A FITTiNG FOR PROVIDING MUTUAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ORTHOGONALLY CROSSING T-PROFILE RAiLS FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fitting for providing mutual connections between orthogonally crossing T-profile rails for a suspended ceiling of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1

BACKGROUND ART

In suspended ceilings of this kind it is known to provide some kind of fitting for mutually connecting the orthogonally crossing T-profile rails, such fitting comprising engagement means for engaging the primary rail and engagement means for engaging the secondary rail Such a fitting, known to the applicant, is known to comprise two individual fitting elements, which are brought into mutual engagement and clicked together in order to engage the bead of the secondary rail and the flanges of the primary rail A disadvantage of this known fitting is that the engagement with the secondary rail requires space, which extends down along the web of the secondary rail and thus obstructing the positioning of the ceiling tiles supported by the flanges of the secondary rails Another disadvantage with this known fitting is that it is difficult to handle this two-part fitting when mutually connecting the crossing T-profile rails, possibly requiring more than two hands in order to keep the rails in position and mutually connecting the two parts of the fitting A further disadvantage of the known fitting is that the mutual connection between the crossing T-profi!e rails is relatively loose, causing a risk of relative movement of the T-profile rails when mounting the ceiling tiles

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide a fitting of the kind referred to above, with which it is possible to have the fitting in one piece and leaving as much

space as possible for the insertion of the ceϋing tiles below the position of the fitting, and this object is achieved with a fitting of said kind which according to the present invention also comprises the features set forth in the characterising clause of claim 1. With this arrangement the fitting is provided in one piece and the engagement means for engaging the bead of the secondary rail is positioned at the very bottom of the fitting, whereby the fitting does not extend to a position substantially interfering with the insertion of the ceiling tiles between the flanges of the secondary rails,

Further advantageous features, the advantages of which will be evident from the following detailed description, are revealed in the sub-ordinate claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed part of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment of a fitting according to the invention shown in the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 schematically shows a fitting in accordance with the invention seen from one side,

Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross section of the fitting in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 schematically shows secondary rails supporting ceiling tiles, Fig. 4 schematically shows a primary rail with punched openings for hangers and for indicating the positioning of fittings, and

Fig. 5 schematically shows part of a system of orthogonally crossing T-profile rails for a suspended ceiling having mutual connections provided by means of fittings in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The fitting 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig, 2 is able to provide a mutual connection between orthogonally crossing T-profile rails 2, 3 for a suspended ceiling, as schematically shown in Fig, 5. As shown in Fig. 5, the primary rails 2 are suspended

by means of hangers and the secondary rails 3 are positioned under and connected to the primary rails by means of the fittings 1.

The primary and secondary rails are preferably of identical construction, and as shown in Fig, 3 and Fig. 4 these rails comprise a web 4, which at the bottom is provided with flanges 5, 6 and at the top provided with a bead 7, As schematically shown in Fig. 4, the web 4 is provided with circular openings for inserting hangers and rectangular openings for indicating suitable positions for the crossing point between primary and secondary rails 2 and 3, respectively,

The fitting 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 comprises a U-forrned plate element having two side wails 8, 9 and a bottom wall 10. The side walls 8, 9 extend from the bottom wall 10 at an obtuse angle α Engagement means in the form of tabs 1 1 are formed in the side walls 8, 9, said tabs 11 being bent inwards to point inwards and downwards, for engaging the edges of the flanges 5, 6 of the primary rail 2, which can be inserted between the side walls 8, 9 by inserting one of the flanges 5 under the tabs 11 of the side wall 8 and subsequently twisting the primary rail 2 in order to bring the flange 6 down under the tab 1 1 of the side wall 9. Preferably the distance between the tabs 11 of the side wall 8 and the tabs 1 1 of the side wail 9 is close to the distance between the outer edges of the flanges 5, 6 of the primary rail 2, Thus, the insertion of the primary rail requires a certain bending of the legs 8, 9 outwards in order to insert the primary rail between the two legs 8, 9 in engagement with the tabs 11.

The fitting 1 further comprises a slot 12 provided in the side walls 8, 9 and in the bottom wall 10, said slot 12 being adapted to accommodate the bead 7 of the secondary rail 3 at a position above the bottom wall 10, and the slot 12 in the bottom wall 10 being adapted to accommodate the web 4 of the secondary rail 3 in such a way that the edges of the slot 12 in the bottom wall 10 will engage the bottom of the bead 7.

The slot 12 in the side wails 8, 9 is preferably, as shown in Fig. 1 , provided with a broad slot at the top of the slot, the width of this slot having a loose fit relative to the bead 7 of the secondary rail 3, and a lower, narrower part providing an interference fit with the bead 7 of the secondary rail. In this way it is possible to insert the fitting 1

over the secondary rail and move it along the rail having the bead 7 of the secondary rail positioned at the top of the slot 12 in the side walls 8, 9 of the fitting 1 , and when the fitting 1 is in the correct position on the secondary rail 3, the fitting 1 is moved upwards whereby the narrower part of the slot 12 in the side waits 8, 9 engages the bead 7 and prevents further movement of the fitting 1 relative to the secondary rail 3

As shown in Fig 1 , the fitting 1 is furthermore provided with a sighting tab 13 at the top of each of the side walls 8 and 9, said sighting tab 13 being used to correctly position the fitting 1 relative to the primary rail 2, using the rectangular openings in the web 4 of the primary rail 2 as markings for sighting the correct position of the sighting tab 13.

In Fig. 3 it is schematically shown how a ceiling tile is provided with slots to engage the secondary rails 3, and from this drawing it is evident that a certain space has to be available for inserting these ceiling tiles in engagement with the secondary rails 3. Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows a fitting 1 positioned on a secondary rail 3, from which it can be seen that fitting 1 leaves room for the insertion of the ceiling tiles and movement thereof in the longitudinal direction of the secondary rails 3.

The mounting of the primary and secondary rails, as shown in Fig. 5, are performed by first suspending the primary rails 2 at suitable distances between these rails, and subsequently secondary rails 3 are provided with the fittings 1 loosely connected thereto by having the wider part of the slot 12 in the side walls 8, 9 positioned over the bead 7 of the secondary rails The secondary rails 3 are then positioned under the primary rails 2 and at suitable positions the fitting 1 is moved upwards in order to bring the narrower part of the slots 12 into engagement with the bead 7 of the secondary rail. After this, the primary rait 2 is twisted in order to bring one of the flanges 5, 6 down under the tabs 1 1 of one side wall 8 and twisted in the opposite direction in order to bring the opposite flange 6, 5 down under the tabs 11 of the opposite side wall 9. The engagement between the fitting 1 and the primary rail 2 and the secondary raii 3, respectively, is an interference fitting engagement which practicalty does not allow any movement of the two rails relative to one another. However, it is possible by manually moving the two side walls 8, 9 away from the primary rail 2, to provide a possible movement of the fitting 1 along the primary rail

2. Similarly, the secondary rail 3 can be moved upwards in order to bring the bead 7 of the secondary rail 3 into the broader part of the slot 12 in the side walls 8, 9, whereby the secondary rail 3 can be moved in its longitudinal direction relative to the fitting 1. Thus, a certain adjustment of the relative positions of the connections between the primary and secondary raϋs 2 and 3, respectively, can be provided.

It is preferred that the fitting 1 is made from spring steel plate by punching and bending.

In the above description, the fitting 1 has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, however, many modifications may be envisaged without departing from the scope of the following claims.