Abstract: For use in a suspended ceiling system a pair of beams joinable end to end in aligned relation, each of the beams having a vertical web and lower flange at right angles thereto. The beams have identically formed end portions each terminating in a horizontal tongue integral with the web. Each web has formed therein a window having an inwardly spaced "locking" edge and having a vertical dimension just slightly greater than the height of the tongue. Each of the tongues is notched and bent along its upper and lower edges to form a pair of integral hooks. The tongues are sufficiently straight with respect to the plane of the web so that when a tongue is received in the window of the companion beam it bears with resilient lateral force against the far edge of the window, insuring that the hooks "catch" behind the locking edge to a desired depth.

Abstract: A suspended ceiling system including a main beam formed with a vertically extending rectangular window and a pair of cross beams intended to abut the main beam in alignment with one another at the window. The cross beams, which are identical, have at each end a pair of longitudinally extending vertically spaced tongues integral with the web thereof, the tongues being spaced and laterally offset in opposite directions from the plane of the associated web to such degree that the diagonally measured distance between the upper edge of the upper tongue and the lower edge of the lower tongue is equal to the diagonal dimension of the window so that, when the tongues of the mated cross beams are inserted into the window from opposite sides to seated positions, the tongues of the cross beams mutually overlap one another for snug occupation of all four corners of the window opening.