Patent Publication Number: US-2022213685-A1

Title: A system for mounting a suspended ceiling

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Stage of PCT/EP2020/063414 filed May 14, 2020, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 19174347.5, filed May 14, 2019, the content of both are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a suspended ceiling system for mounting ceiling tiles to a ceiling structure, said ceiling structure having a lower side from which the ceiling tiles are mounted, said ceiling tiles having an upper and a lower side. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A suspended ceiling system of such kind for fixing boards or panels used in a ceiling is known from GB 743,176. In this system, a plate is provided on the upper side of the ceiling tile. This plate has a resilient tongue punched out. The plate is provided on the ceiling tile such that the tongue is positioned to receive the horizontal flange or limb of an inverted T-shaped ceiling profile mounted to the ceiling structure. By providing a sufficient number of plates on the ceiling tile, the ceiling tile can be fixed to the limbs of the inverted T-shaped profile for the provision of a suspended ceiling. In such a suspended ceiling system, the inverted T-profiles remain visible. This is not always technically appropriate or is aesthetically appealing. Furthermore, such ceiling system can be difficult and time consuming to install. 
     So-called frameless suspended ceiling systems are also known and such ceiling systems are found advantageous as acoustic systems in rooms and buildings as they provide a flexible solution for the provision of noise absorption in new constructions and can be retrofitted for room acoustic improvements in existing buildings. 
     Although such frameless ceiling systems can be easy to install, there is nevertheless a need for improving the installation in order to provide a suspended ceiling system, which is simple, quick, and easy to install. 
     On this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a suspended ceiling system, which is simple, quick, and easy to install. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is achieved by a suspended ceiling system of the initially mentioned kind, wherein at least two first hook profiles are provided on the lower side of the ceiling structure in parallel with a predetermined first distance; and at least two second hook profiles are provided on the upper side of each of the ceiling tiles in parallel with a second distance corresponding to the first distance, wherein said second hook profiles detachably engage the first hook profiles, whereby the ceiling tiles are hanging from the first hook profiles of the ceiling structure. 
     By the suspended ceiling system according to the invention, there is provided a simple system where the ceiling tiles can be easily mounted at the matching hook profiles. The ceiling tiles can be mounted independently and are also independently demountable if needed. 
     Advantageously, the first hook profiles have a first receiving hook opening in a first mounting direction and the second hook profiles have a second receiving hook opening in a second mounting direction, which is opposite said first mounting direction. Hereby, the ceiling tile can be hung up on the ceiling structure by the gripping portion of the second hook profiles on the ceiling tile being inserted into the receiving opening of the two first hook profiles on the ceiling structure in a simple sideways movement relative to the orientation of the profiles. 
     By the invention it is realised that the ceiling structure can be a ceiling, such as a concrete ceiling or a wooden ceiling, to which the ceiling system is directly mounted, and/or a grid suspended from such ceiling. The ceiling tiles are preferably made of mineral wool fibres with a density of 90-150 kg/m 3 . 
     Preferably, the first hook profile and the second hook profile are made from one strip of material, by bending said strip into the profile shape; said strip of material preferably being of metal, such as a steel. The metal strip is preferably a steel strip with a thickness of 0.5-1.5 mm, preferably approx. 1.0 mm. Hereby, an inexpensive and simple type of profile can be achieved. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first hook profile comprises a base flange having a first and a second side edge engaging the ceiling structure, a distance flange extending substantially perpendicular from the second side edge of the base flange in a substantially vertical direction and at the opposite side to the base flange of said distance flange, a perpendicularly extending first hook flange is formed, which is provided with an end flange opposite the distance flange. Hereby, the hook receiving opening is provided between the first side of the base flange and the end flange of the hook flange. Preferably, the distance flange and the end flange are substantially parallel, and extend generally vertically when the profile is mounted in the suspended ceiling system. Similarly, the base flange and the hook flange are preferably substantially parallel, and extend generally horizontally when the profile is mounted in the suspended ceiling system. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the base flange is provided with mounting holes for one or more fasteners, such as screws or the like. Hereby, the profiles can easily be secured to either the ceiling structure or the ceiling tiles. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first and second hook profiles are identical in shape. Hereby, an inexpensive system can be achieved as the profiles can be used for both types of hook profiles. 
     In an embodiment, the first hook profiles are provided with cut-outs of the hook flanges at predetermined intervals. Preferably, also the second hook profiles provided on the ceiling tiles are provided with a length corresponding to the predetermined intervals. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following the invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a suspended ceiling system according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 2 to 4  show the mounting process of a ceiling tile to the ceiling structure; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective top view of a first hook profile according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective top view of a second hook profile according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a first hook profile according to an embodiment of the invention, and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a first hook profile according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In  FIG. 1  is shown an embodiment of the invention, where a ceiling tile  1  is suspended from a ceiling structure  2  via a set of first hook profiles  3  mounted on the lower side of the ceiling structure  2  and a set of second hook profiles  4  mounted on the upper side of the ceiling tile  1 . The first hook profile  3  is fixed using a bolt  5  or similar fastener to the lower side of the concrete slab, which constitutes the ceiling structure  2  in the present embodiment. Likewise, the second hook profile  4  is fixed to the ceiling tile  1  by a suitable fastener, such as a spiral anchor  6 , which is screwed into the ceiling tile, which in the preferred embodiment is made of mineral wool fibres with a density of 90-150 kg/m 3 . By providing the ceiling tiles within this range, sound absorbing properties are achieved. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , at least two parallel first hook profiles  3  are provided with a predetermined distance. Correspondingly positioned second hook profiles  4  are provided on the ceiling tile  1  so that the two sets of hook profiles  3 ,  4  grip each other and the ceiling tile  1  is thereby hanging from the ceiling structure  2 . 
     As shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the two profiles  3 ,  4  each have a receiving opening  31 ,  41  along their entire length for receiving the hook flange  34 ,  44  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the other profile  3 ,  4 . The first receiving openings  31  of the first hook profiles  3  are facing in one direction and the second receiving openings  41  of the second hook profiles  4  face in the opposite direction as the first receiving openings  31 . 
     The mounting of the ceiling tile  1  includes aligning the second hook profile  4  of the ceiling  1  with the first hook profile  3  on the ceiling structure  2 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The second hook profile  4  is then inserted into the receiving opening  31  of the first hook profile  3  as shown in  FIG. 3  and the ceiling tile is then suspended as the two hook profiles  3 ,  4  engage one another, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     By the invention it is realised that many different cross-sectional shapes of the two hook profiles  3 ,  4  may be provided. In the figures, a currently preferred embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the first hook profile  3  is bent from a single strip of steel to be formed with a base flange  32 , a distance flange  33 , a hook flange  34  and an end flange  35  (see also  FIG. 7 ). These flanges are formed such that they are mutually substantially perpendicular to each other forming a hook-like shape with the receiving opening  31  towards one side of the profile  3 . 
     Preferably, the first hook profile  3  and the second hook profile  4  are made from one strip of material, by bending said strip into the profile shape. This strip of material is preferably a steel strip with a thickness of 0.5-1.5 mm, preferably approx. 1.0 mm. The steel material is advantageously a Z100 steel sheet to achieve good corrosion protection. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first hook profile  3  is also provided with apertures  36  for receiving the fasteners  5  (see  FIGS. 2-4 ). Cut-outs  37  in the hook flange  34  and end flange  35  and possibly also in at least a portion of the distance flange (not visible in  FIG. 5 ) may also be provided. These cut-outs  37  are provided at regular intervals. The cut-outs  37  are preferably aligned with the apertures  36  so that there is no obstacle in the profile  3  when inserting the fasteners  5  into the apertures  36  for mounting the profile  3  to the ceiling structure  2 . 
     In  FIG. 4  and in  FIG. 8 , the second hook profile  4  is shown. This profile  4  is also made from a steel strip which is bent into shape, i.e. similar to the first hook profile  3 . The metal strip of steel making up the second hook profile  4  is formed with a base flange  42 , a distance flange  43 , a hook flange  44  and an end flange  45  (see also  FIG. 8 ). These flanges  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45  are formed such that they are mutually substantially perpendicular to each other forming a hook-like shape with the second receiving opening  41  towards the opposite side than the first receiving opening  31  of the first profile  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the second hook profile  4  is provided cut-outs  47  in the hook flange  44  and a portion of the distance flange  43 . These cut-outs  47  are provided at regular intervals. The cut-outs  47  are preferably aligned with the apertures (not visible in  FIG. 6 ) so that there is no obstacle flanges in the profile  4  when inserting the fasteners  6  into the apertures for mounting the profile  4  to the ceiling tile  1 . 
     In  FIGS. 2-4  and when comparing the  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it will be appreciated that the profiles  3 ,  4  are of different heights due to the larger distance flange  43  in the second hook profile  4  than the distance flange  33  in the first hook profile  3 . These dimensions may according to the circumstances be chosen as appropriate in order to achieve the smallest gap distance combined with an easy mounting action. It is by the invention realised that in a simple embodiment the two hook profiles  3 ,  4  may be identical in cross-sectional shape. 
     Above, a currently preferred embodiment of the invention is described. However, by the invention, it is realised that variations may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.