Canopy system and group suspension system therefore

Abstract

A ceiling system for use in an interior building environment. In one aspect, the invention may be a ceiling system comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of struts; a plurality of modules, each of the modules comprising a panel and a plurality of hook members coupled to and extending from a top surface of the panel; each of the hook members comprising: an upstanding section; a hook portion at a top end of the upstanding section, the hook portion defining a downwardly-facing open slot; and an attachment flange at a bottom end of the upstanding section that couples the hook member to the top surface of the panel; and the modules mounted to the frame, and wherein for each of the modules, the hook portions of the hook members fit over and rest upon the struts, the struts located in the downwardly-facing open slots of the hook portions.

Claims

1. A ceiling system comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of struts; a plurality of modules mounted to the frame, each module comprising a panel having an upper surface opposite a lower surface, and a plurality of hook members; each of the hook members comprising: an upstanding section; a hook portion at a top end of the upstanding section, the hook portion extending from the upstanding section in a first direction; and an attachment flange at a bottommost end of the upstanding section, the attachment flange comprising a front section extending from the upstanding section in the first direction and the front section being located beneath the hook portion, the front section comprising a first plate member that is flat and has a first and second major surface, the second major surface of the first plate member being substantially parallel to the upper surface of the panel, the front section comprising a first portion that extends laterally outward in a second direction and a second portion that extends laterally outward in a third direction, the second direction being opposite to the third direction and both the second and third directions being transverse to the first direction; wherein for each of the modules, the hook portions of the hook members fit over and rest upon the struts and wherein each hook member terminates at the second major surface of the first plate member, and the first plate member is coupled to the upper surface of the panel.

2. The ceiling system according to claim 1 wherein for each of the modules, the panel comprises a wood panel.

3. The ceiling system according to claim 1 wherein each of the hook members is a single monolithic component.

4. The ceiling system according to claim 1 wherein the struts comprise a plurality of first struts and a plurality of second struts, the second struts intersecting the first struts.

5. The ceiling system according to claim 4 further comprising a hanging device connecting the frame to an overhead building structure.

6. The ceiling system according to claim 5 wherein the frame and the modules collectively form a suspended ceiling island.

7. The ceiling system according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion defining a downwardly-facing open slot and the struts are located in the downwardly-facing open slots of the hook portions.

8. The ceiling system according to claim 1 wherein for each of the modules, the hook members are located inboard of an edge of the panel.

9. The ceiling system according to claim 1 wherein for each of the hook members of each of the modules, a reference axis that is perpendicular to the top surface of the panel intersects both the front section of the attachment flange and the hook portion.

10. A ceiling module comprising: a panel having an upper surface opposite a lower surface; and a plurality of hook members, each of the hook members comprising: an upstanding section; a hook portion at a top end of the upstanding section, the hook portion extending from the upstanding section in a first direction; and an attachment flange at a bottommost end of the upstanding section, the attachment flange comprising a front section extending from the upstanding section in the first direction and the front section being located beneath the hook portion, the front section comprising a first plate member that is flat and has a first and second major surface, the second major surface of the first plate member facing the upper surface of the panel and the second major surface of the first plate member being substantially parallel to the upper surface of the panel; wherein each hook member terminates at the second major surface of the first plate member such that the second major surface of the first plate member is bottommost on the hook portion, and the first plate member is coupled to the upper surface of the panel.

11. The ceiling module according to claim 10 wherein the panel comprises a wood panel.

12. The ceiling module according to claim 10 wherein each of the hook members is a single monolithic component.

13. The ceiling module according to claim 10 wherein the first plate member of each hook member is coupled to the upper surface of the panel by a fastener or adhesive.

14. The ceiling module according to claim 13 wherein the first plate member of each hook member is coupled to the upper surface of the panel by the fastener extending through the first and second major surface of the first plate member into the panel.

15. The ceiling module according to claim 10, wherein the hook portion defines a downwardly-facing open slot.

16. The ceiling module according to claim 10 wherein the hook members are located inboard of an edge of the panel.

17. The ceiling module according to claim 10 wherein for each of the hook members, a reference axis that is perpendicular to the top surface of the panel intersects both the front section of the attachment flange and the hook portion.

18. A ceiling system comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of struts; a plurality of modules, each of the modules comprising a panel having an upper surface opposite a lower surface and a plurality of hook members; each of the hook members comprising: an upstanding section; a hook portion at a top end of the upstanding section, the hook portion extending from the upstanding section in a first direction; and an attachment flange at a bottommost end of the upstanding section, the attachment flange comprising a rear section extending from the upstanding section in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, the rear section comprising a first plate member that is flat and having a first and second major surface, the second major surface of the first plate member being substantially parallel to the upper surface of the panel, the rear section comprising a first portion that extends laterally outward in a second direction and a second portion that extends laterally outward in a third direction, the second direction being opposite to the third direction and both the second and third directions being transverse to the first direction; and wherein for each of the modules, the hook portions of the hook members fit over and rest upon the struts and wherein each hook member terminates at the second major surface of the first plate member, and the first plate member is coupled to the upper surface of the panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example embodiment of the canopy system of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a canopy module from FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the hook shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(4) FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the suspension bar shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(5) FIG. 3c is a perspective view of the suspension bar connector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(6) FIG. 4a is a perspective view showing the first step of the progressive steps for installing a canopy module on the grouping frame.

(7) FIG. 4b is a perspective view showing the second step of the progressive steps for installing a canopy module on the grouping frame.

(8) FIG. 4c is a perspective view showing the third step of the progressive steps for installing a canopy module on the grouping frame.

(9) FIG. 4d is a perspective view showing the fourth step of the progressive steps for installing a canopy module on the grouping frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Referring now in greater detail to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

(11) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the general structural arrangement of an example embodiment of the canopy system of the invention. The canopy system 10 includes a grouping frame 12 and one or more canopy modules 14. The grouping frame 12 has at least two intersecting struts 16 which are attached to one another and are supported by the overhead building structure (not shown) by a hanging device, such as the suspension cables 17 shown in FIG. 1.

(12) As best seen on FIG. 2, the canopy module 14 has a panel 18, such as a fibrous acoustical panel or wood panel, which has a top surface 20, a bottom surface 22 and an edge 24 extending therebetween. The panel 18 includes a routed in-board channel 26 which extends from the top surface 20 in a direction toward the bottom surface 22. For purposes of this description, the term in-board channel refers to a channel that does not extend to an edge of the panel. This in-board feature substantially preserves the integrity of the panel and provides freedom of the edges. In other words, the edge configuration is not dictated by the support structure. Also, since the channel 26 does not extend to the edge of the panel 18, no further edge detail, such as a trim element, is required to finish the edge of the panel 18.

(13) The canopy module 14 also includes suspension hardware, the components of which are best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3a-3c. The suspension hardware includes one or more longitudinally extending suspension bars 32 (See FIG. 3b). In the preferred configuration shown throughout the drawings, more than one suspension bar 32 is utilized. Here, the individual suspension bars 32 are mechanically attached to one another in the channel 26 to form an inter-locking continuous suspension bar. For example, the suspension bars can be attached via corner splices 40 (See FIG. 3c). When assembled to the panel, the suspension bars 32 provide rigid support for the panel in both the longitudinal and cross directional axes of the panel. Various types of suspension bars 32 can be utilized, including the extruded H-bar shown throughout the Figures and the conventional inverted-T grid members illustrated in the 2007/0033902 application publication.

(14) The suspension hardware also includes a plurality of hook members 42 which are fixedly attached to the longitudinally extending suspension bars 32 and extend therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular thereto. As best shown in FIG. 3a, the hook members 42 include a hook portion 43 at one end and an attachment flange 45 at the opposite end. The example hook members shown in the drawings are of general J shape and are preferably attached to the suspension bars 32 via the attachment flange 45 at an interior position of a respective suspension bar 32. Preferably, for a more fixed attachment, the hook portion 43 includes detailing which conforms to the shape of the intersecting struts 16 so that the hook member 42 will fit over and around, and ultimately rest upon, the intersecting struts 16. For example, the hook members are shown to be attached at the center of the suspension bar so that they will be attachable to the intersecting struts of the grouping frame as described in greater detail below.

(15) The panel module 14 is installed on the grouping frame 12 by resting the hook members 42 over the struts 16 of the grouping frame 12. For ease of installation, the hook portion of the hook members all face the same direction, i.e. they each face in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. For illustration purposes, each hook portion of the hook members shown throughout the drawings face the counterclockwise direction.

(16) The progressive steps of attaching the canopy modules 14 onto the grouping frame are now described in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 4a-4d. As illustrated, the canopy modules 14 are downward accessible, i.e. the modules 14 are inserted up onto the grouping frame from a position below the grouping frame (as shown in FIG. 4a). As shown in FIG. 4b, the module is lifted upwardly until the hook portions 43 of all the hook members 42 are positioned above the intersecting struts 16. As shown in FIG. 4c, the module 14 is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction, i.e. the same direction in which the hook members are facing, until the hook portion of the hook members are positioned over the struts of the grouping frame. The struts 16 essentially act as a stop for movement of the canopy module in the counterclockwise direction. As shown in FIG. 4d, the module 14 is then allowed to drop down until the hook portion of the hook members engage, and rest upon, the intersecting struts 16.

(17) The grouping frame 12, therefore, works in combination with the hook members 42 of the canopy module 14 to permit the modules to be easily locked onto the grouping frame in both the longitudinal and cross axes. Additionally, due to the installation procedure afforded by the components of the canopy modules, the modules can be installed on the grouping frame in close proximity to one another. Also, by attaching the modules to a grouping frame, the modules are indirectly attached to one another and are easily aligned and registered relative one another.

(18) While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.