Splice Clip for Ceiling Grid Trim Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing splice plates for suspended ceiling trim systems risk damaging the appearance face of trim strips when set screws are over-tightened, leading to permanent blemishes.
Innovation Solution
A segmented metal splice plate with clamping screws that only secure the rear bracket/splice receiving track, avoiding direct contact with the appearance side and allowing for use with straight and curved trim strips, including inside and outside corners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If set screws are used to secure the splice plate to the trim strips, then the splice plate can be firmly attached and the trim strips can be aligned, but the appearance face of the trim strip may be dented or permanently blemished if the set screw is over-tightened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - a rear track - that mediates between the splice plate and the trim strip. The clamping screw secures the splice plate to the rear track instead of directly to the trim strip, eliminating direct contact between the fastening mechanism and the appearance face. This intermediary structure allows firm attachment while protecting the aesthetic surface from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the fastening function from the appearance face by relocating it to the rear track. The clamping screw and rear track form a separate fastening subsystem that is isolated from the visible portion of the trim strip. This separation allows the appearance face to remain undamaged while still achieving secure attachment through the rear track system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid splice plate is used, then the trim strips can be firmly aligned and secured, but the splice plate cannot accommodate curved trim strips or corners
Solution Approach 1:
The splice plate is divided into multiple segments separated by bend lines, with notches and slots that allow the plate to be flexed and shaped. This segmentation transforms a rigid structure into a flexible one that can be bent to match curved trim strips and corner configurations while maintaining the structural integrity needed for stable alignment when installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The splice plate transitions from a static rigid form to a dynamic flexible form through the addition of bend lines and notches. The plate can be flexed during installation to accommodate various geometries (straight, curved, corner configurations) and then maintains its shaped configuration to provide stable alignment. This dynamic capability allows the same splice plate design to adapt to multiple installation scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A splice plate for joining and aligning extruded trim strips used in suspended ceiling islands and fascias of the type having a pair of opposed flanged channels on its rear face, the splice plate having upper and lower flanges proportioned to slide into the pair of channels and a pair of clamping elements, each of the clamping elements being disposed in a rearwardly horizontally spaced relation to a respective one of said splice plate flanges, a machine screw associated with each clamping element and arranged when turned to draw the respective clamping element forcibly towards an associated plate flange to thereby clamp an intervening portion of a trim channel flange, said plate being sufficiently long to span between a pair of end abutted trim strips.