IP Library Granted Patent US 9,279,253
Granted Patent B1
US 9,279,253 · App. 14/542,077 · Granted Mar 8, 2016

Ceiling system

Inventors: Christopher David Gaydos (Lititz, PA); Lori Jo L. Shearer (Millersville, PA)
Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
E04B9/34E04B9/10E04B9/18E04B9/24E04B9/248
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,279,253
App. No.
14/542,077
Granted
Mar 8, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

A ceiling system in one embodiment includes a grid support member defining a bottom surface and a ceiling panel supported by the grid support member. A first facing sheet includes a peripheral edge portion coupled to the grid support member. The first grid support member is at least partially concealed by overlapping the peripheral edge portion of the first facing sheet onto the bottom surface of the grid support member. The first facing sheet is supported from the grid support member independently of the ceiling panel. A second facing sheet has a peripheral edge portion coupled to the grid support member. The first and second facing sheets have mating edges disposed adjacent to each other which conceal a majority or substantially the entire bottom surface of the grid support member. In one embodiment, the ceiling panel has a honeycomb core.

Claims (38)

1. A ceiling system comprising:

a longitudinally extending grid support member including a longitudinal axis and a substantially horizontal bottom surface;

a ceiling panel supported by the grid support member;

a first facing sheet having a flat body defined by a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface opposite the top planar surface, and peripheral edges that extend between the top and bottom planar surfaces, the top and bottom planar surfaces terminating at the peripheral edges, the peripheral edges collectively defining a perimeter of the flat body of the first facing sheet, the top planar surface comprising a peripheral edge portion adjacent the perimeter; and

a coupling mechanism attached to the bottom surface of the grid support member, the coupling mechanism coupling the peripheral edge portion of the top planar surface of the first facing sheet to the bottom surface of the grid support member so that the first facing sheet is supported from the bottom surface of the grid support member;

wherein the bottom surface of the first grid support member is at least partially concealed by the first facing sheet, wherein the peripheral edge extends past the coupling mechanism.

2. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein the first facing sheet is supported from the bottom surface of the grid support member independently of the ceiling panel.

3. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism is selected from a group consisting of adhesives, magnets, and hook and loop closures.

4. The ceiling system of claim 3 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises double-sided adhesive tape.

5. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein the first facing sheet is releasably coupled to the bottom surface of the grid support member.

6. The ceiling system of claim 1 , further comprising a first spacer disposed between the first facing sheet and the bottom surface of the grid support member, the first spacer spacing the first facing sheet from the bottom surface by a first vertical distance.

7. The ceiling system of claim 6 , wherein the first facing sheet has a rectilinear shape and the first spacer is attached to a first corner of the first facing sheet.

8. The ceiling system of claim 7 , further comprising a second spacer attached to a second corner of the first facing sheet.

9. The ceiling system of claim 8 , further comprising a resilient tensioning rod coupled between the first and second spacers, the tensioning rod urging the first and second corners apart to draw the first facing sheet taut and substantially flat.

10. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein the ceiling panel has a honeycomb core structure.

11. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein the first facing sheet is unattached to the ceiling panel.

12. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein the grid support member is T-shaped and includes a bottom flange that defines the bottom surface.

13. A ceiling system comprising:

a first longitudinally-extending grid support member, a second longitudinally-extending grid support member, and a third longitudinally extending grid support member, the first grid support member located between and spaced apart from each of the second and third grid support members, each of the first, second and third grid support members defining a longitudinal axis and having a substantially horizontal bottom surface;

a first facing sheet and a second facing sheet, each of the first and second facing sheets comprising a flat body defined by a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and peripheral edges that extend between the top and bottom surfaces of the first and second facing sheets, the peripheral edges collectively defining a perimeter of the flat body;

the first facing sheet spanning between the first and second grid support members, the top surface of the first facing sheet coupled to and supported from the bottom surfaces of the first and second grid support members; and

the second facing sheet spanning between the first grid support member and the third grid support member, the top surface of the second facing sheet coupled to and supported from the bottom surfaces of the first and third grid support members;

wherein adjacent ones of the peripheral edges of the first and second facing sheets are proximate to each other below the bottom surface of the first grid support member;

wherein the bottom surface of the first grid support member is concealed by the first and second facing sheets, wherein the peripheral edge extends past the coupling mechanism.

14. The ceiling system of claim 13 , further comprising a coupling mechanism that couples the top surfaces of the first and second facing sheets to the bottom surface of the first grid support member, the coupling mechanism selected from a group consisting of adhesive coupling, magnetic coupling, and hook and loop coupling.

15. The ceiling system of claim 13 , wherein the first facing sheet is unattached to the ceiling panel and only supported from the bottom surface of the grid support member.

16. The ceiling system of any of claim 13 , wherein the first and second facing sheets are releasably coupled to the bottom surface of the first grid support member.

17. The ceiling system of claim 16 , wherein:

the coupling mechanism includes a second spacer disposed between the second facing sheet and the bottom surface of the first grid support member, the second spacer spacing the second facing sheet from the bottom surface by a first vertical distance; and

wherein the adjacent ones of the peripheral edges of the first and second facing sheets are substantially flush with one another.

18. The ceiling system of claim 13 , wherein the adjacent ones of the peripheral edges of the first and second facing sheets are vertically offset from one another.

19. The ceiling system of claim 13 , wherein the adjacent ones of the peripheral edges of the first and second facing sheets are substantially flush with one another.

20. A ceiling system comprising:

a longitudinally extending grid support member including a longitudinal axis and a substantially horizontal bottom surface;

a ceiling panel supported by the grid support member;

a first facing sheet having a flat body defined by a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface opposite the top planar surface, and peripheral edges that extend between the top and bottom planar surfaces, the top and bottom planar surfaces terminating at the peripheral edges, the peripheral edges collectively defining a perimeter of the flat body of the first facing sheet; and

a coupling mechanism that couples the first facing sheet to the grid support member, the grid support member supporting the first facing sheet;

wherein the bottom surface of the first grid support member is at least partially concealed by the first facing sheet, wherein the peripheral edge extends past the coupling mechanism.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 14, 2016
From: AWI LICENSING COMPANY
To: AWI LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 039068/0833 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: AWI LICENSING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038403/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2016
From: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: AWI LICENSING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 037681/0017 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2014
From: GAYDOS, CHRISTOPHER D.; SHEARER, LORI JO L.
To: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034177/0460 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2014
From: GAYDOS, CHRISTOPHER DAVID; SPRINGER, BRIAN L.
To: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034178/0587 →