Ceiling Finishing System With Segmented Cover And Clamping Base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ceiling systems face challenges in easily exchanging finishing sections and maintaining a gap-free connection between the finishing section and the wall, especially when the wall is inclined, due to the permanent nature of the attachment and the need for precise additional operations to prevent visually objectionable gaps.

Innovation Solution

A finishing system comprising a separate base section and cover section that can be manually disconnected without affecting the connection to the ceiling or wall, utilizing a horizontally oriented clamping slot and clamping wall for secure and adjustable abutment against the wall, and optionally using a flexible flange edge for aesthetic integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the finishing section is permanently attached to the ceiling via the lath using barbed ribs and slots, then the connection stability is improved, but the ease of exchanging finishing sections deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidease of exchanging finishing sections
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The finishing section is divided into a base section and a cover section that can be separately assembled and disassembled. The base section remains permanently attached to the ceiling via the lath, while the cover section can be easily removed and replaced. This segmentation allows the permanent connection to maintain stability while the modular cover section enables easy exchange without affecting the ceiling attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If the finishing section extends further below the suspended ceiling to cover more area, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the risk of forming visually objectionable gaps with the wall increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic qualityVSAvoidvisually objectionable gaps
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover section is designed with flexible or adjustable elements that can adapt to variations in wall inclination and positioning. This dynamic capability allows the finishing section to maintain proper abutment against the wall even when extended to greater heights, preventing gap formation while preserving aesthetic quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a clamping strip is fixed to the wall to prevent gaps with inclined walls, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping function is integrated directly into the cover section of the finishing section, eliminating the need for a separate clamping strip. The cover section incorporates clamping elements that directly engage with the wall, combining the covering and clamping functions into a single component. This reduces the total number of parts while maintaining the reliability needed to prevent gaps on inclined walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP1746215B1Ceiling system
Publication Date: 2012.06.13 SPANJERS JOSEPH
  • EP1746215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1746215B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1746215B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A ceiling system comprising horizontal laths mounted in spaced-apart relationship and a ceiling cloth that is stretched between and under said laths, a finishing section for finishing an edge between the ceiling cloth and a wall, and fixing means for fixing said finishing section to the ceiling cloth and to the wall, wherein the finishing section comprises a base section, which is fixed to the underside of the ceiling cloth or to the wall by said fixing means, as well as a cover section, which can be connected to the base section by connecting means, in such a manner that the cover section abuts against the ceiling cloth and/or against the wall.