Steelcase Inc.

David P Lathrop

Mark A Baloga

Paul B Siebert

Scott H Russell

Kevin S Nason

A heat releasable bracket, for supporting a ceiling panel under normal conditions, and for releasing the ceiling panel when exposed to elevated temperatures caused by a nearby fire or the like, includes a first bracket part which includes a mounting portion for securing the first bracket portion to a support structure such as a beam, column, wall, etc.; a second bracket part which is adapted to be secured to the first bracket part and provide a support for the ceiling panel; and a heat releasable link which normally joins the first and second bracket parts together, but which releases the second bracket part from the first bracket part when exposed to elevated temperatures, which in turn allows the ceiling panel to drop away from the position at which it is normally supported. The heat releasable bracket can form part of an effective and relatively inexpensive ceiling panel support system comprised of at least one heat releasable bracket and at least one other bracket which is not heat releasable. The invention is useful for normally supporting a ceiling panel, but releasing it if a fire occurs so that it does not interfere with effective utilization of a sprinkler system located above the ceiling panel.

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Ada, MI, United States of America

David P Lathrop