Abstract A suspended ceiling system adapted to cover the interior overhead ceiling and wall structure in a building and a method of installing the same include at least one first installed main longitudinal metal runner of inverted T-shaped cross section including an upper web suspended from the overhead structure at a selected level therebelow and a lower transverse flange projecting laterally from each side of the web. A next installed plurality of auxiliary wooden cross runners of rectangular cross section are arranged in parallel spaced relationship along both sides of the main runner with their inner ends supported by the flange in substantially abutting relationsip with each side of the web and their outer ends supported by either the flange of another main runner or an angle bar anchored to the adjacent wall so that the undersides of the cross runners are substantially flush with each other, and are either spaced or offset slightly above the underside of the main runner, or notched over the flange so that their undersides are substantially flush with the underside of the latter, or slotted to receive and extend toward each other under the flange of the main runner. A last installed plurality of decorative and/or acoustical panels are arranged beneath and cover the undersides of the cross runners and main runner, and a plurality of staples are driven through selected mating edge portions of the panels into the undersides of the cross runners. The cross runners on each side of the web of the main runner may be pivotally connected together intermediate their ends to an overlying longitudinal stringer to form a foldable and unfoldable group to facilitate storage, shipment and installation, and the panels preferably are of the interlocking tongue and groove type, wherein the staples piercing a female mating edge portion of one panel are covered by the later installed and interlocked male mating edge portion of an adjacent panel.
A suspended ceiling system adapted to cover the overhead interior structure of a building and wherein the improvement comprises: a first installed main longitudinal runner of inverted generally T-shaped cross-section and including an upper web suspended from and at a selected level below said overhead structure and a lower transverse flange projecting laterally from each side of said web with its underside made of material normally not suitable for stapling; a next installed plurality of auxiliary cross runners of generally rectangular cross-section arranged in generally parallel spaced relationship and alignment along both sides of said main runner with their inner ends supported by said flange in substantially opposed relationship with both sides of said web and their undersides substantially flush and made of material suitable for stapling, said cross runners being provided at their inner ends with slots intermediate their upper sides and undersides and receiving said flange so that said inner ends of said cross runners on both sides of said web extend toward each other beneath said flange; and a last installed plurality of generally rectangular panels arranged beneath and covering the undersides of said main and cross runners, being substantially undeformed as they span the junctures of the undersides of said inner ends of said cross runners beneath said flange, and having male and female mating edge portions forming interlocking cross joints extending along the undersides of said cross runners and transversely of the underside of said flange, with each of said female mating edge portions having on its upper side an upper overhanging lip and on its underside a shorter lower reentrant lip forming a groove therebetween, with each of said male mating edge portions having on its upper side an upper notch receiving said overhanging lip and on its underside a shorter lower notch receiving said reentrant lip and forming therebetween a tongue inserted into said groove, with said overhanging lips of said cross joints being made of material suitable for stapling, and with a plurality of staples driven through said overhanging lips of said cross joints into the undersides of said cross runners, including the undersides of said inner ends of said cross runners beneath said flange, and hidden by said tongues.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
368 words
A suspended ceiling system adapted to cover the overhead interior structure of a building and wherein the improvement comprises: a first installed main longitudinal runner of inverted generally T-shaped cross-section and including an upper web suspended from and at a selected level below said overhead structure and a lower transverse flange projecting laterally from each side of said web with its underside made of material normally not suitable for stapling; a next installed plurality of auxiliary cross runners of generally rectangular cross-section arranged in generally parallel spaced relationship and alignment along both sides of said main runner with their inner ends supported by said flange in substantially opposed relationship with both sides of said web and their undersides substantially flush and made of material suitable for stapling, said cross runners being provided at their inner ends with slots intermediate their upper sides and undersides and receiving said flange so that said inner ends of said cross runners on both sides of said web extend toward each other beneath said flange; and a last installed plurality of generally rectangular panels arranged beneath and covering the undersides of said main and cross runners, being substantially undeformed as they span the junctures of the undersides of said inner ends of said cross runners beneath said flange, and having male and female mating edge portions forming interlocking cross joints extending along the undersides of said cross runners and transversely of the underside of said flange, with each of said female mating edge portions having on its upper side an upper overhanging lip and on its underside a shorter lower reentrant lip forming a groove therebetween, with each of said male mating edge portions having on its upper side an upper notch receiving said overhanging lip and on its underside a shorter lower notch receiving said reentrant lip and forming therebetween a tongue inserted into said groove, with said overhanging lips of said cross joints being made of material suitable for stapling, and with a plurality of staples driven through said overhanging lips of said cross joints into the undersides of said cross runners, including the undersides of said inner ends of said cross runners beneath said flange, and hidden by said tongues.