AU2014265016A1 - A support assembly of a suspended ceiling - Google Patents

Abstract

A SUPPORT ASSEMBLY OF A SUSPENDED CEILING A suspended ceiling of a building, the ceiling includes transversely spaced horizontally extending rails (13) that are joined by means of a joining member (19). The joining member (19) provides for longitudinal relative movement between the rails (13). . ). .

Description

1 A SUPPORT ASSEMBLY OF A SUSPENDED CEILING FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to support assemblies of suspended ceilings. BACKGROUND [0002] Suspended ceilings include a support assembly that is attached to a structure above (such as a concrete slab), with the assembly supporting sheet ceiling material, such as plasterboard. [0003] The support assembly includes a plurality of generally parallel transversely spaced rails, and battens attached to the rails to which the plasterboard is attached. The rails are suspended from the structure above by means of rods and clips, with adjustment being provided to adjust the height of the rails. [0004] A disadvantage of known suspended ceilings is that they are vulnerable to failure during movement of the supporting structure, such as during a seismic event. OBJECT [0005] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage. SUMMARY [0006] There is disclosed herein a member to engage a rail of a suspended ceiling, the member being longitudinally elongated and of a "U-shaped" configuration in transverse cross-section so as to provide a pair of transversely spaced generally parallel longitudinally extending flanges joined by a longitudinally extending base, and wherein the flanges are configured to grip the rail so as to provide for relative movement between the rail and member. [0007] Preferably, the flanges "snap engage" the rail.

2 [0008] Preferably, the member is resiliently urged into contact with the rail to inhibit movement between the member and rail. [0009] Preferably, the member is configured to be resiliently deformed when engaged on the rail so as to be urged into contact with the rail to frictionally engage the rail. [0010] Preferably, the member is moved transverse relative to the rail to engage the rail. [0011] Preferably, the member and rail have cooperating recesses and ridges that snap engage to secure the member to the rail. [0012] Preferably, the member has the recesses. [0013] Preferably, the recesses extend longitudinally relative to the rail. [0014] Preferably, the base is arcuate in transverse cross-section so as to be convex away from the flanges [0015] There is further disclosed herein a support assembly for a suspended ceiling, the assembly including: a pair of axially aligned rails, with adjacent longitudinal end portions, to which sheet ceiling material is to be secured so as to be supported by the rails; and a joining member extending between the rails so as to secure the rails together while permitting relative movement between the adjacent end portions, longitudinally relative to the rails. [0016] Preferably, the joining member slides along at least one of the rails to provide said relative movement. [0017] Preferably, each rail is of a "U-shaped" configuration in transverse cross-section so as to have a pair of longitudinally extending flanges joined by a longitudinally extending base, and the joining member is also of a "U-shaped" configuration in transverse cross-section so as to have a pair of longitudinally flanges joined by a longitudinally base, and wherein the member flanges and rail flanges have longitudinally cooperating recesses and ridges to secure the member to the rails.

3 [0018] Preferably, the member has the longitudinally extending recesses and the rails have longitudinally extending ridges. [0019] Preferably, the member is moved in a direction transverse relative to the rails to engage the rails. [0020] Preferably, one of the member flanges has a longitudinally extending slot through which a fastener may pass. [0021] Preferably, one of the member flanges has an aperture, through which a fastener may pass. [0022] Preferably, the member is resilient deformable to provide for engagement with the rails by movement of the member transverse relative to the rails, and to be urged into contact with the rails. [0023] Preferably, the member is resiliently deformable so as to snap engage with the rails. [0024] Preferably, one of the member flanges has a greater depth than the other member flange. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0025] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [0026] Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a rail, clip and rod of a suspended ceiling; [0027] Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view of a pair of rails employed in the ceiling of Figure 1 joined by a joining member; [0028] Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of a joining member employed in the rails of Figure 2; [0029] Figure 4 is a schematic end elevation of the joining member of Figure 3; [0030] Figure 5 is a schematic end elevation of one of the rails of Figure 2; 4 [0031] Figure 6 is a schematic end elevation of the rail of Figure 5 engaged with the joining member of Figure 3; [0032] Figure 7 is a schematic isometric view of a modification of the joining member of Figure 3; [0033] Figure 8 is a schematic side elevation of the joining member of Figure 7; and [0034] Figure 9 is a schematic end elevation of the joining member of Figure 7. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0035] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a portion of a suspended ceiling of a building, the building including a concrete slab. [0036] The ceiling includes a plurality of generally parallel transversely spaced horizontally extending rails 13 that are suspended from the slab by clips 14 and rods 15. It should be appreciated that alternative clips 14 may be provided. However in this embodiment each of the clips 14 includes a pair of flanges 16 that are resiliently urged apart to securely engage the associated rod 15. By moving the flanges 16 towards each other, the clips 14 may be moved longitudinally of the rod 15 to adjust the height of the associated rails 13. [0037] Extending transversely between the rails 13 is a plurality of battens. Sheet ceiling material, such as plasterboard, is fixed to the battens by fasteners. [0038] Where a substantial space is to be traversed by the rails 13, typically a number of axially aligned rails 13 are joined together. To provide for relative movement between joined rails 13, there is provided a joining member 19. [0039] Each of the rails 13 is longitudinally elongated so as to have a longitudinal axis 20. The rails 13 to be joined have aligned axes 20 with each rail 13 being of a "U-shaped" transverse cross-section so as to provide a pair of longitudinally extending side flanges 21 joined by a longitudinally extending base 22. Each of the side flanges 21 has a longitudinally extending ridge 23.

5 [0040] The joining member 19 is also of a "U-shaped" transverse cross-section so as to have a pair of longitudinally extending flanges 24 and 25 joined by a longitudinally extending base 26. Each of the flanges 24 and 25 has a longitudinally extending recess 41, with each recess 41 being configured so as to receive a respective one of the longitudinally extending ridges 23. However the joining member 19 may have the ridges 23, the rails 13 and the recesses 41. The flange 24 has a greater depth 11 than the depth 12 of the flange 25. [0041] Preferably, the flange 24 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 27. A threaded fastener passes through the slot 27 and engages in the flange 21. Preferably, the flange 24 also has an aperture 28. Again a threaded fastener would pass therethrough the aperture 28 to engage in the rail 13. The slot 27 provides for relative movement between the member 19 and the rail 13 adjacent the slot 27. Accordingly the member 19 provides for relative axial movement between the adjacent end portions 30 of the rail 13. [0042] During assembly of the aligned rails 13 and thejoining member 19, the flange 24 is placed again an aligned pair of the flanges 21, and the joining member 19 moved in the direction 42 transverse of the axes 20 so that the flange 25 snap engages over the ridge 23 to locate the ridge 23 within the recesses of the flanges 25. In that regard the joining member 19 would be formed of resilient material, such as steel to provide for resilient deformation of the member 19. [0043] When the joining member 19 is engaged with the aligned rails 13, the flanges 24 and 25 are urged into contact with the flanges 21 so that the joining member 19 frictionally engages the rails 13 to inhibit movement therebetween. By being resiliently urged into engagement with the rails 13, the joining member 19 securely holds the aligned rails 13 together, while still permitting longitudinal relative movement between the adjacent end portions 30. [0044] The joining member 19 is moved transverse of the rail or rails 13 in the direction 42 to the positions shown in Figure 2 and Figure 6. [0045] In Figures 7, 8 and 9 there is schematically depicted a modification of the joining member 19. In this embodiment the longitudinally extending base 26 is arcuate (in transverse cross-section) so as to be convex away from the flanges 24 and 25, and more particularly, when engaged with rails 13, the base 26 is upwardly convex so as to provide a longitudinally extending raised portion.

6 [0046] A further modification is the addition of a further aperture 43 in the flange 24. The aperture 43 is spaced from the slot 27 so that the slot 27 is positioned between the apertures 28 and 43, but is located closer to the aperture 43. The aperture 43 provides the option of a further threaded fastener to engage one of the rails 13, when a threaded fastener is not used to pass through the aperture 28. [0047] The above described preferred embodiments have the advantage that during a seismic event relative movement longitudinally of the rails 13 between the end portions 30 is permitted by the joining member 19 sliding along the rails 13.

Claims (19)

1. A member to engage a rail of a suspended ceiling, the member being longitudinally elongated and of a "U-shaped" configuration in transverse cross-section so as to provide a pair of transversely spaced generally parallel longitudinally extending flanges joined by a longitudinally extending base, and wherein the flanges are configured to grip the rail so as to provide for relative movement between the rail and member.

2. The member of claim 1, wherein the flanges "snap engage" the rail.

3. The member of claim 1 or 2, wherein the member is resiliently urged into contact with the rail to inhibit movement between the member and rail.

4. The member of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the member is configured to be resiliently deformed when engaged on the rail so as to be urged into contact with the rail to frictionally engage the rail.

5. The member of any one of claims I to 4, wherein the member is moved transverse relative to the rail to engage the rail.

6. The member of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the member and rail have cooperating recesses and ridges that snap engage to secure the member to the rail.

7. The member of claim 6, wherein the member has the recesses.

8. The member of claim 7, wherein the recesses extend longitudinally relative to the rail.

9. The member of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base is arcuate in transverse cross section so as to be convex away from the flanges.

10. A support assembly for a suspended ceiling, the assembly including: a pair of axially aligned rails, with adjacent longitudinal end portions, to which sheet ceiling material is to be secured so as to be supported by the rails; and 8 a joining member extending between the rails so as to secure the rails together while permitting relative movement between the adjacent end portions, longitudinally relative to the rails.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the joining member slides along at least one of the rails to provide said relative movement.

12. The assembly of claim 10 or 11, wherein each rail is of a "U-shaped" configuration in transverse cross-section so as to have a pair of longitudinally extending flanges joined by a longitudinally extending base, and the joining member is also of a "U-shaped" configuration in transverse cross-section so as to have a pair of longitudinally flanges joined by a longitudinally base, and wherein the member flanges and rail flanges have longitudinally cooperating recesses and ridges to secure the member to the rails.

13. The assembly of claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the member has the longitudinally extending recesses and the rails have longitudinally extending ridges.

14. The assembly of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the member is moved in a direction transverse relative to the rails to engage the rails.

15. The assembly of any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein one of the member flanges has a longitudinally extending slot through which a fastener may pass.

16. The assembly of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein one of the member flanges has an aperture, through which a fastener may pass.

17. The assembly of any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the member is resilient deformable to provide for engagement with the rails by movement of the member transverse relative to the rails, and to be urged into contact with the rails.

18. The assembly of any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the member is resiliently deformable so as to snap engage with the rails. 9

19. The assembly of any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein one of the member flanges has a greater depth than the other member flange. Rondo Building Services Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON