The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 2009
Filed:
May. 17, 2005
William J. Platt, Aston, PA (US);
Yu Lin, Blue Bell, PA (US);
William J. Platt, Aston, PA (US);
Yu Lin, Blue Bell, PA (US);
Worthington Armstrong Venture, Malvern, PA (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to a right-angle connection in the grid of a suspended ceiling, between inverted T-beams having a vertical web extending between a bulb at the top and flanges at the bottom. A connector on the end of a cross beam hooks into a slot in the web of a main beam. The connector has a plastic encasement that forms abutments about a metallic core. The abutments position the connector within the slot in the web, and prevent further entry of the connector into the slot, under normal conditions. The plastic abutments melt away during a fire, so that the beam can expand longitudinally into the slot to relieve stresses in the beam, without the beam buckling. Ridges on the bottom of the metallic core that engage the web at the bottom of the slot, prevent pullback of the connector from the slot, during a fire, to prevent the ceiling from sagging or drooping.