The present invention relates to a ceiling system comprising first bandraster profiles which are provided so as to extend at a first ceiling height and which are suitable for being suspended from a ceiling slab, as described in the preamble of the first claim. The present invention relates in particular to a bandraster ceiling system.

A dropped ceiling is a suspended ceiling system in which a freely accessible space is created between the structure situated above and the ceiling by means of ceiling panels, ceiling profiles and a suspension system. This space which is produced above the ceiling may be used to conceal all sorts of things, such as cables and various system lines such as electricity, heating and ventilation.

A bandraster ceiling system is a specific type of dropped ceiling which is often used when it may be necessary for inner walls or other interior components to subsequently be placed under the dropped ceiling. It consists of bandraster profiles having a width that is selected as a function of the situation. In practice, the width is variable between 50 mm and 150 mm, the embodiment with a width measurement of 100 mm being the standard. Smaller transverse profiles on which the ceiling panels lie are mounted between the wide bandraster profiles. The inner walls are fastened to the top side of the wide bandraster profiles.

Due to their versatility, such systems are often used as an efficient and flexible way of dividing floors of buildings, office buildings, retail spaces into various spaces that people can access, such as workspaces, meeting rooms, corridors, storage spaces and the like, for example.

Various solutions for forming a bandraster ceiling have already been described in the prior art. The existing ceiling systems typically comprise a supporting structure suitable for being suspended from or fastened to a ceiling slab and which is constructed from bandraster profiles and transverse profiles which intersect to define a grid assembly. Such a ceiling system is described, inter alia, in American patent publication US 3,986,314.

Numerous publications also describe specifically designed bandraster profiles which also allow, in addition to ceiling panels, various functional elements, such as a lighting device, a pre-fabricated panel wall, a plate, a curtain and the like, for example, to be fastened against the bandraster profile in an integrated manner. Such a solution is described, inter alia, in European patent EP 2 313 572, which describes a multifunctional beam for false ceilings. The beam in question comprises a supporting profile which is designed to be suspended from a ceiling slab, with a pair of side walls connected to one another at their top side by a horizontal wall and with free longitudinal lower edges to define a longitudinal compartment with a bottom opening. The beam further comprises at least one functional element having an anchoring portion designed to be received in said compartment, coupling means for connecting the functional element and the anchoring portion, and support means for supporting at least one panel of a false ceiling construction.

A characteristic feature of all known ceiling systems is that, due to the grid structure, one is tied to the positioning of the bandraster profiles against the ceiling slab. This means that, in a space, a partition wall may only be placed at the location where there is a bandraster profile. In order to subsequently have as many options for placing a wall as possible, a sufficient number of bandraster profiles will obviously be provided. The distance at which the bandraster profiles are placed from one another is dependent on a number of factors, such as: the selected lighting, architectural plans, future vision for dividing up offices, ceiling type, etc. In general, the bandraster profiles are placed at a distance of about 1 to 1.5 metres from one another. However, due to the grid structure, it is not possible for the partition walls to be placed at any angle in the space, because one is limited to walls that extend in the direction of the bandraster profile against which they are fastened, and to walls that extend transversely with respect to the direction of the bandraster profile. The existing ceiling systems, such as described, inter alia, in NL 7713423 and US 3,619,960, also have the disadvantage that the placing of an acoustic barrier is not evident. This is because up to now the acoustic barrier has been formed by placing vertical walls in the space between the bandraster profiles and the ceiling slab, said walls being connected to the suspension element by means of which the bandraster profiles are fastened to the ceiling slab. However, this is a very labour-intensive operation.

It is now an object of the present invention to provide a ceiling system which no longer exhibits the aforementioned disadvantages and which, amongst other things, allows a partition wall to be positioned in a space at a freely definable angle, while maintaining an acoustic barrier.

The object of the invention is achieved by providing a ceiling system comprising first bandraster profiles which are provided so as to extend at a first ceiling height and which are suitable for being suspended from a ceiling slab, wherein said ceiling system comprises second bandraster profiles which are provided so as to extend at a second ceiling height which is lower than the first ceiling height, wherein the first bandraster profiles comprise a base profile and a connecting profile, wherein the connecting profile is releasably fastenable against the base profile, and wherein the ceiling system further comprises a coupling element which is provided so as to couple the second bandraster profiles to the connecting profile, wherein, in use, a second bandraster profile is first placed at a desired angle with respect to the connecting profile and the base profile fastened thereto, after which the second bandraster profile is subsequently coupled to the connecting profile via the coupling element, and wherein a space which extends between the first and second ceiling height is formed between the first bandraster profiles and second bandraster profiles, which space is suitable for receiving an acoustically damping material in order to thus produce a horizontal acoustic barrier. By using a second bandraster profile that is located under the first bandraster profile and that can be placed at any angle with respect to the first bandraster profile, there is an enormous amount of freedom and it is possible to place partition walls against this second bandraster profile at any desired angle. Once the second bandraster profile is located at the desired angle (position), the coupling element will preferably also be used to secure (fix) the second bandraster profile at the selected angle (position).

An additional advantage of a double bandraster system is that it is possible to fit a horizontal sound insulation layer above the second bandraster profile, as a result of which it is no longer absolutely necessary to fit a vertical acoustic barrier (for preventing sound transmission via the ceiling). This makes it possible to simply place the desired acoustic insulation at the desired locations. This is in contrast to previous situations, where it was often necessary to provide insulation over the entire space. The acoustically damping material used is preferably a foamed material, a soft mineral material such as mineral wool (for example glass wool or rock wool) or a hard mineral material. Foam blocks or insulation panels composed of PUR or PIR may also be fitted in the space in question as acoustically damping material.

The acoustic sealing works in two directions, on the one hand acoustic sealing for sound from below, such as office noise, for example, is implemented. On the other hand, acoustic sealing for sound from above, such as ceiling sound, for example, is also implemented. The acoustic intermediate layer damps the contact sound.

In a preferred embodiment of the ceiling system according to the invention, the first bandraster profiles are suitable for supporting ceiling panels for forming a first ceiling layer which extends at the first ceiling height, and the second bandraster profiles are suitable for supporting ceiling panels for forming a second ceiling layer which extends at the second ceiling height, wherein said space is provided between the first and second ceiling layer. In order to support (bear) the ceiling panels, both the first and second bandraster profiles are provided with support lips.

The first bandraster profiles according to the invention can be used to form an ideal supporting structure which can already be placed during the shell construction phase. This initially limits the investment cost. This supporting structure may consist of first bandraster profiles which all extend in the same direction or of an assembly of first bandraster profiles which extend both in a length direction and in a transverse direction in order to thus define a grid assembly. In a subsequent phase, when it is desired to divide the space further or again into smaller spaces by means of partition walls, it is possible for the second bandraster profiles to be connected and fixed (secured), in the desired position, to the already placed first bandraster profiles via the coupling element. A ceiling system constructed in this way is particularly flexible in use and is moreover perfectly reusable, for example due to the fact that previously placed second bandraster profiles can be easily uncoupled and can be re-coupled to the first bandraster profiles at another location in the space.

The first and/or second bandraster profile is preferably of multi-part construction. More particularly, the first and second bandraster profile are similar.

The first and second bandraster profile according to the present invention are preferably manufactured by extrusion. They are in particular manufactured from aluminium. Extruded aluminium profiles have the advantage that other functionalities may be easily incorporated, such as: screw channels, clip grooves, slots in which components can be fastened, clip functions, etc. In addition, aluminium is 100% recyclable.

In a preferred embodiment of the ceiling system according to the invention, the base profile comprises a front wall and rear wall, wherein the connecting profile is fastenable against the front wall. The connecting profile is preferably fastenable against the front wall by way of a screw connection. More particularly, the base profile comprises a pair of side walls which are releasably fastenable to the rear wall of the base profile to form a U-shaped profile. In a particular embodiment of the bandraster ceiling system according to the invention, the rear wall of the base profile comprises a first receiving channel and second receiving channel, in which a side wall is fastenable by means of a click-fit connection. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the bandraster ceiling system according to the invention, each side wall comprises a support lip provided to support at least one ceiling panel.

In a specific embodiment of the bandraster ceiling system according to the invention, the base profile further comprises two L-shaped elements which extend transversely with respect to the rear wall and which, during use, serve as means for connecting to a structure placed above.

According to a preferred embodiment of the ceiling system, it comprises a flat finishing profile which is releasably connectable to the second bandraster profile.

In a more particular embodiment, the connecting profile of the first bandraster profile is provided so as to receive part of the coupling element, and the L-shaped elements of the second bandraster profile are provided so as to receive another part of the coupling element and to thus couple the first and second bandraster profile to one another. The L-shaped elements are particularly suitable for being used in combination with a coupling element that is constructed from two elements which pivot with respect to one another, wherein the first element engages behind part of the connecting profile and wherein the second element is displaceable with respect to the first element between a mounting position and a fixing position, wherein, in the fixing position, the second element engages behind the L-shaped elements provided on the second bandraster profile. The displacement may be effected manually or with the aid of a handle forming part of the coupling element. However, in the case of such a pivoting coupling element, it is necessary for the coupling element to be accessible from the side. In order to avoid this, the present invention also provides a number of alternative coupling elements which allow the second bandraster profile to be fastened against the first bandraster profile from below.

In order to further illustrate the properties of the present invention and to indicate additional advantages and particular features thereof, a more detailed description of the bandraster system according to the invention is now given below. It will be clear that nothing in the following description may be interpreted as a limitation of the protection for the present invention as laid down in the claims.

In this description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawing, in which: figure 1: is a schematic representation of the ceiling system according to the present invention; figure 2: is a representation of a ceiling system according to the invention, in which the second bandraster profile is connected to the first bandraster profile via a coupling element in the form of a rotating connection; figure 3: is a representation of a base profile that forms part of the first bandraster profile; figure 4: shows the base profile shown in figure 3, provided with two side walls; figure 5: shows the profile depicted in figure 4, provided with a connecting profile; figure 6: is a representation of a second bandraster profile that is fastenable against the first bandraster profile via a coupling element; figure 7: shows, in figures 7.1 to 7.5, a number of possible ways in which the side walls of the first and/or second bandraster profile may be connected to the base profile; figures 8 to 12: show a number of possible embodiments of side walls which may form part of the first and/or second bandraster profile; figures 13 to 15: show a number of possible embodiments of a coupling element suitable for fastening the second bandraster profile against the first bandraster profile; figure 16: is a schematic representation of a ceiling system consisting of a single bandraster layer.

The ceiling system (1) according to the present invention, also referred to as the double bandraster system, and as schematically represented in figure 1, is used for forming false ceiling constructions in buildings, against which inner walls, partition walls or other interior components are fastenable in order to thus be able to subdivide a space into various smaller spaces. In order to form the inner walls, use is made of wall panels (18) in various embodiments, such as: glass panels, panels composed of another material or a combination of materials. Examples of suitable materials are: plasterboard, wood, MDF, mineral wool, etc.

The ceiling system (1) comprises a set of first bandraster profiles (2) and a set of second bandraster profiles (3) which are mutually coupled to one another via a coupling element (5) and are fixed with respect to one another in the desired position. The first bandraster profiles (2) are provided so as to extend at a first ceiling height and are provided so as to be suspended from or against a structure situated above, such as a ceiling slab. The second bandraster profiles (3) are provided so as to extend at a second ceiling height which is situated lower than the first ceiling height. As shown in figure 1, the suspension from the ceiling slab will in practice be effected with the aid of an anchoring element (4) which is fastened in the ceiling slab and against which or to which the first bandraster profiles (2) are fastened.

The first bandraster profiles (2) are used to form a supporting structure which can already be placed during the shell construction phase. This supporting structure may consist of a series of first bandraster profiles (2) which all extend in the same direction or of an assembly of first bandraster profiles (2) which extend both in a length direction and in a transverse direction in order to thus define a grid assembly. Only in a subsequent phase, when it is desired to divide the space into smaller spaces by means of partition walls or when it is desired to divide up an already divided space again, should the second bandraster profiles (3) first be placed in the desired position by rotating the profile (3) in question with respect to the first bandraster profile (2) provided above until it is located in the correct position and subsequently be connected and secured to the already placed first bandraster profiles (2) via the coupling element (5). Once the second bandraster profiles (3) have been placed, wall panels (18) may be placed against them. In this way, the ceiling system (1) according to the invention is particularly flexible in use and perfectly reusable.

Due to the fact that the orientation of the second bandraster profiles (3) with respect to the first bandraster profiles (2) can be freely selected, it is also possible in this way for sloping walls to be easily placed in a space. In this case, one is also no longer tied to the positioning of the first bandraster layer as is the case in the other current systems. With this system, acoustic insulation, preferably composed of an acoustically damping material, will also be able to be provided more easily in the space (see hatched zone in figure 1) between the first and second bandraster profiles, as a result of which, in contrast to many other known ceiling systems, it is no longer absolutely necessary to fit a vertical acoustic barrier.

Both the first bandraster profiles (2) and the second bandraster profiles (3) are of multi part construction. Preferably, the first and second bandraster profiles are composed of the same or similar components such that they are mutually interchangeable, which is more efficient in terms of production and positioning. Said bandraster profiles (2 and 3) are manufactured from aluminium or another suitable material and are manufactured by extrusion. Below, a description of the construction of the first bandraster profile (2) and second bandraster profile (3) and the way in which they may be connected to one another is given. In addition, a number of possible embodiments of specific components are described which may be selected as a function of the application for which the ceiling system (1) will be used. The first bandraster profile (2) first and foremost comprises a base profile (6) which comprises a front wall (7) and rear wall (8). Such a base profile (6) is represented in figure 3. The rear wall (8) of the base profile (6) comprises a first receiving channel (10) and second receiving channel (11) which extend in the longitudinal direction on the sides of the base profile (6). Part of a side wall (12) is releasably fastenable in these receiving channels (10; 11). By fastening a specific side wall (12) in both receiving channels, a U-shaped bandraster profile is obtained, as shown in figure 4. The fastening of the side walls (12) will be effected by means of a click-fit connection.

The base profile (6) comprises, in its middle part, two L-shaped elements (13) which extend transversely with respect to the rear wall (8) and which are used as means for connecting to a structure placed above. The L-shaped elements (13) of the base profile (6) shown in figure 3 are used in order to be able to connect the base profile (6) to an anchoring element (4) which is for example mounted in a ceiling slab (not represented).

The base profile (6) further comprises a connecting profile (9) which is releasably fastenable against the front wall (7) of the base profile (6), this fastening being for example as shown inter alia in figures 2 and 5, by means of a screw connection. As represented, the connecting profile (9) comprises two symmetrically arranged connecting legs (15) which extend downwards and which are used in order to be able to connect the first bandraster profile (2) to the second bandraster profile (3) situated below.

The second bandraster profile (3), a possible embodiment of which is shown in figure 6, also comprises a base profile (6) having a front wall (7) and rear wall (8). The rear wall (8) of this base profile (6) also comprises a first receiving channel (10) and second receiving channel (11) which extend in the longitudinal direction on the sides of the base profile (6). Part of a side wall (12) is releasably fastenable in these receiving channels (10; 11) in order to thus obtain a U-shaped profile. The connection of the side walls (12) to the base profile (6) is preferably effected by way of an appropriate click-fit connection. In figures 7.1 to 7.5, a number of possible embodiments of a releasable click-fit connection are shown. The side walls (12) themselves may also be embodied in various ways. Depending on the embodiment of the side wall (12), it is possible for a particular ceiling panel to be fastened to or against it. In order to be able to receive a ceiling panel (21), the side walls (12) may be provided with an outwardly projecting support lip (20). Such a support lip (20) extends transversely with respect to the plane of the side wall. The side wall shown in figure 8 is suitable for the fastening of metal panels to form a climate ceiling. The side wall shown in figure 9 is suitable for a panelled ceiling and the side wall in figure 10 is suitable for a vertical plasterboard ceiling. The side wall (12) shown in figure 11 is provided for receiving horizontal plasterboards. A side wall (12) to which a coupling profile is fastenable is depicted in figure 12. Such a coupling profile is used to place two bandraster profiles (horizontally) against one another. This applies for example when it is desired to provide for example curtains, lighting, a power supply, etc. in the one bandraster profile and a wall panel in the profile connected thereto.

The second bandraster profile (3) also comprises a profile which is releasably fastenable against the front wall of the base profile (6). However, this profile should be considered to be a mounting profile (14) against which inner walls are placeable. This mounting profile (14) comprises two symmetrically arranged mounting legs (16) which extend downwards and which are used as support for an inner wall. In practice, an inner wall is placed in the space between a mounting leg and a side wall (12) of the second bandraster profile (3). Due to the fact that an inner wall may be secured in this space, it is possible for any tolerance of the ceiling and the finish to be compensated for. A flat finishing profile (19) may furthermore also be fastened against the mounting profile.

In order to be able to connect the first bandraster profile (2) to the second bandraster profile (3), the ceiling system (1) further comprises a coupling element (5) which is provided so as to couple the second bandraster profiles (3) to the connecting profile (9). In this case, the second bandraster profile (3) will first be positioned at a desired angle with respect to the connecting profile (9) and the base profile (6) fastened thereto, after which the second bandraster profile will subsequently be coupled to the connecting profile (9) via the coupling element (5).

The L-shaped elements (13) described above are particularly suitable for being used in combination with a coupling element (5) that is constructed from two elements which pivot with respect to one another. Such a coupling element (5) is used in the ceiling system shown in figure 1. In the case of such a coupling element (5), the first element engages behind an inwardly directed part of a connecting leg (15) of the connecting profile (9) and the second element is displaceable with respect to the first element between a mounting position and a fixing position, wherein, in the fixing position, the second element engages behind the L-shaped elements (13) provided on the second bandraster profile. The displacement may be effected manually or with the aid of a handle (17) forming part of the coupling element (5). However, in the case of such a pivoting coupling element (5), it is necessary for the coupling element to be accessible from the side. In order to avoid this, the present invention also provides a number of alternative coupling elements (5) which allow the second bandraster profile to be fastened against the first bandraster profile from below. The coupling element (5) may also be a screw. Screwing is an inexpensive simple connection that may be effected rapidly. Another option is a coupling element (5) in the form of a plug and a screw (see figure 13) or a coupling element in the form of a toggle bolt (see figure 14). The coupling element (5) may also be a plastic clip, as shown in figure 15.

Although the ceiling system (1) according to the present invention comprises first bandraster profiles (2) and second bandraster profiles (3) to thus achieve a double layer ceiling system, it is also possible for a ceiling system to be formed from one layer in specific circumstances, this layer as shown in figure 16 comprising only the first bandraster profiles (2) or second bandraster profiles (3) described above. The ceiling system shown in figure 16 is formed from second bandraster profiles (3), a mounting profile (14) being provided against the base profile (6) in the U-shaped space formed.