Assembly for suspending ceiling panels

Abstract

The present application relates to an assembly for suspending ceiling panels, the assembly having a frame with cross members and support members extending between the cross members, each support member for supporting a respective side edge of a ceiling panel, and suspension members for suspending the frame from a structure, and wherein an end of the support member is configured to engage with an engageable portion disposed circumferentially around each intersection member.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application filed on September 8, 2017, with application number 201780096322.2 and invention title "Component for Suspending Ceiling Panels". Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to components for suspending ceiling panels, intersection members used in these components, and suspended ceilings having said components and / or intersection members. Background Technology

[0003] Suspended ceiling systems offer a grid structure for suspending lightweight panels to create a ceiling in commercial environments such as offices or retail spaces. The panels can be used to conceal the upper space of a room, which may contain wiring, conduits, pipes, or piping systems. Designers often desire visually distinct suspended ceilings, unlike those that can suspend standard square or rectangular panels. However, this can involve complex and expensive installations. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Examples of the present invention attempt to avoid or at least improve upon the problems of existing suspended ceiling systems.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, an assembly for suspending a ceiling panel is provided, the assembly having a frame and suspension members for suspending the frame on a structure, the frame having intersecting members and support members extending between the intersecting members, each support member for supporting a corresponding side of the ceiling panel, and wherein the end of the support member is configured to engage with an engageable portion disposed circumferentially around each intersecting member. Advantageously, an assembly for suspending a ceiling panel that can be readily formed is provided.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the positions of the joinable portions are arranged such that the angle between adjacent ends of the support members joined in the cross member corresponds to the corresponding interior angle of the ceiling panel, thereby forming a grid for suspending the ceiling panel.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the joinable portions are arranged at equal angles around the intersecting members.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the component has at least two frames, wherein the suspension member is adapted to engage with the frames to support the frames in a spaced-apart vertical configuration, one above the other, thereby providing a suspended ceiling with at least two levels.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the invention, an assembly for suspending ceiling panels is provided, the assembly having at least two frames and suspension members for suspending the frames on a structure, each frame for suspending at least one of the ceiling panels, wherein at least some of the suspension members are adapted to engage with the frames to support at least two frames in a spaced-apart vertical configuration. Advantageously, an assembly that can be readily formed is provided to provide a suspended ceiling having at least two layers of ceiling panels.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the frame has cross members and support members extending between the cross members, and wherein the cross members of each frame can engage with one of the suspension members such that one of the cross members is supported on the other.

[0011] According to one embodiment, a cross member on the upper portion of the suspension member has a hole in its base, the hole being configured to allow the suspension member to be received through the hole, such that the cross members engaging with the suspension member can be positioned substantially vertically one on top of the other. Preferably, the size of the hole is substantially the size of the cross-section of the suspension member.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the cross member has a transverse element inside the cross member, the transverse element having another hole spaced apart from the base. Preferably, the size of the other hole is substantially the size of the cross-section of the suspension member.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the opposite ends of the support members are configured to engage with engageable portions arranged circumferentially around each intersecting member.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the engagement of the support member or the opposite end of each support member with the corresponding engageable portion is a latching engagement.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the positions of the joinable portions are arranged such that the angle between adjacent ends of the support members joined in the cross member corresponds to the corresponding interior angle of the ceiling panel, thereby forming a grid for suspending the ceiling panel.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the joinable portions are arranged at equal angles around the intersecting members.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the frame has support members engaged in the cross members to define an opening, wherein the shape of the opening corresponds to the shape of the ceiling panel, each side of the ceiling panel being supported by a corresponding support member.

[0018] According to one embodiment, each ceiling panel is a regular polygon shape.

[0019] According to one embodiment, each ceiling panel has the same regular polygonal shape.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the ceiling panel has three, four, five, six, or eight sides.

[0021] According to one embodiment, when the support member is joined in each of the three intersecting members to form an assembly for suspending at least one triangular-shaped ceiling panel, at least two adjacent ends of the support member form an angle of 60°.

[0022] According to one embodiment, when the support member is joined in each of the six said intersecting members to form an assembly for suspending at least one hexagonal ceiling panel, at least two adjacent ends of the support member form an angle of 120°.

[0023] According to one embodiment, when the support member is joined in each of the four intersecting members to form an assembly for suspending at least one quadrilateral-shaped ceiling panel, at least two adjacent ends of the support member form an angle of 90°.

[0024] According to one embodiment, when the support member is joined in each of the five said intersecting members to form an assembly for suspending at least one pentagonal ceiling panel, at least two adjacent ends of the support member form an angle of 108°.

[0025] According to one embodiment, when the support member is engaged in each of the eight said intersecting members to form an assembly for suspending at least one octagonal ceiling panel, at least two adjacent ends of the support member form an angle of 135°.

[0026] Advantageously, it provides an assembly that can be easily formed for suspending ceiling panels with regular polygonal shapes, including ceiling panels with three, four, five, six, or eight sides.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the engageable portion is in the form of a hole so as to engagely receive a protrusion disposed at the opposite end of the support structure.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the engageable portion is in the form of a protrusion so that it is engagedly received in apertured portions located at opposite ends of the support structure.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the engagement between the protrusion and the opening portion is a locking engagement.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the protrusion or each protrusion has at least one positioning member for preventing the protrusion or each protrusion from exiting the corresponding opening portion.

[0031] According to one embodiment, at least one positioning member in the form of an elastic tongue prevents the protrusion or each protrusion from retracting, wherein when at least one positioning member is inserted into the opening portion, one side edge of the opening portion engages the tongue and presses the tongue so that the tongue can be inserted through the opening portion, and wherein, as the protrusion and the tongue pass through the opening portion, the tongue moves outward under elastic bias to engage with the inner wall of the cross member, thereby preventing the support member from retracting.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the support member or each support member has at least one positioning member for preventing the protrusion from moving further inward into the corresponding opening portion.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the protrusion, or each protrusion, has at least one positioning member for preventing the protrusion from moving further inward into the corresponding opening portion.

[0034] According to one embodiment, each opening portion is a slot.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the suspension member is in the form of a rod.

[0036] According to one embodiment, each cross member can be engaged to the suspension member by fasteners.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the fastener is releasably movable relative to the suspension member so as to allow adjustment of the position of the cross member relative to the suspension member.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the lower end portion of the fastener is configured as a hook that can be received in the opening portion of the cross member.

[0039] According to a third aspect of the invention, a cross member is provided having an engageable portion disposed circumferentially therearound, the engageable portion being engageable with an end of a support member.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the cross member has an opening configured to allow the suspension member to be received through the opening.

[0041] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a suspended ceiling is provided having the components described above and at least one ceiling panel suspended by the components.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the suspended ceiling has a component and at least one ceiling panel suspended by the component, the component having at least one cross member as described above.

[0043] According to one embodiment, at least one ceiling panel is removable.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the support member has a flange for supporting the side of at least one ceiling panel.

[0045] According to one embodiment, at least one ceiling panel has the shape of a regular polygon having 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 sides.

[0046] The present invention also provides a cross member having a engageable portion arranged around the periphery of its mounting member and adapted to receive an end projection of a support member of a suspended ceiling, such that when the end projection is received, the end projection extends outward from the cross member to provide support for the ceiling panel, the engageable portion being disposed near the end of the cross member, and a base extending outward from the mounting member being disposed at the end.

[0047] The mounting member can be a tubular structure, and the engaging portion can be a slot extending along the axial direction of the mounting member and passing through the wall of the mounting member.

[0048] The base may define an array of outwardly extending support portions for supporting support members on the support portions, the support members having protrusions that are received in the engageable portions.

[0049] The joinable parts and the supporting parts can be arranged at equal angles around the axis of the intersecting member.

[0050] The present invention also provides an assembly for suspending ceiling panels, the assembly having a cross member as described above, the cross member having a support member therewith engaging with it, the support member having the protrusion engaging with the engageable portion. Attached Figure Description

[0051] The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an assembly for suspending ceiling panels according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the assembly having intersecting members and supporting members; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A close-up view of the portion within the box of the component; Figure 3A This is a perspective view of a component having two frames according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3B , Figure 3C and Figure 3K They are shown respectively Figure 1 and Figure 2A perspective view, front view, and side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the connection between a cross member and a support member of a component; Figures 3D to 3J It is shown Figure 1 and Figure 2 Perspective view, front view and top cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the connection between the supporting members and intersecting members of the shown components; Figure 4 and Figure 5 These are examples of suspended ceilings with components for suspending ceiling panels in triangular and hexagonal shapes; Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the cross member of the upper frame used for engagement with the suspension member; Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the cross member of the lower frame used for engagement with the suspension member; Figure 8a It was cut along the line marked XX. Figure 6 and Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the intersecting members, in which the supporting members are joined; Figure 8b yes Figure 6 Top view of the intersecting components; Figures 9 to 11 These are schematic diagrams of example grids formed by components having intersecting members and supporting members for suspending triangular, hexagonal, and square ceiling panels, according to other embodiments of the present invention. Figure 12 This is a perspective view of the intersecting components of an assembly used to suspend quadrilateral-shaped ceiling panels; Figure 13 It was cut along the line marked YY. Figure 12 The cross-sectional view of the intersecting member shown in the figure shows the joining of the supporting member; Figure 14 A schematic diagram of an example character frame for suspending an octagonal ceiling panel according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 15 It is used for assembly Figure 14 A perspective view of the intersecting members of the lattice shown; Figure 16 It was cut along the line marked ZZ. Figure 15 The cross-sectional view of the intersecting member shown in the figure shows the joining of the supporting member; Figure 17 and Figure 18 This is a side view and a top view of a schematic diagram of an example grid for suspending a pentagonal ceiling surrounded by hexagonal ceiling panels according to another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 19It is used for Figure 17 and Figure 18 A cross-sectional view of the intersecting members in the lattice, where supporting members are joined. Detailed Implementation

[0052] Figures 1 to 3A This is a view of components 2 and 4 for suspending a ceiling panel 6 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Components 2 and 4 each have a frame 8 or two frames 8 and 10, and have a suspension member 12. The suspension member 12 is used to suspend the frames 8 and 10 on a structure, such as the roof of a room or the inner surface of a ceiling.

[0053] Frames 8 and 10 have cross members 14 and 16 and support members 18 extending between the cross members 14 and 16, wherein each support member 18 supports one side of one of the ceiling panels 6. The cross members 14 and 16 have generally tubular, axially extending mounting members 19 and bases 15, the bases being the lowest point when the cross members are in use. The bases 15 extend outwardly as peripheral flanges around the periphery of the mounting members 19. The ends of the support members 18 are configured to engage with engageable portions 20 circumferentially disposed around each cross member 14 and 16, the engageable portions 20 defining corresponding slot-like openings extending through the sidewalls of the mounting members 19. The support members and cross members together form a support grid having openings defined primarily by the support members 18 on their periphery. The shape of these openings corresponds to the shape of the ceiling panels 6, each side of which can be supported by a corresponding support member 18. In other words, the support member 18 has a flange 13 on its lower, opposite longitudinal edges, on which the flange 13 receives the lower edge portion of the ceiling panel 6, thereby supporting the ceiling panel 6 to form as shown. Figure 3A The suspended ceiling shown.

[0054] Figures 3B to 3K A more detailed example of the engagement of the support member 18 with the intersecting member 14 or 16 is shown, wherein the engageable portion 20 is configured as a hole 11 adapted to receive a protrusion 17 disposed at the opposite end of the support member 18. Alternatively, the engageable portion may be in the form of a protrusion that can be received in an opening portion disposed at the opposite end of the support member 18.

[0055] exist Figure 3B , Figure 3C , Figure 3G and Figure 3K In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion 17 is locked into the hole 11. Figures 3D to 3J In the alternative embodiment shown, the protrusion 17 is laterally engaged in a locking manner within the hole 11. Both embodiments will be further described below. In any case, in Figures 3A to 3KIn the diagram, the intersecting members 14 and 16 are shown with engageable portions 20 in the form of holes 11 formed through the sidewall 19a of the mounting member 19 and arranged adjacent to the base 15 of the intersecting members 14 and 16 toward the end of the mounting member. The positioning member 23 is in the form of a stamped, resilient tongue extending laterally at an acute angle from the remainder of the protrusion 17. (See reference...) Figure 3H , Figure 3I and Figure 3J The width S of the hole 11 is only slightly larger than the width W1 of the body of the protrusion 17. At the position of the free end 23a of the positioning member 23, the width W2 is greater than the width S. When the protrusion 17 is inserted into the hole 11 (in the direction indicated by arrow A), one side edge 11a of the hole 11 engages the positioning member 23, such that the positioning member 23 is pressed toward the protrusion 17 (in the direction indicated by arrow B) against the natural elasticity of the positioning member by a cam action, and the opposite face 17a of the protrusion 17 engages the adjacent opposite face 11b of the hole 11. By this cam action, the protrusion 17 can pass through the hole 11 until the positioning member 23 passes through the hole 11. Once the positioning member 23 leaves the hole 11, the free end 23a of the positioning member 23 is under elastic bias (along... Figure 3J The support member 18 moves outward from the protrusion 17 in the direction indicated by the middle arrow C, thereby preventing the support member 18 from exiting by engaging the free end 23a of the positioning member 23 with the inner surface 19b of the sidewall 19a of the mounting member 19, which forms part of the cross member 14 or 16.

[0056] exist Figure 3B , Figure 3C , Figure 3G and Figure 3K In the arrangement shown, further inward movement of the protrusion 17 can be prevented by the engagement of the lateral positioning member 29 on the support member 18 and the base 15 of the intersecting member 14 or 16. Therefore, the outer edge surface 15a of the base 15 engages the surface 13a of the flange 13. Figure 3F As shown, protrusion 17 may have positioning members 25 and / or 27 to provide alternative engagement to prevent protrusion 17 from moving further into intersecting members 14 or 16. (Reference) Figure 3K Additionally or alternatively, as described above, the inward movement of the protrusion 17 into the hole 11 can be restricted by the engagement between the side edge 15a of the base 15 of the intersecting members 14, 16 and the lower transverse surface 13a of the flange 13 of the support member 18. A transverse positioning member 29, forming part of the flange 13, extends from one side of the support member 18 to the other, slightly above the main longitudinal extension 13b of the flange 13. Figure 3K This is to define a step between the flange and the lateral positioning member 29. In this step, surface 13a is defined; that is, it serves as the end surface of the flange portion 13b. Also... Figure 3KAs shown, in the assembled state of the support member 18 and the cross member 14 or 16, the lateral positioning member 29 rests on the base 15 to additionally or alternatively support the support member. Additionally or alternatively, the inward insertion of the protrusion 17 can be limited by providing another positioning member 28 on the protrusion 17, such as... Figure 3J and Figure 3K As shown by the dotted line, the positioning member 28 is in the form of a stamped tongue, similar to the positioning member 23, but in the opposite direction, and its free end 28a is spaced a certain distance from the free end of the positioning member, the distance being approximately the same as the thickness of the wall 19a. When the protrusion reaches the locking position, as... Figure 3J and Figure 3K As shown, the free end 28a engages with the outer surface of the wall 19a to prevent further inward movement.

[0057] like Figures 6 to 8b As shown, the intersecting members 14 and 16 have engageable portions 20 arranged at equal angles around the circumference of the intersecting members 14 and 16, wherein the angle formed between the engageable portions 20 and the axis 21 of the intersecting members 14 and 16 is denoted as angle A, which corresponds to 60° (see...). Figure 8a This angle A corresponds to the angle of one corner of an equilateral triangle and is called an interior angle. Therefore, the components 2 and 4, with intersecting members 14 and 16 and supporting members 18, form a grid 22 with openings that allow the ceiling panel 6 to be suspended in the shape of an equilateral triangle to form a suspended ceiling 24.

[0058] The same intersecting members 14, 16 and supporting members 18 can be used to form the lattice 26, thereby joining the ends of adjacent supporting members 18 in the intersecting members 14, 16 to form an angle of 120° (denoted as B), as shown. Figure 5 , Figure 8a and Figure 10 As shown. Angle B is an interior angle of the hexagon. Therefore, the opening of the lattice 26 can accommodate and suspend the hexagonal ceiling panel 25, see [reference]. Figure 5 , Figure 8a and Figure 10 Based on the construction of components 14, 16, and 18, the same intersecting components 14 and 16 can be used to form an assembly for suspending panels of equilateral triangular or hexagonal shapes or combinations thereof.

[0059] Further embodiments of the invention relate to similar components as described above, but for suspending ceiling panels with square, octagonal, or pentagonal ceiling panels; see [link to relevant documentation]. Figures 11 to 19The angles between the ends of adjacent support members joining in the interlocking members 36, 38, 40 can form angles C, D, and E of 90 degrees, 135 degrees, and 108 degrees respectively (corresponding to the interior angles of quadrilaterals, octagons, and pentagons) to form exemplary grids 42, 44, 46. The openings in grids 42, 44, 46 can accommodate ceiling panels having square, octagonal, and pentagonal shapes. While grid 42 is used to suspend square ceiling panels, it is understood that any quadrilateral ceiling panel, such as a rectangular panel, can be used by appropriately varying the length of the support member 18.

[0060] Figure 3A This is a view of an assembly having two frames 8, 10 in a spaced-apart vertical configuration. Cross members 14, 16 of each frame 8, 10 can engage with a suspension member 12 such that one cross member 16 of the two frames 8, 10 supports above the other cross member 14, and each frame is capable of receiving at least one ceiling panel 6. Cross members 14, 16 are attached to the suspension member 12 by fasteners 50 (e.g., suspension clips). Fasteners 50 are releasably attached to the suspension member 12 such that cross members 14, 16 can be movably adjusted along the length of the suspension member 12, which may be in the form of a rod to allow adjustment of the vertical distance between the frames 8, 10 or adjustment of the height of the suspended ceiling. Cross members 14, 16 can be attached to fasteners 50, and in particular, the lower end portion of fastener 50 is configured as a hook 58, which can be received in the opening portion 52 of the cross members 14, 16.

[0061] Each cross member 16 on the upper portion of the suspension member 12 has an opening 54, which is configured to allow the suspension member 12 to pass through and be received therethrough, such that the axis of the suspension member 12 is substantially parallel to the axis of the cross member 16, and the cross members 14, 16 are spaced substantially vertically above each other. Figure 8b As shown more specifically, the size of the hole 54 is substantially the diameter of the suspension member 12, and it is preferably centrally located within the base 15 of the cross member 16. In a preferred embodiment, there is a transverse element 55 inside the cross member 16, the transverse element 55 having a second hole 57, and wherein the transverse element 55 is spaced apart from the base 15 along the longitudinal axis within the body of the cross member 16 to ensure that the cross members 14, 16 are accurately vertically positioned one on top of the other.

[0062] exist Figure 4 An exemplary suspended ceiling 24 with three layers is shown. Additional frames can be joined with suspension members 12 to provide a suspended ceiling with four or more layers. Alternatively, as... Figure 12 , Figure 13 , Figure 15 , Figure 16 and Figure 19 As shown, the components can be arranged together with cross members 36, 38, 40 to form a suspended ceiling with one or more layers of quadrilateral, pentagonal or octagonal ceiling panels or combinations thereof.

[0063] It is evident that the complete form of the assembly described can have ceiling panels received within openings, such that the ceiling panels present a complete false ceiling. In a suspended ceiling with two or three layers, each layer does not need to be occupied by the ceiling panel; rather, the ceiling panel appears completely covered when viewed from below. To provide this coverage, the ceiling panel 60 can be received between adjacent intersecting members 14, 16 on the same suspension member 12, such that the ceiling panel 60 is positioned perpendicular to the plane of the frames 8, 10.

[0064] In one exemplary use of the invention, a user can assemble a suspended ceiling using ceiling panels having an equilateral triangle shape 6. The user can first assemble a frame 8 with intersecting members 14, wherein the ends of six support members 18 engage with each of six engageable portions 20 arranged at equal angles around each intersecting member 14, thereby forming a grid 22, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 9 The ends of adjacent support members 18 form a 60° angle A (the interior angle of an equilateral triangle). The user can then attach each intersecting member 14 to a fastener 50 on a rod-shaped suspension member 12, the top portion of which is fixed to a structure such as a room ceiling or the interior surface of a roof. A suspended ceiling 24 is thus formed when the user provides an equilateral triangular ceiling panel 6 in a correspondingly shaped recess formed by the grid 22, the panel being held in the corresponding recess by flanges provided on the support members 18.

[0065] To form a multi-layered suspended ceiling, the user can assemble the second frame 10 in the same manner as described above for the first frame 8, the second frame 10 being vertically spaced above the first frame 8. The user can then attach the second frame 10 to the upper portion of the suspension member 12 using the second fastener 50. The resulting assembly has a first frame 8 and a second frame 10, which are substantially parallel but spaced apart, as... Figure 3A As shown.

[0066] Similarly, users can utilize Figure 12 , Figure 13 , Figure 15 , Figure 16 and Figure 19The intersecting members 14, 16, 36, 38, 40 and the supporting member 18 form an assembly for suspending ceiling panels with quadrilateral, hexagonal, pentagonal, or octagonal shapes. In the example of an octagonal ceiling panel, each intersecting member 38 receives the ends of three supporting members 18 to form two 135° angles D and one 90° angle C, thereby forming a grid 44 with recesses that have both octagonal and square shapes, configured to receive octagonal and square ceiling panels of the corresponding shapes, see [reference]. Figure 16 Although eight joinable portions 20 are shown on the cross member 38, it is clear that at least three joinable portions (which, as described above, form two 135° angles D and a 90° angle C) are necessary to form the desired assembly. It can be understood that the cross member 38 can also be used to form a grid 42 for suspending ceiling panels that have only quadrilateral recesses.

[0067] Figures 9 to 11 , Figure 14 An example character frame that is basically flat is shown, however Figure 18 and Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram showing an opening 46 for suspending a pentagonal ceiling panel, which is the apex of a dome-shaped grid 62. The dome-shaped grid 62 is formed by intersecting members 40, which may have two adjacent support members 18 joined therein to form an angle corresponding to the interior angle of the pentagon, denoted as angle E of 108°. Another support member 64 forms an angle B' of 126° with the two nearest adjacent support members 18. If the support member 64 is at an angle away from the plane of the pentagonal opening 46, for example downwards or upwards, the angle formed by the support members 18, 64 is reduced to 120° (denoted as angle B) to accommodate the interior angle of the hexagonal ceiling panel, thereby forming the dome-shaped grid 62.

[0068] The aforementioned construction of the cross members 14, 16, 36, 38, and 40, having engageable portions in the form of slotted holes, allows the cross members 14, 16, 36, 38, and 40 to be used for interconnection with support members 18 of various commercial ceiling support systems. These systems' support members typically have an inverted T-shaped cross-section, forming a central web (which is upright in use) and laterally extending flanges, one on each side of the central web, with the laterally extending flanges located at the lower edge of the central web when the support member is in use. Despite this similarity, support members of different systems are generally incompatible with each other; in this sense, the construction of the end protrusions of the support members and the slots formed in the central web, as well as the construction of the slots receiving the end protrusions, differ, thus excluding interchangeability. This incompatibility may arise, for example, specifically because the cross between support members is formed by passing the end protrusions of two support members opposite each other through a single slot in another support member, such that the protrusions engage with each other and with the slots to achieve locking. On the other hand, with the arrangement described in this invention, this incompatibility problem is mitigated because the engageable portion 20 only needs to accommodate one protrusion. It has been found that forming the engageable portion 20 as an elongated rectangular hole approximately 3 mm wide × 12 mm long in the axial direction of the intersecting member allows protrusions of various commercial support members to be used in implementing this invention. The size of the rectangular hole can vary by 1 mm or 2 mm in length to accommodate the variable dimensions of commercial support members, such that the length of the hole can be between 11 mm and 13 mm, and the width between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0069] As specifically shown, these holes may terminate near the base 15, and the longer dimensions of the plurality of slots are aligned in the axial direction of the cross member. The axial length of the hole 11 in the cross member can be selected to suit a specific form of the protrusion 17 of the support member 18 used. As shown, this length may be slightly greater than the upper and lower edge dimensions of the protrusion. This allows for the use of cross members with various different forms of support members, although mechanically it is preferable that the length is only clearance-fitted to the upper and lower edge dimensions.

[0070] The described cross member is constructed with a generally tubular mounting member 19 and a polyhedral base 15, the number of which has edge surfaces 15a corresponding to the number of engageable portions 20, enabling a neat appearance of the entire ceiling, for example, as... Figure 5 As shown. That is, the base 15 effectively covers the area where the protrusion 17 engages with the engageable portion 20. Furthermore, as referenced... Figure 3K The edge surface 13a of each support member 18 neatly joins the adjacent edge surface 15a, also presenting a neat finish. For example, from Figure 6 and Figure 7 As can be clearly seen in the diagram, when the described intersecting member is viewed in a plan view, the edge surface 15a of the base 15 is positioned at a 90-degree angle to an imaginary line passing through the engageable portion 20 from the axis of the intersecting member, and when viewed from the side, each engageable portion is centered relative to its adjacent surface 15a. Typically, the base can be polyhedral, as previously described, with the number of sides corresponding to the number of engageable portions 20. Therefore, although the base can be a regular polygon, for example, the corners of the polygon can be cut off, such as... Figure 12 As shown. When viewed from below, the latter case can still present a neater appearance, as long as the width from one side of the flange of the supporting member to the other does not exceed the width of the "uncut" edge surface 15a, where these edge surfaces abut the surface 13a of the flange 13, although edge surface 15a can typically be longer than the length of surface 13a. Typically, the base 15 also provides, for example... Figure 3E The support portions 15b shown each support a member of the cross member, and thus the support portions are arranged in an array around the axis of the cross member, preferably as follows: Figure 8a They are arranged at equal angles as shown.

[0071] In this arrangement, the locking between the engageable portion 20 and the support member 18 effectively prevents the support member from moving inward and outward relative to the cross member. This effectively locks the support member to the cross member, in a sense that they cannot be separated without damaging (permanently or otherwise) one or more members.

[0072] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they are presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any of the exemplary embodiments described above.

[0073] Throughout this specification and the appended claims, unless the context otherwise requires, the word “comprise” and its variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” shall be understood to mean including the whole, or steps, or groups of wholes or steps, but without excluding any other wholes, or steps, or groups of wholes or steps.

[0074] In this specification, any reference to any prior disclosure (or information derived therefrom) or any known material is not and should not be construed as an endorsement or acknowledgment or any form of implication that the prior disclosure (or information derived therefrom) or known material constitutes part of the general knowledge in the field of the efforts covered by this specification.

Claims

1. A cross member for a suspended ceiling assembly having an engageable portion arranged around the periphery of a mounting member of the cross member, the mounting member being of a tubular construction, and the engageable portion being a hole through a wall of the mounting member and adapted to receive and engage an end projection of a support member of the suspended ceiling, the cross member being configured such that: when the end projection is received, the end projection protrudes through the engageable portion into the interior of the mounting member, thereby positioning corresponding ends of the support members close to each other internally, and thereby extending the support members outwardly from the mounting member away from the mounting member to provide support for the ceiling panel.

2. The intersecting member according to claim 1, wherein, The engageable portion is a slot extending along the axial direction of the mounting member.

3. The intersecting member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The engageable portions are arranged around the mounting member such that the angle formed between adjacent end protrusions of the support member in the engagement of the support member corresponds to the corresponding interior angle of the ceiling panel supported by the support member.

4. The intersecting member according to claim 3, wherein, The angle formed between two adjacent end protrusions within two adjacent joinable portions of the support member is one of the following: approximately 60°, approximately 90°, approximately 108°, approximately 120°, or approximately 135°.

5. The intersecting member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The joinable portion is arranged at an equal angle around the intersecting member.

6. The intersecting member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The engageable portion is located near the end of the cross member, and a base extending radially outward from the mounting member is located at the end.

7. The intersecting member according to claim 6, wherein, The base defines an array of outwardly extending support portions for supporting support members on the support portions, the support members having protrusions of the support members received in the engageable portions.

8. The intersecting member according to claim 7, wherein, The joinable portion and the supporting portion are aligned with each other around the intersecting member.

9. The intersecting member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The cross member has an opening configured to allow the suspension member to be received through the opening.

10. An assembly for suspending a ceiling panel, the assembly having a frame and suspension members for suspending the frame on a structure, the frame having intersecting members according to any one of the preceding claims and support members extending between the intersecting members, each support member for supporting a corresponding side of the ceiling panel, and wherein, The end protrusions of the support member are configured to be received and engaged through and around the engaging portion of the mounting member circumferentially disposed around each of the cross members.

11. The component of claim 10, wherein the component has at least two of the frames, wherein the suspension member is adapted to engage with the frames to support the frames in a spaced-apart vertical configuration, one above the other, thereby providing a suspended ceiling with at least two layers.

12. An assembly for suspending a ceiling panel, the assembly having at least two frames and suspension members for suspending the frames on a structure, each frame having a cross member according to any one of claims 1-9 and a support member extending between the cross members, the support member for supporting a corresponding side of the ceiling panel. At least some of the suspension members are adapted to support the at least two frames in a spaced-apart vertical configuration, and a corresponding pair of intersecting members of each of the at least two frames are capable of engaging with the suspension members such that one of the pair of intersecting members is supported above the other of the pair of intersecting members in a substantially vertically aligned manner.

13. The component of claim 12, wherein, The cross member that engages with the upper portion of one of the suspension members in the pair of cross members has a hole in the base of the cross member, the hole being configured to allow the suspension member to be received through the hole.

14. The component according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein, The frame has support members engaged in the cross members to define openings, wherein the shape of the openings corresponds to the shape of the ceiling panel, each side of the ceiling panel being supported by a corresponding support member.

15. The component according to any one of claims 10-14, wherein the end projection of each of the support members is configured such that, after the end projection has passed through a corresponding one of the engageable portions, the end projection is locked into engagement with a corresponding one of the engageable portions.

16. The component of claim 15, wherein the end protrusion is provided with at least one positioning member for locking engagement with a corresponding one of the engageable portions, wherein after the end protrusion has passed through the corresponding one of the engageable portions, the at least one positioning member prevents the end protrusion from moving further inward and / or exiting from the corresponding one of the engageable portions.

17. The component of claim 16, wherein, The at least one positioning member for preventing the end protrusion from retracting is in the form of a resilient tongue, wherein when the at least one positioning member is inserted into the hole of a corresponding one of the engageable portions, one side edge of the hole engages the tongue and presses the tongue so that the tongue can be inserted through the hole, and wherein, as the end protrusion and the tongue pass through the hole, the tongue moves outward under resilient bias to engage with the inner surface of the mounting member to prevent the end protrusion of the support member from retracting.

18. A suspended ceiling having an assembly according to any one of claims 10-17 and at least one ceiling panel suspended by said assembly.

19. The suspended ceiling according to claim 18, wherein, At least one of the ceiling panels is removable.

20. The suspended ceiling according to any one of claim 18 or 19, wherein, The at least one ceiling panel has a regular polygonal shape, the regular polygon having 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 sides.

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