Abstract: Suspended ceiling systems having seismic clips for holding ceiling panel down so as to prevent the panel from becoming dislodged during a seismic event are provided. The seismic clip generally includes at least one wing ending in a bent foot. The wing is attached to a tab that has a catch projecting therefrom. The tab and catch act to fasten the seismic clip to a grid and the wing contacts the upper surface of a panel so as to inhibit upward movement of the panel. A safety clip is also provided that is attached to a ceiling panel and that engages a portion of the ceiling grid when the ceiling panel is dislodged and falls from its predetermined position within the ceiling system.

Abstract: In a panel ceiling, a grid that supports panels has main beams and cross beams. In assembly, the main beams are directly attached to an overhead structure and the cross beams and panels are assembled onto the main beams. Stepped slots in the main beams enable the cross beams to be locked to the main beams to keep the cross beams and panels aligned.

Abstract: A clip for attachment to the end of a main beam for a grid in a suspended ceiling. The beam has an inverted T cross section. The clip engages an identical clip on the end of another main beam to form an end to end connection. The clip has a tongue and channel that engages with a tongue and channel in the other clip of the connection.

Abstract: A hook type assembly that interlocks a pair of intersecting cross-beams and a main beam in a grid for a suspended ceiling. A gapped ridge in a clip on each cross-beam engages the other gapped ridge in a vertical movement that is part of a hooking action while the assembly is formed. The assembly can be optionally made to provide for expansion during a tire.

Abstract: A locking connection used to join the cross runners and main runners of a suspended grid ceiling system. The main runners are provided with periodic openings through which the cross runner ends are inserted and thereby locked together. Each cross tee end connector contains a resilient finger which engages the main runner upon insertion. Further, each connector has apertures and raised detents which will mate with those of a like opposing cross tee end connector when both are inserted through the same main runner opening. A locked grid intersection can be disengaged by depressing the resilient finger holding the main runner, rotating the main runner over the cross runner end connector, and pushing the cross tee end vertically free.

Abstract: A cold forming process includes mechanically joining two strips of metal. The process entails two roll passes. The first pass lances and forms short locking areas through both strips of metal. The second pass compresses and flairs the metal at these areas to complete a mechanical interlock. This method can provide a row of closely spaced fastenings at high speed. It is applicable in improving the torsion strength of existing tee grid products. It is also applicable in creating more efficient rollformed shapes by providing a means to use more than one metal strip.

Abstract: A suspended grid system to support screw applied drywall ceilings. The system includes parallel rows of main runners suspended from the structural ceiling. Cross channel members are attached in parallel rows at right angles to the main runners. Drywall is screw attached to the lower surface of the cross channel members. Connectors are formed on the ends of the cross channel members which engage and lock to the main runners. Each such connector uses two upper latches and two lower tongue shaped stop shoulders. The lower stop shoulders will collapse in a controlled manner to relieve excessive compression as would be created from thermal expansion. The main runner will also provide a means for relieving thermal expansion.

Abstract: The grid member is formed of sheet metal and has an inverted T-shape with a bulb at the top, a double thickness central web and oppositely disposed flanges at the bottom. To achieve controlled expansion, two parallel lances are cut along opposite sides of the bulb near the top of the bulb. No metal is removed at this area of maximum bending stress. Further, staggered cutouts are placed in the two thicknesses which make up the web. By staggering the cutout areas of adjacent web layers, the overall web strength is maintained. These web cutouts and the lance at the top of the bulb cooperate upon thermal expansion, causing the bottom flanges to buckle down, and the web and sides of the bulb to separate laterally and fold, and the top of the bulb to buckle up. The folded web configuration directed by the staggered cutout pattern will maintain longitudinal rigidity.

Abstract: The grid member is formed of sheet metal and has an inverted T-shape with a bulb at the top, a double thickness central web and oppositely disposed flanges at the bottom. To achieve controlled expansion, an extended angular lance is cut at the top of the bulb. No metal is removed at this area of maximum bending stress. Further, staggered cutouts are placed in the two thicknesses which make up the web. By staggering the cutout areas of adjacent web layers, the overall web strength is maintained. These web cutouts and the lance at the top of the bulb cooperate upon thermal expansion, causing the bottom flanges to buckle down, and the web and bulb to separate laterally and fold. The folded web configuration directed by the staggered cutout pattern will maintain longitudinal rigidity.

Abstract: A demountable wall system is disclosed in which panels are removably connected to H-shaped metal studs. The principal structure of the panel is provided by a wallboard having a width less than the modular spacing between studs. Sheet metal mounting strips are adhesively secured along the opposite edges of the wallboard and are positioned with respect to each other so as to provide the assembled panel with an exact modular width. Each mounting clip includes a connector portion which releasably secures the panels to the studs and a finish portion which extends along but is spaced from the side edges of the wallboard. A facing sheet of flexible sheet material is laminated to the forward face of the wallboard and extends across the gap between the finish portion of the mounting clips and the wallboard to hide such gap. The facing sheet then extends back along the finish portion and is provided with an edge positioned where it is not likely to be loosened during the handling and assembly of the panels.

Abstract: A fixture support clip is disclosed for use with a suspension ceiling grid system. Such grid system provides transversely interconnecting runners having a central web and opposed ceiling support flanges for supporting ceiling members such as ceiling tiles or lighting fixtures. The clip provides shelf means for supporting a corner portion of a ceiling member. The shelf means is supported at the lower end of two posts. The posts carry hook means at their upper end which are removably attached to the upper extremities of the transversely interconnecting runners near the corners thereof. The lengths of the posts are selected so that the shelf means lies substantially parallel with and vertically adjacent to the support flanges and provides a greater support area to a corner portion of a ceiling member than provided by the flanges.

Abstract: A window system for demountable walls is disclosed which eliminates the necessity of custom-sizing of windows to compensate for variations in floor-to-ceiling spacing. The window system provides jacking means mounted on the lower window frame member which are operable to adjust the height of the window from the floor to compensate for variations in floor-to-ceiling spacing. A floor trim assembly includes cover plates which extend up and over the lower framing member and jacking system to obscure both from view. Such cover plates rest on the floor to provide a uniform height lower window trim that follows the floor line. A baseboard and upper trim system extends uniformly along the window and adjacent wall panels to provide an integrated window and wall system. The side framing members connect to sheet metal wall studs for additional strength and enclose the adjacent stud in instances in which windows are mounted adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A beam member for use in a suspended ceiling system for retaining removable panel sections includes at each longitudinal end an integral tongue and a tongue-receiving recess for joining the beam member in end-to-end relationship with another beam member having an end of corresponding configuration. The tongue is characterized by inwardly diverging sidewalls, and an outwardly offset and a rearwardly extending detent. The detent has an edge defining a circular arc, and the recess includes an arcuate central portion for abutting the edge of the arcuate detent of another beam member when the beam members are joined and outwardly diverging sidewalls. Interlocked tongues of such configuration are capable of withstanding large tensile separating forces.

Abstract: A window insulating system including horizontally and vertically arranged channel members positioned in a window wall opening and spaced inwardly of the window surface. Insulating panels are positioned in the channels and can either be opaque fiberglass panels or translucent or transparent panels of glass or plastic. Horizontal channels are secured adjacent the upper edge of the window wall opening and can be secured adjacent the lower edge of the window wall opening or can be above that surface. The vertical channels are frictionally attached to the panel member and the panels plus vertical channels are slipped into the horizontal channels and are thus easily removable for access to the window for maintenance or cleaning purposes. The outer edges of the outermost vertical channels adjacent the vertical window wall opening edges are formed from a resilient material and include an integral, outwardly extending sealing strip which is in sealing engagement with the adjacent window opening edge.

Abstract: A clip member is disclosed for underlying the areas of interconnection of main and cross runner members of a grid system for suspended ceilings. The runner members include downwardly opening recesses between their respective tile supporting flanges, and the clip member provides the appearance of an uninterrupted recess in the cross members at the areas of interconnection.

Abstract: A suspended ceiling grid system formed of main runners (10) and cross runners (40) disposed at right angles to the main runners to define grid openings for the reception of ceiling tiles (T). Each of the runners (10, 40) includes a bulb (12, 42) a pair of webs (14, 44) depending from the bulb to define a recess therebetween, and a pair of tile supporting flanges (16, 46) extending in opposite directions from the lower edges of the webs. The tiles (T) when assembled onto the flanges (16, 46) of the main and cross runners (10, 40) resiliently displace the webs (14, 44) from their normal unstressed positions to cause the webs to center the tile. Simulation means (76) is carried by the runners in underlying relationship at the intersection of the main and cross runners (10, 40) to simulate a continuous recess at the intersection.

Abstract: A one piece T section used interchangeably as both a main T member and a cross T member in a supporting grid system for suspended ceilings. The interchangeable T sections have locking connectors engageable to interlock a pair of sections in end to end relation to form a main T splice with their tile supporting flanges substantially abutting. When the sections are used as cross T members, the locking connectors engage the web of a section used as a main T member and the flanges of the cross T sections overlie the flanges of the main T section with which they are interlocked.

Abstract: A first support member having a web with a slot and a pair of second support members having locking connectors insertable through the slot in side by side relation, each connector having a resiliently yieldable finger engageable against the web after insertion through the slot for interlocking the first and second members. Each connector has a laterally projecting detent on the side opposite the finger, an opening providing an arcuate generally vertical shoulder spaced rearwardly from the detent, and a laterally projecting spring retainer on the same side as the detent extending forwardly at least partially across the opening. When the connectors are inserted through the slot in side by side relation the forward end of each connector is confined against the other connector by the retainer thereof with its detent engaging the arcuate shoulder of the other connector, thereby interlocking the second support members, the retainers yielding resiliently to permit passage of the detents into the respective openings.

Abstract: A fire rated dry wall ceiling support system having fixed, aligned main beam members spliced together in a manner so as to absorb longitudinal compression, as for example resulting from thermal expansion during a fire. Each main beam includes a web surmounted by a bead with flange portions extending laterally outwardly from the web. Each web end includes a tongue extending axially outwardly for locking engagement with the adjacent beam member web and is so configured that the tongues fold in a longitudinal manner and become laterally displaced out of the normal plane of the tongues when the beam members are longitudinally compressed towards one another. Accordingly, the bead means become laterally displaced while moving towards one another in a longitudinal direction and may in fact overlap one another in a longitudinal sense. The system further includes support channels disposed transversely to the main beam members and engaged therewith.

Abstract: A first support member having a web with a slot therein and a second support member having a web provided with an integral locking connector extending axially therefrom for insertion in the slot. The connector has a snap locking finger provided with an edge inclined relative to a true vertical for positive locking engagement against one side of the first support member web. Interlocking means are provided on the opposed faces of a pair of second support member connectors inserted through the slot for locking the second support members against axial separation.