Panel structures and mounting therefore

• US 7,406,802 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC (Armstrong World Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AWI Licensing Company (Armstrong World Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Martin, Guillaume, Stackenwalt, Richard D., Krantz-Lilienthal, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilbert; William V
• Application Number:
  US10/802,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20040182022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 52/22, 522/22, 525/060.1, 527/371, 525/060.7, 525/851, 525/060.6, 525/060.8, 522/236, 522/31, 522/45, 522/91, 403/294, 403/297, 403/326, 403/327, 403/328, 403/360
• US Class Current: 52/222
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/0414 being foldable, curvable or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/18 Means for suspending the supporting construction
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/30 characterised by edge details of the ceiling; e.g. securing to an adjacent wall
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/34 Grid-like or open-work ceilings, e.g. lattice type box-like modules, acoustic baffles E04B9/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A panel structure including a flexible panel, at least one edge strip and mounting hardware is provided. Also provided is a method of configuring the panel structure. The edge strip has at least one mounting member receiving area provided thereon. The mounting member receiving area is dimensioned to receive the mounting hardware therein. The mounting hardware cooperates with the edge strip to suspend and mount the flexible panel.

When installed, the panel structure provides a canopy-like visual element to a space in which it is suspended or mounted. The panel structure may be suspended or mounted in various configurations having different degrees of flex or curvature. The panel structure can be installed easily and reconfigured easily to suit the user.

Claims

1. A panel structure comprising:

a flexible panel having a first side edge and a second side edge, the first and second side edges being opposing edges of the flexible panel;

first and second edge strips, the first edge strip cooperating with the first side edge of the flexible panel and the second edge strip cooperating with the second side edge of the flexible panel, the first and second edges strips each having at least one mounting member receiving area provided thereon, the at least one mounting member receiving area being dimensioned to receive a mounting member therein; and

a biasing member having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the biasing member being attached to the first edge strip and the second end of the biasing member being attached to second edge strip to maintain the panel in a flexed configuration,

wherein each of the first and second edge strips has a panel receiving recess extending from an edge thereof, the panel receiving recess having opposed side walls, the opposed side walls being spaced apart from one another at a distance which is slightly larger than the thickness of the flexible panel, whereby the flexible panel can be easily inserted into the panel receiving recess,

wherein each of the first and second edge strips has an arcuate channel is provided therein, the arcuate channel being spaced from the panel receiving recess and positioned proximate to an edge of the strip,

wherein a longitudinal slot extends from the arcuate channel to the edge of the strip, the longitudinal slot being dimensioned such that the spacing between side surfaces of the longitudinal slot is less than the diameter of the arcuate channel,

wherein an enlarged receiving cavity is provided proximate the mounting member receiving area, the enlarged receiving cavity extending from the arcuate channel and intersecting the longitudinal slot.

2. A panel structure comprising:

a flexible panel having a first side edge and a second side edge, the first and second side edges being opposing edges of the flexible panel;

first and second edge strips, the first edge strip cooperating with the first side edge of the flexible panel and the second edge strip cooperating with the second side edge of the flexible panel, the first and second edges strips each having at least one mounting member receiving area provided thereon, the at least one mounting member receiving area being dimensioned to receive a mounting member there; and

a biasing member having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the biasing member being attached to the first edge strip and the second end of the biasing member being attached to second edge strip to maintain the panel in a flexed configuration,

wherein each of the first and second edge strips has a panel receiving recess extending from an edge thereof, the panel receiving recess having opposed side walls, the opposed side walls being spaced apart from one another at a distance which is slightly larger than the thickness of the flexible panel, whereby the flexible panel can be easily inserted into the panel receiving recess,

wherein each of the first and second edge strips has an arcuate channel is provided therein, the arcuate channel being spaced from the panel receiving recess and positioned proximate to an edge of the strip,

wherein at least one mounting member receiving slot is provided in the mounting member receiving area, the at least one mounting member receiving slot extending through the surface of the strip and into the arcuate channel, the longitudinal axis of the at least one mounting member receiving slot being essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arcuate channel.

3. The panel structure of claim 2, wherein a mounting cylinder is attached to each end of the biasing member, the diameter of the mounting cylinder being less then the diameter of the arcuate channel, whereby the mounting cylinder can be inserted into and move in the arcuate channel in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the arcuate channel.

4. A suspended ceiling structure comprising:

a flexible panel;

a strip, the strip cooperating with an edge portion of the flexible panel and having at least one mounting member receiving area provided thereon, the at least one mounting member receiving area having at least one receiving slot and being dimensioned to receive a mounting member therein, and wherein an arcuate channel is provided in the strip, the arcuate channel being spaced from the panel receiving recess and positioned proximate to an edge of the strip;

a mounting member, the mounting member cooperating with the strip to maintain the flexible panel; and

a pin, the pin being insertable into a respective end of the arcuate channel and having at least one clip receiving recess provided thereon proximate an end of the pin, the clip receiving recess being alignable with the at least one mounting member receiving slot.

5. The suspended ceiling structure of claim 4, comprising a clip, the clip being insertable through the at least one mounting member receiving slot, the clip cooperating with the clip receiving recess to maintain the pin in position relative to the panel structure.

6. The suspended ceiling structure of claim 5, comprising a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket cooperating with an exposed end of the pin, the pin being dimensioned to allow the exposed end of the pin to project beyond the mounting bracket, whereby as the mounting bracket is mounted to a surface, the cooperation of the pin with the mounting bracket maintains the panel structure in position relative to the surface.

7. The suspended ceiling structure of claim 5, comprising a spacer, the spacer cooperating with an exposed end of the pin, the pin being dimensioned to allow the exposed end of the pin to project beyond the spacer, whereby as a second panel structure is moved proximate the free end of the pin, the pin and spacer cooperating with the second panel structure to maintain the second panel structure in proper position with respect to the first panel structure.