T-GRID CLIP

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/659,163 filed on Jun. 12, 2024, and priority to U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/946,994 filed on Jun. 12, 2024, and U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/989,179 filed on Feb. 10, 2025, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to ceiling tiles or backer boards to be mounted to T-grids and more specifically to clips for mounting ceiling tiles or backer boards to T-grids, particularly when the tiles or boards includes design features.

BACKGROUND

Standard ceiling tiles mounted to T-grids are well known. Ceiling tile systems are widely used in commercial, institutional, and residential buildings to create a finished ceiling surface that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. A common form of ceiling tile installation utilizes a suspended ceiling grid, often referred to as a T-grid or T-bar system, which includes a series of intersecting metal members forming a grid of square or rectangular openings. Ceiling tiles are then placed within these openings to complete the ceiling surface.

Traditional ceiling tiles are typically supported by resting on the horizontal flanges of the T-grid members. While this method is effective for many applications, it has several limitations. First, the tiles are merely gravity-held in place, which can result in displacement due to building vibrations, changes in air pressure, maintenance access, or accidental contact. It is also challenging to mount ceiling tiles with design features that need to hang below the T-grid but still appear to be continuous.

Several solutions have been proposed to address these issues, including the use of magnets, portions of decorative tile, or adhesive materials to secure the tiles to the grid. However, many of these solutions suffer from drawbacks, including increased labor for installation, incompatibility with standard ceiling components, difficulty in removing and reinstalling tiles for access to overhead systems, and a lack of adjustability or precision in alignment.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved ceiling tile mounting system and method that enhances the stability and security of ceiling tiles within a T-grid system, while preserving or improving ease of installation, access, and compatibility with conventional ceiling infrastructure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general terms, this invention provides a T-grid clip connector for attaching ceiling tiles to a T-grid, having a body and a mounting head. The mounting head is flexibly connected to the body. The mounting head includes a front portion, a rear portion, and an engagement portion. The rear portion is connected to the body. The mounting head has a normal position with respect to the body and a flexed position with respect to the body. The body is adapted to be mounted to a ceiling tile and the mounting head is adapted to engage a T-grid when in the normal position, temporarily flex to the flexed position as the mounting head passes the T-grid, and return to the normal position and rest upon the T-grid after passing the T-grid to retain the ceiling tile with respect to the T-grid.

The invention also includes the method of mounting a ceiling tile to a T-grid with the T-grid clip of the present invention. The method includes mounting the T-grid clip to a ceiling tile by mounting the body to the ceiling tile. Engaging the mounting head against the T-grid when the mounting head is in the normal position. Pressing the mounting head against the T-grid and flexing the mounting head to the flexed position as the mounting head passes the T-grid. The mounting head then snaps back to the normal position after passing the T-grid with the engagement portion resting on the T-grid to retain the ceiling tile upon the T-grid.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the T-grid clip of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the present invention mounted on a ceiling tile and installed on a T-grid.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention mounted on a ceiling tile and installed on a T-grid.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a further embodiment of the T-grid clip of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the T-grid clip of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The t-grip clip of the present invention is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The t-grip clip 10 of the present invention is used to support a backer board or ceiling tile, shown at 11 in FIGS. 3 and 4, from the t-grip framework 13 mounted to the ceiling of a building. The present invention is particularly adapted to mount decorative acoustic tile 15 or similar material from the T-grid framework 13.

T-grip clip 10 has a body 12 and a mounting head 14. The body 12 and mounting head 14 are joined by a connector surface 16. The body 12 has mounting holes 18. In the example shown, there are two mounting holes, but it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that there could be more than two, only one and in certain applications no mounting holes. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that they t-grip clip 10 can be glued or otherwise adhered to the backer board or ceiling tile 11 and either include mounting holes for receipt of fasteners or not have fasteners depending upon the application.

The connector surface 16 allows the head portion 14 to flex with respect to the body 12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, bracing 20 and 21 can be provided to increase the rigidity of the clip 10. The head portion 14 can flex with respect to body 12 when the T-grid clip 10 is mounted to the backer board or ceiling tile 11 and inserted into or removed from the framework 13. In the disclosed embodiment, several T-grid clips 10 are shown mounted to the backer board or ceiling tile 11. The number of T-grid clips 10 to use depends upon the application.

The head portion 14 has a sloped front portion 22, a base portion 24, and a back portion 32. The front edge 26 where the front portion 22 joins the base portion 24 is curved or rounded. The rear edge 28 is also curved or rounded where it joins the back portion 32 and the base portion 24. The edges 26 and 28 are curved or rounded to facilitate the insertion and removal of the head portion 14 from the T-grids 13.

With reference to FIG. 2, a locating prong 34 is illustrated for locating the clip 10 on scribed backer panels. This is an optional feature and facilitates the mounting of the clip 10 onto the backerboard or ceiling tile 11. The locating prong 34 is shown with a leg 36 and foot 34. The foot 34 engages the edge of the tile 11 for proper alignment of the clip 10.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a further embodiment of the t-grip clip of the present invention is shown generally at 50. The t-grip clip 50 of the present invention is used to support backer board 11 or ceiling tile 11 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, from the t-grip framework 13 mounted to the ceiling of a building.

T-grip clip 50 has a body 52 and a mounting head 54. The body 52 and mounting head 54 are joined by a connector surface 56. The body 52 has mounting holes 58. In the example shown, there are two mounting holes, but it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that there could be more than two, only one and in certain applications no mounting holes. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that they t-grip clip 50 can be glued or otherwise adhered to the backer board or ceiling tile 11 and either include mounting holes for receipt of fasteners or not have fasteners depending upon the application.

The connector surface 56 allows the head portion 54 to flex with respect to the body 52. The head 54 can flex with respect to body 52 when the T-grid clip 50 mounted to a backer board or a ceiling tile 11 is inserted into or removed from the framework 13.

The head 54 has a sloped front portion 62, a base portion 64 (see FIG. 6) and a back portion 62. The front edge 66 is located where the front portion 62 joins the base portion 64 and is curved or rounded. The rear edge 68 joins the back portion 62 and the base portion 64 and is curved or rounded. The edges 26 and 28 are curved to facilitate the insertion and removal of the head portion 54 from the T-grids 13.

Locking fingers 74 are positioned adjacent the head 54. Each of the locking fingers have an arm 76 and finger 74. The finger 74 engages the T-grid 13 when the T-grid clip 50 is installed onto the T-grid 13. The T-grid clip 50 and in particular the base portion 64 engages the face of the T-grid 13 and the finger 74 engages the lip of the T-grid 13 to lock the T-grid clip 50 onto the T-grid 13.

The invention also includes the method of mounting a ceiling tile 11 to a T-grid with the T-grid clip 10, 50 of the present invention. The method includes mounting the T-grid clip 10, 50 to a ceiling tile 11 by mounting the body 12, 52 to the ceiling tile. Engaging the mounting head 14, 54 against the T-grid 13 when the mounting head 14, 54 is in the normal position, as shown in the drawings. Pressing the mounting head 14, 54 against the T-grid 13 and flexing the mounting head 14, 54 to the flexed position as the mounting head passes the T-grid 13. The mounting head 14, 54 then snaps back to the normal position after passing the T-grid 13 with the engagement portion 24, 64 resting on the T-grid 13 to retain the ceiling tile 11 upon the T-grid 13.

The T-grid clip 50 also has the step of the locking finger 74 engaging the lip of the T-grid to lock the clip 50 in place. The T-grid clip 10 includes the optional feature of the foot 38 engaging the edge of the ceiling tile 13 to locate the T-grid clip 10 on the ceiling tile.

Clip 50 also includes a stepped portion 80, shown with steps 82 and 84. These steps 82 and 84 are used to measure the edge of the panel 11 when making changes during installation. They correspond to fitting T-grids that are 9/16 and 15/16 inches, eliminating the need for a tape measure.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.