Patents Assigned to USG Interiors, LLC
  • Patent number: 8590160
    Abstract: An elongated grid runner, and its manufacture, comprising a pair of overlying metal strips roll-formed together into a shape suitable for use in a rectangular grid to support ceiling panels, one of said strips serving as a visible cap for concealing the other strip forming the main body of the grid runner when the grid member is employed in a completed ceiling, the strips being lanced at each end of the grid runner to lock the cap strip on the main body strip whereby when the overlying strips are simultaneously cut to a finish length prior to finish roll-forming, the ends of the strip are maintained in substantially overlying end-to-end registration where the cap is visible in a finished ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Lehane, Jr., Steven E. Farley, Donald J. Leahy, Ronald J. Koval, Paul A. Pomeroy
  • Patent number: 8584418
    Abstract: A cross runner connector receivable in a through runner hole that locks with an identical opposed connector and locks with the through runner hole with increased tensile strength, both locks being releasable without tools by manipulation of the associated cross runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen, James J. Lehane
  • Publication number: 20130291762
    Abstract: An article of manufacture comprising a building panel such as ceiling tile for example includes, in addition to any by-product perlite fines, additional perlite fines in an amount sufficient to improve the fire resistance of the building panel over the fire resistance of the building panel without the additional perlite fines. In one aspect, the additional perlite fines can comprise at least approximately 3.5% perlite fines by weight. In another aspect, the additional perlite fines can have an average diameter of approximately 23 microns or less. Methods of manufacture related to the building panel also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: USG INTERIORS, LLC.
    Inventor: Martin W. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130276395
    Abstract: A roll formed sheet metal grid runner, and method of its manufacture, for a suspended ceiling grid having indexing tabs stamped from a central web of the runner profile, the tabs being effective to reliably locate ceiling panels and, when the grid runner is nested with other identical runners in a package, avoid marring of visible surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Lehane, JR., Donald J. Leahy, Steven E. Farley, Thomas G. Rowland, Peder J. Gulbrandsen
  • Patent number: 8563449
    Abstract: A non-woven material and method of formation thereof is provided to form a substantially flat or planar self supporting core of an inorganic base fiber and an organic binding fiber preferably using an air-laid forming head. In certain preferred embodiments, the organic base fiber has a fiber strength with a break load of about 10 grams or less and an elongation of about 20 percent or less. Preferably, the organic binding fiber has a binding component and a structural component within unitary fiber filaments. In one aspect, the structural component of the organic binding fiber has a composition effective to provide a strength thereof so that the non-woven material can be manually cut with minimal effort. In such form, the non-woven material is suitable to function as an acoustic ceiling tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Mueller, Weixin Song, Bangji Cao
  • Patent number: 8536259
    Abstract: The invention, provides a curable, formaldehyde free coating composition comprising a composition comprising a polyacid copolymer crosslinked with a hydroxyl group-containing compound and calcium aluminosilicate powder, panels coated with the coating composition, and a method of coating a panel with the coating composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: Adelaida Carbo, Jim Thulin, Mark Englert, Runhai Lu
  • Patent number: 8534014
    Abstract: An elongated metal grid runner for a suspended ceiling, the grid runner having a cross-section with an upper hollow reinforcing bulb, a vertical web extending below the bulb, and lower flange elements extending laterally from opposite sides of the web, the length of the grid runner being less than about 9?, a permanent magnet disposed on each end of the grid runner at its flange elements, the magnet being adapted to overlie and be attracted to a horizontal leg of a steel wall angle to thereby releasably retain the grid runner in position on the wall angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory M. Ahren
  • Publication number: 20130227908
    Abstract: A clip having a first leg for attaching to a trim strip and a second leg for attaching to a grid runner, the first leg having a backer plate attached with a screw through a slot, a head of the screw on a side of the first leg facing the second leg, the backer plate on the other side of the first leg, an upper edge of the first leg in a downwardly facing groove on a backside of the trim strip, the backer plate fitting between a depending free edge of the upper groove and an upstanding edge of a lower upwardly facing groove when the screw is up in the slot, and being received in the lower groove when the screw is down in the slot and clamping between the upstanding edge and a rear face of the trim strip when the screw is tightened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Peder Gulbrandsen, Mark Miklosz, Nicholas Jackson, Stephen Oshgan, Joe Wascow, Jeremy Bruce
  • Publication number: 20130227907
    Abstract: A splice plate for joining and aligning extruded trim strips used in suspended ceiling islands and fascias of the type having a pair of opposed flanged channels on its rear face, the splice plate having upper and lower flanges proportioned to slide into the pair of channels and a pair of clamping elements, each of the clamping elements being disposed in a rearwardly horizontally spaced relation to a respective one of said splice plate flanges, a machine screw associated with each clamping element and arranged when turned to draw the respective clamping element forcibly towards an associated plate flange to thereby clamp an intervening portion of a trim channel flange, said plate being sufficiently long to span between a pair of end abutted trim strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Peder Gulbrandsen, Mark Miklosz, Stephen Oshgan, Joe Wascow, Nicholas Jackson
  • Patent number: 8511023
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: Peder Gulbrandsen, Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston
  • Patent number: 8511429
    Abstract: An acoustical ceiling panel comprising a flat core and an acoustically transparent face sheet adhesively attached to one of two oppositely facing major sides of the core, the core comprising a multitude of layers of corrugated fiberboard laminated together, the corrugated fiberboard layers each having a corrugated medium adhesively attached to a flat liner board, the corrugated medium forming regularly spaced flutes of curvilinear cross-section, the flutes of the layers of fiberboard being arranged in parallel directions extending perpendicularly to the major faces of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Claire Yu, Mark Englert
  • Patent number: 8511028
    Abstract: Producing grid tees with a range of service duty, reflected in the use of various gauge sheet stock, that exhibit an effective uniform thickness at their cross tee slots by locally altering a grid tee in the area of its cross tee receiving slot or slots so that the grid tee has a uniform effective thickness at these area(s) that can be standardized across a manufacturer's range of tee load ratings. Preferably, a grid tee is permanently stamped with an indentation or dimple adjacent the cross tee slot and a cross tee connector has a lead edge area arranged to seat against the bottom of the indentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventor: James J. Lehane, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130206501
    Abstract: An acoustical ceiling panel comprising a flat core and an acoustically transparent face sheet adhesively attached to one of two oppositely facing major sides of the core, the core comprising a multitude of layers of corrugated fiberboard laminated together, the corrugated fiberboard layers each having a corrugated medium adhesively attached to a flat liner board, the corrugated medium forming regularly spaced flutes of curvilinear cross-section, the flutes of the layers of fiberboard being arranged in parallel directions extending perpendicularly to the major faces of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Claire Yu, Mark Englert
  • Publication number: 20130196151
    Abstract: A ceiling tile comprising a core, an appearance coating on a face side of the tile, and a waterproof coating on a backside of the tile, the core including a filler, binder, and fiber elements dried from a water based slurry or paste of said elements, the core being water permeable and containing a non-white stain producing material susceptible to being leached out of the core by water percolating through the core, the appearance coating exhibiting a high light reflectivity by virtue of containing a white colored constituent and being pervious to water, the waterproof coating serving to repel and bead-up water droplets deposited on the backside of the tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventor: Fares Saghbini
  • Patent number: 8484923
    Abstract: A suspended ceiling comprising a grid formed of intersecting grid runners and snap-up panels supported on the grid runners, the grid runners dividing a ceiling area into standard modules, the pans being formed of sheet material and each having its sides sized to cover the module size while leaving a space at visible faces thereof between adjacent panels when in an installed position on the grid, at least one adjacent pair of panels being displaceable from their installed positions, the gap between a pair of displaceable panels being closed by a removable runner or the displaceable panels so that when the displaceable panels are displaced from their installed position and any removable runner is removed, an access opening of twice the standard module is made available for accessing the area above the ceiling while adjacent panels at longitudinal ends of the gap between the displaceable panels can remain in respective installed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventor: Alan C. Wendt
  • Patent number: 8485835
    Abstract: A suspended ceiling grid tee of conventional cross-sectional shape having a plurality of generally planar parallel and orthogonal surfaces and at least two electrically isolated conductor strips attached to the planar areas of the tee surfaces extending along substantially the full length of the tee, a connector for supplying low voltage electrical power to or from the conductors, the connector having a configuration complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the grid tee and including at least two electrical contacts for energizing each of said conductor strips when said connector is positioned on said grid tee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: Ying (Lora) Liang, Daniel Boss, Paul D. LaLonde, Peder Gulbrandsen
  • Publication number: 20130160386
    Abstract: Ceiling panels for use in a grid-type suspended ceiling (10) each comprise a thin flexible scrim (40) that is of insufficient rigidity to consistently maintain a substantially planar form when installed in the grid-type suspended ceiling. These embodiments also present a rigidizing and engagement member (60, 122, 161) that attaches to only a relatively minor portion of the thin flexible scrim and that is configured and arranged to substantially increase and maintain rigidity of the thin flexible scrim such that the thin flexible scrim will consistently maintain a substantially planar form when installed in the grid-type suspended ceiling and that will also serve to engage at least one grid runner of the grid-type suspended ceiling to thereby maintain the thin flexible scrim in an installed position within the grid-type suspended ceiling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventor: Peder J. Gulbrandsen
  • Patent number: 8458977
    Abstract: A wall brace support for an acoustical ceiling tee having a bulb includes an elongated main portion having two ends; a wall attachment tab at one of the ends, the tab being operable to abut the wall and receive at least one fastener therethrough to fasten the tab to the wall; and an acoustical ceiling tee attachment structure at the other end, the structure being operable to receive at least one fastener therethrough to fasten the structure to the bulb at a location spaced away from the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: Peder Gulbrandsen, Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen, James J. Lehane, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8453407
    Abstract: A seismic clip for suspended ceiling grid tees that offers high strength, rigidity, versatility and ease of assembly while improving the ability of a clip to self-align with a grid tee. The clip includes a lanced tab that serves to establish and maintain alignment of the clip body and the tee to which it is assembled whereby a tendency of a clip to be tilted upwardly relative to the tee is eliminated or greatly reduced. The alignment tab serves to initially align the clip and tee either when it is assembled by snapping it over the tee or by sliding the tee endwise into the clip. The tab is configured so that it does not unduly add to the assembly force level when the clip is snapped over the tee or when the tee and clip are slipped endwise together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventors: Lee M. Tedesco, James J. Lehane, Jr., Peder J. Gulbrandsen
  • Patent number: 8443564
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: USG Interiors, LLC
    Inventor: John D. Bankston, Jr.