Suspended ceiling panel system

A suspended ceiling system comprising a plurality of grid support members, a plurality of ceiling panels each having a body member and a reinforcing edge secured about the top edge of the panel and extending down the side edge thereof, spring means hingedly secured to each of said panels and releasably secured to one of said grid members, wherein said spring means maintains said panel in position against said grid members in one position and in a second position said spring means is selectively disengagable for suspending a ceiling panel generally perpendicular to said grid members, said grid members have a downwardly extending alignment stud which cooperates with the reinforced edge of said panels to accurately align panels with the grid members when positioned thereagainst, said panels including a decorative cover on the lower surface of the panel which extends upwardly along the edges of the panel, whereby when two adjacent panels are secured to the grid members the alignment stud therebetween is not visible due to the decorative cover of said panels extending upwardly along the edges thereof.

A suspended ceiling system comprising a plurality of ceiling panels and a plurality of structural members arranged in a grid-like manner to cooperatively support and accurately position said ceiling panels, said panels including a body member bound on the upper edge by a reinforcing edge member which accurately defines the upper edge of said panel, said panels being faced with a sheet material which extends about the lower edge of said panel for securement to the sides thereof, said structural members having upper and lower portions with said lower portion having a flange and a downwardly extending alignment stud centered with respect to said flange, securement means associated with said reinforcing edge member and the upper portion of said structural members for fastening said panels in place beneath said structural members wherein said edge member cooperates with said alignment stud to align the edges of adjacent panels and said flange cooperates with said reinforcing edge member to position the panels beneath the grid members a predetermined distance.

In a suspended ceiling system a grid network for supporting a plurality of ceiling panels said grid network comprising a plurality of support elements interconnected by junction members, each of said support elements having an upper and lower flange separated by a web member to form a generally I-shaped cross-section, each of said junction members having a plurality of slots spaced about the periphery of said junction member in a predetermined pattern, each slot sized to receive and engage a web and contact said web adjacent the junction of said web and said flanges to provide a snug fit between said web and said junction member, and means for maintaining the position of said support element so associated with said junction member, said maintaining means including a clip which is securable to said junction member in a manner to engage and positively secure one of said support member.

A ceiling panel frame member for use in suspended ceiling systems said frame member having a first arm and a second arm to define a generally L-shaped cross-section, the first arm including an inwardly directed projection along the length thereof, said second arm including a clip engaging portion at the free end thereof which runs the length of said frame member, said clip engaging portion defining a generally C-shaped channel with a restricted opening to define a recess within said channel whereby a spring clip may be forced through the restricted opening of said channel and positively maintained within the recess of said channel.