Patent Description:
Surface covering systems, such as ceiling systems are known, in which ceiling panels are supported by carriers to provide a surface that covers an underlying architectural structure such as a roof structure. The ceiling panels may be decorative, for example providing a false ceiling to conceal a space in which building services may be provided, and/or may be baffles, which may occasionally be used to dampen sound in the space below the ceiling system. <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose various arrangements of surface covering systems. In particular, <CIT> discloses a generally U-shaped clip, which rests on a carrier, with a ceiling panel hanging from the clip.

It is desirable for such surface covering systems to be designed with consideration for the ease of installation and/or the ease of performing subsequent processes on the system, such as maintenance and/or cleaning.

As described herewith, there is provided a ceiling system as defined in appended claim <NUM>, and a method of assembling such a ceiling system as defined in appended claim <NUM>.

Embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a ceiling system <NUM>. The ceiling system is configured to support one or more ceiling panels <NUM>.

The ceiling panels <NUM> shown in this arrangement have a lower face that primarily forms the surface visible to occupants of the space below, namely that covers the structure to which it is mounted. However, as pictured in <FIG>, there may be spaces between the ceiling panels <NUM> through which occupants may be able to see some of the structure supporting the ceiling panels <NUM> and/or the structure from which the ceiling system <NUM> may be suspended.

The ceiling panels <NUM> are supported by a plurality of carriers <NUM>. At least one ceiling panel <NUM> may be supported by at least one carrier <NUM>. In arrangements, the ceiling system <NUM> may include a plurality of ceiling panels <NUM> and each ceiling panel <NUM> may be supported by a plurality of carriers <NUM>. In general, a ceiling system <NUM> may be formed from any number of ceiling panels <NUM>, supported by any number of carriers <NUM>. Each ceiling panel <NUM> may be supported by any number of carriers <NUM> and each carrier <NUM> may support any number of ceiling panels <NUM>.

Use of the carriers <NUM> to support the ceiling panels <NUM> rather than supporting each ceiling panel <NUM> independently may reduce a number of connections to be made to a structure from which the ceiling system <NUM> is suspended. Additionally, the carrier <NUM> may also fix the position of adjacent ceiling panels <NUM> relative to each other. This may facilitate the installation of the ceiling system and/or facilitate the provision of a high quality finished appearance. In an arrangement, the carrier <NUM> may first be mounted to the structure from which the ceiling system is suspended. The carrier <NUM> may be directly mounted to the structure and/or by way of at least one other component, such as suspension wires. The ceiling panels <NUM> may be introduced to the carrier <NUM> from below, namely from the side of the ceiling surface provided by the ceiling system, to be supported by the carrier <NUM>. In an arrangement, it is not necessary to provide a connector to connect the ceiling panels <NUM> to the carrier <NUM>. It may be sufficient for the ceiling panels <NUM> to engage with a part of the carrier <NUM> and be held in place by the weight of the ceiling panel <NUM>.

According to the present disclosure, the ceiling system <NUM> further includes a clip <NUM> that is provided to assist in maintaining the engagement of a ceiling panel <NUM> with a carrier <NUM>. This may reduce the possibility of a ceiling panel <NUM> becoming detached from a carrier <NUM> in the event of an accidental contact with a ceiling panel <NUM>, for example during installation, maintenance and/or cleaning. In the absence of the clip <NUM>, there may be an elevated risk of such an accidental detachment of the ceiling panel <NUM> for arrangements in which the ceiling panel <NUM> is introduced to the carrier <NUM> from below for engagement.

In an arrangement, the clip <NUM> comprises a length of wire that includes at least one engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> that engages with either the ceiling panel <NUM> or the carrier <NUM> and secures the position of the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> relative to the ceiling panel <NUM> or carrier <NUM> to which it is engaged. The clip <NUM> further includes a pressing section <NUM> that presses together the engaged parts of the ceiling panel <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>. In the arrangement depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> engages with the carrier <NUM> to secure its position relative to the carrier <NUM> and the pressing section <NUM> presses against the ceiling panel, as discussed further below, in order to press together the engaged parts of the ceiling panel <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>. It should be appreciated, however, that this arrangement may be reversed.

In an arrangement, a clip <NUM> may be provided at each point at which a ceiling panel <NUM> is engaged with, and supported by, a carrier <NUM>. However, this is not essential. For example, if a ceiling panel <NUM> is supported by plural carriers <NUM>, sufficient benefit may be provided if a clip <NUM> is provided at the interface between the ceiling panel <NUM> and only some of the carriers <NUM> that support it. It may be sufficient for a clip <NUM> to be provided at only one interface between the ceiling panel <NUM> and one of the carriers <NUM> supporting it.

It should also be appreciated that, in some arrangements, one or more of the ceiling panels <NUM> may not have any clips <NUM> provided at the interfaces with the carriers <NUM> supporting it. For example, the clips <NUM> may only be provided to ceiling panels <NUM> that are considered to be at risk of accidental contact, for example those in the region of other fittings that may require maintenance, such as light fittings.

According to the invention, the ceiling system <NUM> is configured such that, when the ceiling panel <NUM> is supported by the carrier <NUM>, part of the carrier <NUM> exerts an upwards force on part of the ceiling panel <NUM> to support it. In such an arrangement, the ceiling panel <NUM> may be held in place relative to the carrier <NUM> by its own weight.

The clip <NUM> is arranged such that the pressing section <NUM> exerts a downwards force on the ceiling panel <NUM> to press together the engaged parts of ceiling panel <NUM> and the carrier. In such an arrangement, the pressing section <NUM> of the clip <NUM> works in conjunction with the weight of the ceiling panel <NUM> to hold the ceiling panel <NUM> in engagement with the carrier <NUM>. In such an arrangement, an accidental contact with the ceiling panel <NUM> may not be sufficient to disengage the ceiling panel <NUM> from the carrier <NUM> even if the force of the contact would have been enough to act only against the weight of the ceiling panel <NUM>. However, it should also be appreciated that, in such an arrangement, the clip <NUM> need not be arranged to provide a sufficient force to support the weight of the ceiling panel because the weight of the ceiling panel <NUM> is supported directly by the carrier <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the ceiling system <NUM> may be arranged such that the support of the ceiling panel <NUM> by the carrier <NUM> is based on one or more protrusions <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> engaging with corresponding recesses <NUM> of the ceiling panel <NUM>.

In such an arrangement, for a ceiling panel <NUM> to be disengaged from the carrier <NUM>, requires sufficient movement of the ceiling panel <NUM> relative of carrier <NUM> is required that the protrusions <NUM> completely disengage from the recesses <NUM> of the ceiling panel. Accordingly, in the event of accidental contact with the ceiling panel <NUM>, it may not disengaged from the carrier <NUM> if it only results in a small movement. In such an arrangement, the pressing section <NUM> of the clip <NUM> may be configured to apply force in a direction that encourages the protrusions <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> to remain within the recesses <NUM> of the ceiling panel <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the arrangement of protrusions and recesses may be reversed, such that a protrusion on the ceiling panel <NUM> engages with a recess on the carrier <NUM>.

In an arrangement, as depicted in <FIG>, a pair of protrusions <NUM> on one of the carrier <NUM> and the ceiling panel <NUM> may engage with a corresponding pair of recesses <NUM> on the other of the carrier <NUM> and the ceiling panel <NUM>. Such an arrangement may facilitate a stable engagement of the ceiling panel <NUM> with the carrier <NUM>.

In an arrangement, the clip <NUM> may be configured such that at least a part <NUM> of the clip, between the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> and the pressing section <NUM> is deformed, for example elastically deformed, when the ceiling panel <NUM> is engaged with the carrier <NUM>. This may generate a force that causes the pressing section <NUM> to press together the engaged parts of the ceiling panel <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates in cross-section the operation of the clip <NUM>. The non-dotted representation of the clip <NUM> shows, in cross-section, the clip <NUM> when mounted to a carrier <NUM> in the absence of a ceiling panel <NUM>. As shown, the engagement section <NUM> of the clip <NUM> secures the position of the engagement section <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM>. The dotted representation, shows the clip <NUM> when a ceiling panel <NUM> is engaged with the carrier <NUM>. As shown, the position of the engagement section <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> is unchanged. The position of the pressing section <NUM> is moved upwards by the engagement of the ceiling panel <NUM>, introduced to the carrier <NUM> from below, deforming the part <NUM> of the clip <NUM> between the engagement section <NUM> and the pressing section <NUM>. The deformation of the part <NUM> of the clip <NUM> between the engagement section <NUM> and the present section <NUM> generates a force that results in the pressing section <NUM> exerting a force downwards on the ceiling panel <NUM>, pressing together the engaged parts of the ceiling panel <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>.

It should be appreciated, therefore, that in order to assemble a ceiling system, a user may mount the one or more carriers <NUM> to a structure from which the ceiling system <NUM> is to be suspended. Thereafter, at each location at which a ceiling panel <NUM> is to engage with a carrier <NUM>, a clip <NUM> may be engaged with the carrier <NUM>, noting as discussed above that it may not be necessary to provide a clip <NUM> at each such location. The ceiling panels <NUM> may then be engaged with the carriers <NUM>, by introducing it to the carrier <NUM> from below and exerting a force sufficient to overcome the pressing force exerted by the pressing section <NUM> of the clips <NUM> when engaging the ceiling panels <NUM> with the carriers <NUM>. In arrangements in which the engagement of the ceiling panel <NUM> with the carrier <NUM> requires the engagement of a protrusion into a recess, the engagement of the ceiling panel <NUM> to the carrier <NUM> may require sufficiently deforming the clip <NUM> to enable the insertion of the protrusion into the recess.

As shown in the Figures, in an arrangement, the clip <NUM> may include two engagement sections <NUM>, <NUM>. This may facilitate the provision of a stable connection to the carrier <NUM>, or ceiling panel <NUM> in an arrangement in which the clip <NUM> engages with the ceiling panel <NUM>. For example, as shown in the Figures, the pressing section <NUM> of the clip <NUM> may be provided between the two engagement sections <NUM>, <NUM>. It should be appreciated, however, alternative arrangements may be used, in which the clip has a different number of sections that engage with the carrier <NUM> or ceiling panel <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show more detail of an example of a configuration of the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> of a clip <NUM>. As shown, the component that engages with the clip <NUM>, in this case the carrier <NUM>, includes a hole <NUM> through which the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> passes to engage with the carrier <NUM>. When the clip <NUM> is engaged with the carrier <NUM>, the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> passes through the hole <NUM> and is arranged such that two portions <NUM>, <NUM> forming the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged on opposite sides of the hole <NUM> and extend in opposite directions away from the hole <NUM>. The engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> is arranged such that at least one of the portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the wire extending away from the hole <NUM> presses against the carrier <NUM> with which it is engaged. This may generate a reaction force that in turn causes the pressing section <NUM> to press together the engaged parts of the ceiling panel <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>. As shown in the cross-section of <FIG>, it should be appreciated that in order to generate the reaction force, it is not necessary that both portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> that extend away from the hole <NUM> to contact the carrier <NUM>.

In an arrangement, the carrier <NUM>, or ceiling panel <NUM> if the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> of the clip <NUM> engages with the ceiling panel <NUM>, may further include an opening <NUM> through which the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> of the clip <NUM> passes when it is engaged with the carrier <NUM>. In such an arrangement, one portion <NUM> of the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> extends between the hole <NUM> and the opening <NUM>. In such an arrangement, the opening <NUM> may be formed as a recess in an edge of the carrier <NUM>. In general, it should be appreciated that the hole <NUM> and the opening <NUM> may have any convenient shape.

In such an arrangement, the clip <NUM> may be engaged with the carrier <NUM> by inserting a portion <NUM> of the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> through the hole <NUM> in the carrier <NUM> and then rotating the clip <NUM> about the carrier <NUM> until the second portion <NUM> of the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> makes contact with an outer surface of the carrier <NUM>, as shown in the Figures. Once the clip <NUM> is assembled to the carrier <NUM>, the portion <NUM> of the engagement section <NUM>, <NUM> extending between the hole <NUM> and the opening <NUM> may be on the opposite side of the part of the carrier to which the clip <NUM> is engaged from the pressing section <NUM>. Such an arrangement may enable the clip <NUM> to be easily assembled to the carrier <NUM> by a user whilst still providing a secure engagement with the carrier <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A ceiling system (<NUM>) configured to provide a surface that covers an underlying architectural structure, comprising:
at least one covering panel (<NUM>);
at least one carrier (<NUM>) configured to support the at least one covering panel; and
at least one clip (<NUM>) configured to secure the at least one covering panel to the at least one carrier;
wherein the covering panel and carrier are configured such that the covering panel can be introduced to the carrier from the side of the surface provided by the ceiling system to be engaged with part of the carrier to enable the carrier to support the covering panel; and
the clip comprises a length of wire, including
at least one engagement section (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to engage with the carrier to secure the position of the engagement section relative to the carrier; characterised by
a pressing section (<NUM>) configured to exert a downwards force on the covering panel by pressing against the covering panel, to thereby hold the covering panel in engagement with the carrier by pressing together the engaged parts of the covering panel and carrier;
wherein the part of the carrier that is configured to engage with the part of the covering panel is configured to exert an upwards force to the part of the covering panel to support its weight.