US 12,234,642 B2
Ceiling panel support system
Marijn Verlinde, Rotterdam (NL); and Michiel Langeveld, Rotterdam (NL)
Assigned to Hunter Douglas Industries B.V., Rotterdam (NL)
Appl. No. 17/773,256
Filed by Hunter Douglas Industries B.V., Rotterdam (NL)
PCT Filed Oct. 27, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/080131
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 29, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/083863, PCT Pub. Date May 6, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1915927 (GB), filed on Nov. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0151030 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. E04B 9/00 (2006.01); E04B 9/36 (2006.01)
CPC E04B 9/366 (2013.01) 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ceiling panel support system including:
a ceiling panel having an elongate extent in a longitudinal direction and an elongate support portion from which the panel can be suspended, the support portion having an elongate support channel facing outwardly from the panel, the elongate support channel having a pair of opposing lips defining an elongate opening into the elongate support channel, and the opposing lips having, respectively, inwardly facing surfaces; and
a mounting bracket having a main body to be suspended by a carrier, a holding part configured to be housed within the elongate support channel-behind and configured to engage with the inwardly facing surfaces of the opposing lips, and a leg configured to extend from the main body to the holding part between the opposing lips; wherein:
the main body of the mounting bracket includes lower surfaces on either side of the leg configured to face the support portion when the mounting bracket is fitted to the ceiling panel with the holding part housed within the elongate support channel;
the system further includes a securing member having a base surface configured to engage with the support portion and a top surface configured to engage with the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket, the securing member is configured to be inserted between the support portion and the lower surfaces of the main body of the mounting bracket, and, with the securing member so inserted, the base surface and the top surfaces are configured to provide respective opposing forces on the support portion and the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket respectively, thereby pressing the holding part against the inwardly facing surfaces of the opening lips and securing the mounting bracket frictionally along the elongate extent of the panel; and
the securing member is configured to slide relative to both the support portion and the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket and to slide between an unlocked position in which the securing member does not press the mounting bracket and a locked position in which the securing member does press the mounting bracket.