Patent Description:
In order to improve the acoustical environment of a room, a suspended ceiling may be used. A suspended ceiling often comprises a plurality of panel units. Traditionally, the suspended ceiling is arranged below the structural ceiling and covering the full surface area of the structural ceiling. Hereby, a space is created between the suspended ceiling and the roof, in which space e.g. piping and electrical wiring may be arranged.

Among existing prior art solutions, <CIT>, in which a suspended louvered ceiling is disclosed, may be mentioned.

A suspended ceiling may also be provided in a so-called free hanging form. Such an arrangement comprises a plurality of, often disjoint, free hanging planar panel units. This arrangement is mostly used in large rooms with a high ceiling height, such as study halls. Hereby, the acoustical absorption of the room may be improved in an aesthetically pleasing way.

However, in order to improve the acoustical properties and/or the visual appearance of the suspended ceiling, non-planar panel units are desired.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a panel unit for a suspended ceiling having a non-planar shape.

Any benefit or technical effect discussed in relation any aspect of the present invention, and any embodiments thereof, may be applicable to any other aspect of the present invention.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a panel unit for a suspended ceiling is provided, the panel unit comprising: a first and second panel member, each of the first and a second panel member being provided with a respective at least one connector, each connector comprising a shaft with a first end and an opposing second end, and a head portion arranged at the first end, wherein the second end is fixed to a surface of the respective panel member such that the shaft extends from the surface of the panel member with the head portion arranged at a distance from the surface, wherein the shaft has a perpendicular extension from the surface to the head portion; and a connecting element for suspension of the panel unit and for angled connection of the first and second panel member to each other, the connecting element comprising a first and a second leg connected to each other in an angled relationship for forming a V-shaped structure, the connecting element being configured such that the first and second leg extend obliquely upwards in a suspended state of the panel unit; wherein each of the first and second leg is provided with a groove extending in a leg direction associated with the respective first and second leg, and wherein each groove is configured to receive a respective connector such that the head portion engages an upwardly facing surface of the leg in the suspended state of the panel unit.

Hereby, a non-planar, V-shaped panel unit is provided. Since planar panel members are easier, and therefore more cost-efficient and time-efficient, to manufacture than non-planar panel members, a panel unit which is more cost-efficient and time-efficient to manufacture is provided.

Further, due to the interaction between the connectors of the panel members and the grooves of the connecting element, a panel unit which is easy to assemble is provided.

Furthermore, due to the orientation of the grooves in the suspended state of the panel unit, a gravitationally assisted connection between the connecting element and the panel members is achieved. Hereby, the panel members are easy to secure in the suspended state.

A panel member may have any shape. Preferably, each panel element is rectangular comprising a first and second main surface and four side surfaces. Thus, in the suspended state, the first main surface may be the upwardly facing surface, whereas the second main surface may be a downwardly facing surface.

A panel member may be made of any suitable lightweight material. Preferably, the panel members are made of mineral wool.

The connecting element may e.g. be made of metal, wood, or a hard plastic material.

The connectors may e.g. be made of metal, wood, or a hard plastic material. For example, each connector may be made of the same material as the respective panel member. Moreover, the connectors and the panel members may be provided as a coherent unit.

Each panel member may be provided with a plurality of connectors. For example, each panel unit may be provided with two respective connectors.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, each of the first and second panel member may be provided with two respective connectors, and wherein each groove of the first and second leg may be configured to receive the two respective connectors of a respective panel member. Alternatively, each of the first and second panel member may be provided with two respective connectors, and each of the first and second leg may be provided with two respective grooves, and wherein each groove of the first and second leg may be configured to receive a respective connector.

Hereby, the connection between each panel member and the connecting element is not only stronger, but each panel member is also more rotationally secured.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, each groove may be tapered in the leg direction associated with the respective first and second leg.

Hereby, each groove wedgingly engages the respective shaft of the respective at least one connector, such that each panel member is more fixedly attached to the connecting unit.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, each groove may be provided with an inlet accessible from an edge surface of the first leg or the second leg such that each groove may be configured to receive a respective connector in a direction along the leg direction of the respective first leg or second leg.

Thus, each groove may be open-ended. Hereby, simple assembly of the panel unit is provided for.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, each groove may be provided with an inlet accessible from a side surface of the first leg or the second leg such that each groove is configured to receive a respective connector in a direction transverse to the leg direction of the respective first leg or second leg.

The inlet may e.g. be provided as a widening of the groove. To this end, each groove may for example be substantially keyhole shaped.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, for each groove of the first leg, a proportion of a length of the groove to a length of the first leg may be greater than a proportion of a length of each groove of the second leg to a length of the second leg.

Hereby, in the suspended state, a first panel member may e.g. be arranged at a position lower than the second panel member. In the suspended state, a side surface of the second panel member may thus be arranged against a portion of a main surface of the first panel member.

The first and the second leg of the connecting element may be of the same length. Alternatively, the first and the second leg of the connecting element may be of different lengths. For example, a length of the first leg in the associated leg direction may be greater than a length of the second leg in the associated leg direction.

The length of each groove of the first leg may be the same as the length of each groove the second leg. Alternatively, a length of each groove of the first leg may be greater than a length of each groove of the second leg.

These and other embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein:.

In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present invention.

In <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, a panel member <NUM>, a connecting element <NUM> and a panel unit <NUM> assembled from two panel members <NUM> and a connecting element <NUM> are shown, respectively. In <FIG>, the panel member <NUM> is provided as a rectangular panel comprising a first main side surface <NUM>, a second main side surface <NUM>, a first side surface <NUM>, a second side surface <NUM>, a third side surface <NUM> and a fourth side surface <NUM>. However, it is to be understood that the panel member <NUM> may have any suitable shape. For example, the panel member <NUM> may be shaped as a half-disc or a polygon. The panel member <NUM> may be made of any suitable lightweight material. Preferably, the panel member <NUM> is made of mineral wool, or a combination of mineral wool and further material, such as further mineral fiber material. Furthermore, the panel member <NUM> may be provided with a surface finish in the form of an exterior surface material, such as a non-woven or fabric facing. To this end, one or more main side surface and/or one or more side surface of the panel member <NUM> may be provided as an exterior surface material. Furthermore, the panel member <NUM> may comprise reinforcing material for improving the mechanical properties of the panel member <NUM>. For example, the panel member <NUM> may be provided with at least one reinforcement member of a metal material.

The panel member <NUM> is further provided with a connector <NUM>. In <FIG>, the connector <NUM> is further displayed independently and in greater detail. The connector <NUM> comprises a shaft <NUM> with a first end 16A and an opposing second end 16B. The connector <NUM> further comprises a head portion <NUM> arranged at the first end 16A, wherein the second end 16B is fixed to the panel member <NUM> such that the shaft <NUM> extends from a surface of the panel member <NUM> with the head portion <NUM> arranged at a distance from the surface. Here, the connector <NUM> is fixed to and extends from the second side surface <NUM> of the panel member <NUM>. The connector <NUM> may be fixed to the panel member <NUM> in a variety of ways. For example, the connector <NUM> may be readily inserted into the panel member <NUM> such that the shaft <NUM> is at least partially embedded in the panel member <NUM>.

Further, in <FIG>, the panel member <NUM> is provided with four connectors <NUM> arranged in pairs. Here, each pair of connectors <NUM> is arranged on a respective disk <NUM> such that they may be fixed to the panel member <NUM> in a leveled way. Here, the connectors <NUM> are fixed to the panel member <NUM> via the respective disk <NUM>. To this end, each disk <NUM> may e.g. be provided with an anchoring portion, such as a screw or spiral. Alternatively, each disk <NUM> may be provided with one or more through-holes for receiving a screw, spiral, nail, or other fastening element.

The connectors <NUM> and the disks <NUM> may e.g. be made of metal, wood, or a hard plastic material. For example, each connector <NUM> may be made of the same material as the respective panel member <NUM>. Moreover, the connectors <NUM> and the panel members <NUM> may alternatively be provided as a coherent unit.

In <FIG>, a connecting element <NUM> for suspension of the panel unit and for angled connection of a first and a second panel member <NUM> to each other is shown.

The connecting element <NUM> may e.g. be made of metal, wood, or a hard plastic material. The connecting element <NUM> comprises a first and a second leg 22A, 22B connected to each other in an angled relationship for forming a V-shaped structure. The connecting element <NUM> is configured such that the first and second leg 22A, 22B extend obliquely upwards in a suspended state of the panel unit <NUM>. The angle between the first leg 22A and the second leg 22B may be any angle between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. For example, the angle may be <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or <NUM>°.

Furthermore, each of the first and second leg 22A, 22B is provided with a groove <NUM>. Here, each of the first and second leg 22A, 22B is provided with two grooves <NUM> each. Each groove <NUM> is extending in a leg direction associated with the respective first and second leg 22A, 22B. Thus, each groove <NUM> extend obliquely upwards in a suspended state of the panel unit <NUM>. Furthermore, each groove <NUM> is configured to receive a respective connector <NUM> of a panel member <NUM> such that the head portion <NUM> of the connector <NUM> engages an upwardly facing surface <NUM>, <NUM> of the respective leg 22A, 22B in the suspended state of the panel unit <NUM>.

Although not shown in <FIG>, each groove <NUM> may be tapered in the leg direction associated with the respective first and second leg 22A, 22B, such that each groove <NUM> is configured to wedgingly engage the respective shaft <NUM> of a respective connector <NUM>.

Here, each groove <NUM> is provided with an inlet <NUM> accessible from an edge surface <NUM> of the first leg 22A or the second leg 22B such that each groove <NUM> is configured to receive a respective connector <NUM> in a direction along the leg direction of the respective first leg 22A or second leg 22B. Thus, each groove <NUM> is open-ended. Alternatively, each groove <NUM> may be provided with an inlet accessible from a side surface <NUM>, <NUM> of the first leg 22A or the second leg 22B. In <FIG>, the side surface <NUM> of the first leg 22A is arranged on an opposite side of the connecting unit <NUM> as the upward facing surface <NUM>, and the side surface <NUM> of the second leg 22A is arranged on an opposite side of the connecting unit <NUM> as the upward facing surface <NUM>. Hereby, each groove <NUM> is configured to receive a respective connector <NUM> in a direction transverse to the leg direction of the respective first leg 22A or second leg 22B. Such an inlet may e.g. be provided as a widening of the groove <NUM>. To this end, each groove <NUM> may for example be substantially keyhole shaped.

The length of the first leg 22A is in <FIG> the same as the second leg 22B. Alternatively, the first and the second leg 22A, 22B may be of different lengths. For example, a length of the first leg 22A in the associated leg direction may be greater than a length of the second leg 22B in the associated leg direction. Moreover, the length of each groove <NUM> of the first leg 22A is in <FIG> the same as the length of each groove <NUM> the second leg 22B. Alternatively, a length of each groove <NUM> of the first leg 22A may be greater than a length of each groove <NUM> of the second leg 22B. Moreover, the length of any one groove <NUM> may differ from the length of any other groove <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a panel unit <NUM> comprising two panel members <NUM> and a connecting element <NUM>. Here, the panel unit <NUM> is in a suspended state wherein each head portion <NUM> of each respective connector <NUM> engages an upwardly facing surface <NUM>, <NUM> of a respective leg 22A, 22B. Here, as well as in <FIG>, the connectors <NUM> are arranged in pairs oriented such that both connectors <NUM> of a pair of connectors <NUM> is arranged in the same groove <NUM>. However, the pair of connectors <NUM> may alternatively be oriented such that the connectors <NUM> of a pair of connectors <NUM> are arranged in different grooves <NUM>.

Furthermore, due to the orientation of the grooves <NUM> in the suspended state of the panel unit <NUM>, a gravitationally assisted connection between the connecting element <NUM> and the panel members <NUM> is achieved.

In <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, each connector <NUM> is provided on a respective side surface <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the respective panel member <NUM>. This arrangement is further illustrated from a side view in <FIG>. In <FIG>, assembly of the panel unit <NUM> by insertion of the connectors <NUM> in the grooves <NUM> of the connecting element <NUM> is illustrated. The direction of insertion is indicated by the arrows. Furthermore, the connecting element <NUM> is here provided with a suspension unit <NUM> for suspending the panel unit <NUM> to a structural ceiling, roof, beam, etc. In <FIG>, the assembled panel unit <NUM> is shown.

The at least one connector <NUM> may alternatively be provided on any other surface of the respective panel member <NUM>. For example, the at least one connector <NUM> may be provided on a respective main surface of the panel members <NUM>. This is illustrated in <FIG>. This way, an alternative arrangement of the panel members <NUM> in the panel unit <NUM> is provided. Hereby, by varying the placement of the connectors <NUM>, different shapes of the panel unit <NUM>, e.g. corresponding to different demands on acoustical properties and/or visual appearance may be provided.

The at least one connector <NUM> of a first panel member <NUM> may further be arranged at a relative positive different than the at least one connector <NUM> of a second panel member <NUM>. An exemplary embodiment of this is illustrated in <FIG>, wherein the connectors <NUM> of a first panel member <NUM> is arranged closer to a lower side surface <NUM> of said panel member <NUM> compared to the connectors <NUM> of the second panel member <NUM>. Hereby, the second panel member <NUM> is arranged at a position lower than the first panel member <NUM>, such that a side surface <NUM> of the first panel member is arranged against a portion of a main surface <NUM> of the second panel member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Panel unit (<NUM>) for a suspended ceiling, the panel unit (<NUM>) comprising:
a first and second panel member (<NUM>), each of the first and a second panel member (<NUM>) being provided with a respective at least one connector (<NUM>), each connector (<NUM>) comprising a shaft (<NUM>) with a first end (16A) and an opposing second end (16B), and a head portion (<NUM>) arranged at the first end (16A), wherein the second end (16B) is fixed to a surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the respective panel member (<NUM>) such that the shaft (<NUM>) extends from the surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the panel member (<NUM>) with the head portion (<NUM>) arranged at a distance from the surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the shaft (<NUM>) has a perpendicular extension from the surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to the head portion (<NUM>); and
a connecting element (<NUM>) for suspension of the panel unit (<NUM>) and for angled connection of the first and second panel member (<NUM>) to each other, the connecting element (<NUM>) comprising a first and a second leg (22A, 22B) connected to each other in an angled relationship for forming a V-shaped structure, the connecting element (<NUM>) being configured such that the first and second leg (22A, 22B) extend obliquely upwards in a suspended state of the panel unit (<NUM>);
wherein each of the first and second leg (22A, 22B) is provided with a groove (<NUM>) extending in a leg direction associated with the respective first and second leg (22A, 22B), and wherein each groove (<NUM>) is configured to receive a respective connector (<NUM>) such that the head portion (<NUM>) engages an upwardly facing surface (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the leg (22A, 22B) in the suspended state of the panel unit (<NUM>).