Support device and system ceiling

Abstract

To provide a support device and a system ceiling a supporting ceiling panel or a facility at a position higher than a position where it is supported by a T-bar.SOLUTION: A support device B1 comprises a supported part, a support part, and a connection part. The supported part 60 is supported on a support piece 800 of a T-bar 80 constituting a system ceiling S1. The support part supports a ceiling panel 81 constituting the system ceiling S1. The connection part connects the supported part and the support part. The connection part is formed in a plate-like shape. The connection part has the supported part on a lower end and the support part on an upper end.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a support device and a suspended ceiling system, and more particularly, to a support device for supporting a ceiling panel or equipment of a suspended ceiling system, and a suspended ceiling system including the support device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, the ceilings of offices in office buildings and stores in commercial buildings are often composed of suspended ceilings called suspended ceiling systems (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A suspended ceiling system is a suspended ceiling formed by combining unit ceilings, and is a ceiling having a function that allows ceiling panels to be mounted and equipment such as lighting fixtures and air conditioning outlets to be easily installed (see Japanese Industrial Standard A1445 "Test Method for Suspended Ceiling System Components").

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a conventional suspended ceiling system, it has not been possible to install some ceiling panels or equipment such as lighting fixtures at a position higher than the remaining ceiling panels or equipment excluding the some ceiling panels or equipment.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a support device and a suspended ceiling system that can support a ceiling panel or equipment at a position higher than the position supported by a T-bar.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A support device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a supported portion supported by a support piece of a T-bar constituting a suspended ceiling system, a support portion supporting a ceiling panel or equipment constituting the suspended ceiling system, and a connecting portion connecting the supported portion and the support portion. A restraining part that suppresses the lifting of the ceiling panel or the facility supported by the supporting part; The connecting portion is formed in a flat plate shape, has the supported portion at the lower end, and has the support portion at the upper end. The restraining part is formed in a rectangular shape and faces the supporting part along the thickness direction of the ceiling panel.

[0007] A suspended ceiling system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the support device and a ceiling panel or equipment supported by the support device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] The support device and the suspended ceiling system of the present disclosure have the effect of being able to support a ceiling panel or equipment at a position higher than the position supported by the T-bar.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

[0010] Hereinafter, the support device B1 and the system ceiling S1 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, each drawing described in the following embodiments is a schematic diagram, and the respective ratios of the sizes and thicknesses of the respective components do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratios. Note that the configurations described in the following embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made according to the design and the like as long as the effects of the present disclosure can be achieved.

[0011] (1) Overview of the support device and the system ceiling according to the embodiment The system ceiling S1 according to the embodiment includes the support device B1 according to the embodiment and a ceiling panel 81 or equipment supported by the support device B1 (see FIG. 1). Note that the system ceiling S1 according to the embodiment further includes a plurality of T-bars 80 that support the ceiling panel 81 in the same manner as the support device B1.

[0012] The T-bar 80 includes a plurality of main T-bars 80A and a plurality of cross T-bars 80B (see FIG. 1). The plurality of main T-bars 80A are arranged in parallel with each other at regular intervals. The plurality of cross T-bars 80B are arranged in parallel with each other at regular intervals so as to intersect (cross) the plurality of main T-bars 80A. The basic structures of the two types of T-bars 80 (main T-bars 80A and cross T-bars 80B) are common except for the dimensional lengths in their respective longitudinal directions. That is, the T-bar 80 has a vertical piece 801 formed in a long flat plate shape, a joint portion 802 provided at one end (upper end) in the short direction of the vertical piece 801, and a pair of support pieces 800 provided at the other end (lower end) in the short direction of the vertical piece 801 (see FIG. 1).

[0013] The joint portion 802 is formed in a hollow square column shape with both ends in the longitudinal direction open. The joint portion 802 is connected to the upper end of the vertical piece 801 at the center in the short direction on one side surface (lower surface).

[0014] Each of the pair of support pieces 800 is formed in an L-shaped manner with both ends in the longitudinal direction open. Each support piece 800 protrudes from the lower end of the vertical piece 801 in a direction away from each other along the thickness direction of the vertical piece 801.

[0015] The T-bar 80 is joined to each of the plurality of suspension bolts by a plurality of T-hangers attached to each of the plurality of suspension bolts embedded in the ceiling slab of the building. Each of the plurality of T-hangers is screwed to a corresponding one of the plurality of suspension bolts and attached to the T-bar 80 so as to sandwich the joint portion 802 of the T-bar 80 from the short direction of the joint portion 802.

[0016] By arranging the plurality of main T-bars 80A and the plurality of cross T-bars 80B in parallel at equal intervals, a plurality of spaces (hereinafter referred to as equipment spaces) having a substantially square shape with the side length equal to the interval are provided so as to be arranged in a grid pattern.

[0017] The ceiling panel 81 is preferably composed of, for example, a square gypsum board. However, the ceiling panel 81 may be composed of a plate material other than the gypsum board (for example, wood or metal material). The four side surfaces of the ceiling panel 81 have steps along the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the ceiling panel 81. In the embodiment, at the periphery of the ceiling panel 81, a portion where the width in the thickness direction is narrower than the central portion of the ceiling panel 81 due to the steps on each side surface of the ceiling panel 81 is called an end portion 811. Also, a portion (central portion) excluding the end portion 811 of the ceiling panel 81 is called a main portion 810.

[0018] The ceiling panel 81 is inserted into the equipment spaces arranged in a grid pattern, and the end portions 811 of the four sides are supported by the four T-bars 80 so as to be placed on the support pieces 800 of the four T-bars 80 surrounding the equipment space. That is, the equipment space surrounded by the four T-bars 80 is blocked by the ceiling panel 81. Alternatively, equipment such as a lighting fixture or an air-conditioning outlet may be supported by the four T-bars 80 instead of the ceiling panel 81.

[0019] The support device B1 according to the embodiment includes a supported portion 60, a support portion 61, and a connecting portion 62. The supported portion 60 is supported by the support piece 800 of the T-bar 80 constituting the suspended ceiling S1. The support portion 61 supports the ceiling panel 81 or equipment constituting the suspended ceiling S1. The connecting portion 62 connects the supported portion 60 and the support portion 61. The connecting portion 62 is formed in a flat plate shape. The connecting portion 62 has the supported portion 60 at the lower end and the support portion 61 at the upper end.

[0020] According to the support device B1 according to the embodiment, the ceiling panel 81 or equipment can be supported at a position higher than the position supported by the T-bar 80.

[0021] Further, the suspended ceiling S1 according to the embodiment can install some of the ceiling panels 81 or equipment at a position higher than the remaining ceiling panels 81 or equipment excluding the some of the ceiling panels 81 or equipment by the support device B1 according to the embodiment.

[0022] Thus, the support device B1 and the suspended ceiling S1 according to the embodiment can improve the degree of freedom in the design of the indoor space as compared with the case where all the ceiling panels 81 and equipment are arranged on the same plane.

[0023] (2) Details of the support device and the suspended ceiling according to the embodiment The suspended ceiling S1 according to the embodiment (hereinafter abbreviated as the suspended ceiling S1) has the support device B1 according to the embodiment, the T-bar 80, the ceiling panel 81, and the lighting device A1. However, the lighting device A1 is not an essential component of the suspended ceiling S1.

[0024] (2-1) Details of the support device according to the embodiment The support device B1 according to the embodiment (hereinafter abbreviated as the support device B1) includes a first member 6, two second members 7, and two pressing plates 4 (see FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0025] In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the up-down, left-right, and front-back directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1 are defined as the up-down, left-right, and front-back directions of the support device B1 and the system ceiling S1.

[0026] The first member 6 has a supported portion 60, a support portion 61, and a connecting portion 62. The second member 7 has an intermediate portion 70 and a fixing portion 71 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0027] The connecting portion 62 of the first member 6 is composed of two side plates 620. The two side plates 620 are each formed in a long rectangle. One end of each of the two side plates 620 in the longitudinal direction is joined at a substantially right angle. That is, the connecting portion 62 is formed in an L shape as a whole. However, the connecting portion 62 may be composed of only one side plate 620, or may be composed of three or four side plates 620. That is, the connecting portion 62 may be formed in a U shape by three side plates 620, or may be formed in a square frame shape by four side plates 620.

[0028] The supported portion 60 is formed in a long rectangle with a narrow width. And the supported portion 60 protrudes to the side of the outer surface of the connecting portion 62 along the thickness direction of the side plate 620 from one end (upper end) along the longitudinal direction of each of the two side plates 620 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0029] The support portion 61 is formed in a long and narrow rectangle with a narrow width. And the support portion 61 protrudes from the other end (lower end) along the longitudinal direction of each of the two side plates 620 toward the outside surface of the connecting portion 62 along the thickness direction of the side plate 620 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The supported portion 60 and the support portion 61 each protrude in the same direction with respect to each side plate 620. Note that it is preferable that the supported portion 60, the support portion 61, and the connecting portion 62 are integrally formed by processing a single metal plate. Also, the inner surface of the connecting portion 62 (the surface facing the equipment space of the system ceiling S1. The same shall apply hereinafter) is preferably painted with a paint having a visible light reflectance of 80% to 90% or more.

[0030] Each of the two second members 7 has an intermediate portion 70 and a fixing portion 71 (see FIGS. 2 to 4). The intermediate portion 70 is formed in a long and narrow rectangle. However, the length in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate portion 70 is shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of one side plate 620 of the connecting portion 62.

[0031] The fixing portion 71 is formed in a long and narrow rectangle with a narrow width. The length in the longitudinal direction of the fixing portion 71 is about half of the length in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate portion 70. The fixing portion 71 protrudes along the thickness direction of the intermediate portion 70 at the upper end from one end to the center in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate portion 70. A female screw portion 72 is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the fixing portion 71. Note that it is preferable that the intermediate portion 70 and the fixing portion 71 are integrally formed by processing a single metal plate.

[0032] The two second members 7 are respectively attached to the two side plates 620 of the first member 6. Note that each second member 7 is preferably joined to the side plate 620 by spot welding the intermediate portion 70 to the outer surface of the side plate 620. However, the second member 7 may be attached to the side plate 620 by a method other than spot welding.

[0033] Each of the two pressing plates 4 has a suppressing portion 40, a first vertical piece 41, a horizontal piece 42, and a second vertical piece 43 (see FIGS. 2 to 4).

[0034] The suppression part 40 and the second vertical piece 43 are each formed in a wide rectangle. However, the length in the longitudinal direction of each of the suppression part 40 and the second vertical piece 43 is about half of the length in the longitudinal direction of the middle part 70 of the second member 7.

[0035] Also, the first vertical piece 41 and the horizontal piece 42 are each formed in a narrow rectangle. One end along the longitudinal direction of the suppression part 40 is coupled to one end along the longitudinal direction of the first vertical piece 41. The other end of the first vertical piece 41 is coupled to one end along the longitudinal direction of the horizontal piece 42. The other end along the longitudinal direction of the horizontal piece 42 is coupled to one end along the longitudinal direction of the second vertical piece 43. Also, a circular insertion hole is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal piece 42. Note that the suppression part 40, the first vertical piece 41, the horizontal piece 42, and the second vertical piece 43 are preferably integrally formed by processing a single metal plate.

[0036] The two pressing plates 4 are each fixed to the fixing parts 71 of the two second members 7 (see FIG. 4). Each pressing plate 4 is fixed to the fixing part 71 of the second member 7 by screwing a screw 44 inserted into the insertion hole provided in the horizontal piece 42 into the female screw part 72 of the fixing part 71.

[0037] (2-2) Lighting device As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the lighting device A1 includes a light source part 1, a housing part 2, a support part 3, a pressing plate 4, a light-transmitting panel 5, and a power supply unit C1.

[0038] (2-2-1) Light source part The lighting device A1 includes two light source parts 1. These two light source parts 1 may be referred to as a first light source part 1A and a second light source part 1B (see FIG. 6).

[0039] Each of the two light source parts 1 has two substrates 10, a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted on each surface (upper surface) of the two substrates 10, and a plurality of connectors 12 mounted on the upper surfaces of the two substrates 10. Each of the two light source parts 1 further has a mounting plate 14 and a plurality of fixtures 15.

[0040] The plurality of light-emitting elements are, for example, package-type LEDs 11 composed of white LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for illumination. However, the plurality of LEDs 11 may include a plurality of types of LEDs having different emission colors, for example, a bulb-color LED and a daylight-white LED. Note that the light-emitting element may be a light-emitting element other than an LED, such as an organic electroluminescence element or a laser diode.

[0041] Both of the two substrates 10 are formed in a long rectangle. The plurality of LEDs 11 are mounted on the surface (upper surface) of the substrate 10 so as to be arranged in two rows along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 10 (see FIGS. 6, 8, and 9). In addition, two connectors 12 are mounted at one end in the longitudinal direction of the two substrates 10. These two connectors 12 are electrically connected to the conductors of the printed wiring formed on the surface of each substrate 10. Further, each connector 12 is electrically connected to the plurality of LEDs 11 mounted on the surface of each substrate 10 via the conductors of the printed wiring. Then, one light source unit 1 is configured by electrically and mechanically connecting the two substrates 10 via the two connectors 12 of each other.

[0042] The mounting plate 14 has a first mounting piece 140, a fixing piece 141, a support piece 142, a connecting piece 143, a second mounting piece 144, and a vertical piece 145 (see FIGS. 6 and 8). The first mounting piece 140 is formed in a long rectangle. The fixing piece 141 is formed in a long rectangle. The fixing piece 141 stands upward from one end along the longitudinal direction of the first mounting piece 140. In addition, screw holes 1410 are provided one by one near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fixing piece 141 (see FIG. 8). The support piece 142 is formed in a long rectangle and protrudes from the upper end of the fixing piece 141 so as to face the first mounting piece 140 along the thickness direction of the fixing piece 141.

[0043] The connecting piece 143 is formed in a long rectangle and stands upward from the other end along the longitudinal direction of the first mounting piece 140. However, the width of the connecting piece 143 in the short-side direction (vertical direction) is substantially equal to the width of the fixing piece 141 in the short-side direction (vertical direction).

[0044] The second mounting piece 144 is formed in a long trapezoidal shape (see Fig. 6). Among the sides along the longitudinal direction of the second mounting piece 144, the side corresponding to the lower base of the trapezoid is connected to the upper end of the connecting piece 143. The vertical piece 145 is formed in a long rectangular shape. The vertical piece 145 protrudes downward from the side corresponding to the upper base of the trapezoid among the sides along the longitudinal direction of the second mounting piece 144.

[0045] The plurality of fixtures 15 are for fixing the substrate 10 to the upper surface of the first mounting piece 140. Each fixture 15 has a rectangular main piece 150, a pair of caulking pieces 151 that stand up upward from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the main piece 150, and a pair of protruding pieces 152 (see Figs. 8 and 9). The caulking pieces 151 are formed in a hook shape. The protruding pieces 152 are formed in a rectangular shape.

[0046] The pair of caulking pieces 151 and the pair of protruding pieces 152 of each fixture 15 are inserted from below the first mounting piece 140 into a pair of grooves that penetrate the first mounting piece 140 in the thickness direction (vertical direction). Further, the pair of caulking pieces 151 and the pair of protruding pieces 152 of each fixture 15 are inserted from below the substrate 10 into a pair of grooves regarding the substrate 10 in the thickness direction (vertical direction). Then, by caulking the pair of caulking pieces 151 outward of the substrate 10, the substrate 10 is fixed to the upper surface of the first mounting piece 140 (see Fig. 9).

[0047] (2-2-2) Accommodating portion The lighting device A1 includes two accommodating portions 2. These two accommodating portions 2 may be denoted as the first accommodating portion 2A and the second accommodating portion 2B.

[0048] Each of the two accommodating portions 2 has a bottom plate 20, a wall plate 22, a hidden plate 23, and a mounting portion 24. The bottom plate 20 is formed in a long rectangular flat plate shape. However, the bottom plates 20 of the two accommodating portions 2 are joined at one end in their respective longitudinal directions and are formed in an L shape as a whole (see Figs. 5 and 6).

[0049] Each wall plate 22 of each of the two accommodating portions 2 is formed in a long rectangle. Further, a fixing piece 220 protrudes from one end (lower end) along the longitudinal direction of each wall plate 22 (see FIG. 5). The fixing piece 220 is formed in a long rectangle having the same length as the wall plate 22. The fixing piece 220 is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate 20 by an appropriate method such as spot welding. The wall plate 22 fixed to the bottom plate 20 by the fixing piece 220 protrudes upward along the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the bottom plate 20 from the inner edge along the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 20 (see FIG. 5).

[0050] Each of the cover plates 23 of each of the two accommodating portions 2 is formed in a long rectangle. The cover plate 23 protrudes upward in the same direction as the wall plate 22 along the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the bottom plate 20 from the outer edge along the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 20. However, the width of the cover plate 23 in the short side direction (vertical direction) is longer than the width in the height direction of the T-bar 80 (see FIG. 5).

[0051] Further, each of the cover plates 23 of the two accommodating portions 2 is connected by a reinforcing plate 25 (see FIG. 6). The reinforcing plate 25 includes a quadrangular main piece 250 and a pair of fixing pieces 251 protruding from two opposite sides of the main piece 250. The reinforcing plate 25 is provided between the two cover plates 23 such that one fixing piece 251 is fixed to one cover plate 23 and the other fixing piece 251 is fixed to the other cover plate 23 (see FIG. 6). A rectangular groove 252 is provided at the lower part of the main piece 250.

[0052] Each of the mounting portions 24 of each of the two accommodating portions 2 is provided at one end (upper end) along the longitudinal direction of the two cover plates 23 (see FIGS. 6 and 5). The mounting portion 24 is formed in a narrow rectangle. The mounting portion 24 protrudes in the direction opposite to the bottom plate 20 along the thickness direction of the cover plate 23 from the upper ends of the two cover plates 23 (see FIG. 5).

[0053] Thus, the two accommodating portions 2 accommodate the light source portions 1 one by one in an accommodating space surrounded by a bottom plate 20, a wall plate 22, and a hidden plate 23. The light source portion 1 is fixed to the accommodating portion 2 by screwing one screw 146 into each of a plurality of female screw portions 1410 of a fixing piece 141 of a mounting plate 14, so that the fixing piece 141 is screwed to the hidden plate 23 of the accommodating portion 2 (see FIG. 8). A first mounting piece 140 of the mounting plate 14 to which the substrate 10 is mounted is disposed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 20 of the accommodating portion 2 (see FIG. 8). Note that the two accommodating portions 2 have an opening 21 above the bottom plate 20 (see FIG. 8). The accommodating spaces of the two accommodating portions 2 communicate with the equipment space through the opening 21. Therefore, the illumination light emitted from the plurality of LEDs 11 of the light source portion 1 is emitted to the equipment space through the opening 21 of the accommodating portion 2.

[0054] (2-2-3) Support portion The lighting device A1 includes two support portions 3. Each of the two support portions 3 has a main piece 30, a fixing piece 31, and a support piece 32 (see FIG. 8).

[0055] The main piece 30 is formed in a long rectangle. However, the length of the main piece 30 in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the length of one hidden plate 23 of the accommodating portion 2 in the longitudinal direction.

[0056] The fixing piece 31 is formed in a long and narrow rectangle with a narrow width. The length of the fixing piece 31 in the longitudinal direction is about half of the length of the main piece 30 in the longitudinal direction. The fixing piece 31 protrudes along the thickness direction of the main piece 30 at the upper end from one end to approximately the center in the longitudinal direction of the main piece 30. A female screw portion 310 is provided at the center of the fixing piece 31 in the longitudinal direction.

[0057] The support piece 32 is formed in a long and narrow rectangle with a narrow width. The support piece 32 protrudes in the same direction as the fixing piece 31 along the thickness direction of the main piece 30 at the lower end from one end to the other end of the main piece 30 in the longitudinal direction. Note that the main piece 30, the fixing piece 31, and the support piece 32 are preferably formed integrally by processing a single metal plate.

[0058] The two support parts 3 are respectively attached to each of the hidden plates 23 of the two accommodating parts 2. Each support part 3 is attached to the hidden plate 23 such that the fixing piece 31 is applied from below to the mounting part 24 of the accommodating part 2. Note that each support part 3 is attached to the hidden plate 23 by screwing the main piece 30 to the outer surface of the hidden plate 23. However, the support part 3 may be attached to the hidden plate 23 by a method other than screwing, for example, spot welding.

[0059] (2-2-4) Pressing plate The two pressing plates 4 each have the same configuration as the pressing plate 4 provided in the support device B1. The two pressing plates 4 are respectively fixed to the two accommodating parts 2. Each pressing plate 4 is fixed to the hidden plate 23 of the accommodating part 2 by screwing a screw 44 inserted through the insertion hole provided in the horizontal piece 42 into the female screw part 72 of the fixing part 71 (see Fig. 8).

[0060] (2-2-5) Translucent panel The translucent panel 5 is formed in an L-shaped flat plate by a synthetic resin having translucency such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin. However, in order to diffuse the illumination light emitted from the light source part 1, it is preferable that the translucent panel 5 is formed milky white by mixing a filler into the synthetic resin material. Note that the translucent panel 5 may be formed of inorganic glass such as quartz glass. Also, a plurality of translucent panels formed in the same shape and the same dimensions may be stacked in the thickness direction to constitute one translucent panel 5.

[0061] The light-transmitting panel 5 is attached to the mounting plates 14 of each of the two light source units 1. The light-transmitting panel 5 is placed on the support pieces 142 and the second mounting pieces 144 of each of the two mounting plates 14. Then, one screw is inserted into each of the plurality of mounting holes 50 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) provided in the light-transmitting panel 5, and these plurality of screws are screwed into the plurality of female screw portions 147 (see FIG. 8) provided in the second mounting piece 144. As a result, the light-transmitting panel 5 is attached to the second mounting piece 144 of the two mounting plates 14. Note that the plurality of mounting holes 50 provided in the light-transmitting panel 5 are preferably formed in an oval shape with the long axis direction aligned with the longitudinal direction of the light-transmitting panel 5 in consideration of the thermal expansion of the light-transmitting panel 5 made of a synthetic resin material.

[0062] Thus, the light-transmitting panel 5 attached to the mounting plate 14 covers the opening 21 of the housing portion 2 (see FIG. 8). That is, the illumination light radiated from the light source unit 1 is diffused when passing through the light-transmitting panel 5 and radiated into the equipment space.

[0063] (2-2-6) Power supply unit The power supply unit C1 has a power supply device and a mounting member 91 for attaching the power supply device to the T-bar 80 (see FIGS. 6 and 9).

[0064] The power supply device is configured to convert alternating current power supplied from a commercial power system into direct current power, supply the direct current power to the light source unit 1, and cause the plurality of LEDs 11 of the light source unit 1 to emit light. Further, the power supply device is configured to dim the illumination light of the light source unit 1 by adjusting the direct current power supplied to the light source unit 1 according to a dimming signal input from the outside. Furthermore, when the light source unit 1 is configured to be able to emit a plurality of illumination lights with different light colors, the power supply device may be configured to adjust (color-mix) the light color of the entire illumination light by dimming the illumination light for each light color.

[0065] The mounting member 91 has a mounting base 910 and a cover 911. The mounting base 910 is formed in the shape of a long angle (see Fig. 6). Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the mounting base 910 are bent downward and formed in a hook shape.

[0066] A power supply device is mounted on the upper surface of the mounting base 910. An input terminal block 92 is mounted at one end in the longitudinal direction of the mounting base 910. The input terminal block 92 is electrically connected to the AC input terminal of the power supply device. The input terminal block 92 is detachably connected to a power line connected to the power system. Also, an output terminal block 93 is mounted at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the mounting base 910. The output terminal block 93 is electrically connected to the DC output terminal of the power supply device. The output terminal block 93 is detachably connected to an electric wire 94 electrically connected to the light source unit 1 (see Fig. 9).

[0067] The cover 911 is formed in the shape of a long angle. The cover 911 is mounted on the mounting base 910 so as to cover the power supply device from above (see Fig. 6).

[0068] The power supply unit C1 is mounted on two T-bars 80 by hooking both ends in the longitudinal direction of the mounting base 910 on the joint portion 802 of two adjacent T-bars 80 (see Fig. 6). Then, the input terminal block 92 and two light source units 1 are electrically connected via two electric wires 94. Note that the two electric wires 94 are drawn out of the housing portion 2 through the groove 252 of the reinforcing plate 25 (see Fig. 9).

[0069] In this embodiment, the support device B1 is coupled to two housing portions 2 of the lighting device A1. Here, in the two housing portions 2 of the lighting device A1, fixing plates 26 are provided one by one at the longitudinal end (rear end) of the first housing portion 2A and the longitudinal end (right end) of the second housing portion 2B (see Fig. 6). Then, in the first member 6 of the support device B1, the longitudinal ends of the two side plates 620 constituting the connecting portion 62 are screwed to the respective fixing plates 26 of the two housing portions 2 one by one. As a result, the two housing portions 2 of the lighting device A1 and the support device B1 are coupled in a square frame shape (see Fig. 7).

[0070] (3) Installation Procedures for the Support Device and the Lighting Device Next, the procedure (installation procedure) for attaching the support device B1 and the lighting device A1 to the suspended ceiling S1 of the system will be described.

[0071] First, the operator performing the installation work removes the ceiling panel 81 at the location where the support device B1 and the lighting device A1 are to be attached (hereinafter referred to as the first equipment space) and the ceiling panel at the location adjacent to that location (the front adjacent location in FIG. 1, hereinafter referred to as the second equipment space) from the T-bar 80 on the suspended ceiling S1.

[0072] Then, after the operator removes the four pressing plates 4 from the lighting device A1 and the support device B1, the combined support device B1 and lighting device A1 are inserted into the first equipment space from below. The operator places the support pieces 32 of the two support portions 3 of the lighting device A1 and the supported portion 60 of the first member 6 of the support device B1 on the support pieces 800 of a plurality of T-bars 80 as desired in the first equipment space (see FIGS. 4 and 8).

[0073] Next, the operator pulls out the two electric wires 94 electrically connected to the two light source portions 1 through the grooves 252 of the reinforcing plate 25 and out of the housing portion 2.

[0074] Subsequently, the operator fixes the three pressing plates 4 one by one to the fixing pieces 31 of the support portions 3 attached to the first housing portion 2A of the lighting device A1 and the fixing portions 71 of the two second members 7 of the support device B1. Then, the operator inserts the end portion 811 of the ceiling panel 81 inserted from the second equipment space into the gap between the pressing plate 4 fixed to the support portion 3 of the first housing portion 2A and the placing portion 24 of the first housing portion 2A, and into the gap between the pressing plate 4 fixed to the second member 7 facing the first housing portion 2A in the left-right direction and the support portion 61 of the first member 6. That is, the operator places and supports the end portion 811 of the ceiling panel 81 on the placing portion 24 of the first housing portion 2A and the support portion 61 of the support device B1 to block the top surface of the first equipment space with the ceiling panel 81.

[0075] Then, the operator attaches the pressing plate 4 to the fixing piece 31 of the support part 3 attached to the second accommodating part 2B. In addition, it is preferable that the operator forms a notch or a through hole in the corner part of the ceiling panel 81 arranged in the first equipment space, which faces the reinforcing plate 25 in the vertical direction, and inserts two electric wires 94 into the notch or the through hole.

[0076] Next, after the operator installs the power supply unit C1 on the two T-bars 80 in the second equipment space, the operator electrically connects the two electric wires 94 of the lighting device A1 to the output terminal block 93 of the power supply unit C1 (see FIG. 9). Further, the operator electrically connects a power cord to the input terminal block 92 of the power supply unit C1.

[0077] Finally, the operator inserts the ceiling panel into the second equipment space from below, places the end of the ceiling panel on the support pieces 800 of the plurality of T-bars 80 facing the second equipment space, and installs the ceiling panel in the second equipment space.

[0078] The installation work (construction work) of the support device B1 and the lighting device A1 for the system ceiling S1 is completed in the above procedure. However, the above-described construction procedure is an example, and the order of some or all of the procedures may be interchanged.

[0079] In addition, the lighting device A1 installed on the system ceiling S1 as described above emits the illumination light radiated from the light source part 1 into the equipment space through the opening 21 of the accommodating part 2. Then, the illumination light emitted into the equipment space is reflected by the surface (lower surface) of the ceiling panel 81 arranged in the equipment space and irradiated onto the illumination space below the ceiling panel 81. That is, the lighting device A1 can perform indirect lighting by reflecting most of the illumination light emitted from the light source part 1 onto the ceiling panel 81 and irradiating the illumination space.

[0080] (4) Modification Examples of the Support Device and the System Ceiling According to the Embodiment Next, some modified examples of the support device B1 and the system ceiling S1 according to the embodiment will be described. However, in each of the modified examples described below, components common to the support device B1 and the system ceiling S1 according to the embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof may be omitted.

[0081] (4-1) Modified Example 1 In the system ceiling S1 of the modified example 1, one support device B1 according to the embodiment and one lighting device A1 are installed at a total of four equipment spaces adjacent to each other in the front-rear and left-right directions, for a total of four (see FIG. 10). However, in the system ceiling S1 of the modified example 1, the four support devices B1 and the lighting devices A1 are installed in the equipment space with their orientations changed by 90 degrees each.

[0082] Thus, in the support device B1 of the modified example 1, the support portions 61 are arranged at the peripheries of the four equipment spaces arranged in two rows vertically and horizontally. That is, the support device B1 of the modified example 1 can support the four ceiling panels 81 installed in the four equipment spaces together with the lighting device A1 at a position higher than the position supported by the support pieces 800 of the T-bar 80.

[0083] (4-2) Modified Example 2 The system ceiling S1 of the modified example 2 is different from the system ceiling S1 according to the embodiment in that it does not use the lighting device A1 and that it has only one support device B1 for one equipment space.

[0084] In the system ceiling S1 of the modified example 2, in the equipment space where the support device B1 is installed, one end of one of the two opposite sides of the ceiling panel 81 is supported by the support portion 61 of the support device B1, and the other end of the other side is supported by the support piece 800 of the T-bar 80. As a result, the ceiling panel 81 is installed in the equipment space in a state inclined obliquely with respect to the other horizontal ceiling panels 81 (see FIG. 11).

[0085] Here, since the gap between the support device B1 and the diagonally inclined ceiling panel 81 is blocked by the side plates 621 protruding from both longitudinal ends of the pair of side plates 620 of the first member 6, the T-bar 80 cannot be seen through the gap (see FIG. 11). In FIG. 11, one support device B1 is installed in each of a total of four equipment spaces adjacent to each other in the front-rear and left-right directions.

[0086] As described above, the system ceiling S1 of the second modification can support a part of the ceiling panel 81 at a position higher than the support piece 800 of the T-bar 80 without using the lighting device A1.

[0087] (4-3) Others The ceiling panel supported by the support device B1 and arranged in the equipment space is not limited to a flat plate shape, and for example, a ceiling panel formed in a hemispherical or semi-cylindrical shape may be used. Also, the equipment space of the system ceiling S1 is not limited to a square shape and may be rectangular.

[0088] (5) Advantages of the support device and the system ceiling according to the embodiment The support device B1 includes a supported portion 60 supported by the support piece 800 of the T-bar 80 of the system ceiling S1, a support portion 61 that supports the end portion 811 of the ceiling panel 81, and a connecting portion 62 that connects the supported portion 60 and the support portion 61. The connecting portion 62 is formed in a flat plate shape having the supported portion 60 at the lower end and the support portion 61 at the upper end.

[0089] Thus, the support device B1 and the system ceiling S1 using the support device B1 can support the ceiling panel 81 at a position (position of the support portion 61) higher than the position (support position) of the ceiling panel 81 supported by the support piece 800 of the T-bar 80. Therefore, the support device B1 and the system ceiling S1 can improve the degree of freedom in the design of the indoor space as compared with the case where all the ceiling panels 81 are arranged on the same plane.

[0090] In addition, since the support device B1 covers the T-bar 80 with the connecting portion 62, the T-bar 80 cannot be seen through the equipment space. Therefore, the support device B1 can improve the appearance by hiding the T-bar 80 with the connecting portion 62.

[0091] Furthermore, the support device B1 includes a suppression portion 40 (pressing plate 4) that suppresses the lifting of the ceiling panel 81 supported by the support portion 61. Therefore, since the support device B1 suppresses the lifting of the ceiling panel 81 by the suppression portion 40, it is possible to make it difficult for the end portion 811 of the ceiling panel 81 to come off from the support portion 61. For example, even if the ceiling panel 81 is lifted by an earthquake, the suppression portion 40 can suppress the lifting of the ceiling panel 81 and prevent the displacement and fall of the ceiling panel 81.

[0092] In the support device B1, the suppression portion 40 (pressing plate 4) is configured to leave a gap between the end portion 811 of the ceiling panel 81 supported by the support portion 61 and the suppression portion 40. Therefore, the support device B1 can support the end portion 811 on the support portion 61 by inserting the end portion 811 of the ceiling panel 81 between the suppression portion 40 and the support portion 61. As a result, the support device B1 can improve the workability of the work of installing the ceiling panel 81.

[0093] In addition, since the support device B1 includes an intermediate portion 70 that is fixed to the connecting portion 62 and to which the suppression portion 40 is fixed, the degree of freedom in designing the size of the suppression portion 40 can be expanded as compared with the case where the suppression portion 40 is provided on the connecting portion 62.

[0094] (6) Summary The support device (B1) according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a supported part (60), a support part (61), and a connecting part (62). The supported part (60) is supported by a support piece (800) of a T-bar (80) that constitutes a system ceiling (S1). The support part (61) supports a ceiling panel (81) or equipment (lighting device A1) that constitutes the system ceiling (S1). The connecting part (62) connects the supported part (60) and the support part (61). The connecting part (62) is formed in a flat plate shape. The connecting part (62) has the supported part (60) at the lower end and the support part (61) at the upper end.

[0095] The support device (B1) according to the first aspect can support the ceiling panel (81) or equipment at a position higher than the position supported by the T-bar (80).

[0096] The support device (B1) according to the second aspect of the present disclosure can be realized by combination with the first aspect. In the support device (B1) according to the second aspect, the connecting part (62) is preferably configured to cover and hide the T-bar (80) located below the ceiling panel (81) or equipment.

[0097] The support device (B1) according to the second aspect can improve the appearance by covering and hiding the T-bar (80) with the connecting part (62).

[0098] The support device (B1) according to the third aspect of the present disclosure can be realized by combination with the first or second aspect. The support device (B1) according to the third aspect preferably further includes a suppression part (40) that suppresses the lifting of the ceiling panel (81) or equipment supported by the support part (61).

[0099] The support device (B1) according to the third aspect can make the end part (811) of the ceiling panel (81) less likely to come off from the support part (61) by suppressing the lifting of the ceiling panel (81).

[0100] The support device (B1) according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure can be realized in combination with the third aspect. The support device (B1) according to the fourth aspect preferably further includes an intermediate portion (70). The intermediate portion (70) is preferably fixed to the connecting portion (62) and the suppressing portion (40) is preferably fixed thereto.

[0101] The support device (B1) according to the fourth aspect can expand the degree of freedom in designing the size of the suppressing portion (40) as compared with the case where the suppressing portion (40) is provided in the connecting portion (62).

[0102] The support device (B1) according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure can be realized in combination with the third or fourth aspect. In the support device (B1) according to the fifth aspect, the suppressing portion (40) preferably faces the supporting portion (61) along the thickness direction of the ceiling panel (81). The suppressing portion (40) is preferably configured to leave a gap between the suppressing portion (40) and the end portion (811) of the ceiling panel (81) supported by the supporting portion (61).

[0103] The support device (B1) according to the fifth aspect can support the end portion (811) on the supporting portion (61) by inserting the end portion (811) of the ceiling panel (81) between the suppressing portion (40) and the supporting portion (61). As a result, the support device (B1) according to the fifth aspect can improve the workability of the work of installing the ceiling panel (81).

[0104] The suspended ceiling system (S1) according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure includes the support device (B1) according to any one of the first to fifth aspects and a ceiling panel (81) or equipment supported by the support device (B1).

[0105] The suspended ceiling system (S1) according to the sixth aspect can install some of the ceiling panels (81) or equipment at a position higher than the remaining ceiling panels (81) or equipment excluding the some ceiling panels (81) or equipment.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0106] B1 Support device 40 Inhibiting section 60 Supported section 61 Supporting section 62 Connecting section 70 Intermediate section 80 T-bar 81 Ceiling panel 800 Support piece 811 End portion S1 Suspended ceiling system A1 Lighting device (equipment)

Claims

1. A supported part supported by a support piece of a T-bar constituting a system ceiling, a support part for supporting a ceiling panel or equipment constituting the system ceiling, a connecting part for connecting the supported part and the support part, and a suppression part for suppressing the lifting of the ceiling panel or the equipment supported by the support part, wherein the connecting part is formed in a flat plate shape, has the supported part at the lower end, and has the support part at the upper end, and the suppression part is formed in a rectangular shape and faces the support part along the thickness direction of the ceiling panel, a support device.

2. The connecting part is configured to cover and hide the T-bar located below the ceiling panel or the equipment, The support device according to Claim 1.

3. The support device further includes an intermediate part fixed to the connecting part and to which the suppression part is fixed. The support device according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The suppression part is configured to leave a gap between the support part and an end of the ceiling panel supported by the support part. The support device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. Any one of the support devices according to Claims 1 to 4, and the ceiling panel or the equipment supported by the support device, having a system ceiling.

Images