Patent ID: 8555594

Claim:
A multipurpose beam for side-by-side panel false ceiling constructions comprising: a bearing profile designed to be suspended from a floor slab, said bearing profile having a pair of substantially vertical side walls that are joined together at their upper end by a substantially horizontal wall and that have free longitudinal lower edges to define a longitudinal compartment with a bottom opening; at least one functional element having an anchoring portion designed to be inserted in said compartment; coupling means connecting together said profile and said anchoring portion of said functional element; and support means associated with said profile and configured to support at least one panel of a false ceiling construction, wherein said anchoring portion of said at least one functional element is shaped to hold said functional element in a stable position within said profile, wherein said functional element is entirely contained within said compartment, wherein said coupling means include at least one pair of first lips or longitudinal ridges formed in said compartment and at least one pair of second lips or longitudinal ridges formed on said anchoring portion of the at least one functional element, wherein said first lips or ridges extend inwardly of said compartment at a predetermined distance from said lower edges and by a sufficient extension to define a span of predetermined width between their lower edges, wherein said support means extend from said side walls of said profile to hold panels substantially flush with said longitudinal edges of said opening, wherein said anchoring portion includes at least one pair of vertical extensions having a pair of third lips or longitudinal ridges along their longitudinal edges configured to couple said at least one functional element with at least one interface element designed for supporting one or more partition elements, and wherein said anchoring portion of said at least one functional element has a maximum vertical extension not greater than said predetermined distance of said pair of first lips from said lower edges.