Patent Publication Number: US-11384538-B1

Title: Ceiling tile clip

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to clips or brackets that retain ceiling tiles in a ceiling. In particular, this invention relates to ceiling tile clips or brackets that, in conjunction with elongated ceiling grid members, retain ceiling tiles in a grid of the elongated ceiling grid members. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ceilings comprised of (1) ceiling grid assemblies consisting of a plurality of elongated ceiling grid members connected to form parallel and perpendicular rows of the elongated ceiling grid members and (2) ceiling tiles inserted into the spaces created by those parallel and perpendicular rows of the elongated ceiling grid members have been in use for decades. Those plurality of elongated ceiling grid members are usually directly attached to and suspended from the structure comprising the ceiling of a room or other building space, such as a concrete slab. The elongated ceiling grid members of those ceiling grid assemblies often directly or indirectly support other structural members and room or building accessories, such as light fixtures, HVAC conduits, sprinkler systems, etc., in the rooms or other building spaces in which they are installed. 
     The ceiling tiles often rest on outwardly extending flanges of the elongated ceiling grid members to be maintained in place. However, in some applications, it is desirable to more firmly retain the ceiling tiles in place by a force other than the force of gravity on the ceiling tile edges that directly rest on the elongated ceiling grid members. 
     In those applications, clips or brackets are sometimes employed to retain the ceiling tiles in place. Those clips or brackets may or may not be attached to the elongated ceiling grid members. The disadvantages of the prior art clips or brackets include that the clips or brackets must be maneuvered from above the grid of elongated ceiling members, the clips or brackets can be easily misplaced and it is often difficult to install ceiling tiles using such clips or brackets and/or remove ceiling tiles held in place by such clips and/or brackets. 
     The ceiling tile clips of this invention address those needs, as well as other needs that are readily apparent to those of skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The ceiling tile clips of some embodiments of this invention include a top wall, a pair of parallel, spaced side walls that are (1) integral with the top wall and (2) extend perpendicularly to the top wall from opposite edges of the top wall in the same direction and flanges at lower edges of the pair of side walls that extend outwardly and perpendicularly to the pair of side walls and in parallel to the top wall. The top wall may include a threaded opening that receives and engages a threaded member. 
     In certain embodiments of this invention, the opening is a threaded orifice in the top wall. 
     In other embodiments of this invention, the opening is a threaded through bore in a rivet nut supported by the top wall. 
     This invention also includes an assembly for engaging and retaining a ceiling tile in a ceiling that includes at least one of the ceiling tile clips discussed above and at least one elongated ceiling grip member. The elongated ceiling grid member may (1) extend along a longitudinal axis, (2) have side surfaces and ceiling tile support portions that extend (a) outwardly from the side surfaces in opposite directions that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and (b) in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated ceiling grid member. The elongate ceiling grid member and ceiling tiles are configured such that the ceiling tile clip can be engaged and retained between the flanges of the ceiling tile clip and the ceiling tile support portions when the ceiling tile clip is attached to the elongated ceiling grid member in a first position relative to the elongated ceiling grid member. 
     In some embodiments of this assembly, the ceiling tile support portions are flange portions. 
     In other embodiments of this assembly, the ceiling tile clip and elongated ceiling grid member are configured such that, when the ceiling tile clip is attached to the elongated ceiling grid member in a second position relative to the elongated ceiling grid member, the ceiling tiles are not engaged by and retained between the flange portions of the elongated ceiling grid member and the flanges of the ceiling tile clip. 
     In yet other embodiments of this assembly, ceiling tiles can be engaged and retained by the flange portions and the flanges above the flange portions. 
     In further embodiments of this assembly, the assembly includes a threaded member that engages the top wall of the ceiling tile clip to attach the ceiling tile clip to the elongated ceiling grid member. The top wall may be above the elongated ceiling grid member. 
     In other embodiments of the assembly, the elongated ceiling grid member includes a middle portion with at least one opening that extends through the middle portion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The threaded member may be received through the at least one opening. 
     In yet other embodiments of the assembly, the threaded member has a tool engagement and a threaded shaft. The threaded shaft threadedly engages the top wall of the ceiling tile clip. The tool engagement head is located below the at least one opening in the middle portion of the elongated ceiling grid member and has a size and shape such that the tool engagement head will not fit through the at least one opening. 
     In yet other embodiments of the assembly, there is a plurality of spaced openings in the middle portion of the elongated ceiling grid member, along its longitudinal axis. 
     This invention also includes a method of engaging and retaining ceiling tiles in a ceiling using the ceiling tile clip, elongated ceiling grid member and threaded member described above. That method includes positioning the ceiling tile clip relative to the elongated ceiling grid member such that there is a space between the flanges of the ceiling tile clip and the flange portions of the elongated ceiling grid member that is thicker than the ceiling tiles, inserting a ceiling tile into that space and rotating the threaded member until the ceiling tile is engaged by a flange of the ceiling tile clip and a flange portion of the elongated ceiling grid member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a ceiling tile clip of this invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a ceiling tile clip of this invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional front elevation view of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an elongated ceiling grid member with which the ceiling tile clips of this invention can be utilized. 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the elongated ceiling grid member illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the elongated ceiling grid member illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  attached, by a connecting screw, to another elongated ceiling grid member with which the ceiling tile clips of this invention can be utilized, with two ceiling tiles being engaged by and retained between the elongated ceiling grid member and the ceiling tile clip. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of two ceiling tiles installed between two of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and the elongated ceiling grid member illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  attached to the elongated ceiling grid member illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11  by a connecting screw, with the ceiling tile clip being raised above the ceiling tiles resting on the elongated ceiling grid member. 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  attached to the elongated ceiling grid member illustrated in  FIGS. 10-12  by a connecting screw, with the ceiling tile clip being in a raised position such that the lowermost surfaces of the ceiling tile clip are above the uppermost surfaces of the elongated ceiling grid member. 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  attached to the elongated ceiling grid member illustrated in  FIGS. 10-13  by a connecting screw, with the ceiling tile clip being in a raised position such that the lowermost surfaces of the ceiling tile clip are above the uppermost surfaces of the elongated ceiling grid member, the same as  FIG. 13 , but with the ceiling tile clip rotated 90° around the connecting screw from the position of the ceiling tile clip illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As stated, one embodiment of a ceiling tile clip of this invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , ceiling tile clip  20 . Ceiling tile clip  20  includes top wall  22 , spaced side walls  24  and  26 , flanges  28  and  30  and rivet nut  32 . 
     Side walls  24  and  26  extend downwardly from top wall  22  on opposite edges of top wall  22 . In this embodiment of the invention, top wall  22  and side walls  24  and  26  are integral. In other embodiments of this invention, top wall  22  and side walls  24  and  26  can be separate members. Sidewalls  24  and  26  are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to top wall  22 . 
     Flanges  28  and  30  extend outwardly from the lowermost edges of sidewalls  24  and  26 , respectively, substantially perpendicular to sidewalls  24  and  26  and substantially parallel to top wall  22 . 
     While ceiling tile clip  20  includes flanges  28  and  30  to engage and retain ceiling tiles (as explained below), the ceiling tile clips of other embodiments of this invention may include structure other than flanges to engage and retain ceiling tiles. 
     Rivet nut  32  is crimped in place in the center of top wall  22 , extends downward from top wall  22 , and has threaded bore  33  that extends the length of rivet nut  32 . Threaded bore  33  has a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to top wall  22 . 
     While ceiling tile clip  20  includes rivet nut  32  to receive and engage a bolt or screw to attach ceiling tile clip  20  to an elongated ceiling grid member (as explained below), the ceiling tile clips of other embodiments of this invention may include a fastening member other than a rivet nut to receive and engage a fastener and attach the ceiling tile clips to elongated ceiling grid members. 
     One such other embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , ceiling tile clip  20 ′, which includes top wall  22 ′, side walls  24 ′ and  26 ′ and flanges  28 ′ and  30 ′. 
     Side walls  24 ′ and  26 ′ and flanges  28 ′ and  30 ′ are substantially the same as sidewalls  24  and  26  and flanges  28  and  30 , respectively. Top wall  22 ′ differs from top wall  22  in that top wall  22 ′ includes threaded hole  34  in the approximate center thereof, instead of rivet nut  32 . 
     One configuration of an elongated ceiling grid member to which ceiling tile clips  20  and  20 ′ can be attached is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 —elongated ceiling grid member  36 . 
     As shown in those figures, elongated ceiling grid member  36  extends along a longitudinal axis and includes upright section  38  and outwardly extending flanges  40  and  42 . Upright section  38 , in turn, includes top portion  44 , middle portion  46  and bottom portion  48 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 8 . The exterior surfaces of top portion  44 , middle portion  46  and bottom portion  48  define side surfaces of elongated ceiling grid member  36 . 
     While, in elongated ceiling grid member  36 , top portion  44 , middle portion  46 , bottom portion  48  and flanges  40  and  42  are integral, in other elongated ceiling grid members with which the ceiling tile clips of this invention may be used, one or more of those portions and flanges can be separate members that are joined to other members that comprise one or more of the other portions and/or flanges. For example, flanges  40  and  42  could be separate from upright section  38 , and attached to upright section  38  by welding or other means known in the art. 
     Top portion  44  and middle portion  46  define upper threaded slot or chamber  50 , as follows. 
     Top portion  44  includes sidewalls  52  and  54 , which are spaced apart and substantially parallel. Sidewalls  52  and  54  have ridged or threaded interior surfaces  56  and  58 , respectively. Ridged or threaded interior surfaces  56  and  58  form the sidewalls of the upper threaded slot or chamber  50 . Top surface  60  of middle portion  46  forms the bottom surface of upper threaded slot or chamber  50 . Upper threaded slot or chamber  50  is open at the top. 
     Middle portion  46  is solid, except for orifice  47 , which extends longitudinally through middle portion  46 , and orifices  62 . 
     Orifice  47  may function as an identifier of the thread “type” that can be received by ridged or threaded interior surfaces  56  and  58  and the ridged or threaded interior surfaces of side walls  66  and  68  of bottom portion  48  (discussed below). For example, one shape of orifice  47  may identify that ridged or threaded interior surfaces  56  and  58  and the ridged or threaded interior surfaces of side walls  66  and  68  are compatible with fasteners having imperial threads, and a second shape of the orifice  476  may identify that those ridged or threaded surfaces are compatible with fasteners having metric threads. 
     Orifices  62  are spaced along middle portion  46  and extend vertically through middle portion  46 , perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of elongated ceiling grid member  36 . Orifices  62  are defined by a smooth cylindrical surface in the interior of middle portion  46 . The number and spacing of orifices  62  can vary depending on the application. 
     While, as described above and shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , middle portion  46  is solid except for orifices  47  and  62 , in other embodiments of the elongated ceiling grid members with which the ceiling tile clips of this invention can be used, the middle portion may have vertically spaced members, such as middle portion  46 ′ of elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′ illustrated in  FIGS. 10-14 . Each spaced member has an orifice  62 ′. Orifices  62 ′ are axially aligned. 
     Bottom portion  48  includes sidewalls  66  and  68 , which are spaced apart and substantially parallel. Sidewalls  66  and  68  have ridged or threaded interior surfaces. Specifically, sidewall  66  includes upper threaded interior surface  70  and lower threaded interior surface  72 , and sidewall  68  includes upper threaded interior surface  74  and lower threaded interior surface  76 . Upper threaded interior surface  70  is opposite upper threaded interior surface  74 , and lower threaded interior surface  72  is opposite lower threaded interior surface  76 . Sidewall  66  also includes interior slanted surface  78  that extends between upper threaded interior surface  70  and lower threaded interior surface  72 , and sidewall  68  also includes interior slanted surface  80  that extends between upper threaded interior surface  74  and lower threaded interior surface  76 . 
     Upper threaded interior surfaces  70  and  74 , interior slanted surfaces  78  and  80 , and lower threaded interior surfaces  72  and  76  form the sidewalls of lower threaded slot or chamber  64 . The bottom surface of middle portion  46  forms the top surface of lower threaded slot or chamber  64 . Lower threaded slot or chamber  64  is open at the bottom. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the lateral distance between upper threaded interior surface  70  of sidewall  66  and upper threaded interior surface  74  of sidewall  68  is less than the lateral distance between lower threaded interior surface  72  of sidewall  66  and lower threaded interior surface  76  of sidewall  68 . That results in lower threaded slot or chamber  64  being comprised of two sections, inner threaded section  82  between upper threaded interior surfaces  70  and  74  and outer threaded section  84  between lower threaded interior surfaces  72  and  76 , with inner threaded section  82  having a shorter lateral distance than outer threaded section  84 . 
     Flanges  40  and  42  extend outwardly from the lower ends of sidewalls  52  and  54 , respectively, perpendicular to side walls  52  and  54  and in opposite directions that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of elongated ceiling grid member  36 . Flanges  40  and  42  also extend in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of elongated ceiling grid member  36 . Flanges  40  and  42  are flat plates that do not extend inwardly between sidewalls  52  and  54 . 
     While elongated ceiling grid member  36  includes flanges  40  and  42  to support ceiling tiles (as explained below), other elongated ceiling grid members with which the ceiling tile clips of this invention can be used may include structure other than flanges to support ceiling tiles. 
     As stated, the ceiling tile clips of this invention can be used with configurations of elongated ceiling grid members other than elongated ceiling grid member  36 . For example, the elongated ceiling grid members may include a lower section comprised of two side walls that are a uniform lateral distance apart from top to bottom, such as sidewalls  66 ′ and  68 ′ of ceiling grid member  36 ′ illustrated in  FIGS. 10-14 . Also, either or both of the upper and lower chambers, which are threaded in elongated ceiling grid member  36  illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9  and in elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′ illustrated in  FIGS. 10-14 , can have smooth cylindrical surfaces. 
     One manner of using the ceiling tile clips of this invention to engage and retain ceiling tiles in conjunction with elongated ceiling grid members is illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11  and explained below. 
     In  FIGS. 10 and 11 , ceiling tiles  86  and  88  are engaged by and retained between ceiling tile clips  20  and elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′. 
     Specifically, edges of ceiling tiles  86  and  88  rest on flanges  40 ′ and  42 ′ of elongated grid member  36 ′, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 10 . Ceiling tile clip  20  is attached to elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′ by screw  90 , which, in  FIG. 10 , is tightened such that the bottom surfaces of flanges  28  and  30  abut and engage the top surfaces of the edges of ceiling tiles  86  and  88  that are resting on flanges  40 ′ and  42 ′. Top wall  22  is above the uppermost surfaces of elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′. Side walls  24  and  26  extend along the side surfaces of elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′. 
     More specifically, screw  90  has head  92  and threaded shaft  94 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12-14 , threaded shaft  94  extends through orifices  62 ′ of elongated grid member  36 ′ and rivet nut  32  and threadedly engages threaded bore  33  of rivet nut  32  to affix ceiling tile clip  20  to elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′. 
     Head  92  is of a size and configuration such that head  92  is received in lower chamber  64 ′ of elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′, but will not fit through orifices  62 ′. 
     Screw  90  is loosened and tightened vis-à-vis rivet nut  32  as follows. When screw  90  is turned clockwise or counterclockwise, ceiling tile clip  20 , if ceiling tile clip  20  is not already in contact with elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′ in the direction of rotation, will rotate until side walls  24  and  26  abut exterior surfaces of elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′. The abutment of side walls  24  and  26  against exterior surfaces of elongated grid member  36 ′ prevents rivet nut  32  from rotating when screw  90  is further rotated, such that screw  90  rotates relative to rivet nut  32 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a pair of ceiling tile clips  20  engaging and retaining ceiling tiles  86  and  88  in conjunction with elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′. The number of ceiling tile clips of this invention that can be employed with a specific elongated grid member varies, depending on the application. 
     Also, in other embodiments of the invention, threaded shaft  94  can be configured and sized such that threaded shaft  94  threadedly engages side walls  52 ′ and  54 ′ that form upper chamber  50 ′. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates ceiling tile clip  20  in a position relative to elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′ such that flanges  28  and  30  of ceiling tile clip  20  are not in engagement with ceiling tiles  86  and  88 . That is, screw  90  has been rotated such that flanges  28  and  30  are above the top surfaces of ceiling tiles  86  and  88 . When ceiling tile clip  20  is in the position shown in  FIG. 12 , ceiling tiles  86  and  88  are not retained between flanges  28  and  30  of ceiling tile clip  20  and flanges  40 ′ and  42 ′ of elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′. Accordingly, ceiling tiles  86  and  88  may be repositioned, if desired, and even inserted or removed, depending on the clearance between the bottom surfaces of flanges  28  and  30  and the top surfaces of flanges  40 ′ and  42 ′. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates ceiling tile clip  20  held in an uppermost position relative to elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′. In this position, the lowermost surfaces of flanges  28  and  30  are above the uppermost surfaces of elongated ceiling grid member  36 ′ such that ceiling tile clip  20  can be rotated around screw  90 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
     The ceiling tile clips of this invention of this invention have many advantages, including the following. 
     First, the ceiling tile clips of this invention can be engaged and disengaged from the ceiling tiles from below the elongated ceiling grid members, and thus from below the ceiling. 
     Second, the ceiling tile clips of this invention remain attached to the elongated ceiling grid members even when the ceiling tile clips are in a position such that ceiling tiles can be inserted into ceiling or removed from the ceiling. 
     Third, the ceiling tile clips of this invention, in conjunction with the elongated ceiling grid members to which they are attached, securely retain the ceiling tiles in place. 
     Fourth, the ceiling tile clips of this invention are easy to use—they are maneuvered by a single screw. 
     What is described and illustrated herein are preferred embodiments of the invention with some variations. The terms, descriptions and figures are intended to be for illustration only, and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.