Construction panel sections with concealed open regions

• US 5,533,306 A
• Filed: 03/29/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel L. Aspenson
• Original Assignee: Daniel L. Aspenson
• Inventors: Aspenson, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, YVONNE MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US08/218,998
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 181/150, 181/284, 181/290, 181/291, 181/292, 181/151, 181/199, 160/371, 160/379, 52/506.06, 52/507, 52/663, 52/144, 52/145, 52/656.7, 52/656.8
• US Class Current: 52/144
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2009/0492 with fabrics tensioned on frames
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/006 with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/04 comprising slabs, panels, sheets or the like

Abstract

The invention provides a panel section having an internally disposed open region concealed by a flexible member possessing sufficient porosity to be permeable to a flow of air therethrough. The panel section may be made by cutting an opening from an acoustical ceiling tile panel and then covering the opening with a porous and flexible member such as a cloth piece. The porous and concealed opening allows for detectable substances from utilities such as air, light and audio waves to pass through the flexible member and opening of the panel section. The panel sections are particularly useful in concealing utilities in suspended ceiling systems from view. The decorative patterns, styles, colorings, finishes, and decor of the permeable panel sections of this invention are distinctly unique.

Claims

1. An acoustical panel section adapted for installation onto a suspended ceiling fitted with an audio speaker which communicates onto the panel section, said acoustical panel section consisting essentially of an acoustical ceiling tile having an internally disposed open region which when installed onto the suspended ceiling affords a mating passageway communicating onto the audio speaker, an internal sidewall bordering onto the open region, a fabric piece tautly covering the open region, securing means securely affixing the fabric piece onto the sidewall and a facial overcoating of paint overcoated onto the fabric piece.

2. The panel section according to claim 1 wherein the ceiling tile includes a painted overcoat substantially matching in color and texture to the facial overcoating of paint overcoated onto the fabric piece.

3. The panel section according to claim 2 wherein said securing means comprises a band for wedging and biasing the fabric tautly against the sidewall.

4. The panel section according to claim 3 wherein the painted overcoat and the facial overcoating impart to the panel section an appearance of unitary construction.

5. The panel section according to claim 3 wherein the band includes a compressible cork gasket about perimeter of the band which firmly biases and secures the fabric piece to the sidewall.

6. An acoustical ceiling panel section equipped with a concealed opening permeable to lighting transmission with the concealed opening of the panel section being adapted for use in concealing a hidden ceiling utility from view, said panel section comprising an internally disposed open region porous to said transmission, a pliable concealing member permeable to said transmission covering the open region and concealing the concealed opening from ocular view, an external acoustical absorbing frame constructed of a mineral and fiber composite with said frame having an internally disposed sidewall bordering onto said open region and external peripheral margin for supportively securing said member onto said sidewall, and securing means securely affixing the member onto said sidewall.

7. The panel section according to claim 6 wherein the frame consists essentially of a fire retardant ceiling tile panel sized for installation onto a suspended ceiling.

8. The panel section according to claim 7 wherein the concealing member comprises a fabric and the securing means comprise a retaining ring which tautly wedges and secures the fabric onto said sidewall.

9. A method for manufacturing a construction panel section comprised of an internally disposed opening permeable to a transmission of sound therethrough, and concealed from ocular view by a flexible camouflaging member a peripheral acoustical absorbing framework bordering onto the opening, with the panel section being adapted for use in providing a passageway for communicating onto a utility fixture hidden from view beneath the panel section, said method comprising removing an internally disposed portion from an acoustical absorbing panel unit to provide an internally disposed open region disposed within said framework, covering the open region with the flexible camouflaging member permeable to the transmission of sound therethrough, and securing said camouflaging member onto said acoustical framework so as to conceal said open region from ocular view and thereby provide the construction panel section equipped with the concealed opening permeable to the transmission of sound therethrough circumscribed by said acoustical absorbing framework.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the removing of the internally disposed open portion from the acoustical absorbing member comprises cutting the internally disposed portion from an acoustical ceiling tile panel section consisting essentially of a fiber and mineral composite and the covering of the open region comprises placing a cloth piece within the open region.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein removing the internally disposed portion comprises cutting the portion from the acoustical ceiling tile panel section to provide an internally disposed sidewall margining onto said open region and said framework.

12. The method according to claim 11 which includes the step of painting the cloth piece with paint.

13. The method according to claim 11 which includes tautly securing the cloth piece onto the sidewall.

14. The method according to claim 11 which includes tautly wedging and securing the cloth piece against the sidewall of the framework with a retaining ring.

15. The method according to claim 14 which includes painting the framework and the cloth piece with a pigmented overcoat of a matching color and texture.