US3743826A - Ceiling modules - Google Patents

Abstract

A ceiling module and a ceiling composed of a plurality of the ceiling modules. The modules have a planar ceiling-defining area comprising four rectangular panels arranged about an open seat and supported by a frame above the planar area. The frame consists of an H-shaped structure including a pair of end beams and a bridging member which may also act as an enclosure and reflector for a light source mounted above the open seat. The light source may be a U-shaped or linear fluorescent tube having a novel ballast support. The ceiling system composed of modules of this invention may have a novel air flow system having outlets entirely between edges of modules in one direction and returns entirely between the edges of modules orthogonal to the outlets. The ceiling also may provide fixture mounting tracks between modules.

Description

United States Patent [191 Haliaker [451 July 3,1973

[ 4] CEILING MODULES [75] Inventor: Thomas C. Halfaker, St. Louis. Mo.

[73] Assignee: Emerson Electric C0.,St. Louis. Mo. 22 Filed: Nov. 12,1970

211 App1.No.: 88,952

[52] US. Cl. 240/9 A, 98/40 DL, 240/5l.ll [51] Int. Cl. F215 [58] Field of Search 240/9 R, 47, 51.11, 240/70, 78, 9 A; 98/40, 40 DL; 52/126, 470, 508

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,845,854 8/1958 Kurek 98/40 DL 3,103,157 9/1963 Quin 240/9 A 3,108,529 10/1963 Sweetser 240/9 A 3,181,450 5/1965 Kruger 98/40 DL 3,193,001 7/1965 Meckler 240/9 A X 3,308,288 3/1967 Ades 240/9 3,312,160 4/1967 Rackley 98/40 DL 3,372,270 3/1968 Quin et a1. 240/9 R 3,402,517 9/1968 Halfaker 52/126 3,514,593 5/1970 Halfaker ..240/78R Primary ExaminerLouis J. Capozi Attorney-Polster and Polster 5 7 ABSTRACT A ceiling module and a ceiling composed of a plurality of the ceiling modules. The modules have a planar ceiling-defining area comprising four rectangular panels arranged about an open seat and supported by a frame above the planar area. The frame consists of an H- shaped structure including a pair of end beams and a bridging member which may also act as an enclosure and reflector for a light source mounted above the open seat. The light source may be a U-shaped or linear fluorescent tube having a novel ballast support. The ceiling system composed of modules of this invention may have a novel air flow system having outlets entirely between edges of modules in one direction and returns entirely between the edges of modules orthogonal to the outlets. The ceiling also may provide fixture mounting tracks between modules,

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THOMA6 C. HALFAKEEZ FIG-L. \4 9;; mpg A CEILING MODULES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ceiling modules and ceilings composed of a plurality of modules placed in edge to edge relationship. The use of ceiling modules, as disclosed and described more fully in Quin et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,270, to provide fully engineered environmental control through a highly flexible ceiling system has revolutionized attitudes toward the function and nature of ceiling components. The use of modules, that is ceiling components of substantial size in the range of about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet, as repeating ceiling components to provide not only a ceilingdefining area but also lighting and other environmental control elements such as air distribution, sound attenuation and spatial division elements has allowed an unparalleled freedom in providing truly effective and attractive environmental control, while simplifying the effectuation of each type of control in an easily installed package.

Although the ceiling modules and system described in Quin et al. No. 3,372,270 have in practice provided all of the advantages foreseen for them, they nonetheless have had certain drawbacks. Both the strength and the beauty of the modules depend largely on their pyramidal form. Therefore, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 of Quin et al. has not proven commercially successful, and the commercial embodiment of the modules have had an effective depth which is somewhat greater than is required by an ordinary suspended ceiling. The effective ceiling height is therefore somewhat lower for a given height of its support structure than with an ordinary suspended ceiling. Further, the pyramidal form, to draw attention to itself and is therefore sometimes felt unsuitable when the eye of the beholder should be drawn elsewhere. Another disadvantage is that in order to utilize a lighted module as a heat transfer device to dissipate or transfer the heat of the lamps to an area below the ceiling or elsewhere, special provision such as special framing of the lighting panel or special construction of the seat on which the lighting panel rests must be provided. Also, the only practical mountings for partitions and the like have been at the corners of the modules. Also, the cost of these modules has been higher than the cost of a conventional ceiling, although this cost is generally completely offset by savings in the installation cost. 7

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a ceiling module and ceiling system which have all of the functional advantages of those described in Quin et al., No. 3,372,270, but which provide flat ceiling-defining areas and are shallower than those known heretofore.

- Another object is to provide such modules which are extremely rigid and attractive. t

Another object is to provide such modules and ceilings which do not require any special seat or framing for the lens to provide air flow through the lamp hous- Another object is to provide such modules and ceilings which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which are easy to install and maintain.

Other objects will become obvious to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and accompanying drawing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of this invention, generally stated, a ceiling module is provided having a planar ceiling-defining area comprising four rectangular panels arranged about an openseat and supported by a frame above the planar area. The module has an area of from about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet. The frame preferably consists of an I-I-shaped structure comprising a pair of end beams connected to each other by a bridging member, and the bridging member is an enclosure and reflector for a light source mounted above the open seat. Also in the preferred embodiment mounting brackets are slidably secured to the end portions of the end beam to permit the modules to be supported from their corners. Also in the preferred embodiment the light source is a U-shaped fluorescent tube mechanically and electrically connected to a ballast box mounted in the lamp housing adjacent one edge of the open seat. In another embodiment, straight fluorescent tubes are mounted between ballast boxes adjacent opposite edges of the open seat. The ballast boxes extend generally perpendicuar to long axes of the tubes, and a novel wireway is provided between the ends of the tubes. Also in the preferred embodiment, the panels are turned at their inboard edges to form a riser, a shelf and a sloped part which centers a light diffuser on the shelf. Trim rails around the periphery of the module give the module dimensional stability and may form mounting channels both above and below the module. Louvered openings in vetical walls of the end trim rails form completely hidden air inlets into the lamp housing, and an exhaust vent is provided in the top wall of the lamp housing.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a ceiling is provided which is made up of a plurality of rectangular modules arranged in edge-spaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, an air dis tribution system is arranged above one set of parallel channels and an air return system is provided including an inlet through a set of parallel channels orthogonal to the first set. Preferably, the air return system is through a lamp housing on each module extending across the module from one of the second set of parallel channels to an adjacent one of the second set, so that the air return is through the lamp housing. Also preferably a ballast is mounted on the lower face of an upper wall of the housing between the air inlet and an exhaust vent in the upper wall of the housing. Also preferably the modules are suspended by their corners by brackets above the lower margins of the modules. The modules are preferably between about 16 square feet and about 36 square feet in area and include a flat planar ceilingdefining area surrounding a rectangular seat, and the area defined by the margin of the module is atleast twice the area of the rectangular seat. Also preferably, a light-transmitting panel is supported by the seat of at least some modules and other modules are provided with a closure piece in the seat, and partition mountings arecarried in the channel between modules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective from below of a ceiling system of this invention made up of modules of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of ceiling module of this invention, showing the hidden side of one of the modules shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2; v

FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic bottom plan view of one lighting configuration of the module of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional detail of the configuration of FIG. 5, taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic bottom plan view of another lighting configuration of the module of FIGS. 14;

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail of the configuration of FIG. 7, corresponding to FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional detail taken along the line 99 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a sectional detail taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a sectional detail taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a detail of the surface of the module of FIGS. 1-11;

FIG. 13 is a detail corresponding to FIG. 11 of another embodiment of ceiling of this invention; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional detail corresponding to FIGS. 6 and 8 of still another lighting configuration of the module of FIGS. 1-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a ceiling made up of a multiplicity ofmodules 2. The modules are arranged in edge-spaced relation to formorthogonal channels 3 between them and to define a ceiling plane 4 (see FIG. 10). In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the modules are suspended from above theceiling plane 4 and thechannels 3 are completely open below theceiling plane 4. Above one set of parallel channels 3a is mounted an air distribution system (see FIG. 10) 5. The orthogonal set of parallel channels 3b forms the inlet of an air return system (see FIG. 11) 6. The ceiling 1 will be described more fully hereinafter in terms. of the preferred embodiments of modules which make up the ceiling l.

The preferred embodiments of modules for use in the improved ceiling of this invention comprise a planar rectangular ceiling-defining border 7 surrounding a rectangularopen seat 9, the area of the module being at least twice the area of the open seat. A lighting panel or-diffuser 9 1 is usually carried by theseat 9.

In the preferred embodiment of module shown in FIGS. 1-4, each module includes, a planar ceilingdefining border 7 made up of the broad faces 71 of two longrectangular side panels 70 and the broad faces 81 of two short rectangular end"panels 80. Theshort panels 80 are arranged with oneend 82 of eachshort panel 80 contiguous an inboard side 72 of one of thelong panels 70 and theother end 82 of eachshort panel 80 contiguous an inboard side 72 of the otherlong panel 70, and withoutboard sides 83 of theshort panels 80 aligned with ends 73 of thelong panels 70 to form a square module having a square, open,central seat 9 defined by the inboard sides 72 of thelong panels 70 andinboard sides 84 of theshort panels 80. Thus in the illustrative squaremodule with asquare seat 9, the width of each of the broad faces 71 and 81 is equal to the width of the border 7, the length of eachbroad face 81 is equal to the side of theseat 9, and the length of eachbroad face 71 is equal to the sum of the length of theface 81 and twice the width of theface 71 or 81.

It has been found that this arrangement of panels produces a far more attractive planar ceiling than do trapezoidal panels forming a flat ceiling as in FIG. 7 of the aforesaid Quin et al. patent No. 3,372,270. In particular, a flat module made of trapezoidal panels gives the illusion that it sags toward its center whereas the present arrangement does not.

Around the periphery of themodule 2 trim rails 10 are secured to the panels and 80. The trim rails 10 include side trim rails 101 and end trim rails 102. The trim rails serve not only the aesthetic function of setting off the modules, but give the module additional rigidity and dimensional stability and also perform numerous functions when the modules are assembled into a ceil- Thepanels 70 and are supported from above by aframework 12 consisting of a pair ofend beams 121 connected or bridged by alamp housing 122 to form an I-I-shaped structure. The end beams 12] extend along the aligned ends 73 of theside panels 70 andoutboard sides 83 of theend panels 80, and are secured to the end trim rails 102. Thelamp housing 122, in crosssection, is formed as an inverted U, with the ends of the lamp housing attached to the end beams 121 and the sides of the lamp housing attached to the inboard sides of theside panels 70. Thelamp housing 122 serves not only as a structural element of theframework 12 but also as a reflector and an air duct.

Thepanels 70 and 80 are made of sheet steel in the form of pans having upwardly turned flaps or flanges on all four sides. The end flaps 74 and at theends 73 and82 of theside panels 70 andend panels 80 respectively are flat vertical parts used only for connection to other parts as will be described hereinafter. Theflap 75 at theoutboard side 76 of eachlong panel 70 is likewise merely a vertical attachment part. Theflap 86 on theoutboard side 83 of eachend panel 80 is scalloped as.

77c and avertical attachment part 77d. Theflap 87 at theinboard side 84 of eachend panel 80 includes a vertical riser part 87a, horizontal shelf 87b and avertical attachment part 87c.

The broad faces 71 and 81 of thepanels 70 and 80 are perforated in a small square pattern running at 45 to the formed edges of the panels. It has been found that if the holes have a diameter of about 0.050 inch and are spaced on 0.100 inch diagonal centers (resulting in about 9.5 percent'open area), not only are the individual panels attractive, but the lines of abutment between the panels are attractive and give the illusion that the holes are aligned across the line of abutment. When the panels are backed with acoustic insulation such asmineral wool batts 171, this pattern ofperforations 170 provides excellent acoustic absorption. The further provision ofsound attenuation panels 172 over thewool batts 171 on thepanels 70 provides excellent sound attenuation. Thelamp housing 122 has been found to provide satisfactory sound attenuation across theend panels 80.

It has also been found that by forming the panels with the burr side upward, the stretching action of perforating is taken advantage of and the panels resist deflection and sagging substantially better than unperforated panels.

Only the broad faces 71 and 81 of thepanels 70 and 80 are perforated. The unperforated riser parts 77a and 87a around theseat 9 provide a more attractive appearance than would perforated surfaces, and also prevent light leaks around theseat 9.

The trim rails 10 include a lower outboardly turnedhorizontal lip 103, a lowervertical attachment part 104, a downwardly inboardlysloping shoulder 105 and an uppervertical attachment part 106. Theupper attachment part 106 of eachend rail 101 and 102 is provided withhinge slots 107. The central reaches of the end rails 102 are provided with inwardly strucklouvers 108 in their lowervertical parts 104. Thelouvers 108 provide an air inlet into thelamp housing 122.

The lower, visible, portions of themodule 2 may be assembled by placing the panels and and thetrim rails 101 and 102 in their proper positions on a flat surface and riveting the parts together. Thus, the end flaps of theend panels 80 are riveted to the vertical riser parts 77a on the inboard sides of thelong panels 70, as at 88. The side trim rails 101 are riveted to theoutboard flaps 75 of thelong panels 70. The end trim rails 102 are riveted to the end flaps 74 of theside panels 70 and the outbaord side flaps 86 of theend panels 80 with thetrim rail louvers 108 aligned with theend panel scallops 86a.

The end beams 121 are formed of sheet steel and have an outboardly turnedshelf 123 at their lower end and an inboardly turnedflange 124 at their upper end.Hinge slots 125 in theend beam 121 are aligned with thehinge slots 107 in theend trim rail 102. Mountingbrackets 126 are loose riveted throughhorizontal slots 127 to the end beams 121. Free ends 128 of the mountingbrackets 126 are bent outwardly at an angle of 45 and include mountinghooks 129 on their lower edges. The end beams 121 are riveted to the uppervertical attachment parts 106 of the end trim rails 122, with thetrim rail shoulder 105 seated on theshelf 123 of theend rail 121.

Thelamp housing 122 is also made of sheet metal and includes a flatupper face 130 and flat side faces 131. Mountingflaps 132 on the ends of thelamp housing 122 are riveted to the end beams 121. The side faces 131 of the lamp housing are riveted to theattachment part 77d of theinboardflap 77 of thelong panel 70.

Aperipheral flange 133 defines a central opening in the upper face 1300f thelamp housing 122. Alouvered access pan 134 is mounted in the opening and is secured by thumb latches 135. The louvers 134' provide an exhaust duct from thelamp housing 122.

Mounted across theupper face 130 of thelamp housing 122, parallel with and adjacent theinboard side 84 of one of theend panels 80, is aballast box 136 for afluorescent ballast 137. Theballast box 136 includes a sheet metal fixed part 138 riveted at its upper turned face to theupper wall 130 of thelamp housing 122. An inboardly upwardly turnedflap 139 on the rear wall of the part 138 forms a hinge with a downwardly turnedflap 140 on a sheet metal socket and ballast mounting saddle 141. An inboardly turnedflange 142 on the upper edge of avertical face 143 of the saddle 141 is held by anotherthumb latch 144.Fluorescent lamp sockets 145 are mounted on thevertical face 143, so that long axes offluorescent lamps 146 are perpendicular to the long axis of theballast box 136. Theballast box 136 is so proportioned that fastening thethumb latch 144 clamps theballast 137 to the ballast box walls. This provides good heat dissipation from the ballast to the enclosing sheet metal and thence to the moving air within the lamp housing and to the air in the plenum ofa completed ceiling. As is well known in the art, good heat dissipation is important to ballast life and lamp performance.

In the illustrative lamp configuration shown in FIGS. 3-6,identical ballast boxes 136 and two-lamp ballasts 137 are provided at each end of theseat 9, and four standardlinear fluorescent lamps 146 are mounted betweensockets 145. Necessary wiring between opposite ends of thelamps 146 is provided throughsheet metal wireways 147. Mountingtabs 148 at the ends of thewireways 147 are trapped by thevertical faces 143 of the saddles 141 and thewireways 147 are held against thesides 131 of thelamp housing 122 by the saddle 141. Therefore, removal of theballasts 137 by releasing the saddle 141 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4 will also release thewireway 147.

An alternative lamp configuration is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this configuration, U-shapedfluorescent lamps 146 are all plugged into asingle ballast 137 at one end of theseat 9 and are stabilized byclips 149. In this configuration, nowireway 147 is needed.

Theopen seat 9 is defined by the riser parts 77a and 87a and the horizontal shelves 77b and 87b of the side and end panels '70 and 80 respectively. Air baffles 150 at opposite ends of theseat 9 are secured by sheet metal screws to thevertical attachment parts 870 on theend panels 80. Below theballast box 136 the upper edges of thebaffles 150 are aligned with and spaced from thehinge parts 139. At the open end of the housing in the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, theair baffle 150 is provided with an inboardlysloping part 151 spaced from theupper wall 130 of thelamp housing 122. It will be seen that the air baffles 150 also act as light baffles. The slopingsurfaces 77c of theside panels 70 and sloping inboard faces 152 on the air baffles 150 make thediffuser 91 self aligning. The diffuser may be simply an unframed prismatic panel of glass or plastic and may be inserted skewed into theseat 9 and allowed to center itself.

, Thediffuser 91 may be virtually any known type. For example, it may be a plastic or metal egg-crate louver or it may be a framed panel designed to hinge downwardly from the seat. Likewise, the seat may be provided with an air and light baffling arrangement which may form an air passage into or out of the lamp hous- The recessed seat serves to define the apparent thickness of the border 7, thereby giving the modules a monolithic appearance when they are assembled into a ceiling. The recessed seat also provides excellent high angle light cut off and thus reduces direct glare. However, the seat or diffuser may be modified to provide a sloped riser part on the seat or to provide a dependent diffuser which is flush with theceiling plane 4 defined by the border 7.

Baffles 173 are mounted across theend panels 80 adjacent the airreturn inlet louvers 108. These baffles direct air into thelamp housing 122 and prevent thebatts 171 from blocking thelouvers 108. Thebatts 171,sound attenuation panels 172 and baffles 173 are parts of the illustrative preferred embodiment ofmodule 2, but are omitted from some of the drawings to provide clearer views of the construction of the modules.

By way of example, themodule 2 may be 58-7/8 inches square including a /16inch lip 103. The open seat may be 28 inches square. The risers may be 1-1/4 inches high, and the top wall of the lamp housing may be 5 A inches above the ceiling-definingplane 4.

Thepanels 70 and 80, the end beams 121 and thelamp housing 122 may all be made of 22 gauge sheet steel, the trim rails may be made of 18 gauge sheet steel, and the mountingbrackets 126 may be made of 14 gauge sheet steel.

Thepanels 70 and 80, thelamp housing 122 and theballast box 136 may be finished with baked white enamel and the trim rails 10 may be finished with baked black enamel.

The ceiling 1 may be formed of themodules 2 in a manner similar to that described in the aforesaid Quin et al. patent No. 3,372,270 and in my patent 3,402,517. Hangers 180, which may be identical with those described in my aforesaid patent 3,402,5 l7,are mounted on the ceiling support structure on 60 inch square centers and are adjusted to the proper height. Each hanger includes astem 181, a cruciform hook-receivingrest 182, aclosure plate 183 and apolygonal head 184. The modules are mounted on the hangers, with thehooks 129 on the mountingbrackets 126 resting in slots in the cruciform rests 182. The hangers and mounting brackets may be so proportioned that thechannels 3 betweenmodules 2 are 1 96. inches wide, with a clearance betweenlips 103 of l 14; inches. Thechannels 3 are bridged adjacent the meeting corners of the modules by closure strips 185, including acentral web 186 andside walls 187. One side wall of each closure strip is lanced out at one or more places to form ahinge finger 188, which fits into the alignedhinge slots 107nd 125 in the end trim rails and end beams respectively. Strips of foam rubber gasketing 189 extend along the outer edges of the lower face of the closure strips 185. The gasketing 189 rests on theshoulders 105 of the trim rails 10 and is compressed against the shoulders when theclosure plate 183 is tightened.

The closure strip 185a bridging the channel 3a between modules is struck out upwardly in itsweb part 186 to form an open seat for anair connector 51. Theair connector 51 extends about 48 inches along the channel 311 and distributes air from anair distribution duct 52 through the channel 3a. Thelips 103 on the trim rails 10 act as kickers for air control, and are especially effective when used in conjunction with an air controller device within the channel 3a. The volume of air passing through theair distribution system 5 may be controlled by dampers either within the channel 3a or within the air distribution system above theair diffuser 51.

The closure strip 185b bridging the channel 3b orthogonal to the channels 3a closes the entire length of the channel 3b. Return air flow, caused by lower pressure in the plenum above the modules than in the room below the modules, is therefore through an air return system 6 including theinlet louvers 108, thelamp housing 122, and the exhaust louvers 134' in theaccess pan 134. Theinlet louvers 108 are positioned and baffled to be virtually hidden when the ceiling is installed. Return air may be regulated by the use of a damper plate, not shown, slidably secured to theaccess pan 134. Ducted return of the exhaust air for use at other locations may be provided by replacing the illustrative access pan with an access pan having a circular punching for attachment of a flexible duct.

The ceiling of this invention also provides far more spatial flexibility than known ceilings because thechannels 3 form lipped mounting channels or partition tracks for a variety of partition systems utilizing channel nuts as fastening means. Thus, partitions, clocks, signs, smoke and fire detectors or other accessories and building elements may be attached not only at the module corners and removed without damage to the ceiling, but by use of channel nuts such as shown at 190 in FIG. 10, they may be attached and removed anywhere along thechannel 3. Partitions may thus be secured across the module anywhere desired. When partitions are moved, the air distribution system is easily adjusted, since even removal or addition ofair diffusers 51 is eas ily accomplished through the access pans 134.

The ceiling 1 may also be constructed in other ways and still retain many of the advantages of the embodiment just described. As shown in FIG. 13, rather than supporting the modules from above the ceiling plane at the corners of the modules, the modules may be supported by a grid system which carries the entire periphery of the modules. The supportinggrid 201 may be provided with air inlet and outlet passages through thechannels 3 between modules and may be provided withlips 203 which form partition tracks.

It is frequently desirable not to provide completely lighted areas within theopen seat 9, particularly when a partition is to be placed across amodule 2. Therefore, thelight diffuser 91 may be replaced by asheet metal pan 291. Thepan 291 may be plain or perforated and may contain one or more circular orpolygonal punchings 293. As shown in FIG. 14, acircular punching 293 may be placed adjacent one edge of thepan 291 to allow'the punching and anincandescent lamp 295 to be spaced from a partition or from a wall adjacent themodule 2.

Numerous variations in the modules and ceiling of this invention, within the scope of the appendd claims, will occur to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing description. For example, although the module and the seat have been described as square, either or both may be made rectangular, by the simple expedient of changing the dimensions of the side panels or theend panels 80. Thus, the open seat may be made to match the length of three or four foot lamps simply by reducing the width of theend panels 80. Moving the ballast boxes-and using longer wireways are the only other adjustments needed other than using narrower sound absorbing batts and sound attenuation panels over thepanels 80. Covers may be secured below some or all of thechannels 3 to make them into wireways, and mountings may be provided through the covers for partitions or accessories. Entirely different modules or suspension systems may be utilized to realize some of the advantages of the ceiling. These variations are merely illustrative.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A rectangular ceiling module comprising a. panel means for defining a rectangular, planar ceiling area including a flat border around an open seat, the ceiling area defined by said panel means (including the area defined by said open seat) being from about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet and the area defined by said open seat being no more than about half the ceiling area defined by said panel means; and

an H-shaped framework means above said planar ceiling area for supporting said panel means, said frame-work means comprising a pair of parallel end beams extending along opposed sides of said rectangular ceiling area and a bridging member extending between said end beams perpendicular to said end beams, said bridging member being secured at its ends to said end beams intermediate the ends of said end beams, at least a part of said bridging member being generally an inverted U in cross-section to form a lamp housing, an inner face of said lamp housing forming a reflector, and mounting means for positioning an electric light source in said lamp housing above said open seat in said panel means.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the bridging member is an inverted U in cross-section throughout its length, said module including an air inlet in at least one end of said module above said ceiling-defining area, said air inlet communicating with said bridging member, and an air outlet in an upper surfuce of said bridging member, said bridging member forming an air passage from said air inlet to said air outlet.

3. The module ofclaim 2 including a ballast mounted in said bridging member between said air inlet and said air outlet.

4. The module of claim 1 including mounting brackets slidably secured to ends of said end beams.

5. In a ceiling comprising a plurality of rectangular modules and support means for supporting said modules in edge-spaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, the improvement comprising means for distributing air through a first of said channels into a space below said ceiling, said means for distributing air comprising a duct positioned above said first channel, said duct having an opening into said first channel, and

means for returning air through a second of said channels, orthogonal to said first channel, into a space above said ceiling, said means for returning air comprising closure means above said second channel for restricting air flow through the upper margin of said second channel and a return passage through a first module adjacent said second channel, said first module comprising a lamp housing and an electric light source mounted in the lamp housing, said return passage comprising means in said first module adjacent said second channel for defining an inlet opening from said second channel into said first module, means in said lamp housing for defining an outlet opening from said lamp housing into said space above said ceiling, and means for defining an air return duct between said inlet opening and said outlet opening.

6. The improvement ofclaim 5 wherein each module comprises a ceiling-defining border surrounding an open seat, the area of said modules being at least twice the area defined by said open seat.

7. In a ceiling comprising a plurality of rectangular modules, each of said modules comprising panel means for defining a rectangular ceiling area of from about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet, at least some of said modules comprising an electric light source, and support means for supporting said modules in edgespaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, the improvement comprising accessory mounting means in at least some of said channels for mounting a structure below said ceiling defining area at a point intermediate the corners of said modules, said accessory mounting means comprising a pair of spaced apart lips extending into said channel on opposite sides of said channel, said lips lying in a common horizontal plane, and at least one piece of mounting hardware supported by said lips.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the modules each comprise a planar border surrounding an open seat, at least some of said modules comprising a light diffuser in sald open seat at least some others of said modules comprising a closure piece in said open'seat, said closure piece having a broad surface lying substantially in the same plane as said planar border.

9. The improvement of claim 7 wherein said support means comprise hanger means for supporting corners of said modules and said pair of lips comprises an outwardly extending lip on the edge of each of two adjacent edge-spaced modules.

10. The improvement ofclaim 9 including a peripheral trim rail on each of said modules, said outwardly extending lip being provided on said trim rail.

11. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the piece of mounting hardware is a channel nut.

is a :k k

Claims (11)

1. A rectangular ceiling module comprising a. panel means for defining a rectangular, planar ceiling area including a flat border around an open seat, the ceiling area defined by said panel means (including the area defined by said open seat) being from about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet and the area defined by said open seat being no more than about half the ceiling area defined by said panel means; and b. an H-shaped framework means above said planar ceiling area for supporting said panel means, said frame-work means comprising a pair of parallel end beams extending along opposed sides of said rectangular ceiling area and a bridging member extending between said end beams perpendicular to said end beams, said bridging member being secured at its ends to said end beams intermediate the ends of said end beams, at least a part of said bridging member being generally an inverted U in cross-section to form a lamp housing, an inner face of said lamp housing forming a reflector, and mounting means for positioning an electric light source in said lamp housing above said open seat in said panel means.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the bridging member is an inverted U in cross-section throughout its length, said module including an air inlet in at least one end of said module above said ceiling-defining area, said air inlet communicating with said bridging member, and an air outlet in an upper surfuce of said bridging member, said bridging member forming an air passage from said air inlet to said air outlet.

3. The module of claim 2 including a ballast mounted in said bridging member between said air inlet and said air outlet.

4. The module of claim 1 including mounting brackets slidably secured to ends of said end beams.

5. In a ceiling comprising a plurality of rectangular modules and support means for supporting said modules in edge-spaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, the improvement comprising means for distributing air through a first of said channels into a space below said ceiling, said means for distributing air comprising a duct positioned above said first channel, said duct having an opening into said first channel, and means for returning air through a second of said channels, orthogonal to said first channel, into a space above said ceiling, said means for returning air comprising closure means above said second channel for restricting air flow through the upper margin of said second channel and a return passage through a first module adjacent said second channel, said first module comprising a lamp housing and an electric light source mounted in the lamp housing, said return passage comprising means in said first module adjacent said second channel for defining an inlet opening from said second channel into said first module, means in said lamp housing for defining an outlet opening from said lamp housing into said space above said ceIling, and means for defining an air return duct between said inlet opening and said outlet opening.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each module comprises a ceiling-defining border surrounding an open seat, the area of said modules being at least twice the area defined by said open seat.

7. In a ceiling comprising a plurality of rectangular modules, each of said modules comprising panel means for defining a rectangular ceiling area of from about 16 square feet to about 36 square feet, at least some of said modules comprising an electric light source, and support means for supporting said modules in edge-spaced relation to define orthogonal channels between them, the improvement comprising accessory mounting means in at least some of said channels for mounting a structure below said ceiling defining area at a point intermediate the corners of said modules, said accessory mounting means comprising a pair of spaced apart lips extending into said channel on opposite sides of said channel, said lips lying in a common horizontal plane, and at least one piece of mounting hardware supported by said lips.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the modules each comprise a planar border surrounding an open seat, at least some of said modules comprising a light diffuser in saId open seat at least some others of said modules comprising a closure piece in said open seat, said closure piece having a broad surface lying substantially in the same plane as said planar border.

9. The improvement of claim 7 wherein said support means comprise hanger means for supporting corners of said modules and said pair of lips comprises an outwardly extending lip on the edge of each of two adjacent edge-spaced modules.

10. The improvement of claim 9 including a peripheral trim rail on each of said modules, said outwardly extending lip being provided on said trim rail.

11. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the piece of mounting hardware is a channel nut.

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