# US 10,371,411 B2 · Ceiling system with integrated equipment support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,411 B2 - Document ID: US10371411B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/589,475 - Filed: 2009-10-22 - Published: 2011-04-28 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-22 - Assignees: Nortek Air Solutions, LLC - Applicants: Zareer Cursetjee; Kevin Schreiber; David L. Baugh - Inventors: Zareer Cursetjee; Kevin Schreiber; David L. Baugh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371411B2 ## CPC - F24F 13/32: Supports for air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation units - E04B 9/006: {with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling} - E04B 9/0478: {of the tray type} - F24F 2221/14: mounted on the ceiling - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) ## Abstract A modular air-handling plenum for capable of supporting surgical apparatus or other objects is disclosed. The plenum is usually rectangular, may be formed of sheet metal, and features a truss spanning the width of the plenum to carry the weight of the apparatus. The plenum itself is attached to the ceiling of a room. An air handling component may be included to provide filtered and/or conditioned air in the vicinity of the suspended apparatus, or the plenum may be used strictly as an apparatus support, with no air-conditioning function. An ordinary suspended ceiling may also be mounted in the plenum for continuity with the remainder of the room. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular unit configured for attachment to a building frame, the modular unit comprising: a plenum having walls defining a perimeter of material; a horizontal rail extending along a top of the plenum and connected to and supporting each of the walls of the plenum, the rail connected to an upper portion of each wall; a grid of supports attached to the plenum, the supports defining a suspended ceiling; and a truss separate from the grid of supports and directly attached to and supported by the rail, the truss arranged inside the plenum, the truss configured to support ceiling-mounted equipment and transmit the load of the ceiling-mounted equipment to the rail, wherein the plenum is suspended from the building frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1 wherein the plenum is suspended from the building frame by a plurality of hangers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1 wherein the truss includes an equipment interface plate configured to attach to the ceiling-mounted equipment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1 including an apparatus mount which is attachable to the grid of supports, wherein the ceiling-mounted equipment is configured to be hung from the apparatus mount. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1 wherein the truss is attached to the grid of supports. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1 wherein an air handling component is positioned within the perimeter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1 further comprising a top attached to a top margin of the perimeter along the entire perimeter, forming a substantially airtight seal therewith. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modular unit of claim 7 wherein the perimeter has at least one side and a hole formed through the at least one side, wherein the hole is configured to permit air to flow into the unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The modular unit of claim 8 wherein an air handling component is positioned proximate the hole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The modular unit of claim 7 wherein the top has a hole configured to permit air to flow into the unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1, wherein the truss comprises at least one upper spar connected to at least one lower spar by at least one cross member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The modular unit of claim 11, wherein the truss further comprises at least one diagonal cross member configured to provide resistance to twisting. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1, wherein the truss includes at least one dedicated passageway configured for routing of electrical conduits or supplying natural gas, refrigerant, water, or gas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The modular unit of claim 1, wherein the grid of supports is attached to a lower portion of the walls of the plenum. ### Claim 15 A modular unit configured for attachment to a building frame, the modular unit comprising: a plenum having a perimeter of material formed into a rectangular box; a horizontal rail extending along a top of the plenum and connected to and supporting the plenum; a grid of supports attached to the perimeter of the plenum, the supports defining a suspended ceiling suspended from the perimeter of the plenum; a truss separate from the grid of supports and directly attached to and supported by the rail, the truss contained inside the rectangular box; and an apparatus mount attached to at least one of the supports, wherein an apparatus is configured to be hung from the apparatus mount, wherein the plenum is suspended from the building frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The modular unit of claim 15 wherein the grid of supports is attached to a bottom margin of the perimeter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The modular unit of claim 15 wherein the grid of supports comprises extruded aluminum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The modular unit of claim 15 wherein the grid of supports comprises sheet steel formed into a tubular configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The modular unit of claim 15 wherein the grid of supports comprises sheet steel formed into an inverted U-channel configuration. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The modular unit of claim 15 wherein the apparatus mount includes a support plate configured to rigidly attach to the apparatus. ### Claim 21 A modular unit configured for attachment to a building frame, the modular unit comprising: a plenum having walls defining a perimeter of material; a horizontal rail extending along a top of the plenum and connected to and supporting each of the walls of the plenum, the rail connected to an upper portion of each wall; a grid of supports attached to the plenum, the supports defining a suspended ceiling; a truss separate from the grid of supports and directly attached to and supported by the rail, the truss arranged inside the plenum, the truss capable of supporting at least 900 lbs of ceiling-mounted equipment and transmitting the load of the ceiling-mounted equipment to the rail, and wherein the plenum is suspended from the building frame by a plurality of hangers.