Ceiling system
Described herein is a ceiling system that includes a spring clip for mounting ceiling panels equipped with torsion springs to a ceiling support grid, the clip comprising: a body including a mounting portion defining a downwardly open receptacle configured for attachment to a ceiling grid support member; a pair of lateral flanges extending outwards from the mounting portion, at least one of the flanges including a slot configured to engage a torsion spring; a pair locking tabs disposed on the spring clip, the locking tabs configured to engage opposing sides of the grid support member.
1. A ceiling system comprising:
a longitudinally extending grid support member defining a longitudinal axis, the grid support member comprising a bottom flange;
a ceiling panel;
a torsion spring comprising a coil and two arms, the torsion spring mounted on the ceiling panel; and
a spring clip engaging and retaining the two arms of the torsion spring;
wherein the spring clip is mounted on the grid support member such that the spring clip is slideably movable in opposing directions along the longitudinal axis while also being vertically locked to the grid support member; and
wherein the ceiling panel can be altered between a first vertical state and a second vertical state while the spring clip is vertically locked to the grid support member, the first vertical state having the ceiling panel located beneath the grid support member by a first vertical distance and the second vertical state having the ceiling panel located beneath the grid support member by a second vertical distance, the first and second vertical distances being different;
wherein the first vertical state, at least a portion of the coil of the torsion spring is above the bottom flange of the grid support member.
2. The ceiling system according to claim 1 , wherein the grid support member including a bottom flange, a top stiffening channel, and a vertical web connecting the stiffening channel to the bottom flange.
3. The ceiling system according to claim 2 , wherein in the first vertical state the ceiling panel contacts the bottom flange of the grid support member.
4. The ceiling system according to claim 3 , wherein in the second vertical state the ceiling panel is vertically offset from the bottom flange by a non-zero distance.
5. The ceiling system according to claim 1 , wherein the spring clip includes an elongated slot that engages the torsion spring.
6. The ceiling system according to claim 5 , wherein torsion spring includes a coil and two resilient arms.
7. The ceiling system of claim 6 , wherein the arms of the torsion spring are engaged with the slot of the spring clip to retain the torsion spring.
8. The ceiling system of claim 6 , wherein the ceiling panel further comprises a mounting bracket that couples to the coil of the torsion spring.
9. A ceiling system comprising:
a longitudinally extending grid support member defining a longitudinal axis, the grid support member comprising a bottom flange;
a ceiling panel having a first major surface opposite a second major surface;
a torsion spring mounted on the ceiling panel, the torsion spring comprising a coil; and
a spring clip engaging and retaining the torsion spring;
wherein the spring clip is mounted on the grid support member such that the spring clip is slideably movable in opposing directions along the longitudinal axis while also being vertically locked to the grid support member; and
wherein the ceiling panel can be altered between a first vertical state and a second vertical state while the spring clip is vertically locked to the grid support member, the first vertical state having the ceiling panel located beneath the spring clip by a first vertical distance and the second vertical state having the ceiling panel located beneath the spring clip by a second vertical distance, the first and second vertical distances being different;
wherein in the first vertical state the coil of the torsion spring is located between the spring clip and the bottom flange of the grid support member.
10. The ceiling system according to claim 9 , wherein the grid support member including a bottom flange, a top stiffening channel, and a vertical web connecting the stiffening channel to the bottom flange.
11. The ceiling system according to claim 10 , wherein in the first vertical state the ceiling panel contacts the bottom flange of the grid support member.
12. The ceiling system according to claim 11 , wherein in the second vertical state the ceiling panel is vertically offset from the bottom flange by a non-zero distance.
13. The ceiling system according to claim 9 , wherein the spring clip includes an elongated slot that engages the torsion spring.
14. The ceiling system according to claim 13 , wherein torsion spring includes a coil and two resilient arms.
15. The ceiling system of claim 14 , wherein the arms of the torsion spring are engaged with the slot of the spring clip to retain the torsion spring.
16. The ceiling system of claim 15 , wherein the ceiling panel further comprises a mounting bracket that couples to the coil of the torsion spring.
17. A method of installing a ceiling system comprising:
a) mounting a spring clip to a longitudinally extending horizontal grid support member that comprises a bottom flange and defines a longitudinal axis such that the spring clip is vertically locked to the grid support member while also being movable in opposing directions along the longitudinal axis of the grid support member;
b) attaching a ceiling panel to the spring clip via a torsion spring comprising a coil, such that the ceiling panel is vertically offset from the horizontal grid support member by a first height, whereby the ceiling panel is coupled to the coil of the torsion spring;
c) horizontally sliding the ceiling panel, the torsion spring, and the spring clip relative to the horizontal grid support member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
d) pushing the ceiling panel upwards so that the ceiling panel is vertically offset from the horizontal grid support member by a second height that is less than the first height, whereby at least a portion of the coil of the torsion spring is located above the bottom flange of the grid support member.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ceiling panel in step b) does not contact the horizontal grid support member and after step d) the ceiling panel is in contact with the horizontal grip support member.
19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein after step a), contact between the spring clip and the horizontal grid support member do not create a frictional force that prevents the spring clip from moving slideably in axial position along the grid support member.
20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ceiling panel, torsion spring, and spring clip slide by a pushing force applied to only the ceiling panel.