Ceiling system

{
  "publication_number": "US9739057B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Ceiling system",
  "abstract": "A ceiling system in one embodiment includes a support grid including intersecting grid support members and grid openings formed between the grid support members. A vertical baffle is positioned in a grid opening and is attached to the support grid. The baffle includes opposing front and rear faces extending between opposing lateral sides of the baffle. First and second mounting grooves formed in the baffle engage and support the baffle from the grid. In one embodiment, one of the mounting grooves is disposed in each lateral side to support the baffle from opposite sides. The baffle may further include a third mounting groove formed in the rear face which engages the support grid to help align and squarely register the baffle with respect to the grid for clean linear visuals. In one embodiment, the grid support members may have a standard T-shaped cross section.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A ceiling system comprising: a suspended support grid comprising a plurality of intersecting grid support members arranged horizontally and forming grid openings between the plurality of intersecting grid support members, the plurality of intersecting grid support members comprising a first grid support member, a second grid support member, and a third grid support member, the first, second and third grid support members extending substantially parallel to one another, and the second grid support member being located between the first and third grid support members; a vertical panel attached to the suspended support grid, the vertical panel comprising: a first lateral side edge; a second lateral side edge opposite the first lateral side edge; a top edge; a bottom edge opposite the top edge; a front face; a rear face opposite the front face; a first side mounting groove formed in the first lateral side edge, the first side mounting groove extending from the front face to the rear face; a second side mounting groove formed in the second lateral side edge, the second side mounting groove extending from the front face to the rear face; the vertical panel mounted to the suspended grid support by the first side mounting groove engaging the first grid support member and the second mounting groove engaging the third grid support member, the second grid support member at least partially nesting within and extending through a first mounting channel formed in the top edge of the vertical panel between the first and second lateral side edges.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a face mounting groove formed in the front face, the face mounting groove extending from the first lateral side edge to the second lateral side edge.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of intersecting grid support members comprises a fourth grid support member extending substantially perpendicular to the first and third grid support members; and wherein the face mounting groove engages the fourth grid support member.",
    "4. The system of claim 2, wherein the vertical panel comprises an upper section above the face mounting groove having a first thickness measured from the front face of the vertical panel to the rear face of the vertical panel and a lower section below the face mounting groove having a second thickness measured from the front face to the rear face, the first thickness being less than the second thickness.",
    "5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first mounting channel is formed in the upper section of the vertical panel.",
    "6. The system of claim 4, wherein the upper section of the vertical panel has a lower surface, the lower surface being in contact with one of the grid support members.",
    "7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first channel extends from the front face to the rear face.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the intersecting grid support members comprises an inverted T-shaped cross-section.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical panel is formed of mineral fiber, fiberglass, or jute fiber.",
    "10. The system of claim 3, wherein the vertical panel has a second mounting channel formed in the top edge and extending between the front and rear faces, the second channel spaced from the first channel.",
    "11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of intersecting grid support members further comprises a fifth grid support member extending substantially parallel to the first and third grid support members, the fifth grid support member at least partially nesting within and extending through the second channel.",
    "12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mounting channel has a width greater than a width of the second grid support member.",
    "13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting channel extends completely through the top edge between the front and rear faces of the vertical panel.",
    "14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical panel is in a vertical position when the vertical panel is fully mounted in a normal operating state in the support grid.",
    "15. A ceiling system comprising: a suspended support grid comprising a first grid support member, a second grid support member, and a third grid support member, the second grid support member being located between the first and third grid support members, a vertical panel attached to the suspended support grid, the vertical panel comprising: a front face; a rear face opposite the front face; a top edge extending between the front face and the rear face; a second lateral side edge extending from the front face to the rear face; a first channel formed in the top edge and extending from the front face to the rear face; the vertical panel mounted to the suspended grid support and supported by the first grid support member and the third grid support member, the second grid support member at least partially nesting within and extending through the first channel formed in the top edge of the vertical panel.",
    "16. The system of claim 15, wherein the rear face is a stepped surface comprising a first riser surface, a tread surface, and a second riser surface horizontally offset from the first riser surface.",
    "17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a face mounting groove formed in the front face, the face mounting groove extending from the first lateral side edge to the second lateral side edge.",
    "18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of intersecting grid support members comprises a fourth grid support member extending substantially perpendicular to the first and third grid support members; and wherein the face mounting groove engages the fourth grid support member.",
    "19. The system of claim 15, wherein the vertical panel comprises an upper section having a first thickness measured from a front face of the vertical panel to a rear face of the vertical panel and a lower section having a second thickness measured from the front face to the rear face, the first thickness being less than the second thickness.",
    "20. The system of claim 15, wherein the front and rear faces each have a width measured between the first and second lateral side edges which is larger than a thickness of the first and second lateral side edges of the panel measured between the front and rear faces.",
    "21. The system of claim 15, further comprising a first side mounting groove formed in the first lateral side edge and engaging the first grid support member, and a second side mounting groove formed in the second lateral side edge engaging the third grid support member."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to suspended ceiling systems, and more particularly to a ceiling systems having vertically hung baffles.\n\nOne type of ceiling system includes vertical baffles which are hung individually utilizing customized independent hanger hardware and specially-configured horizontal supports. Installation may be time intensive to carefully align and register these baffles relative to one another on the supports for a proper and aesthetically pleasing ceiling installation. Moreover, these custom vertical baffle systems do not work with standard overhead ceiling support grids and continuous suspended ceiling systems requiring. Therefore, existing overhead ceiling grids cannot readily be retrofitted to accommodate vertical baffles requiring replacement of the entire support grid, thereby increasing material and labor costs.\n\nAn improved ceiling system with vertical baffles for use in standard ceiling support grid and continuous ceiling systems is desired.\n\nThe present invention provides a ceiling system including vertical baffles which can be detachably mounted on a standard suspended ceiling support grid having inverted T-shaped grid support members in a secure and stable manner. The vertical baffles may be directly attached to and supported from the ceiling grids without special mounting hardware in some embodiments, thereby providing a baffle or blade system readily adapted for retrofit installations.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04B 9/28",
    "E04B 1/8209",
    "E04B 2001/829",
    "E04B 9/001",
    "E04B 9/04",
    "E04B 9/067",
    "E04B 9/10",
    "E04B 9/366"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04B 1/82",
    "E04B 9/00",
    "E04B 9/04",
    "E04B 9/06",
    "E04B 9/28",
    "E04B 9/10",
    "E04B 9/36"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "AWI Licensing LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Todd BERGMAN",
    "Scott HUNTZINGER"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-05-26",
  "publication_date": "2017-08-22",
  "grant_date": "2017-08-22",
  "priority_date": "2012-12-06",
  "application_number": "US-201514721469-A",
  "family_id": "49817320",
  "cited_by_count": 24,
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    "CN202390986U"
  ]
}