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. Previous 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 support ceiling tiles. These tiles comprise a visible underside and an upper side facing the ceiling. The rails are profiles onto which the ceiling tiles can be laid. The rails form a grid, allowing the suspended ceilings to extend over the entire area to be covered.

[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 tiles / slabs less aesthetically pleasing than a painted ceiling, for example.

[0004] Suspended ceilings are also known to comprise a set of suspended profiles 1000 supporting tiles 2000, these tiles being designed, once installed, to conceal the profiles. These tiles 2000 have, at their edges, notches 2002 and / or grooves 2004 so as to cooperate with the profile. More particularly, the two tiles attached to the same profile are designed such that a first tile has a notch on its underside while a second tile has a notch on its upper side, 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 concealing the profile as seen in [Fig. 1].

[0005] The drawback of this system is its complexity, as it requires manipulating the slabs to make them cooperate with the profile, particularly to engage the profile in the groove. Furthermore, the presence of the offsets means that the slabs must be positioned with a specific orientation. In addition, the offsets weaken the slabs.

[0006] Moreover, 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 present invention aims to provide an anchoring system that solves the disadvantages of the prior art by being simpler to use and which reduces noise and vibration.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a mounting accessory for at least one ceiling tile, said accessory comprising a shaft equipped with fastening means allowing the attachment of said accessory to an external structure of the ceiling or metallic type, said accessory further comprising support means, characterized in that said support means comprise at least one arm cooperating with said at least one tile.

[0009] The advantage of the present invention is that it allows for the creation of a so-called invisible ceiling, that is, one that conceals its mounting hardware as much as possible. Furthermore, the present invention allows the use of simple tiles, that is, tiles whose edges are not textured 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 in which the rods are dimensioned to fit into holes in the slabs.

[0012] According to one example, the slabs include hooks and in which the rods are dimensioned to fit into said hooks.

[0013] According to one example, the slabs include 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 allowing suspension 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 evenly distributed.

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

[0021] According to one example, the fixing means include a plate which is screwed 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 the insertion of the arms of said accessory.

[0024] According to one example, each slab includes 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, by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0029] - the [Fig.1] 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 suspension according to the invention;

[0032] - Figures 5 to 7 represent different forms of the suspension according to the invention;

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

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

[0035] - Figures 13 and 14 show views of different slab designs cooperating with the suspension according to the invention;

[0036] - Figures 15 and 16 represent adjustable suspensions according to the invention;

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

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

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

[0040] - Figure 24 represents a variant of a suspension cable equipped with locking means according to the invention; Detailed description of the invention

[0041] The invention represented 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 for supporting ceiling tiles 100 or panels. This hanger is attached to a structure S. This structure may be a ceiling or a metal structure made of profiles. The hanger 10 is made of metal, plastic, polymer, carbon fiber, wood, or any other possible material.

[0043] This suspension arm 10, visible in Figures 3 and 4, comprises a shaft 12 in the form of a rod. This shaft includes, at one end, fastening means 14. These fastening means 14 allow the suspension arm to be attached to a structure such as a ceiling or metal structure. These fastening means 14 include, for example, a plate that allows the rod to be screwed, riveted, glued, or snapped onto the structure. These fastening means 14 alternatively include a hook cooperating with a ring screwed onto the ceiling or metal structure. These fixing means 14 can also be in the form of a screw head which allows the shaft 12 to be screwed directly onto a structure.

[0044] The shaft 12 includes, at its second end, support means 16. These support means 16 are intended to cooperate with the ceiling plates. These support means 16 include at least one arm 161. This arm 161 includes a bent rod, that is to say, includes 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 purpose, the bent rod forming the arm 161 has two parallel portions 161a and 161b, these two portions 161a and 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-shaped form, 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 attached 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 includes openings allowing the rods to engage. The arm 161 then comprises a main portion 161c and an end portion 161d. The end portion 161d extends parallel to the rod forming the shaft 12. The end portion 161d extends towards the ceiling.

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

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

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

[0050] In the case where the arms 161 are evenly spaced, they are spaced at an angle. For two arms 161, they are spaced 180 degrees apart, 120 degrees for three arms, and 90 degrees for four arms. Of course, the arms 161 may or may not be evenly spaced.

[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 ends, are arranged to cooperate with the slabs 100 in order to support them. For this purpose, the slabs 100 are drilled. It is understood from 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 fit into said holes. Thus, the arms 161 are used to support the slabs.

[0053] In a first embodiment, 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 one, two, three, four, or more arms, as shown in [Fig. 10]. It is understood from this that a slab 100 can be supported by four arms 161 but at least two hangers 10. This first embodiment thus requires that the holes 101 in the slabs 100 be positioned and drilled according to the arrangement of the hangers 10. The advantage of this solution is that it allows for a number of holes 101 equal to the number of arms 161 and for ideal hole positioning.

[0054] In a second embodiment, the tiles 100 comprise a number of holes 101 greater than the number of arms 161 supporting said tile. Preferably, each tile 100 comprises holes 101 arranged along a peripheral line, that is, extending along the contour of said tile 100, as shown in [Fig. 11]. This arrangement of the holes 101 allows for a choice of the hole(s) to be used for attaching the tile to the hanger. In an even more preferred embodiment, the tile(s) 100 comprise a plurality of holes 101, these holes 101 being regularly distributed over the entire surface of said tile, as shown in [Fig. 12]. This distribution allows the user to use any hole 101 for attaching said tile. Thus, this second embodiment provides greater ease of installation since the operator can use any hole.This second form also allows for greater freedom in the placement of the 10 suspension lines.

[0055] Constructing a ceiling composed of numerous tiles 100 can use hangers of only 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., a mixture of hangers with one, two, three, or four arms. Figures 17 to 19 show tiles 100 supported 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 in the slabs 100. While the diameter of the arms is one parameter, their length is another. Indeed, the arms 16 are bent so that the end portion 161b, 16Id 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 shown 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 shown 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 drilling it. The remaining thickness allows the hanger to support the slab without drilling through it. This lack of drilling in the slabs 100 allows the acoustic and thermal performance of the slabs to be maintained.

[0058] If the slab 100 is to have through holes 101, two options are possible. The first is to have all the holes 101 in the slab 100 be through holes. This first option has the advantage of being simple because all the slabs 100 are then identical. The disadvantage is that these holes 101 degrade the acoustic performance. An alternative is to cover the slabs 100 with an acoustic membrane.

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

[0060] In a first embodiment, the shaft 12 of the suspension is arranged to be adjustable. For this purpose, the rod forming the shaft 12 is arranged to be able to lengthen or shorten.

[0061] According to a first solution shown in [Fig. 15], the shaft 12 of the suspension arm is composed of two tubes 122 sliding one inside the other. Locking means are provided to lock the position of the two sliding tubes 122 relative to each other. It is therefore necessary to have two portions 122 with different diameters so that they can slide one inside the other.

[0062] In a second solution shown 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 includes locking means for the two portions. Thus, either portion 123 can slide. Of course, it is possible to have only one portion that slides. In this case, the intermediate plate 124 is fixed to one portion. This intermediate plate 124 then includes an opening to allow the other portion to be inserted and to slide. This second solution advantageously allows for portions of the same diameter and is therefore simpler to produce. The intermediate plate 124 can be simple, that is to say- A plate can be flat or have a complex shape that allows for multiple functions. For example, the intermediate plate 124 is in the form of a C-shaped plate. This C-shaped plate has two pairs of holes. Each pair has a hole located on each arm of the C. The two holes in each pair are positioned almost directly opposite each other. This arrangement allows the two shaft portions 123 to slide through these holes. These holes are arranged so that when pressure or a force is applied to the arms of the C to bring them closer together, the holes in the pairs become perfectly aligned. 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 original shape.In this case, the holes in the intermediate plate are no longer perfectly aligned, so the portions 123 can no longer slide and are blocked.

[0063] In another embodiment shown in [Fig. 20], the holes 101 in the slabs 100 into which the arms engage have a specific shape. This shape includes 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 designed so that, when the slab is positioned, the arm is first inserted into the circular shape, and the subsequent positioning of the slab allows the arm to be inserted into the narrower linear portion, thus locking the slab in place. The linear portion may have a local constriction to form a snap-fit.

[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 purpose, the end portions 161d, 161b extend towards the ground to have a shape similar to that of a Z. The end portions 161d, 161b then include, at their end, a hook means which can take several forms such as a hook or a disc as seen in figures 21 and 22. This hook then allows, when inserted into the conventional hole or the hole with a specific shape, to hold the slab for suspension.

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

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

[0068] In another embodiment, the arms 161 are adjustable in length. Several solutions exist for this purpose. One solution consists of having the arms slide relative to the intermediate element. A locking element is arranged to secure the position of said arm relative to the intermediate element.

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

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

[0071] In one embodiment, the suspension system includes 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 the retaining blade. This prevents the slabs from jumping or becoming dislodged upon contact.

[0072] These slab locking means 17 comprise at least one retaining blade 172. This retaining blade extends directly from the shaft 12 of the hanger or from 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 secure the position of said plate. Preferably, the number of retaining blades is equal to the number of arms. This retaining blade 172 is straight or curved.

[0073] These locking means 17 can have an additional function of assisting in cable support. Indeed, the false ceiling can be used to run electrical power cables. To prevent these cables from resting on the ceiling tiles, the locking means 17 and the arms 172 are used as supports 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 become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands

1. Mounting accessory (10) for at least one ceiling tile (100), said accessory comprising a shaft (12) equipped with fastening means (14) enabling the attachment of said accessory to an external structure of the ceiling or metallic type, said accessory further comprising support means (16), said support means (16) comprising at least three arms (161) cooperating with said at least one tile, characterized in that the at least three arms are distributed angularly in the same plane.

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. Accessory according to claim 2, wherein the slabs (100) comprise holes (101) and wherein the rods are dimensioned to fit into holes in the slabs.

4. Accessory according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the slabs comprise hooks (103) and wherein the rods are dimensioned to fit into said hooks.

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

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

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

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

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

10. Accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means (16) comprise 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, wherein the fixing means comprise a plate which screws onto the external structure of the ceiling or metallic type.

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

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

17. Ceiling system according to claim 15, wherein each tile comprises a multitude of regularly spaced holes.

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

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

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