Direct mount ceiling panel grid system

A direct mount ceiling panel grid system installing a plurality of ceiling panels close to a mounting surface comprising:

• a plurality of base straps each having a generally flat portion and an extending neck portion, the neck portion having a relatively thicker bulb portion at its marginal end, the bulb portion having a predominantly annular cross-section thereby providing a curved outer surface, the flat portion of the base strap directly mounted to the mounting surface such that the neck portion depends downwardly;
• a plurality of channel grid members each having a base flange and two transversely extending parallel webs forming a channel therebetween, each of the webs having a hooked portion bent inwardly and downwardly into the channel along its marginal end, thereby providing a hook edge, the channel removably and frictionally fitted over the bulb portion of the neck portion of the base strap whereby the hooked portions of the parallel webs of the channel grid members capture the bulb portion with the hook edges abutted against the curved outer surface of the bulb portion, the base flange portion of the channel grid members supporting the ceiling panels placed thereon so that the ceiling panels are positioned in a common plane adjacent to the mounting surface.

A direct mount ceiling panel grid system comprising:

• a plurality of suspension rods each having a flat tab at one end and an enlarged head at the other end of the rod, the enlarged head having a tapered curved surface between the enlarged head and the rod, the base flange portion mounted to the mounting surface such that the enlarged head depends downwardly;
• a plurality of channel grid members each having a base flange and two transversely extending parallel webs forming a channel therebetween, each of the webs having a hooked portion bent inwardly and downwardly into the channel along its marginal end, thereby providing a hook edge, the channel removably and frictionally fitted over the enlarged head of the transversely extending web portion of the base grid members whereby the hooked portions of the parallel webs of the channel grid members capture the enlarged head with the hook edges abutted against the tapered curved surface of the enlarged head, the base flange portion of the channel grid members supporting the ceiling panels placed thereon so that the ceiling panels are positioned in a common plane adjacent to the mounting surface.

A method of installing a direct mount ceiling grid system comprising the steps of:

• mounting a plurality of base grid members, each having a T-shaped cross-section formed by a base flange portion and a transversely extending web portion having a bulb portion with a curved outer surface, to a mounting surface such that the base grid members are parallel to each other and the transversely extending web portion depends downwardly from the mounting surface;
• positioning a plurality of channel grid members, each having a base flange and a channel with inwardly and downwardly extending hook portions, in alignment with the base grid members and engaging the channel over the bulb portion such that the hook portions engage the curved outer surface of the bulb portion;
• arranging a plurality of cross grid members each having a base flange portion and two ends having a bearing surface, in transverse relation to the base grid members and placing at least one bearing surface of the cross grid members upon the base flange of at least one of the channel grid members.