PANEL FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING OR THE LIKE AND METHOD OF MOUNTING A FABRIC ON A FRAME OF A SUSPENDED CEILING OR THE LIKE

Abstract

The panel (1) includes a frame (4) with a fabric (5) stretchable over a lower side (6) thereof. An edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to a peripheral side (9) of the frame by means of a number of fastening brackets (11) distributed along the edge of the fabric. Firstly, each fastening bracket is attached to the peripheral side at a first lower position (15) in which the fabric is hanging loosely under the frame by hanging a hook-formed element (13) of the fastening brackets on a first lower protrusion (17) provided at the peripheral. Secondly, each fastening bracket is repositioned from said first lower position to a second upper position (16) in which the fabric is stretched over the lower side of the frame by hanging the hook-formed element of the fastening brackets on a second upper protrusion (18) provided at the peripheral side of the frame.

Claims

1-48. (canceled)

49. A panel (1) fora suspended ceiling or the like, the panel (1) having an upper side (2) and a lower side (3) and including an at least substantially rigid frame (4) and a fabric (5) adapted to be stretched over a lower side (6) of the frame (4) and forming the lower side (3) of the panel (1), the frame (4) having a lower peripheral edge (7) over which the fabric (5) may be stretched, and an edge (8) of the fabric (5) being adapted to be attached releasably to a peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) by means of a hook-formed element (13) gripping over a protrusion provided at the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) above the lower peripheral edge (7) of the frame, characterised in that the edge (8) of the fabric is adapted to be attached to the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) by means of a number of fastening brackets (11) distributed along the edge (8) of the fabric (5), in that the fastening brackets (11) are adapted to be selectively attached to the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4), firstly at a first lower position (15) in which the fabric (5) is hanging loosely under the frame (4), and secondly at a second upper position (16) in which the fabric (5) is stretched over the lower side (6) of the frame (4), in that, in the first lower position (15) of the fastening brackets (11), a hook-formed element (13) of the fastening brackets (11) grips over a first lower protrusion (17) provided at the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) and, in the second upper position (16) of the fastening brackets (11), the hook-formed element (13) of the fastening brackets (11) grips over a second upper protrusion (18) provided at the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4), and in that the positioning of the fastening brackets (11), carrying the fabric, in their first lower position (15) and the subsequent repositioning of these to their second upper position (16) on the frame (4) may be done when the frame is already mounted under a permanent ceiling in a building.

50. A panel according to claim 49, wherein each fastening bracket (11) has a first upper end (12) at which the hook-formed element (13) is arranged and a second lower end (14) at which a support element (19) is arranged, and wherein the support element (19) is adapted to abut the frame (4) both in the first lower position (15) of the fastening bracket (11) and in the second upper position (16) of the fastening bracket (11).

51. A panel according to claim 50, wherein the support element (19) is adapted to, in the first lower position of the fastening bracket (11), grip under an edge of the frame (4).

52. A panel according to claim 51, wherein the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to each fastening bracket (11) by means of at least one spring (25).

53. A panel according to claim 50, wherein the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to the first upper end (12) of each fastening bracket (11) by means of at least one spring (25).

54. A panel according to claim 53, wherein the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to the at least one spring (25) by means of an elongated profile (26) attached along the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

55. A panel according to claim 54, wherein the at least one spring (25) is adapted to, in the first lower position (15) of the fastening bracket (11), hold an edge (20) of the elongated profile (26) in a groove (21) of the fastening bracket (11).

56. A panel according to claim 53, wherein the fastening bracket (11) is adapted to, at least in the first lower position (15) of the fastening bracket (11), guide the at least one spring (25) in a longitudinal direction of the fastening bracket (11), said longitudinal direction extending from the first upper end (12) to the second lower end (14) of the fastening bracket (11).

57. A panel according to claim 53, wherein the fastening bracket (11) is adapted to, at least in the first lower position (15) of the fastening bracket (11), take up the at least one spring (25) between two side walls (22, 23) of the fastening bracket (11).

58. A panel according to claim 57, wherein the fastening bracket (11) is formed from a plate material bent so that it forms a U-formed profile having a central wall (24) and two side walls (22, 23) and extending in a longitudinal direction between a first upper end (12) and a second lower end (14).

59. A panel according to claim 58, wherein the hook-formed element (13) is formed as a flap bent around from an upper end of the central wall (24) of the U-formed profile.

60. A panel according to claim 58, wherein a support element (19) is formed as a flap bent around from a lower end of the central wall (24) of the U-formed profile.

61. A panel according to claim 58, wherein a first end (52) of a spring (25) is attached to a pin (50) extending between the two side walls (22, 23) of the U-formed profile at the first upper end (12) of the U-formed profile, and wherein a second end (53) of the spring (25) is attached to an edge (20) of an elongated profile (26) attached along the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

62. A panel according to claim 61, wherein a groove (21) is formed in a lower end of each of the two side walls (22, 23) of the U-formed profile at the second lower end (14) of the U-formed profile, and wherein the edge (20) of the elongated profile (26) fits into said grooves (21).

63. A panel according to claim 62, wherein the spring (25) is adapted to hold the edge (20) of the elongated profile (26) in said grooves (21).

64. A panel according to claim 63, wherein the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to the fastening bracket (11) by means of an elongated profile (26) gripping over a thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

65. A panel according to claim 64, wherein the elongated profile (26) has a tubular cross-section (28) with a longitudinally extending slit (29) through which the fabric (5) extends.

66. A panel according to claim 64, wherein the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is formed by means of a hem (30) with a string (31) inside.

67. A panel according to claim 64, wherein the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is disrupted by means of mutually spaced indentations (32) in the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

68. A panel according to claim 64, wherein the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is disrupted by means of corner indentations (33) in the edge (8) of the fabric (5) at corners (34) of the fabric (5).

69. A panel according to claim 68, wherein the frame (4) is composed by a number of elongated frame sections (35) connected by means of corner sections (36).

70. A panel according to claim 69, wherein the edge (8) of the fabric is adapted to be attached to the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) by means of at least two fastening brackets (11) distributed along each elongated frame section (35).

71. A panel according to claim 70, wherein, when the fastening bracket (11) is in its first lower position (15), the edge (8) of the fabric (5) attached to the fastening bracket (11) is positioned below the lower peripheral edge (7) of the frame (4).

72. A method of mounting a fabric on an at least substantially rigid frame (4) of a suspended ceiling or the like by stretching the fabric (5) over a lower side (6) of the frame (4), the fabric (5) thereby forming a lower side (3) of the panel (1), by stretching the fabric (5) over a lower peripheral edge (7) of the frame (4), and by attaching an edge (8) of the fabric (5) releasably to a peripheral side (9) of the frame by means of a hook-formed element (13) gripping over a protrusion provided at the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) above the lower peripheral edge (7) of the frame, characterised by attaching the edge (8) of the fabric (5) to the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) by means of a number of fastening brackets (11) distributed along the edge (8) of the fabric (5), whereby, in a first step, each fastening bracket (11) is attached to the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) at a first lower position (15) in which the fabric (5) is hanging loosely under the frame (4) by hanging a hook-formed element (13) of the fastening brackets (11) on a first lower protrusion (17) provided at the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4), and, in a second step, each fastening bracket (11) is repositioned from said first lower position (15) to a second upper position (16) in which the fabric (5) is stretched over the lower side (6) of the frame (4) by hanging the hook-formed element (13) of the fastening brackets (11) on a second upper protrusion (18) provided at the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4).

73. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby each fastening bracket (11) has a first upper end (12) at which the hook-formed element (13) is arranged and a second lower end (14) at which a support element (19) is arranged, and wherein the support element (19) abuts the frame (4) both in the first lower position (15) of the fastening bracket (11) and in the second upper position (16) of the fastening bracket (11).

74. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby, in the first step, when the fastening bracket (11) is positioned in its first lower position, the support element (19) is positioned to grip under an edge of the frame (4).

75. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to each fastening bracket (11) by means of at least one spring (25).

76. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to the first upper end (12) of each fastening bracket (11) by means of at least one spring (25).

77. A method of mounting according to claim 76, whereby the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to the at least one spring (25) by attaching an elongated profile (26) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

78. A method of mounting according to claim 77, whereby the at least one spring (25), during the first step, in which the fastening bracket (11) is arranged in its first lower position (15), holds an edge (20) of the elongated profile (26) in a groove (21) of the fastening bracket (11).

79. A method of mounting according to claim 76, whereby the fastening bracket (11), at least during the first step in which the fastening bracket (11) is arranged in its first lower position (15), guides the at least one spring (25) in a longitudinal direction of the fastening bracket (11), said longitudinal direction extending from the first upper end (12) to the second lower end (14) of the fastening bracket (11).

80. A method of mounting according to claim 76, whereby the fastening bracket (11), at least during the first step in which the fastening bracket (11) is arranged in its first lower position (15), takes up the at least one spring (25) between two side walls (22, 23) of the fastening bracket (11).

81. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is attached to the fastening bracket (11) by sliding an elongated profile (26) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) so that the elongated profile (26) is brought to grip over a thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

82. A method of mounting according to claim 77, whereby, before attaching the fabric (5) to the elongated profile (26), the at least one spring (25) is brought to hold an edge (20) of the elongated profile (26) in a groove (21) of the fastening bracket (11).

83. A method of mounting according to claim 82, whereby the groove (21) is formed in a second lower end (14) of the fastening bracket (11).

84. A method of mounting according to claim 81, whereby the elongated profile (26) has a tubular cross-section (28) with a longitudinally extending slit (29) in which the fabric (5) is inserted when sliding the elongated profile (26) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

85. A method of mounting according to claim 81, whereby the elongated profile (26) is attached to the fastening bracket (11) by means of at least one spring (25) which is extended when the fastening bracket (11) is repositioned from its first lower position (15) to its second upper position (16).

86. A method of mounting according to claim 81, whereby the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is formed by means of a hem (30) with a string inside (31).

87. A method of mounting according to claim 81, whereby the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is disrupted by means of mutually spaced indentations (32) in the edge (8) of the fabric (5), and whereby at least one of the elongated profiles (26) is brought to slide in over the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) through one of said indentations (32) in the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

88. A method of mounting according to claim 81, whereby the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) is disrupted by means of corner indentations (33) in the edge (8) of the fabric (5) at corners (34) of the fabric (5), and whereby at least one of the elongated profiles (26) is brought to slide in over the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) through one of said corner indentations (33) in the edge (8) of the fabric (5) at corners (34) of the fabric (5).

89. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby the frame (4) is composed by a number of elongated frame sections (35) connected by means of corner sections (36).

90. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby the fabric (5) is mounted on the at least substantially rigid frame (4) after the frame has been arranged in its mounted position at a ceiling.

91. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby the fabric (5) is mounted on the at least substantially rigid frame (4) by rolling out a roll (40) of fabric (5) having preformed thickened areas (27) along the edges (8) of the fabric (5).

92. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby the fabric (5) is mounted on the at least substantially rigid frame (4) by placing a roll (40) of fabric (5) on a trolley (41) and wheeling the trolley along the at least substantially rigid frame (4) as the fabric (5) is gradually rolled out from the roll (40) of fabric (5).

93. A method of mounting according to claim 72, whereby the fabric (5) is mounted on the at least substantially rigid frame (4) by firstly attaching a first end (42) of the fabric (5) to a number of fastening brackets (11) and bringing said fastening brackets to releasably engage the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4), secondly attaching an intermediate part (43) of the fabric (5) to a number of fastening brackets (11) and bringing said fastening brackets to releasably engage the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4), and thirdly attaching a second end (44) of the fabric (5) to a number of fastening brackets (11) and bringing said fastening brackets to releasably engage the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4).

94. A method of mounting according to claim 93, whereby all the fastening brackets (11) necessary for mounting the fabric (5) are brought to releasably engage the peripheral side (9) of the frame (4) in their first lower position before any of the fastening brackets (11) is repositioned from its first lower position (15) to its second upper position (16).

95. A method of mounting according to claim 93, whereby the intermediate part (43) of the fabric (5) is attached to at least some fastening brackets (11) by sliding the elongated profiles (26) in over the thickened area (27) along the edge (8) of the fabric (5) through an indentation (32) in the edge (8) of the fabric (5).

96. A method of mounting according to claim 83, whereby the first end (42) of the fabric (5) is the free end of fabric of a partly unrolled roll (40) of fabric (5).

Description

[0059] The invention will now be explained in more detail below by means of examples of embodiments with reference to the very schematic drawing, in which

[0060] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art setup for mounting a fabric on a frame of a panel suspended under a permanent ceiling;

[0061] FIG. 2 is a perspective and partly cross-sectional view of a setup according to the present invention for mounting a fabric on frame of a panel suspended under a permanent ceiling;

[0062] FIG. 3 is a top view of an arrangement of panels suspended under a permanent ceiling;

[0063] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the panel in FIG. 2 along the line IV-IV, illustrating a situation after the fabric has been stretched;

[0064] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the panel in FIG. 4, illustrating the situation before the fabric has been stretched;

[0065] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of part of the frame of the panel illustrated in FIG. 5;

[0066] FIG. 7 is a perspective and cross-sectional view of the frame of the panel illustrated in FIG. 4, but without the fabric mounted;

[0067] FIG. 8 is a side view of the part of the frame of the panel illustrated in FIG. 7;

[0068] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional exploded view of part of the frame of the panel illustrated in FIG. 4;

[0069] FIG. 10 is a perspective and cross-sectional exploded view corresponding to the view of FIG. 9;

[0070] FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective views of a fastening bracket of the panel illustrated in FIG. 4;

[0071] FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views illustrating an embodiment of a corner section connecting elongated frame sections of a frame of a panel; and

[0072] FIG. 14 is a top view of a prefabricated fabric for the panel as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0073] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art method for mounting a fabric 63 on a frame of a panel 60 suspended under a not shown permanent ceiling by means of wires 61. The panel 60 is a relatively large, elongated panel which has been assembled on site by means of a number of panel body sections as indicated. According to customary practice, a large frame is arranged at the periphery of the panel body, and a fabric is stretched over a lower side of the frame. However, in order to mount the fabric in such prior art panels 60, the entire panel composed by panel body sections and frame is lowered down on a working table 62 by means of the wires 61. After mounting the fabric on the frame, the panel 60 is hoisted up under the permanent ceiling again by means of the wires 61. The same procedure is followed in order to later exchange the fabric or perform repair of the panel 60.

[0074] FIG. 2 illustrates the method according to the present invention for mounting a fabric 5 on a frame 4 of a panel 1 suspended under a not shown permanent ceiling. The panel 1 is illustrated in its mounted position under the permanent ceiling; however, the fittings or elements used for mounting are not illustrated, and furthermore, for illustrative purposes, the permanent ceiling is also not illustrated. The panel may be suspended under the permanent ceiling in any suitable way, such as by wires, brackets or the like. It is noted that FIG. 2 illustrates only part of the panel 1. Part of the panel 1 has been cut away along the line IV-IV. Furthermore, the opposite end of the panel 1 to the right in the figure has been cut away. In FIG. 3, it is illustrated, seen from above, how a number of elongated panels 1 composed by panel body sections 46 and not illustrated surrounding frames may be arranged under a permanent ceiling 45 of a room. For illustrative purposes, the permanent ceiling 45 is illustrated as transparent. In the following, the panel 1 will be described in detail, and subsequently, the method of mounting the fabric 5 on the frame 4 of the panel 1 will be described.

[0075] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it is seen that the panel 1 according to the present invention has an upper side 2 and a lower side 3 and includes an at least substantially rigid frame 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 4 is mounted on and surrounds a panel body 39. The frame 4 is composed by four elongated frame sections 35 connected by means of corner sections 36 as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The elongated frame sections 35 are mounted on the panel body 39 by means of connection parts 48 of the respective elongated frame sections 35. The panel body 39 may for instance be a sound insulating panel, a light panel, a thermal panel or it may be left out in case the panel 1 is purely intended to bring about an aesthetic look. In the latter case, the frame 4 may be self-supporting and may be provided with mounting means for mounting the panel on a permanent ceiling. Although the frame 4 is illustrated as being rectangular, it is evident to the skilled person that the frame 4 may alternatively have other forms, including square, circular, oval, etc.

[0076] The elongated frame sections 35 of the frame 4 are preferably produced from extruded aluminium profiles; however, any suitable material could be used. The a fastening bracket 11 is preferably produced from bent steel; however, any suitable material could be used.

[0077] A variety of different fabrics or cloth can be used for the fabric 5 according to the specific application and pertinent characteristics of the fabric are for instance its transparency to light and/or sound and its fire-retarding ability. The fabric 5 could be any kind of suitable woven material or foil such as textile or for instance fibreglass.

[0078] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, there is illustrated an embodiment of the corner sections 36 of the frame 4 of the panels 1 according to the invention. The corner section 36 according to this embodiment is provided with extensions for insertion into the corresponding profiles of the elongated frame sections 35 of the frame 4. In order to facilitate attachment of the fabric 5 to the corner section 36, the corner section can be provided with a groove 37 for insertion of the corner portion of the fabric 5, and this portion of the fabric can furthermore be retained in the groove 37 by means of a resilient member 38, for instance a piece of flexible cord of a suitable diameter. Other retaining means can of course also be envisaged. The corner sections 36 make it possible to assemble or disassemble the frame on site, which facilitates transport of the frame 4.

[0079] Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, it is seen that the fabric 5 is adapted to be stretched over a lower side 6 of the frame 4, whereby the fabric 5 forms the lower side 3 of the panel 1. The frame 4 has a lower peripheral edge 7 over which the fabric 5 is stretched, and an edge 8 of the fabric 5 is attached releasably to a peripheral side 9 of the frame 4 by means of a hook-formed element 13 gripping over a protrusion provided at the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4 above the lower peripheral edge 7 of the frame. It is noted that in the stretched state of the fabric 5 illustrated in FIG. 4, the edge 8 of the fabric 5 is positioned at an attachment position 10 located above the lower peripheral edge 7 of the frame. Thereby, the entire frame 4 may be concealed at least substantially in relation to a person standing on the floor of the room in which the frame is arranged. The edge 8 of the fabric is attached to the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4 by means of a number of fastening brackets 11 distributed along the edge 8 of the fabric 5, and the fastening brackets 11 are adapted to be attached, in a first step, to the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4 at a first lower position 15 in which the fabric 5 is hanging loosely under the frame 4, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and, in a second step, at a second upper position 16 in which the fabric 5 is stretched over the lower side 6 of the frame 4, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As seen, in the first lower position 15 of the fastening brackets 11, a hook-formed element 13 of the fastening brackets 11 grips over a first lower protrusion 17 provided on the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4 and, in the second upper position 16 of the fastening brackets 11, the hook-formed element 13 of the fastening brackets 11 grips over a second upper protrusion 18 provided on the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4. It is seen that in the illustrated embodiment, the first lower protrusion 17 and the second upper protrusion 18 are formed as integral parts of an extruded profile forming the elongated frame sections 35. However, the first lower protrusion 17 and the second upper protrusion 18 may have any suitable form in order for the hook-formed element 13 of the fastening brackets 11 to grip suitably over these.

[0080] Furthermore, although in the illustrated embodiment, the first lower protrusion 17 and the second upper protrusion 18 are formed as continuous protrusions, these may just as well be formed as a number of separate elements distributed along the elongated frame sections 35.

[0081] As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, each fastening bracket 11 has a first upper end 12 at which the hook-formed element 13 is arranged and a second lower end 14 at which a support element 19 is arranged, and the support element 19 is adapted to abut the frame 4 both in the first lower position 15 of the fastening bracket 11 illustrated in FIG. 5 and in the second upper position 16 of the fastening bracket 11 illustrated in FIG. 4. It is noted that the definition of the first upper end 12 and the second lower end 14 of the fastening bracket 11 is related to the position and orientation of the fastening bracket 11 when it is in its second upper position or in its first lower position 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. Furthermore, it is seen that the support element 19 is adapted to, in the first lower position of the fastening bracket 11, grip under an edge of the frame 4. In the illustrated embodiment, said edge is also the lower peripheral edge 7 of the frame 4. However, said edge may in other embodiments be a separate edge arranged above the lower peripheral edge 7 of the frame.

[0082] In the illustrated embodiment, the edge 8 of the fabric 5 is attached to the first upper end 12 of each fastening bracket 11 by means of at least one spring 25. The spring 25 may be attached to the fastening bracket 11 at other positions, but attaching the spring 25 to the first upper end 12 of the fastening bracket 11 may allow the fastening bracket 11 a more stable grip when it hangs on the second upper protrusion 18 of the frame 4 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0083] Furthermore, the edge 8 of the fabric 5 is attached to the at least one spring 25 by means of an elongated profile 26 attached along the edge 8 of the fabric 5. The at least one spring 25 is adapted to, in the first lower position 15 of the fastening bracket 11, hold an edge 20 of the elongated profile 26 in a groove 21 of the fastening bracket 11.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 6, it is seen that the fastening bracket 11 is adapted to, at least in the first lower position 15 of the fastening bracket 11, guide the at least one spring 25 in a longitudinal direction of the fastening bracket 11, said longitudinal direction extending from the first upper end 12 to the second lower end 14 of the fastening bracket 11. In the illustrated embodiment, said guidance of the at least one spring 25 is achieved in that the fastening bracket 11 is adapted to take up the at least one spring 25 between two side walls 22, 23 of the fastening bracket 11. In FIG. 8 it is seen that, in the illustrated embodiment, the at least one spring 25 is also guided between the two side walls 22, 23 in the second upper position 16 of the fastening bracket 11.

[0085] In particular in FIGS. 11A and 11B it is seen that, in the illustrated embodiment, the fastening bracket 11 is formed from a plate material bent so that it forms a U-formed profile having a central wall 24 and the two side walls 22, 23 and extending in a longitudinal direction between a first upper end 12 and a second lower end 14. When the U-formed profile is seen in cross-section, the central wall 24 may form a bottom of the U-formed cross-section and the two side walls 22, 23 may form the sides of the U-formed cross-section. Furthermore, it is seen that the hook-formed element 13 is formed as a flap bent around from an upper end of the central wall 24 of the U-formed profile and the support element 19 is formed as a flap bent around from a lower end of the central wall 24 of the U-formed profile. As it is seen, the flap forming the hook-formed element 13 and the flap forming the support element 19 are bent from the central wall 24 in at least substantially the opposite direction in relation to the direction in which the two side walls 22, 23 are bent from the central wall 24. Of course, the hook-formed element 13 and the support element 19 may have different configurations than those illustrated. For instance, the support element 19 may simply be an area or part of the central wall 24 adapted to abut the frame 4. Furthermore, in FIGS. 7 and 8 it is seen that a first end 52 of the spring 25 is attached to a pin 50 extending between the two side walls 22, 23 of the U-formed profile at the first upper end 12 of the U-formed profile, and a second end 53 of the spring 25 is attached to an edge 20 of the elongated profile 26 attached along the edge 8 of the fabric 5. Furthermore, in FIGS. 4 to 11 it is seen that the groove 21 is formed in a lower end of each of the two side walls 22, 23 of the U-formed profile at the second lower end 14 of the U-formed profile, and that the edge 20 of the elongated profile 26 fits into said grooves 21. The spring 25 is adapted to hold the edge 20 of the elongated profile 26 in said grooves 21 as seen for instance in FIG. 6. Thereby, the spring 25 is attached to the edge 20 of the elongated profile 26 between the two side walls 22, 23 of the U-formed profile. A cut-out 56 in each wall 23, 24 of the fastening bracket 11 may facilitate gripping the fastening bracket 11 by means of two fingers, in particular, when the fastening bracket has to be lifted from the first lower position 15 to the second upper position 16.

[0086] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the edge 8 of the fabric 5 is attached to the fastening bracket 11 by means of an elongated profile 26 gripping over a thickened area 27 along the edge 8 of the fabric 5. The elongated profile 26 has a tubular cross-section 28 with a longitudinally extending slit 29 through which the fabric 5 extends, and the elongated profile 26 is attached to the fastening bracket 11 by means of at least one spring 25. The thickened area 27 along the edge 8 of the fabric 5 is formed by means of a hem 30 with a string 31 or rod inside. The elongated profile 26 is particularly well illustrated in FIG. 7, and the elongated profile 26 and the thickened area 27 are illustrated in cross-section in FIG. 9. Furthermore, the connection procedure between the elongated profile 26 and the thickened area 27 is illustrated in FIG. 14.

[0087] As is further seen in FIG. 14, the thickened area 27 along the edge 8 of the fabric 5 is disrupted by means of mutually spaced indentations 32 in the edge 8 of the fabric 5. Thereby, some of the elongated profiles 26 may be brought to slide in over the thickened 27 area along the edges 8 of the fabric 5 through the indentations 32 in the edge of the fabric. This may facilitate the mounting of the elongated profiles 26 on the edges 8 of the fabric 5, because sliding of the elongated profiles too long a distance along the edges of the fabric may be avoided. Furthermore, the thickened area 27 along the edge 8 of the fabric 5 is disrupted by means of corner indentations 33 in the edge 8 of the fabric 5 at corners 34 of the fabric 5. Thereby, at least some of the elongated profiles 26 may be brought to slide in over the thickened area 27 along the edges 8 of the fabric 5 through said corner indentations 33. At the same time, the corner indentations 33 may serve to avoid too much fabric at the corners 34 which could otherwise lead to undesired folds or creases impairing the desired aesthetic look.

[0088] In the illustrated embodiment, the edge 8 of the fabric is adapted to be attached to the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4 by means of at least two fastening brackets 11 distributed along each elongated frame section 35. Thereby, the mounting of the fabric on relatively large frames may be facilitated, as will be understood from the description of the mounting procedure below.

[0089] Furthermore, it is seen that when the fastening bracket 11 is in its first lower position 15, the edge 8 of the fabric 5 attached to the fastening bracket 11 is positioned below the lower peripheral edge 7 of the frame 4. Thereby, without demounting the fabric 5, access may be provided to the area above the fabric and inside the frame 4. This may be advantageous, for instance in the case that the panel body 39 provided inside the frame 4 is or includes a light panel. In this case, the light panel may be serviced without demounting the fabric. Furthermore, dust on the upper side of the fabric 5 may be particularly visible from below when light is on, and it may therefore be advantageous that easy access is provided to the inside of the panel 1 so that dust may be removed without first demounting the fabric 5.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 2, the method of mounting the fabric 5 on the frame 4 of the panel 1 will be described in the following. The fabric 5 is mounted on the at least substantially rigid frame 4 after the frame has been arranged in its mounted position at a ceiling by placing a roll 40 of fabric 5 on a trolley 41 and wheeling the trolley along the at least substantially rigid frame 4 as the fabric 5 is gradually rolled out from the roll 40 of fabric 5. The roll 40 is a roll of fabric 5 having preformed thickened areas 27 along the edges 8 of the fabric 5.

[0091] The fabric 5 is mounted on the at least substantially rigid frame 4 by firstly attaching a first end 42 of the fabric 5 which is the free end of fabric of a partly unrolled roll 40 to a number of fastening brackets 11 and bringing said fastening brackets to releasably engage the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4, secondly attaching an intermediate part 43 of the fabric 5 to a number of fastening brackets 11 and bringing said fastening brackets to releasably engage the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4, and thirdly attaching a second end 44 of the fabric 5 to a number of fastening brackets 11 and bringing said fastening brackets to releasably engage the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4.

[0092] All the fastening brackets 11 necessary for mounting the fabric 5 are brought to releasably engage the peripheral side 9 of the frame 4 in their first lower position before any of the fastening brackets 11 is repositioned from its first lower position 15 to its second upper position 16. Thereby, it may be ensured that the entire fabric 5 is correctly placed and free for dust, before the fabric is finally tensioned and stretched over the frame 4. Thereby, repetitive correctional procedures may be avoided and time may be saved during mounting of the fabric 5. Subsequently, the fastening brackets may, one at a time, be repositioned from their first lower position to their second upper position, thereby stretching the fabric suitably.

[0093] FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of the prefabricated fabric rolled out. As it is seen, each fastening bracket 11 and its corresponding elongated profile 26 has been mounted to the edge of the fabric as a combined unit. Thereby, the subsequent mounting of the fabric by mounting the fastening bracket 11 on the frame 4 in its first lower position may be facilitated. The fastening bracket 11 and its corresponding elongated profile 26 are held together as a combined unit by means of the at least one spring 25 which holds the edge 20 of the elongated profile 26 in the groove 21 of the fastening bracket 11, as illustrated for instance in FIG. 6. At this state, the at least one spring 25 is at least slightly extended in order to provide a connection force between the fastening bracket 11 and its corresponding elongated profile 26. Preferably, before attaching the fabric 5 to the elongated profile 26, the at least one spring 25 is brought to hold the edge 20 of the elongated profile 26 in the groove 21 of the fastening bracket 11. In fact, each fastening bracket 11 and its corresponding elongated profile 26 may be delivered from the factory as a combined unit. Thereby, the mounting procedure may be facilitated.

[0094] During the mounting procedure, when the fastening bracket 11 is repositioned from its first lower position 15 to its second upper position 16, the at least one spring 25 is extended as illustrated for instance in FIGS. 4 and 8. Thereby, a suitable permanent stretching force may be applied to the fabric. Consequently, it may be ensured that the fabric is maintained suitably stretched.

[0095] During the mounting procedure, the intermediate part 43 of the fabric 5 is attached to at least some fastening brackets 11 by sliding the elongated profiles 26 in over the thickened area 27 along the edge 8 of the fabric 5 through an indentation 32 in the edge 8 of the fabric 5. Thereby, sliding of the elongated profiles 26 too long a distance along the edges 8 of the fabric 5 may be avoided.

[0096] In the illustrated embodiments, the fastening brackets 11 are formed from a metal plate by bending. However, alternatively, the fastening brackets 11 could be injection moulded. In this case, suitably, the fastening brackets 11 could have a form adapted to the different production procedure. Likewise, in the illustrated embodiments, the elongated profiles 26 have the form of relatively short profiles. However, alternatively, each elongated profile 26 could have the form of an longer profile, possibly extending over a third of, or half of, or the entire length of an elongated frame section 35 from a first corner section 36 to a second corner section 36.

[0097] Purely as an example, the permanent ceiling 45 illustrated in FIG. 3 could measure 3060 metres, and the panels 1 could be almost 30 metres long. The elongated profiles 26 could then be 40 centimetres long each. The elongated profiles 26 could be placed almost abutting each other with their ends along the elongated frame sections 35, or they could be spaced. Preferably, they are spaced by a few centimetres. However, depending on the nature of the fabric and on the stiffness of the thickened area 27, they could be spaced longer apart from each other, such as 50 centimetres or even 1 metre or more. The indentations 32 could for instance be positioned with a mutual spacing of approximately 3 metres. The string 31 in the hem 30 could for instance have a diameter of 3-4 millimetres and be a cable or wire made of polyester or glass fibre.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0098] 1 panel

[0099] 2 upper side of panel

[0100] 3 lower side of panel

[0101] 4 frame

[0102] 5 fabric

[0103] 6 lower side of frame

[0104] 7 lower peripheral edge of frame

[0105] 8 edge of fabric

[0106] 9 peripheral side of frame

[0107] 10 attachment position

[0108] 11 fastening bracket

[0109] 12 first upper end of fastening bracket

[0110] 13 hook-formed element of fastening bracket

[0111] 14 second lower end of fastening bracket

[0112] 15 first lower position of fastening bracket

[0113] 16 second upper position of fastening bracket

[0114] 17 first lower protrusion on peripheral side of the frame

[0115] 18 second upper protrusion on peripheral side of the frame

[0116] 19 support element of fastening bracket

[0117] 20 edge of elongated profile

[0118] 21 groove of fastening bracket

[0119] 22 first side wall of U-formed profile of fastening bracket

[0120] 23 second side wall of U-formed profile of fastening bracket

[0121] 24 central wall of U-formed profile of fastening bracket

[0122] 25 spring

[0123] 26 elongated profile

[0124] 27 thickened area

[0125] 28 tubular cross-section of elongated profile

[0126] 29 longitudinally extending slit of tubular cross-section of elongated profile

[0127] 30 hem

[0128] 31 string

[0129] 32 indentation

[0130] 33 corner indentation

[0131] 34 corner of fabric

[0132] 35 elongated frame sections

[0133] 36 corner section

[0134] 37 groove of corner section

[0135] 38 resilient member

[0136] 39 panel body

[0137] 40 roll of fabric

[0138] 41 trolley

[0139] 42 first end of fabric

[0140] 43 intermediate part of fabric

[0141] 44 second end of fabric

[0142] 45 permanent ceiling of room

[0143] 46 panel body section

[0144] 47 reinforcement rib of frame section

[0145] 48 connection part of frame section

[0146] 49 oblique lower part of frame section

[0147] 50 pin

[0148] 51 hole

[0149] 52 first end of spring

[0150] 53 second end of spring

[0151] 54 flat part of elongated profile

[0152] 55 connection hole for spring

[0153] 56 cut-out in fastening bracket

[0154] 60 prior art panel

[0155] 61 wire

[0156] 62 working table