ceiling anchor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mounting accessory (10) for at least one ceiling tile (100), said accessory comprising a shaft (12) equipped with fastening means (14) for attaching said accessory to an external structure such as a ceiling or metal structure, said accessory further comprising support means (16), characterized in that said support means (16) comprise at least one arm (161) cooperating with said at least one tile. Fig 8

Description

Title of the invention: ceiling anchor

[0001] The invention relates to a suspended ceiling system. Prior art

[0002] The invention relates to a suspended ceiling system. Currently, suspended ceilings consist of rods fixed to the ceiling supporting rails. These rails are used to carry tiles forming a false ceiling. These tiles include a lower face which will be visible and an upper face which will be opposite the face of the ceiling. Indeed, the rails are profiles on which the false ceiling plates can be placed. The rails form a grid allowing the false ceilings to extend over the entire space to be equipped.

[0003] The disadvantage of the current system is that it is unsightly. Indeed, the current system is such that the rails are visible. This visibility of the rails makes the ceiling of slabs / plates less aesthetic than a painted ceiling for example.

[0004] Suspended ceilings are also known comprising a set of suspended profiles 1000 carrying tiles 2000, these tiles being designed to, once mounted, hide the profiles. These tiles 2000 comprise at the edges, recesses 2002 and / or grooves 2004 so as to cooperate with the profile. More particularly, the two tiles fixed to the same profile are designed so that a first tile has a recess at the lower face while a second tile comprises a recess at the upper face, as well as a groove. This arrangement allows the first tile to rest on the profile and the second tile to cooperate with the profile via its notch while hiding the profile as visible in [Fig.l].

[0005] The disadvantage of this system is that it is complex because it requires handling the slabs to make them cooperate with the profile, in particular to engage the profile in the groove. Furthermore, the presence of the recesses implies that the slabs must be placed with a specific orientation. In addition, the recesses weaken the slabs.

[0006] Furthermore, this use of rails to support the plates entails an additional expense since it is necessary to install this structure. Summary of the invention

[0007] The aim of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by being simpler to use and which makes it possible to reduce noise pollution and vibrations.

[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to an accessory for mounting at least one slab of ceiling, said accessory comprising a shaft provided with fixing means allowing the fixing of said accessory to an external structure of the ceiling or metal type, said accessory further comprising support means, characterized in that said support means comprise at least one arm cooperating with said at least one slab.

[0009] The advantage of the present invention is that it allows for the production of a so-called invisible ceiling, i.e. one which hides its mounting accessory as much as possible. Furthermore, the present invention allows the use of simple tiles, i.e. tiles whose edges are not structured to allow for interlocking.

[0010] According to one example, the arms are in the form of rods welded or fixed by an intermediate element to the shaft.

[0011] According to one example, the slabs include holes and wherein the rods are sized to fit into holes in the slabs.

[0012] According to one example, the slabs comprise hooks and wherein the rods are sized to fit into said hooks.

[0013] According to one example, the slabs comprise magnetic inserts and in which the magnetic rods cooperate with the magnetic inserts of said slab.

[0014] According to one example, each arm is a U-shaped rod.

[0015] According to one example, each arm is an L-shaped rod.

[0016] According to one example, each arm is a Z-shaped rod for suspending a slab.

[0017] According to one example, the shaft is adjustable.

[0018] According to one example, the support means comprise two, three or four arms.

[0019] According to one example, the arms are regularly distributed.

[0020] According to one example, the arms are adjustable in length.

[0021] According to one example, the fixing means comprise a plate which screws to the external structure of the ceiling or metal type.

[0022] The invention further relates to a suspended ceiling system comprising tiles supported by accessories, said accessories being the accessories according to the invention.

[0023] According to one example, each slab is provided with holes for inserting the arms of said accessory.

[0024] According to one example, each slab comprises a number of holes equal to the number of arms supporting it.

[0025] According to one example, each slab comprises a multitude of holes, regularly distributed.

[0026] According to one example, the holes are through holes.

[0027] According to one example, the holes are non-through. Description of the figures

[0028] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, for informational purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0029] - [Fig.l] represents a suspended ceiling system according to the prior art;

[0030] - [Fig.2] represents a profile view of a ceiling according to the invention;

[0031] - Figures 3 and 4 represent a hanger according to the invention;

[0032] - figures 5 to 7 represent different forms of the hanger according to the invention;

[0033] - Figures 8 and 9 represent views of the configurations of the hanger according to the invention;

[0034] - Figures 10 to 12 show views of different slab configurations cooperating with the hanger according to the invention;

[0035] - Figures 13 and 14 show views of different executions of slabs cooperating with the hanger according to the invention;

[0036] - figures 15 and 16 represent adjustable hangers according to the invention;

[0037] - Figures 17 to 19 show views of different fixing configurations of slabs cooperating with the hanger according to the invention;

[0038] - [Fig.20] represents a variant of a hole in a slab according to the invention;

[0039] - Figures 21 to 23 show variants in which the slab is suspended by the hanger according to the invention;

[0040] - [Fig.24] represents a variant of a hanger provided with locking means according to the invention; Detailed description of the invention

[0041] The invention shown in [Fig.2] is a suspended ceiling system 1 according to the invention.

[0042] This suspended ceiling system 1 comprises a hanger or mounting accessory 10 responsible for supporting tiles 100 or plates of a false ceiling. This hanger is fixed to a structure S. This structure can be a ceiling or a metal structure of the type made with profiles. The hanger 10 is made of metal or plastic or polymer or carbon fibers or wood or any other possible material.

[0043] This hanger 10, visible in figures 3 and 4, comprises a shaft 12 in the form of a rod. This shaft comprises, at a first end, fixing means 14. These fixing means 14 allow the hanger to be fixed to the structure of the ceiling type or metal structure. These fixing means 14 comprise for example a plate which allows the screwing or riveting or gluing or snapping of the rod onto the structure. These fixing means 14 alternatively comprise a hook cooperating with a ring screwed onto the structure of the ceiling or metal type. These fixing means 14 can also be in the form of a screw head which allows said shaft 12 to be screwed directly onto a structure.

[0044] The shaft 12 comprises, at its second end, support means 16. These support means 16 are intended to cooperate with the ceiling plates. These support means 16 comprise at least one arm 161. This arm 161 comprises a bent rod, that is to say comprises at least one elbow.

[0045] In a first form visible in [Fig.5], this arm 161 consists of a U-shaped bent rod. This U-shaped bent rod is welded to the rod forming the shaft 12. For this, the bent rod forming the arm 161 has two parallel portions 161a and 161b, these two portions 161a, 161b being of identical or different lengths. One of the portions 161a is welded to the rod forming the shaft, the other portion 161b is also called the end portion. In a U-shape, the end portion 161b extends towards the ceiling.

[0046] In a second form visible in [Fig.7], this arm 161 consists of an L-shaped bent rod. This arm 161 is fixed to the rod by an intermediate element 163. This intermediate element 163 is arranged to engage with the rod of the shaft 12 and with the rod of said at least one arm 161. For example, this intermediate element 163 comprises openings allowing the rods to engage. The arm 161 then comprises a main portion 161c and an end portion 161d. The end portion 161d which extends parallel to the rod forming the shaft 12. The end portion 161d extends towards the ceiling.

[0047] Of course, the first shape and the second shape are not limiting and it is possible that arms 161 having a U shape are fixed to the shaft via an intermediate element 163 as visible in [Fig.6] and that arms 161 having an L shape are welded to the shaft. It is also agreed that the arms 161 can have a shape other than that of an L or a U with for example a V shape.

[0048] In both cases, the arms 161 comprise a portion which is parallel to the shaft 12 of the hanger 10.

[0049] The support means 16 of the hanger comprise at least one arm 161. In variants, the support means 16 comprise two, three or four arms as visible in figures 8 and 9. These arms 161 are distributed regularly or not.

[0050] In the case where the arms 161 are regularly distributed, they are distributed angularly. For two arms 161, these are spaced 180 degrees apart, 120 degrees for three arms and 90 degrees for four arms. Of course, the arms 161 may have a regular or irregular spacing.

[0051] The arms 161 are arranged to cooperate with the tiles 100 forming the false ceiling or suspended ceiling. These tiles are square or rectangular and have straight edges.

[0052] In a first embodiment, the arms 161, by their free end, are arranged to cooperate with said slabs 100 to support them. For this, the slabs 100 are drilled. It is understood by this that the slabs 100 are provided with holes 101. These slabs 100 are provided with a plurality of holes 101. The holes 101 and the arm rods 161 are thus arranged so that the arm rods 161 are inserted into said holes. Thus, the arms 161 are used to support, carry the slabs.

[0053] In a first form, the slabs 100 comprise a number of holes 101 equal to the number of arms 161 supporting said slab 100 given that each hanger according to the invention can comprise a number of arms equal to one, two, three, four or more as visible in [Fig. 10]. It is understood by this that a slab 100 can be supported by four arms 161 but at least two hangers 10. This first form then requires that the holes 101 of the slabs 100 are positioned and drilled according to the arrangement of the hangers 10. The advantage of this solution is that it makes it possible to have a number of holes 101 equal to the number of arms 161 and to have an ideal positioning of the holes.

[0054] In a second form, the slabs 100 comprise a number of holes 101 greater than the number of arms 161 supporting said slab. Preferably, each slab 100 comprises holes 101 arranged along a peripheral line, that is to say extending along the contour of said slab 100 as visible in [Fig. 1 1]. This arrangement of the holes 101 makes it possible to have a choice of the hole(s) to be used for fixing the slab to the hanger. In an even more preferred variant, the slab(s) 100 comprise a plurality of holes 101, these holes 101 being regularly distributed over the entire surface of said slab as visible in [Fig. 12]. This distribution allows the user to use any hole 101 for hanging said slab. Thus, this second form provides greater ease of installation since the operator can use any hole.This second shape also allows for greater freedom in the placement of the hangers 10. .

[0055] The production of a ceiling composed of a multitude of tiles 100 can use hangers only of the same type, i.e. with one, two, three or four arms, but this ceiling can also use hangers 10 of different types, i.e. mixing hangers with one, two, three or four arms. Figures 17 to 19 show tiles 100 carried by a hanger having two, three or four arms.

[0056] According to the invention, the arms 161 of the support means 16 of the hanger 10 have a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the holes 101 of the slabs 100. If the diameter of the arms is one parameter, their length is another. Indeed, the arms 16 are bent so that the end portion 161b, 161d of said arms 161, the portion parallel to the shaft 12, is inserted into said slab.

[0057] In this respect, the length of this end portion 161b, 16Id is a parameter to be taken into account. Depending on the length, the configuration of the slab 100 may change. If the length of said end portion 161b, 16Id is greater than the thickness of the slab 100 then said slab must be drilled as visible in [Fig. 13]. If the length of said end portion 161b, 16Id is less than the thickness of the slab 100 then said slab must not be drilled as visible in [Fig. 14]. However, depending on the thickness of the slab, it is possible to have the length of said portion greater than the thickness of the slab 100 without having to drill it. The remaining thickness allows the hanger to support the slab without drilling it. This non-drilling of the slabs 100 makes it possible to maintain the acoustic and thermal performance of the slabs.

[0058] In the case where the slab 100 must include through holes 101, two options are possible. The first consists of having all the holes 101 of the slab 100 which are through holes. This first option has the advantage of being simple because the slabs 100 are thus all identical. The disadvantage is that these holes 101 deteriorate the acoustic performance. A variant consists of covering the slabs 100 with an acoustic membrane.

[0059] The second option is to have only the holes 101 into which the arms 161 are inserted which are through holes. The advantage of this option is that it allows less degradation of the acoustic performance. A variant consists of covering the tiles with an acoustic membrane. One method thus consists of having tiles with non-through holes and then manually drilling the holes to be used.

[0060] In a first variant, the shaft 12 of the hanger is arranged to be adjustable. For this, the rod forming the shaft 12 is arranged to be able to lengthen or shrink.

[0061] According to a first solution visible in [Fig.15], the shaft 12 of the hanger is composed of two tubes 122 sliding one inside the other, locking means are present to lock the position of the two tubes 122 sliding one relative to the other. It is therefore necessary to have two portions 122 having different diameters so that they can slide one inside the other

[0062] In a second solution visible in [Fig. 16], the shaft 12 comprises two portions 123. These two portions 123 cooperate with an intermediate plate 124. This intermediate plate 124 comprises two openings into which the portions are inserted. The intermediate plate 124 comprises means for locking the two portions. Thus, one or the other of the portions 123 can slide. Of course, it is possible to have only one portion that slides. It is then understood that the intermediate plate 124 is fixed to one portion. This intermediate plate 124 then comprises an opening to allow the other portion to be inserted therein and to slide. This second solution advantageously makes it possible to have portions of the same diameter and therefore to be simpler to produce. The intermediate plate 124 can be simple, that is to say flat, or have a complex shape allowing several functions.For example, the intermediate plate 124 is in the form of a C-shaped plate. This C-shaped plate is pierced with two pairs of holes. Each pair includes a hole located on each . branches of the C. the two holes of the same pair are arranged substantially opposite each other. This arrangement allows the two portions 123 to slide through these holes. These holes are arranged so that, when pressure or force is exerted on the branches of the C so as to bring them closer to each other, the holes of the pairs become perfectly opposite each other, they therefore align. This alignment allows the two shaft portions 123 to slide for length adjustment. When the force is released, the intermediate plate 124 tends to return to its initial shape. In this case, the holes of the intermediate plate are no longer perfectly aligned so that the portions 123 can no longer slide and are blocked.

[0063] In another variant visible in [Fig.20], the holes 101 of the slabs 100 in which the arms engage have a specific shape. This shape comprises a circular portion 101b from which a linear portion 101a extends. This linear portion is narrower than the diameter of the circular portion. This specific shape is made so that, when placing the slab, the arm is inserted first into the circular shape, the placing of the slab allowing said arm to be inserted into the narrower linear portion and thus block the slab. The linear portion may have a local narrowing to form a snap-in.

[0064] In a second embodiment, the hanger 10 and the slabs 100 are arranged so that the slabs are suspended by the hangers.

[0065] For this, the end portion 161d, 161b extends towards the ground to have a shape similar to that of a Z. The end portions 161d, 161b then comprise, at their end, a hook means which can take several forms such as a hook or a disc as visible in figures 21 and 22. This hook then makes it possible, when inserted, in the conventional hole or the hole with a specific shape, to hold the slab to suspend it.

[0066] In another variant, the slab 100 comprises a hook 103 cooperating with the arms 101.

[0067] In another variant, the end portion 16Id, 161b comprises a magnet or magnetic element. The slab 100 is then provided with a magnetic insert as visible in [Fig.23],

[0068] In another variant, the arms 161 are adjustable in length. For this, several solutions exist. A first solution consists of having the arms which slide relative to the intermediate element. A locking element is arranged to block the position of said arm relative to the intermediate element.

[0069] In a second solution, the arms 161 comprise two parts sliding one inside the other, the sliding being done by screwing.

[0070] This adjustment of the length of the arms 161 allows adjustment when inserting the rods of the arms with the holes or hooks of the slabs.

[0071] In a variant, the hanger comprises means for locking the slabs 17 as seen in [Fig.24]. These locking means 17 are arranged so that the slab, once installed, is interposed between the load-bearing surface and said retaining blade. This then makes it possible to prevent the slabs from jumping or becoming dislodged in the event of contact.

[0072] These means 17 for locking the slabs comprise at least one holding blade 172. This holding blade extends directly from the shaft 12 of the hanger or extends a locking plate. This locking plate is mounted fixed or sliding on the shaft 12. In the case of a sliding locking plate, locking means are arranged to lock the position of said plate. Preferably, the number of holding blades is equal to the number of arms. This holding blade 172 is rectilinear or curved.

[0073] These locking means 17 may have an additional function of assisting in the support of cables. Indeed, the false ceiling may be used to pass electrical power supply cables. To prevent these cables from resting on the tiles, the locking means 17 and the arms 172 are used as support for these cables.

[0074] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims

1. Mounting accessory (10) for at least one ceiling tile (100), said accessory comprising a shaft (12) provided with fixing means (14) allowing said accessory to be fixed to an external structure of the ceiling or metal type, said accessory further comprising support means (16), characterized in that said support means (16) comprise at least one arm (161) cooperating with said at least one tile.

2. Accessory according to the preceding claim, in which the arms (161) are in the form of rods welded or fixed by an intermediate element to the shaft.

3. An accessory according to claim 2, wherein the tiles (100) comprise holes (101) and wherein the rods are sized to fit into holes in the tiles.

4. An accessory according to either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the slabs comprise hooks (103) and wherein the rods are sized to fit into said hooks.

5. Accessory according to one of claims 2 to 4, in which the slabs comprise magnetic inserts and in which the rods are magnetized to cooperate with the magnetic inserts of said slab.

6. Accessory according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which each arm (161) is a U-shaped rod.

7. An accessory according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each arm is an L-shaped rod.

8. An accessory according to claims 3 or 4, wherein each arm is a Z-shaped rod for suspending a slab.

9. Accessory according to one of the preceding claims in which the shaft (12) is adjustable.

10. Accessory according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support means (16) comprise two, three or four arms.

11. Accessory according to the preceding claim, in which the arms are regularly distributed.

12. Accessory according to the preceding claim, in which the arms (161) are adjustable in length.

13. Accessory according to the preceding claim, in which the fixing means comprise a plate which screws to the external structure of the ceiling or metal type.

14. A suspended ceiling system comprising tiles (100) supported by accessories, said accessories being the accessories according to one of the preceding claims.

15. Ceiling system according to the preceding claim, wherein each tile (100) is provided with holes (101) for the insertion of the arms of said accessory.

16. Ceiling system according to the preceding claim, in which each tile comprises a number of holes equal to the number of arms supporting it.

17. A ceiling system according to claim 15, wherein each tile comprises a multitude of holes, regularly distributed.

18. Ceiling system according to one of claims 15 to 17, in which the holes are through.

19. A ceiling system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the holes are non-through.

Images