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US 5,687,526 AGranted
Trackless drop ceiling system
OwnerGuido Benvenuto, Dino Coletti +1inventors
InventorsGuido Benvenuto, Dino Coletti, Lanny Elliott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trackless drop ceiling has elongated suspension members that attach to ceiling joists or structure and an interlocking tile mechanism. The individual tiles are provided with opposed side walls having mating interlock features for aligning and supporting a network of suspended tiles.
Claims32
A trackless ceiling tile system having a plurality of adjacent tiles, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent supported and interlocked tiles, each of said tiles having a principal surface and each of said tiles having at least one elongated suspension member associated therewith;
- one end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to one of said tiles and the other end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to an overhead structure;
- each of said tiles further having at least one interlocking structure on a first edge and at least one interlocking structure on a second edge, said first and second edges being at opposite sides of each of said tiles;
- wherein said interlocking structures of adjacent tiles engage to interlock said tiles in said trackless ceiling tile system, said elongated suspension members being flexible straps and wherein said tiles each have at least one slotted tab defining a slot position perpendicular to the principal surface of said tile and wherein said flexible straps are looped through said slots of said slotted tabs.
1 more element
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly of adjacent tiles, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member associated with said back surface of said planar tile portion, said elongated suspension member being attached directly to said tile;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall, wherein said elongated suspension member is a flat rectangular structure having a U-shaped terminal portion and wherein said edge wall has at least one slotted tab, said slotted tab defining a slot, and wherein said U-shaped terminal portion of said flat rectangular structure is inserted into said slot of said slotted tab.
3 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member associated with said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall, wherein said elongated suspension member is a flat rectangular structure having a U shaped terminal portion and wherein said edge wall has at least one slotted tab and wherein said U-shaped terminal portion of said flat rectangular surface is inserted into said slot of said slotted tab.
3 more elements
A trackless ceiling tile system having a plurality of adjacent tiles, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent, supported, interlocked tiles, each of said tiles having a principal surface and at least one elongated suspension member associated therewith;
- one end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to one of said tiles and the other end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to an overhead structure;
- each of said tiles further having at least one interlocking structure on a first edge and at least one interlocking structure on a second edge, said first and second edges being at opposite sides of each of said tiles;
- wherein said interlocking structures of adjacent tiles engage to interlock said tiles in said trackless ceiling tile system, and
- wherein said one interlock structure on said first edge is a vertical side wall extending perpendicular from the principal surface of each of said tiles, said vertical side wall having a slot disposed therein and wherein said one interlock structure of said second edge is a full carrot.
2 more elements
A trackless ceiling tile system having a plurality of adjacent tiles, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent, supported, interlocked tiles, each of said tiles having a principal surface and at least one elongated suspension member associated therewith;
- one end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to one of said tiles and the other end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to an overhead structure;
- each of said tiles further having at least one interlocking structure on a first edge and at least one interlocking structure on a second edge, said first and second edges being at opposite sides of each of said tiles;
- wherein said interlocking structures of adjacent tiles engage to interlock said tiles in said trackless ceiling tile system, and
- wherein said elongated suspension members are flexible woven straps molded into each of said tiles.
2 more elements
A trackless ceiling tile system having a plurality of adjacent tiles, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent, supported, interlocked tiles, each of said tiles having a principal surface and at least one elongated suspension member associated therewith;
- one end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to one of each of said tiles and the other end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to an overhead structure;
- each of said tiles further having at least one interlocking structure on a first edge and at least one interlocking structure on a second edge, said first and second edges being at opposite sides of each of said tiles;
- wherein said interlocking structures of adjacent tiles engage to interlock to form said trackless ceiling tile system, and
- wherein said at least one interlock structure on said first edge is an inverted U-shaped structure, said inverted U-shaped structure having a slot disposed therein and wherein said one interlock structure of said second edge is a half carrot.
2 more elements
A trackless ceiling tile system having a plurality of adjacent tiles, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent, supported, interlocked tiles, each of said tiles having a principal surface and at least one elongated suspension member associated therewith;
- one end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to one of said tiles and the other end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to an overhead structure;
- each of said tiles further having at least one interlocking structure on a first edge and at least one interlocking structure on a second edge, said first and second edges being at opposite sides of each of said tiles;
- wherein said interlocking structures of adjacent tiles engage to interlock said tiles in said trackless ceiling tile system, and
- wherein said at least one interlock structure on said first edge is a vertical side wall extending perpendicular from the principal surface of each of said tiles, said vertical side wall having a slot disposed therein and wherein said one interlock structure of said second edge is a half carrot.
2 more elements
A trackless ceiling tile system having a plurality of adjacent tiles, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent, supported, interlocked tiles, each of said tiles having a principal surface and at least one elongated suspension member associated therewith;
- one end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to one of said tiles and the other end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to an overhead structure;
- each of said tiles further having at least one interlocking structure on a first edge and at least one interlocking structure on a second edge, said first and second edges being at opposite sides of each of said tiles;
- wherein said interlocking structures of adjacent tiles are adapted to interlock to form said trackless ceiling tile system, and
- wherein said at least one interlock structure on said first edge is a vertical side wall, said vertical side wall having a slot disposed therein and wherein said one interlock structure of said second edge is a hook.
2 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member associated with said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall;
- wherein said elongated suspension member is a flat rectangular structure having a U-shaped terminal portion and wherein said edge wall has at least one tab defining a slot and wherein said U-shaped terminal portion of said flat rectangular surface is engaged in said slot of said tab, and wherein said elongated suspension member is formed of plastic.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member associated with said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said elongated suspension member is a flexible strap and wherein said edge wall has at least one positioned perpendicular to the back surface of said planar portion of said tile and which defines a slot and wherein said flexible straps is adapted to loop through said slot of said slotted tab.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member attached to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said elongated suspension member is flexible and wherein said elongated suspension member is formed of a woven material.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member associated with said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said elongated suspension member is a flexible woven strap molded into said tile.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member associated with said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said elongated suspension member has a T-shaped end, said tile has a pair of parallel walls defining slots on said back surface of said planar tile portion and wherein said T-shaped end of said elongated suspension member is retained with said slots of said parallel walls.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member attached to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said first interlock structure on said edge wall is an inverted U-shaped structure, said inverted U-shaped structure having a slot disposed therein and wherein said second interlock structure is a half-carrot which is adapted to extend through a slot of an adjacent tile.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member attached to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said first interlock structure on said edge wall is a slot and said second interlock structure is a half-carrot which is adapted to extend through a slot in an adjacent tile.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member attached to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said first interlock structure is a slot in said edge wall and wherein said second interlock structure is a full-carrot which is adapted to extend through a slot in an adjacent tile.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member attached to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said first interlock structure is a slot in said edge wall and wherein said second interlock structure is a locking tongue which is adapted to extend through a slot in an adjacent tile.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member associated with said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said elongated suspension member has a T-shaped end, said tile has a housing attached to said back surface, said housing defining a slot, and wherein said T-shaped end of said elongated suspension member is retained within said slot of said housing.
4 more elements
A ceiling tile for use in a trackless ceiling tile assembly, said ceiling tile comprising:
- a planar tile portion having a front surface and a back surface;
- an edge wall extending around the perimeter of said planar tile portion and perpendicular to said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- an elongated suspension member associated with said back surface of said planar tile portion;
- a first interlock structure at one position on said edge wall;
- and
- a second interlock structure at another position on said edge wall,
- wherein said elongated suspension member has a T-shaped slot and wherein said back surface of said planar tile portion has a T-shaped block attached thereto and wherein said T-shaped block is engaged by said elongated suspension member at said T-shaped slot.
4 more elements
A trackless ceiling tile system having a plurality of adjacent tiles, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent, supported, interlocked tiles, each of said tiles having a principal surface and each of said tiles having at least one elongated suspension member associated therewith;
- one end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to one of said tiles and the other end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to an overhead structure;
- each of said tiles further having at least one interlocking structure on a first edge and at least one interlocking structure on a second edge, said first and second edges being at opposite sides of each of said tiles;
- wherein said interlocking structures of adjacent tiles engage to interlock said tiles in said trackless ceiling tile system, and
- wherein each of said tiles has a T-shaped block attached thereto, said one end of each of said elongated suspension members defines a T-shaped slot and wherein said T-shaped block is engaged by said elongated suspension member at said T-shaped slot.
2 more elements
A trackless ceiling tile system having a plurality of adjacent tiles, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent supported and interlocked tiles, each of said tiles having a principal surface and each of said tiles having at least one elongated suspension member associated therewith;
- one end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to one of said tiles and the other end of each of said elongated suspension members being attached to an overhead structure;
- each of said tiles further having at least one interlocking structure on a first edge and at least one interlocking structure on a second edge, said first and second edges being at opposite sides of each of said tiles;
- wherein said interlocking structures of adjacent tiles engage to interlock said tiles in said trackless ceiling tile system;
- said elongated suspension members being vertical plastic tongues integral with said tiles.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.