Vented suspension ceiling beam and suspension ceiling system
AssigneeCertainTeed Ceilings Corporation
InventorsMatthew Rapposelli, Robin C. Czyzewicz, Isabelle Etchart Randlett, Michael J. Lembo, David E. Woolley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to suspension ceiling grids, for example, suitable for holding a suspension ceiling composed of ceiling tiles. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a vented suspension ceiling support beam including an elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction. The body includes a vertical web, and opposing first and second flanges protruding laterally from the vertical web. A vent is formed through the first flange.
Claims17
A suspension ceiling ventilation system comprising:
- a plurality of support beams arranged in a ceiling grid so as to form a plurality of grid openings in the ceiling grid, each of the support beams comprising an elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction, the body including a vertical web and opposing first and second flanges protruding laterally from the vertical web, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of support beams are vented support beams, each of the vented support beams including a vent formed through the respective first flange thereof and a channel disposed adjacent to the first and second flanges that is in fluid communication with the vent, wherein the channel is formed by a first side wall projecting down from an outer edge of the first flange and a second side wall projecting down from an outer edge of the second flange, and wherein the channel is enclosed in a box profile disposed below the first and second flanges that includes a slot opposite the first and second flanges;
- a plurality of ceiling tiles, each of the ceiling tiles disposed in a respective grid opening of the ceiling grid so as to form a suspension ceiling, each of the ceiling tiles including a central body and a projection extending from an edge of the central body, wherein each of the projections is supported by a respective flange of an adjacent support beam such that a lower surface of the respective ceiling tile is flush with a lower end of the box profile of the adjacent support beam,
- wherein the suspension ceiling provides a plenum space above the ceiling and an underlying space below the ceiling.
A suspension ceiling ventilation system comprising:
- a plurality of support beams arranged in a ceiling grid so as to form a plurality of grid openings in the ceiling grid, each of the support beams comprising an elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction, the body including a vertical web and opposing first and second flanges protruding laterally from the vertical web, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of support beams are vented support beams, each of the vented support beams including a vent formed through the respective first flange thereof;
- a plurality of ceiling tiles, each of the ceiling tiles disposed in a respective grid opening of the ceiling grid so as to form a suspension ceiling, wherein the suspension ceiling provides a plenum space above the ceiling and an underlying space below the ceiling;
- and
- a divider that separates a first section of the plenum space from a second section of the plenum space,
- wherein the first section of the plenum space has a first pressure, the second section of the plenum space has a second pressure, and the underlying space has a third pressure that is between the first and second pressures so as to force air from the first section of the plenum space to the underlying space through respective vents of a first group of the vented support beams and to force air from the underlying space to the second section of the plenum space through respective vents of a second group of the vented support beams.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.