# US 10,501,936 B2 · Modular ceiling system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,936 B2 - Document ID: US10501936B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/907,954 - Filed: 2018-02-28 - Published: 2018-09-06 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-01 - Assignees: Price Industries Limited - Applicants: Price Industries Limited - Inventors: Julian Rimmer; Sherwin Barroga; Sylvio Tessier; Arun Rabbani; Ashley Morgan; Mike Nicholson; Jordan Hiebert; Craig Comberbach; Christian Borja; Mike Holland; James White; Ryan Sorrell; Mario Ortiz; Luke Marvin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501936B2 ## CPC - E04B 9/006: {with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling} - A62C 35/68: Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems (valves in general F16K) - E04B 9/003: {with movable parts, e.g. pivoting panels, access doors} - B05B 15/62: Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups - F21S 2/005: {of modular construction} - F21S 8/026: {intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling} - G01K 1/14: Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations - G08B 17/10: Actuation by presence of smoke or gases {, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means} - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices - H04R 1/02: Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075}) - H04R 1/025: {Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture} - H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles} - H04R 2201/021: Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling - 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}) - A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A modular ceiling system has uniformly appearing devices supported by a channel or a ceiling in an aesthetically pleasing pattern with a single network and control system. The channel or ceiling has uniform sized and shaped openings into which a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped devices is fitted. The devices share a common communication protocol and power source. Each of the devices is connected to a central control system having the same communication protocol as the devices. A network connects the central control system and all of the devices together allowing communications between the central control system and the devices and among the devices using the common communication protocol. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular ceiling system comprising: a. a ceiling support structure for supporting a ceiling having a room side; b. at least one channel supported by the ceiling support structure the channel having a length and including support clips extending along the length of the channel to support a conduit; c. a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped separate openings in the channel; d. a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped devices fitted to the openings, the devices of the plurality of devices have different functions and the devices are connected to a network having a common communication protocol; e. a central control system having the same communication protocol as the devices; and f. the network connecting the central control system and all of the devices together and communications among the central control system and the devices uses the common communication protocol wherein wires for the network are enclosed in the conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the channel is supported by the ceiling support structure so that the channel is recessed above the ceiling room side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the channel is supported by the ceiling support structure so that the channel protrudes below the ceiling room side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein each device comprises a housing fitted in and attached to the opening and a case that attaches to the housing and wherein the case contains and operative unit for each device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The modular ceiling system of claim 4, wherein each case is interchangeable with each other case so that the cases with the contained operative unit can be swapped between and among housings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices share a common power supply. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include an emergency light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include a strobe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include an environmental sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include a smoke detector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include a broadcast sprinkler. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include a concealed sprinkler. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include a speaker. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include a camera. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the modular ceiling system further includes a drop-down access tray. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The modular ceiling system of claim 1, wherein the devices include an emergency light. ### Claim 17 A modular ceiling system comprising: a. a ceiling support structure for supporting a ceiling having a room side; b. a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped separate openings in the ceiling; c. a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped devices fitted to the openings, the devices of the plurality of devices have different functions, and the devices with different functions are connected to a network having a common communication protocol and a common power source; d. a central control system having the same communication protocol as the devices; e. the network connecting the central control system and all of the devices together and communications among the central control system and the devices uses the common communication protocol; and f. a drop-down tray for access to functional components of the modular ceiling system, for accommodating a video monitor, or for accommodating signage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices are supported by the ceiling so that the devices are recessed above the ceiling room side. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices are supported by the ceiling so that the devices protrude below the ceiling room side. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein each device comprises a housing fitted in and attached to the opening and a case that attaches to the housing and wherein the case contains and operative unit for each device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The modular ceiling system of claim 20, wherein each case is interchangeable with each other case so that the cases with the contained operative unit can be swapped between and among housings. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include an emergency light. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include a strobe. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include an environmental sensor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include a smoke detector. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include a broadcast sprinkler. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include a concealed sprinkler. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include a speaker. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include a camera. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The modular ceiling system of claim 17, wherein the devices include an emergency light. ### Claim 31 A modular ceiling system comprising: a. a ceiling support structure for supporting a ceiling having a room side; b. a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped separate openings in the ceiling; c. a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped devices with diverse functions fitted to the openings, wherein each device comprises: i. a housing fitted into and attached to the opening and a case inserted into and attached to the housing; ii. the case contains an operative unit for each device; and iii. each case is interchangeable with each other case so that the cases with the contained operative unit can be swapped between and among housings. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The modular ceiling system of claim 31, wherein the devices are supported by the ceiling so that the devices are recessed above the ceiling room side. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The modular ceiling system of claim 31, wherein the devices are supported by the ceiling so that the devices protrude below the ceiling room side. ### Claim 34 A modular ceiling system comprising: a. a ceiling support structure for supporting a ceiling having a room side; b. a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped separate openings in the ceiling; c. a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped devices with diverse functions fitted to the openings, wherein the devices share a common power supply and wherein each device comprises: i. a housing fitted into and attached to the opening and a case inserted into and attached to the housing; ii. the case contains an operative unit for each device; and iii. each case is interchangeable with each other case so that the cases with the contained operative unit can be swapped between and among housings.