Patent ID: 6079177
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
A ceiling panel assembly connected directly to ceiling joists, comprising:a plurality of non-metallic ceiling panels being independently removable at an isolated location, each ceiling panel having a width being substantially 16, 32 or 48 inches, a center area and at least two oppositely disposed flanged edge regions along the length of the panel, the center area of each panel having a groove traversing and being perpendicular to the oppositely disposed edge regions, the flanged edge regions being integral with said ceiling panels, forming recesses with adjacently assembled ceiling panels and defining longitudinal grooves with their respective recesses and each longitudinal groove generally aligning with one of the ceiling joists; andaccessible connecting means removably connecting said plurality of ceiling panels directly to the ceiling joists, said removable connecting means comprising a plurality of washer and screw combinations supporting said plurality of ceiling panels directly to the ceiling joists along said longitudinal and center area grooves, each washer of said washer and screw combination in the longitudinal grooves having sufficient width to lend support to the adjacently assembled ceiling panels, whereby removal of said accessible connecting means does not cause damage to said ceiling panels.