# US 8,782,985 B2 · Splice clip for ceiling grid systems

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- Number: US 8,782,985 B2
- Document ID: US8782985B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/776,818
- Filed: 2013-02-26
- Published: 2013-09-05
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-01
- Assignees: USG Interiors, Inc.
- Applicants: USG Interiors, LLC
- Inventors: Peder Gulbrandsen; Mark Miklosz; Stephen Oshgan; Joe Wascow; Nicholas Jackson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8782985B2

## CPC

- E04B 9/10: Connections between parallel members of the supporting construction (E04B9/08 takes precedence)
- E04B 9/30: characterised by edge details of the ceiling; e.g. securing to an adjacent wall
- E04C 2003/046: {L- or T-shaped}
- Y10T 403/551: Externally bridged
- E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001})
- E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A splice plate for joining and aligning extruded trim strips used in suspended ceiling islands and fascias of the type having a pair of opposed flanged channels on its rear face, the splice plate having upper and lower flanges proportioned to slide into the pair of channels and a pair of clamping elements, each of the clamping elements being disposed in a rearwardly horizontally spaced relation to a respective one of said splice plate flanges, a machine screw associated with each clamping element and arranged when turned to draw the respective clamping element forcibly towards an associated plate flange to thereby clamp an intervening portion of a trim channel flange, said plate being sufficiently long to span between a pair of end abutted trim strips.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A splice plate for joining and aligning extruded trim strips used in suspended ceiling islands and fascias of the type having a pair of opposed flanged channels on its rear face, the splice plate having upper and lower flanges lying in a common vertical plane and proportioned to slide into the pair of channels and a pair of clamping elements stamped out of a central area of the splice plate, each of the clamping elements being disposed in a rearwardly horizontally spaced relation to a respective one of said splice plate flanges, a separate machine screw passing successively through each clamping element and the splice plate and arranged when turned to draw the respective clamping element forcibly towards an associated splice plate flange to thereby clamp an intervening portion of a trim channel flange, said splice plate being sufficiently long to span between a pair of end abutted trim strips.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A splice plate as set forth in claim 1, being stamped from sheet metal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A splice plate as set forth in claim 2, wherein the clamping elements are folded through an angle approaching 180 degrees and lie rearwardly of an associated one of said plate flanges.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A splice plate as set forth in claim 3, wherein each machine screw is assembled through a hole in an associated one of said clamping elements and threaded into a main part of the splice plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A splice plate as set forth in claim 4, wherein said clamping elements lie rearwardly of the trim channel flange.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A splice plate as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of clamping elements distributed along the length of the splice plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A splice plate as set forth in claim 6, including two upper clamping elements and two lower clamping elements.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A splice plate as set forth in claim 7, wherein the upper and lower clamping elements alternate along the length of the splice plate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A splice plate as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping elements include feet preventing over-tightening distortion of said clamping elements in the event of a respective screw being excessively tightened.