Patent Description:
Suspended ceiling systems are used in many different types of buildings e.g. to lower the ceiling, to provide sound dampening, to facilitate mounting of light sources and other building equipment and to provide an aesthetically pleasing interior ceiling. Suspended ceiling systems, as the name implies, are attached to a supporting structure of some sort, such as the ceiling structure of the building. Suspended ceiling systems usually comprises a plurality of ceiling tiles and a supporting structure in form of a grid. The grid comprises profiles which support the ceiling tiles.

The ceiling tiles may have sound-absorbing and/or sound-insulating properties in order to improve the acoustic environment of the room. In order to obtain a lightweight ceiling with satisfactory sound absorption, the tiles, for instance, may be made of a compressed fibre material such as mineral wool and especially glass wool. In addition to ceiling tiles, the profiles may also support various equipment such as lighting devices, ventilation equipment, inspection openings, detectors, cable trays, loudspeakers, signs, sprinklers etc..

In certain applications, the suspended ceiling system may be fitted with ventialtion fittings such as diffusers. Typically, a diffuser replaces a ceiling tile in the grid and is supported by the grid of profiles. The ceiling tiles in such an application does not need to be provided with any particular properties for facilitating ventilation or flow of air.

In other applications, ventilation is provided above the suspended ceiling system and the air flows through the suspended ceiling system into the space below. In such an application, the suspended ceiling system must allow a certain amount of air flow to be able to pass through it in order to achieve the desired and/or required ventilation performance.

This poses certain problems, as it sometimes is not desired to have perforated ceiling tiles nor to have any visible gaps or channels that air can flow through. Providing ceiling tiles that permits air to flow through the ceiling tile itself may result in that other properties such as sound dampening may be compromised. Manufacturers of suspended ceiling system strive to produce new solutions which improve on prior art systems for facilitating ventialtion while providing a suspended ceiling system that is aestethically pleasing and easy to install.

Related background art can e.g. be found in <CIT> and in <CIT>.

In view of that stated above, the object of the present invention is to provide a ceiling tile and suspended ceiling system which alleviates some of the problems with prior art.

More specifically, there is provided according to a first aspect a ceiling tile for a suspended ceiling system comprising a grid of profiles for supporting the ceiling tile. The ceiling tile comprises a front surface intended to face a room in an installed state of the ceiling tile and a plurality of spacer elements discretely distributed along a perimeter portion of the ceiling tile. The plurality of spacer elements is configured for separation of the ceiling tile and the grid of profiles in a direction perpendicular to the front surface. The plurality of spacer elements is formed separately from the ceiling tile, wherein each spacer element comprises a body portion an anchoring portion for attaching the body portion to the ceiling tile by inserting the anchoring portion into the ceiling tile.

The plurality of spacer elements is thus configured to separate the ceiling tile and the grid of profiles such that an air passage is generated allowing air to pass from the space above the ceiling tile into the room or space below. This facilitates diffuse ventilation without having to provide the ceiling tile itself with any particular features such as ventilation holes or materials that lets air pass through it.

The plurality of spacer elements is formed separately from the ceiling tile. The spacer elements being attachable to the ceiling tile. The spacer elements may be attached to each other for instance by being arranged on a strip of material such as adhesive tape or similar, thus proving the desired spacing between the spacer elements.

Each spacer element further comprises a body portion and an anchoring portion for attaching the body portion to the ceiling tile by inserting the anchoring portion into the ceiling tile.

The ceiling tile may comprise two opposite edges each provided with a stepped profile comprising an upper tongue having a tongue surface configured to face an associated supporting surface on the grid of profiles. The plurality of spacer elements being configured to separate the tongue surfaces and the associated supporting surface. The stepped profile facilitates hiding the air passage that is formed by the spacing between the ceiling tile and the grid of profiles from view, providing an aesthetically pleasing ceiling tile.

In one embodiment, the plurality of spacer elements is arranged on the front surface of the ceiling tile or a surface parallel thereto.

The plurality of spacer elements may be arranged on a side surface of the ceiling tile or a surface parallel thereto.

The plurality of spacer elements may further be configured for engagement with the grid of profiles for support of the ceiling tile.

The plurality of spacer elements may be configured for separation of the ceiling tile and the grid of profiles in a direction parallel to the front surface. The spacer elements may thus provide not only vertical spacing but also horizontal/lateral spacing for providing a desired air passage between the ceiling tile and the grid of profiles.

Each spacer element may in one embodiment not forming part of the invention comprise a body portion attached to the ceiling tile by means of an adhesive, such as glue or adhesive tape.

In a second aspect is a suspended ceiling system provided comprising a grid of profiles and a ceiling tile according to the first aspect. The suspended ceiling system facilitates providing diffuse ventilation through the ceiling system. Ventilation can thus be provided to the space above the suspended ceiling system, the ceiling system will then allow fresh air to pass through it effectively. No visible dedicated ventilation diffusers are needed in the ceiling system which provides a uniform appearance which is often desirable.

The grid of profiles may comprise profiles having an inverted T-shape with a web and laterally extending flanges. The ceiling tile may be supported by the flanges via the plurality of spacer elements.

All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

<FIG> shows a ceiling tile <NUM> in a suspended ceiling system <NUM> comprising a grid of profiles <NUM> for supporting the ceiling tile <NUM>. The grid of profiles <NUM> is suspended from a supporting structure in the building to which it is mounted. The suspension of the grid of profiles <NUM> could be formed in a plurality of ways as is realized by a person skilled in the art and will thus not be further elaborated on herein.

The ceiling tile <NUM> generally functions to provide an appealing appearance to the suspended ceiling system <NUM>, to dampen sound and to hide the ceiling structure and possible building equipment that is arranged above the suspended ceiling system <NUM>. Such ceiling tiles may be formed in many different ways, the teachings herein are not limited to use with any particular type of ceiling tile <NUM>. However, in one embodiment, the ceiling tile <NUM> may be made of man-made mineral fibre, such as a compressed mineral fibre material. More specifically, the mineral fibre material may be mineral wool, especially glass wool. In addition to the mineral fibre material, the ceiling tile <NUM> may comprise a binder. The ceiling tile <NUM> may further comprise at least one surface layer.

The ceiling tile <NUM> further comprises a front surface <NUM> intended to face a room <NUM> in an installed state of the ceiling tile <NUM> and a plurality of spacer elements <NUM> discretely distributed along a perimeter portion <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM>. A rear surface <NUM> may be arranged facing in the opposite direction of the front surface <NUM>. The plurality of spacer elements <NUM> are configured for separation of the ceiling tile <NUM> and the grid of profiles <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the front surface <NUM>.

The ceiling tile <NUM> will thus allow air from the space <NUM> above the ceiling tile <NUM> to pass as indicated by the arrow in <FIG> to the room or space <NUM> below the ceiling tile <NUM>. Ventilation can thus be provided without having to have any visible ventilation outlets in the suspended ceiling system <NUM>, which is beneficial not only for the aesthetics of the suspended ceiling system <NUM> but also since it facilitates construction of the ventilation system above the suspended ceiling system <NUM>. The ventilation is then provided in a diffused manner through the suspended ceiling tiles <NUM>, removing the need for providing any ventilation diffusers in the suspended ceiling system <NUM> itself. By letting the air diffuse through the suspended ceiling system <NUM> and into the room below, the air is allowed to be supplied over a large area, resulting in a flow of the air with no concentrated jet region, thereby providing high ventilation capacity while avoiding the creation of thermal discomfort such as draught even if the air temperature is different from the room temperature and the air flow is high. In addition, sound from ventilation devices may be suppressed by means of the suspended ceiling system <NUM> arranged for diffused ceiling ventilation.

Furthermore, while only one perimeter portion <NUM> is shown, the ceiling tile <NUM> may comprise an oppositely arranged perimeter portion <NUM> as well. In one embodiment, the ceiling tile <NUM> comprises two pairs of respectively opposite perimeter portions <NUM> such that each perimeter portion <NUM> adjoins two perimeter portions <NUM> being arranged at angle to the first mentioned perimeter portion <NUM>. The ceiling tile <NUM> may further comprise two opposite edges <NUM> each being arranged on one perimeter portion <NUM>, in one embodiment the ceiling tile <NUM> is rectangular or quadratic whereby it comprises two pairs of respectively opposite edges <NUM> each being arranged on a respective perimeter portion <NUM>. In the shown embodiment, each edge <NUM> comprises a side surface <NUM>.

In <FIG> is a detailed view of two embodiments of the spacer element <NUM> shown. In <FIG>, disclosing an embodiment not forming part of the invention, the spacer element <NUM> is formed by a body portion <NUM> which is rectangular in shape. The body portion <NUM> may be attached to the ceiling tile <NUM> by means of an adhesive such as glue or adhesive tape. The spacer element <NUM>, more specifically the body portion <NUM> thereof, should have an extension along the length of the perimeter portion <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM> that allows a plurality of spacer elements <NUM> to be arranged discretely/intermittently thereon having spaces formed between the spacer elements <NUM> (as is further illustrated in <FIG>) for forming air passages. The body portion <NUM> of the spacer element <NUM> may have a number of shapes, for instance the body portion <NUM> may be cylindrical having e.g. a square, circular, ellipsoid, or a triangular bottom surface. The body portion <NUM> may further have a conical shape or a truncated conical shape. Other shapes of the body portion <NUM> are also envisioned and the teachings herein are not limited to any particular shape of the body portion <NUM>.

The spacer elements <NUM> that are arranged on a ceiling tile <NUM> may further be connected for instance by a strip of material for facilitating attachment of the spacer elements <NUM> to the ceiling tile <NUM>. Further still, such interconnected spacer elements <NUM> can be arranged at a predetermined spacing from each other to ensure correct spacing between the spacer elements <NUM> on the ceiling tile <NUM>. In one embodiment not forming part of the invention in which the spacer elements <NUM> are configured to be attached to the ceiling tile <NUM> by means of an adhesive, a number of body portions <NUM> may be attached to a strip of adhesive tape which is attached to the ceiling tile <NUM>.

The body portion <NUM> may be made of metal, plastic or any other suitable material.

In <FIG>, another embodiment of the spacer element <NUM> is shown, here comprising a body portion <NUM> as in the embodiment shown in <FIG> and an anchoring portion <NUM> for attaching the spacer element <NUM> to the ceiling tile <NUM>. The anchoring portion <NUM> may be a pin that is configured to be stuck into the material of the ceiling tile <NUM> thus anchoring the body portion <NUM> and the entire spacer element <NUM> to the ceiling tile <NUM>. The anchoring portion <NUM> may for retaining purposes be provided with ribs protruding perpendicularly or at an angle to the insertion direction of the anchoring portion <NUM>, the ribs providing additional anchoring force to the anchoring portion <NUM>. In one embodiment, the anchoring portion <NUM> is threaded, allowing the spacer element to be attached to the ceiling tile <NUM> by screwing the spacer element <NUM> into said ceiling tile <NUM>.

The spacer elements <NUM> that are arranged on a ceiling tile <NUM> may further be connected for instance by a strip of material for facilitating attachment of the spacer elements <NUM> to the ceiling tile <NUM>. Further still, such interconnected spacer elements <NUM> can be arranged at a predetermined spacing from each other to ensure correct spacing between the spacer elements <NUM> on the ceiling tile <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a grid of profiles <NUM>, particularly one profile thereof in a front view. The profile has an inverted T-shape with a web <NUM> and laterally extending flanges <NUM> providing support surfaces for the ceiling tile <NUM>. The laterally extending flanges <NUM> are preferably arranged at a bottom edge of the web <NUM> but could also be arranged in other positions along the web <NUM>. The flanges <NUM> are configured to support the ceiling tile <NUM> by providing a contact/support surface for the spacer elements <NUM> attached to the ceiling tile <NUM>. More specifically, the body portions <NUM> of the spacer elements <NUM> will carry the load of the ceiling tile <NUM> to which they are attached and transfer this load onto the lateral flanges <NUM> of the profiles on the grid of profiles <NUM>.

The profiles of the grid of profiles <NUM> is preferably made in a roll forming operation out of a sheet blank of metal, for example steel. The sheet blank is fed between successive pairs of rolls that progressively bend, fold and form the sheet blank until the desired shape and cross section of the profile <NUM> is obtained. A beneficial profile and method for manufacturing the profile <NUM> can be found in <CIT>. The teachings herein are however not limited to use with profiles being manufactured in any specific way or of any specific material, any profile having the essential features outlined in claim <NUM> and <NUM> will be suitable for use with the suspended ceiling system <NUM>.

The description of the embodiments of <FIG> are also applicable to the embodiments that will be described below, in which emphasis will be made on the differing features for each embodiment.

In <FIG>, the ceiling tile <NUM>, specifically each perimeter portion <NUM> or side edge <NUM> thereof, is provided with a stepped profile <NUM>. The stepped profile <NUM> is preferably formed intergrally in the ceiling tile <NUM>. The stepped profile <NUM> comprises an upper tongue <NUM> having a tongue surface <NUM> configured to face an associated supporting surface <NUM>, preferably one of the lateral flanges <NUM> of a profile in the grid of profiles <NUM>. In a typical application, the tongue surface <NUM> will be arranged facing in downwardly direction. The spacer elements <NUM> can thus be arranged on the tongue surface <NUM> to separate the tongue surfaces <NUM> on the ceiling tile <NUM> and the associated respective supporting surface <NUM>. The front surface <NUM> can consequently be arranged below the lateral flanges <NUM> of the grid of profiles <NUM>.

The distance D illustrated in <FIG> is the distance between two opposing side surfaces <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM>, this distance should be less than the distance between the webs <NUM> of the grid of profiles <NUM> to which the ceiling tile <NUM> is mounted. This allows for the formation of a lateral gap between the ceiling tile <NUM> and the grid of profiles <NUM>. The lateral gap may have a width in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>. Optionally, the ceiling tile <NUM> could be provided with a perimeter portion <NUM> or side edge <NUM> that deviates from the surface shape of the web <NUM> of the grid of profiles <NUM>, such that channels are formed between the web <NUM> and the ceiling tile <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the ceiling tile <NUM> may further comprise a lower tongue <NUM> being arranged below the upper tongue <NUM>. The lower tongue <NUM> may function to hide the grid of profiles <NUM> from view by reducing the gap between two ceiling tiles <NUM>. The lower tongue <NUM> on two opposing perimeter portions <NUM> or side edges <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM> may protrude to a different distance as is illustrated in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the ceiling tile <NUM> is shown in a front view illustrating the extension of the perimeter portion <NUM> thereof. The front surface <NUM> is arranged facing downwards in <FIG>. The discrete arrangement of the spacer elements <NUM> along the perimeter portion <NUM> or side edge <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM> is shown. The spacing between the spacer elements <NUM> may be varied, and as mentioned above, the spacer elements <NUM> may be connected by a strip of material to facilitate mounting of the spacer elements <NUM> with the correct spacing on the ceiling tile <NUM>. The spacer elements may be separated by a mutual distance in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>.

Turning to <FIG> in which a ceiling system <NUM> is shown and yet another embodiment of the ceiling tile <NUM> and the spacer element <NUM>. In <FIG>, the spacer element <NUM> anchoring portion <NUM> is configured to extend from the rear surface <NUM> through the ceiling tile <NUM> such that it protrudes from an opposite surface. The opposite surface may be the tongue surface <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, but it could also be the front surface <NUM> for instance in an embodiment in which the ceiling tile <NUM> does not comprise a stepped profile <NUM>. As the anchoring portion <NUM> will be subjected to an axial force from the ceiling tile <NUM>, the anchoring portion <NUM> may be provided with threads or circumferential ribs for increasing the axial load capability of the connection between the anchoring portion <NUM> and the ceiling tile <NUM>. The spacer element <NUM> may further comprise a body portion <NUM> which is intended to abut against the rear surface <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM> and thus limit/define the protrusion of the anchoring portion <NUM> from the opposite surface, i.e. the tongue surface <NUM> or the front surface <NUM>.

<FIG> shows further embodiments of the ceiling system <NUM> and the spacer element <NUM> respectively. In <FIG>, the spacer element <NUM> is attached with the anchoring portion <NUM> extending laterally into the perimeter portion <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM>. Any vertical force on the spacer element <NUM> from the ceiling tile <NUM> will thus not be transmitted in an axial direction of the anchoring portion <NUM>, which is preferable in some applications. As shown in <FIG>, the spacer element <NUM> could be arranged on a ceiling tile <NUM> with a stepped profile <NUM> such that the body portion <NUM> of the spacer element <NUM> abuts against the tongue surface <NUM>. The anchoring portion <NUM> can thus be relieved of some or all of the vertical forces that arise from the ceiling tile <NUM> interaction with the grid of profiles <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the spacer element <NUM> is attached to the side surface <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM> such that it not only creates a vertical spacing between the ceiling tile <NUM> and the lateral flanges <NUM> of grid of profiles <NUM> but also a lateral or horizontal spacing between the ceiling tile <NUM> and the web <NUM> of the grid of profiles <NUM>. This is beneficial as it provides a ceiling system <NUM> in which both the desired vertical as well as the desired lateral spacing is automatically created during mounting of the ceiling tile <NUM> to the grid of profiles <NUM>. It is in <FIG> shown a ceiling tile <NUM> with a stepped profile <NUM> which is beneficial as the interface between the ceiling tile <NUM> and the grid of profiles <NUM> can be hidden. It is however to be realized that the the spacer element <NUM> also could be used with a ceiling tile <NUM> without a stepped profile <NUM>, wherein the spacer element <NUM> is attached such that it extends below the front surface <NUM> of the ceiling tile <NUM> instead of below the tongue surface <NUM> as in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of the spacer element <NUM> configured for lateral attachment to the ceiling tile <NUM>. The spacer element <NUM> comprises one body portion <NUM> and two anchoring portions <NUM> for increasing the vertical load that can be placed on the body portion <NUM>. It is to be realized that more than two anchoring portions <NUM> could also be used, further improving the attachment of the body portion <NUM> to the ceiling tile <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A ceiling tile (<NUM>) for a suspended ceiling system (<NUM>) comprising a grid of profiles (<NUM>) for supporting the ceiling tile (<NUM>), the ceiling tile (<NUM>) comprises a front surface (<NUM>) intended to face a room (<NUM>) in an installed state of the ceiling tile (<NUM>) and a plurality of spacer elements (<NUM>) discretely distributed along a perimeter portion (<NUM>) of the ceiling tile (<NUM>), wherein the plurality of spacer elements (<NUM>) being configured for separation of the ceiling tile (<NUM>) and the grid of profiles (<NUM>) in a direction perpendicular to the front surface (<NUM>), wherein the plurality of spacer elements (<NUM>) is formed separately from the ceiling tile (<NUM>), and wherein each spacer element (<NUM>) comprises a body portion (<NUM>) and an anchoring portion (<NUM>) for attaching the body portion (<NUM>) to the ceiling tile (<NUM>) by inserting the anchoring portion (<NUM>) into the ceiling tile (<NUM>).