Patent ID: 7857024

Claim:
A support collar section for a modular ceiling insert, said support collar comprising a prefabricated modular body having a support portion for supporting a peripheral edge of a modular ceiling insert, opposed end edges for cooperating with adjacent support collar sections to interconnect adjacent support collar sections together and thereby define an opening to be filled by the modular ceiling insert, the opposed end edges include a male portion and a female portion respectively for cooperation and interengagement with adjacent bodies, at least two vertically extending flat engagement portions for engaging and being secured to ceiling joists located above a ceiling, one of said opposed end edges including a support flange projecting beyond a terminal end of the at least two vertically extending flat engagement portions for engaging and overlapping an adjacent prefabricated modular body, and said support portions of a plurality of said prefabricated bodies extending inwardly beyond said vertically extending flat engagement portions and forming a support surface for the peripheral edge of the modular ceiling insert so that the modular ceiling insert projects above the plurality of said prefabricated bodies into an attic space above ceiling joists of a ceiling.