Ceiling system and method of installation

Abstract

A ceiling system is provided for use in a building space. The ceiling system has an open cell grid structure and is attached to a support structure of the building via hanging hardware. The open cell grid structure is constructed of a plurality of bottom panels attached to the hanging hardware, a plurality of middle panels attached to the plurality of bottom panels, and a plurality of top panels attached to the plurality of middle panels. The bottom, middle, and top panels are arranged in a plurality of rows and arranged to ensure that the plurality of panels form an interconnected system capable of being extended to any size desired by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ceiling system comprising:
 an open cell grid structure having a top surface opposing a bottom surface, the open cell grid structure comprising:
 edge, and a plurality of first slots; and 
 a plurality of second panels, each of the plurality of second panels having a second top edge, a second bottom edge, and a plurality of second slots in at least one of the second top edge and the second bottom edge; 
   wherein the plurality of first panels are configured to be arranged in a non-intersecting manner with the first bottom edges facing downward, and wherein hardware is configured to be coupled to each of the plurality of first panels and to a support structure to hang the plurality of first panels from the support structure;   wherein the plurality of second panels are configured to be mounted to the plurality of first panels by mating the plurality of first slots with the plurality of second slots; and   wherein the bottom surface of the open cell grid structure defines a first edge opposite a second edge and a central region between the first edge and the second edge, wherein one of the first edge and the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the central region.   
     
     
         2 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first panels has a first end opposite a second edge and a central region between the first edge and the second end, wherein one of the first edge and the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the central region. 
     
     
         3 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of second panels has a first edge opposite a second edge and a central region, wherein one of the first edge and the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the central region. 
     
     
         4 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the open cell grid structure is curved. 
     
     
         5 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the open cell grid structure is non-planar. 
     
     
         6 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the open cell grid structure is planar. 
     
     
         7 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first panels is a one-piece construction. 
     
     
         8 . The ceiling system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of second panels is a one-piece construction. 
     
     
         9 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first and second panels comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein the first top and bottom edges of the plurality of first panels extend continuously between the first and second major surfaces of the plurality of first panels, wherein the second top and bottom edges of the plurality of second panels extends continuously between the first and second major surfaces of the plurality of second panels,. 
     
     
         10 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first panels and each of the plurality of second panels is formed from a sound absorbing material. 
     
     
         11 . The ceiling system according to  claim 10 , wherein the sound absorbing material is a polyester felt. 
     
     
         12 . The ceiling system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first panels has a first thickness, each of the plurality of second panels has a second thickness, and wherein the first and second thickness are the same. 
     
     
         13 . A ceiling system comprising:
 an open cell grid structure having a top surface opposing a bottom surface, the open cell grid structure comprising:
 a plurality of first panels, each of the first panels having a first top edge, a first bottom edge, and a plurality of first upper slots in the first top edge, the first panels configured to be arranged in a non-intersecting arrangement so that the first bottom edges face downward; 
 a plurality of second panels, each of the second panels having a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a plurality of second upper slots in the second top edge, and a plurality of second lower slots in the second bottom edge that are offset from the second upper slots, the second panels configured to be mounted to the first panels in a first intersecting arrangement so that the second lower slots mate with the first upper slots to form primary intersection nodes, the second bottom edges facing downward; and 
 a plurality of third panels, each of the third panels having a third top edge, a third bottom edge, and a plurality of third lower slots in the third bottom edge, the third panels configured to be mounted to the second panels in a second intersecting arrangement so that the third lower slots mate with the second upper slots at secondary intersection nodes, the third bottom edges facing downward; 
   hanging hardware configured to be connected to each of the first panels and to a support structure to hang the open cell grid structure from the support structure in an occupied space of a building;   wherein the bottom surface of the open cell grid structure defines a first edge opposite a second edge and a central region between the first edge and the second edge, wherein one of the first edge and the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the central region.   
     
     
         14 . The ceiling system according to  claim 13 , wherein the bottom surface of the open cell grid structure is non-planar. 
     
     
         15 . The ceiling system according to  claim 13 , wherein the bottom surface of the open cell grid structure is curved. 
     
     
         16 . The ceiling system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of first panels, each of the plurality of second panels, and each of the plurality of third panels is a one-piece construction. 
     
     
         17 . The ceiling system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of first, second, and third panels comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein the first top and bottom edges of the plurality of first panels extend continuously between the first and second major surfaces of the plurality of first panels, wherein the second top and bottom edges of the plurality of second panels extends continuously between the first and second major surfaces of the plurality of second panels, and wherein the third top and bottom edges of the plurality of third panels extend continuously between the first and second major surfaces of the plurality of third panels. 
     
     
         18 . The ceiling system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of first panels, each of the plurality of second panels, and each of the plurality of third panels is formed from polyester felt. 
     
     
         19 . The ceiling system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of first panels has a first thickness, each of the plurality of second panels has a second thickness, and each of the plurality of third panels has a third thickness, and wherein the first, second, and third thickness are the same. 
     
     
         20 . The ceiling system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of first panels has a first thickness and each of the first upper slots has a first width, the first width being greater than the first thickness, wherein each of the plurality of second panels has a second thickness, each of the second upper slots has a second width, and each of the second lower slots has a third width, the second and third widths being greater than the second thickness, and wherein each of the plurality of third panels has a third thickness and each of the third lower slots has a fourth width, the fourth width being greater than the third thickness.