IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,846,101
Granted Patent B2
US 11,846,101 · App. 18/050,648 · Granted Dec 19, 2023

Acoustic ceiling baffles and related methods of use

Inventor: Douglas Allan Bixel (Redmond, WA)
Assignee: Nut Shell LLC
E04B9/366E04B9/068
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,846,101
App. No.
18/050,648
Filed
Oct 28, 2022
Granted
Dec 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3633
USPC
52/506.07
Abstract

An acoustic ceiling baffle that includes a baffle body and one or more attachment mechanisms disposed on a top edge of the baffle body configured to couple and decouple from a runner of a ceiling suspension system. The attachment mechanisms include a recessed portion that receives the runner. The recessed portion includes a first section and a second section with an opening disposed between the first section and the second section. The first section is configured to engage with a face of the runner when the acoustic ceiling baffle is coupled to the runner. The attachment mechanism further includes a first retention member and a second retention member formed around the recessed portion, each retention member comprising a bottom edge that is configured to engage with a top surface of a face of the runner.

Claims (34)

1. An acoustic ceiling baffle comprising:

a baffle body;

an attachment mechanism disposed on a top edge of the baffle body configured to couple and decouple from a runner of a ceiling suspension system, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:

a first recessed portion configured to receive the runner, the first recessed portion comprising a first section and a second section with an opening disposed between the first section and the second section, wherein the first section is configured to engage with a face of the runner when the acoustic ceiling baffle is coupled to the runner;

a first retention member and a second retention member, each retention member comprising a side wall that slants downward toward the opening between the first section and the second section, each retention member comprising a bottom edge that is configured to engage with a top surface of a face of the runner, wherein opposing top edges of the first section across the opening correspond with the bottom edges of each retention member, and wherein a bottom edge of the first section forms an apex at a center of the bottom edge that is configured to engage with a bottom surface of the runner.

2. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is disposed below a plane of the top edge of the baffle body.

3. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is disposed above and below a plane of the top edge of the baffle body.

4. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the first section of the first recessed portion is disposed above and below a plane of the top edge of the baffle body.

5. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the baffle body comprises two attachment mechanisms disposed on the top edge of the baffle body.

6. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the baffle body comprises three attachment mechanisms disposed on the top edge of the baffle body.

7. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the first retention member and the second retention member have a substantially triangular shape.

8. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the first retention member and the second retention member are rotatable inward and outward.

9. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the first section of the first recessed portion comprises a substantially rectangular shape and a bottom edge of the first section slants upwards from side walls.

10. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of the first section is configured to engage with a bottom surface of the face of the runner when the face is disposed within the first section.

11. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the bottom edge of the first section slants upward from side walls to form the apex.

12. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the side walls slant toward one another.

13. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , further comprising a second recessed portion and a third recessed portion, wherein the second recessed portion and the third recessed portion are disposed on opposing side of the first recessed portion and the first and second retention members.

14. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 13 , wherein the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion are substantially triangular shaped.

15. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to couple to a T grid runner via a snap fit.

16. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to couple to a bolt slot grid runner via a snap fit.

17. An acoustic ceiling baffle comprising:

a baffle body;

an attachment mechanism disposed on a top edge of the baffle body configured to couple and decouple from a runner of a ceiling suspension system, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:

a first recessed portion configured to receive the runner, the first recessed portion comprising a first section and a second section with an opening disposed between the first section and the second section, wherein the first section is configured to engage with a face of the runner when the acoustic ceiling baffle is coupled to the runner, wherein a bottom edge of the first section slants upward from side walls to form an apex, and wherein a bottom edge of the first section is configured to engage with a bottom surface of a face of the runner when the face is disposed within the first section;

a first retention member and a second retention member, each retention member comprising a bottom edge that is configured to engage with a top surface of the face of the runner, wherein opposing top edges of the first section across the opening correspond with the bottom edges of each retention member.

18. The acoustic ceiling baffle of claim 17 , wherein the first retention member and the second retention member are rotatable inward and outward.

19. A ceiling suspension system comprising:

a plurality of runners that extend parallel to each other;

a plurality of acoustic ceiling baffles configured to couple to the runners, each acoustic ceiling baffle comprising:

a baffle body;

an attachment mechanism disposed on a top edge of the baffle body configured to couple and decouple from the runner, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:

a first recessed portion configured to receive the runner, the first recessed portion comprising a first section and a second section with an opening disposed between the first section and the second section, wherein the first section is configured to engage with a face of the runner when the acoustic ceiling baffle is coupled to the runner;

a first retention member and a second retention member, each retention member comprising a bottom edge that is configured to engage with a top surface of a face of the runner, wherein opposing top edges of the first section across the opening correspond with the bottom edges of each retention member, and wherein a bottom edge of the first section forms an apex at a center of the bottom edge that is configured to engage with a bottom surface of the runner.

20. The ceiling suspension system of claim 19 , wherein a number of attachment mechanisms for each acoustic ceiling baffle corresponds to a number of runners in the ceiling suspension system.