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US 5,325,647 AGranted
Composite ceiling grid
AssigneeArmstrong World Industries, Inc.
InventorsJohn S. Forry, Chester W. Hallett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to ceiling grid runners and associated assembly details that utilize metal reinforcement of thermoplastic compounds in order to obtain the necessary stiffness required to meet load/deflection standards for suspended ceiling systems. The metal is strategically positioned at the areas of highest stress, the top and bottom of the runner cross-section in what is analogous to the bulb and flange of traditional all metal grid.
Claims7
A support element with two ends comprising:
- (a) a generally inverted T-shaped, elongated member having a horizontal section with a midpoint and a flat vertical section with two ends, said horizontal section having the first end of the vertical section joined thereto and extending therefrom at the midpoint thereof, the second end of the flat vertical section being an enlarged bulb shape;
- (b) said T-shaped member being formed of a non-metallic material;
- (c) said T-shaped member being reinforced at, at least, two selected spaced points with meal reinforcing elements terminating at the ends of the support element;
- and
- (d) said reinforcing elements being flat metal strips or wires embedded within the non-metallic material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.