Electrified ceiling framework

• US 7,762,821 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worthington Armstrong Venture
• Original Assignee: Worthington Armstrong Venture
• Inventors: Frecska, Sandor, Patterson, Brian T., Myers, Jere W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US11/581,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20080087464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 439110-122, 174/70.C, 362/147, 362/150
• US Class Current: 439/121
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/381 in ceilings

Abstract

An electrified ceiling framework system having a plurality of grid elements forming a grid network arranged in a substantially planar arrangement. A conductive material is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of grid elements. The conductive material is electrically connected to a low voltage power source and has a contact surface connectable to a low voltage device.

Claims

1. An electrified ceiling framework system mounted in a room space, the system providing a barrier between a living space and a space for infrastructure systems, the system comprising:

a plurality of grid elements arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and forming a grid network, at least one of the grid elements having a vertically extending web portion which is positioned in the space for infrastructure systems;

first and second conductors are disposed contiguously on opposing sides of the vertically extending web portion; and

wherein the first and second conductors each have an outer contact surface, the outer contact surfaces face away from one another and are each in contact with a low voltage power source which is positioned in the infrastructure systems space, the low voltage power source bringing electricity to the first and second conductors; and

wherein the outer contact surfaces are in contact with an electrical device whereby the electricity is transferred from the first and second conductors to the electrical device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the grid elements are arranged and disposed to support the electrical device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electrical device is selected from the group consisting of decorative devices, lighting devices, heating devices, cooling devices, sensing devices, control devices, communication devices, life safety and health maintenance devices, audio-visual devices and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductors are uncoated.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductors are further coated with an electrically conductive material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductors are coated with a piercable electrically insulative material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductors are arranged as strips.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductors are selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper, copper alloys, brass, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, stainless steel, and combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conductor has a positive charge and the second conductor has a negative charge.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is positioned below the grid framework in the living space.