Abstract: A punch assembly for creating clean holes in a wallboard sheet having at least one surface with a face paper layer. The punch assembly includes a frame having a lower assembly configured to support the wallboard sheet, a plate on an upper frame assembly being reciprocable relative to the at least one surface of the wallboard sheet, at least one stripper bushing connected to the plate, where the at least one stripper bushing including a hole and a piercing edge, and at least one punch configured to move through the hole in the at least one stripper bushing. In operation, the plate is moved against the at least one surface of the wallboard sheet so that the piercing edge of the at least one stripper bushing contacts the face paper layer and at least partially cuts the face paper layer prior to the at least one punch moving through the wallboard sheet to form at least one clean hole in the wallboard sheet.

Abstract: An elongated sheet metal channel for transversely supporting drywall grid tees at regular intervals along the channel, the channel having a generally vertical web, and a lower flange and an upper flange, a vertical spacing between the flanges being sufficient to receive upright grid tees at the intervals, the lower flange having outer and mid-width portions lying in a generally horizontal plane at an interval when a tee is received therein, opposed formations stamped into one of the flanges at the intervals to longitudinally locate the grid tee, the upper flange at said intervals having a pocket for receiving a distorted end of a grid tee.

Abstract: An elongated sheet metal channel for transversely supporting drywall grid tees at regular intervals along the channel, the channel having a generally vertical web, and a lower flange and an upper flange, a vertical spacing between the flanges being sufficient to receive upright grid tees at the intervals, the lower flange having outer and mid-width portions lying in a generally horizontal plane at an interval when a tee is received therein, opposed formations stamped into one of the flanges at the intervals to longitudinally locate the grid tee, the upper flange at said intervals having a pocket for receiving a distorted end of a grid tee.

Abstract: A metal splice plate for joining the ends of suspended ceiling main tees of different heights and load carrying capacity, the plate having a bottom edge lying along a straight line and having a tall section adjacent one end and a short section adjacent an end opposite said one end, a formation at each of said ends providing indicia for locating the formation on the respective section on an end of a main tee of a corresponding height longitudinally at a desired position relative to and spaced from a cross runner slot on the main tee of corresponding height.

Abstract: Components for constructing a ceiling grid across a span free of or with a limited number of suspension wires including main runners with a relatively high moment of inertia secured at their ends with brackets to wall moldings on opposing walls.

Abstract: Components for constructing a ceiling grid across a span free of or with a limited number of suspension wires including main runners with a relatively high moment of inertia secured at their ends with brackets to wall moldings on opposing walls.

Abstract: A partition molding of a metal strip having a right angle cross-section with a vertical leg and a horizontal leg joined at a corner, the horizontal leg having a hem distal from the corner and projecting above a main part of the horizontal leg, the vertical leg having a series of regularly spaced holes for reception of drywall screws used to attach the molding to a wall whereby contact force between the molding and an overlying ceiling is concentrated at the hem and a reaction force can create a moment that serves to urge a lower edge of the vertical leg against a wall on which the molding is mounted.

Abstract: Components for constructing a ceiling grid across a span free of or with a limited number of suspension wires including main runners with a relatively high moment of inertia secured at their ends with brackets to wall moldings on opposing walls.

Abstract: A suspended drywall ceiling grid construction comprising a plurality of uniformly spaced parallel sheet metal support bars, a plurality of spaced grid tees carried on lower sides of the support bars, the support bars having regularly spaced centers for engaging and supporting grid tee reinforcing bulbs, the centers and grid tees being constructed and arranged to present lower faces of flanges of the grid tees in a common plane, the support bars having intermediate centers between said regularly spaced centers for receiving butt joint tees, the intermediate centers and butt joint tees being constructed and arranged to present lower faces of flanges of the butt joint tees in a plane a predetermined distance above the common plane.

Abstract: A support bar, and method of its manufacture, for suspending grid members of a suspended ceiling, the bar being formed of a length of a sheet metal strip, a lower portion of the bar having regularly spaced holes for receiving and supporting bulbs of grid runners, an upper portion of the bars having longitudinally extending formed ribs, the ribs extending laterally from both sides of a central plane in which the lower portion lies.

Abstract: A punch assembly for creating clean holes in a wallboard sheet having at least one surface with a face paper layer. The punch assembly includes a frame having a lower assembly configured to support the wallboard sheet, a plate on an upper frame assembly being reciprocable relative to the at least one surface of the wallboard sheet, at least one stripper bushing connected to the plate, where the at least one stripper bushing including a hole and a piercing edge, and at least one punch configured to move through the hole in the at least one stripper bushing. In operation, the plate is moved against the at least one surface of the wallboard sheet so that the piercing edge of the at least one stripper bushing contacts the face paper layer and at least partially cuts the face paper layer prior to the at least one punch moving through the wallboard sheet to form at least one clean hole in the wallboard sheet.

Abstract: Components for constructing a ceiling grid across a span free of or with a limited number of suspension wires including main runners with a relatively high moment of inertia secured at their ends with brackets to wall moldings on opposing walls.

Abstract: Components for constructing a ceiling grid across a span free of or with a limited number of suspension wires including main runners with a relatively high moment of inertia secured at their ends with brackets to wall moldings on opposing walls.

Abstract: Components for constructing a ceiling grid across a span free of or with a limited number of suspension wires including main runners with a relatively high moment of inertia secured at their ends with brackets to wall moldings on opposing walls.

Abstract: An elongate roll formed sheet metal molding, and method of its manufacture, for transitioning between a drywall ceiling and an acoustical tile ceiling, the molding have the general shape of an inverted tee formed by a horizontal drywall leg, a horizontal acoustical tile leg and a vertical leg between the horizontal legs, the drywall leg having a plurality of regularly spaced holes for receiving fasteners to attach the molding to a ceiling structure, a periphery of each hole being partially lanced in the sheet metal such that material from the hole forms a slug, the slug remaining attached to the sheet metal at a part of the hole, the slug being bent flat onto an area of the sheet metal adjacent the hole.

Abstract: A seismic duty support system for a suspended ceiling at a wall intersection comprising a roll formed sheet metal wall molding, the wall molding having a vertical element and a horizontal element unitary with the vertical element at an upper edge of the vertical element, a plurality of supports regularly spaced along a length of the wall molding, the supports being attached to and extending perpendicularly from the vertical element, each of said supports lying in a vertical plane, each support having a hole distal from the vertical element for cooperating with a tension element connected to the end of an underlying grid runner.

Abstract: An end clip for joining runners of suspended ceilings by coupling with an identical clip, the clip being stamped from sheet metal stock with lead and trailing ends, a lateral projection and a projection receiving area behind the lead end, the clip being arranged such that when an identical clip oriented in the opposite direction of the clip and caused to laterally overlap the clip the projection of the clip is locked in the receiving area of the identical clip and, vice versa, at least one of the projection and projection receiving area having a rearward facing sheared edge forming an acute angle with the clip plane resulting from being sheared with tooling having a clearance between tooling substantially greater than 10% of the thickness of the sheet from which the clip is stamped.

Abstract: A grid runner and method of its manufacture that saves material content with use of a serpentine sheet metal web configured to be essentially scrapless and that results in a parallel chord truss-like construction with open spaces between an upper reinforcing bulb and a lower flange.

Abstract: A cross member for a narrow channel in a suspended ceiling grid comprising a carrier and a cover, the carrier having a web and a planar flange on a lower edge of the web, end connectors at opposite ends of the carrier web, the cover having a three-dimensional cross-section with an overall width generally equal to the width of the carrier flange and integral bendable tabs, the tabs being adjacent the ends of the cover and short in comparison to a length of the cover, the tabs being constructed to be manually folded over the flange of the carrier to lock the cover to the carrier.