Surface mounted grid system and process of installation

A surface mounted grid system for use in association with a substructure for supporting an array of tile panels, comprising:

• a plurality of spaced, horizontally disposed main runners and cross-runners, said cross-runners arranged substantially perpendicular to said main runners, each of said main runners and said cross-runners comprised of top members and bottom members;
• said top members having (i) a substantially flat fascia adaptable for attachment to said substructure, and (ii) spaced, non-peripheral, longitudinal, flexible side walls extending transversely from said fascia to provide a flexural channel opening;
• said bottom members being of substantially T configuration in transverse cross-section having (i) a flange and (ii) an intermediate longitudinal web extending transversely therefrom and having at least one projection, said web engageable in said channel and retained therein whereby said flange and said fascia define a groove adaptable to receive a tile panel;
• said fascia of said top member of the main runner further including a plurality of spaced notches adaptable to receive said side walls of said top member of the cross-runner upon said perpendicular arrangement and to provide overlapping engagement of the fascia of the top member of the cross-runner with the fascia of the top member of the main runner;
• and each of said side walls of said top member having at least one inwardly disposed detent providing a co-operable interlocking element with said projection of said web of said bottom member to prevent undesired disengagement therebetween.

A surface mounted grid system to support an array of tile panels and adaptable for use in association with a substructure, comprising:

• a plurality of spaced, horizontally disposed main runners and cross-runners, said cross-runners arranged substantially perpendicular to said main runners, each of said main runners and said cross-runners comprised of top members and bottom members;
• said top members having (i) a substantially flat fascia adaptable for attachment to said substructure, (ii) spaced, non-peripheral, longitudinal, flexible side walls extending transversely from said fascia to provide a flexural channel opening, and (iii) lateral shoulders disposed substantially parallel to and spaced below said fascia of said top member of the main runner to define a re-entrant groove for seating the transverse, longitudinal marginal edge portion of said fascia of said top member of the cross-runner and within said groove;
• said bottom members being of substantially T configuration in transverse cross-section having (i) a flange and (ii) an intermediate transverse web extending longitudinally therefrom and having at least one projection, said web engageable in said channel and retained therein whereby said flange and said fascia define a groove adaptable to receive a tile panel;
• said lateral shoulders of said top member of the main runner further including a plurality of spaced notches adaptable to receive said side walls of said top member of the cross-runner upon said perpendicular arrangement and to provide overlapping engagement of the fascia of the top member of the cross-runner with said lateral shoulder of the top member of the main runner;
• and each of said side walls of said top member having at least one inwardly disposed detent providing a co-operable interlocking element with said projection of said web of said bottom member to prevent undesired disengagement therebetween.

A surface mounted grid system for supporting an array of tile panels, and including a plurality of (i) main runners and (ii) cross-runners of substantially equal length and arranged substantially perpendicular to said main runners, installed on a substructure of a room having adjoining walls, by the process which comprises:

• (a) running a first line substantially parallel to a first wall and at a predetermined distance from said first wall along which a first main runner is to be attached, each of said main runners comprising (i) a top member adaptable for attachment to the substructure and including a crosspiece having a horizontally oriented surface provided with a plurality of spaced notches and (ii) a downwardly depending member terminating with a horizontally disposed flange for supporting a tile panel along a marginal edge;
• (b) running a second line substantially normal to said first line and in alignment with a notch of said top member when in an attached position to said substructure;
• (c) marking an adjoining second wall at spaced intervals about equal to the length of said cross-runners, said cross-runners having a horizontally disposed flange for supporting a tile panel along a marginal edge and further including connecting means cooperable with said notches for perpendicular arrangement with said main runner, said connecting means including a horizontally oriented surface for mating with said surface of said crosspiece and disposed for overlapping engagement with said crosspiece thereby supporting said cross-runner and preventing undesired disengagement therebetween;
• (d) attaching said first main runner to said substructure along said first line and between opposed walls;
• (e) connecting one end of a cross-runner with said first main runner attached to said substructure, and positioning a second main runner at the opposed end of said cross-runner connected to said first main runner and in substantial alignment with a wall marking;
• (f) attaching said second main runner to said substructure;
• (g) connecting the remaining cross-runners between said first and second main runner and between said first main runner and said wall;
• and (h) repeating the steps of (e), (f) and (g) until the grid system is complete, whereby said flanges of said cross-runners are disposed in a common plane with said flanges of said main runners.