Patent Publication Number: US-4546587-A

Title: System wall or system ceiling

Description:
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 134,810, filed 3/28/80 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,677 issued 11.2.82. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a system wall or system ceiling comprising a number of supporting girders suspended from the structure of the building and to which slabs are mounted substantially extending perpendicular to the girders. Such a system ceiling is known in which the slabs are mounted to the girders by means of fastening members clamped or pushed onto the girders and which are provided with sheet metal strips directed downwardly to the slabs, and of which the end portions flanged at right angles engage saw cuts applied into the sides of the slabs. 
     This manner of mounting the slabs to the girders has the drawback, that on occurrence of shrinkage or buckling of the slabs, these slabs become insufficiently retained by the fastening members and may shift with respect to each other, so that the spacing between the succeeding slabs which are generally bridged by the so called firet strips, will show differences. 
     By the firet strips which, to obtain a decorative effect, may have a contrasting tint with respect to the slabs, and which also are slipped into the saw cuts at the sides of the slabs, the mutual differences in spacing between the slabs further is accented. 
     Also, on shrinkage of the slabs, the firet strips may become free from the saw cuts, which causes a very defacing effect to the known system ceiling. 
     It is an object of the present invention to remove these drawbacks of the known system ceiling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention the system wall or system ceiling is characterized in that the girders are provided with outwardly or downwardly protuding clamping feet engaging into one or more slits, cut into the upper or back side of the slabs. 
     To apply the slabs to the girders suspended from the structure of the building, the slabs may simply be pressed with the slits across the clamping feet of the girders. 
     In a favourable embodiment of the invention, the clamping feet are formed by sheet metal strips of which the ends are bent to form barbs. 
     In this embodiment the slabs, after being pressed across the clamping feet, are efficiently prevented from moving back, and a firm connection between the slabs and the girders is ensured. 
     In another favourable embodiment of the invention, the ends of the clamping feet cooperating with the slabs are bent in opposite directions and substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the slabs and the slits cut therein, to form oppositely directed barbs. 
     In this embodiment the clamping feet introduced into the slits hook into both opposite side walls of the slits so that a double security is obtained against the losening of the clamping feet from the slabs. 
     The number of slits in a slab for cooperating with the clamping feet may vary. 
     Preferably two axially extending slits are applied which are spaced and symmetrical with respect to the middle plane of the slabs. 
     In the ceiling system of the present invention, the slabs are completely secured against shifting by the mounting by clamping feet introduced into the slits at the upper or back side of the slabs, so that the drawbacks of the known systems are completely met. 
     The clamping feet may be connected to the sheet metal girders in various manners. 
     In a favourable embodiment of the invention, the clamping feet form a whole with the girders. 
     Favourably, in this embodiment, the clamping feet may have been punched from the girders. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the slabs are mounted to the girders by means of fastening members, each comprising a substantially rectangular an planar base or middle portion having two pairs of opposite edges one pair of opposite edges are connected to fastening lips which, in use, are bent around the flange of the cooperating profile sheet metal girder. 
     The other pair of opposite edges are connected to the clamping feet. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, of which 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view through the slabs of a ceiling in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation according to line A--A of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation through the slabs of a ceiling according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation according to line B--B of FIG. 3. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the system ceiling is formed by a row of profile sheet metal girders 1 extending parallel to and spaced from each other, and which are suspended from the structure of the building by suitable anchors 2. 
     From the -U- shaped girders 1 clamping members such as feet 3 are punched with ends bent to form barbs which hook into the slits 5 at the upper side of the slabs 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and described in part previously herein, slits 5 open on the side of slab 4 which confronts girder 1 and comprise oppositely facing side walls extending downward to a bottom wall. The walls of the slits are parallel to each other and the slits are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. 
     The slabs 4 are provided at the sides with saw cuts 6 into which the firet strips 7 have been slipped. To mount the system ceiling, the girders 1 may be suspended first from the structure of the building, after which the slabs 4 are pressed until the slits 5 receive the clamping feet 3. 
     It also is possible to first prepare the complete ceiling on the floor and then to suspend same from the structure of the building by means of the anchors 2. 
     As is shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4, the slabs 4 are mounted to the girders 1 by means of the fastening members 8 which are provided with the clamping feet 3 for engaging the slabs 4 and which are clamped around the flange 9 of a plurality of spaced profile sheet metal girder 1 by means of the fastening or clamping lips 10. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clamping feet 3 terminate in barbed ends which assist in penetrating the sidewalls of slits 5.