Surface covering system

Abstract

A surface covering system utilizes a grille assembly that is configured to be mounted to a support structure. The grille assembly has a plurality of slats arranged substantially parallel to one another, the slats each extending along a slat axis. The slats may be mounted to a plurality of cross-backer beams which extend along a cross-beam axis that is oriented perpendicular to the slat axes of the slats. A plurality of bays may be formed between adjacent cross-backer beams. A plurality of primary angled backer beams may each extend along a primary angled beam axis and may be positioned within at least a portion of the plurality of bays. The primary angled beam axes may be oriented obliquely to the slat axes of the slats. The plurality of primary angled backer beams may be coupled to the slats.

1 . A surface covering system comprising:
 a grille assembly comprising:
 a plurality of slats arranged substantially parallel to one another, each of the slats extending along a slat axis from a first end to a second end and comprising vertically oriented first and second major surfaces, a bottom edge extending between the first and second major surfaces, and a top edge extending between the first and second major surfaces; 
 a plurality of cross-backer beams, each of the cross-backer beams: extending along a cross-beam axis; oriented so that the cross-beam axis extends substantially perpendicular to the slat axes of the slats; and coupled to each of the slats; 
 the cross-backer beams spaced apart from one another along the slat axes of the slats to form a plurality of bays between adjacent ones of the cross-backer beams; and 
 a plurality of primary angled backer beams, each of the primary angled backer beams: extending along a primary angled beam axis from a proximal end to a distal end; positioned within one of the bays and oriented so that the primary angled beam axis extends obliquely to the slat axes of the slats; and coupled to the slats; and 
   the grille assembly configured to be mounted to a support structure.   
     
     
         2 . The surface covering system according to  claim 1  wherein, for each of the primary angled backer beams, the distal end of the primary angled backer beam abuts a first one of the cross-backer beams and the proximal end of the primary angled backer beam abuts a second one of the cross-backer beams. 
     
     
         3 . The surface covering system according to  claim 1  wherein the primary angled backer beams are oriented so that the primary angled beam axes are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The surface covering system according to  claim 1  to wherein each of the primary angled backer beams overlies and is fastened to at least two of the slats. 
     
     
         5 . The surface covering system according to  claim 1  to further comprising:
 the grille assembly further comprising:
 a plurality of secondary angled backer beams; and 
 each of the secondary angled backer beams: extending along a secondary angled beam axis from a proximal end to a distal end; positioned within one of the bays in which one of the primary angled backer beams is also located; oriented so that the secondary angled beam axis extends obliquely to the slat axes of the slats and obliquely to the primary angled beam axis of the primary angled backer beam in the same bay; and fastened to the slats. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The surface covering system according to  claim 1  to further comprising:
 wherein N number of the bays are formed sequentially along a length of the grille assembly starting with a 1 st  bay at a proximal end of the grille assembly and ending with an N th  bay at a distal end of the grille assembly; 
 wherein N≥5; 
 wherein one of the angled backer beams is positioned in each of the 2 nd  bay and the (N-1) th  bay; and 
 wherein remaining ones of the bays are free of any angled backer beams. 
 
     
     
         7 . The surface covering system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a grid assembly configured to be mounted to the support structure; and 
 the grille assembly configured to be mounted to the grid assembly; 
 wherein the grille assembly is mounted to the beams of the grid assembly by coupling the cross-backer beams to beams of the grid assembly. 
 
     
     
         8 . The surface covering system according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cross-backer beams comprise:
 a plurality of first cross-backer beams having a bottom surface comprising a plurality of notches formed therein, top portions of the slats nesting within the notches; and 
 a plurality of second cross-backer beams having a bottom surface comprising a planar bottom surface in contact with the top edges of the slats; 
 wherein each of the plurality of notches comprises a pair of opposing sidewall surfaces extending from the bottom surface to a floor surface; and wherein at least one of the plurality of notches comprises a radiused corner between the floor surface and at least one of the opposing sidewall surfaces. 
 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A surface covering system comprising:
 a grille assembly comprising:
 a plurality of first cross-backer beams, each of the first cross-backer beams extending along a first cross-beam axis and comprising:
 a first top surface; 
 a first bottom surface; and 
 a plurality of first notches formed in the first bottom surface, each of the first notches having a first depth measured from the first bottom surface to a first floor surface of the first notch; 
 
 a plurality of second cross-backer beams, each of the second cross-backer beams extending along a second cross-beam axis and comprising:
 a second top surface; 
 a second bottom surface; and 
 a plurality of second notches formed in the second bottom surface, each of the second notches having a second depth measured from the second bottom surface to a second floor surface of the second notch, the second depth being greater than the first depth; 
 
 the first and second cross-backer beams arranged in a spaced apart manner, the first and second cross-backer beams oriented so that the first and second cross-beam axes are substantially parallel with one another; 
 a plurality of slats, each of the slats extending along a slat axis from a first end to a second end and comprising vertically oriented first and second major surfaces, a bottom edge extending between the first and second major surfaces, and a top edge extending between the first and second major surfaces; and 
 the slats mounted to the first and second cross-backer beams so that top portions of the slats nest in the first and second notches so that the top edges of slats contact the first and second floor surfaces, the slats arranged substantially parallel to one another; and 
   the grille assembly configured to be mounted to a support structure.   
     
     
         11 . The surface covering system according to  claim 10  wherein the first and second cross-backer beams are arranged in an alternating pattern along the length of the slats. 
     
     
         12 . The surface covering system according to  claim 10  wherein the top surfaces of the second cross-backer beams and the top surfaces of the first cross-backer beams are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         13 . The surface covering system according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 each of the first cross-backer beams has a first height measured from the bottom surface of the first cross-backer beam to the top surface of the first cross-backer beam; 
 each of the second cross-backer beams has a second height measured from the bottom surface of the second cross-backer beam to the top surface of the second cross-backer beam; and 
 the second height being greater than the first height. 
 
     
     
         14 . A surface covering system comprising:
 a grille assembly comprising:
 a plurality of first cross-backer beams, each of the first cross-backer beams extending along a first cross-beam axis and comprising:
 a first top surface; 
 a first bottom surface; and 
 a first height measured from the first bottom surface to the first top surface; 
 
 a plurality of second cross-backer beams, each of the second cross-backer beams extending along a second cross-beam axis and comprising:
 a second top surface; 
 a second bottom surface; and 
 a second height measured from the second bottom surface to the second top surface, the second height greater than the first height; 
 
 the first and second cross-backer beams arranged in a spaced apart manner, the first and second cross-backer beams oriented so that the first and second cross-beam axes are substantially parallel with one another; 
 a plurality of slats mounted to the first and second cross-backer beams, each of the slats extending along a slat axis from a first end to a second end and comprising vertically oriented first and second major surfaces, a bottom edge extending between the first and second major surfaces, and a top edge extending between the first and second major surfaces; and 
   the grille assembly configured to be mounted to a support structure.   
     
     
         15 . The surface covering system according to  claim 14  wherein each of the second cross-backer beams comprises a plurality of second notches formed in the second bottom surface, each of the second notches having a second depth measured from the second bottom surface to second floor surfaces of the second notches; and the slats mounted to the second cross-backer beams so that top portions of the slats nest in the second notches so that the top edges of slats contact the second floor surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The surface covering system according to  claim 15  wherein each of the slats has a third height measured from the bottom edge to the top edge; and wherein a ratio of the second depth to the third height is equal to or greater than 0.35:1. 
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The surface covering system according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 the grille assembly comprising a transverse center plane that is substantially orthogonal to the slat axes; and 
 the first and second cross-backer beams arranged in a symmetric pattern about the transverse center plane. 
 
     
     
         22 . The surface covering system according to  claim 21  wherein one of the second cross-backer beams is located along the transverse center plane. 
     
     
         23 . The surface covering system according to  claim 15  further comprising:
 a grid assembly comprising beams, the grid assembly configured to be mounted to the support structure; and 
 the grille assembly configured to be mounted to the grid assembly by coupling the first cross-backer beams to the beams of the grid assembly. 
 
     
     
         24 . The surface covering system according to  claim 15  wherein the top surfaces of the second cross-backer beams and the top surfaces of the first cross-backer beams are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         25 . The surface covering system according to  claim 15  wherein each of the second cross-backer beams comprises a plurality of second notches formed in the second bottom surface, each of the second notches having a second depth measured from the second bottom surface to second floor surfaces of the second notches; and
 the slats mounted to the second cross-backer beams so that top portions of the slats nest in the second notches so that the top edges of slats contact the second floor surfaces.