GB2237298A

GB2237298A - Ceiling panel retaining clip

Info

Publication number: GB2237298A
Application number: GB8924116A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Michael Hill
Original assignee: FORMWOOD Ltd
Current assignee: FORMWOOD Ltd
Priority date: 1989-10-26
Filing date: 1989-10-26
Publication date: 1991-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-26
Also published as: GB8924116D0; GB2237298B

Abstract

A clip for retaining in a framework of runners 2 a removable cellular ceiling panel made up from blades 6 which intersect to leave open cells there between comprises an elongate piece of deformable material with a first fold line 15 adjacent one end of the clip to define a hook portion 13, and second and third parallel fold lines 16, 17 which provide alternative fold positions depending on the depth of the blades 6. The distance between the first and second fold lines 15, 16 is substantially equal to the depth of the blade of a ceiling panel of one size whereas the distance between the first and third fold lines 15, 17 is substantially equal to the depth of a blade of a ceiling panel of a different size. <IMAGE>

Description

CEILING PANEL RETAINING CLIP This invention relates to a retaining clip for holding a removable ceiling panel in a suspended ceiling and is more particularly concerned with a clip for use with an open cell ceiling of the type described and claimed in UK Patent No. 1472285.

The cellular ceiling panels in the ceiling of Patent No. 1472285 are removably mounted in a grid or framework of runners to allow access to the space above the ceiling. To provide this demountable feature, they are held in position by means of spring clips. As the ceiling panels have to be downwardly demountable, if they carry light fittings or other service facilities such as air conditioning outlets, etc., this additional weight could result in the panel disengaging itself from the spring clips and falling out of the ceiling.

Obviously, this is highly undesirable and could be a serious safety hazard.

It is an object of the invention, therefore to provide a retaining clip for use with the normal spring clip which is effective to retain the ceiling panel in position in the framework of runners even if the panel additionally caries service equipment. It is also an object of the invention to provide a retaining clip which is simple to use and also which still permits demountability of the ceiling panel after installation.

According to the invention, there is provided a clip for retaining in a framework of runners a removable cellular ceiling panel made up from blades which intersect to leave open cells therebetween, the clip comprising an elongate piece of deformable material with first weakening means adjacent one end of the clip to define a first fold location and provide a hook portion, second weakening means remote from the first weakening means to define a second fold location and provide a retaining portion, third weakening means located between the first and second weakening means to define a third fold location, the distance between the first and second weakening means being substantially equal to the depth of the blade of a ceiling panel of one size and the distance between the first and third weakening means being substantially equal to the depth of a blade of a ceilng panel of a different size.

The weakening means can take any suitable form, for instance, a notch along one edge of the clip or a pair of notches along opposed edges of the clip. The weakening means could also take the form of a fold or crease line or a line of perforations.

In the preferred embodiment, the clip is preferably made of metal and is readily deformable so that an installer of a ceiling can fold the clip at the appropriate weakening locations to configure it to the desired shape appropriate for the ceiling panel to be fitted.

Conveniently, the clip is stamped out of a flat sheet of steel but it will be appreciated that it could be made of other materials and configurations, for instance from a piece of wire.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suspended ceiling in accordance with Patent No. 1472285 with which the clip of the invention (not illustrated) is used, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 1 showing the clip of the invention, Figure 3 is a plan view of the clip of the invention prior to deformation, Figure 4 is a side view of a clip of the invention showing the lower part folded to provide a hook portion, and Figure 5 is a cross section along the line V-V in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a suspended ceiling in accordance with Patent No. 1472285 which comprises main runners 1 intersecting with cross runners 2 to provide a framework to receive demountable cellular ceiling panels 4. The panels 4 are retained in the spaces between the runners 1 and 2 by means of spring clips 5. The framework is suspended from an overstructure (not shown) by means of hangers 3. Each ceiling 4 panel comprises intersecting U-shaped thin metal blades 6 which leave open cells 7 therebetween. Although not illustrated in the ceiling shown in Figure 1, lighting or other services can be incorporated into the ceiling panels 4 which obviously increases their weight.The spring clips 5 used with this type of ceiling can normally support a panel and associated services fitted thereto up to a weight of 0.5 kg, but if the ceiling panel is any heavier than this, it can disengage from the ceiling which is highly undesirable for safety reasons. It is therefore necessary to provide some means for holding the panel in the ceiling which is simple to install and enables the panel to be readily demountable.

The retaining clip of the invention which will be used in conjunction with the spring clips 5 is shown in Figure 3 and it can be seen that it comprises a flat strip of metal provided with first weakening means in the form of a fold line 15 adjacent one end, second weakening means in the form of a fold line 16 adjacent the other end and third weakening means in the form of a fold line 17 intermediate the first and second fold lines 15 and 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the side edge of the strip is additionally notched at each end of the fold lines 15, 16, 17. a crease line connecting said notches. As can be seen in Figure 4, when the strip is folded at the first weakening means 15, a hook portion 13 is provided.

Figures 2 and 5 illustrate the way in which the retaining clip of the invention is fitted to the cross runners 2. The cross runners are provided with mounting holes 9 and 10. The end of each blade 6 of the ceiling panel is formed with inwardly directed tabs 11, only one of which is shown in Figure 2. The demountable ceiling panel 4 is attached to the runner 2 in known manner using spring clips 5. In addition, the installer uses a retaining clip 8 folded into the configuration shown in Figure 4 to include hook portion 13. This hook portion 13 is inserted through hole 9 in runner 2 and folded back into engagement with the tabs 11. The upper retaining portion 14 is then folded over along fold lines 16 or 17 depending on the depth of the blade 6, thereby securing the blade against downward movement to the runner 2 in a simple manner. In order to be able to demount the panel 4 from the runners 2, the upper portion 14 of the retaining clip 8 which is folded over the top of the runner 2 can simply be bent up again thereby permitting downward demounting of the ceiling panel 4.

Normally four retaining clips of the invention would be used to secure a ceiling panel to the runners 2 but additional clips may be used if desired.

Depending on the dimensions of the ceiling, the depth h of the runners 2 and the ceiling panel blades 6 may differ so the provision of the two crease lines 16 and 17 in the illustrated preferred embodiment provides a simple means whereby one clip may be used with two different ceiling sizes. It will be appreciated, however, that additional fold lines may be provided on the clip 8 should it be required to be used with more than two ceiling sizes.

Claims

CLAINS

l. A clip for retaining in a framework of runners a removable cellular ceiling panel made up from blades which intersect to leave open cells there between, the clip comprising an elongate piece of deformable material with: a) first weakening means adjacent one end of the clip to define a first fold location and provide a hook portion; b) second weakening means remote from the first weakening means to define a second fold location and provide a retaining portion and; c) third weakening means located between the first and second weakening means to define a third fold location.

The distance between the first and second weakening means being substantially equal to the depth of the blade of a ceiling panel of one size and; the distance between the first and third weakening means being substantially equal to the depth of a blade of a ceiling panel of a different size.
2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein each weakening means comprises a notch provided along one edge of the clip.
3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the weakening means comprises pairs of notches along opposed edges of the clip.
4. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein each weakening means is a fold or crease line.
5. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein additional weakening means are provided between the first and third weakening means to provide one or more additional fold locations on the clip corresponding to the depth or depths of the blades of ceiling panels of another different size or sizes.
6. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the deformable material is a strip of metal.
7. A clip as claimed in any of claims 1-6 wherein the deformable material is a piece of wire.
8. A clip substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.