Ceiling system

• US 9,217,247 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Behling, Stefan, Nelson, David, McGrath, James, Poli, Lorenzo, Bridger, Robert, Siegel, Jonathan P., Muller, Wolfgang, Richter, Bernd, Agnoli, Vasco, Feeney, Casey
• Primary Examiner(s): WENDELL, MARK R
• Application Number:
  US14/175,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20150225948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 521/731
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2009/0492 with fabrics tensioned on frames
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/32 Translucent ceilings, i.e. permitting both the transmission and diffusion of light E04B9/303 and E04B9/34 takes precedence; lighting F21
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/02 Combinations of only two kinds of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape

Abstract

A ceiling system includes a support structure configured to be installed in a ceiling area of a variety of room types. A ceiling supported by the support structure may cover the majority of the ceiling area and may include light sources to light the room. The ceiling may be defined entirely by panels extending continuously from one end of the ceiling to an opposite end of the ceiling, arranged side-by-side with troughs in between. The panels may themselves be the light sources. Alternatively or additionally light sourced may be disposed within the troughs.

Claims

1. A ceiling system for a room, the system comprising:

a plurality of panels each having a length extending from one side of the room to an opposite side of the room, wherein the panels extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other to define a trough between adjacent panels; and

an elongated light fixture disposed within the trough and extending from one end of the trough to an opposite end of the trough, wherein the elongated light fixture defines a plurality of opening therethrough; and

a plurality of penetrations extending through the openings,

wherein the panels and at least one of the elongated light fixture together define a ceiling of the room.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a first distance between a panel and a first wall at the one side of the room is less than the length of the panel, and wherein a second distance between the panel and a second wall at the opposite side of the room is less than the length of the panel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a first distance between a panel and a first wall at the one side of the room is less than a width of the panel, and wherein a second distance between the panel and a second wall at the opposite side of the room is less than a width of the panel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the ceiling is disposed adjacent walls of the room, and wherein a distance between the perimeter and the walls is no greater than 5% of the length of the panel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the ceiling is disposed adjacent walls of the room, and wherein a distance between the perimeter and the walls is no greater than 10% of the width of the panel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the ceiling is disposed adjacent walls of the room, and wherein a distance between the perimeter and the walls is between 3 inches and 36 inches.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels and the elongated light fixture extend to an end of the room at the one side of the room and to an end of the room at the opposite side of the room.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of each of the plurality of panels is no less than 32 feet.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of each of the plurality of panels is at least 500% of its width.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the panels comprise a light source.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the panels do not comprise a light source.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a lower-most lens surface of the elongated light fixture is in vertical alignment with a lower-most surface of adjacent panels.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated light fixture extends throughout at least 90% of the length of the trough.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated light fixture extends throughout at least 90% of the width of the trough.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of penetrations comprises at least one of a downlight, a camera, and a sprinkler.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein each panel comprises:

a panel frame; and

a continuous cover tensioned over the frame and extending continuously along the length of the panel.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the cover is a flexible sheet material.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the cover is a glass fiber fabric.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the length of each of the plurality of panels is no less than 32 feet, and

wherein the cover is a glass fiber fabric.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated light fixture comprises:

a series of light-emitting diodes (LEDs);

a diffusing layer that diffuses light from the LEDs;

a lens layer disposed below the diffusing layer, wherein light from the LEDs is emitted from the elongated light fixture through the lens layer.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein sides of the trough are defined by side covers, and

wherein the side covers are parallel with sides of the elongated light fixture.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated light fixture comprises a plurality of elongated light sub-elements abutted end-to-end within the trough.

23. A ceiling system for a room, the system comprising:

a plurality of panels each having a length extending from one side of the room to an opposite side of the room, wherein the panels extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other to define a trough between adjacent panels; and

an elongated light fixture disposed within the trough and extending from one end of the trough to an opposite end of the trough,

wherein the panels and at least one of the elongated light fixture together define a ceiling of the room,

wherein the elongated light fixture comprises a plurality of elongated light sub-elements abutted end-to-end within the trough,

wherein the elongated light sub-elements define openings therethrough, and

wherein the elongated light sub-elements abut between the openings.

24. An elongated light fixture comprising:

a frame having opposing vertically-arranged walls;

at least one series of LEDs disposed on an interior side of at least one of the opposing vertically-arranged walls;

a diffusing layer disposed between the frame walls, wherein the diffusing layer is configured to diffuse light from the LEDs;

a backing layer disposed above the diffusing layer, wherein the backing layer is configured to reflect light from the LEDs; and

a lens layer disposed below the diffusing layer, wherein the lens layer is configured to transmit light from the LEDs.

25. The fixture of claim 24, comprising a plurality of diffusing layers, wherein at least two of the plurality of diffusing layers are spaced vertically apart with the lens layer disposed therebetween.

26. The fixture of claim 25, comprising a plurality of lens layers, wherein at least two of the plurality of lens layers are spaced vertically apart with at least one of the plurality of diffusing layers disposed therebetween.

27. The fixture of claim 24, wherein the lens layer is formed of solid clear acrylic.

28. The fixture of claim 24, wherein the lens layer defines grooves extending along opposing sides thereof;

wherein each wall has an inwardly-extending flange at the end thereof that extends into one of the grooves of the lens layer to couple the lens layer to the frame.

29. The fixture of claim 24, wherein the diffusing layer comprises a diffusing pattern integrally formed therein, wherein density of the diffusing pattern increases in the diffusing layer as distance from the LEDs increases.

30. The fixture of claim 24, comprising at least two series of LEDs, each disposed on an opposing interior side of the opposing vertically-arranged walls.

31. A ceiling system for a room, the system comprising:

a plurality of longitudinal supports extending parallel to each other, wherein the longitudinal supports are disposed in a ceiling area of the room;

a plurality of lighted panels extending parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other to define a trough between adjacent lighted panels, wherein each lighted panel is disposed between at least two of the longitudinal supports;

an elongated light fixture disposed within the trough; and

a plurality of penetrations disposed within the trough and extending through openings in a lens of the elongated light fixture.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of penetrations comprises at least one of a downlight, a camera, a sprinkler, and a smoke detector.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein each lighted panel comprises:

a panel frame coupled to the at least two longitudinal supports;

a continuous fabric cover tensioned over the frame; and

a lighting element disposed above the fabric cover.

34. A ceiling system for a room, the system comprising:

a plurality of panels extending parallel to each other, wherein the panels are spaced apart from each other to define a trough between adjacent panels; and

an elongated light fixture disposed within the trough, wherein the elongated light fixture comprises a plurality of elongated light sub-elements abutted end-to-end within the trough,

wherein the elongated light sub-elements define openings therethrough.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the elongated light sub-elements abut between the openings.