Patent Abstract:
A suspended ceiling system having a trim strip which conceals a construction clearance between a perimeter grid element and a soffit-type wall. The trim strip can be mounted onto the perimeter grid element, attached to the underside of the soffit-type wall or both.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/557,642, filed Mar. 30, 2004, entitled Trim System. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to suspended ceiling systems, and more particularly, to a suspended ceiling system which includes trim elements along its perimeter. The trim elements of the invention can be utilized in floating ceiling systems, in order to bridge the construction clearance between a perimeter grid element and a soffit or soffit-type wall.  
         [0003]     Suspended ceilings often have a plurality of perimeter grid elements which extend parallel to the wall perimeter but are terminated at a location spaced from the wall. One way to eliminate this space is to construct a soffit which extends down from the primary building structure above to the level of the ceiling perimeter. However, in some instances, due to the difficulties of constructing and leveling a soffit, a construction clearance may be visible between the soffit and perimeter grid elements.  
         [0004]     One solution of eliminating the visibility of the construction clearance between a soffit and a perimeter grid element extending parallel thereto is to attach a conventional L-shaped beam member, or right angle, to the soffit. In this well known configuration, the upper leg of the wall angle is placed in abutting relation and is fixedly attached to the soffit. The lower leg of the wall angle extends in a direction perpendicular to the upper leg and fits under the flange of a perimeter grid element. As previously mentioned, due to construction imperfections, the soffit is rarely level across its entire span. As a result, gaps are frequently visible between the wall angle and soffit, resulting in a nonuniform, undesirable appearance at the ceiling perimeter. To eliminate these gaps, using the L-shaped wall angles would require custom sizing. Also utilizing a wall angle having a wide lower leg may be aesthetically undesirable if its width is greater than the flanges of the grid elements which are visible at the interior of the room.  
         [0005]     The present ceiling system provides a solution for covering any construction clearance between a soffit and a perimeter grid element where such grid element extends parallel to the soffit. At the same time, the ceiling system preserves the aesthetic appeal of the ceiling system and eliminates the need for custom wall angles.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     The ceiling system of the invention includes a grid framework having perimeter grid elements spaced from, and preferably running parallel to, a soffit-type wall. A construction clearance is provided between the perimeter grid elements and the soffit. The ceiling system further includes a trim strip which conceals the construction clearance between the perimeter grid element and the soffit. The trim strip can either be mounted onto the perimeter grid element or attached to the underside of a soffit.  
         [0007]     There are several advantages of the system of the invention including the ability of the trim strip of the invention to compensate for construction inaccuracies in the construction of the soffit. Also, the system is economical to use, as it eliminates the cost of manufacturing custom wall angles or specials. The invention possesses many other advantages, and has other purposes which may be made more clearly apparent from consideration of the example embodiments. The example embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings and form part of the specification. The example embodiments will now be described in detail for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, but it is to be understood that the description of the example embodiments should not be considered limiting. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a trim strip in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention mounted onto a perimeter grid element having a screw-slot panel supporting flange which is open on the lower side thereof, the trim strip being positioned to cover the construction clearance between the soffit and grid element.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the example embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the example embodiment of  FIG. 1  further showing the trim mechanically attached to the underside of a soffit.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a trim strip in accordance with the example embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the trim strip being mounted onto a grid element having a bolt-slot panel supporting flange which is open on the lower side thereof. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention in its best, currently known embodiment. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes can be made to the embodiments described while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and may even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof, since the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.  
         [0013]     Referring now in greater detail to the Figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.  FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a trim strip, also referred to herein as a trim member, in accordance with an example embodiment. The trim member  20  has first and second opposed legs,  22  and  24  respectively, and an intermediate section  26  integrally connecting the first and second opposed legs  22 ,  24 . The first leg  22 , second leg  24  and intermediate section  26  form a grid receiving channel  28 . The grid receiving channel  28  is dimensioned to conform generally to a panel supporting flange of a perimeter grid element so that the trim member can be mounted onto an adjacent grid element as described in greater detail below.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a perimeter grid element, available from Armstrong World Industries, Inc., having a screw-slot panel supporting flange  12  which is open on the lower side thereof.  FIG. 4  illustrates a second type of perimeter grid element, also available from Armstrong World Industries, Inc., having a bolt-slot panel supporting flange  12 ′ which is open on the lower side thereof. As shown in each of  FIGS. 1-3 , the geometry of the grid receiving channel  28  of the trim strip  20  conforms substantially to the geometry of a first portion  14  of the screw slot flange  12 . As a result, the trim element  20 , via the grid receiving channel  28 , can be force fit onto the first portion  14  of flange  12 . The same trim element  20  can be attached to flange  12 ′, shown in  FIG. 4 , in a similar manner due to the box-like configuration of the flange  12 ′.  
         [0015]     For further positive engagement of the trim element  20  to the grid element  10 , the second leg  24  of the trim element  20  may contain a tab  30  extending from the second leg  24  and into the grid receiving channel  28 . Upon insertion of the first portion  14  of flange  12  into the grid receiving channel  28  of trim strip  20 , tab  30  snaps over the top side of first portion  14 . When viewed from below, the intermediate section  26  will cover the bottom side of first portion  14 , and, thus, have the appearance of the bottom portion of flange  14 .  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the trim strip  20  further includes a clearance covering portion  32  which extends outwardly from the second leg  24  of the trim element  20 . The clearance covering portion  32  has a step configuration which includes a first horizontal step  34 , a second horizontal step  38  and an intermediate vertical step  36  which integrally connects the first and second horizontal steps. The first horizontal step extends  34  outwardly from the second leg  24  of the trim element  20  in a direction substantially parallel to, but offset from, the intermediate portion  26  of the trim element  20 . The intermediate vertical step  36  extends downwardly from the first horizontal step  34  to the level of the intermediate section  26 . The second horizontal step  38  extends horizontally from the intermediate vertical step  36 . Although not required, when the trim element  20  is attached to a perimeter grid element  10 , the second horizontal step  38  of the clearance covering portion  32  will preferably lie in abutting relationship with the underside of an adjacent soffit  40 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the second horizontal step  38  can have a tapered configuration to promote further a seamless transition.  
         [0017]     It should be noted that the second horizontal step  38  of the clearance covering portion  32  can be mechanically fastened to the soffit, such as by a screw  50  as shown in  FIG. 3 . If desired for aesthetical purposes, the fastening means  50  can be covered up applying joint compound  45  over the second horizontal step  38 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , so that the fastener  50  will not be visible. Additionally, whether or not a mechanical fastener  50  is used, joint compound  45  can be applied to the second horizontal step  38 , and painted over, so that the soffit  40  will look as though it extends up to and abuts the intermediate vertical step  36 . As a result, the perimeter solution has the ability to maintain its floating nature while giving the impression of a wall-to-wall system which is permanently attached to or fit tight against a soffit.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4