Abstract:
A clip for attachment to the end of a main beam for a grid in a suspended ceiling. The beam has an inverted T cross section. The clip engages an identical clip on the end of another main beam to form an end to end connection. The clip has a tongue and channel that engages with a tongue and channel in the other clip of the connection.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to clips that connect main beams together, end-to-end, in a grid structure for a suspended ceiling. 
     2. Background Information 
     Suspended ceilings having metal beams or runners that form grids to support panels are well known. Such grids have main beams or runners, and intersecting cross beams or runners. The beams are formed generally of flat sheet metal folded into an inverted T-shape, but in some instances are of extruded metal, such as aluminum. The main beams are secured end-to-end by connectors. The main beams are suspended from the structure ceiling by wires. The crossbeams are connected end-to-end through slots in the main beams and are supported by such main beams. 
     The main beams, which run parallel to one another, are generally spaced 48″ apart. Crossbeams are connected to the main beams to form either 24″×24″ rectangular openings, or 24″×48″ openings, which receive the laid-in panels. 
     Such main beams in a suspended ceiling are subjected primarily to tension, compression, and bending stresses, and occasionally to twisting forces. The function of the connectors which join the generally 12 foot lengths of main beams together longtudinally is to maintain adequate strength and alignment. 
     Since the beam connections are end-to-end, the flanges, web, and bulb of each beam abuts the other, so that the connector has little to resist in compression. Of course, the connector must keep the ends of the beams aligned. Fire relief notches can be cut into the beam proper to provide for expansion relief in case of a fire, since there is no give at the beam end. 
     With respect to tension or pulling apart of the connection longitudinally, the connector is the sole means to resist such tension at the connection. 
     With respect to the resisting and bending, the connector, along with the beam-ends, provides resistance to such bending. 
     The connectors must resist the occasional twist. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention involves a pair of identical clips, each fastened to one end of a connector, which are engaged by bringing one toward another, endwise, to snap together. 
     The clips are attached to the ends of the beam by fasteners such as flat head rivets. Flanges extending along the upper and lower edges of a channel portion of the clip at the rear thereof receive and cradle a tongue portion from the opposing clip. A spring pocket in the channel of the clip receives the tongue of the clip to keep the clips laterally together. A detent at the front of each clip enters a cutout adjacent to the spring pocket whereby the clips are restrained from pulling apart in tension. 
     The various elements of the clip described above work together to resist the stresses imparted to the clip. In summary, the flanges and tongues created a fishplate splice by the overlap of connectors wherein (1) the connectors resist bending; (2) the detents and cut-outs prevent separation longitudinally by tension, (3) the ends of the beams are kept aligned by the connector elements to resist compression, and (4) all the elements cooperate to create a splice that resists twisting. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial isometric exploded view of the end of a main beam showing: 
     a) a clip of the invention in phantom in position on the end of the beam; 
     b) a clip in solid lines in exploded position away from the beam; and 
     c) rivets that attach the clip to the beam in exploded position. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the clip showing the clip attached to the end of the beam, with a portion of the beam broken away, taken from the side of the beam away from the clip and the side of the clip opposite the one shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG. 2, showing two clips interconnected to form a beam connection. 
     FIG. 4 is a top sectional view taken on the  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a top sectional view taken on the line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line  6 — 6  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top sectional view. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Two clips  20  and  20 ′ each identical to the other, are used to form a beam connection  22  of the invention as seen in FIG.  3 . Clip  20  will be described with indentification numbers. Clip  20 ′ will carry the same identification numbers with a primed(′) notation. 
     Each clip  20  is roughly rectangular and is formed, preferably by stamping, from relatively hard steel, having spring properties. The clip can suitably have a thickness of 0.0150″, with a generally rectangular dimension of {fraction (7/8+L )}″ by 1½″. Punched holes  23  and  25 , are above one another, and are formed in the approximate center of the clip  20  as seen in FIG. 1. A third hole,  26 , forming a triangle with the first two, is formed at the rear of the clip. Arrow  27 , as seen in FIG. 2 points to the rear of the clip. 
     Flanges  28  and  30  are formed at the top and bottom edges of the rear of the clip  20 , to form a channel  52 . The flanges  28  and  30  are angled outwardly from what will be referred to as the laterally outward face  31  of the clip  20 . 
     For purposes of this explanation, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 location  32  represents the front of the clip and location  33  the rear. As seen in FIG. 1, the face of the clip  20  that is seen is the lateral outward face  33 , and the face of the clip that is not seen, and is intended to abut the web  35  of the grid beam  36 , will be referred to as the lateral web face  37  of the clip  20 . The clip  20  has a top  38  and bottom  40 . 
     A tongue  24  extends in a forward direction at the front  32  of the clip  20 . 
     As seen particularly in FIG. 1, the grid web  35  has a pan  41  or depressed section formed in the end of the beam  36 . As is common with rolled section T-beam grids, the grid beam  36  is formed of a folded strip of flat metal, into a web  35  with a bulb on top and a flange  42  below. The web  35  is formed of two adjacent layers, as clearly seen in FIG.  1 . 
     The pan  41 , which is rectangular, and of a size that slightly exceeds the rectangular dimension of the channel  52  of clip  20 , only so as to nest the channel  52  of clip  20  in the pan and restrain movement in the plane of the web. The pan  41  is pressed to a depth that depends on the thickness of clip  20 . When the clip  20  is attached to the web  35  in the depressed pan  41  by flat head rivets  43  through pre-punched holes  23 , 25  and  26  in the pan  41 , the lateral outward face  31  of the clip  20  will lie in the vertical plane  45  that extends between the layers in the web  35 , which is the vertical center plane of the total web  35 . 
     The pans  41  are formed into the web  35  at the each end of each beam  36 , so that the beams  36  and  36 ′ can be connected end to end by the clips  20  and  20 ′ of the invention. The pans  41  and  41 ′ are formed into the web  35  from opposite sides of the web  35  at each end of the beam  36  as seen in FIG.  7 . 
     The beam web  35  also has a V-shaped notch cutout  46  formed in the pan  41  as seen for instance in FIG.  1 . This notch cutout  46  receives a corresponding V-shaped wedge projection from the clip in the form of a stem  48  that protrudes from the clip  20  on the lateral web face  37 , and is depressed into the clip on lateral outward face  31 . This stem  48  nests in the notch cutout  46  of the web  35  and serves to secure the clip  20  on the web  35  along with the rivets  43 . Forward of the stem  48 , the projection extends in a form of an extended circular portion that creates a cap  50  in a modified mushroom shape, with the stem  48  extending horizontally when the clip  30  is in place in the ceiling, while the cap  50  of the mushroom shape extends vertically. 
     There is a rectangular cutout  51  at the forward part of cap  50 , and a pressed out detent  57  projecting from clip  20  beyond the laterally outward face  31  of the clip  20  at the front of cap  50  adjacent cutout  51 . Detent  57  has a rearward facing pointed edge  58 . 
     The two flanges  28  and  30  at the top and bottom of the clip  20  are angled outward from the lateral outward face  31  of the clip  20  to form a rear channel  52 . The flanges extend along the rear channel  52  of the clip  20  on the part that lies abutting the web  35 . 
     A spring pocket  53  is formed on the clip  20  in channel  52 , which faces foward and is angled away from the lateral outward face  31 . The rearward part of the pocket  53  has a portion  55  which folds back toward the lateral outward face  31 . The pocket  53  is joined to the outward face of the clip at the fold line  56 . The entire pocket is stamped from the flat clip  20 , leaving a cutout portion  60  having a rearward pointing arcuate edge  61 . 
     Two clips  20  and  20 ′, each identical to the other, and each fastened to one end of each beam  36  and  36 ′, are engaged by simply forcing one clip  20  longitudinally into another  20 ′, wherein the tongue  24  of one clip  20  engages the pocket  53 ′ of the other clip  20 ′ as seen in FIG.  3 . The clips  20  and  20 ′ are forced toward one another. This is done by directing the tongue  24  and  24 ′ of each of the clips  20  and  20 ′ toward the pocket  53  and  53 ′ on the other clips. This will bring the lateral outward faces  31  and  31 ′ of the clips of the  30  and  30 ′ together. The tongue  24  and  24 ′ of each clip will be centered and guided within the rearward portion of the other clip by the flanges at the top and bottom of the clip. 
     Detents  57  and  57 ′ on each clip  20  and  20 ′ will initially ride within the depressed of stems  48  and  48 ′, which will permit the faces  31  and  31 ′ to be in contact with one another. As each clip is brought forward with respect to the other, the lateral outward faces  31  and  31 ′ of the clips  20  and  20 ′ will be forced slightly apart as the detents  57  and  57 ′, permitting each clip face to override the flat head rivets  43 . 
     As the clips advance toward one another, the tongues  24  and  24 ′ of clips  20  and  20 ′ continue to be guided by the upper and lower flanges on each clip. 
     The clips  20  and  20 ′ will finally lock with one another when detent  57  enters cutout  60 ′, and detent  57 ′ enters cutout  60 , at which time the spring pocket  53  and  53 ′ of each clip will bring the faces  31  and  31 ′ back in abutment against one another as seen in FIG.  5 . Edge  58  on detent  57  will engage edge  61  on cutout portion  60 ′, in a hooked manner and edge  50 ′ on detent  57 ′ will engage edge  61 , in a similar manner. At this position, the ends of the grid flanges, webs, and bulbs will abut. 
     The connection is now complete, with each clip engaging the other in the following manner: 
     Laterally 
     The clips  20  and  20 ′ will be held lateral outward face  31  to lateral outward face  31 ′, in abutting relationship, by tongue  24  engaging spring pocket  53 ′, and tongue  24 ′ engaging spring pocket  53  as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The forward end  32  of the tongue  24  will extend under the portion of the pocket which, in a relaxed position, extends into the laterally outward face of the web. It is sprung from this relaxed position to the extent of the thickness of the tongue  24 , which it must accommodate and secure. Since both tongues are secured in opposed pockets, the clips are securely held against lateral separation. Longitudinaly to resist Compression. 
     Since the ends of the beams abut in alignment and each end is squarely cut and are held by the clip against separation, the connection resist compression. 
     Longitudinally to Resist Tension 
     Detents  57  and  57 ′ are held laterally in cutouts  60 ′ and  60  by the spring pockets  53  and  53 ′ so the faces  31  and  31 ′ cannot laterally separate. A hole  67  in web  35  permits detent to further seat under the bias of the spring pocket  53 . When held in the cutout  60 , the clips resists separation by tension since the detent  57  which is pointed toward the rear of the clip  20 , abuts against an arcuate edge  61  of the cutout and in effect is hooked on. The detents can be removed from the pocket by forcing back both spring pockets  53  and  53 ′ with a pry tool, both at the same time. The connections can then be disassembled by reversing the assembling steps. The connection can also be disassembled by the following steps: 1) push together, 2) twist, and 3) pull apart. 
     Bending 
     Each tongue  24  and  24 ′ fits into the channel  52  and  52 ′ on the other clip, and is held laterally in the channel by the spring pocket  53  and  53 ′. The clips  20  and  20 ′ are secured longitudinally to one another as explained above. By nesting the tongues and channels in this fashion, a fishplate splice is created wherein the interconnected clips  20  and  20 ′ lap the joint of grid beams  36  and  36 ′ and are secured to the webs  35  and  35 ′ of the end beams so as to connect the beams  36  and  36 ′ end to end. This fishplate effect can particularly be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. 
     Where the clips  20  and  21 ′ are used with grid beams having single thickness webs, including, extruded beams of for instance aluminum, the pan  41  and  41 ′ again must be formed in the web  35 . The depth of the pan  41  and  41 ′ should be such that when the clip of the invention is secured by the flat head rivets  43 , the lateral outward face  31  and  31 ′ of the clip should lie in the vertical center plane  45  of the web  35 .