US 11,788,285 B2
Rail for suspended ceiling comprising expansion absorbers
Maxime Lefranc, Sceaux (FR); and Robin Czyzewicz, Downingtown, PA (US)
Assigned to SAINT-GOBAIN PLACO, Courbevoie (FR)
Appl. No. 17/913,681
Filed by SAINT-GOBAIN PLACO, Courbevoie (FR)
PCT Filed Mar. 22, 2021, PCT No. PCT/FR2021/050481
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 22, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/191545, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2002817 (FR), filed on Mar. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0114856 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. E04B 9/08 (2006.01); E04B 9/06 (2006.01)
CPC E04B 9/08 (2013.01) [E04B 9/067 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rail for a panel support forming a suspended ceiling, said rail having an inverted T-shaped cross section and having a total height (Ht), the rail comprising:
a vertical web extending from a lower end to an upper end,
horizontal extensions forming a base plate, which is adapted to support panels, which horizontal extensions are arranged at the lower end of the vertical web,
a bulbous piece arranged at a top of the vertical web, and
at least one expansion absorber;
said expansion absorber comprising
a main opening comprising two substantially vertical edges extending into the vertical web, the two substantially vertical edges being spaced apart by a first length (L1) when the rail is not subjected to a longitudinal compressive force, the two substantially vertical edges being aligned so as to abut against one another when the rail is subjected to the longitudinal compressive force;
said main opening extending, at a lower part thereof, as far as an area of material able to form a fold line, said fold line being formed when the rail is subjected to the longitudinal compressive force;
two slits each extending on either side of the main opening over a total second length (L2) greater than the first length (L1), the two slits delimiting, with the base plate, two strips of material which are able to fold,
the two substantially vertical edges extending over a first height (H1) representing between 0.3 and 0.8 times a web height (Hb) of the vertical web.