IP Library Granted Patent US 11,339,571
Granted Patent B2
US 11,339,571 · App. 17/124,097 · Granted May 24, 2022

Ceiling system

Inventor: Daniel M. Holdridge (Ephrata, PA)
Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC
E04B9/26E04B9/0478E04B9/06E04B9/068E04B9/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,339,571
App. No.
17/124,097
Granted
May 24, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (35)

1. A ceiling panel assembly comprising:

a ceiling panel comprising;

a first major surface opposite a second major surface; and

at least one mounting angle extending upward from the second major surface, the mounting angle comprising a first lip portion extending from a first vertical portion, the first lip portion comprising a first horizontal portion and a second vertical portion extending downward from the first horizontal portion;

a mounting bracket comprising;

a base plate having an upper surface opposite a lower surface, the base plate comprising a second lip portion; and

a hook member extending upward from the upper surface of the base plate;

a torsion spring having a coil and two upwardly projecting arms, whereby the hook member extends through a central opening defined by the coil;

a spring 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 the torsion spring; a pair locking tabs disposed on the spring clip, the locking tabs configured to engage opposing sides of the grid support member; and

wherein the base plate is coupled to the first lip portion, and the first lip portion and the second lip portion are complimentary in shape.

2. The ceiling panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the base plate mates with the first lip portion of the mounting angle.

3. The ceiling panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second vertical portion extends downward from the first horizontal portion and terminates at a first distal end.

4. The ceiling panel assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second lip portion comprises a third vertical portion extending downward from the lower surface of the base plate.

5. The ceiling panel assembly of claim 4 , wherein the third vertical portion extends downward from the lower surface of the base plate and terminates at a second distal end.

6. The ceiling panel assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first distal is located below the second distal end.

7. The ceiling panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second lip portion comprises a first section and a second section that are horizontally separated by a gap.

8. The ceiling panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hook member and the gap overlap in the horizontal direction.

9. A ceiling system comprising:

a longitudinally extending grid support member defining a longitudinal axis, the grid support member including a bottom flange, a top stiffening channel, and a vertical web connecting the stiffening channel to the bottom flange;

a ceiling panel;

a torsion spring mounted on the ceiling panel;

a spring clip slideably mounted on the grid support member and movable in opposing axial directions, the spring clip comprising a body including a mounting portion defining a downwardly open receptacle configured for attachment to the ceiling grid support member, a pair of lateral flanges extending outwards from the mounting portion, at least one of the lateral flanges including a slot configured to engage the torsion spring; a pair of locking tabs disposed on the spring clip, the locking tabs configured to engage opposing sides of the grid support member;

wherein the ceiling panel is supported from the grid support member by the torsion springs; and

wherein the spring clip is formed of an elastically deformable resilient material, the locking tabs being laterally deflectable when mounting the spring clip on the grid support member.

10. The ceiling system of claim 9 , wherein the spring clip includes an elongated slot that engages the torsion spring.

11. The ceiling system of claim 10 , wherein the torsion spring includes a coil and two resilient arms.

12. The ceiling system of claim 11 , wherein the arms of the torsion spring are engaged with the slot of the spring clip to retain the torsion spring.

13. The ceiling system of claim 9 , wherein the locking tabs are disposed at an angle with respect to the flanges.

14. The ceiling system of claim 9 , wherein the spring clip is snap-fit onto the grid support member.

15. The ceiling system of claim 9 , wherein the grid support member has a T-shaped cross-section.

16. The ceiling system of claim 9 , wherein the locking tabs are separated by a lateral distance less than a lateral width of the top stiffening channel.

17. The ceiling system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the locking tabs is disposed on one of the lateral flanges.

18. The ceiling system of claim 9 , wherein the locking tabs project inwards into the receptacle from opposite lateral directions.

19. The ceiling system of claim 9 , wherein the locking tabs are arranged in opposing relationship to each other.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS TO REMOVE APPL. NO. 17894024 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 062081 FRAME 0523. ASSIGNOR HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064655/0563 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062081/0523 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2020
From: HOLDRIDGE, DANIEL M
To: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 054671/0671 →