Elongated ceiling grid member and ceiling grid assembly including a plurality of elongated ceiling grid members

Abstract

There is a need for a device that interacts with elongated ceiling grid members to "hold" ceiling tiles or similar structures in place while allowing for relatively easy removal or repositioning of those ceiling tiles or similar structures.SOLUTION: (a) an upper portion 23 that is threaded to receive and retain the first threaded member and (b) has spaced apart upper side walls with a lowermost edge; (a) an upper portion 23 that is threaded to receive and retain the first threaded member and (b) has spaced apart upper side walls with a lowermost edge; An elongated ceiling grid member 21 including: (b) a lower portion 27 having spaced apart lower side walls with uppermost edges; and (3) an intermediate portion 25 including a pair of intermediate side walls (a) connecting the lowermost edges of the upper side walls and the uppermost edges of the lower side walls and (b) curving inwardly from the lowermost edges of the upper side walls and the uppermost edges of the lower side walls to meet each other between the edges thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to elongated ceiling grid members and ceiling grid assemblies that include elongated ceiling grid members and are attached to and suspended from ceilings in rooms and other building spaces, such as office spaces, storage areas, and data centers, to serve as a framework for directly and / or indirectly supporting other structural members and / or room or building accessories. In particular, this invention relates to elongated ceiling grid members: (1) that can be connected at their ends to form ceiling grid assemblies consisting of parallel and perpendicular rows of elongated ceiling grid members; and (2) that can be attached to other structural members and / or room or building accessories. [Background technology]

[0002] Ceiling grid assemblies, consisting of multiple elongated ceiling grid members connected at their ends to form parallel and perpendicular rows of elongated ceiling grid members, have been in use for several decades. These ceiling grid assemblies are typically attached directly to and suspended from a structure, such as a concrete slab, that provides the ceiling of a room or other building space. The elongated ceiling grid members of these ceiling grid assemblies directly or indirectly support other structural members and room or building accessories, such as lighting fixtures, HVAC conduits, sprinkler systems, etc., within the room or other building space in which they are installed.

[0003] In many applications, these elongated ceiling grid members and ceiling grid assemblies must support ever-increasing loads in terms of weight. That is, the rooms and other building spaces that contain these elongated ceiling grid members and ceiling grid assemblies have an ever-increasing number of structural members and rooms or building accessories that must be supported by the elongated ceiling grid members and ceiling grid assemblies within those rooms and other building spaces, and as the number of structural members and rooms or building accessories increases, the loads acting on the elongated ceiling grid members and ceiling grid assemblies increase. Therefore, there is a need in the art for elongated ceiling grid members and ceiling grid assemblies with increased strength to adequately support these increasing loads.

[0004] Furthermore, these elongated ceiling grid members often support ceiling tiles or similar structures. It is desirable that a ceiling grid assembly made up of elongated ceiling grid members include a device for holding the ceiling tiles or similar structures in place while allowing for relatively easy removal or replacement of the ceiling tiles or similar structures, even when a large force is pushing up on the ceiling tiles. Thus, there is a need in the art for a device that interacts with elongated ceiling grid members to "hold" the ceiling tiles or similar structures in place while allowing for relatively easy removal or replacement of the ceiling tiles or similar structures. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention addresses these needs, as well as other needs that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The elongated ceiling grid member of the present invention has a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally. Some embodiments of the elongated ceiling grid member include: (1) an upper portion having spaced-apart upper sidewalls (a) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, (b) threaded to threadably receive and retain a first threaded member, and (c) including a longitudinally extending lowermost edge; (2) a lower portion having spaced-apart lower sidewalls (a) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, (b) threaded to threadably receive and retain a second threaded member, and (c) including a longitudinally extending uppermost edge; and (3) an intermediate portion including a pair of (b) longitudinally extending intermediate sidewalls connecting the (a) lowermost edge of the upper sidewall with the uppermost edge of the lower sidewall. Each of the pair of intermediate side walls, from the upper end to the lower end when viewed along the longitudinal axis, (a) begins at a different one of the lowermost edges of the upper side wall, (b) curves toward the other of the pair of intermediate side walls to join the other of the pair of intermediate side walls, and (c) curves away from the joint with the other of the pair of intermediate side walls to terminate at one of the uppermost edges of the lower side wall.

[0007] In another embodiment of the invention, the upper portion includes a lower end wall extending between and connecting the upper side walls at or near their lowermost edges, the lower portion includes an upper end wall extending between and connecting the lower side walls at or near their uppermost edges, and the middle side walls, from upper to lower, begin and end at the lower end wall.

[0008] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, each of the pair of intermediate side walls may include a finger configured to engage a ceiling tile retaining clip, and the finger may extend outwardly from the pair of intermediate side walls.

[0009] Further embodiments of the present invention include elongated ceiling grid member and ceiling tile hold-down clip assemblies. The elongated ceiling grid member of the assembly may be as described above and include bottom flanges extending longitudinally from a pair of lower side walls perpendicular to the lower side walls. These bottom flanges may be configured to support a ceiling tile. The ceiling tile hold-down clip of these embodiments may be configured to engage with fingers of the elongated ceiling grid member to engage the ceiling tile supported by the bottom flanges. The ceiling tile hold-down clip of these embodiments may also include a ceiling tile hold-down clip top end wall spanning above and over the upper side walls of the elongated ceiling grid member, ceiling tile hold-down clip side walls extending downward from the ceiling tile hold-down clip top end wall and abutting the outer surfaces of the upper side walls, an outer extending wall extending outward and downward from the ceiling tile hold-down clip side walls, and ceiling tile hold-down clip fingers extending inward from the outer extending wall and engaging fingers in the middle of the elongated ceiling grid member. The hold-down clip may be constructed of spring steel.

[0010] Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes an elongated ceiling grid member and connector assembly, which may include at least two of the aforementioned elongated ceiling grid members and a connector (a) bridging the at least two of the elongated ceiling grid members, (b) having a connector top end wall with at least two orifices configured to receive a threaded member, (c) having connector side walls extending downwardly from the connector top end wall toward upper side walls of the at least two of the elongated ceiling grid members, and (d) having tabs extending from the connector side walls on either side of the upper side walls configured to engage and retain the upper side walls. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a long ceiling grid member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the elongated ceiling grid member shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 2A] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the elongated ceiling grid member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 3] 2B is a side perspective view of a ceiling tile retaining clip that can be used with the elongated ceiling grid member shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a side perspective view of an assembly of the ceiling tile retaining clip shown in FIG. 3 and the elongated ceiling grid member shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A. FIG. [Figure 5] 1, 2, and 2A, showing the assembly shown in FIG. 4 with the ceiling tile retaining clip shown in FIG. 3, and the elongated ceiling grid member shown in FIG. 2A, showing the assembly holding two ceiling tiles in place. [Figure 6] FIG. 2B is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a linear connector capable of connecting two of the elongated ceiling grid members shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A in a linear end-to-end fashion. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a top view of the straight connector shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the straight connector shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the straight connector shown in FIGS. 6-8. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the straight connector shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the straight connector shown in FIGS. 7-10 attached to two of the elongated ceiling grid members shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A. [Figure 12] 12 is a front elevation view of the assembly shown in FIG. 11 of the straight connector shown in FIGS. 7-10 attached to two of the elongated ceiling grid members shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2B is a top perspective view of a four-arm connector capable of connecting three or four of the elongated ceiling grid members shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A in an X configuration. [Figure 14]FIG. 14 is a top view of the four-arm connector shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. 13-15 taken along line 16-16 in FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. [Figure 19] 19 is a cross-sectional view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. 13-18 taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 20A] 19. FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of three of the elongated ceiling grid members shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 2A aligned in an X configuration for receiving the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. [Figure 20B] FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. 13-19 attached to three of the elongated ceiling grid members shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A. [Figure 21] 20B is a side elevation view of the assembly shown in FIG. 20B of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. 13-19 attached to three of the elongated ceiling grid members shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A. [Figure 22] FIG. 2B is a top perspective view of another four-arm connector capable of connecting three or four of the elongated ceiling grid members shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A in an X configuration. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a top view of the four-arm connector shown in FIG. 22. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. [Figure 25] 25 is a cross-sectional view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. 22-24 taken along line 25-25 in FIG. 23. [Figure 26] 26 is a cross-sectional view of the four-arm connector shown in FIGS. 22-25 taken along line 26-26 in FIG. 24. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] As previously mentioned, one embodiment of the elongated ceiling grid member of the present invention is shown in elongated ceiling grid member 21 of at least Figures 1, 2 and 2A.

[0013] The elongated ceiling grid member 21 has a longitudinal axis LA along its longitudinal length and includes, from top to bottom, an upper portion 23, a middle portion 25, and a lower portion 27.

[0014] Upper portion 23 includes sidewall 29, sidewall 31, and bottom wall 33. In this embodiment of the invention, sidewalls 29 and 31 are parallel. Bottom wall 33 extends between and connects sidewall 29 and sidewall 31 at or near the lowermost edges of sidewall 29 and sidewall 31, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .

[0015] Sidewall 29 includes internal threads 35, notches 30, and notches 34, and sidewall 31 includes internal threads 37, notches 32, and notches 36.

[0016] The female threads 35 and 37 lie on parallel vertical planes and are vertically offset so that a threaded member can be threadably received and held between the female threads 35 and 37, as will be described and shown in Figures 11, 12, 20B, and 21 below.

[0017] In this embodiment, notches 30, 32, 34, and 36 are designed to receive and retain protrusions from connecting members that connect two or more of the elongated ceiling grid members 21, as will be described below.

[0018] In this embodiment of the invention, the top portion 23 includes parallel side walls 29 and 31 with internal threads, however, the top portions of elongated ceiling grid members in other embodiments of the invention may include structures other than threaded parallel walls that can receive and hold a screw or other member suspended from the ceiling. Also, other embodiments of elongated ceiling grid members may not include cutouts in their top side walls.

[0019] Middle portion 25 includes sidewall 39 , sidewall 41 , finger or tab 43 , and finger or tab 45 .

[0020] In this embodiment of the invention, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, side walls 39 and 41 begin at bottom end wall 33 at or near the lowermost edges of side walls 29 and 31, respectively, of upper portion 23 and curve toward each other until they intersect or join. Side walls 39 and 41 then diverge or curve away from each other at or near the uppermost edges of side walls 47 and 49, respectively, of lower portion 27 from that intersection or junction to top end wall 46 of lower portion 27 (top end wall 46 and side walls 47 and 49 are described further below).

[0021] 1 and 2, in this embodiment of the invention, fingers or tabs 43 extend outwardly from sidewall 39 and fingers or tabs 45 extend outwardly from sidewall 41. Fingers or tabs 43 and 45 are "pointed" downwardly to form upwardly extending recesses 48 between fingers or tabs 43 and a portion of sidewall 39 and upwardly extending recesses 50 between fingers or tabs 45 and a portion of sidewall 41. The functions of fingers or tabs 43 and 45 are described below.

[0022] The lower portion 27 includes a top wall 46 , a side wall 47 , a side wall 49 , a bottom flange 55 , and a bottom flange 57 .

[0023] In this embodiment of the invention, side walls 47 and 49 are parallel and extend downwardly from top wall 46. Top wall 46 extends between and connects side walls 47 and 49 at or near the uppermost edges of side walls 47 and 49.

[0024] Side wall 47 includes internal threads 51 and side wall 49 includes internal threads 53. Internal threads 51 and 53 lie on parallel vertical planes and are vertically offset so that a threaded member can be threadably received between internal threads 51 and 53. The threaded member may be a support rod or other structure that supports another room or building space structure, service, or equipment.

[0025] Bottom flange 55 extends outwardly from the lowermost edge of side wall 47, and bottom flange 57 extends outwardly from the lowermost edge of side wall 49. In this embodiment, bottom flanges 55 and 57 are perpendicular to side walls 47 and 49. In use, bottom flanges 55 and 57 can support a ceiling tile or other structural member.

[0026] In this embodiment of the invention, the lower portion 27 includes parallel side walls 47 and 49 with threaded inner surfaces, although the lower portions of elongated ceiling grid members in other embodiments of the invention may include different structures capable of retaining threaded or other members.

[0027] In this embodiment of the invention, top section 23, middle section 25, and bottom section 27 may be unitary and extruded aluminum. Thus, for example, sidewall 29 of top section 23, sidewall 39 of middle section 25, and sidewall 47 of bottom section 27 are continuous, and sidewall 31 of top section 23, sidewall 41 of middle section 25, and sidewall 49 of bottom section 27 are continuous. In other embodiments of the invention, one or more of these sections may be separate pieces or separate pieces joined to other pieces.

[0028] As previously mentioned, one embodiment of a ceiling tile retaining clip that can be utilized with the elongated ceiling grid member 21 to "hold" a ceiling tile between the elongated ceiling grid member 21 and the ceiling tile retaining clip 59 is shown in Figures 3-5.

[0029] Ceiling tile hold-down clip 59 includes top wall 61 , upper wall 63 , upper wall 65 , outer extending wall 67 , outer extending wall 69 , finger 71 , finger 73 , bottom flange 75 , and bottom flange 77 .

[0030] The top wall 61 extends between and connects the top edges of the upper walls 63 and 65. When the ceiling tile hold-down clips 59 are attached to the elongated ceiling grid member 21, the top wall 61 resides above and straddles the side walls 29 and 31 of the elongated ceiling grid member 21, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0031] The upper walls 63 and 65 extend downwardly from and are parallel to the top wall 61. When the ceiling retaining clip 59 is attached to the elongated ceiling grid member 21, the upper walls 63 and 65 abut against the outer surfaces of the side walls 29 and 31 of the elongated ceiling grid member 21, as also shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0032] An outer extending wall 67 extends downwardly and outwardly from upper wall 63. An outer extending wall 69 extends downwardly and outwardly from upper wall 65.

[0033] Fingers 71 extend inwardly from outer-extending wall 67 and are configured to engage fingers or tabs 43 of elongated ceiling grid member 21, as shown in Figure 5. Fingers 73 extend inwardly from outer-extending wall 69 and are configured to engage fingers or tabs 45 of elongated ceiling grid member 21, as also shown in Figure 5.

[0034] A bottom flange 75 extends outwardly from outer extending wall 67. A bottom flange 77 extends outwardly from outer extending wall 69.

[0035] The ceiling tile hold-down clips 59 may be made of spring steel and are designed to exert a downward force on the ceiling tiles that rest on the bottom flanges 55 and 57 of the elongated ceiling grid member 21 to hold or "hold" the ceiling tiles in place, as shown in FIG. 5 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 , ceiling tile 60 "rests" on the bottom flange 55 of the elongated ceiling grid member 21, and ceiling tile 62 "rests" on the bottom flange 57 of the elongated ceiling member 21. The bottom flanges 75 and 77 of the ceiling hold-down clips 59 resiliently contact the upper surfaces of the ceiling tiles 60 and 62. The ceiling tiles 60 and 62 can be repositioned or removed by applying a force that resists the downward force exerted on the ceiling tiles by the hold-down clips 59.

[0036] Although in this embodiment of the invention, ceiling tile hold-down clip 59 includes top wall 61, upper side walls 63 and 65, outer extending walls 67 and 69, fingers 71 and 73, and bottom flanges 75 and 77, ceiling tile hold-down clips in other embodiments of the invention may include other components so long as the ceiling tile hold-down clip is attachable to an elongated ceiling grid member and applies an appropriate "holding" force to a ceiling tile held between the elongated ceiling grid member and the ceiling hold-down clip.

[0037] As mentioned above, one embodiment of a connector for joining two elongated ceiling grid members 21 with a straight connector 121 that is straight from end to end is shown in Figures 6 to 12.

[0038] Straight connector 121 includes a side wall 123, a side wall 125, and a top wall 127. In this embodiment of the invention, top wall 127 is flat. Side walls 123 and 125 extend downwardly from top wall 127.

[0039] Orifices 129, 131, 133, 135, and 137 are located in the top wall 127. The orifices 129, 131, 135, and 137 are configured to receive bolts or other fasteners, such as bolts 130, 132, 134, and 136, for attaching the straight connector 121 to the two elongated ceiling grid members 21, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. Specifically, the bolts 130, 132, 134, and 136 are inserted through the orifices 129, 131, 135, and 137, respectively, and the threads of these bolts are threadedly engaged with the internal threads 35 and 37 in the side walls 29 and 31 of the top portions 23 of the two elongated ceiling grid members 21.

[0040] Orifice 133 is configured to be machined to receive and hold a structural member, such as a rod, suspended from the ceiling structure.

[0041] Portions of sidewalls 123 and 125 have a different slope than the rest of those sidewalls. These differently sloped portions form voids 139 around orifice 129, voids 141 around orifice 131, voids 143 around orifice 133, voids 145 around orifice 135, and voids 147 around orifice 137, as shown in Figures 6 and 8. These voids result in additional material around each orifice. This additional material increases the "strength" of what might otherwise be a weak point in the bolt / orifice connection.

[0042] 6 and 9, bubble portion 147 includes openings 149. Similar openings, not shown, are present in bubble portion 139. The inclusion of these openings reduces the amount of material in straight connector 121.

[0043] Side wall 123 includes bottom tabs 155 and 157. Side wall 125 includes bottom tabs 151 and 153.

[0044] The bottom tabs 151, 153, 155 and 157 are configured to receive the upper portions 23 of two elongated ceiling grid members 21 between them, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. Receiving the upper portions 23 between the bottom tabs 151, 153, 155 and 157 resists deformation of the upper portions 23 in a direction perpendicular to the bottom tabs 151, 153, 155 and 157 under heavy loads.

[0045] As previously mentioned, a four-arm connector, i.e., four-arm connector 159, that can be used to connect three or four of the X-configured elongated ceiling grid members 21 is shown in Figures 13-19, 20B and 21. An arrangement of three of the X-configured elongated ceiling grid members 21 is shown in Figure 20A.

[0046] The four-arm connector 159 includes a first arm 161, a second arm 163, a third arm 165, a fourth arm 167, and a protrusion 235. Each of the arms 161, 163, 165, and 167 are identical as described below.

[0047] First arm 161, second arm 163, third arm 165, and fourth arm 167 include upper end wall 169, which in this embodiment of the invention is flat as shown and extends along the upper ends of each of first arm 161, second arm 163, third arm 165, and fourth arm 167, and protrusion 235.

[0048] Orifices 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, and 201 are located in the top wall 169. Specifically, orifices 191 and 193 are located in the top wall 169 of the first arm 161, orifices 195 and 197 are located in the top wall 169 of the second arm 163, orifices 199 and 201 are located in the top wall 169 of the third arm 165, orifices 187 and 189 are located in the top wall 169 of the fourth arm 167, and orifice 190 is located in the center of arms 161, 163, 165, and 167.

[0049] Orifices 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, and 201 are configured to receive bolts or other fasteners, such as bolts 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, and 206 shown in Figures 20 and 21, for attaching four-arm connector 159 to four elongated ceiling grid members 21. Specifically, bolts 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, and 204 are inserted through orifices 187, 189, 191, 193, 197, 199, and 201, and the threads of the bolts are threadably received by internal threads 35 in sidewalls 29 of the top portions 23 of the four elongated ceiling grid members 21 and internal threads 37 in sidewalls 31 of the top portions 23.

[0050] Orifice 190 is configured to be machined to receive and engage a structural member, such as a rod suspended from a ceiling structure.

[0051] Each of first arm 161, second arm 163, third arm 165, and fourth arm 167 includes a sidewall extending downward from top wall 169. Specifically, first arm 161 includes sidewalls 171 and 173, second arm 163 includes sidewalls 175 and 177, third arm 165 includes sidewalls 179 and 181, and fourth arm 167 includes sidewalls 183 and 185.

[0052] Portions of sidewalls 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, and 185 have a different slope than the remainder of those sidewalls. These differently sloped portions form bubble portion 203 around orifice 193, bubble portion 205 around orifice 191, bubble portion 207 around orifice 197, bubble portion 209 around orifice 195, bubble portion 211 around orifice 201, bubble portion 213 around orifice 199, bubble portion 215 around orifice 187, and bubble portion 217 around orifice 189. Similar to foam sections 139, 141, 143, 145 and 147 previously described, foam sections 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215 and 217 increase the "strength" of the respective bolt / orifice connections.

[0053] Each of side walls 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, and 185 includes a bottom tab. Specifically, side wall 171 includes bottom tab 219, side wall 173 includes bottom tab 221, side wall 175 includes bottom tab 223, side wall 177 includes bottom tab 225, side wall 179 includes bottom tab 227, side wall 121 includes bottom tab 229, side wall 183 includes bottom tab 231, and side wall 185 includes bottom tab 233.

[0054] The bottom end tabs 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, and 233 are configured to receive the upper portions 23 of the elongated ceiling grid members 21 between them, as shown in Figures 20 and 21. Specifically, the upper portion 23 of the first elongated ceiling grid member 21 is received between the bottom end tabs 219 and 221, the upper portion 23 of the second elongated ceiling grid member 21 is received between the bottom end tabs 223 and 225, the upper portion 23 of the third elongated ceiling grid member 21 is received between the bottom end tabs 227 and 229, and the upper portion 23 of the fourth elongated ceiling grid member 21 is received between the bottom end tabs 231 and 233. Receiving these upper portions 23 between their respective bottom end tabs resists deformation of these upper portions under heavy loads.

[0055] 15-18, the protrusion 235 extends downward from the center of the four-arm connector 159. The protrusion 235 is configured to be received in a pair of notches 30 and 32 in the side walls 29 and 32 of the long ceiling grid member 21 when the four-arm connector 159 is used to connect three long ceiling grid members 21 in an X configuration. Alternatively, the protrusion 235 can be received in the notches 34 and 36 of two long ceiling grid members 21 arranged end to end to connect four long ceiling grid members 21 in an X configuration.

[0056] Another four-arm connector, four-arm connector 251, that can be used to connect three or four of the elongated ceiling grid members 121 in an X configuration is shown in Figures 22-25.

[0057] Similar to the four-arm connector 159, the four-arm connector 251 has a first arm 253, a second arm 255, a third arm 257, a fourth arm 259, and a protrusion 305. Each of the arms 253, 255, 257, and 259 are the same as described below.

[0058] First arm 253, second arm 255, third arm 257 and fourth arm 259 include upper end walls 261 which, in this embodiment of the invention, are flat as shown and extend along the upper ends of each of first arm 253, second arm 255, third arm 257 and fourth arm 259.

[0059] 22 to 25, orifices 279, 281, 283, 285, and 287 are located in upper end wall 261. Specifically, orifice 281 is located in the upper end wall 261 of first arm 253, orifice 283 is located in the upper end wall 261 of second arm 255, orifice 285 is located in the upper end wall 261 of third arm 257, orifice 279 is located in the upper end wall 261 of fourth arm 259, and orifice 287 is located at the intersection of arms 253, 255, 257, and 259.

[0060] Orifices 279, 281, 283 and 285, as well as orifices 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199 and 201 in the top wall 169 of the four-arm connector 159, are configured to receive bolts or other fasteners for attaching the four-arm connector 251 to the four ceiling grid members 21.

[0061] Orifice 287 is configured to be machined to receive and engage a structural member, such as a rod suspended from a ceiling structure.

[0062] Each of first arm 253, second arm 255, third arm 257, and fourth arm 259 includes a sidewall extending downward from top wall 261. Specifically, first arm 253 includes sidewalls 263, 265, second arm 255 includes sidewalls 267, 269, third arm 257 includes sidewalls 271, 273, and fourth arm 259 includes sidewalls 275, 277.

[0063] Portions of sidewalls 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, and 277 have a different slope than the remainder of those sidewalls. These differently sloped portions form voids 289 around orifice 281, voids 291 around orifice 283, voids 293 around orifice 197, and voids 295 around orifice 279. Similar to voids 139, 141, 143, 145, and 147 described above, voids 289, 291, 293, and 295 increase the "strength" of the respective bolt / orifice connections.

[0064] Each of side walls 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, and 277 includes a bottom tab. Specifically, side wall 263 includes bottom tab 296, side wall 265 includes bottom tab 297, side wall 267 includes bottom tab 298, side wall 269 includes bottom tab 299, side wall 271 includes bottom tab 300, side wall 273 includes bottom tab 301, side wall 275 includes bottom tab 302, and side wall 277 includes bottom tab 303.

[0065] The bottom end tabs 296-303 are configured to receive the upper portions 23 of the elongated ceiling grid members 21 between them. Specifically, the upper portion 23 of the first elongated ceiling grid member 21 is received between the bottom end tabs 296 and 297, the upper portion 23 of the second elongated ceiling grid member 21 is received between the bottom end tabs 298 and 299, the upper portion 23 of the third elongated ceiling grid member 21 is received between the bottom end tabs 300 and 301, and the upper portion 23 of the fourth elongated ceiling grid member 21 is received between the bottom end tabs 302 and 303. Receiving these upper portions 23 between their respective bottom end tabs resists deformation of these upper portions under heavy loads.

[0066] The protrusion 305 can be utilized in the same manner as the protrusion 235 of the four-arm connector 159 .

[0067] What has been described and illustrated herein are preferred embodiments of the present invention, along with several variations. The terms, descriptions, and drawings are merely for the purpose of illustrating and illustrating those preferred embodiments and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many different embodiments and variations beyond those specifically disclosed are within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. having a longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction; an upper portion having spaced apart upper sidewalls (a) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, (b) threaded to threadably receive and retain a first threaded member, and (c) including a lowermost edge extending in the longitudinal direction; a lower portion having spaced apart lower sidewalls (a) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, (b) threaded to threadably receive and retain a second threaded member, and (c) including an uppermost edge extending in the longitudinal direction; (a) a middle portion connecting the lowermost edge of the upper side wall and the uppermost edge of the lower side wall, and (b) including a pair of middle portion side walls extending in the longitudinal direction; Equipped with Each of the pair of intermediate side walls, from top to bottom when viewed along the longitudinal axis, (a) begins at or near a different one of the lowermost edges of the upper side wall, (b) curves toward the other of the pair of intermediate side walls to join the other of the pair of intermediate side walls, and (c) curves away from the junction with the other of the pair of intermediate side walls to terminate at or near one of the uppermost edges of the lower side wall. Long ceiling grid member.

2. the upper portion includes a bottom end wall extending between and connecting the upper side walls at or near the bottom edge; the lower portion includes an upper end wall extending between and connecting the lower side walls at or near the uppermost edge; the intermediate side wall begins at the bottom end wall and terminates at the top end wall; The elongated ceiling grid member according to claim 1 .

3. The elongated ceiling grid member of claim 1 , wherein each of said upper sidewall and said lower sidewall includes an internal thread.

4. The elongated ceiling grid member of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of intermediate side walls includes a finger configured to engage a ceiling tile retaining clip.

5. The elongated ceiling grid member of claim 4 , wherein said fingers extend outwardly from said pair of intermediate side walls.

6. 5. The elongated ceiling grid member of claim 4, comprising: (a) a bottom flange extending from the pair of lower side walls in the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the pair of lower side walls; and (b) a bottom flange configured to support a ceiling tile. a ceiling tile hold-down clip configured to (a) engage the finger and (b) engage the ceiling tile supported by the bottom flange; An elongated ceiling grid member and ceiling tile retaining clip assembly comprising:

7. The ceiling tile retaining clip is a ceiling tile retaining clip upper end wall that straddles the upper side wall above the upper side wall; (i) a ceiling tile retaining clip side wall extending downward from the ceiling retaining clip upper end wall and (ii) abutting the outer surface of the upper side wall; an outer extending wall extending outward and downward from the ceiling tile retaining clip side wall; a ceiling tile retaining clip finger extending inwardly from the outer extending wall and engaging the finger on the intermediate portion; 7. The elongated ceiling grid member and ceiling tile hold-down clip assembly of claim 6, comprising:

8. 8. The elongated ceiling grid member and ceiling tile hold-down clip assembly of claim 7, wherein the ceiling tile hold-down clip (a) extends outwardly from the outer-extending wall and (b) includes a bottom flange configured to engage the ceiling tile.

9. 8. The elongated ceiling grid member and ceiling tile hold-down clip assembly of claim 7, wherein said ceiling tile hold-down clips are constructed from spring steel.

10. at least two of the elongated ceiling grid members of claim 1; a connector (a) bridging two of the at least two elongated ceiling grid members, (b) having a connector top wall with at least two orifices configured to receive the first screw member, (c) having connector side walls extending downwardly from the connector top wall toward the upper side wall, and (d) having tabs (i) extending from the connector side walls on either side of the upper side wall and (ii) configured to engage and retain the upper side wall; An elongated ceiling grid member and connector assembly comprising:

11. The elongated ceiling grid member and connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the connector top end wall includes a central orifice configured to receive and retain a support from a ceiling.

12. the at least two of the elongated ceiling members are aligned in a straight line; the at least two orifices are aligned in the straight line; 11. The elongated ceiling grid member and connector assembly of claim 10.

13. the at least two of the elongated ceiling members include a first pair and a third pair of the at least two of the elongated ceiling members; the first pair being aligned in a first direction; the third pair is aligned in a second direction; the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; the connector upper end wall covers the first pair and the third pair; the at least two orifices include one orifice above each of the first pair and the third pair of the elongated ceiling members; 11. The elongated ceiling grid member and connector assembly of claim 10.

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