoulder surfaces and a plane of the ceiling molding so that the ceiling molding abuts against the flat surface when the clipping arrangement is in the clipping position. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the wing portions have elongated shapes, and said at least one hole comprising multiple holes distributed along the wing portions. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 7 , wherein the wing portions have transverse break-away grooves spaced longitudinally of the wing portions. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one hole comprises a through hole extending between the front and back sides of a corresponding one of the wing portions. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 9 , wherein the through hole has a funnel-like shape extending from the front side to the rear side of a corresponding one of the wing portions. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 10 , wherein the funnel-like shape is defined by a front conical surface followed by an oblong rear surface in a corresponding one of the wing portion, the front conical surface having opposite sides respectively closer to and farther from the intermediary portion, the side farther from the intermediary portion having a slant angle greater than a slant angle of the side closer to the intermediary portion for slanted or straight insertion of a fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface formed by the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions is generally planar. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the front sides of the wing and intermediary portions have bevelled edges. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the back sides of the wing and intermediary portions have weight lightening recesses separated by straightening ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the wing and intermediary portions and the clipping arrangement are made of one single piece of plastic material. 
     
     
         16 . A ceiling system for suspending ceiling panels from a main ceiling structure, the ceiling system comprising:
 a set of suspended ceiling moldings each having longitudinal opposite side flange portions for receiving and supporting sides of the ceiling panels, and an upper longitudinal slot; and   mounting brackets for attaching the ceiling moldings to the main ceiling structure, each mounting bracket having:
 an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions projecting from the intermediate portion, the wing and intermediate portions having opposite back and front sides, the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions forming together a surface positionable directly against the main ceiling structure, each wing portion having at least one hole extending between the front and back sides for passage of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure, the front side of the intermediary portion protruding relative to the front sides of the wing portions; and 
 a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot of one of the ceiling moldings so that the ceiling molding interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot. 
   
     
     
         17 . The ceiling system according to  claim 16 , wherein the slot of each ceiling molding is a T-slot having an undercut below a plane of the ceiling molding and defining inner shoulder surfaces between which the clipping arrangement of one of the mounting brackets is insertable, the clipping arrangement having opposite clip portions extending at a distance from the front side of the intermediary portion and projecting away from each other so that the clip portions snappingly engage against respective ones of the shoulder surfaces when the clipping arrangement reaches the clipping position inside the slot, thereby interlocking the ceiling molding with the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The ceiling system according to  claim 17 , wherein the clipping arrangement of each mounting bracket has two spaced apart generally parallel resiliently depressable tab portions extending outwardly from the front surface of the intermediary portion, the clip portions respectively projecting from opposite outer surfaces of the resilient tab portions and having respective flange surfaces extending beyond respective facing edges of the shoulder surfaces when the clipping arrangement is in the clipping position inside the slot. 
     
     
         19 . The ceiling system according to  claim 16 , wherein each ceiling molding has an elongated shape and has a substantially flat T-shaped profile. 
     
     
         20 . The ceiling system according to  claim 16 , further comprising an additional set of suspended ceiling moldings each having opposite end flange portions shaped to be received and supported on the flange portions of the suspended ceiling moldings with the longitudinal slots. 
     
     
         21 . A method for suspending ceiling panels from a main ceiling structure, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a set of ceiling moldings each having longitudinal opposite side flange portions for receiving and supporting sides of the ceiling panels, and an upper longitudinal slot;   providing mounting brackets for attaching the ceiling moldings to the main ceiling structure, each mounting bracket having:
 an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions projecting from the intermediate portion, the wing and intermediate portions having opposite back and front sides, the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions forming together a surface positionable directly against the main ceiling structure, each wing portion having at least one hole extending between the front and back sides for passage of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure, the front side of the intermediary portion protruding relative to the front sides of the wing portions; and 
 a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot of one of the ceiling moldings so that the ceiling molding interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot; 
   providing an additional set of suspended ceiling moldings each having opposite end flange portions shaped to be received and supported on the flange portions of the suspended ceiling moldings having the longitudinal slots;   fastening the mounting brackets directly to the main ceiling structure with fasteners inserted in the holes of the mounting brackets, the mounting brackets being oriented and spaced from one another so that the clipping arrangements form attachment lines for the ceiling moldings with the slots;   clipping the ceiling moldings with the slots to the mounting brackets;   suspending the ceiling moldings with the end flange portions between the ceiling moldings with the slots to form a grid-like pattern of coffers; and   suspending the ceiling panels in the coffers between the ceiling moldings with the slots and the ceiling moldings with the end flange portions.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of clipping is performed before the step of fastening for some of the ceiling moldings with the slots and their respective mounting brackets.