Abstract:
A seismic bracket for supporting ends of suspended ceiling grid runners from a wall comprising a stamped sheet metal body, the body having a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion, the vertically extending portion, in its installed position, rising above the top of a standard grid runner a distance at least 1½ times the height of such standard grid runner, the vertically extending portion having two sections generally coextensive in the vertical direction, a first section being integral with the horizontally extending portion and a second section arranged to be in a vertical plane that intersects a vertical plane occupied by the horizontally extending portion, the horizontally extending portion being arranged to support a grid runner to move longitudinally a limited distance, the second section of the vertically extending portion having an aperture for securing the bracket to the wall at a location substantially above the grid tee.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to suspended ceiling grid construction and, in particular, to a bracket for supporting peripheral ceiling grid runners from adjacent wall structure. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Geographic regions prone to or predicted to experience seismic events can benefit with construction elements that reduce the effects of these occurrences. In this context, suspended ceiling grids have been provided with various expedients to accommodate a sudden structural shift or series of shifts of limited amplitude and maintain sufficient integrity to keep ceiling panels carried on the grid from falling. There remains a need for a simple, quick, and effective way of supporting grid runners at the perimeter of a suspended ceiling apart from the standard wall angle. Often, the plenum above the ceiling adjacent its perimeter is occupied by utilities such as air ducts, electrical raceways and the like. These utilities and other objects can make it difficult to support the ends of grid runners or tees at these locations with suspension wire from above, for example. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention provides a novel bracket particularly useful in higher seismic category geographic zones where suspended ceiling grid tees or runners are to be supported in close proximity to a wall other than by a conventional wall angle. Brackets of the invention, sometimes referred to as braces, can eliminate the need for suspension wires at the perimeter of a ceiling. Such wires can be difficult to install and, therefore, expensive for lack of conveniently accessible superstructure. 
         [0004]    The inventive bracket, capable of being produced with various profiles, is preferably formed as a sheet metal stamping. The bracket can be marketed in a substantially two dimensional configuration and be bent as it is installed to suit the geometry of the grid and wall intersections. In general, the bracket body includes a saddle-like portion that extends horizontally over a grid runner and a vertically extending portion above the plane of the grid runner adapted to be fastened to a wall. 
         [0005]    Ideally, the bracket optionally provides limited horizontal movement of the grid runner or a rigid connection of the grid runner to the wall. Horizontal movement is achieved with a slot in the bracket body that lies alongside a part of the grid runner and receives a fastener extending through the grid runner. Alternatively, the horizontal movement is accommodated by a depending pivotal arm integral with the bracket body. One part of the vertically extending portion is anchored flat against a surface of the wall at the boundary of the ceiling and another part of the vertically extending portion serves as a web between the wall anchored part and the horizontally extending portion of the bracket. The two parts of the vertically extending portion can be connected at a bend line defined by a zone weakened with a series of aligned apertures or slots in the sheet metal body. This construction permits the bracket to be bulk shipped in a “flat” configuration to occupy relatively small volume and be custom bent at the installation site by the installer to fit the intersection geometry of the ceiling grid and the wall especially if it is other than 90°. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a perimeter area of a suspended ceiling grid illustrating a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bracket of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a bracket of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an elevational view of the bracket of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a bracket of a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is an elevational view of the bracket of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a bracket of a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is an elevational view of the bracket of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a bracket of a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is an elevational view of the bracket of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is perspective view of a bracket of a sixth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 18  is an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 17 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 19  is an elevational view of the bracket of  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is illustrated a vertical rigid wall  10  on which a conventional suspended ceiling wall angle  11  is mounted by suitable fasteners such as screws. The wall angle  11 , conventionally roll-formed of sheet metal, lies at the perimeter and plane of a suspended ceiling grid represented by a grid runner or tee  12  of conventional construction. The grid runner  12 , ordinarily of roll-formed sheet metal, has the general cross-section of an inverted T with a lower horizontal flange  13 , vertical central web  14 , and an upper polygonal hollow reinforcing bulb  15 . 
         [0026]    Typically, the wall angle  11  in several pieces is placed end-to-end to run along each wall surrounding the ceiling grid. Grid runners  12  are ordinarily spaced apart on two or four foot centers (or metric equivalent). In some categories of seismic rated geographic areas, it can be desired to support the peripheral grid runners  12  within 8″ of a wall  10 . Often, the plenum above the plane of the ceiling is crowded with utilities in spaces adjacent the walls  10  making it difficult and time-consuming and, therefore expensive if not impractical to use conventional hanger wires in these spaces. 
         [0027]    The invention provides a bracket or brace  18  adapted to support the end of a grid runner  12  adjacent a wall  10  or similar structure at the edge or periphery of the ceiling. While  FIG. 1  illustrates only one grid runner or tee  12 , it will be understood that it is representative of numerous tees uniformly spaced from one another along the wall  10  and a separate bracket  18  is provided for each tee. The bracket  18 , and other versions depicted in  FIGS. 5-18  to be described, are preferably sheet metal stampings of, for example, 0.024″ gauge steel. The bracket  18  includes a horizontally extending portion shown generally at  21  and a vertically extending portion shown generally at  22  which can be considered to overlap where they merge. The horizontally extending portion (sometimes simply “horizontal portion”)  21  includes an inverted channel or saddle  23  giving the bracket  18  an inverted J-shaped cross-section shown in  FIG. 3 . A lower edge of the horizontal portion  21  has a small lengthwise extending flange  24 . Opposite sidewalls  27 ,  28  are spaced apart to slip over the grid tee bulb  15 . Typically, the bulb is ¼″ wide (or metric equivalent). One of the channel sidewalls  28  extends vertically substantially below the opposite wall  27  such that when the bracket  18  is installed on a grid runner  12 , it lies alongside the grid runner web  14 . Both walls  27 ,  28  forming the channel  23  have holes  29  and a horizontally elongated slot  31  for receiving a screw or other fastener  32 . The extended wall  28  has a second set of holes  33  and a horizontally elongated slot  34  below the first mentioned holes  29  and slot  31 . 
         [0028]    The vertically extending portion (sometimes simply “vertical portion”)  22  of the bracket  18  has two sections or parts  36 ,  37  separated by a bend line made by a series of vertical aligned slots or apertures  38 . The presence of the apertures  38  leaves small spaced land areas  39  which are relatively weak along the line of the apertures in resistance to bending the plane of one section  37  relative to the other  36 . As a result, a low force, preferably even without hand tools applied by the installer is all that is required to locate the section  37  in a plane perpendicular or otherwise relative to the other section  36 . Preferably, the bracket  18  is manufactured with both sections  36 ,  37  of the vertical portion  22  coplanar so that the bracket occupies a minimum space when packed and shipped with identical brackets  18 . Weakening at the bend line allows the installer to ordinarily bend the section  37  to an angle corresponding to that at which the grid runner to which it is to be attached intersects the wall  10 . While this angle is most often a right angle, it can be essentially any other angle. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , it will be understood that the inverted channel  23  is dimensioned to seat on the sides and upper face as well as to support under one side of the bulb of a grid runner bulb  15  of a standard duty grid runner  12 . The bracket  18  can be fixed to a grid runner  12  by assembling a screw  32  through the slot  31  (or the holes  29 ) and into the sidewall of the bulb  15 . When the slot  31  is used, a limited longitudinal movement of the grid runner  12  relative to the bracket is accommodated. The lower flange  24  is proportioned to engage the grid runner web  14  and thereby assist in aligning and stabilizing the grid runner  12  to the bracket  18 . A standard duty grid runner or tee  12  will measure nominally 1½″ in height from the lower flange  13  to the top of the bulb  15 . The lower holes  33  and slot  34  of the bracket  18  can be used, for instance, where the grid runner height is relatively short such as with a cross runner or cross tee. While a grid runner end rests on a wall angle  11 , the bracket  18  can be installed by slipping the inverted channel  23  on the horizontal portion  21  down over the end of the grid runner so that the bulb  15  is received in the inverted channel  23 . The bracket  18  is fastened to the wall  10  with screws or nails or other fasteners  41  assembled through holes  42  in the distal section  37  of the vertical portion  22 . A lower area  43  of the distal section  37  can be slipped behind the vertical leg of the wall angle  11  or can be simply overlayed on this vertical leg. 
         [0030]    In the variants of the bracket of the invention shown in  FIGS. 5-19 , equivalent or analogous elements of the version described with reference to  FIGS. 1-4  are identified with the same numerals. Generally, like the first-described bracket  18 , each of the other brackets shown in the subsequent figures are stamped of a suitable gauge of sheet steel. In  FIGS. 5-7 , the horizontal portion  21  of a bracket  46  is extended to enable a grid runner or tee  12  to be supported by the bracket at a greater distance from a wall  10  than that obtained by the bracket of  FIGS. 1-4 . The bracket  46  includes a second saddle-like inverted channel  47  aligned with and rearward of the channel  23 . The channels  23  and  47  are each adapted to closely fit over three faces of a conventional grid runner bulb  15 . In this version of the bracket  46 , the vertical portion  22  has a height that is about ⅔ of the length of the horizontal portion  21  measured from the bend line formed by the slots  38 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , a bracket  51 , like the bracket  18 , has an L-shape in elevational view. The length and height of the bracket  51  are increased from that of the first-described bracket  18 . By way of example, the horizontal portion  21 , measured from the line of the slots  38  to the distal end can be about 8″ and the vertical portion can be about 7½″ high. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 11-13  illustrate a bracket  56  having a horizontal portion  21  with a depending pivotal leg  57 . An elongated embossment  58  in the horizontal portion  21  stiffens the bracket  56 . The leg  57  supports a tee for limited longitudinal motion as a substitute for the slot  31  found in other bracket versions. Either one of two holes  59  in an L-shaped tab  61  accepts a self-drilling screw that is driven into the bulb  15  of a grid runner or tee  12 . The leg  57  can pivot either to the right, as shown in phantom in  FIG. 13  or, similarly, to the left. When the grid runner  12  is displaced longitudinally, the tab  61  pivots on the screw fixing it to the bulb  15 . In applications where the grid runner  12  is to be rigidly fixed relative to a wall, a screw is inserted in one or more of the holes  29  and driven into the bulb. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 14-16  depict a bracket where a gusset-like area  67  extends between the horizontal portion  21  and the vertical portion  22 . The gusset-area  67  can have a polygonal embossment  68  generally following and inset from the profile of the bracket. Sheet material used to form the inverted channel  23  leaves a rectangular aperture  69  in the horizontal portion  21 . A lower part  70  of the horizontal portion  21 , which includes holes  33  and slot  34  is offset towards the center of the channel  23  to allow it to abut the web  14  of a grid runner  12 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 17-19  show a bracket  71  with a right angle profile and in which the horizontal portion  21  has a lower section  72  offset towards the center of the inverted channel  23 . This geometry, like that of the bracket  66  allows the lower section  72  to abut the web  14  of a grid runner  12  to align and stabilize the bracket and grid runner. 
         [0035]    All of the disclosed brackets are characterized by a plate-like structure that fits closely against a grid runner and embossments or offsets of the same extend into the space above or below the reinforcing bulb of a grid runner so that lay-in ceiling panels can be installed and lifted for access without undue interference. Additionally, the various disclosed brackets are characterized by a vertically extending portion that rises above a standard 1½″ grid runner or tee by more than 1½ times this height thereby allowing the bracket to sustain adequate levels of vertical force at the distal end of the horizontally extending portion. 
         [0036]    While the invention has been shown and described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, this is for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation, and other variations and modifications of the specific embodiments herein shown and described will be apparent to those skilled in the art all within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the patent is not to be limited in scope and effect to the specific embodiments herein shown and described nor in any other way that is inconsistent with the extent to which the progress in the art has been advanced by the invention.