Low profile suspended ceiling beam

Abstract

A low profile beam. This beam has a web with flanges attached to the bottom and a bulb attached to the top. The bulb is an inverted triangle connected to one edge of the web, with flanges projecting from the opposite edge of the web. The top face of the bulb is scored. In addition, the angled faces of the bulb and the flanges may be scored. The beam may be further incorporated into a ceiling system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beam for a suspended ceiling, comprising:
 a web having a first edge opposite a second edge;   a bulb having:
 a top face having a scoring line substantially parallel to the web and located along the length of the top face, and 
 two angled faces of substantially equal width, each in contact with the first edge of the web and the top face, 
 wherein the top face and angled faces form an inverted triangle; and 
   two flanges opposite one another at the second edge of the web extending substantially perpendicularly out from the web.   
     
     
         2 . The beam of  claim 1 , wherein the top face and angled faces define an equilateral triangle. 
     
     
         3 . The beam of  claim 1 , wherein the angled faces include scoring lines substantially parallel to the web and located along the length of the angled faces. 
     
     
         4 . The beam of  claim 1 , wherein the flanges include scoring lines substantially parallel to the web and located along the length of the flanges. 
     
     
         5 . The beam of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the beam is less than the combined widths of the two flanges. 
     
     
         6 . The beam of  claim 1 , wherein the width of one of the angled faces of the bulb is greater than the width of the top face of the bulb. 
     
     
         7 . The beam of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the top face of the bulb is between about half the combined width of the flanges and about one sixth the combined width of the flanges. 
     
     
         8 . The beam of  claim 1 , wherein the beam is formed from a single sheet of material. 
     
     
         9 . The beam of  claim 8 , wherein the beam is formed from one or a combination of metals, polymers, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The beam of  claim 8 , wherein the material has a thickness of between about 0.008 inches and about 0.05 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The beam of  claim 1 , wherein the web is comprised of a first surface substantially parallel to a second surface wherein the first surface and the second surface are joined together by a stitch. 
     
     
         12 . The beam of  claim 11 , wherein the stitch comprises a portion of the first surface which passes through a portion of the second surface creating an indentation in the first surface and a protuberance in the second surface. 
     
     
         13 . A suspended ceiling configured for location proximate a plenum space, the ceiling comprising:
 a grid formed of main beams running substantially parallel to one another connected by cross beams, wherein the cross beams include:
 a web having a first edge opposite a second edge; 
 a bulb having; 
 a top face having scoring line substantially parallel to the web and located along the length of the top face, and 
 two angled faces of substantially equal width, each in contact with the first edge of the web and the top face, 
 wherein the top face and angled faces form an inverted triangle; and 
 two flanges opposite one another at the second edge of the web extending substantially perpendicularly out from the web, 
   wherein the grid is adapted to maximize the plenum space.   
     
     
         14 . The suspended ceiling of  claim 13 , wherein the suspended ceiling remains balanced, level, and intact even though a load below the grid of beams is not spread evenly over the grid of beams. 
     
     
         15 . The suspended ceiling of  claim 14 , wherein the web is comprised of a first surface substantially parallel to a second surface wherein the first surface and the second surface are joined together by a stitch. 
     
     
         16 . The suspended ceiling of  claim 15 , wherein the stitch comprises a portion of the first surface which passes through a portion of the second surface creating an indentation in the first surface and a protuberance in the second surface.