IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CEILING SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS

Abstract: Three parallel support members (12a, 12b and 12c) are each suspended by three rods (14a, 14b and 14c) respectively with the rods having been connected to and slid along the support members during suspension. Planks (16 and 18) connect the support members together rigidly. Wooden slats (26 and 28) are then nailed to the downwardly facing surface of the planks (16 and 18) to completely cover the arrangement from beneath.

Description: I PROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CEILING SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS The present invention relates to a cei l ing suspension arrangement, an assembly of a cei I ing suspension arrangement and a method of erecting a cei I ing suspension arrangement. According to one aspect of the present invention a, cei l ing suspension arrangement comprises an elongate extruded support member and a plural ity of suspension elements, the suspension elements and the support member being adapted such that the suspension elements can be attached to the support member at any extent along the length of the support member whereby the support member may depend from the suspension elements. As the support member may depend from the suspension elements, the support member, when so depending tends to maintain its correct vertical al ignment with its own weight tending to resist any movement of the centre of gravity of the extrusion away from beneath its region of dependency. Alternatively or additional ly, as the suspension elements can be attached to the support member at any extent along the length of the support member the suspension elements or mountings for the suspension elements can be located in l ine before attaching the suspension elements to the support member, and the location of the moun ing of the upper end of the suspension elements above the support member is not crucial . The suspension elements may be arranged to be connected to the support member and to move along the extent of the support member when so connected. The abi I ity of being a le to move wh i le being connected enables accurate a I ignmeπt of the two components to be ac i eved . The suspension elements and the support member may be arranged to be detachably connected to each other and, alternatively or additional ly may be directly connected to each other. Locking means may be provided to lock the suspension elements and the support member together, when they are attached. The support member may include an upwardly facing channel into which part of the suspension element is arranged to extend when the suspension element is attached to the support member. The upwardly facing channel may include at least one, and preferably a plurality of inwardly projecting portions from opposed sides of the channel . When attaching the suspension elements to the support member, relative trans Iat iona I movement of the suspension elements towards the support member may be arranged to occur. When two suspension elements are attached to the support member, a third suspension element may then be arranged to be attached to the support member at a location between the other two suspension elements. The suspension elements and the support member may be arranged to be connected to each other threadably. The support member may include at least one outwar ly facing channel into which a component may be inserted. The component may be arranged to extend along the extrusion and may extend along substantial ly the complete length of the extrusion. The component and the outwardly facing channel may be arranged to co-operate with each other to resist attempted removal of the component from the channel, and said resistance may be app l i eα along substantial ly the complete length of the extent of the component within the channel , and the resistance may be substantial ly constant along the complete co-extensive length of the component and the support member . The component may comprise a wooden component. The outwar'dly facing channel may include inwardly facing projections from opposed sides of the channel with which the component is arranged to engage to resist withdrawal of the component from the channel when located therein. At least one of the inwardly facing projections may extend along part of the extent towards the opposed side of the channel in the direction into the channel . The present invention also includes an assembly of a cei l ing suspension arrangement including an elongate extruded support member attached to and depending from a plural ity of spaced suspension elements, the suspension elements having been capable of being attached anywhere along the support member . The support member or suspension elements may have any of the herein described features and a component as herein descr ibed may be secured to the support member. The assembly may include at least two elongate extruded support members spaced from each other, each being attached to and depending from a plural ity of spaced suspension elements, the suspension elements having been capa le of being attached anywhere along the support members, the support members being connected together, for instance rigidly connected together. The support members may be connected together at a plural ity of spaced locat ions. The support members may be connected together by connection elements which may be supported by an upwardly facing surface of at least one of the support members. Spaced connection elements may be held in their spaced relationship at a location intermediate the support members, for instance by an interconnecting member extending between or through the connection elements. A covering such as panel l ing which may be decorative may be secured to the connection elements and may be directly secured thereto such as by fasteners extending through the panel l ing into a downwardly facing surface of the connection elements. The covering may also be secured to the component extending into the outwardly facing channel of the support member. The covering may be located such that only the covering is visible from beneath the arrangement. The support members may be located paral lel to each other or, alternatively or additional ly, at different heights to each other or at the same height. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of erecting a cei l ing suspension arrangement comprises attaching at least two downwardly extending spaced suspension elements to an elongate extruded support member such that the support member depends downwardly from the suspension members, the suspension members and the support member being adapted such that the suspension members could have been connected anywhere along the support member. The method may comprise first connecting spaced suspension elements to an upper support, then attaching the spaced suspension elements to the support member and then adjusting, if necessary, the height of one or more of the suspension elements. The method may comprise attaching two spaced suspension elements to the support member and subsequently attaching at least one other suspension element to the support member at a location between the already attached support members. The method may include connecting a suspension element to the support member and then causing relative trans I at iona I movement of the suspension element along the support member. The method may further comprise suspending two elongate extruded support members spaced from each other, possibly paral lel to each other or, alternatively or additional ly at different heights, and connecting those members together, for instance at a plural i ty of spaced locations. The support members may be connected together by connection members which may be connected together by an interconnecting member at a location intermediate of the support members. The method may comprise securing a covering to the connection elements. The present invention includes any combination of the herein described features. Figure 1 is a schematic view of a suspended cei l ing arrangement 10; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the end of an extrusion 30 comprising part of a support member 20; Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of two alternative brackets 32 and 32 from which a rod 20 may be suspended from at its uppermost end; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the bracket 34 of Figure 3 In position with a rod 20 extending downwardly therefrom and connected to a support member 20 at its lowermost end, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified support member 20. The cei l ing arrangement 10 shown schemat icaf Iy in Figure 1 includes three paral lel support members 12A, 12B and 12C each of which are suspended by three rods 14A, 14B and 14C respectively. The support member 12B is suspended between the other members 12A and 12C at a higher elevation than those other members. The support members 12A and 12B are connected by a series of spaced shaped wooden planks 16, and the support members 12B and 12C are connected by a series of spaced shaped wooden planks 18, although only one of the planks 16 and 18 are shown. The support members and planks form a rigid structure. Where the planks co-operate with the support members 12A and 12C, where the plank 18 co-operates with the support member 12B, the planks are shaped to slot over those members. The planks 16 and 18 are connected together at their upper ends by a tie member 20 which extends through openings in the contacting planks 16 and 18 and has abutments (not shown) which prevent relative movement of the pianks and the tie member 20 in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the tie member 20. The tie member 20 wi l l also extend through the other planks along the length of the arrangement, and there may be nine such planks spaced evenly from each other along that extent. In addition to the tie member 20, further tie members 22 and 24 may be provided for the planks 16 and 18 respectively which extend through the series of planks to prevent relative movement of the planks in the direction along the arrangement at a location intermediate the support members. The resistance to the relative movement may be provided by attaching abutments to the planks or tie members or both on one or both sides of the planks. The planks 16 and 18 present a downwardly facing working surface to which tongued and grooved wooden slats 26 and 28 respectively can be nai led such that a person viewing the arrangement from below may only be able to see the slats 26 and 28. I f desired, the slats 26 and 28 can also be na i led to a downwardly facing wooden surface of the support members 12A and 12C the form of which surface wi l l become apparent when viewing the detai led figures iscussed below. The arrangement is assembled by first locating the end rods 14 of each support member 12 and getting the support member 12 in the required orientation and then fitting the intermediate rod 14 in position with the rod 14 being able to be attached, and its suspension point adjusted after the end rods have been attached to the support member and adjusted. If desired, more than the three rods shown may be attached in which instances the members 12 may be of considerably greater length. The planks 16 and 18 are then located in position and the tie members 20, 22 and 24 threaded through and secured. Thereafter the slats 26 and 28 are fastened in position. In alternative embodiments (not shown) adjacent support members may be located at the same elevation. Alternatively or additional ly, the downwardly facing surface of the planks may be curved in the extent between the support members to enable slots to present a curved surface. The extrusion 30 shown in Figure 2 includes a mid flat wa I. I 36 which defines the base of an upwardly extending channel 38 including opposed wal ls 40 and which also defines the base of a downwardly extending channel 42 including opposed wal ls 44. The opposed surfaces of the wa I Is 40 include inwardly directed ridges 46 which can be threadably engaged by the rod 20, as shown in Figure 4. The downwardly extending channel 42 includes a pair of barked edges 48 on each opposed wal l 44 into which a wooden workpiece 50 is arranged to be inserted., as seen in Figures 4 and 5. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the threaded rod 20 is connected to the bracket 34 by an upper nut 52 resting on the top of a plate 54 of the bracket. The rod 20 is located in the position shown by being sl id through an open end 56 of the bracket. The bracket is held in place by- a pair of screws 58 or other attachments which pass through a plate 60 of the bracket into the roof member 62 through an existing roofing panel 64. The bracket includes a stepped edge 66 between the plates 54 and 60 in order that a tool can be inserted between the panel 64 and the plate 54 to hold or rotate the nut 52 when the rod and nut undergo relative rotation to alter the height of the rod 20. A hole 67 is made in the panel 64 through which the rod 20 extends whereby the degree of adjustment of the height of the rod is increased greatly. The lower end of the rod threadably engages the inwardly directed ridges 46 such that the support member 20 depends downwardly from the rod. When setting up the configuration shown in Figure 4, the rod is attached to the extrusion 30 and can be sl id along the extrusion whi lst remaining connected by virtue of the screw thread of the rod sl iding between the ridges 46. The threaded bar or rod is then laced in the position shown and the nut 52 is rotated to bring the support member to the required height. Lock nuts 68 and 70 are then tightened respectively to hold the rod against sl iding in the extrusion and to grip the bracket 34 and prevent further rotational movement of the rod. Alternatively, the rod can be supported on the bracket 34 by the nut 52 and adjusted to be approximately in the right position before then rotating the rod to connect it to the extrusion and possibly sl iding the rod in the extrusion to al ign the rod and extrusion before tightening the lock nuts 68 and 70. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a portion of the nut 52 is removed such that it can be connected to the bar by being pushed from a side of the bar. This feature al lows adjustment of the height of the bar to be rapid, with the nut being sl id onto the bar from on top of the bracket once the bar is at the desired eI evat ion . The workpiece 50 shown in Figures 4 and 5 which may be a wooden piece, is pushed or banged into the channel 42 with the barbed edges 48 resisting withdrawal of the piece 50 evenly along the complete length of the extrusion. Alternatively or additional ly the removal of the workpiece can be resisted by crimping the wal ls of the channel to press a portion of the w l ls of the channel into the workpiece or by screws or na i is extending through the wai ls of the channel or by any other means extending into the workpiece or by glue or any combination thereof. In an alternative embodiment the workpiece can be formed integral ly with the extrusion. If desired the . extrus ion may be of plastics or metal such as aluminium. The exposed surfaces of the workpiece 50 shown in Figure 4 can be used to attach other components of the system such as slots which can be fastened to the workpiece. The workpiece 50 shown in Figure 5 includes a p ir of channels 72, one of which extends outwardly and the other of which extends outwardly and upwardly into which other components of the cei l ing arrangement (not shown) may be inserted or may co-operate with. In a modification or addition to the i l lustrated arrangement, the rods or attachments can be connected to the upwardly facing channel 38 of the extrusion by locating the attachment into the channel by causing relative transIat ronaI movement and then causing relative pivotal movement either to bring a portion of the" attachment into co-operation with the ridges 40 or to wedge a portion of enlarged diameter into contact with the wal ls 40 or ridges. The eel I ing arrangement makes it possible to create unrestricted designs for cei l ings and suspensions made from timber combined with other relevant materials. It can be seen that attachments can be secured to the sides or top and bottom of the support members. Furthermore the planks may be pre-shaped and may be attached to the support members by any convenient means such as by screws co-operating with the channel 38 of the extrus ion . In an alternative embodiment one or more of the rods may be indirectly connected to the extrusion via a bracket which bracket is connected to the extrusion by any means as herein descr ibed and the bracket may be connected to the rod by suitable means, such as by sl iding open ended members through adjacent threads such that the bracket rests on the open ended members.

Claims: CLA I MS 1. A cei I ing suspension arrangement (10) comprising an elongate extruded support member (30) and a plural ity of suspension elements (14), the suspension elements (14) and the support member (30) being adapted such that the suspension elements can be attached to the support member at any extent along the length of the support member whereby the support member (30) may depend from the suspension elements (14). 2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 in which the suspension elements (14) are arranged to be connected to the support member (30) and are able to move along the extent of the support member when so connected. 3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the suspension elements (14) and the support member (30) are arranged to be detachably connected to each other. 4. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim in which, when two suspension elements (14) are attached to the support member (30), a third suspension element (14) is then arranged to be attached to the support member (30) at a location between the other two suspension elements. 5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the support member (30) includes at least one outwardly facing channel (42) into which a component (50) is arranged to be inserted. 6. An assembly of a cei l ing suspension arrangement (10) including an elongate extruder support member (30) attached to and depending from a plural i ty of spaced suspension elements (14), the suspension elements having been capable of being attached anywhere along the support member (30) . 7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6 including at least two elongate extruded support members (30) spaced from each other, each being attached to and depending from a plural ity of spaced suspension elements (14), the support members being connected together. 8. An assembly as claimed in Claim 7 in which two support members (30) are located at different heights from each other . 9. A method of erecting a cei I ing suspension arrangement (10) comprising attaching at least two downwardly extending spaced suspension elements (14) to an elongate extruded support member (30) such that the support member depends downwardly from the suspension members, the suspension members and the support member being adapted such that the suspension members could have been connected anywhere along the support member. 10. A method as claimed n Claim 9 comprising attaching two spaced suspension elements to the support member and subsequently attaching at least one other suspension element to the support member at a location between the already attached support members.

Inventors: BENNETT GRAHAM, BENNETT, GRAHAM
Applicants: BENNETT GRAHAM, BENNETT, GRAHAM
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E04B9
IPC codes: E04B9