Suspended Ceiling Profile Grid With Deflecting Release Lugs

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suspended ceiling systems face challenges in facilitating safe and efficient mounting and demounting, particularly under high temperature conditions such as fire, while maintaining structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A grid of profiles with secondary profiles featuring lugs that deform to allow twisting of the primary profile, enabling disconnection by moving lugs to a deflected position and twisting about a longitudinal axis, facilitated by angled folding axes and recesses for hook-on members, allowing reinsertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the grid of profiles uses rigid connection between primary and secondary profiles, then structural strength is improved, but ease of dismounting deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidease of dismounting
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lug is designed to transition from a rigid position (defining mounted state) to a deflected position (enabling dismounting state). This dynamic characteristic allows the connection to be rigid during normal use but flexible during disassembly, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and ease of dismounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the lug changes from undeflected to deflected, altering the mechanical parameters of the connection. This parameter change enables the system to switch between strong connected state and easily separable state, addressing both requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the grid of profiles maintains rigid structural integrity, then safety under normal conditions is improved, but ability to withstand thermal expansion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidability to withstand thermal expansion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lug's ability to deflect accommodates thermal expansion of the secondary profile under high temperature conditions such as fire. This design allows the structure to adapt to thermal changes while maintaining safety through the controlled flexibility of the lug mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #37Thermal expansion

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic capability of the lug to change position allows the system to adapt to thermal expansion while maintaining overall structural integrity. The lug absorbs thermal stresses through its deflection capability, preventing rigid failure modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the lug is fixed in position, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation for dismounting deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelug positioning precisionVSAvoidease of dismounting
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lug transitions from a fixed precise position during manufacturing and assembly to a movable position during disassembly. This dynamic design maintains manufacturing precision for the mounted state while enabling easy operation for dismounting through the deflection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables safe and efficient dismounting of ceiling grid components under thermal stress, maintaining structural integrity and facilitating reassembly.

Implementation Method 1

Each lug is configured for deformation against the primary profile in response to a thermally induced longitudinal expansion of the associated first or second secondary profile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

The lug on each of the first and second secondary profiles is moveable around a folding axis being arranged at angle in relation to the longitudinal direction of the respective first or second secondary profile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4112834B1Grid of profiles and method for dismounting a grid of profiles
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 SAINT GOBAIN ECOPHON
  • EP4112834B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4112834B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4112834B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A grid of profiles (10) for a suspended ceiling system, comprising a primary profile (100) having a web (108) provided with a connection opening (102), and a first and second secondary profile (200) each having an end provided with a hook-on member (210). The first and second secondary profiles (200) are connected to the primary profile (100) by means of the hook-on members (210) which are inserted into the connection opening (102) from opposite sides thereof for hooked engagement with the web (108) of the primary profile (100). The first and second secondary profiles (200) each comprises a lug (212) extending in the longitudinal direction (L2) of the associated first or second secondary profile (200), which lugs (212) cooperate with the primary profile (100) to define a mounted state of the grid of profiles (10). The invention also relates to a method for dismounting a grid of profiles.