Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
  • E04B9/18—Means for suspending the supporting construction
  • E04B9/183—Means for suspending the supporting construction having a lower side adapted to be connected to a channel of the supporting construction
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
  • E04B9/006—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
  • E04B9/008—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation with means for connecting partition walls or panels to the ceilings
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
  • E04B9/06—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation characterised by constructional features of the supporting construction, e.g. cross section or material of framework members
  • E04B9/064—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation characterised by constructional features of the supporting construction, e.g. cross section or material of framework members comprising extruded supporting beams
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
  • E04B9/22—Connection of slabs, panels, sheets or the like to the supporting construction
  • E04B9/24—Connection of slabs, panels, sheets or the like to the supporting construction with the slabs, panels, sheets or the like positioned on the upperside of, or held against the underside of the horizontal flanges of the supporting construction or accessory means connected thereto
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
  • E04B9/22—Connection of slabs, panels, sheets or the like to the supporting construction
  • E04B9/24—Connection of slabs, panels, sheets or the like to the supporting construction with the slabs, panels, sheets or the like positioned on the upperside of, or held against the underside of the horizontal flanges of the supporting construction or accessory means connected thereto
  • E04B9/245—Connection of slabs, panels, sheets or the like to the supporting construction with the slabs, panels, sheets or the like positioned on the upperside of, or held against the underside of the horizontal flanges of the supporting construction or accessory means connected thereto by means of screws, bolts or clamping strips held against the underside of the supporting construction
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
  • E04B9/22—Connection of slabs, panels, sheets or the like to the supporting construction
  • E04B9/24—Connection of slabs, panels, sheets or the like to the supporting construction with the slabs, panels, sheets or the like positioned on the upperside of, or held against the underside of the horizontal flanges of the supporting construction or accessory means connected thereto
  • E04B9/26—Connection of slabs, panels, sheets or the like to the supporting construction with the slabs, panels, sheets or the like positioned on the upperside of, or held against the underside of the horizontal flanges of the supporting construction or accessory means connected thereto by means of snap action of elastically deformable elements held against the underside of the supporting construction
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
  • E04C3/00—Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting
  • E04C3/02—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces
  • E04C3/28—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of materials not covered by groups E04C3/04 - E04C3/20
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
  • E04C3/00—Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting
  • E04C3/02—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces
  • E04C3/04—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal
  • E04C2003/0404—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal beams, girders, or joists characterised by cross-sectional aspects
  • E04C2003/0443—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal beams, girders, or joists characterised by cross-sectional aspects characterised by substantial shape of the cross-section
  • E04C2003/0452—H- or I-shaped
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
  • E04C3/00—Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting
  • E04C3/02—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces
  • E04C3/04—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal
  • E04C2003/0404—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal beams, girders, or joists characterised by cross-sectional aspects
  • E04C2003/0443—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal beams, girders, or joists characterised by cross-sectional aspects characterised by substantial shape of the cross-section
  • E04C2003/0473—U- or C-shaped

Definitions

• the present invention generally finds application in the civil or industrial building industry and particularly relates to a modular system for forming sub-ceilings.
• sub-ceilings allows concealment of the cables and pipes that are used for serving the equipment required for adequate comfort of the room.
• a sub-ceiling consists of a modular system having a plurality of supporting beams which define a texture having two horizontal rows, with covering panels or plates secured thereto.
• the sub-ceiling may also be fitted with functional elements such as lamps, fire or emergency systems, as well as prefabricated or glazed walls if the available space has to be divided into two or more rooms.
• a sub-ceiling system comprises a plurality of load-bearing beams which are adapted to be secured to a floor and have a load-bearing profile with an inverted U- shaped cross section, for accommodating the desired wiring and service devices.
• Each beam also has a pair of lateral wings, horizontally projecting out of the vertical walls of the beam to define a support for the edges of the panels that are designed to form the sub-ceiling.
• panels having technical functions may be secured by means of anchor structures, which are adapted to be fixed to the side of the beam, to provide adequate support to the panels.
• the construction so obtained will have a lower aesthetic quality, caused by discontinuities in the sub-ceiling.
• WO2009/1 53674 discloses a modular system for forming sub-ceilings which incorporates a plurality of multifunctional beams designed to accommodate a plurality of different functional devices in modular fashion, such as lamps or support elements for partition walls, so that such devices are always entirely incorporated in the U-shaped profile, thereby providing sub-ceilings of high aesthetic value.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks, by providing a modular system for forming sub— ceilings that is highly modular and flexible in its configuration.
• a particular object is to provide a modular system for sub-ceilings that allows simple and quick mounting of different types of panels to the same load-bearing beam.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular sub-ceiling system that affords the formation of sub-ceilings of superior aesthetic quality with no elements projecting out of the plane defined by the sub-ceiling.
• Another important object of the present invention is to provide a sub- ceiling structure that ensures high versatility, to adapt to various uses and different partitioning arrangements in the space covered by the false ceiling.
• a sub-ceiling is composed of a plurality of substantially horizontal side-by- side panels, comprising a plurality of beams, which are designed to be secured to a floor in substantially horizontal positions, each beam having a substantially U-shaped cross section, with a pair of substantially vertical side walls, and a plurality of interface members which are designed to be coupled to said side walls for securing respective sub-ceiling panels to each of said beams.
• the interface members have quick connection means for snap connection with no universal connection members to the outer side surfaces of said substantially vertical lateral walls.
• each of said beams has at least one pair of lateral connecting members outwardly projecting and each firmly associated with a respective substantially vertical lateral wall.
• the system affords simple and quick mounting of panels of different configurations to the beams, without requiring complex mechanical fixation of the panels to the profile of the beam, thereby allowing remodulation of the entire system.
• FIGS. 1 to 3 are cross-sectional views of a beam coupled to a pair of interface members according to three different configurations of the system of the invention ;
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 3;
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views of two different configurations of an interface member of a system of the invention ;
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a modular system of the invention in a fourth configuration ;
• FIGS. 8 to 9 are cross sectional views of two connection profiles of the system according to the configuration of Fig. 6.
• a modular system of the invention may be used for forming sub-ceilings composed of a plurality of panels P, C in side-by-side relation, in premises to be divided into multiple rooms by prefabricated walls, glazed panels, curtains, or the like.
• the system 1 may be assembled in a multiplicity of configurations, with no particular limitation neither in type nor in size, and may include a plurality of load bearing beams 2, 2',... secured to a floor in substantially horizontal positions and a plurality of panels P, C supported by the beams 2, 2' in substantially horizontal positions.
• each beam 2 comprises a substantially longitudinal load-bearing profile 3 having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section with substantially vertical side walls 4, 4', which are symmetric with respect to a substantially longitudinal and vertical plane ⁇ .
• Each load-bearing profile 3 is designed to be suspended from a floor by steel cables or the like, not shown because they are known per se and are not part of the invention.
• the modular system 1 also comprises a plurality of interface members 5, 5'; 6, 6', which are adapted to be coupled with the side walls 4, 4' for securing respective sub-ceiling panels (P, C) to one or more beams 2, 2'.
• each interface member 5, 6 has quick connection means 7, 8 for snap connection with no universal connection members to the outer side surfaces 9, 9' of the substantially vertical side walls 4, 4'.
• each load-bearing profile 3 has respective free lower longitudinal edges 1 0, 1 0' to define a longitudinal compartment 1 1 with a bottom opening 12 for receiving one of more functional devices in the compartment 1 1 , such as lamps, support elements for room partitioning panels or the like, not shown in detail and not covered by the scope of the invention.
• the vertical walls 4, 4' are also joined at their top by a substantially flat top wall 1 3, to define the inverted U-shaped load-bearing profile 3.
• the top wall 1 3 also has a specially shaped portion 14, e.g. also having a U-shape, for attachment thereof to hangers or similar systems which are designed to hold the beam 2 suspended from the floor.
• the beams 2, 2' are substantially similar and made of metal, e.g. aluminum or similar materials, or polymer materials or composites, by extrusion.
• Each of the side walls 4, 4' of the profiles 3 comprises a lateral connection element 1 5, 1 5' which projects out of a corresponding side wall 4, 4' and preferably extends throughout the longitudinal extension of the corresponding beam 2.
• the lateral connection elements 1 5, 1 5' are integral with the outer side surfaces 9, 9' of corresponding side walls 4, 4' and are formed of one piece therewith, e.g. by extrusion of the same base material.
• Each pair of lateral connection elements 1 5, 1 5' further comprises a pair of first lower and upper longitudinal projections 1 6, 1 6'; 1 7, 17', which are mutually offset by a first predetermined distance di in a substantially vertical direction.
• first lower longitudinal projections 1 6, 1 6' of the connection elements 1 5, 1 5' define the bottom opening 1 2 of the load- bearing profile by their inner edges 3.
• the quick connection means 7, 8 include substantially longitudinal and vertical anchor portions 1 8, 1 9 which are designed to mate with respective lateral connection elements 15, 1 5'.
• the interface members 5, 6 further include respective substantially longitudinal support portions 20, 21 which are adapted to stably support at least one sub-ceiling panel P, C.
• the interface members 5, 6 have respective anchor portions 18, 1 9, which are substantially identical and shaped to mate with any one of the lateral connection elements 15, 15' of any one of the beams 2 designed to form the modular system 1 .
• At least one of the interface members 5, as shown in Fig. 5 has a support portion 20 for supporting a plasterboard sub-ceiling panel C.
• At least one of the interface members 6, as shown in Fig. 6, has a support portion 21 for supporting a metal sub-ceiling panel P.
• each beam 2 may have coupled thereto either a pair of interface members 5, 5' for plasterboard panels C, as shown in Fig. 1 , or a pair of interface members 6, 6' for metal panels P, as shown in Fig. 2.
• a beam 2 may be simultaneously fitted with two interface members 5, 6 of different types, as shown in Fig. 3, to form sub- ceilings having both metal panels P and plasterboard panels C. It shall be also understood that a further configuration may be envisaged, with reversely arranged panels with respect to Fig. 3.
• the particular configuration of the beams 2 and interface members 5, 6 will allow the latter to be mounted to the load-bearing profiles 3 of the beams 2 without requiring any mechanical process such as riveting or the like, that might damage the beams 2.
• the interface members 5, 6 may be also removed from the beams 2, and still maintain their structural integrity and allow remodulation of the sub-ceiling.
• the support portions 20, 21 of the interface members 5, 6 may be configured in various manners known in the art.
• the support portion 20 of the interface members 5 may have a substantially horizontal flat surface 22, the panel C being fixed to its bottom by screw means or the like, not shown.
• the support portion 21 of the interface members 6 is also configured in various manners known in the art.
• Each of the anchor portions 1 8, 1 9 of each of the interface members 5, 6 comprises a substantially longitudinal and vertical flat formation 23, 24 having pairs of second lower and upper longitudinal projections 25, 26, transversely offset to each other by a second distance d 2 substantially equal to the first distance d-i .
• each interface member 5, 6 may snap-fit with respective first projections 1 6, 1 6', 17, 1 7' of any connection element 15, 1 5'.
• each of the flat formations 23, 24 of the interface members 5, 6 comprises a specially shaped lower appendage 27, 28, which is adapted to project out of the bottom opening 1 2 of the inner compartment 1 1 to define an extension of the vertical walls 4, 4' of the load-bearing profile 3 having the interface member 5, 6 mounted thereto.
• each appendage 27, 28 comprises a substantially longitudinal groove 29, 30 for receiving and holding a closure element for closing the compartment 1 1 , which element has edges mating the shape of said grooves.
• the closure element not shown herein and known per se, has a typical known configuration, with a flat formation of sufficient size to occlude the bottom opening 1 2 of the compartment 1 1 , which has specially shaped edges for snap fit or sliding engagement with the grooves 29, 30.
• the system 1 also comprises one of more lower junction profiles 3, which are substantially longitudinal and have a predetermined width to allow transverse coupling of at least one pair beams 2, 2' in side- by-side relation with a gap therebetween.
• the lower junction profile 31 has a pair of mutually facing vertical walls 32 which are joined at their bottom by a substantially flat bottom wall 33.
• the vertical walls 32 have respective specially shaped upper edges which are adapted for engagement with pairs of first projections 1 6', 1 6" of mutually facing lateral connection elements 1 5, 15" of two separate transversely adjacent beams 2, 2' of the plurality for mutual coupling thereof.
• the vertical walls 32 of the lower junction profile 31 have respective portions designed to project at their bottom out of the bottom opening of the compartment 1 1 of the load-bearing profile 3 and having substantially the same height h as the specially shaped appendages 27, 28 of the interface members 5, 6.
• each of the projecting vertical walls 32 of the first coupling profiles 31 have respective substantially longitudinal grooves 35 open on mutually opposite sides to face respective grooves 29, 30 of interface members 5, 6 and/or further lower junction profiles 31 to receive and hold the edge of a closure element for closing the compartment 1 1 .
• the system 1 may also comprise one or more substantially longitudinal upper junction profiles 36, one of which is more clearly shown in Fig. 8, whose width is substantially similar to that of the lower profiles 31 , for coupling to the mutually facing side walls 4', 4" of two separate beams 2, 2' in side-by-side relation, and allow firmer coupling thereof.
• each beam 2, 2' has its own load-bearing profile 3, 3', whose vertical walls have respective third longitudinal projections 27, 27', 27", 27"', which are transversely offset to corresponding first upper projections 1 7, 1 7'.
• the upper junction profiles 36 have specially shaped upper edges 38, which are designed for engagement with the third projections 37', 37" of the load-bearing profiles 3, 3' of the side— by-side beams 2, 2', and lower edges 39 which are designed for snap-fit engagement with respective first longitudinal upper projections 1 7', 1 7" of mutually facing load-bearing profiles 3, 3' of the same pair of beams 2, 2'.
• one or more of the beams 2, 2' of the system may be of the multifunctional type, as disclosed in the above mentioned patent application WO2009/153674, i.e. are adapted to receive one or more functional elements in the compartment 1 1 .
• the term "functional element” shall be intended to indicate any element that can be introduced into the bearing profile 2 and has any function other than supporting the panels P, C or other elements belonging to the sub-ceiling structure with which the beam 2 can be associated.
• the functional elements are selected from lighting devices, such as lamps, sound devices, alarm devices or support elements for room partitioning elements, such as prefabricated panel walls, plates, curtains or the like.
• the inner compartment 1 1 of such multifunctional beams 2 is designed for stable and unremovable coupling with such functional elements, as taught in said application WO2009/1 53674.
• the functional elements have a portion for attachment to the compartment 1 1 , which is designed to hold the functional element integrated in the load-bearing profile 3 and entirely held in the compartment 1 1 .
• the beam 2 of the invention once assembled, it will appear as a single body, with no parts projecting out of the exposed surface of the panels.
• the assembled sub-ceiling will have no structural element projecting out of the plane defined by the exposed surfaces of the panels P, P'.
• the functional elements are thus completely integrated in the sub- ceiling, thereby providing a high aesthetic quality as compared with prior art solutions.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Building Environments (AREA)
• Residential Or Office Buildings (AREA)
• Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)
• Finishing Walls (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Priority Applications (11)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=45094172

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (14)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2011
  • 2011-10-05 IT IT000268A patent/ITVI20110268A1/it unknown
• 2012
  • 2012-04-04 BR BR102012007799A patent/BR102012007799A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2012-10-04 CA CA2851058A patent/CA2851058C/en active Active
  • 2012-10-04 WO PCT/IB2012/055336 patent/WO2013050963A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2012-10-04 US US14/349,273 patent/US20140245687A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-10-04 RU RU2014117276/03A patent/RU2014117276A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2012-10-04 MX MX2014004180A patent/MX352880B/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2012-10-04 EP EP12806128.0A patent/EP2764173A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-10-04 CN CN201280040796.2A patent/CN103748295A/zh active Pending
  • 2012-10-04 SG SG11201401269VA patent/SG11201401269VA/en unknown
• 2013
  • 2013-07-16 SM SM201300081T patent/SMP201300081B/it unknown
• 2014
  • 2014-04-03 IL IL231905A patent/IL231905B/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2014-05-01 MA MA36971A patent/MA35621B1/fr unknown
  • 2014-05-02 ZA ZA2014/03186A patent/ZA201403186B/en unknown

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