TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to ceiling systems, and more particularly
to ceiling beam connectors which aid the performance of the ceiling system in the
event of a fire.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A typical suspended ceiling includes a plurality of main beams which extend parallel
to one another and cross beams which span the distance between adjacent main beams.
The cross beams interlock with the main beams via connectors which are inserted through
slots in the main beams. The ceiling grid formed by the plurality of main beams and
the plurality of cross beams is typically hung from a structural ceiling by hang wires,
and ceiling panels are laid in the rectangular openings formed by the main beams and
the cross beams. The panels are generally highly heat resistant and help protect the
structural ceiling from heat damage in the event of a fire.
[0003] Fire, however, can cause damage to the main beams and cross beams which weakens the
suspended ceiling. For example, the elevated temperatures cause the beams to expand
longitudinally to relieve stress. If the beams are not allowed to expand, they will
buckle, causing the panels to fall from the openings and exposing the structural ceiling
to the heat of the fire.
[0004] The main beams are generally kept relatively intact during a fire by providing cutouts
along the beam which permit the beam, in a controlled way, to collapse in-line, longitudinally,
from the forces of compression created by the fire. Such an arrangement is disclosed,
for example, in
U.S. Patent No. 4,606,166. In the cross beams, however, such cutouts are generally not used, since they unduly
weaken the beams relative to the length of the spans, and the relatively large controlled
collapse is not required because the degree of expansion is not as large. For example,
the expansion created by a fire is about 2.54mm per 304.8 mm (0.1 inch per foot) of
beam length, so that in a 1524 mm (five foot) cross beam, the maximum expansion may
be less about 12.7 mm (0.5 inches).
US 4,611,453 discloses a connector clip according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0005] Accordingly, there remains a need for providing suitable expansion relief in cross
beams.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read
in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common
practice, the various features of the drawing are not to scale. On the contrary, the
dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.
Included in the drawing are the following figures:
FIG. 1A is a side view of a connector clip, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 1B is a profile view of a connector clip, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2A is a profile view of a connector clip attached to a ceiling cross beam, according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2B is another profile view of a connector clip attached to a ceiling cross beam,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a profile view of a ceiling main beam including a keyhole slot, according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4A is a side view of a connector clip attached to a ceiling cross beam and inserted
into a keyhole slot in a ceiling main beam, according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
FIG. 4B is an end view of a connector clip attached to a ceiling cross beam and inserted
into a keyhole slot in a ceiling main beam, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numbers refer to like elements
throughout the various figures that comprise the drawing, embodiments of the present
invention include connector clips for attaching cross beams to main beams in a suspended
ceiling. The connector clips provide for suitable expansion relief in the cross beams
in the event of a fire.
[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1B, a connector clip
100 is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connector clip
includes a trailing portion
110 and a leading portion
120. The trailing portion
110 and the leading portion
120 are attached by an offset
106. As used herein, "attached" means either two distinct pieces joined by a suitable
fastening element or a single unitary piece. Typically, the connector clip
100 are made of a single unitary piece of stamped metal, for example aluminum or steel.
[0009] The trailing portion
110 includes a plurality of fastening holes
112 and a stiffening bump
114. As described below, the plurality of fastening holes
112 may be used to secure the connector clip
100 to a ceiling beam. The stiffening bump
114 extends laterally from the trailing portion
110 in the opposite direction from the offset
106. The stiffening bump
114 may be stamped from (but still fully connected to) the trailing portion
110 such that the stiffening bump
114 is hollow. The stiffening bump
114 may have any suitable shape and size which will allow the trailing portion
110 to resist twisting or bending. The trailing portion
110 may further include two rear tabs
116, The rear tabs
116 do not impact the functioning of the connector clip
110, but allow multiple connector clips
110 to be manufactured in strips (not shown) with the rear tabs
116 of one connector clip
110 attached to the leading portion
120 of an adjacent connector clip
110. One connector clip
110 may be easily removed from the strip by cutting the leading portion
120 from the rear tabs
116.
[0010] The leading portion
120 includes an anti-rotation bump
122 laterally extending in the direction of the offset
106, a top protrusion
124 which is bent toward the offset
106, and a locking tab
126 laterally extending in the direction of the offset
106 punched out from the leading portion
120. The leading portion
120 further includes a hook
128 on the bottom edge (i.e., the edge opposite the top protrusion
124) of the leading portion
120. The anti-rotation bump
122 may have any suitable shape and size which will allow the leading portion
120 to fill up to half of the width of a slot in a main beam, as described in more detail
below. The hook
128, the top protrusion
124, and the stiffening bump
122 are vertically aligned (i.e., a vertical line will pass through each of the hook
128, the top protrusion
124, and the stiffening bump
122). The locking tab
126 is slightly offset from the top protrusion
124 away from the offset
106.
[0011] The connector clip 100 further includes a top angled flange 130 and a bottom angled
flange
140 which are each bent away from the direction of the offset
106. The top bent portion
130 includes a finger
132 which extends above the leading portion
120 and is separated from the leading portion
120 by a notch
134. The notch
134 may include a bulb portion
136 which extends into the trailing portion
110. The finger
132 is thinnest at the bulb portion
136, and accordingly will bend most readily at the bulb portion
136.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 2, the connector clip
100 may be connected to a cross beam
200. The cross beam
200 includes vertical web
210 extending between a bulb
220 at the top end of the web
210 and flanges
230 at the bottom end of the web
210. The trailing portion
110 is attached to the web
210 of the cross beam
200 by any suitable fastening elements
150, for example rivets or clinch joints which extend through the fastening holes
112 and through the web
210. The leading portion
120 extends beyond the edge of the web
210 and, because of the offset
106, is aligned with the web
210. The top angled flange
130 is adjacent to the bulb
220 and the bottom angled flange
140 is adjacent to the flanges
230. The top angled flange
130, the bottom angled flange
140 and the stiffening bump
114 reinforce the trailing portion
110 and prevent undesired bending of the trailing portion
110 when connected to the cross beam
200.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 3, a main beam
300 is provided for use in conjunction with the connector clip
100 and the cross beam
200 described above. Like the cross beam
200, the main beam
300 includes a vertical web
310 extending between a bulb
320 at a top end of the web
310 and flanges
330 at the bottom end of the web
310. The main beam
300 further includes a keyhole slot
340 with includes a bottom edge
342, a top edge
344, and sides
346 extending between the bottom edge
342 and the top edge
344. The width of the keyhole slot
340 (i.e., the distance between the sides
346) will vary along the height of the keyhole slot
340 (i.e., measured between the bottom edge
342 and the top edge
344), with the narrowest portion of the keyhole slot occurring at a narrowed region
348 nearer to the top edge of the keyhole slot
340 than the bottom edge of the keyhole slot
340.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 4, the cross beam
200 having the connector clip
100 attached to the web 210 may be connected to the main beam
300 by inserting the leading portion
120 of the connector clip
100 through the keyhole slot
340. The lower edge of the connector clip
100 is inserted into the keyhole slot
340 first and the connector clip
100 is rotated to bring the hook
128 into contact with the bottom edge
342 of the keyhole slot
340. As the connector clip
100 is rotated into position, the top protrusion
124 will contact the top edge
344 of the keyhole slot
340. Continued rotation will force the connector clip
100 downward, resulting in the top protrusion
124 pushing through the keyhole slot
340 and the hook
128 contacting the bottom edge
342 of the keyhole slot
340. The top protrusion
124 pushing through the keyhole slot
340 produces an audible click which signals that the connector clip
100 is secured in place. Once secured, the locking tab
126 will be aligned with the narrow portion
348 of the keyhole slot
340, prevent the connector clip
100 from backing out of the keyhole slot
340. Accordingly, the cross beam
200 may be cantilevered in the keyhole slot
340 during installation without requiring a connection from the opposing side of the
key hole slot
340. The top protrusion
124 and the anti-rotation bump
122 are positioned inside the keyhole slot
340 to limit rotation of the connector clip
100 inside the keyhole slot
340 about an axis parallel to the length of the cross beam
200 without substantially increasing the overall thickness of the connector clip
100. To allow a second connector clip
200 (not shown) to be inserted into the keyhole slot
340 from the opposite side of the main beam
300, the top protrusion
124 and the anti-rotation bump
122 should extend laterally from the leading portion
120 at a distance equal to no more than half of the width of the keyhole slot
340 outside the narrowed portion
348. The distance between the hook
128 and the top protrusion
124 is approximately equal to the height of the keyhole slot
124. Accordingly, vertical movement of the connector clip
100 in the keyhole slot
340 is constrained and the possibility of the connector clip
100 accidentally being removed from the keyhole slot
340 during installation is reduced. Lateral movement of the connector clip
100 is constrained by the hook
128 and the locking tab
126. Because the movement of the connector clip
100 is constrained within the keyhole slot
340, the cross beam
100 self-aligns with the main beam
300, eliminating the need for careful positioning of the cross beam
100.
[0015] Once the connector clip
100 is secured into the keyhole slot
340, the cross beam
200 is connected to the main beam
300. The flanges
230 of the cross beam
200 substantially abut the flanges
330 of the main beam
300, creating a continuous visual appearance when the suspended ceiling is viewed from
below. A portion
222 is removed from the bulb
220 of the cross beam
200 to create a gap between the bulb
220 of the cross beam
200 and the bulb
320 of the cross beam
300. Despite no bulb-to-bulb connection, vertical, upward rotation of the cross beam
200 is constrained by the finger
132, which is adjacent to, but separated from, the web
310 of the main beam
300 by a small gap. The small gap between the web
310 and the finger
132 allows for a small degree of vertical upward rotation of the cross beam
200, but otherwise provides for a bulb-to-bulb feel under normal conditions (i.e., in
the absence of fire-induced expansion of the cross beam
200).
[0016] In the event of a fire, heat will cause expansion of the cross beam
200 which forces the connector clip
100 toward the main beam
300. As the connector clip
100 is forced toward the main beam, the finger
132 will bend laterally, allowing for expansion of the cross beam
200. In other words, the finger
132 will constrict movement of the cross beam
200 under normal conditions, but will bend out of the way when excessive stress is applied
to the cross beam
200 in the event of a fire.
[0017] In the event the expansion of the cross beam
200 is so great that the cross beam
200 still needs to expand even after the finger
132 is bent out of the way, the connector clip
100 will also bend at the offset
106, allowing the cross beam
200 to move laterally with respect to the main beam
300 while still remaining connected to the cross beam
300. Because of the reinforcement of the leading portion
120 and the trailing portion
110 with the anti-rotation bump
122 and the stiffening bump
114, the connector clip
100 will selectively bend at the offset
106 in a controllable manner. Once the fire is extinguished and the cross beam
200 cools down and contracts, the connection between the cross beam
200 and the main beam
300 will be maintained because the locking tab
126 and the hook
128 hold the connector clip
100 in the keyhole slot
340.
[0018] Certain preferred embodiments of connector clips for attaching cross beams to main
beams in a suspended ceiling which provide for suitable expansion relief in the cross
beams in the event of a fire have been described herein. It is to be understood that
various modifications may be made to these described embodiments without departing
from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and other embodiments are
intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
1. A connector clip (100) comprising:
a leading portion (120) attached to a trailing portion (110) by an offset (106);
the leading portion (120) including an anti-rotation bump (122) extending in the direction
of the offset (106), a locking tab (126) extending in the direction of the offset
(106), a top protrusion (124) and a hook (128) on a bottom edge of the leading portion
(120) opposite the top protrusion (124); and
the trailing portion (110) including a bottom angled flange (140), and a top angled
flange (130), characterized in that the top angles flange (130) has a finger (132) which extends above the leading portion
(120) and is separated from the leading portion (120) by a notch (134) and in that the leading portion (120) includes a top protrusion (124) bent toward the offset
(106).
2. The connector clip (100) according to claim 1, wherein the trailing portion (110)
further comprises a plurality of fastening holes (112) and a stiffening bump (114)
extending laterally from the trailing portion in the opposite direction of the offset
(106).
3. The connector clip (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hook (128), the top
protrusion (124), and the anti-rotation bump (122) are vertically aligned.
4. The connector clip (100) according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the trailing portion
(110) includes two rear tabs (116).
5. The connector clip (100) according to claims 1 to 4, wherein the top angle flange
(130) and the bottom angle flange are each bent away from the direction of the offset
(106).
6. The connector clip (100) according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the notch (134) further
includes a bulb portion (136) that extends laterally into the trailing portion (110).
7. The connector clip (100) according to claim 6, wherein the finger (132) is thinnest
at the bulb portion (136).
8. A connector clip (100) and beam (200) for a suspended ceiling set including:
a connector clip (100) according to any of the preceding claims; and
a beam (200) for a suspended ceiling comprising a vertical web (210) extending between
a bulb (220) at a top end of the vertical web (210) and flanges (230) at a bottom
end of the vertical web (210),
wherein the connector clip (100) is attached to one end of the beam (200).
9. The connector clip (100) and beam (200) for a suspended ceiling set according to claim
8, the connector clip (100) being realized according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein
the trailing portion (110) is attached to the web (210) of the beam (200) by fastening
elements (150) which extend through the fastener holes (112) and through the web (210).
10. The connector clip (100) and beam (200) for a suspended ceiling set according to claim
8 or 9, wherein the leading portion (120) extends beyond an edge of the web (210)
and is aligned with the web (210).
11. A suspended ceiling set comprising a main beam (300) and connector clip (100) and
beam (200) according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the finger (132) is adjacent
to, but separated from, a web 310 of the main beam (300) by a gap.
1. Verbindungsclip (100), umfassend:
einen vorderen Abschnitt (120), der durch einen Versatz (106) an einem hinteren Abschnitt
(110) befestigt ist;
wobei der vordere Abschnitt (120) eine sich in Richtung des Versatzes (106) erstreckende
Verdrehschutzerhebung (122), eine sich in Richtung des Versatzes (106) erstreckende
Verriegelungslasche (126), einen oberen Vorsprung (124) und einen Haken (128) an einem
unteren Rand des vorderen Abschnitts (120) gegenüber dem oberen Vorsprung (124) umfasst;
und
der hintere Abschnitt (110) einem unteren Winkelflansch (140) und einen oberen Winkelflansch
(130) umfasst, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der obere Winkelflansch (130) einen Finger (132) aufweist, der sich oberhalb des
vorderen Abschnitts (120) erstreckt und vom vorderen Abschnitt (120) durch einen Einschnitt
(134) getrennt ist, und dadurch, dass der vordere Abschnitt (120) einen oberen Vorsprung
(124) umfasst, der in Richtung des Versatzes (106) gebogen ist.
2. Verbindungsclip (100) nach Anspruch 1, wobei der hintere Abschnitt (110) ferner eine
Vielzahl von Befestigungsöffnungen (112) und eine Versteifungserhebung (114) umfasst,
die sich seitlich vom hinteren Abschnitt in der entgegengesetzten Richtung des Versatzes
(106) erstreckt.
3. Verbindungsclip (100) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der Haken (128), der obere Vorsprung
(124) und die Verdrehschutzerhebung vertikal fluchten.
4. Verbindungsclip (100) nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 3, wobei der hintere Abschnitt (110)
zwei hintere Laschen (116) umfasst.
5. Verbindungsclip (100) nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 4, wobei der obere Winkelflansch (130)
und der untere Winkelflansch jeweils von der Richtung des Versatzes (106) weggebogen
sind.
6. Verbindungsclip (100) nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 5, wobei der Einschnitt (134) ferner
einen Wulstabschnitt (136) umfasst, der sich seitlich in den hinteren Abschnitt (110)
erstreckt.
7. Verbindungsclip (100) nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Finger (132) am Wulstabschnitt (136)
am dünnsten ist.
8. Verbindungsclip (100) und Träger (200) für ein Hängedeckenset, umfassend:
einen Verbindungsclip (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche; und
einen Träger (200) für eine abgehängte Decke, der einen vertikalen Steg (210) aufweist,
der sich zwischen einer Fassung (220) an einem oberen Ende des vertikalen Trägers
(210) und Flanschen (230) an einem unteren Ende des vertikalen Stegs (210) erstreckt,
wobei der Verbindungsclip (100) an einem Ende des Trägers (200) befestigt ist.
9. Verbindungsclip (100) und Träger (200) für ein Hängedeckenset nach Anspruch 8, wobei
der Verbindungsclip (100) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 7 realisiert ist, wobei
der hintere Abschnitt (110) am Steg (210) des Trägers (200) durch Befestigungselemente
(150) befestigt ist, die sich durch die Befestigungsöffnungen (112) und durch den
Steg (210) erstrecken.
10. Verbindungsclip (100) und Träger (200) für ein Hängedeckenset nach Anspruch 8 oder
9, wobei sich der vordere Abschnitt (120) über einen Rand des Stegs (210) hinauserstreckt
und mit dem Steg (210) fluchtet.
11. Hängedeckenset, das eine Hauptträger (300) und einen Verbindungsclip (100) und einen
Träger (200) nach einem der Ansprüche 8 bis 10 umfasst, wobei der Finger (132) an
einen Steg (310) des Hauptträgers (300) angrenzt, aber von diesem durch einen Zwischenraum
getrennt ist.
1. Attache de raccordement (100) comprenant :
une portion avant (120) reliée à une portion arrière (110) par un décalage (106) ;
la portion avant (120) incluant une bosse antirotation (122) s'étendant dans la direction
du décalage (106), une patte de verrouillage (126) s'étendant dans la direction du
décalage (106), une saillie de sommet (124) et un crochet (128) sur un bord de fond
de la portion avant (120) à l'opposé de la saillie de sommet (124) ; et
la portion arrière (110) incluant un bord incliné de fond (140) et un bord incliné
de sommet (130), caractérisée en ce que le bord incliné- de sommet (130) a un doigt (132) qui s'étend au-dessus de la portion
avant (120) et est séparé de la portion avant (120) par une encoche (134) et en ce que la portion avant (120) inclut une saillie de sommet (124) pliée vers le décalage
(106).
2. Attache de raccordement (100) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la portion arrière
(110) comprend en outre une pluralité de trous de fixation (112) et une bosse de raidissement
(114) s'étendant latéralement depuis la portion arrière dans la direction opposée
du décalage (106).
3. Attache de raccordement (100) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle le crochet
(128), la saillie de sommet (124) et la bosse antirotation (122) sont alignés verticalement.
4. Attache de raccordement (100) selon les revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle la portion
arrière (110) inclut deux pattes arrière (116).
5. Attache de raccordement (100) selon les revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle chacune
du bord incliné de sommet (130) et du bord incliné de fond est plié à l'écart de la
direction du décalage (106).
6. Attache de raccordement (100) selon les revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle l'encoche
(134) inclut en outre une portion renflée (136) qui s'étend latéralement dans la portion
arrière (110).
7. Attache de raccordement (100) selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle le doigt (132)
est le plus étroit à la portion renflée (136).
8. Attache de raccordement (100) et poutre (200) pour un ensemble plafond suspendu incluant
:
une attache de raccordement (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes
; et
une poutre (200) pour un plafond suspendu comprenant une âme verticale (210) s'étendant
entre un renflement (220) à une extrémité supérieure de l'âme verticale (210) et des
brides (230) à une extrémité de fond de l'âme verticale (210),
dans lesquelles l'attache de raccordement (100) est reliée à une extrémité de la poutre
(200).
9. Attache de raccordement (100) et poutre (200) pour un ensemble plafond suspendu selon
la revendication 8, l'attache de raccordement (100) étant réalisée selon l'une quelconque
des revendications 2 à 7, dans lesquelles la portion arrière (110) est reliée à l'âme
(210) de la poutre (200) par des éléments de fixation (150) qui s'étendent à travers
les trous de fixation (112) et à travers l'âme (210).
10. Attache de raccordement (100) et poutre (200) pour un ensemble plafond suspendu selon
la revendication 8 ou 9, dans lesquelles la portion avant (120) s'étend au-delà d'un
bord de l'âme (210) et est alignée avec l'âme (210).
11. Ensemble plafond suspendu comprenant une poutre principale (300) et une attache de
raccordement (100) et une poutre (200) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8
à 10, dans lequel le doigt (132) est adjacent à une âme (310) de la poutre principale
(300) mais séparé de celle-ci par un espacement.