Abstract:
A ceiling system including, among other things, a clip adapted for attachment to a ceiling or a wall. The clip has at least one panel engagement surface, at least one molding surface, and at least one molding attachment member positioned adjacent to the at least one molding surface. The system further includes a panel having an interior surface adapted for engagement with a ceiling or a wall and an exterior surface adapted for engagement with the at least one panel engagement surface. The system further includes a molding having a surface adapted for engagement with the at least one molding surface and a slot adapted for engagement with the at least one molding attachment member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This relates to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/910,448, filed on Dec. 2, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to building products. More specifically, the invention is directed to a ceiling system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There is a need for a ceiling system that is easy and efficient to assemble. The invention provides such as a system. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention is a ceiling system including, among other things, a clip adapted for attachment to a ceiling or a wall. The clip has at least one panel engagement surface, at least one molding surface, and at least one molding attachment member positioned adjacent to the at least one molding surface. The system further includes a panel having an interior surface adapted for engagement with a ceiling or a wall and an exterior surface adapted for engagement with the at least one panel engagement surface. The system further includes a molding having a surface adapted for engagement with the at least one molding surface and a slot adapted for engagement with the at least one molding attachment member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ceiling system according to the invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a clip according to the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a clip according to the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a clip according to the invention supporting two panels adjacent to a ceiling as a molding is being attached to the clip; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 4  in which the molding has been attached to the clip; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a clip according to the invention positioned adjacent to a wall in which a molding has been attached to the clip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    An embodiment of the ceiling system according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference being made to the drawings. In the drawings, the ceiling system is indicated generally by the reference number “ 10 .” 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the ceiling system  10  includes one or more clips  12  that are attached to a ceiling  14  or a wall  16  or both. The clips  12  support one or more panels  18 . The clips  12  also support one or more moldings such as main moldings  20 , cross moldings  22 , and wall moldings  24 . 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the clip  12  includes a molding portion  26  and a ceiling portion  28 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first end  32  of the clip  12  on the molding portion  26  includes a first molding surface  34  and a second molding surface  36 . The surfaces  34  and  36  are flat and on the same plane as one another. The first end  32  further includes a first molding attachment member  38  that is positioned adjacent to the first molding surface  34  and a second molding attachment member  40  that is positioned adjacent to the second molding surface  36 . The first and second molding attachment members  38  and  40  extend outwardly from the first end  32  in spaced relationship to one another. Further, the first and second molding attachment members  38  and  40  are flexible so that they can be moved in relation to one another. The first molding attachment member  38  includes a first leg  42 , a first molding engagement surface  44 , a first chamfered surface  46 , and a first point  48 . The second molding attachment member  40  includes a second leg  50 , a second molding engagement surface  52 , a second chamfered surface  54 , and a second point  56 . 
         [0014]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , a second end  58  of the clip  12  on the molding portion  28  includes a third molding surface  60  and a fourth molding surface  62 . The surfaces  60  and  62  are flat and on the same plane as one another. Further, the surfaces  60  and  62  are on the same plane as the first and second molding surfaces  34  and  36 . The second end  58  further includes a third molding attachment member  64  that is positioned adjacent to the third molding surface  60  and a fourth molding attachment member  66  that is positioned adjacent to the fourth molding surface  62 . The third and fourth molding attachment members  64  and  66  extend outwardly from the second end  58  in spaced relationship to one another. Further, the third and fourth molding attachment members  64  and  66  are flexible so that they can be moved in relation to one another. The third molding attachment member  64  includes a third leg  68 , a third molding engagement surface  70 , a third chamfered surface  72 , and a third point  74 . The fourth molding attachment member  66  includes a fourth leg  76 , a fourth molding engagement surface  78 , a fourth chamfered surface  80 , and a fourth point  82 . 
         [0015]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the clip  12  has washer surface  84  that is sized and adapted for positioning a washer such as a round washer  86 . The first end  32  has a first washer engagement surface  88  that includes a straight portion  90  adjacent to the first molding surface  34  and a curved portion  92  adjacent to the second molding surface  36 . The second end  58  has a second washer engagement surface  94  that includes a straight portion  96  adjacent to the third molding surface  60  and a curved portion  98  adjacent to the fourth molding surface  62 . The first and second washer engagement surfaces  88  and  94  are sized and adapted for engaging the washer  86  when it is positioned on the washer surface  84 . The first end  32  includes a first washer engagement member  100  that is positioned adjacent to and in spaced relationship with the washer surface  84 . The first washer engagement member  100  has a first member surface  102  that is sized and adapted for engaging the washer  86  when it is positioned on the washer surface  84 . The second end  58  includes a second washer engagement member  104  that is positioned adjacent to and in spaced relationship with the washer surface  84 . The second washer engagement member  104  has a second member surface  106  that is sized and adapted for engaging the washer  86  when it is positioned on the washer surface  84 . 
         [0016]    When the clip  12  is to be installed on the ceiling  14  or the wall  16 , the washer  86  is moved in the direction indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 2  so that it is positioned on the washer surface  84 . In this regard, the washer  86  is engaged by the first and second washer engagement surfaces  88  and  94  and the first and second member surfaces  102  and  106 . A fastener such as a threaded screw  108  extends through a washer opening  110  in the washer  86  and a clip opening  112  of the clip  12  to fasten the clip  12  to the ceiling  14  or the wall  16 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the first end  32  of the clip  12  on the ceiling portion  28  includes a first panel surface  114  and a second panel surface  116 . The surfaces  114  and  116  are flat and on the same plane as one another. The second end  58  of the clip  12  on the ceiling portion  28  includes a third panel surface  118  and a fourth panel surface  120 . The surfaces  118  and  120  are flat and on the same plane as one another. Further, the surfaces  118  and  120  are on the same plane as the first and second panel surfaces  114  and  116 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the clip  12  has a first ceiling rail  122  that extends longitudinally between the first and second ends  32  and  58  adjacent to the first and third panel surfaces  114  and  118 . The first ceiling rail  122  includes a first panel wall  124  and a first ceiling engagement surface  126 . The first panel wall  124  is flat and has a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the first and third panel surfaces  114  and  118 . The first ceiling engagement surface  126  is flat and has a plane that is horizontal to and spaced from the plane of the first and third panel surfaces  114  and  118 . The clip  12  has a second ceiling rail  128  that extends longitudinally between the first and second ends  32  and  58  adjacent to the second and fourth panel surfaces  116  and  120 . The second ceiling rail  128  includes a second panel wall  130  and a second ceiling engagement surface  132 . The second panel wall  130  is flat and has a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the second and fourth panel surfaces  116  and  120 . The second ceiling engagement surface  132  is flat and has a plane that is horizontal to and spaced from the plane of the second and fourth panel surfaces  116  and  120 . The clip  12  includes a third ceiling engagement surface  134  adjacent to the clip opening  112 . The first, second and third ceiling engagement surfaces  126 ,  132  and  134  are on the same plane. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , each of the main and cross moldings as represented by main molding  20  includes an interior portion  136  and an exterior portion  138 . The interior portion  136  includes a first surface  140  and a second surface  142 . A clip recess  144  is positioned between the first and second surfaces  140  and  142 . The molding  20  has a slot  146  positioned adjacent to the clip recess  144  that is sized and adapted to correspond to the first, second, third and fourth molding attachment members  38 ,  40 ,  64  and  66  of the clip  12 . In an embodiment, the slot  146  has a generally T-shaped configuration in which there is a narrow portion  148  and an enlarged portion  150 . The narrow portion  148  has first and second narrow portion walls  152  and  154  that are generally parallel to one another. The enlarged portion  150  has first and second enlarged portion walls  156  and  158  that are generally parallel to one another. The enlarged portion  150  also has first and second attachment walls  160  and  162  that are parallel to one another and on the same plane. The first and second attachment walls  160  and  162  are positioned adjacent to and in a generally perpendicular relationship with the first and second narrow portion walls  152  and  154 , respectively. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , each of the wall moldings as represented by wall molding  24  includes the same elements as described above with respect to the main molding  20 . In addition, the wall molding  24  includes a third surface  164 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , each of the panels  18  may have a generally square or a generally rectangular shape defined by four edges  166 . Each panel  18  has an interior surface  168  and an exterior surface  170 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the ceiling system  10  is installed directly to the ceiling  14  and the walls  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , the clip  12  is attached to the ceiling  14  by positioning the washer  86  on the washer surface  84  and inserting the screw  108  through the washer and clip openings  110  and  112  and into the ceiling  14 . When so positioned, the first, second and third ceiling engagement surfaces  126 ,  132  and  134  engage the ceiling  14 . As shown, two panels  18  are positioned between the clip  12  and the ceiling  14  in which the exterior surfaces  170  of the panels  18  engage the first, second, third and fourth panel surfaces  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120 . The edges  166  of the panels  18  engage the first and second panel walls  124  and  130 . The interior surfaces  168  of the panels  18  engage the ceiling  14 . The clip  12  firmly supports the panels  18  to the ceiling  14 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , each of the main and the cross moldings as represented by the main molding  20  can be snapped onto the clip  12  by inserting the first, second, third and fourth molding attachment members  38 ,  40 ,  64  and  66  in the slot  146  as indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 4 . In this regard, the first, second, third and fourth points  48 ,  56 ,  74  and  82  are positioned in the narrow portion  148 . As the molding  20  is moved toward the clip  12 , the first, second, third and fourth chamfered surfaces  46 ,  54 ,  72  and  80  engage the molding  20  to allow the first, second, third and fourth molding attachment members  38 ,  40 ,  64  and  66  to flex or move inwardly to allow for passage through the narrow portion  148 . The first, second, third and fourth molding engagement surfaces  44 ,  52 ,  70  and  78  engage the first and second attachment walls  160  and  162 , respectively, upon expansion of the first, second, third and fourth attachment members  38 ,  40 ,  64  and  66  in the enlarged portion  150 . This allows for the firm attachment of the molding  20  on the clip  12 . As shown, the clip  12  is positioned in the clip recess  144  of the molding  20  and the first and second surfaces  140  and  142  are positioned adjacent to the panels  18 . The molding  20  may also be slid onto the clip  12 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the wall moldings as represented by wall molding  24  may be mounted directly to the wall  16  by the clip  12  in the same manner as described above with respect to the main molding  20 . As shown, the first surface  140  is positioned adjacent to the wall  16  and the third surface  164  is positioned adjacent to the panel  18 . 
         [0025]    Various materials may be used to construct the components of the ceiling system  10 . For example, the clip  12  may be constructed of a plastic material such as polypropylene; the washer  86  and the screw  108  may be constructed of metal; and the panels  18  and the moldings  20 ,  22  and  24  may constructed of a wooden material such as a wood composite material having a paper laminate surface. In addition, the components of the ceiling system  10  may be sold together as a kit or separately for subsequent assembly and installation. 
         [0026]    While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the essential scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments, but that the invention shall include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.