The present invention concerns a support device for false ceilings, in particular a device able to support panels for false ceilings having any polygonal shape, for example a triangular, quadrangular or other shape.

The present invention also concerns a false ceiling and a method to assemble it.

It is known that false ceilings generally consist of a series of panels adjacent to each other and attached to a corresponding support structure, to be anchored to the ceiling of the room where the false ceiling is to be made.

False ceilings can be of a fixed or removable type, that is to say, the panels that make them can be anchored to the support structure in a fixed or removable manner. Hereafter in the description, particular reference will be made to false ceilings of the removable type.

The support structure is generally formed by primary support elements, for example, beams made of sheet metal with a C-shaped profile, which are attached to the ceiling, and secondary support elements, also formed by section bars which are generally attached to the primary support elements, by means of corresponding brackets. In this way, reticular support structures are formed.

The brackets or support devices to which each of the panels that form the false ceiling is anchored are generally attached to the secondary support elements.

There are different types of brackets for support devices for false ceilings.

These known brackets or devices can be made in various ways and generally have a certain complexity, both structural and functional.

Such brackets can be, for example, formed by fork-shaped elastic elements attached to the sides of the panels and able to be inserted into suitable supports positioned on the reticular structure, as described for example in document US 2004/0118068 A1.

Known brackets or support devices for false ceilings have limits, first of all, from the point of view of the efficiency and precision of attachment of each of the panels of the false ceiling to the secondary support elements.

Furthermore, known support devices do not allow a fast, stable and secure attachment of the panels that form the false ceiling to the corresponding secondary support elements.

These disadvantages are further accentuated if triangular panels are used for making the false ceiling.

In positioning the triangular panels, in fact, considerable difficulties arise in the precise and reciprocal attachment and positioning of the triangular panels that form the false ceiling.

Furthermore, and in particular in the case of triangular panels, considerable difficulties arise in alignment and predisposition of the normal support devices or brackets on the secondary support elements.

Other limitations and disadvantages of conventional solutions and technologies will be clear to a person of skill after reading the remaining part of the present description with reference to the drawings and the description of the embodiments that follow, although it is clear that the description of the state of the art connected to the present description must not be considered an admission that what is described here is already known from the state of the prior art.

There is therefore a need to obtain a support device for false ceilings which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

There is also the need to obtain a false ceiling and a method to assemble it which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

One purpose of the present invention is therefore to obtain a support device for false ceilings which guarantees fast, secure and effective attachment of each of the panels that form the false ceiling, whatever their shape and/or size.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a support device for false ceilings which allows a rapid assembly and possible disassembly of each of the panels of the false ceiling.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method for assembling a false ceiling by means of which a series of support devices for the panels that form the false ceiling can be disposed quickly and precisely.

Another purpose of the invention is to obtain a false ceiling provided with a series of support devices disposed in a precise manner and able to house any form of panel.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a false ceiling comprising a series of adjacent panels, of any shape, that can be inserted or removed from the corresponding supports quickly and effectively.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes and according to a first aspect of the invention, a support device for false ceilings comprises a plate and one or more gripping elements associated with the plate and provided with at least two opposite walls comprising retaining portions, reciprocally distanced, or in reciprocal contact, and configured to allow the snap-in insertion between the portions and the automatic retention of at least one side of one false ceiling panel or at least two adjacent sides of two adjacent false ceiling panels.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the walls of the gripping elements are joined by means of removable connection means configured to each be positioned in a respective window made in the plate between at least two supports situated on opposite sides of the window and obtained by bending the plate downward.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, each of the gripping elements can be inserted in a sliding way between the at least two supports.

According to another embodiment the plate is made of sheet metal and the window, with corresponding supports, is made by shearing the sheet metal.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support device comprises at least a first pair of gripping elements disposed along a first axis and a second pair of gripping elements disposed along a second axis; a positioning direction of the support device is defined between the axes.

The gripping elements can include a lead-in part made at one end of the opposite walls.

In some embodiments, the connection means comprise at least a connection foil inserted between the supports positioned in the plate.

In other embodiments, the connection means comprise at least one sliding guide inserted between a plurality of sliding blocks positioned on the plate.

Another purpose of the invention is a false ceiling comprising a plurality of false ceiling panels and a reticular structure provided with support elements to which the false ceiling panels are attached. According to one aspect of the invention, the false ceiling comprises a plurality of support devices for the false ceiling panels positioned on the support elements and each comprising a plate positioned on the support elements, and one or more gripping elements associated with the plate and provided with at least two opposite walls comprising retaining portions reciprocally distanced, or in reciprocal contact, and configured to allow the snap-in insertion and the automatic retention of at least one side of a false ceiling panel or at least two adjacent sides of two adjacent false ceiling panels.

Another purpose of the present invention is a method for assembling a false ceiling which provides to make a reticular structure provided with support elements, for example profiled beams or suchlike; positioning a plurality of support devices for false ceiling panels along the secondary support elements by using at least one spacer able to determine a suitable distance between one support device and the next; attaching a plurality of false ceiling panels able to form a false ceiling to the support devices

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered, during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimed and shall be the object of a disclaimer.

Hereafter in the description we will refer in particular to a support device for panels for false ceilings that are triangular in shape, but it is clear that the support device according to the invention can be used for panels of any shape.

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

• fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view from below of a first executive form of a support device for false ceilings according to the invention;
• fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view from above of the support device of fig. 1;
• fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view from below of a part of a false ceiling made according to the present invention;
• fig. 4 is a three-dimensional view from below of an executive variant of the present support device;
• fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view from below of a part of a false ceiling attached to support devices as in fig. 4.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

We shall now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

With reference to the attached drawings and in particular to fig. 1, a support device 10 according to the invention comprises a plate 11 on which a plurality of automatic gripping elements 12 are positioned, for example snap-in, spring, clip or similar elements.

The gripping elements 12 can be made of metal, for example steel, galvanized steel, aluminum or suchlike.

The gripping elements 12 are disposed on the same plane, defined by the plate 11.

The gripping elements 12 are also disposed in pairs along two axes X and Y.

The axes X and Y can be transverse to each other and inclined in relation to the specific geometry of the panels 16 with which the false ceiling 30 is to be made. For example, the axes X and Y can be substantially orthogonal.

The axes X and Y intersect at a point O of the plate 11: the gripping elements 12 are preferably equidistant from the intersection point O.

The support plate 11 is preferably made of metal, for example steel, galvanized steel, aluminum or suchlike.

Each of the gripping elements 12 comprises a pair of retaining walls 14, suitably shaped and between which two adjacent and vertical sides 15 of the two adjacent panels 16 of the false ceiling will be positioned in snap-in manner, see also fig. 3.

It is possible to provide that in the gripping elements 12 only one side of a panel 16 is positioned in snap-in manner, for example in the case of a final panel of the false ceiling.

The walls 14 comprise retaining portions 43 disposed at a suitable reciprocal distance or even in reciprocal contact, and able to retain the side 15 or sides 15 of the panel 16 or panels 16.

The walls 14 are joined at one end by a connection foil 17 of the gripping element 12 with the support plate 11.

The walls 14 and the connection foil 17 are made in a single piece to define a section bar.

The walls 14 and the foil 17 thus form a spring- or clip-like triangular structure in which, at rest, the walls 14 tend to approach each other towards their free end and comprise retaining portions 43.

The inner width L of the connection foil 17 substantially defines the useful width for inserting the sides 15 of the adjacent panels 16 of the false ceiling.

At the opposite end to that where the connection foil 17 is positioned, the gripping element 12 has a lead-in part 18 in which the retaining walls 14 have an appropriate divergence, so that the side 15 of the panel 16 or adjacent sides 15 of adjacent panels 16 can easily enter the gripping element 12.

In the support plate 11 (see fig. 2), for each of the gripping elements 12, a window 19 is made, for positioning the connection foil 17.

The window 19 comprises on two opposite sides a pair of supports 20 able to support the edges 21 of the foil 17.

The window 19, provided with supports 20 on opposite sides, can be made by shearing and bending flaps of the plate 11. If the plate 11 is made of metal, such as sheet metal, the supports 20 can be, for example, tongues made in the sheet and bent downward, as shown in the drawings by way of example.

Above the supports 20, therefore, the edges 21 situated on opposite sides of the foil 17 of the gripping element 12 must be positioned.

Clearly, the gripping elements 12 can be possibly removed from the supports 20, advantageously by sliding the gripping elements 12 with respect to said supports.

Optionally, it is possible to provide on the supports 20, holes 22 for inserting screws, such as self-tapping screws or suchlike, for attaching the gripping elements 12 to said supports 20.

Next to each of the windows 19, and in close proximity thereto, reference plates 23 are positioned in the plate 11 with the purpose of establishing the correct position of the gripping elements 12.

If the plate 11 is made of metal, such as sheet metal, the reference elements 23 can be, for example, tongues made in the sheet and bent downward, as shown in the drawings by way of example.

Thanks to these supports 20 in the form of tongues, the gripping elements 12, as we said, can be inserted precisely and by sliding between the supports 20 of the plate 11.

The sliding can be carried out, for example, in direction X or in direction Y, depending on the positioning of the gripping elements 12.

Fig. 2 also partly shows a primary support element 24, which is attached directly to the ceiling where the false ceiling is to be made, and a secondary support element 25 on which the support device 10 of the panels 16 is inserted.

The primary support element 24 is attached to the ceiling by any known means, such as dowels or suchlike.

The secondary support element 25 is connected to the primary support element 24 by means of a joint 26 of a known type, or by any other connection mean, preferably removable.

The support elements 24 and 25 can be formed by sheet metal bars having suitable shapes.

According to a possible embodiment, the secondary support elements 25 can have substantially the same shape as the section bar defining the walls 14 and the foil 17 of the gripping elements 12.

The support elements 24 and 25 thus form a reticular structure 36 which in practice supports the false ceiling 30 formed by the various panels 16 adjacent to each other.

Along the plate 11 it is possible to define a further direction D which represents substantially the direction along which the support element 25 is directed.

The direction D substantially represents the positioning direction of the plate 11 of the support device 10.

The direction D passes through the center O of the plate 11 and is preferably disposed diagonally with respect to the axes X and Y.

In this direction D, one or more holes 28 can be made, to attach the plate 11 to the secondary support element 25.

The plate 11 comprises an edge 27 on which two pairs of U-bolts 29 are positioned, with the function of guaranteeing the correct positioning and centering of the plate 11 and hence of the device 10 on the support element 25.

The U-bolts 29 protrude from the plate 11 from the support and positioning side on the support element 25, in this case downward (see fig. 2).

The pairs of U-bolts 29 are made on opposite sides of the plate 11 and, preferably, their axis of symmetry is directed in direction D.

The pairs of U-bolts 29 therefore allow substantially to position and center the plate 11 of the support device 10 on the secondary support element 25.

If the plate 11 is made of metal, for example sheet metal, the U-bolts 29 can be, for example, tongues made in the sheet and bent toward the overlapping side of the plate 11, as shown in the drawings by way of example.

In order to quickly guarantee the correct reciprocal positioning of the support devices 10 along a secondary support element 25, see fig. 3, it is provided to use at least one spacer 32, shown schematically by hatching.

The spacer 32 is preferably used whenever a support device 10 is to be positioned on the secondary support element 25, having for example as reference a support device 10 already installed.

The spacer 32 therefore guarantees that the support devices 10 are disposed at the same distance from each other on the support element 25 along which they are installed.

The spacer 32 is also partly shown by hatching in fig. 2. The spacer 32 substantially comprises a central bar 33, which at the ends provides connection elements 34 able to engage, for example by wedging, in corresponding connection elements 31, of a complementary shape, made on opposite sides of the support plate 11.

The connection elements 31 made on the plate 11 are disposed in direction D.

The bar 33 is disposed at a height lower than that of the secondary support element 25 and is connected to the connection elements 34 with which it is provided at the end by means of a connection segment 35.

The connection elements 34, see the connection element 34 in fig. 2, are thus resting on the surface of the secondary support element 25.

The support device 10a shown in fig. 4 comprises the support plate 11 a, on which, on opposite sides of the edge 27, two sliding blocks 37 are made.

The blocks 37 on one side are joined or made in a single piece with the plate 11a, and on the other side have a sliding aperture 38, able to be inserted by sliding along a guide 39 made on the secondary support element 25a.

The sliding aperture 38 of each of the blocks 37 is sized so as to allow the insertion of the blocks 37 preferably only on the side and hence from the ends of the guide 39.

The guide 39 is made substantially in the direction D, so that the sliding apertures 38 of the blocks 37 will also be directed in direction D.

In this variant embodiment too, the support device 10a comprises two pairs of gripping elements 12a, of which a pair of gripping elements 12a is directed along the axis X and the other pair of gripping elements 12a is directed along the axis Y.

Each of the gripping elements 12a comprises two opposite walls 14a, which are connected and joined on one side to a guide element 40, or sliding guide, able to be inserted into suitable supports made on the plate 11a. The supports can be, for example, in the form of blocks 41.

The blocks 41 are made on opposite sides of the window of the plate 11 a in correspondence with which the gripping element 12a can be positioned.

The walls 14a and sliding guide element 40 can be made in a single body to define a section bar.

According to this variant embodiment too, the secondary support elements 25a can have a cross-sectional shape substantially equal to that of the section bar defining the walls 14a and the sliding guide 40.

The support blocks 41 are thus directed along the axis X or along the axis Y.

In this case, therefore, the gripping elements 12a will be inserted by sliding the guide element 40 into the support blocks 41 made in the plate 11a.

Similarly to the use of the supports 20, the blocks 41 can also be made by bending downward, in correspondence with the window where the gripping elements 12a are positioned.

Furthermore, the plate 11a can also be made of sheet metal, like the plate 11.

In this case too, the walls 14a have retaining portions 43a disposed at a suitable reciprocal distance or even in reciprocal contact.

On the opposite side to the side where the walls 14a are joined with the guide element 40, the gripping element 12a has a lead-in part 18a able to facilitate the entry and retention of the vertical sides 15 of the panels 16.

The gripping elements 12 or 12a of the sides 15 of the panels 16 function substantially automatically and in a snap-in manner, or as clips, thanks to the retaining portions 43 or 43a with which the walls 14 or 14a are provided.

The side 15 of the panel 16 is then inserted through the lead-in part 18 or 18a made between the two retaining walls 14 or 14a of the gripping elements 12 and 12a, exerting a certain pressure.

The opposite walls 14 or 14a of the gripping elements 12 or 12a tend to move reciprocally toward each other, like a kind of clip, then firmly retain the panels 16 once the corresponding sides 15 have been inserted into the gripping elements 12 or 12a and are in contact with retaining portions 43 or 43a.

Therefore, the opposite walls 14 or 14a of the gripping elements 12 or 12a are substantially distanced from one another with a certain force due to the insertion of the side or sides 15 of the panels 16, and tend to return elastically to the close-up position shown in figs. 1, 2 and 4, retaining in this way and thanks to the retaining portions 43 or 43a, the side 15 of the panel 16 disposed between them or the sides 15 of the adjacent panels 16 disposed between them.

Each gripping element 12 or 12a can firmly house two adjacent sides 15 of two adjacent panels 16 so as to form complete false ceilings, see for example the false ceiling 30 in fig. 3.

The panels 16 in this case are in the shape of a right triangle and, in pairs, form rectangles as they are reciprocally adjacent along the diagonal sides 42 that define the hypotenuse.

The sides 15 that define the right angled tops 13 of the panels 16 are inserted into two gripping elements 12 or 12a, one of which is directed along the axis X and the other is directed along the axis Y.

The diagonal sides 42 of the panels 16 are thus directed in direction D, along which the secondary support elements 25 or 25a lie.

The spacer 32 can also be used for assembling the panels with support devices 10a and secondary support elements 25a. In this case, it is sufficient to provide, on the corresponding plate 11 a, the corresponding connection elements, for example similar to the connection elements 31 provided on the plate 11.

Once the reticular structure 36 formed by the primary support elements 24 and secondary support elements 25 or 25a has been made, the support devices 10 or 10a are positioned on said support elements 25 or 25a.

The support devices 10 and 10a are substantially both positioned and centered on the secondary support elements 25 or 25a: the support device 10 is overlapped on the support element 24 by resting the plate 11 on the surface of the support and centering element, thanks to the U-bolts 29; the support device 10a is positioned on the support elements 25 by inserting/sliding the two blocks 37 along the guide 39; in this case centering is already guaranteed by the sliding.

In order to position the support devices 10 or 10a correctly and precisely, as can be seen, the spacer 32 can be used, which guarantees that the support devices 10 and 10a are all disposed at the same reciprocal distance.

Once the support devices 10 or 10a are positioned precisely along the secondary elements 25 or 25a, the automatic snap-in insertion of the sides 15 of the panels 16 into the gripping elements 12 or 12a is made, until the desired false ceiling 30 is formed.

The gripping elements 12 or 12a shown could also be made in other ways, for example, it would be possible to provide that the pinching and retaining walls 14 and 14a are held in close position by elastic elements, such as springs or suchlike, and the insertion of the sides 15 of the panels 16 exerts a contrasting action of the elastic elements.

The support devices 10 and 10a could also provide a different number and/or disposition of the gripping elements 12 or 12a, so as to provide also the automatic gripping of panels of different shapes from that shown, for example rectangular panels, square or polygonal in general.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the support device for false ceilings and the false ceiling obtained using the assembly method described, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of support device for false ceilings and the false ceiling obtained, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.