US3225503A - Ceiling access opening and bracket therefor - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 RALLIS 3,225,503

CEILING ACCESS OPENING AND BRACKET THEREFOR Filed March 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 74 INVENTOR.

x/AIMES 6410 i mm w x Dec. 28, 1965 J. M. RALLIS CEILING ACCESS OPENING ANDBRACKET THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1963 I NVENTOR L/AME s M E44 1 /s United States Patent 3,225,503 CEILING ACCESS OPENING AND BRACKET THEREFOR James M. Rallis, 412 16th St., Brooklyn 15, N.Y. Filed Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 269,098 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-497) The present invention relates in general to an auxiliary or suspended ceiling construction and in particular to such a ceiling construction having provision for an access opening therein which is provided with a removable closure.

Ceilings of the type to which the present invention relates are formed of a plurality of tiles which are mounted in juxtaposed or abutting relation. While various attempts have heretofore been made to provide for the ready removal of one of such tiles so as to obtain an access opening through said ceiling, the prior art devices have proven to be ineflicient, relatively cumbersome and relatively expensive.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ceiling construction of the described type which is provided with a readily closeable access opening which obviates the various objections and disadvantages of prior art devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a suspended ceiling construction having a highly novel closeable access opening means provided therein which is highly efficient in operation and which can be provided in the ceiling at a relatively low cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a suspended or auxiliary ceiling of the described type which is provided with a closeable access opening defining means which is economical to manufacture, to mount in position and which presents a highly attractive and decorative appearance.

Other and further objects and advantages of the pres ent invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the appended drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary exploded view partially in section of a suspended ceiling construction provided with means which define a readily closeable access opening therein pursuant to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through that portion of the suspended ceiling construction which is provided with the closeable access opening means pursuant to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates a suspended ceiling construction provided with a plurality of closeable access opening means pursuant to the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a removable tile pursuant to the present invention which is removed from the suspended ceiling construction to define the access opening;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the tile illustrated in FIGURE 4 with a portion broken away;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of a bracket or holder assembly for the access opening defining means pursuant to the present invention, the holder being illustrated as mounted in a channel or Z bar;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective exploded view of a modified form of holder or bracket assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the bracket or holder illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8a is a sectional view showing the bracket of FIGURES 6 and 8 installed; and

3,225,503 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 FIGURE 9 is a bottom plan view of a suspended ceiling construction having a closeable opening means defined therein pursuant to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a suspendedceiling construction 10 pursuant to the present invention lncludes a plurality ofsquare tiles 12 of conventional construction. Thetiles 12 are each provided with a continuous peripheral groove which is defined therein. As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the lowerperipheral side portions 16 of thetiles 12 extend outwardly for a greater distance than the upperperipheral side portions 18. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the set-back conformation of the upper portions relative to the lower portions permits the sides of thetiles 12 to be readily mounted on adjacent supporting channel orZ bars 20.

As best shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 6, each channel orZ bar 20 which is preferably formed from suitable sheet metal, comprises avertical wall 22 which is provided at the upper end thereof with thelateral flange 24 which extends from one side of thewall 22. Inwardly of the free longitudinalmarginal edge 26 thereof theflange 24 is provided with adepressed portion 28 which extends parallel to the adjacentmarginal edge 26. It will be understood that eachchannel member 26 is preferably formed of a single strip of sheet metal and in addition to theflange 24 which is provided preferably by bending at the upper end of thevertical wall 22, is provided also with aflange 30 which is formed by bending and doubling the strip upon itself at the lower end of thevertical wall 22 so that thedouble layer flange 30 extends from thewall 22 in a direction opposite to the direction of theupper flange 24. The material of the strip from which thechannel member 26 is formed continues laterally of thewall 22 in the same direction as theupper flange 24 so as to define asingle layer flange 32 which underlies and is spaced from theupper flange 24. The free longitudinal marginal edge of theflange 32 is bent upon itself to define abead 34 which is spaced laterally from thewall 22. It will be readily apparent that thevertical wall 22 provided with anupper flange 24 and alower flange 32 both extending in the same direction therefrom defines a channel construction. Theflanges 30 and 32 respectively fit inopposed grooves 14 of the abutting sides ofadjacent tiles 12 as will be apparent from FIGURE 9 and as is well known in the art.

In order to mount the suspendedceiling construction 10 from the overlyingpermanent ceiling 36, theZ bars 20 are mounted on the lower surface of theceiling 36 by means ofleaf springs 38. Eachleaf spring 38 is provided with acentral body portion 40 and withopposite end portions 42 and 44 which are bent upwardly from thebody portion 40. Anaperture 46 is defined in thebody portion 40. Theleaf spring 38 is secured on the lower surface of themain ceiling 36 by means of a screw orbolt 48 which passe-s through theaperture 46 and is threaded into themain ceiling 36. In order to mount theZ bars 20 on the lower surface of theceiling 36, the upwardlybent end 42 of thespring 38 is engaged under theupper flange 24 in abutment with thedepressed portion 28 thereof as best shown in FIGURE 2 so that thedepression 28 defines a detent for the free marginal edge of theend portion 42. It will be readily apparent that as thescrew 48 is threaded into theceiling 36 thespring 38 will be stressed so as to retain the Z members orbars 20 in engagement with themain ceiling 36. It will be understood that a suflicient number ofsprings 38 are mounted in spaced relation longitudinally of eachmember 20 to provide for the adequate securement of the latter to the undersurface of themain ceiling 36.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a suspended ceiling is defined by means of thetiles 12 which are mounted by the lower flanges and 32 of theZ bars 20, the latter being engaged against the undersurface of themain ceiling 36 by the engagement of theleaf springs 38 with theupper flange 24 of the Z bar. The distance between theupper ceiling 36 and the suspendedceiling 10 depends upon the longitudinal dimension of thewall 22. In order to secure theceiling 10 to the walls of the building, the latter are provided withchannels 52 secured thereto as by thescrews 54. The channels engage the outer sides of theend tiles 12 so as to support the end tiles of theceiling construction 10 in position.

Pursuant to a highly novel aspect of the present invention, provision is made for obtaining access to the area between the suspendedceiling 10 and themain ceiling 36. For this purpose, thetiles 16 are formed into modifiedtiles 56. Thetiles 56 are in all respects similar to thetiles 12 except that the upperperipheral portion 18 along one marginal side edge thereof are broken away or removed as shown in broken line in FIGURE 1 so that along said one marginal edge thereof from which the upper peripheral port-ion 18 has been removed the modifiedtile 56 has only the lower peripheral portion or kerf of thetile 12 which remaining portion is also designated by thereference numeral 16. The removal of theupper portion 18 provides a rightangular step 58 at the marginal edge from which saidportion 18 has been removed. Said rightangular step 58 is defined by theupper surface 60 of the underlying kerf or lowerperipheral portion 16 and by the adjacentvertical surface 62 which rises upwardly from thesurface 60 and which was defined by the removal of the upperperipheral portion 58. In addition to the removal of said one upperperipheral portion 18 from thetile 12 to form the modifiedtile 56, there is also provided in the latter anaperture 64 adjacent or inwardly of the rightangular step 58 which extends completely through the modifiedtile 56. Consequently, it will be understood that except for the removal of one of the upperperipheral portions 18 and the formation of anaperture 64 thetile 56 is in all other respects similar to thetile 12. In addition, it will be understood that along its marginal side edge in opposition to the marginal side edge in which there is defined the rightangular step 58, thetile 56 is mounted in the same manner as previously described in connection with thetiles 12, namely by the insertion of thedouble layer flange 30 of theZ bar 20 into theperipheral groove 14 in the opposing side marginal edge as shown for example in FIGURE 3 which shows anintermediate tile 56 having along its right peripheral edge viewing the figure agroove 14 in which thedouble layer flange 30 is inserted.

As previously explained, it will be understood that in connection with anormal tile 12 thesingle thickness flange 32 of theZ bar 20 is insertable into theperipheral groove 14 thereof while thedouble thickness flange 30 of the Z bar is inserted into theadjacent groove 14 of anadjacent tile 12. However, with the removal of the upperperipheral extension 18 from one marginal edge of the modifiedtile 56, it will be apparent that thetile 56 can no longer be supported along its modified marginal edge by means of thesingle flange 32 or by means of thedouble flange 30 since thegroove 14 is no longer present at said modified edge. For this purpose, and pursuant to a highly novel feature of the present invention there is provided a bracket orholder assembly 66 for mounting atile 56 along the marginal edge thereof which is provided with the rightangular step 58. As best shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, the bracket orholder assembly 66 comprises abracket 68, abolt 70, anut 72 and awasher cap 74 which is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. Thebracket 68 is preferably formed of a strip of sheet metal which is bent or formed into a substantially right angled configuration. Thebracket 68 comprises avertical arm 76 and ahorizontal arm 78 which is in substantial right angular relation to thevertical arm 76. Between thearms 76 and 78, there is defined a U-shaped bend 80 by means of which thearm 78 is stepped upwardly relative to the bottom ofarm 76. It will be understood that the U bend can be opened as shown in FIGURE 8 or that it can be closed as for example by moving together the opposing portions of the U bend. At the upper or free end thereof thevertical arm 76 is provided with an inwardly directedflange 82 which is bent in the same direction as the direction in which thearm 78 extends away from thearm 76. Thearm 76 is provided with an aperture and thearm 78 is provided with anaperture 86. In order to mount a mod-ifiedtile 56 along the marginal edge thereof which is provided with the rightangular step 58, thebracket 68 is mounted in aZ bar 20 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. More specifically and as best shown therein, the outer surface of thevertical arm 76 abuts the adjacent surface of thewall 22 of the Z bar with theflange 82 of the holder disposed in engagement with the lower surface of theflange 24 at the upper end of thewall 22. At its upper end, theholder 68 is retained in position within the Z bar by engagement of themarginal edge 84 offlange 82 with thedetent 28 defined in theflange 24 of the Z bar. TheU bend 80 is seated on the upper surface of the singlelower flange 32 of the Z bar and it will be noted that the U bend is engaged by thehead 34 which serves as a detent for the holder along the lower portion thereof. In this connection, it will be understood that thebead 34 does not constitute an essential feature of the present invention. It may be desirable where thehead 34 is not utilized, to provide an aperture in thewall 22 in registry with theaperture 85 in thearm 76 of the holder for securing the holder to the Z bar by means of a bolt extending through said apertures. With theholder 68 mounted in the Z bar as illustrated in FIGURE 6, thearm 76 will then overlie thetile 56 in the manner shown for example in FIG-URE 2 which illustrates a modified form of holder designated by the reference numeral which is hereinafter described in detail. With thearm 78 overlying thetile 56, theaperture 86 therein will be in registry with theaperture 64 in the tile and theflange 32 of theZ bar 20 will extend into the rightangular step 58 of thetile 56 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The tile may then be readily releasably secured to theholder 68 by inserting thebolt 72 in an enlargedupper portion 92 of theaperture 64 as shown in FIGURE 2. Thebolt 70 may then be readily threaded through theaperture 86 in the holder and through thebolt 72 so as to extend through and outwardly from theaperture 64. At the bottom or lower surface of thetile 56, thewasher cap 74 is engaged in threaded relation on to the exposed portion of thebolt 70.

A modified form ofbracket assembly 94 utilizing the modified holder orbracket 90 is illustrated in FIGURE 7. In addition to the holder orbracket 90, thebracket assembly 94 also includes thebolt 70, thenut 72 and thewasher cap 74. Theholder 90 is also formed of a strip of sheet metal which is bent upon itself to define a substantially right angular configuration. As here shown, theholder 90 is provided with avertical arm 96 and with ahorizontal arm 98 which is in substantially right angular relation to thevertical arm 96.A U bend 100 is interposed at the junction between thearms 96 and 98 and serves to step up thearm 98 relative to the bottom of thearm 96, the same manner as in connection with the relationship between thearms 76 and 78 of theholder 68 and theU bend 80 therebetween. At the upper end thereof thearm 96 is provided with an inwardlybent flange portion 102 which extends in the same direction as the direction in which thearm 98 extends away from thearm 96. Theholder 90 also includes ahorizontal flange 104 which overlies and is parallel to the underlyinghorizontal arm 98. An integralangular portion 106 extends between theflange portion 102 and theflange 104. Anaperture 108 is defined in theflange 104 and an underlying aperture in registry therewith as indicated at 110 is defined in the underlyinghorizontal arm 98.

Theholder 90 is mounted in theZ bar 20 as best shown in FIGURES l and 2. In this connection, it will be noted that theholder 90 is substantially similar to theholder 68 in that theholder 90 contains the various parts of theholder 68, except theaperture 84 of the latter and in addition is provided with the additionallower flange 104 and with the angular port-ion 106 which extends from theupper flange portion 102 to thelower flange 104 of theholder 90. Consequently, theholder 90 is mounted in theZ bar 20 in substantially the same manner as theholder 68. More specifically, theupper flange 102 of theholder 90 is seated between thedepressed detent 28 in theupper flange 24 of the Z bar and the upper end of thevertical wall 22. Thevertical arm 96 of theholder 94 engages the inner surface of thevertical wall 22 and theU bend 100 thereof is seated on the lowersingle flange 32 of the Z bar being engaged with thebead 34 as best shown in FIGURE 2. As previously indicated, it will be understood that thebead 34 is not an essential feature of the present invention and furthermore that theU bend 100 can be open as shown or it can be closed by pinching together the opposing vertical portions thereof. Thehorizontal arm 98 is engaged on the upper surface of the modifiedtile 56, the singlelower flange 32 of the Z bar being seated within the right angular step of thetile 56 as best shown in FIGURE 2. Thenut 72 is inserted into the enlargedupper portion 92 of theaperture 64 and theapertures 108 and 110 being in registery and being disposed in registry with the underlying aperture in the tile, thebolt 70 is then threaded through the aligned apertures and through thenut 72 so as to project from the lower surface of thetile 56. Thewasher cap 74 is then threaded onto the projecting portion of thebolt 70.

When utilizing either the bracket orholder 68 or the bracket orholder 90, thetile 56 which is mounted thereby may readily and expeditiously be removed from the ceiling so as to obtain access to the space between thedrop ceiling 10 and theupper ceiling 36. This is accomplished in a very simple manner by merely removing thewasher nut 74 from thebolt 70 so as to release thetile 56 from the associated holder. The tile may then be tilted downwardly from theceiling 10 so as to disengage the opposed marginal side thereof from thedouble layer flange 30 of the adjacent Z bar which extends into thegroove 14 which is defined in the marginal edge of thetile 56 opposite that provided with the rightangular step 60. In either case, whether using theholder 68 or theholder 90 it will be readily apparent that there is provided a means for readily removing one of the tiles of theceiling 10 for obtaining access to the space between the drop ceiling and the permanent ceiling.

It will be readily apparent that the arrangement of the foregoing holder assemblies and the utilization of a modifiedtile 56 provides a relatively inexpensive means for obtaining a removable access opening closure means for a drop ceiling which is less expensive than the arrangements proposed in the prior art. Moreover the holder devices of the present invention provide better support for theremovable tile 56 than is possible with prior art constructions because the holders of the present invention are mounted within the channel of the Z bar defined by itsupper flange 24, itslower flange 32 and thevertical wall 22 extending therebetween. Moreover, it will be noted that in each of the holders of the present invention, the horizontal arm which extends therefrom abuts the upper surface of the modifiedtile 56 and is secured thereto by means of thebolt 70. As a result, there is less stress provided on thechannel 22 and there is a slight resilience provided by means of the holder arrangement of the present invention which minimizes the stress or tension to which theZ bar 20 is subjected.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that pursuant to the present invention there has been provided a highly novel and efiicient arrangement for providing a removable access opening closure in a drop ceiling of the type which is described. It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without however departing from the inventive concept thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a suspended tile ceiling construction, an elongated member for supporting the tiles of said ceiling in spaced relation below a main ceiling, said member having a vertical wall provided with substantially right angled flanges at the upper and lower ends thereof which define a channel and with an additional right angled flange at said lower end which extends in a direction opposite to the lower channel defining flange, said upper flange being adapted to be secured to the main ceiling and said additional channel being adapted to support a tile, and holder means mounted within said channel for supporting a tile closure plate in said ceiling, said holder means comprising substantially right angular bracket means having a vertical body portion abutting said vertical wall, an upper substantially right angled flange means abutting the upper flange of said channel, a substantially right angled lower flange provided with aperture means defined therein for receiving a securing means whereby said holder is adapted to be releasably secured to the upper surface of the tile closure plate and a substantially reverse L- shaped bend abutting the lower flange of said channel, said bend extending between the bottom of said vertical body portion and the lower flange of said bracket means, said lower flange of said holder means being disposed between said channel defining flanges and extending laterally therefrom, said upper channel defining flange having a detent portion for retaining said upper holder flange in position, and said lower channel defining flange having a detent portion for retaining said lower holder flange in position.

2. A suspended tile ceiling construction as in claim 1, said detent portion of said lower channel defining flange being a bead defined at the free marginal edge of said lower channel defining flange.

3. In a suspended tile ceiling construction, an elongated member for supporting the tiles of said ceiling in spaced relation below a main ceiling, said member having a vertical wall provided with substantially right angled flanges at the upper and lower ends thereof which define a channel and with an additional right angled flange at said lower end which extends in a direction opposite to the lower channel defining flange, said upper flange being adapted to be secured to the main ceiling and said additional channel being adapted to support a tile, and holder means mounted within said channel for supporting a tile closure plate in said ceiling, said holder means comprising substantially right angular bracket means having a vertical body portion abutting said vertical wall, an upper substantially right angled flange means abutting the upper flange of said channel, a substantially right angled lower flange provided with aperture means defined therein for receiving a securing means whereby said holder is adapted to be releasably secured to the upper surface of the tile closure plate and a substantially reversed L- shaped bend abutting the lower flange of said channel, said bend extending between the bottom of said vertical body portion and the lower flange of said bracket means, said lower flange of said holder means being disposed between said channel defining flanges and extending laterally therefrom, said upper channel defining flange having a detent portion for retaining said upper holder flange in position, and said lower channel defining flange having a detent portion for retaining said lower flange in position, said bracket means having a flange extension extending downwardly from the upper flange of said bracket means and having a portion overlying in parallel relation, the lower flange of said bracket means, said overlying portion having aperture means defined therein in registry with said first mentioned aperture means for receiving the securing means.

4. A suspended tile ceiling construction as in claim 3, said detent portion of said upper channel defining flange engaging the junction of the upper flange of said bracket means and said flange extension.

5. A suspended tile construction as in claim 3, and a threaded bolt extending through said registered apertures for securement to the tile closure plate, and a capped washer for engagement with the free end of said bolt projecting from the bottom of the tile closure plate.

6. A bracket for supporting a closure plate in a suspended tile ceiling carried by flanged channel members, said bracket comprising a vertical body portion, substantially right angled flange means at the upper end of said body portion, a substantially reversed L-shaped bend at the lower end of said body portion, a substantially right angled lower flange extending from said L-shaped bend in the same direction as said flange means and laterally thereof, and a flange extension extending downwardly from said upper end flange means, said flange extension having a flange portion in overlying parallel abutting relation with said lower flange and an oblique portion extending downwardly from said upper end flange means to said overlying flange portion.

7. A bracket as in claim 6, and registering apertures defined in said overlying flange portion and in said lower flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,101,001 11/1937 Baldutf 52486 2,229,064 1/ 1941 Finch 52484 2,317,015 4/ 1943 Allen 525 12 2,368,620 2/ 1945 Strom 52242 2,514,926 7/ 1950 Benson 52624 2,736,406 2/ 1956 Johnson 52492 2,803,858 8/1957 Radar 52-464 2,877,878 3/1959 Jantsch 52488 2,888,113 5/ 1959 Schwartz et al. 5228 2,890,583 6/ 1959 Grosskortenhaus 52502 3,023,866 3/1962 Moore 52489 3,089,569 5/1963 Shults 52489 FOREIGN PATENTS 237,568 2/ 1962 Australia.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

EA-RL J. WITMER, JACOB L. NACKENOFF,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN A SUPENDED TILE CEILING CONSTRUCTION, AN ELONGATED MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE TILES OF SAID CEILING IN SPACED RELATION BELOW A MAIN CEILING, SAID MEMBER HVING A VERTICAL WALL PROVIDED WITH SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLED FLANGES AT THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS THEREOF WHICH DEFINE A CHANNEL AND WITH AN ADDITIONAL RIGHT ANGLED FLANGE AT SAID LOWER END WHICH EXTENDS IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE LOWER CHANNEL DEFINING FLANGE, SAID UPPER FLANGE BEING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE MAIN CEILING AND SAID ADDITIONAL CHANNEL BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A TITLE, AND HOLDER MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL FOR SUPPORTING A TILE CLOSURE PLATE IN SAID CEILING, SAID HOLDER MEANS COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGULAR BRACKET MEANS HAVING A VERTICAL BODY PORTION ABUTTING SAID VERTICAL WALL, AN UPPER SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLED FLANGE MENS ABUTTING THE UPPER FLANGE OF SAID CHANNEL, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLED LOWER FLANGE PROVIDED WITH APERTURE MEANS DEFINED THEREIN FOR RECEIVING A SECURING MEANS WHEREBY SAID HOLDER IS ADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLY SECURED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE TILE CLOSURE PLATE AND A SUBSTANTIALLY REVERSE LSHAPED BEND ABUTTING TEH LOWER FLANGE OF SAID CHANNEL, SAID BEND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF SAID VERTICAL BODY PORTION AND THE LOER FLANGE OF SAID BRACKET MEANS SAID LOWER FLANGE OF SAID HOLDER MEANS BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL DEFINING FLANGES AND EXTENDING LATERALLY TEHREFROM, SAID UPPER CHANNEL DEFINING FLANGE HAVING A DETENT PORTION FOR RETAINING SAID UPPER HOLDER FLANGE IN POSITION, AND SAID LOWER CHANNEL DEFINING FLANGE HAVING A DETENT PORTION FOR RETAINING SAID LOWER HOLDER FLANGE IN POSITION.

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