IP Library Granted Patent US 8,314,336
Granted Patent B2
US 8,314,336 · App. 12/603,088 · Granted Nov 20, 2012

Specialty ceiling structure and functional ceiling grid

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,314,336
App. No.
12/603,088
Granted
Nov 20, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rectangular ceiling tile proportioned for use in a standard rectangular ceiling grid module formed by grid tees, the tile having a pair of conductors arranged to feed low voltage electrical power from the grid elements to an electric or electronic device carried on the tile, the conductors each extending to an edge or edges of the tile and adapted to make physical contact with a conductor carried on a grid element when supported on such grid element.

Claims (5)

1. A rectangular ceiling tile proportioned for use in a standard rectangular ceiling grid module formed by grid tees, the tile having a pair of conductors arranged to feed low voltage electrical power from the grid elements to an electric or electronic device carried on the tile, the conductors each extending to opposite edges of the tile, and including at each of said opposite edges a flexible conductive leaf spring adapted to make physical contact with a flat conductive strip carried on and along the length of a grid element when supported on such grid element, the leaf spring of the conductors are being arranged to automatically establish electrical contact with the conductive strip on a grid tee when the tile is set on the grid tee, the leaf spring being configured to have lateral freedom to accommodate normal dimensional variations in the grid module and panel as well as permitting the panel to be lifted from below the ceiling to gain access to the plenum below the plane of the ceiling.

2. A rectangular ceiling tile as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tile is arranged such that when it is supported on a grid tee, it is capable of making contact with a flat vertical conductive strip situated on an upper reinforcing bulb of the tee.

3. A rectangular ceiling tile as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tile is arranged such that when it is supported on a grid tee, it is capable of making contact with a flat vertical conductive strip situated on a generally vertical web of the tee.

4. A rectangular ceiling tile as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tile is arranged such that when it is supported on a grid tee, it is capable of making contact with a flat horizontal conductive strip situated on an upper surface of a horizontal flange of the tee.

5. A suspended island ceiling comprising a rectangular grid of intersecting tees, a trim strip suspended by the grid tees at the perimeter of the island, the trim strip having, in profile, the general shape of a right angle with a low rise vertical leg and a horizontal leg, at least one conductive strip on an upper side of the horizontal leg insulated from the body of the trim strip, and at least some of the tees each having at least one conductive strip insulated from their respective bodies, and electrical jumpers electrically connecting the conductive strip of the trim strip to the conductive strips of the tees, the electrical jumpers passing through holes in the vertical leg.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jan 5, 2012
From: USG INTERIORS, INC.
To: USG INTERIORS, LLC
Reel/Frame 027482/0300 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2009
From: LIANG, YING (LORA); BOSS, DANIEL; GEE, GRAEME
To: USG INTERIORS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023426/0247 →