Cross rail and suspended ceiling system formed therefrom

Abstract

A cross rail to which one or more battens of a suspended ceiling system can be secured, the cross rail comprising an elongate channel having an upper wall via which one or more ceiling suspension clips are engageable to support the cross rail; opposed lateral walls extending downwardly from the upper wall; and pairs of opposed latching members via which one or more battens are securable to the cross rail, each latching member of a pair extending downwardly from a respective lateral wall such that, in use, a batten is securable substantially perpendicularly to the cross rail between two adjacent pairs of opposed latching members.

1 . A cross rail to which one or more battens of a suspended ceiling system can be secured, the cross rail comprising:
 an elongate channel having an upper wall via which one or more ceiling suspension clips are engageable to support the cross rail;   opposed lateral walls extending downwardly from the upper wall; and   pairs of opposed latching members via which one or more battens are securable to the cross rail, each latching member of a pair extending downwardly from a respective lateral wall such that, in use, a batten is securable substantially perpendicularly to the cross rail between two adjacent pairs of opposed latching members.   
     
     
         2 . The cross rail of  claim 1 , wherein the latching members project downwardly from the lateral walls. 
     
     
         3 . The cross rail of  claim 2 , wherein adjacent latching members are spaced apart from one another along a length of the lateral walls, which spacing is shaped and sized to receive at least an upper end of the batten. 
     
     
         4 . The cross rail of  claim 1 , wherein each latching member comprises one or more teeth configured for latching to a corresponding flange of the batten. 
     
     
         5 . The cross rail of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall comprises apertures for reception of a respective ceiling suspension clip such that the cross rail can be hung therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . The cross rail of  claim 5 , wherein each aperture comprises a slit configured to receive an engagement end of the suspension clip. 
     
     
         7 . The cross rail of  claim 5 , wherein each aperture further comprises a central opening extending through the slit to permit rotation of the suspension clip about a longitudinal direction thereof relative to the cross rail. 
     
     
         8 . The cross rail of  claim 5 , wherein the upper wall further comprises one or more openings associated with a respective aperture, each opening being configured to locate a corresponding projection of the suspension clip when inserted so as to retain an orientation of the cross rail relative to the suspension clip(s) from which it depends. 
     
     
         9 . The cross rail of  claim 1 , wherein the cross rail is integrally formed. 
     
     
         10 . The cross rail of  claim 1 , wherein the cross rail is made from galvanised steel. 
     
     
         11 . A suspended ceiling system comprising:
 suspension rods;   ceiling suspension clips secured to respective suspension rods;   cross rails, the cross rails hanging from the suspension clips and being spaced apart in a transverse direction; and   battens spanning across and being secured to two or more adjacent and spaced apart cross rails, wherein each of the cross rails comprise:   an elongate channel having an upper wall via which one or more ceiling suspension clips are engageable to support the cross rail;   opposed lateral walls extending downwardly from the upper wall; and   pairs of opposed latching members via which one or more battens are securable to the cross rail, each latching member of a pair extending downwardly from a respective lateral wall such that, in use, a batten is securable substantially perpendicularly to the cross rail between two adjacent pairs of opposed latching members.   
     
     
         12 . A method of securing a batten to a cross rail the batten comprising an elongate channel having opposed side walls, the method comprising:
 orienting the batten such that it is below the cross rail and substantially perpendicular thereto;   urging the side walls of the batten toward one another such that a width of the urged batten is less than that between adjacent latching members;   inserting at least an upper end of the side walls of the batten between adjacent latching members of two adjacent pairs of opposed latching members; and   releasing said urging such that the side walls move away from one another and the batten is held in position between adjacent latching members.