Shaped beam suspended ceiling
A suspended ceiling system including shaped beams coupled to connecting blocks that enable a variety of geometric configurations of tiles. The beams may appear to be structural members of an ornate fixed ceiling in a building, and may have any desirable cross sectional shape such as a V, a U, or other custom shape. The beams also include ledges for supporting tiles. The connecting blocks are suspended from the fixed ceiling or other structure and include a plurality of beam interface surfaces that couple to the beams. The connecting blocks may have any desirable cross sectional shape to provide a desired number and geometric arrangement of beam interface surfaces, so that the beams form a desired geometric configuration such as a triangle, square, a pentagon, a hexagon and the like. Tiles are cut to match the geometric configuration and placed on the ledges of the beams.
This utility application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/575,140 filed May 27, 2004; the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a suspended ceiling system, and more specifically to a support system for a suspended ceiling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional suspended ceilings typically comprise metal rails and foam tiles, which are often installed in offices. These suspended ceilings carry the load of lightweight materials. Those who want suspended ceilings in their homes, apartments, luxury offices, or other buildings have few options for a “skilled craftsman” ceiling that will conform to the artistic taste or theme of such buildings.
In one option, wooden runners are suspended by wires from a fixed building structure. Lips of cross members rest in a groove of the wooden runners, such that the cross members are suspended by the lips. In another option, primary wooden rails that are shaped to longitudinally slide into a metal support member. A dove tailed slot of the wooden rails also longitudinally slides onto a dove tail shaped lower edge of a wooden insert that is within the metal support member. Thus, the wooden rails are supported by the wooden insert and the metal support member. A wire is run through a hole in the metal support member and through the wooden insert to suspend the wooden rails from a fixed building structure. Transverse secondary cross rails also comprise wooden rails that are shaped to longitudinally slide into a metal channel. The metal channel has a bent tab at each end, which are inserted into slots cut into the metal support members that support the primary wooden rail. Thus, the secondary cross rails are suspended by the bent tabs interfacing with the primary wooden rails. These options generally limit geometric configurations for the ceilings and are complex to install.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention provides flexibility in ceiling design and supports more than lightweight tiles. Tiles comprised of sheet rock, wood, and/or other materials can be used with detailed beams to give a suspended ceiling a “solid” look and feel, yet retain functional access to the space above the ceiling. Shaped beams support the tiles and give more “body” to the framing by protruding from the ceiling.
Corresponding block fastener holes, such as block fastener holes 22a and 22b are aligned with beam fastener holes, so that a shaped beam can be fastened to connecting block 20. Connecting block 20 can comprise a solid material into which the fasteners are driven. Alternatively, connecting block 20 can comprise a multi-piece structure, such as a rectangular box made of individual side pieces 24a through 24d. Beam interfaces surfaces of connecting block 20, such as beam interface surface 25d, are generally shaped to interface with an end of shaped beam 10.
Connecting block 20 also includes suspension holes, such as suspension hole 26a, for use in suspending connecting block 20 from a fixed ceiling 15 and/or other building structure. For example, a wire 40 can be run through one or more suspension holes and attached to fixed ceiling 15. Alternatively, or in addition, a hook, a strap, a bracket, a threaded shaft, and/or other suspension supports can be used to couple connecting blocks to building structures. A shaped beam can be used to conceal the support from view below the connecting block. A combination of connecting blocks and shaped beams support tiles that rest on ledges, such as ledge 16.
Some grid configurations are implemented by using beams with angled ends, such that a primary axis of some beams are not perpendicular to a face of the connecting block. Still other grid configurations can be implemented by fastening a connecting block to a longitudinal portion a beam, rather than to an end of the beam.
The above specification, examples, and information provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
Claims
1. A suspended ceiling system comprising;
- a shaped beam including a ledge for supporting a tile; and
- a connecting block for coupling to a fixed ceiling of a structure, wherein the connecting block includes a plurality of beam interface surfaces, each of which can be coupled to an end of the shaped beam.
2. The suspended ceiling system of claim 1, further comprising a suspension support that attaches to the connecting block and to the fixed ceiling to suspend the connecting block from the fixed ceiling.
3. The suspended ceiling system of claim 2, wherein the suspension support comprises one of the following: a wire, a bracket, and a threaded shaft.
4. The suspended ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the shaped beam includes a beam fastener hole and the connecting block includes a block fastener hole that can be aligned with the beam fastener hole for coupling the shaped beam to the connecting block.
5. The suspended ceiling system of claim 4, wherein the beam fastener hole intersects an access hole in the shaped beam for access to a fastener.
6. The suspended ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the connecting block comprises one of the following: a single solid and a plurality of side pieces.
7. The suspended ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of beam interface surfaces of the connecting block form a cross section of the connecting block into one of the following: a triangle, a square, a pentagon, and a hexagon.
8. The suspended ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the shaped beam comprises a cross section of one of the following: a V, a U, a W, and a semicircle.
9. The suspended ceiling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following:
- the shaped beam comprises a wood product; and
- the connecting block comprises a wood product.
10. The suspended ceiling system of claim 1, further comprising a tile to be supported at least partially by the shaped beam.
11. A suspended ceiling, comprising:
- a plurality of shaped beams, each including a ledge for supporting a tile; and
- a plurality of connecting blocks for suspension from a fixed ceiling of a structure, wherein each connecting block includes a plurality of beam interface surfaces for coupling to the plurality of shaped beams to form a geometric grid of shaped beams to support a geometric configuration of tiles.
12. The suspended ceiling of claim 10, wherein the geometric grid comprises at least one of the following: a triangle, a square, a rectangle, and a hexagon.
13. The suspended ceiling of claim 10, wherein a subset of the plurality of shaped beams are coupled to a wall.
14. A method for forming a suspended ceiling system, comprising:
- providing a shaped beam to include a ledge for supporting a tile; and
- providing a connecting block for coupling to a fixed ceiling of a structure, wherein the connecting block includes a plurality of beam interface surfaces, each of which can be coupled to an end of the shaped beam.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- coupling the connecting block to a fixed ceiling; and
- coupling an end of the shaped beam to one of the plurality of beam interface surfaces of the connecting block.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
- coupling an additional shaped beam to another one of the plurality of beam interface surfaces, wherein the additional shaped beam includes another ledge for supporting the tile; and
- placing a portion of the tile on the ledge of the shaped beam and another portion of the tile on the other ledge of the additional shaped beam.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising coupling an opposite end of the shaped beam to a support, wherein the support comprises one of the following: another connecting block and a wall.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the connecting block is coupled to the fixed ceiling with one of the following: a wire, a bracket, and a threaded shaft.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein coupling the end of the shaped beam to one of the plurality of beam interface surfaces comprises:
- aligning a beam fastener hole in the shaped beam with a block fastener hole in the connecting block; and
- inserting a fastener through the beam fastening hole and the block fastener hole such that the fastener mates the end of the shaped beam to the one of the plurality of beam interface surfaces of the connecting block.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
- coupling a plurality of additional connecting blocks to the fixed ceiling, wherein each of the plurality of connecting blocks includes a plurality of beam interface surfaces;
- coupling a plurality of additional shaped beams to each of the plurality of connecting blocks, such that at least one of the plurality of additional shaped beams is coupled to the connecting block.
Type: Application
Filed: May 27, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 22, 2006
Inventor: Robert Juten (Duluth, MN)
Application Number: 11/140,501
International Classification: E04B 9/00 (20060101);