A suspended ceiling with non-rectangular ceiling tiles

Abstract

A double runner bracket 23, 25 for non-perpendicular connection of first and second transverse runners comprising a body 21, a runner support flange 35, a right-hand connector 49 having right-hand eng

Description

Suspended ceilings have traditionally utilised rectangular ceiling tiles fitted within a rectangular suspended ceiling grid and have been designed with the focus on technical parameters, such as acoustic performance. There is now a desire for a suspended ceiling that can meet those functional requirements and that can also facilitate an architect to impart aesthetic qualities to a suspended ceiling, for example without being constrained to the use of only rectangular tiles, typically of the same size, and within a single plane. Therefore, the present invention provides in a first aspect a double runner bracket, for nonperpendicular connection of a first transverse runner and a second transverse runner to a longitudinal runner, comprising a body that is provided with an abutment face, for abutment with a longitudinal runner, a runner support flange, a right-hand runner connector having a right-hand engagement means with which a first transverse runner can be engaged in use, a left-hand runner connector having a left-hand engagement means with which a second transverse runner can be engaged in use, a left-hand fastener engagement feature, and a right-hand fastener engagement feature, wherein the left-hand fastener engagement feature and the right-hand fastener engagement feature are different from and complementary to each other, wherein, in use, the right-hand engagement means and the runner support flange in combination align a first transverse runner at a first pre-determined angle relative to the body and the left-hand engagement means and the runner support flange in combination align a second transverse runner at a second pre-determined angle relative to the body. It is advantageous to provide different and complementary left-hand and right-hand fastener engagement features because then a single bracket design can facilitate back-to-back fastening of two brackets. Preferably, the body comprises a central spine which is connected between the runner support flange and a connector hanger and wherein the right-hand runner connector is connected to the right-hand side of the connector hanger and the left-hand runner connector is connected to the left-hand side of the connector hanger. The provision of a central spine connected to features on the left and features on the right, in a generally symmetrical arrangement (with the exception of the fastener engagement features), facilitates manufacture of the brackets. For example, the bracket can be stamped from sheet material and then folded up into the final shape. Preferably, the right-hand runner connector comprises a right-hand connector plate and the left-hand runner connector comprises a left-hand connector plate, the right-hand connector plate having the right-hand engagement means and the left-hand connector plate having the left-hand engagement means, and wherein the right-hand connector plate is orientated at the first pre-determined angle relative to the body and the left-hand connector plate is orientated at the second pre-determined angle relative to the body. The pre-determined angle may be 60 degrees, for example to produce ceiling apertures that are in the form of an equilateral triangle, or they may be a different angle, for example to produce apertures that are in the form of a non-equilateral triangle. Preferably, the left-hand fastener engagement feature is provided on the left-hand connector plate and the right-hand fastener engagement feature is provided on the right-hand connector plate . Preferably, the connector hanger comprises a rail abutment face, and the runner support flange comprises a runner support face, wherein the rail abutment face is orientated perpendicularly to the runner support face . The provision of abutment faces is advantageous because they facilitate secure clamping of the bracket to the longitudinal runners which results in a grid that is correctly aligned and sufficiently stiff. Preferably, the left-hand connector plate further comprises a left-hand rail abutment plate and the right-hand connector plate further comprises a right-hand rail abutment plate, wherein the left-hand rail abutment plate and the right-hand rail abutment plate are orientated parallel to the rail abutment face. Preferably, the left-hand connector plate is provided with a left-hand rail abutment face and the right-hand connector plate is provided with a right-hand rail abutment face, wherein the left-hand rail abutment face and the right-hand rail abutment face are orientated perpendicularly to the rail abutment face. Preferably, the left-hand connector plate is provided with a left-hand web abutment, and the right-hand connector plate is provided with a right-hand web abutment, wherein the left-hand web abutment, and the right-hand web abutment, are orientated parallel to the rail abutment face . Preferably, the left-hand fastener engagement feature is a threaded boss and the right-hand fastener engagement feature is a plain through-hole. This enables a common threaded fastener to be used on both sides of the bracket, effectively providing a captive nut, such that the ease of installation of the brackets can be improved. Preferably, the right-hand engagement means and the left-hand engagement means are arranged symmetrically either side a central axis of the double runner bracket. Preferably, the left-hand connector plate and the right-hand connector plate abut each other. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a double runner bracket in combination with a backing plate, wherein the backing plate has a left-hand fastener engagement feature, that is complementary to the right-hand engagement feature provided on the body of the double runner bracket, and a right-hand fastener engagement feature, that is complementary to the left-hand engagement feature provided on the body of the double runner bracket. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a single runner bracket, for non-perpendicular connection of a transverse runner to a longitudinal runner, comprising a body that is provided with an abutment face for abutment with a longitudinal runner, a runner support flange, a runner connector having an engagement means with which the transverse runner can be engaged in use, and a fastener engagement feature, wherein, in use, the engagement means and the support flange in combination align a transverse runner at a pre-determined angle relative to the body. Preferably, the body comprises a central spine which is connected between the runner support flange and a connector hanger and wherein the runner connector is connected to one side of the connector hanger. Preferably, the runner connector comprises a connector plate having the engagement means, and wherein the connector plate is orientated at the pre-determined angle relative to the body. Preferably, the fastener engagement feature is provided on the connector plate. Preferably, the connector hanger comprises a rail abutment face , and the runner support flange comprises a runner support face, wherein the rail abutment face is orientated perpendicularly to the runner support face. Preferably, the connector plate further comprises a rail abutment plate, wherein the rail abutment plate is orientated parallel to the rail abutment face. Preferably, the connector plate is provided with a rail abutment face, wherein the rail abutment face is orientated perpendicularly to the rail abutment face. Preferably, the connector plate is provided with a web abutment, wherein the web abutment is orientated parallel to the rail abutment face . Preferably, the fastener engagement feature is a threaded boss or a plain through-hole. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a single runner bracket in combination with a backing plate, wherein the backing plate has a fastener engagement feature , that is complementary to the engagement feature provided on the body of the single runner bracket. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a ceiling grid comprising at least a first longitudinal runner and a second longitudinal runner that are orientated parallel to each other and at least a first transverse runner a and a second transverse runner, wherein the first transverse runner and the second transverse runner are each connected at one end to the first longitudinal runner and at the other end to the second longitudinal runner using a double runner bracket, or using a single runner bracket’ According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a suspended ceiling comprising a grid and at least one ceiling tile supported by the grid. The present invention can provide a wall-to wall suspended ceiling, or a ceiling canopy that can be spaced away from the walls of a room. The present invention will be described with reference to the following figures: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a room with one example of a suspended ceiling created from a grid with multiple differently sized ceiling tile apertures; Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of another example of a suspended ceiling formed from a grid with ceiling tile apertures that are predominantly the same shape and that are for ceiling tiles in the form of an equilateral triangle; Figure 3 is a view of two abutting wall plates and a transverse runner connected to one of them; Figure 4 is a close-up view of region A of Figure 2 and illustrates connections between the runners of the grid; Figure 5 is a close-up view of first and second double nodal brackets connecting two transverse runners to a longitudinal runner; Figure 6 is a close-up front view of a second double nodal bracket; Figure 7 is a close-up rear view of a second double nodal bracket; Figure 8 is a close-up top view of a second double nodal bracket; Figure 9 is a close-up rear view of a first double nodal bracket attached to a longitudinal runner using a backing plate; Figure 10 is a close-up view of a single nodal bracket connecting a transverse runner to a longitudinal runner; Figure 11 is a close-up view of the other side of the single nodal bracket of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a close-up rear view of a single nodal bracket attached to a longitudinal runner using a backing plate; Figure 13 is a close-up view of first and second single nodal brackets each connecting a transverse runner to a longitudinal runner; and Figure 14 is a plan view of a section of a ceiling grid providing apertures of various different geometrical shapes. Figure 1 illustrates one example of a suspended ceiling 1 installed within a rectangular room between all four of the walls, such that it can be considered to be a wall-to-wall suspended ceiling 1. It is to be noted that although wall-to-wall suspended ceilings 1 are illustrated and described here, the present invention encompasses suspended ceilings 1 that do not abut all of the walls of a room. The suspended ceiling 1 is formed from a grid 3 which is suspended from a ceiling (not shown) and from ceiling tiles 5 placed within ceiling tile apertures 7 formed by the grid 3. There are various different shapes of ceiling tiles 5, including triangular ceiling tiles 5a and trapezoidal ceiling tiles 5b. The grid 3 is made up by longitudinal runners 9, which are each parallel to each other, regularly spaced from each other, and which run from one wall of the room to the opposite wall of the room, and by transverse runners 11 which run between one longitudinal runner 9 and an adjacent longitudinal runner 9. The longitudinal runners 9 and the transverse runners 11 are located in the same plane and thus when the ceiling tiles 5 are placed within the grid 3 they are all located in the same plane. Figure 2 illustrates a suspended ceiling 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention which is also for installation within a rectangular room. The grid 3 of the suspended ceiling 1 has ceiling tile apertures 7 that are predominantly the same shape as each other and that are for ceiling tiles 5 in the form of an equilateral triangle. Along the edges 13,15 of the suspended ceiling 1 there are peripheral ceiling tile apertures 17 which are non-triangular. For example, along the long edges 13 of the suspended ceiling 1 the peripheral ceiling tile apertures 17 may be in the form or truncated triangles if the distance between the wall and an adjacent longitudinal runner 9 is shorter than the distance between two adjacent longitudinal runners 9. Along the short edges 15 of the suspended ceiling 1 the peripheral ceiling tile apertures 17 are in the form of triangles, but differently shaped triangles to the ceiling tile apertures 7, and their shape is determined by the distance between the short edges 15. The suspended ceiling 1 is attached to the walls of the room by connecting the longitudinal runners 9 and the transverse runners 11 to wall plates 19 that are fixed to the walls using perimeter brackets 21. The wall plates 19 are perimeter trims that are secured directly to a wall of a room, for example using a suitable mechanical fastener, such as a screw. Figure 3 shows two wall plates 19 abutting each other at the corner of the room with a transverse runner 11 connected to one of the wall plates 19 using a perimeter bracket 21. The perimeter brackets 21 can be bent on site into a shape as required by the orientation of the transverse runners 11 within the grid 3.The grid 3 is also attached to a ceiling (not shown) using vertically orientated hangers (not shown) which are attached at one end to the ceiling and at the other end to a longitudinal runner 9 or a transverse runner 11. The longitudinal runners 9 are attached at each end to a wall plate 19 using a perimeter bracket 21. A transverse runner 11 can be connected to a longitudinal runner 9 in various ways, one of which is shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a close-up view of the region A shown in Figure 2 and illustrates two transverse runners 11a, 11b located on one side of a longitudinal runner 9 and two transverse runners 11c, 11d located on the other side of the longitudinal runner 9. The transverse runners 11a and 11c are located opposite to each and are aligned with each other. The transverse runners 11 b and 11 d are located opposite to each and are aligned with each other. The included angle a between the transverse runners 11a and 11b and between the transverse runners 11c and 11d is 60 degrees. The transverse runners 11a,11b are connected to one side of the longitudinal runner 9 by a first double nodal bracket 23 and the transverse runners 11c, 11 d are connected to the other side of the longitudinal runner 9 by a second double nodal bracket 3. The first double nodal bracket 23 and the second double nodal bracket 25 are identical to each other and the second double nodal bracket 25 is rotated through one hundred and eight degrees relative to the first nodal bracket 3. The first nodal bracket 3 and the second nodal bracket 5 are connected to each other by a first connecting bolt 27 and by a second connecting bolt 29. The first and second connecting bolts 7,9 pass through apertures in the longitudinal runner 9 and thus the longitudinal runner 9 is clamped between the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5. The transverse runners 11a,11b,11c,11d are connected to the first double nodal bracket 23 or the second double nodal bracket 25 respectively by engaging one end of a connector clip 31 with a transverse runner 11a,11b,11c,11d and the other end of the connector clip 31 with the first double nodal bracket 23 or the second double nodal bracket 25 respectively. Connections between transverse runners 11c,11d and the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 are shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5 only transverse runners 11b,11c are shown, transverse runners 11 a, 11 d have been omitted. The features of the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 will now be described with reference to Figure 6, Figure 7 and Figure 8, in particular, which show respectively a front view, a rear view and a top view of the first double nodal bracket 5 of Figure 5. The first double nodal bracket 5 is manufactured by stamping a single component from a sheet of steel of constant thickness and by then undertaking a number of folding operations to fold the component into a final form, as illustrated. A spine plate 33 runs is located at the centre of the first double nodal bracket 5 and is arranged with its longitudinal axis Y-Y orientated vertically and with its front face in a plane P. A runner support flange 35 is attached to the bottom of the spine plate 33 and extends forwards from it at right angles, so that it is perpendicular to the plane P. The runner support flange 35 is generally triangular with a relatively long base edge that is attached to the bottom of the spine plate 33 and that extends by an equal distance to the left-hand side and to the right-hand side of the axis Y-Y. The apex of the runner support flange 35 is perpendicular to axis Y-Y and the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the runner support flange 35 extend at an angle a of 30 degrees to plane P and the base edge. The support flange 35 has on its upper surface a runner support face 37. A connector hanger 39 is attached to the top of the spine plate 33 and extends rearwardly from it at right angles, so that it is perpendicular to plane P and parallel to runner support face 37. The rearward side of the connector hanger 39 has a straight edge that runs parallel to plane P and that extends by an equal distance to the left-hand side and to the right-hand side of the axis Y-Y. A rail abutment face 41 extends perpendicularly downwardly from the straight edge such that it is parallel to plane P. A left-hand angled edge runs between a left-hand end of the straight edge and a left-hand end of the spine plate 33 at an angle a of 30 degrees to plane P and a lefthand hanger arm 43 extends perpendicularly from the left-hand angled edge and curves downwardly to a left-hand angled bottom edge that is also at an angle a of 30 degrees to plane P and that is parallel to runner support face 37. A right-hand angled edge runs between a right-hand end of the straight edge and a right-hand end of the spine plate 33 at an angle a of 30 degrees to plane P and a right-hand hanger arm 45 extends perpendicularly from the righthand angled edge and curves downwardly to a right-hand angled bottom edge that is also at an angle a of 30 degrees to plane P and that is parallel to runner support face 37. The lefthand hanger arm 43 is connected to a left-hand runner connector 47 and the right-hand hanger arm 45 is connected to a right-hand runner connector 49. The left-hand runner connector 47 has a generally rectangular and planar left-hand connector plate 51 that is orientated vertically and parallel to the left-hand angled edge of the connector hanger 39, so that it is also angled relative to plane P at an angle a of 30 degrees. A rectangular and vertically orientated connector clip slot 53 is provided through the left-hand connector plate 51. The left-hand runner connector 47 also has a left-hand fixing and bracing plate 55 which extends from a vertical left-hand edge of the left-hand connector plate 51. The left-hand fixing and bracing plate 55 has a fixing tab 57 which is folded rearwardly out of the plane of the left-hand connector plate 51 (by means of a cut-out) so that it is parallel to the plane P. A fixing boss 59 is attached to the fixing tab 57, extends forwardly from it and is provided with a helically screw threaded bore 61 with a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the plane P. A circular fixing aperture 60 passes through the fixing tab 57 and the helically screw threaded bore 61 is aligned with it so that a first or second connecting bolt 7,9 passing through the fixing aperture 60 can engage with the threaded bore 61. The left-hand fixing and bracing plate 55 also has at its upper end a rail abutment plate 63, which extends parallel to plane P, and at its lower end a flange abutment face 65, that is parallel to runner support face 37 and perpendicular to plane P. A web abutment plate 67 extends rearwardly from a lefthand edge of the left-hand fixing and bracing plate 55 and provides an upper web abutment 69 and a lower web abutment 71 that are each vertically orientated and have at least one vertical edge that is parallel to plane P. The upper web abutment 69 has a rail abutment face 73 that is parallel to runner support face 37 and perpendicular to plane P. The right-hand runner connector 49 has the same features as the left-hand runner connector 47, except that it does not have a fixing boss 59. Those common features of the left-hand and right-hand runner connectors 47,49 are pre-fixed with the number one in relation to the righthand runner connector 49. The generally rectangular and planar right-hand connector plate 151 of the right-hand runner connector 49 is orientated vertically and parallel to the right-hand angled edge of the connector hanger 39, so that it is also angled relative to plane P at an angle a of 30 degrees. The included angle between the left-hand connector plate 51 and the right-hand connector plate 151 is therefore 60 degrees. A rectangular and vertically orientated connector clip slot 153 is provided through the right-hand connector plate 151. The right-hand runner connector 49 also has a right-hand fixing and bracing plate 155 which extends from a vertical right-hand edge of the right-hand connector plate 151. The right-hand fixing and bracing plate 155 has a fixing tab 157 which is folded rearwardly out of the plane of the righthand connector plate 151 (by means of a cut-out) so that it is parallel to the plane P. A circular fixing aperture 160 is provided through the fixing tab 157 and has a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the plane P. The right-hand fixing and bracing plate 155 also has at its upper end a rail abutment plate 163, which extends parallel to plane P, and at its lower end a flange abutment face 165, that is parallel to runner support face 37 and perpendicular to plane P. A web abutment plate 167 extends rearwardly from a right-hand edge of the right-hand fixing and bracing plate 155 and provides an upper web abutment 169 and a lower web abutment 171 that are each vertically orientated and have at least one vertical edge that is parallel to plane P. The upper web abutment 169 has a rail abutment face 173 that is parallel to runner support face 37 and perpendicular to plane P. The left-hand runner connector plate 47 and the right-hand runner connector 49 abut each other at the centre of the double nodal bracket 5. The right-hand edge of the left-hand connector plate 51 is provided with a connector abutment face 75 that abuts a connector abutment face 175 provided on the left-hand edge of the right-hand connector plate 151. In use, in order to make a connection of a longitudinal runner 9 to four transverse runners 11, such as is shown in Figure 4 and in Figure 5, the following process is followed. A first double nodal bracket 23 is located on one side of the longitudinal runner 9 so that its fixing aperture 160 is aligned with a web aperture 77 provided through a vertical web 79 that runs between an upper rail 81 and a lower flange 83 of the longitudinal runner 9. The threaded bore 61 of the fixing boss 59 of the first double nodal bracket 23 is aligned with another web aperture 77 of the longitudinal runner 9. The first double nodal bracket 23 is orientated so that the connector hanger 39 is uppermost and the runner support flange 35 is lowermost. A second double nodal bracket 25 is then located on the other side of the longitudinal runner 9 and is aligned with the first double nodal bracket 23 so that its threaded bore 61 is aligned with the fixing aperture 160 of the first double nodal bracket 23 and so that its fixing aperture 160 is aligned with the threaded bore 61 of the first double nodal bracket 23. A first helically threaded connecting bolt 7 is then passed through the fixing aperture 160 of the second double nodal bracket 25, through the web aperture 77 and is threaded into the fixing boss 59 of the first double nodal bracket 23. A second helically threaded connecting bolt 9 is then passed through the fixing aperture 160 of the first double nodal bracket 23, through the web aperture 77 and is threaded into the fixing boss 59 of the second double nodal bracket 3. Rotation of the first and second connecting bolts 7,9 clamps the longitudinal runner 9 between the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 by bringing various features of the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 into abutment with various features of the longitudinal runner 9. The rail abutment faces 41 and the rail abutment plates 63,163 are brought into contact with the upper rail 81 and the upper web abutments 69,169 and lower web abutments 71,171 are brought into contact with the web 79. Consequently, the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 are located in a pre-determined position relative to the longitudinal runner 9. The rail abutment faces 73, 173 and the flange abutment faces 65,165 also contribute to restricting movement of the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 relative to the longitudinal runner 9 by reducing the degree to which the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 can rotate relative to the longitudinal runner 9. The rail abutment faces 73, 173 are located in close proximity to the underside of the upper rail 81 and the flange abutment faces 65,165 are located in close proximity to the upper face of the lower flange 83. The next step is to connect the transverse runners 11 to the longitudinal runner 9 by engaging the connector clips 31 with the connector clip slots 53,153 that are provided in the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5. Transverse runner 11a is connected to the connector clip slot 153 of the first double nodal bracket 23, transverse runner 11b is connected to the connector clip slot 53 of the first double nodal bracket 23, transverse runner 11 c is connected to the connector clip slot 153 of the second double nodal bracket 25 and transverse runner 11 d is connected to the connector clip slot 53 of the second double nodal bracket 25. The connector clips 31 are attached to a web 79 of the transverse runners 11 and have a sprung member that holds the connector clips 31 and thus the transverse rails 11 into the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5. The transverse runners 11 are also engaged with the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 because a shoulder 85 on a lower flange 83 of the transverse runners 11 rests upon the runners support face 37 provided on the runner support flange 35 of the first and second double nodal brackets 3,5 and abuts the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the runner support flange 35, such that the transverse runners 11 are aligned at a pre-determined angle to the longitudinal runner 9, i.e. at the angle a of 30 degrees. Four transverse runners 11 are now attached to the longitudinal runners to create a section of the grid 3 in which the runners 9,11 radiate from the first and second nodal brackets 3,5 at angular spacings of 60 degrees. The other ends of each of the transverse runners 11 can be fixed to an adjacent longitudinal runner 9 in the same manner in order to create a triangular grid 3 as shown in Figure 2. In a first variant, a transverse runner 11 can be connected to a wall plate 19 using a perimeter bracket 21, as described above with reference to Figure 3. The perimeter bracket 21 is fixed to the transverse runner 11 by bolted connections that pass through apertures in the perimeter bracket 21 and through web apertures 77 in the transverse runners 11. In a second variant, a transverse runner 11 can be connected to a longitudinal runner 9 without another transverse runner 11 being connected on the other side of the longitudinal runner, as will be described below with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 shows the second variant in which a backing plate 87 is attached on one side of a longitudinal runner 9 in place of a double nodal bracket 23,25. On the other side of the longitudinal runner 9 a first double nodal bracket 23 is located in the same orientation as described above, and transfer runners 11 are attached to it as previously described, for example with reference to Figure 5. The backing plate 87 is generally rectangular and planar, with the long edges arranged horizontally and the short edges arranged vertically. It has a circular fixing aperture 88 located towards either of short edges and a fixing boss 89 with a helically threaded bore 90 is located co-axially with the left-hand fixing aperture 88 and attached to the backing plate 87. A rail abutment face 91 is located adjacent to and along the top edge of the backing plate 87 and on its rearwards facing side. A web abutment 9 extends along the bottom edge of the backing plate 87 and projects rearwardly and perpendicularly to the backing plate 87. A web abutment face 93 is located on the rearward end of the web abutment 9. A cut-out 94 through the backing plate 87 is located between the two fixing apertures 88 and passes through the web abutment 93, so that two web abutment faces 93 are created. The top edge of the backing plate 87 is provided with two V-shaped notches 95, one either side of a centreline of the backing plate 87. Two rectangular cut-outs 96 are provided through the thickness of the backing plate 87, one directly beneath each of the V-shaped notches 95 and vertically spaced from them. The V-shaped notches 95 and the rectangular cut-outs 96 facilitate separation of the backing plate 87 into a left-hand part and a right-hand part, as will be explained below with reference to a single nodal bracket embodiment of the present invention. In use, in order to make a connection of a longitudinal runner 9 to two transverse runners 11 according to the second variant, as shown in Figure 9, the following process is followed. A first double nodal bracket 23 is located on one side of the longitudinal runner 9 so that its fixing aperture 160 is aligned with a web aperture 77 provided through a vertical web 79 that runs between an upper rail 81 and a lower flange 83 of the longitudinal runner 9. The threaded bore 61 of the fixing boss 59 ofthe first double nodal bracket 23 is aligned with another web aperture 77 of the longitudinal runner 9. The first double nodal bracket 23 is orientated so that the connector hanger 39 is uppermost and the runner support flange 35 is lowermost. The backing plate 87 is then located on the other side of the longitudinal runner 9 and is aligned with the first double nodal bracket 23 so that its threaded bore 90 is aligned with the fixing aperture 160 of the first double nodal bracket 23 and so that its fixing aperture 88 is aligned with the threaded bore 61 ofthe first double nodal bracket 23. A first helically threaded connecting bolt 7 is then passed through the right-hand fixing aperture 88 of the backing plate 87 through the web aperture 77 and is threaded into the fixing boss 59 of the first double nodal bracket 23. A second helically threaded connecting bolt 9 is then passed through the fixing aperture 160 of the first double nodal bracket 23, through the web aperture 77 and is threaded into the fixing boss 89 of the backing plate 87. Rotation of the first and second connecting bolts 7,9 clamps the longitudinal runner 9 between the first double nodal brackets 3 and the backing plate 87 by bringing various features of the first double nodal brackets 3 and the backing plate 87 into abutment with various features of the longitudinal runner 9. The rail abutment face 41 and the rail abutment plates 63,163 of the first double nodal bracket 23 are brought into contact with the upper rail 81 and the upper web abutments 69,169 and lower web abutments 71,171 are brought into contact with the web 79. The rail abutment face 91 of the backing plate 87 is brought into contact with the upper rail 81 and the web abutment faces 93 are brought into contact with the web 79. Consequently, the first double nodal bracket 23 and the backing plate 87 are located in a pre-determined position relative to the longitudinal runner 9. The rail abutment faces 73, 173 and the flange abutment faces 65,165 also contribute to restricting movement of the first double nodal brackets 5 relative to the longitudinal runner 9 by reducing the degree to which the first double nodal brackets 3 can rotate relative to the longitudinal runner 9. The rail abutment faces 73, 173 are located in close proximity to the underside of the upper rail 81 and the flange abutment faces 65,165 are located in close proximity to the upper face of the lower flange 83. The present invention also encompasses fixing transverse runners 11 to a longitudinal runner using one or more single nodal brackets 3, 5. Figure 10, Figure 11 and Figure 1 show a transverse runner 11 fixed to a longitudinal runner 9 using a single nodal bracket 223. The single nodal bracket 223 is half of one of a first or second double nodal bracket 23,25, as described above, and thus has the features of the left-hand side or the right-hand side of a double nodal bracket 23,25 (except the connector abutment faces 75,175), or where a feature is located in both the left-hand and right-hand sides that feature is divided in half. In this embodiment the single nodal bracket 223 is the left-hand side of a double nodal bracket 23,25 that has been divided in half along a vertical plane that runs along the centre of spine plate 233 and perpendicularly to spine plate 233. A spine plate 233 of the single nodal bracket 223 is consequently half the width of the spine plate 233. A runner support flange 235 and a connector hanger 239 are the left-hand halves of the equivalent features of the first and second double nodal brackets 23,25. A left-hand runner connector 247 is attached to a connector hanger 239 by a left-hand hanger arm 243. The left-hand runner connector 247 has all of the features of the left-hand runner connector 247 of the first and second double nodal bracket and they are arranged in the same way. The single nodal bracket 223 is connected to the longitudinal runner 9 using a right-hand backing plate 287a and a first connecting bolt 27. The right-hand backing plate 287a is the right-hand side of a backing plate 87 as utilised with the first and second double nodal brackets 23,25 and it is formed by cutting the bracket 87 through the line of the V-shaped notches 95 and the rectangular cut-outs 96. The right-hand backing plate 287a has all of the features of the right-hand side of the backing plate 87, i.e. a fixing aperture 288, rail abutment face 291, web abutment 292 and web abutment face 293. The components described above enable a grid 3 to be made for a wall-to-wall ceiling using longitudinal runners 9, transverse runners 11, connector clips 31, one of more of the brackets types that are the double nodal brackets 23,25, the single nodal brackets 223 and the perimeter brackets 21, and, where needed, wall plates 19. Such a grid 3 is shown in Figure 2, where the grid spaces are predominantly triangular for accommodating triangular ceiling tiles 5a. Figure 4 is a close-up view of parts of six adjacent triangular ceiling tiles 5a, fitted within triangular spaces within a grid 3. Each triangular ceiling tile 5a can be passed up through a spacing in the grid 3 and then manoeuvred into place so that its edges rest upon and are supported by the lower flanges 83 of the longitudinal runners 9 and the transverse runners 11. Figure 13 shows an arrangement of a first single nodal bracket 223 and a second single nodal bracket 225 attached back to back, with a longitudinal runner 9 located between them. A first connecting bolt 27 passes through a fixing aperture 2160 provided through the fixing tab 2157 of the second single nodal bracket 225 (which has the features of the right-hand side of a double nodal bracket 23,25 (except the connector abutment faces 75, 175)). The first connecting bolt 27 then passes through a web aperture 77 provided through the web 79 of the longitudinal runner 9 before being threaded into the fixing boss 259 of the first single nodal bracket 223. The connecting bolt 27 is threaded into the fixing boss 259 until the web 79 of the longitudinal runner 9 is securely clamped between the first and second single nodal brackets 223, 225. The present invention can also produce a ceiling with a mixture of triangular and non-triangular ceiling tiles 5, for example as shown in Figure 1. Figure 14 shows a portion of a ceiling grid 3 for supporting four differently shaped ceiling tiles. The portion of the grid has two adjacent and parallel longitudinal runners 9, i.e. a left-hand longitudinal runner 9a and a right-hand longitudinal runner 9b and five transverse runners 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d and 11e. A first transverse runner 11a is located towards one end of the longitudinal runners 9a,9b and is orientated perpendicularly to the longitudinal runners 9a,9b. A second transverse runner 11b is spaced apart from the first transverse runner 11a and is orientated at an angle of 60 degrees to the longitudinal runners 9a,9b. That orientation of the first and second transverse runners 11a, 11b creates a trapezoidal ceiling tile aperture 7b, specifically a ceiling tile aperture 7b in the form of a right trapezium, with the short side of the right trapezium along right-hand longitudinal runner 9b. A third transverse runner 11c is spaced apart from and parallel to the second transverse runner 11b. That orientation of the second and third transverse runners 11b, 11c creates a parallelogram ceiling tile aperture 7c. A fourth transverse runner 11d extends at an angle of 60 degrees to the longitudinal runners 9a,9b, from the point at which the left-hand end of the transverse runner 11c is joined to the left-hand longitudinal runner 9a. That orientation of the third and fourth transverse runners 11c, 11 d creates a triangular ceiling tile aperture 7a, in the form of an equilateral triangle. A fifth transverse runner 11 e is spaced apart from the fourth transverse runner 11d and extends at an angle of 60 degrees to the longitudinal runners 9a, 9b, but in a different direction to the fourth transverse runner 11d, such that the fourth and fifth transverse runners 11 d, 11e are not parallel to each other. That orientation of the fourth and fifth transverse runners 11 d, 11e creates a trapezoidal ceiling tile aperture 7b, specifically a ceiling tile aperture 7b in the form of an isosceles trapezium. In the grid of Figure 14, the first transverse runner 11a is connected at each of its ends to the left-hand and right-hand longitudinal runners 9a,9b respectively using a connector clip 31 that is attached to the first transverse runner 11a and that engages with a vertical slot 97 (shown in Figure 1) provided through the web 79 of the left-hand and right-hand longitudinal runners 9a,9b. The second transverse runner 11b is connected at each of its ends to the left-hand and right-hand longitudinal runners 9a,9b respectively using a single nodal bracket 223. The third transverse runner 11c is connected at its right-hand end to the right-hand longitudinal runner 9b using a single nodal bracket 223 and is connected at its left-hand end to the left-hand longitudinal runner 9a using a double nodal bracket 23,25. The fourth transverse runner 11 d is connected at its left-hand end to the same double nodal bracket 23,25 to which the third transverse runner 11c is connected and is connected at its right-hand end to the right-hand 5 longitudinal runner 9b using a single nodal bracket 223. The fifth transverse runner 11e is connected at each of its ends to the left-hand and right-hand longitudinal runners 9a,9b respectively using a single nodal bracket 223. Therefore, as shown in Figure 1, the present invention can create a ceiling grid 3 and thus a io suspended ceiling 1 that is made up from ceiling tiles 5 of different geometrical forms, for example as specifically described above. The present invention also envisages that other forms of ceiling tiles 5 can be accommodated by the grid 3, for example ceiling tiles 5 that are in the shape of a rhombus. 15 11 06 24

Claims

1. A double runner bracket (23,25), for non-perpendicular connection of a first transverse runner (11a) and a second transverse runner (11b) to a longitudinal runner (9), comprising a5 body (21) that is provided with an abutment face (39,65,69,71), for abutment with a longitudinal runner (9), a runner support flange (35), a right-hand runner connector (49) having a righthand engagement means (153) with which a first transverse runner (11a) can be engaged in use, a left-hand runner connector (47) having a left-hand engagement means (53) with which a second transverse runner (11b) can be engaged in use, a left-hand fastener engagementio feature (59), and a right-hand fastener engagement feature (160), wherein the left-hand fastener engagement feature (59) and the right-hand fastener engagement feature (160) are different from and complementary to each other, wherein, in use, the right-hand engagement means (153) and the runner support flange (35) in combination align a first transverse runner (11a) at a first pre-determined angle relative to the body (21) and the left-hand engagement15 means (53) and the runner support flange (35) in combination align a second transverse runner (11 b) at a second pre-determined angle relative to the body (21), wherein the left-hand fastener engagement feature (59) is a threaded boss (59) and the right-hand fastener engagement feature (160) is a plain through-hole (160).20 2. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (21) comprises acentral spine (21) which is connected between the runner support flange (35) and a connector hanger (39) and wherein the right-hand runner connector (49) is connected to the right-hand side of the connector hanger (39) and the left-hand runner connector (47) is connected to the left-hand side of the connector hanger (39).

253. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the right-hand runner connector (49) comprises a right-hand connector plate (151) and the left-hand runner connector (47) comprises a left-hand connector plate (51), the right-hand connector plate (151) having the right-hand engagement means (153) and the left-hand connector plate (51)30 having the left-hand engagement means (53), and wherein the right-hand connector plate (151) is orientated at the first pre-determined angle relative to the body (21) and the left-hand connector plate (51) is orientated at the second pre-determined angle relative to the body (21).

4. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the left-hand fastener35 engagement feature (59) is provided on the left-hand connector plate (51) and the right-hand fastener engagement feature (160) is provided on the right-hand connector plate (151).11 06 245. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the connector hanger (39) comprises a rail abutment face (41), and the runner support flange (35) comprises a runner support face (37), wherein the rail abutment face (41) is orientated perpendicularly to the runner support face (37).

56. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the left-hand connector plate (51) further comprises a left-hand rail abutment plate (63) and the right-hand connector plate (151) further comprises a right-hand rail abutment plate (163), wherein the left-hand rail abutment plate (63) and the right-hand rail abutment plate (163) are orientated parallel to the io rail abutment face (41).

7. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the left-hand connector plate (51) is provided with a left-hand rail abutment face (73) and the right-hand connector plate (151) is provided with a right-hand rail abutment face (173), wherein the left-15 hand rail abutment face (73) and the right-hand rail abutment face (173) are orientated perpendicularly to the rail abutment face (41).

8. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in claim 5, claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the lefthand connector plate (51) is provided with a left-hand web abutment (69,71) and the right-20 hand connector plate (151) is provided with a right-hand web abutment (169,171), wherein theleft-hand web abutment (69,71) and the right-hand web abutment (169,171) are orientated parallel to the rail abutment face (41).

9. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the 25 right-hand engagement means (153) and the left-hand engagement means (53) are arranged symmetrically either side a central axis of the double runner bracket (23).

10. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in any of claims 3 to 9, wherein the left-hand connector plate (51) and the right-hand connector plate (151) abut each other.3011. A double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a backing plate (87), wherein the backing plate (87) has a left-hand fastener engagement feature (89), that is complementary to the right-hand engagement feature (160) provided on the body (221) of the double runner bracket (23,25), and a right-hand fastener engagement feature 35 (88), that is complementary to the left-hand engagement feature (59) provided on the body (3)of the double runner bracket (23,25).CM12. A ceiling grid (3) comprising at least a first longitudinal runner (9a) and a second longitudinal runner (9b) that are orientated parallel to each other and at least a first transverse runner (11 a) and a second transverse runner (11 b), wherein the first transverse runner (11a) and the second transverse runner (11 b) are each connected at one end to the first longitudinal5 runner (9a) and at the other end to the second longitudinal runner (9b) using a double runner bracket (23,25) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.

13. A suspended ceiling (1) comprising a grid (3) as claimed in claim 12 and at least one ceiling tile (5) supported by the grid (3).

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