Ceiling Panel Wire Anchor for Gridless Suspension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suspended ceilings with grid systems are aesthetically limiting and require visible wires for support, compromising design flexibility and noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
A stamped sheet metal anchor clip that embeds into the rear of acoustical ceiling panels, allowing suspension without a grid, using 'blind' fasteners that do not penetrate the panel's visible face, featuring a pivoting mechanism to secure suspension wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a conventional grid system is used to support ceiling panels, then structural support is provided, but the aesthetic appearance is compromised due to visible wires and grid elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the conventional grid system from the ceiling suspension arrangement. Instead of using a visible grid framework, individual blind fasteners are directly attached to the ceiling panels, which are then suspended by wires. This extraction of the grid element eliminates the visual clutter while maintaining structural support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The blind fastener serves as an intermediary component between the ceiling panel and the suspension wire. It provides a mounting mechanism on the rear face of the panel that allows wire attachment without penetrating the visible front surface, thus mediating between structural support requirements and aesthetic appearance.
2Shape
If blind fasteners are used to attach suspension wires to panel rear faces, then visible fasteners are eliminated, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blind fastener is designed to be self-installing on the panel rear face without requiring specialized tools or complex procedures. The fastener attaches directly to the panel surface, and the suspension wire is then threaded through it, allowing installers to complete the task with simple manual operations rather than complex fastening mechanisms.
3Shape
If fasteners are spaced inwardly from panel edges, then visibility of suspension elements is minimized, but attachment area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The blind fastener utilizes the depth dimension of the panel rear face to provide adequate attachment area. By designing the fastener with sufficient dimensional extent in the horizontal plane while positioning it inward from edges, it achieves both edge-distance for aesthetics and adequate area for structural attachment strength.
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 the creation of visually appealing, gridless suspended ceilings with improved noise reduction by securely attaching panels to suspension wires without visible fasteners, maintaining structural integrity and accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The fastener is a stamped sheet metal anchor clip that embeds into the ceiling panel core... The clip is configured to work as a type of plier where finger grips are drawn together and blades open up and spread apart... Living hinge elements form pivot points for relative movement
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet metal fastener and method of use with a low density porous ceiling panel, the fastener comprising a plurality of blades adapted to be manually driven into a backside of a low density fibrous ceiling panel core, each blade being arranged to be pivoted about a horizontal axis in a direction opposite another one of the blades while embedded in the core to fix the fastener to the panel and an upstanding structure attached to said blades adapted to project upwardly from a rear side of the panel and having an aperture for receiving a suspension wire.