Patents by Inventor John D. Bankston
John D. Bankston has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8511023Abstract: Mounting systems for attaching metal suspended ceiling panels to form a decorative rectangular array. In one system the panels are mounted on bolt slot grid runners spaced from the wall and trimmed with island ceiling trim. In another system, panels are mounted on unique backer boards that protect the panels against physical damage by resisting compressive forces on the face of the panels.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2012Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: USG Interiors, LLCInventors: Peder Gulbrandsen, Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston
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Patent number: 8443564Abstract: A clip for a suspended ceiling grid to join a pair of grid runners intersecting a third grid runner from opposite sides of the third grid runner, the clip being bendable sheet metal symmetrical about a vertical plane, having a saddle portion with a seat and generally planar flaps depending from opposite sides of the seat, including a pair of generally planar wings each cantilevered from a respective one of the flaps; the seat width corresponding to a hollow reinforcing bulb of a grid runner, the flaps extend over the sides of the reinforcing bulb and web of the third grid runner, a flap and wing joined at a vertical bend line, weaker than each adjacent area of the flap and wing whereby the wing can be manually bent to a desired angle relative to the flap.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: USG Interiors, LLCInventor: John D. Bankston, Jr.
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Publication number: 20120017531Abstract: A clip for a suspended ceiling grid to join a pair of grid runners intersecting a third grid runner from opposite sides of the third grid runner, the clip being bendable sheet metal symmetrical about a vertical plane, having a saddle portion with a seat and generally planar flaps depending from opposite sides of the seat, including a pair of generally planar wings each cantilevered from a respective one of the flaps; the seat width corresponding to a hollow reinforcing bulb of a grid runner, the flaps extend over the sides of the reinforcing bulb and web of the third grid runner, a flap and wing joined at a vertical bend line, weaker than each adjacent area of the flap and wing whereby the wing can be manually bent to a desired angle relative to the flap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventor: John D. Bankston
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Patent number: 8051618Abstract: A clip for suspending ceiling panels from a horizontal channel having a C-shape formed by a vertical web and integral opposed horizontal upper and lower flanges, the clip comprising a sheet metal body, the body including a vertical web extending between upper and lower portions, the upper portion being configured to overlie the horizontal upper flange of the channel when installed thereon, the lower portion being configured to lie below the horizontal lower flange of the channel, the lower portion including a generally upstanding hook section adapted to be received in a downwardly open channel on the ceiling panel beneath the C-shaped channel to enable the clip to support the panel by transferring the weight of the panel to the C-shaped channel, the hook section being fixed against horizontal movement relative to the body vertical web.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2009Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston, James A. Fletterick
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Publication number: 20100095606Abstract: A non-planar suspended panel system comprising a metal grid formed of curved main runners and straight cross runners extending between the main runners, a plurality of panels supported on the grid, the panels each having flat major faces with quadrilateral profiles, the edges of a panel being aligned with a pair of main runners and a pair of cross runners, each panel having flanges at its edges extending between its flat face and the runners in a manner that disposes the plane of its flat face generally parallel to chordal lines in the planes of the main runners between the intersections of the associated cross runners and main runners, whereby the panel system extends over a three dimensional surface and the surface is formed of a multitude of facets each formed by one of said panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventor: John D. Bankston
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Publication number: 20100050554Abstract: A clip for suspending ceiling panels from a horizontal channel having a C-shape formed by a vertical web and integral opposed horizontal upper and lower flanges, the clip comprising a sheet metal body, the body including a vertical web extending between upper and lower portions, the upper portion being configured to overlie the horizontal upper flange of the channel when installed thereon, the lower portion being configured to lie below the horizontal lower flange of the channel, the lower portion including a generally upstanding hook section adapted to be received in a downwardly open channel on the ceiling panel beneath the C-shaped channel to enable the clip to support the panel by transferring the weight of the panel to the C-shaped channel, the hook section being fixed against horizontal movement relative to the body vertical web.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventors: Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston, James A. Fletterick
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Patent number: 7658047Abstract: A suspended ceiling comprising a pair of parallel main grid tees, the tees being of the type having its panel supporting flange forming a hollow with a downwardly open slot, a plurality of identical stabilizer bars spacing said main grid tees a predetermined distance, trim strips assembled on said main grid tees, the trim strips each having a first portion hooked into the hollow flange of a respective tee and a second portion abutting a web of the respective tee, the stabilizer bars being arranged to engage opposite sides of reinforcing bulbs of the main grid tees to hold the same against relative lateral horizontal movement from their desired positions, the stabilizer bars engaging the trim strips in a manner that holds their second portions in abutment with the webs of their respective tees. The stabilizer bars are formed of sheet metal and have bendable tabs that can be bent to hold said trim strip second portions in contact with the webs of their respective tees.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: John D. Bankston, Gregory M. Ahren, John Harcula
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Patent number: 7637065Abstract: A clip for suspending ceiling panels from a horizontal channel having a C-shape formed by a vertical web and integral opposed horizontal upper and lower flanges, the clip comprising a sheet metal body, the body including a vertical web extending between upper and lower portions, the upper portion being configured to overlie the horizontal upper flange of the channel when installed thereon, the lower portion being configured to lie below the horizontal lower flange of the channel, the lower portion including a generally upstanding hook section adapted to be received in a downwardly open channel on the ceiling panel beneath the C-shaped channel to enable the clip to support the panel by transferring the weight of the panel to the C-shaped channel, the hook section being fixed against horizontal movement relative to the body vertical web.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2005Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston, James A. Fletterick
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Patent number: 7634881Abstract: A cross panel for a grid type suspended ceiling comprising a sheet metal body forming a rectangular face adapted to close the space between the flanges of a pair of parallel grid tees. The panel has four connectors each adjacent a respective corner of the panel face and adapted to extend through a slot in the web of the adjacent grid tee for interlocking the panel to the tees in a manner that maintains the parallel spacing and alignment of the tees and affords a simple, aesthetically pleasing appearance.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2005Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston
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Patent number: 7478787Abstract: A clip for accurately and quickly suspending pairs of spaced parallel grid main tees from superadjacent structural channels. The clip works with a separate drop clip that hooks over and depends from the structural channel. The paired main tee clip has a central body region configured like a conventional grid tee bulb thereby enabling the paired main tee clip to mate with the drop clip in the same way the drop clip mates with a conventional grid tee bulb thereby achieving a system that is cost-effective in manufacture and installation.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: John D. Bankston, James A. Fletterick
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Publication number: 20080184644Abstract: A suspended ceiling comprising a pair of parallel main grid tees, the tees being of the type having its panel supporting flange forming a hollow with a downwardly open slot, a plurality of identical stabilizer bars spacing said main grid tees a predetermined distance, trim strips assembled on said main grid tees, the trim strips each having a first portion hooked into the hollow flange of a respective tee and a second portion abutting a web of the respective tee, the stabilizer bars being arranged to engage opposite sides of reinforcing bulbs of the main grid tees to hold the same against relative lateral horizontal movement from their desired positions, the stabilizer bars engaging the trim strips in a manner that holds their second portions in abutment with the webs of their respective tees. The stabilizer bars are formed of sheet metal and have bendable tabs that can be bent to hold said trim strip second portions in contact with the webs of their respective tees.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventors: John D. Bankston, Gregory M. Ahren, John Harcula
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Publication number: 20080155916Abstract: A suspended ceiling comprising a pair of parallel main grid tees, the tees being of the type having its panel supporting flange forming a hollow with a downwardly open slot, a plurality of identical stabilizer bars spacing said main grid tees a predetermined distance, trim strips assembled on said main grid tees, the trim strips each having a first portion hooked into the hollow flange of a respective tee and a second portion abutting a web of the respective tee, the stabilizer bars being arranged to engage opposite sides of reinforcing bulbs of the main grid tees to hold the same against relative lateral horizontal movement from their desired positions, the stabilizer bars engaging the trim strips in a manner that holds their second portions in abutment with the webs of their respective tees. The stabilizer bars are formed of sheet metal and have bendable tabs that can be bent to hold said trim strip second portions in contact with the webs of their respective tees.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2006Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventors: John D. Bankston, Gregory M. Ahren, John Harcula
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Patent number: 7392629Abstract: A suspended ceiling comprising a pair of parallel main grid tees, the tees being of the type having its panel supporting flange forming a hollow with a downwardly open slot, a plurality of identical stabilizer bars spacing said main grid tees a predetermined distance, trim strips assembled on said main grid tees, the trim strips each having a first portion hooked into the hollow flange of a respective tee and a second portion abutting a web of the respective tee, the stabilizer bars being arranged to engage opposite sides of reinforcing bulbs of the main grid tees to hold the same against relative lateral horizontal movement from their desired positions, the stabilizer bars engaging the trim strips in a manner that holds their second portions in abutment with the webs of their respective tees. The stabilizer bars are formed of sheet metal and have bendable tabs that can be bent to hold said trim strip second portions in contact with the webs of their respective tees.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: John D. Bankston, Gregory M. Ahren, John Harcula