Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel ceiling panel that is used with a corresponding grid system to create a shingle-type ceiling structure. The panels, are arranged in the grid system to create various patterns including shingles, saw teeth, undulations, pin wheels, among others and are designed to enhance the appearance of retail and office space. The ceiling is comprised of a grid system made up of intersecting grid members suspended from the building structure with hangers. The grid members are rigid preformed members that include a base portion a bridge portion and a bulb portion. The base portion is perpendicularly oriented to the bridge member and is adapted to support the panels. The panels are square when viewed in plan view but have a tapered cross-section about all or part of the panels. The panels can be fabricated out of polycarbonate or metal and can be opaque or translucent.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for imparting a smooth surface to gypsum fiber panels. The method involves imparting energy to the surface of a slurry as the slurry is dewatered just prior to rehydration. The apparatus used to impart the energy is a water spray including a source of pressurized water such as a pump, a distribution manifold and a plurality of nozzles to direct the water spray at the surface of the slurry. In operation, the water spray is directed against the surface of the slurry. The flow disrupts the slurry to a fraction of its total depth, thus dispersing clumps or flocs of commingled crystals and fibers in the depth that would give the surface of the finished panel a rough surface if they were allowed to remain.

Abstract: A tie-down runner to increase resistance to shear and racking forces in mobile home wall constructions is disclosed. Said tie-down runner having a generally J-shape and suitable for use at upper and lower ends of wall studding to increase resistance to said forces and to additionally provide increased attachment surfaces for interior wall panel members. A method for increasing resistance to shear and racking forces is also provided.

Abstract: A method of surface treatment for plaster articles to improve wear and water resistance is disclosed. The method includes the step of forming the article, allowing the article to set, drying to remove excess water, applying a coat of substantially molten Candelilla wax onto an exterior surface of said article, maintaining said wax at a temperature of no less than 155.degree. F. (68.degree. C.) for sufficient period of time to allow said wax to substantially fill exterior pores and irregularities, and cooling said article to solidify the wax. Also disclosed is a wear resistant and water repellent plaster article comprising a formed plaster article having an exterior surface portion thereof coated with a thin layer of Candelilla wax, said coated surface portion providing a substantially water impregnable barrier and providing enhanced wear resistance.

Abstract: A decorative soffit system for mounting on the bottom of vertically disposed ceiling tile to enclose a projection depending from the ceiling as disclosed. The soffit system having a U-shaped channel member adapted to rest on an inverted-T runner and said U-shaped channel member having a resilient spacer therein to hold a vertically disposed ceiling tile against one side thereof.

Abstract: A method for making a unitized, ready-to-install, mobile home ceiling structure is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of arranging a plurality of rectangular panels on a tunnel jig. A roof frame structure is then positioned and fastened on the back face surfaces of the panels by means of fasteners and adhesive along the bottom chords of intermediate roof frame truss members. The method additionally includes the step of fastening roof frame perimeter side edge rails and outer truss members to the panel arrangement perimeter by means of fasteners driven upwardly through the front face surface of the panels to extend through the panels and penetrate the side edges rails and outer truss members. The method includes the step of transporting the mobile home ceiling structure from the tunnel jig in ready-to-install condition wherein the setup time of the adhesive material does not restrict moving the unit.

Abstract: A fire resistant aluminum door frame assembly is provided which comprises a partition wall having a door opening therethrough; a header assembly; opposing jamb assemblies; a strike assembly disposed along one jamb assembly; at least one hinge assembly disposed along the opposite jamb assembly; and a door member supported within said door opening by said hinge assembly and having a lockset engaging said strike assembly; whereby upon exposure to extreme heat, the door frame assembly accommodates expansion of the header and jamb assemblies without buckling, and said strike and hinge assemblies respectively maintain said door support and lockset engagement of the door member, wherein said door frame assembly attains a fire rating.

Abstract: A doorframe assembly for hollow-wall partition construction is disclosed and comprises metal backer jamb members adapted for attachment to opposite sides of a door opening, a metal header member adapted for attachment to an upper horizontal side of a door opening, vinyl jamb members snap-engaged with the metal backer jamb members, a vinyl header cover snap-engaged with the metal header member, hinge plate means for supporting a door attached within a hinge plate recess along a wall portion of a vinyl jamb member at the hinge side of the door opening, strike plate means adapted for receiving lockset means attached within a strike plate recess along a wall portion of a vinyl jamb member at the lockset side of the door opening, wherein said assembly provides an easily installed, finished, and mortised construction.

Abstract: A fire resistant floor and ceiling assembly comprising in combination; a plywood layer; a gypsum floor underlayment extending adjacent below said plywood layer; a series of steel joists located below said underlayment and supporting the plywood and underlayment; a space-apart multiplicity of self-drilling self-tapping screws extending downwardly through the plywood and underlayment, and engaging said steel joists thereby attaching the plywood and underlayment to the steel joists, said screws having upper threads and lower threads with an interrupting non-threaded mid-portion therebetween, the non-threaded mid-portion extending a distance substantially the same as the thickness of said plywood layer; and, at least one layer of third generation fire resistant gypsum board connected to, and supported below, said steel joists by connecting means; whereby said assembly contains no combustibles in the plenum between said underlayment and fire resistant gypsum board, and whereby said assembly attains at least a one

Abstract: An accessible partition wall construction comprising in combination: Two parallel spaced-apart rows of wall panels; channel-shaped studs disposed at panel joints; stud clips engaging the studs at a flange and rib; interchangeable panel clips removably engaging the stud clips; whereby the partition wall construction allows accessibility by lifting a panel upward to slide an overlapped panel clip off a stud clip and then moving the panel horizontally away from the construction, and wherein reinstallation is accommodated by reversing the procedure, whereby said panel clips are interchangeable at either side of the joint and wherein extending projections of said panel clips are substantially identical and the panel clip is symmetric about a horizontal plane.

Abstract: An attachment system for suspended drywall ceiling panels is disclosed. The attachment system comprises a panel support grid having a series of main-runners and cross-runners disposed with lower panel attachment surfaces in generally co-planar relationship and said grid having intersection points at main-runner and cross-runner crossings. The attachment system has attachment clips positioned at said intersection points interconnecting cross-runners and main-runners. The attachment clips being integrally constructed from light-gauge steel and having a box-like configuration with two opposing vertical walls and opposing upper and lower horizontal walls wherein the upper wall centrally separates into halves. The upper wall halves include upwardly extending tabs with tab connecting means releasably connectiing both halves. The opposing vertical walls of the attachment clip each having an oppositely extending cross-runner attachment flange.

Abstract: An accessible partition assembly is disclosed which comprises two opposed spaced-apart rows of panels, each panel having opposite vertical edges, and interior and exterior panel faces, adjacent panels meeting at joints in edge-to-edge relationship, a plurality of studs located intermediate said rows of panels, and positioned at joints between a pair of adjacent panels, panel and stud engageable means at each said joint, said engageable means comprising a first and second clip, each clip engaging a stud and one panel edge at a joint, whereby panels are demountably engaged to studs by means of a first clip engaged at one vertical edge and a second clip at the opposite vertical edge.

Abstract: A mobile home ceiling unit and a method for manufacturing said unit are disclosed. The mobile home ceiling unit comprises an arranged plurality of panels fastened to a roof frame. The roof frame has an outer truss member at opposite ends and a multiplicity of intermediate truss members therebetween. Intermediate truss members being rigidly affixed to the panels by means of back fasteners and adhesive material. The roof frame additionally provides perimeter side edge rails. The side edge rails and outer truss members are fastened to the panels by means of front face fasteners along the perimeter of the front face surface of the panel arrangement. The front face surface perimeter of the ceiling unit is adapted to supportively coact along support wall means. The ceiling unit provides a concealed back fastened ceiling structure having unitized construction. A method for making said unitized, ready-to-install, mobile home ceiling structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A modular ceiling panel unit adapted for use with conventional air distribution mechanisms in suspended ceiling grid systems utilizing inverted-T runners suspended from upper support structures is disclosed. The panel unit has a body portion having a rectangular configuration with opposite parallel panel faces and four edges. At least two of the opposite panel edges have generally H-shaped integral air distribution strips, having an inner, an outer, and cross-web portion therebetween, fixedly engaged thereto for substantially the full length of the edge. The air distribution strips comprise means along the inner leg of the H-shape engaging the panel body portion edge and means at the outer leg of the H-shape supportively associated with an arm of an inverted-T runner. The cross-web of the H-shaped air distribution strip is adapted to supportively associate with a mounting portion of a conventional air distribution mechanism positioned in the plenum between the ceiling grid system and upper support structure.

Abstract: A steel edged gypsum wall panel engageable by flanged studs is disclosed. The panel having a body portion being from about 5/16 inches to about 3/4 inches thick with front and back faces and having opposite marginal edges. Said steel edging having a chan- nel shape and comprising a front flange, a back flange, and a web portion integrally connecting said flanges and adapted to contact the marginal edges wherein said back flange terminates in a return flange providing an engageable slot therebetween.

Abstract: A hanger bracket is disclosed for supporting and connecting sound absorption panels wherein the panels have a top frame member with a depending lip portion. The hanger bracket is usable for both fixed and movable sound absorption walls. The hanger bracket is comprised of two substantially identical bracket members having upper and lower generally vertical plates residing in offset substantially parallel planes. The bracket members are connected to each other, and to the support member, by connector means at the upper vertical plates. The lower plates have at least one punched-out tab portion extending generally inwardly then upwardly which engage the depending lip of the panel frame to thereby support the panel.The hanger bracket is attachable to both a fixed support member and to a movable trolley support member. A fixed sound absorption wall having one or more sound absorbing panels is provided wherein the hanger bracket supports the panels and is secured to a fixed support member.

Abstract: A resilient metal runner for attaching gypsum wallboard to a supporting structure including a base attaching flange with a curved over section merging into a flexible web which is integral with a first flange extending at an inclined angle from an edge of the flexible web and a support portion having one edge coextensive with the adjoining edge of such angled flange in laterally offset relation to the flexible web with an inclined stop flange coextensive with the opposite edge of the support portions and extending at an opposite angle to the first flange and of substantially similar width to the first flange. The flexible web is provided with cutout portions for the securement of fastenings through the base attaching flange.