Worthington Armstrong Venture

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

Gale E Sauer

Sandor A Frecska

Yu Lin

Ernest B Nute, Jr

Henry G Stein

Larry S Wertz, Jr

In a panel ceiling, a grid that supports panels has main beams and cross beams. In assembly, the main beams are directly attached to an overhead structure and the cross beams and panels are assembled onto the main beams. Stepped slots in the main beams enable the cross beams to be locked to the main beams to keep the cross beams and panels aligned.

Direct attached grid

A clip for attachment to the end of a main beam for a grid in a suspended ceiling. The beam has an inverted T cross section. The clip engages an identical clip on the end of another main beam to form an end to end connection. The clip has a tongue and channel that engages with a tongue and channel in the other clip of the connection.

Beam clip

A hook type assembly that interlocks a pair of intersecting cross-beams and a main beam in a grid for a suspended ceiling. A gapped ridge in a clip on each cross-beam engages the other gapped ridge in a vertical movement that is part of a hooking action while the assembly is formed. The assembly can be optionally made to provide for expansion during a tire.

Connector assembly for ceiling grid

A locking connection used to join the cross runners and main runners of a suspended grid ceiling system. The main runners are provided with periodic openings through which the cross runner ends are inserted and thereby locked together. Each cross tee end connector contains a resilient finger which engages the main runner upon insertion. Further, each connector has apertures and raised detents which will mate with those of a like opposing cross tee end connector when both are inserted through the same main runner opening. A locked grid intersection can be disengaged by depressing the resilient finger holding the main runner, rotating the main runner over the cross runner end connector, and pushing the cross tee end vertically free.

Locking connection for ceiling grid system

A cold forming process includes mechanically joining two strips of metal. The process entails two roll passes. The first pass lances and forms short locking areas through both strips of metal. The second pass compresses and flairs the metal at these areas to complete a mechanical interlock. This method can provide a row of closely spaced fastenings at high speed. It is applicable in improving the torsion strength of existing tee grid products. It is also applicable in creating more efficient rollformed shapes by providing a means to use more than one metal strip.

Process for producing rollformed sections

A suspended grid system to support screw applied drywall ceilings. The system includes parallel rows of main runners suspended from the structural ceiling. Cross channel members are attached in parallel rows at right angles to the main runners. Drywall is screw attached to the lower surface of the cross channel members. Connectors are formed on the ends of the cross channel members which engage and lock to the main runners. Each such connector uses two upper latches and two lower tongue shaped stop shoulders. The lower stop shoulders will collapse in a controlled manner to relieve excessive compression as would be created from thermal expansion. The main runner will also provide a means for relieving thermal expansion.

Fire-rated drywall suspension system

The grid member is formed of sheet metal and has an inverted T-shape with a bulb at the top, a double thickness central web and oppositely disposed flanges at the bottom. To achieve controlled expansion, two parallel lances are cut along opposite sides of the bulb near the top of the bulb. No metal is removed at this area of maximum bending stress. Further, staggered cutouts are placed in the two thicknesses which make up the web. By staggering the cutout areas of adjacent web layers, the overall web strength is maintained. These web cutouts and the lance at the top of the bulb cooperate upon thermal expansion, causing the bottom flanges to buckle down, and the web and sides of the bulb to separate laterally and fold, and the top of the bulb to buckle up. The folded web configuration directed by the staggered cutout pattern will maintain longitudinal rigidity.

Prenotched fire-rated runner

The grid member is formed of sheet metal and has an inverted T-shape with a bulb at the top, a double thickness central web and oppositely disposed flanges at the bottom. To achieve controlled expansion, an extended angular lance is cut at the top of the bulb. No metal is removed at this area of maximum bending stress. Further, staggered cutouts are placed in the two thicknesses which make up the web. By staggering the cutout areas of adjacent web layers, the overall web strength is maintained. These web cutouts and the lance at the top of the bulb cooperate upon thermal expansion, causing the bottom flanges to buckle down, and the web and bulb to separate laterally and fold. The folded web configuration directed by the staggered cutout pattern will maintain longitudinal rigidity.

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Sinclairville, NY, United States of America

Gale E Sauer