IP Library Granted Patent US 11,479,971
Granted Patent B2
US 11,479,971 · App. 16/934,358 · Granted Oct 25, 2022

Suspended ceiling system, securing members, and process of installing a suspended ceiling system

Inventors: Nathan J. Baxter (Lancaster, PA); James R. Waters (Lancaster, PA)
Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC
E04B9/225E04B7/14E04B9/067E04B9/10E04B9/18E04B9/245E04B9/30E04B9/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,479,971
App. No.
16/934,358
Granted
Oct 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a suspended ceiling system, a securing member, and process of installing a patterned suspended ceiling system. The suspended ceiling system includes a grid system having first members and second members, and at least one substrate which extends below the grid system. The at least one substrate has an exposed surface and a concealed surface, and the at least one substrate has first sides and second sides which extend between the exposed surface and the concealed surface. Securing members attach to the concealed surface proximate the first sides, and the securing members have grid engagement members which secure the at least one substrate to the grid system. The securing members cooperate with the first members and the second members of the grid system to properly position the substrate and the spacing between adjacent at least one substrates is controlled.

Claims (40)

1. A ceiling system comprising:

a grid system having a plurality of first members horizontally offset from each other in a parallel configuration;

a first substrate having a concealed surface opposite an exposed surface, the exposed surface of the first substrate having a first surface area;

a second substrate having a concealed surface opposite an exposed surface, the exposed surface of the second substrate having a second surface area that is not equal to the first surface area;

a plurality of securing members attached to the concealed surfaces of the first and second substrates, each of the securing members comprising:

a positioning member protruding from the concealed surface of one of the first and second substrates and terminating at an upper end; and

a grid engagement member configured to secure each of the first and second substrates to the plurality of first members, the grid engagement member comprising a first offset portion extending from the upper end of the positioning member, a rear arm comprising a vertical wall, a clip portion, a front arm comprising a vertical wall, and a second offset portion extending from the front arm.

2. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first substrate and the second substrate weigh between about 2 pounds per square foot and about 3 pounds per square foot.

3. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of securing members comprises a first securing member attached to the first substrate and secured to a first one of the first members and a second securing member attached to the second substrate and secured to the first one of the first members.

4. The ceiling system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of securing members comprises a third securing member attached to the first substrate and secured to a second one of the first members and a fourth securing member attached to the second substrate and not secured to the second one of the first members.

5. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second substrates are supported a predetermined distance below the grid system.

6. The ceiling system of claim 1 , wherein the securing members are configured to support between about 4 pounds and about 6 pounds of weight force received from each of the first and second substrates.

7. A ceiling system comprising:

a grid system having a plurality of members, each member comprising a vertical web having a head portion;

a first substrate having a first length and a first width;

a second substrate having a second length and a second width;

a plurality of securing members attached to each of the first and second substrates, the securing members configured to secure each of the first and second substrates to the plurality of members;

wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are ceiling panels;

wherein the first length of the first substrate and the second length of the second substrate are different; and

wherein each of the securing members comprises a grid engagement member extending from a positioning member, the grid engagement member comprising a front arm, a rear arm, and a clip portion extending between the front and rear arms and shaped to coordinate with a shape of the head portion of the vertical web.

8. The ceiling system of claim 7 , wherein the first width and the second width are substantially equal.

9. The ceiling system of claim 7 , wherein the first substrate has a first thickness and the second substrate has a second thickness, wherein the first thickness and the second thickness are substantially equal.

10. The ceiling system of claim 7 , wherein the first length is about twice the second length.

11. The ceiling system of claim 7 , wherein the first length is about one and a half times the second length.

12. The ceiling system of claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second substrates are supported a predetermined distance below the grid system.

13. The ceiling system of claim 7 , wherein the securing members are configured to support between about 4 pounds and about 6 pounds of weight force received from each of the first and second substrates.

14. The ceiling system of claim 7 , wherein each of the substrates weigh between about 2 pounds per square foot and about 3 pounds per square foot.

15. The ceiling system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of securing members comprise a first securing member attached to the first substrate and secured to a first one of the first members and a second securing member attached to the second substrate and secured to the first one of the first members.

16. The ceiling system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of securing members comprise a third securing member attached to the first substrate and secured to a second one of the first members and a fourth securing member attached to the second substrate and not secured to the second one of the first members.

17. A ceiling system, the system comprising:

a grid system having a plurality of members, each member comprising a vertical web having a head portion;

a first substrate having a first length and a first width;

a second substrate having a second length and a second width;

a third substrate having a third length and a third width;

a plurality of securing members attached to each of the first, second, and third substrates, the securing members configured to secure each of the first, second, and third substrates to the plurality of members;

wherein the first length, the second length, and the third length are different; and

wherein each of the securing members comprises a grid engagement member and a positioning member, the grid engagement member comprising a first offset portion extending from the positioning member, a rear arm comprising a vertical wall, a front arm comprising a vertical wall, a second offset portion extending from the front arm, and a clip portion extending between the front and rear arm and shaped to coordinate with a shape of the head portion of the vertical web.

18. The ceiling system of claim 17 , wherein the first width, the second width, and the third width are substantially equal.

19. The ceiling system of claim 17 , wherein the first substrate has a first thickness, the second substrate has a second thickness, and the third substrate has a third thickness, wherein the first thickness, the second thickness, and the third thickness are substantially equal.

20. The ceiling system of claim 17 , wherein each of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the third substrate weigh between about 2 pounds per square foot and about 3 pounds per square foot.

Assignments (3)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: AWI LICENSING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062081/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2022
From: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: AWI LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 061091/0891 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2020
From: BAXTER, NATHAN; WATERS, JAMES R
To: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 053264/0682 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 16402855 · May 3, 2019
Continuation 16402175 · Jul 23, 2018
Continuation 15276932 · Sep 27, 2016
Continuation 14790202 · Jul 2, 2015
Continuation 14095697 · Dec 3, 2013
Continuation 13285214 · Oct 31, 2011
Provisional Application 61408785 · Nov 10, 2010
Related Publication 20200347595A1 · Nov 5, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,716,234