CEILING SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention is a United States Non-Provisional Patent Application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/673,784, filed on Jul. 21, 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to suspended ceiling systems, and more particularly to a ceiling system with detachable ceiling panels.

BACKGROUND

Numerous types of suspended ceiling systems and methods for mounting ceiling panels have been used. One type of system includes a suspended support grid including an array of intersecting grid support members configured to hang a plurality of individual ceiling panels therefrom. An improved ceiling system is desired which can facilitate mounting individual panels to the support grid in an aligned manner.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides, in one form, a ceiling system including grid support members, ceiling panels having torsion springs mounted thereto for hanging the panels, and spring clips configured to snap-lock onto the grid support members for coupling the torsion springs and attached panels to the grid support members. The spring clips are axially slideable along the grid support members to a desired position for attaching the torsion springs to the clips. The spring clips are snap-locked onto the grid support members to prevent the clips from falling off during ceiling installation, and the need for fasteners for this purpose is eliminated. Advantageously, this translates into a less cumbersome ceiling panel installation and reduced installation costs.

The present invention provides, in one form, a ceiling system comprising a grid frame, a ceiling panel, and a mount mounted to the grid frame. The grid frame comprises a first grid member and a second grid member extending orthogonally to the first grid member. The ceiling panel comprises a ceiling panel comprising a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a corner defined between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, a registration guide mounted to the top side, wherein the registration guide comprises a first projection extending from a first side of the corner adjacent the first lateral edge and a second projection extending from a second side of the corner adjacent the second lateral edge, and a torsion spring mounted on the ceiling panel. The torsion spring is engageable with the mount to support the ceiling panel from the grid frame, wherein the first projection of the registration guide comprises a first registration face adjacent the first lateral edge configured to engage the first grid member when the ceiling panel is mounted to the grid frame, and wherein the second projection comprises a second registration face adjacent the second lateral edge configured to engage the second grid member when the ceiling panel is mounted to the grid frame.

The present invention provides, in one form, a ceiling system comprising a grid frame, a ceiling panel, and a mount mounted on the grid frame. The grid frame comprises a first grid member and a second grid member extending orthogonally to the first grid member. The ceiling panel comprises a planar body comprising a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a corner defined between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, an integral registration guide integrally formed with the planar body, wherein the integral registration guide comprises a first projection extending from a first side of the corner adjacent the first lateral edge and a second projection extending from a second side of the corner adjacent the second lateral edge, and a torsion spring mounted on the ceiling panel. The torsion spring is engageable with the mount to support the ceiling panel from the grid frame, wherein the first projection of the integral registration guide comprises a first registration face adjacent the first lateral edge that faces the first grid member when the ceiling panel is mounted to the grid frame, and wherein the second projection of the integral registration guide comprises a second registration face adjacent the second lateral edge that faces the second grid member when the ceiling panel is mounted to the grid frame.

The present invention provides, in one form, a ceiling panel for use with a grid frame having a first grid member and a second grid member, the ceiling panel comprising a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a corner defined between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, a registration guide mounted to the top side, wherein the registration guide comprises a first projection extending from a first side of the corner adjacent the first lateral edge and a second projection extending from a second side of the corner adjacent the second lateral edge, and a connector configured to attach the ceiling panel to the grid frame. The first projection of the registration guide comprises a first registration face adjacent the first lateral edge configured to engage the first grid member when the ceiling panel is mounted to the grid frame, and the second projection comprises a second registration face adjacent the second lateral edge configured to engage the second grid member when the ceiling panel is mounted to the grid frame.

The present invention provides, in one form, a ceiling panel for use with a grid frame having a first grid member and a second grid member, the ceiling panel comprising a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a corner defined between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, an integral registration guide comprising a first projection adjacent the first lateral edge and a second projection adjacent the second lateral edge, and a connector configured to attach the ceiling panel to the grid frame. The first projection of the registration guide comprises a first registration face adjacent the first lateral edge configured to engage the first grid member when the ceiling panel is mounted to the grid frame, and the second projection comprises a second registration face adjacent the second lateral edge configured to engage the second grid member when the ceiling panel is mounted to the grid frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, where like elements are labeled similarly, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view a ceiling system including an overhead suspended support grid and ceiling panels attached to the support grid;

FIG. 1A illustrates a ceiling panel being attached to the support grid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the ceiling system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail view from FIG. 2 showing an arrangement including a torsion spring for coupling the ceiling panel of FIG. 1A to a grid support member of the support grid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a partial cross-sectional view of the ceiling support system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a detail view taken from FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a spring clip from FIG. 1 for coupling the torsion spring of FIG. 3 to the grid support member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the spring clip of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7A-C are schematic views showing sequential steps in mounting the spring clip of FIGS. 5 and 6 to a grid support member;

FIG. 8A is a top perspective view of a ceiling panel with torsion springs mounted thereto;

FIG. 8B is a top plan view of the ceiling panel of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8C is an end elevational view of the ceiling panel of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8D is a detail view taken from FIG. 8C;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view showing a ceiling panel with a torsion spring in an open mounted position on the grid support member;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view showing the ceiling panel of FIG. 9 with the torsion spring in a closed mounted position on the grid support member;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a registration guide according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 11A is an elevational view of the registration guide of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a registration guide of FIG. 11 mounted to a ceiling panel;

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of the ceiling panel of FIG. 12 mounted to a ceiling support grid;

FIG. 14A is a plan view of the ceiling panel of FIG. 12 mounted to the ceiling support grid of FIG. 13;

FIG. 14B is a detail view of a corner of the ceiling panel of FIG. 12 when mounted to the ceiling support grid of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another ceiling panel comprising integral registration guides;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another registration guide according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view illustrating misalignment, or a rotated relative orientation, between a ceiling panel and a grid opening defined in a grid frame; and

FIG. 18 is a top plan view illustrating a ceiling panel aligned in the grid opening in the grid frame of FIG. 17.

Parts given a reference numerical designation in one figure may be considered to be the same parts where they appear in other figures without a numerical designation for brevity unless specifically labeled with a different part number and described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The features and benefits of the invention are illustrated and described herein by reference to exemplary embodiments. This description of exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. Accordingly, the disclosure expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features.

In the description of embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

FIGS. 1-3 depict an exemplary embodiment of a ceiling system 100 according to the present disclosure. The ceiling system 100 includes an overhead support grid 200 mountable in a suspended manner from an overhead building support structure. The support grid 200 includes a plurality intersecting longitudinal grid support members 202 and lateral grid support members 204. The longitudinal and lateral grid support members 202, 204 are elongated in shape having a length greater than their respective width (e.g. at least twice), and in various embodiments lengths substantially greater than their widths (e.g. 3 times or more). The longitudinal grid support member 202 may have a substantially greater length than lateral grid support member 204 and form “runners” or “rails” which are maintained in a substantially parallel spaced apart relationship by the lateral grid support members 204. The lateral grid support members 204 may be attached between adjacent (but spaced apart) longitudinal grid support members 202 at appropriate intervals using any suitable permanent or detachable manner. The combination of interconnected longitudinal and lateral grid support members 202, 204 provides lateral stability to the support grid 200.

In at least one embodiment, the grid support members 202 and 204 may be oriented horizontally when installed. It will be appreciated, however, that other suitable mounted orientations of the grid support members 202, 204, such as angled or slanted (i.e. between 0 and 90 degrees to horizontal), for example, are possible. Accordingly, although the support members 202, 204 may be described herein as being installed horizontally in one exemplary orientation, the invention is not limited to this orientation and other orientations may be used.

The longitudinal and lateral grid support members 202, 204 intersect to form an array of grid openings 208 which become essentially closed by ceiling panels 300 positioned below or within the openings 208. In some embodiments, the grid support members 202, 204 may be arranged in an orthogonal pattern wherein the grid support members 202, 204 intersect at right angles to form rectilinear grid openings 208 such as squares or rectangles (in top plan view). The terminal ends of the lateral grid support members 204 may be configured to interlock with the transversely oriented longitudinal grid support members 202 at right angles to form the rectilinear grid pattern in any manner used in the art. Any suitable interlocking mechanism and configuration may be used such as, without limitation, interlocking tabs and slots, brackets, clips, etc., for example.

The longitudinal and lateral grid support members 202, 204 are T-shaped (e.g. T-rails) in transverse cross section, for example, but can comprise any suitable cross-section. The grid support members 202, 204 have an inverted T-shaped configuration when in an installed position suspended from an overhead building ceiling support structure. The grid support members 202, 204 may be suspended from the building ceiling support structure via a hanger mechanism 203 such as, without limitation, fasteners, hangers, wires, cables, rods, struts, etc., for example.

Referring to FIG. 3, the grid support members 202, 204 include a longitudinally-extending horizontal bottom flange 210, a bulbous top stiffening channel 220, and a vertical web 212 extending upwardly from the bottom flange 210 to the stiffening channel 220. The longitudinal grid support members 202 each define a respective longitudinal axis LA and axial directions. The web 212 is centered between opposing longitudinally extending edges 214 of the bottom flange 210, but could be positioned in any suitable location between the edges 214. The bottom flange 210 has opposing portions which extend laterally outwardly from the web 212 and terminate in the opposed longitudinally extending edges 214. The edges 214 have a slightly enlarged bulbous configuration in transverse cross-section, but can have any suitable configuration. The bottom flange 210 further defines a bottom surface 206 facing downwardly away from the bottom flange 210 and toward a room or space below the support grid 200. The bottom surface 206 of the bottom flange 210 defines a horizontal reference plane for the overhead support grid 200. When mounted to the ceiling support grid 200, the upward facing top surfaces of the ceiling panels 300 may be positioned proximate to or in contact with the bottom surfaces 206 of the grid support members 202, 204.

The grid support members 202, 204 may be made of any suitable metallic and/or non-metallic materials structured to support the dead weight or load of ceiling panels 300 without undue deflection. In some embodiments, the grid support members 202, 204 may be made of metal including aluminum, titanium, steel, and/or other materials, for example. In at least one embodiment, the grid support members 202, 204 may be a standard heavy-duty 15/16 inch aluminum T-rail, for example.

Further to the above, the ceiling panel 300 has a generally flat body with a substantially greater horizontal width and length than vertical thickness, as shown. The ceiling panel 300 includes a top surface 302, a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface 302, and lateral sides 306 extending therebetween along four sides of the panel 300. The top and bottom surfaces 302, 304 may be generally planar and arranged parallel to each other in at least one embodiment. In one non-limiting embodiment, the lateral sides 306 may be planar forming opposing pairs of parallel lateral sides.

It will be appreciated that the top and bottom surfaces 302, 304 of the ceiling panels 300 may have other configurations and/or surface profiles rather than planar. In other possible configurations, the top and bottom surfaces 302, 304 may have irregular surfaces including various undulating patterns, designs, textures, perforations, ridges/valleys, wavy raised features, and/or other configurations for aesthetic and/or acoustic (e.g. sound reflection or dampening) purposes. Accordingly, the top and bottom surfaces 302, 304 are not limited to any particular surface profile or configuration.

The ceiling panels 300 may be constructed of any suitable material including without limitation mineral fiber board, fiberglass, jute fiber, metals, polymers, wood, and/or other materials, for example. In addition, the ceiling panels 300 may have any suitable dimensions and shapes including, without limitation, square or rectangular as viewed from the top, for example.

The ceiling panels 300 are mounted to the support grid 200 using torsion springs 400 and snap-on slideable slotted spring clips 350 which are movably mounted on the support grid 200. Each torsion spring 400 includes a coil 402 and two upwardly-projecting arms 404 which are disposed at angle in relation to each other forming a characteristic V-shape. Arms 404 may be arranged tangentially to the circular coil 402 which defines a mounting axis SA. The arms 404 have recurved or hooked ends 406 configured to engage the spring clips 350, as further described herein. The torsion springs 400 may be formed of a suitable spring material such as, without limitation, steel wire having an elastic memory, for example.

Referring primarily to FIG. 3, each ceiling panel 300 includes spring-mounting brackets 410 configured to capture the coil 402 of torsions springs 400 for attaching the springs 400 to the ceiling panels 300. The brackets 410 may have any suitable configuration that may be coupled to the ceiling panel 300 along the perimeter edges 308 of the panels. In one embodiment, the opposed longitudinally-extending lateral sides 306 of the ceiling panels 300 may include metallic mounting angles 310 for attaching the brackets 410 to the ceiling panel 300 via fasteners, adhesives, welding/soldering, and/or other suitable attachment methods, for example. In at least one configuration, the angles 310 may each include a longitudinally-extending horizontal lip 312, which may project inwards from the lateral sides 306 of the ceiling panel 300. The lip 312 defines a convenient flat horizontal surface for mounting the brackets 410.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the spring clips 350 have a body configured for mounting on longitudinal grid support members 202. In one embodiment, the spring clips 350 include an inverted U-shaped central mounting portion 352 configured to engage the bulbous top stiffening channel 220 of a longitudinal grid support member 202 and a lateral spring-mounting portion 354. The mounting portion 352 is comprised of a horizontal top wall 365 and a pair of opposing and laterally spaced-apart vertical sidewalls 351 and 353 that form a downwardly-open receptacle 355 for receiving stiffening channel 220 of the grid support member 202. The spring-mounting portion 354 is comprised of a pair of horizontally-projecting lateral flanges 356 configured to engage the arms 404 of the torsion spring 400. The flanges 356 are arranged on opposing sides of mounting portion 352 and protrude outwardly in opposing lateral (horizontal) directions. The spring clip 350 has a shorter axial length as shown than grid support members 202 and/or 204.

The flanges 356 each include a laterally-open and elongate slot 358 which receives the arms 404 of a torsion spring 400 therein. The slots 358 extend in the longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of grid support members 202. A lateral opening 359 in each flange 356 communicates with the slots 358 to facilitate the insertion of the spring arms 404 into the slots. Lateral opening 359 has a shorter longitudinal width (measured along the longitudinal axis LA) than the longitudinal length (measured along the longitudinal axis LA) of the slots 358 in one embodiment. The slots 358 define opposing ends 357 configured to engage and retain arms 404 of torsions spring 400, as further described herein.

Advantageously, the spring clips 350 are configured to slide in axial directions along the grid support members 202 when mounted thereon. This arrangement permits the clips 350 to be located and maintained in a continuum of possible mounting positions along the grid support members 202. Accordingly, an installer need not pre-measure and pre-mount the spring clips 350 in a precise location on the grid support members 202 to coincide with the fixed mounting positions of the torsion springs 400 on the ceiling panels 300. The spring clips 350 may easily be adjusted in axial position to match the fixed torsion spring locations while mounting the ceiling panel 300 to the support grid 200. The need for pre-measuring and a precise layout of the spring clips 350 on the grid support members 202 in advance are therefore obviated. Overall, this arrangement makes hanging the ceiling panels 300 more convenient and less time consuming, thereby advantageously reducing installation costs.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the spring clip 350 further includes at least one opposing pair of resiliently movable locking tabs 360. In at least one embodiment, the locking tabs 360 are centrally located on the spring clip 350 at the midpoint between the axial ends of the spring clip 350, as shown. Other locations of the locking tabs 360 are possible. The locking tabs 360 are configured to engage a grid support member 202 for locking the spring clip 350 in one of the plurality of possible mounting positions on the grid support member 202. In at least one embodiment, each locking tab 360 is disposed on a flange 356. The tabs 360 define an upward-facing bearing surface 362, a portion of which may engage the downwardly facing bottom surface 361 and/or adjacent longitudinally-extending bottom edge 363 of the bulbous top stiffening channel 220 on the grid support members 202.

The locking tabs 360 project horizontally inwardly from each lateral flange 356 into the receptacle 355 and are disposed at an angle A1 to the lateral flanges 356, in at least one embodiment. The locking tabs 360 have longitudinally-extending upturned edges 364 that engage the bottom surface 361 and bottom edge 363 on the grid support member bulbous top stiffening channel 220. This arrangement locks the spring clip 350 onto the grid support member 202 to prevent vertical or transverse detachment of the spring clip 350 from the support member 202. In non-limiting exemplary embodiments, angle A1 may be between 0 and 45 degrees, for example. The angled orientation of the locking tabs 360 further facilitates smooth engagement with the top slanted surfaces 366 of the top stiffening channel 220 of grid support member 202 and initiation of lateral deflection of the locking tabs 360 when the spring clip 350 is mounted on the support member 202, as further described herein.

The locking tabs 360 are spaced laterally apart by a distance D1 small enough to engage the opposing sidewalls 367 of the bulbous top stiffening channel 220 and displace or deflect the tabs 360 laterally outwardly when the channel is inserted into the spring clip receptacle 355, as best shown in FIGS. 7A-C and further described herein. To accomplish this, the edges 364 of the locking tabs 360 project inwardly beyond the sidewalls 351, 353. Accordingly, the locking tabs 360 are separated from each other by a lateral distance D1 which is smaller than the lateral distance D2 measured between the interior surfaces of the sidewalls 351, 353 of the spring clip 350. The distance D2 is slightly larger than the exterior lateral width W1 of the top stiffening channel 220 of the grid support members 202 for insertion of the stiffening channel 220 therein, as shown. Conversely, the distance D1 is smaller than width W1 to enable the lateral deflection of the locking tabs 360.

In at least one embodiment, the locking tabs 360 are configured to snap into a position beneath and proximate to the bottom surface 361 of the top stiffening channel 220 on a grid support member 202. The locking tabs 360 are each positioned vertically below and trapped beneath the bottom surface 361 such that the spring clip 350 cannot be vertically or transversely withdrawn from the grid support member 202 after installation of the spring clip 350. In such an arrangement, the spring clip 350 is freely slidable in opposing axial directions on the grid support member 202.

In another embodiment, the locking tabs 360 may be configured to frictionally engage the grid support member 202 (i.e. the bottom surface 361 of the bulbous top stiffening channel 220) creating a slight compressive force between the locking tabs 360 and the grid support member 202. This arrangement assists with retaining the locking tabs 361 in a desired axial mounting position on longitudinal grid support members 202 during the ceiling installation process. The locking tabs 360 are preferably configured, however, to not create a frictional force so great as to preclude the spring clip 350 from moving slideably in axial position along the grid support members 202. The locking tabs 360 therefore create a snug, but slideable fit and attachment between the spring clips 400 and the grid support members 202 capable of maintaining the axial position of the spring clips 400 during the installation of the ceiling panels 300.

The entire spring clip 350 may be made of an elastically-deformable resilient material to facilitate installing the clip 350 on the grid support members 202. In non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the spring clip 350 may be made of metal such as, without limitation, galvanized steel, cold rolled steel, spring steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc., for example, and/or a non-metal material such as a suitable polymer with sufficient strength and flexibility, for example. The U-shaped geometry of the spring clip 350 when constructed of such a resilient material allows the opposing flanges 356 of the clip to spread apart horizontally and laterally outwardly when the bulbous top stiffening channel 220 is inserted vertically upwards into the receptacle 355 of the grid support member 202. Angled or slanted opposing top surfaces 366 on the top of the top stiffening channel 220 engage the locking tabs 360 to spread the sidewalls 351, 353 and flanges 356 apart, as further described in the mounting method disclosed herein.

In at least one embodiment, the spring clip 350 may have a unitary structure being formed of a single piece of material which may be bent, molded, or otherwise formed to produce the foregoing features of the clip. Accordingly, the flanges 356, locking tabs 360, sidewalls 351, 353, and top wall 365 may be integrally formed as part of the unitary spring clip structure. In other possible embodiments, one or more of these features may be formed as separate elements and assembled in the spring clip 350 by any suitable method (e.g. welding, soldering, fasteners, etc.).

In other contemplated embodiments, the locking tabs 360 need not be arranged in a laterally opposing in relationship to each other. Accordingly, each locking tab 360 may be axially offset or staggered in position from the other locking tab on flanges 356 in some embodiments. In addition, more than two locking tabs 360 may be provided including even and odd numbers of locking tabs. For example, in one possible alternative embodiment, a single centrally located locking tab 360 may be provided on one flange 356 and two axially spaced apart locking tabs may be provided on the other flange on opposite sides of the single tab. Numerous arrangements of locking tabs 360 are therefore possible. The locking tabs 360 have an axial length less than the axial length of the spring clip 350 in one embodiment, as shown (see, e.g. FIG. 5). The axial length of each locking tab 360 may also be varied or different.

An exemplary method for installing spring clips 350 on longitudinal grid support members 202 will now be described. Reference is made to FIGS. 4A-B and FIGS. 7A-C schematically showing sequential steps in the spring clip mounting process. The numbered directional arrows in FIGS. 7A-C show the relative movement and deformation of the spring clip 350 during the mounting process.

A spring clip 350 is provided and positioned above the top of grid support member 202. The receptacle 355 of the spring clip 350 is vertically aligned with the bulbous top stiffening channel 220 of grid support member 202 along the vertical centerline Cv defined by the support member. The spring clip 350 is then lowered into engagement with (if not already) the grid support member 202 wherein top stiffening channel 220 partially enters a lower portion of the receptacle 355, as shown in FIG. 7A. The opposed upturned edges 364 of the mounting clip locking tabs 360 initially make abutting contact with the two opposed slanted top surfaces 366 on the stiffening channel 220. It should be noted that the sidewalls 351, 353 and locking tabs 360 of the spring clip 350 are still in their initial undeflected position and oriented substantially parallel to each other in FIG. 7A.

The spring clip 350 is then pressed downward against the stiffening channel 220 of grid support member 202 with sufficient force to cause the locking tabs 360 and flanges 356 of the spring clip 350 to be progressively deflected and displaced laterally outwardly in opposing directions (see arrows) as the edges 364 of the locking tabs 360 slide farther downward and outward respectively along the slanted top surfaces 366 of the stiffening channel 220. The locking tabs 360 are deflected and displaced from an inward position to an outward position. Distance DI between the locking tabs 360 concomitantly increases from the undeflected position of the tabs shown in FIG. 6.

Eventually, in the continued downward movement of spring clip 350, the locking tabs 360 will leave the top slanted surfaces 366 and slideably engage the vertical sidewalls 367 of bulbous top stiffening channel 220, thereby reaching a maximum lateral deflection position (i.e. outward position) as shown in FIG. 7B. The sidewalls 351, 353 of the spring clip 350 are also in a maximum non-parallel orientation in relation to each other being disposed at an angle A2 with respect to a vertical reference line Vr coinciding with the original undeflected position of the sidewalls. Angle A2 is greater than 0 degrees and less than 45 degrees in at least one embodiment, and in some instances may be very small between 0 and 15 degrees. The resilient construction of the spring clip 350 allows the sidewalls 351, 353 to deform in relation to the top wall 365.

The locking tabs 360 continue to slide downward while maintaining contact with sidewalls 367 until they eventually reach a vertical position below the sidewalls 367 of the bulbous top stiffening channel 220 on the grid support member 202. The elastic memory of the spring clip 350 now causes the sidewalls 351, 353 and locking tabs 360 to snap back and move inwardly to their original undeflected inward position as shown in FIG. 7C. The upturned edges 364 on each locking tab 360 and adjacent portion of bearing surfaces 362 may engage the bottom surface 361 on the top stiffening channel 220 forming a frictional snap-fit that prevents vertical or transverse withdrawal of the spring clip 350 from the grid support member 202. In some embodiments, the locking tabs 360 may vertically fall and be spaced slightly below the bottom surface 361 of the stiffening channel 220 rather than in direct frictional contact, but nonetheless are still snap-fit into position onto the grid support member 202 and similarly cannot be withdrawn. This latter arrangement allows the spring clips 350 to freely slide in axial position along grid support member 202 with minimal resistance. In any of the foregoing arrangements, the locking tabs are trapped below the stiffening channel 220 to prevent withdrawal of the spring clip 350 from the grid support member 202.

The top stiffening channel 220 of the grid support member 202 is fully inserted into the upper and lower portions of the spring clip receptacle 355. The spring clip 350 is now fully mounted on the grid support member 202 (see, e.g. FIGS. 4A-B). Advantageously, the locking tabs 360 allow mounting the spring clip 350 to the grid support member 202 without the use of fasteners and cannot fall off the grid support member 202 when a ceiling panel 300 and torsion spring 400 are mounted thereto. Accordingly, the spring clip 350 may now be slid axially in the fully mounted position to the desired axial position on the grid support member 202 (sec bi-directional arrow in FIG. 2) for mounting the ceiling panel 300 using the torsion springs 400.

It will be appreciated that numerous variations in the foregoing ceiling panel installation process and sequence are possible. In addition, it is possible to vertically or transversely detach or withdraw the spring clips 350 from the grid support member 202 by forcing or prying the flanges 356 and locking tabs 360 laterally apart with a tool, and then sliding the spring clip 350 upwardly back off the grid support member 202. This will disengage the locking tabs 360 from underneath the bottom surface 361 of the top stiffening channel 220 to unlock the spring clips 350.

In some embodiments, it will be appreciated that spring clips 350 may also be mounted on the lateral grid support members 204 in the same manner described above either in addition to or instead of the longitudinal grid support members 202 to support the ceiling panels 300.

Multiple spring clips 350 may be provided to satisfactorily support a single ceiling panel 300 from the overhead support grid 200. In one non-limiting embodiment, four spring clips 350 may be provided as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8A. Larger ceiling panels may require additional spring clips for proper support.

After the spring clips 350 have been installed on the support grid 200, the ceiling panels 300 with pre-installed torsion springs 400 (see, e.g. FIG. 8A) may be hung. If the spring clips 350 do not align vertically with the torsions springs 400, the spring clips 350 may be slid along the grid support members 202, 204 to adjust the alignment.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the arms 404 of the torsion spring 400 are squeezed and compressed together towards each other and inserted into slot 358 in the spring clip 350. In one embodiment, the arms 404 may be inserted laterally into the slot 358 through lateral opening 359 while continuing to squeeze the arms 404 together. In one embodiment, the recurved ends 406 and upper portions of the arms 404 may be positioned initially within the slot 358 because these ends are most flexible and easy to squeeze together. Next, the arms 404 may then be released once they are positioned within the slot 358. The upper portions of the arms 404 engage the ends 357 of the slot 358. Releasing the ceiling panel 300 engages the downward extending recurved ends 406 of arms 404 with the top surface of the flange 356 on spring clip 350 as shown. The ceiling panel 300 is now vertically spaced apart from and below the bottom of the grid support member 202 in this position by a first distance. This supports that portion of the ceiling panel 300 while the remaining springs 400 are inserted into their respective spring clips 350 on grid support members 202 in a similar manner. The position of ceiling panel 300 shown in FIG. 9 may be considered an open hung position with the ceiling panel being suspended from the grid support members 202 by the torsion springs 400.

To complete the installation of the ceiling panel 300, the panel is raised vertically toward the grid support members 202. The torsion springs 400 are pushed upwards further through the slot 358, thereby allowing the spring arms 404 to spread farther apart. In at least one embodiment, the ceiling panel 300 is raised until top surface 302 abuts the bottom surface 206 of the grid support member 202 as shown in FIGS. 4A-B and 10. The lower portions of the spring arms 404 now engage the ends 357 of the spring clip slot 358. The outward biasing spring force k which acts to spread the spring arms 404 apart is preferably selected to retain and support the weight of ceiling panel 300 in this fully-mounted position. The position of ceiling panel 300 shown in FIG. 10 may be considered a closed hung position with the ceiling panel 300 being suspended from the grid support members 202 by the torsion springs 400.

In various embodiments, as discussed above, the torsion springs 400 hold the ceiling panels 300 to the support grid 200. In many instances, the torsion springs 400 hold the ceiling panels 300 of a ceiling system 100 in alignment with the support grid 200 and in alignment with one another. In such instances, the bottom surfaces 304 of the ceiling panels 300 can lie flat in the same horizontal plane. Also, in such instances, the gaps between the lateral sides of the ceiling panels 300 can be constant, or consistent, around the perimeter of the ceiling panels 300. Such alignment between the ceiling panels 300 can be aesthetically pleasing. In other instances, however, the ceiling panels 300 may be misaligned. For instance, the bottom surfaces 304 of the ceiling panels 300 may not all lie flat in the same horizontal plane. Also, for instance, a gap between one lateral side of a ceiling panel 300 and an adjacent ceiling panel 300 may be larger than a gap between another lateral side of the ceiling panel 300 and another adjacent ceiling panel 300. Another way of saying the above is that the ceiling panels 300 can be mis-registered with one another and/or with the support grid 200. Such misalignment, or mis-registration, may not be aesthetically pleasing. Discussed below are registration guides, or aligners, that can assist in maintaining the alignment, or registration, between the ceiling panels 300 and/or between the ceiling panels 300 and the support grid 200.

A registration guide 600 is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 11A. The registration guide 600 comprises an attachment portion 601, a first projection 602 extending laterally from the attachment portion 601 in a first direction, and a second projection 604 extending laterally from the attachment portion 601 in a second direction. Referring to FIG. 14B, the first projection 602 extends along a first axis 612 and the second projection 604 extends along a second axis 614. The first axis 612 is orthogonal to the second axis 614, but, in other embodiments, the first and second axes 612, 614 can extend in any suitable direction. In at least one embodiment, the first axis 612 and the second axis 614 extend at an obtuse angle, or an angle greater than 90 degrees, relative to one another, for example. In other embodiments, the first axis 612 and the second axis 614 extend at an acute angle, or an angle less than 90 degrees, relative to one another.

The attachment portion 601 comprises a through hole 609 defined therein that is configured to receive a fastener therethrough. Referring primarily to FIG. 14A, the registration guide 600 is mounted to a top side 502 of a ceiling panel 500, for example, via a fastener 610 (FIG. 14B) extending through the through hole 609. The fastener 610 can comprise any suitable fastener, such as a screw, for example. The through hole 609 is round, but can comprise any suitable configuration. For instance, a registration guide 600′ illustrated in FIG. 16 comprises an elongate hole 609′. In this embodiment, as discussed further below, the elongate hole 609′ defines an adjustment axis along which the registration guide 600′ can be slid to adjust the position of the registration guide 600′ relative to a first edge 507 and a second edge 509 of the ceiling panel 500. When the registration guide 600′ has been suitably positioned relative to the first and second edges 507, 509 of the ceiling panel 500, the fastener 610 can be tightened to secure the registration guide 600′ in position. In other embodiments, the attachment portion 601 of a registration guide comprises more than one fastener aperture defined therein that is configured to receive a fastener to secure the registration guide to the ceiling panel 500.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 14A and 14B, the registration guide 600 is mounted to the ceiling panel 500 at a corner 505 of the ceiling panel 500. In fact, the ceiling panel 500 comprises four corners 505 and a registration guide 600 is mounted to the ceiling panel 500 at each of the four corners 505. For two of the registration guides 600 of the ceiling panel 500, the first projection 602 extends toward a longitudinal grid support member 202 of the support grid 200 and the second projection 604 extends toward a lateral grid support member 204. For the other two registration guides 600 of the ceiling panel 500, the first projection 602 extends toward a lateral grid support member 204 and the second projection 604 extends toward a longitudinal grid support member 202.

Notably, the first projection 602 of the registration guide 600 is recessed laterally inwardly from a lateral side of the ceiling panel 500, such as a lateral side 506 or 508, and the second projection 604 is also recessed laterally inwardly from another lateral side 506 or 508 of the ceiling panel 500. The first projection 602 comprises a first registration face 603 configured to engage a longitudinal grid support member 202 or a lateral grid support member 204, depending on the orientation of the registration guide 600 on the ceiling panel 500, and the second projection 604 comprises a second registration face 605 configured to engage a longitudinal grid support member 202 or a lateral grid support member 204, again depending on the orientation of the registration guide 600 on the ceiling panel 500. More specifically, referring again to FIG. 4A, the registration faces 603, 605 of the registration guide 600 are configured to engage the bottom flange 210 of a grid support member 202, 204. In various instances, the registration faces 603, 605 engage the edges 214 of the bottom flange 201. The engagement between the registration faces 603, 605 and the grid support members 202, 204 controls the position, or registration, of the ceiling panel 500 relative to the support grid 200. In various instances, as a result, the registration guides 600 center and align the ceiling panel 500 relative to two longitudinal grid support members 202 and also center and align the ceiling panel 500 relative to two lateral grid support members 204 which can, as a result, align adjacent ceiling panels 500 and provide a pleasing aesthetic effect.

Moreover, as a result of the above, the registration guides 600 control the position, or registration, of the ceiling panels 500 relative to one another within a ceiling system 1100 via the engagement between the registration guides 600 and the support grid 200. Moreover, as a result of the above, the registration faces 603, 605 create friction interfaces between the ceiling panels 500 and the support grid 200 which can hold the ceiling panels 500 in a proper orientation within the support grid 200.

In many instances, referring again to FIGS. 14A and 14B, gaps are present between adjacent ceiling panels 500. For instance, gaps are present between the first lateral sides 506 of adjacent ceiling panels 500 and, similarly, gaps are present between the second lateral sides 508 of adjacent ceiling panels 500. Further to the above, the engagement between the registration guides 600 of the ceiling panel 500 and the support grid 200 can position the ceiling panels 500 relative to the support grid 200 such that the gaps between the ceiling panels 500 all have the same width, or at least substantially the same width, which can create a pleasing aesthetic effect.

As discussed above, a ceiling panel 500 comprises four registration guides 600—one attached to the ceiling panel 500 at each corner 505. Such an arrangement can control the position, or registration, of the ceiling panel 500 relative to the support grid 200 at all four corners 505 of the ceiling panel 500. Other embodiments are envisioned with less than four registration guides 600. For instance, at least one embodiment is envisioned in which a ceiling panel 500 comprises two registration guides 600 attached to the ceiling panel 500—each registration guide 600 being mounted at a diagonally opposite corner 505 of the ceiling panel 500. Stated another way, the two registration guides 600 are caddy-corner to one another. In such embodiments, the two registration guides 600 are engaged with the support grid 200 and can be sufficient to control the position of the ceiling panel 500 relative to the support grid 200 and control the position of the ceiling panels 500 relative to one another.

Referring again to FIGS. 14A and 14B, each corner 505 of the ceiling panel 500 comes to a corner point 515. The corner point 515 comprises a sharp point defined at an orthogonal angle, or an at least substantially orthogonal angle, between a first lateral side 506 and a second lateral side 508 of the ceiling panel 500. In other embodiments, however, the corner point 515 is not sharp and can be rounded instead, for example. Each corner 505 of the ceiling panel 500 comprises a region between a first lateral side 506 and a second lateral side 508 of the ceiling panel 500 that is adjacent to the intersection of the first lateral side 506 and the second lateral side 508. Each such region is bifurcated by a bifurcation axis 519. The bifurcation axis 519 of a corner 505 divides the corner 505 into a first side 526 and a second side 528. The attachment portion 601 of each registration guide 600 sits over the bifurcation axis 519 of a corner 505 and the through hole 609 defined in the attachment portion 601 is aligned with the bifurcation axis 519. The first projection 602 of a registration guide 600 extends from a first side of the bifurcation axis 519 and the second projection 604 extends from a second side of the bifurcation axis 519. As a result of this arrangement, the first projection 602 extends from a first side 526 of a corner 505 and the second projection 604 extends from a second side 528 of the corner 505.

As discussed above, each corner point 515 is defined between a first lateral side 506 and a second lateral side 508 of the ceiling panel 500 and by a 90 degree corner angle, or an at least substantially 90 degree corner angle. The bifurcation axis 519 of a corner 505 evenly splits the corner angle into halves. For instance, the corner angle is divided into two 45 degree halves by the bifurcation axis 519 when the corner angle is 90 degrees. As a result, the bifurcation axis 519 of a corner 505 evenly divides the corner 505 into two halves, i.e., first and second halves 526, 528. The above being said, a corner can be defined by any suitable angle.

Further to the above, each registration guide 600 brackets a corner 505 of the ceiling panel 500. With reference to the registration guide 600 in FIG. 14A, the first projection 602 extends toward a lateral edge 507 of the ceiling panel 500 and the second projection 604 extends toward a lateral edge 509 of the ceiling panel 500 such that a bracketed space 525 is enclosed, or substantially enclosed, by the registration guide 600. In this bracketed space 525, the registration guide 600 does not extend over, or cover, the top side 502 of the ceiling panel 500. Instead, the registration guide 600 defines a pocket 625 between the first projection 602 and the second projection 604 that defines the bracketed space 525 such that the bracketed space 525 is a space on the ceiling panel 500 uncovered by the registration guide 600. The above being said, embodiments are envisioned which the corner 505 is covered. In at least one such embodiment, the registration faces 603 and 605 can meet in the corner 505.

Notably, referring primarily to FIG. 12, the torsion springs 400 that connect the ceiling panel 500 to the support grid 200 are positioned intermediate the registration guides 600 of the ceiling panel 500. As a result, the registration guides 600, and the registration faces 603, 605 thereof, are positioned closer to the corner points 515 of the ceiling panel 500 than the torsion springs 400. Also, as a result, the torsion springs 400 are not positioned intermediate the first registration face 603 and the second registration face 605 of a registration guide 600. Moreover, in various embodiments, a connection-free perimeter section of the ceiling panel 500 is defined between the first registration face 603 and the second registration face 605 of a registration guide 600 such that the ceiling panel 500 is unconnected to the support grid 200 along the connection-free perimeter section. As a result of this arrangement, the registration guides 600 can control the position of the corners 505 of the ceiling panels 500 to provide the aesthetic benefits discussed herein.

In various instances, further to the above, both of the first and second registration faces 603, 605 of the registration guides 600 engage the support grid 200 when a ceiling panel 500 is assembled to the support grid 200. In such instances, a first reaction force is transmitted through the first projection 602 of a registration guide 600 and, concurrently, a second reaction force is transmitted through the second projection 604 of the registration guide 600. In various other instances, only one of the first and second registration faces 603, 605 of a registration guide 600 may engage the support grid 200 when a ceiling panel 500 is assembled to the support grid 200 owing to various manufacturing and assembly variations. In such instances, a reaction force will be transmitted through one of the first and second projections 602, 604 but not the other. In some such instances, the registration guide 600 may tend to rotate about the fastener 610 holding the registration guide 600 to the ceiling panel 500. Even though the registration guide 600 may, or may not, rotate in such instances, the rotation of the registration guide 600, if it does occur, does not prevent the assembly of the ceiling panel 500 to the support grid 200. In various instances, the pocket 625 defined in the registration guide 600 provides a clearance window that allows the registration guide 600 to rotate, at least slightly, with respect to the top face 502 of the ceiling panel 500 without a portion of the registration guide 600 blocking the assembly of the ceiling panel 500 the support grid 200.

Further to the above, referring again to FIGS. 11 and 11A, the first projection 602 of the registration guide 600 further comprises a wedge-shaped body, or ramp, 606 and an edge 607 defined between the wedge-shaped body 606 and the first registration face 603. The wedge-shaped body 606 has a thickness that equals the thickness of the attachment portion 601 at one end and increases in thickness laterally toward the lateral face 603. The thickness of the wedge-shaped body 606 increases laterally in a linear manner from a bottom surface 608 of the registration guide 600, but can increase in thickness laterally in any suitable manner, such as a non-linear manner, for example. As a result of this arrangement, the first registration face 603 is taller than the attachment portion 601 such that the first registration face 603 provides a large abutment surface that contacts the support grid 200 and positions the ceiling panel 500 relative to the support grid 200. Moreover, the configuration of the wedge-shaped body 606 bolsters the first registration face 603 and prevents, or at least inhibits, the first registration face 603 from buckling or folding. The second projection 604 of the registration guide 600 also comprises a wedge-shaped body 606 and an edge 607 defined between the wedge-shaped body 606 and the second registration face 605.

In various embodiments, a registration guide is comprised of bent metal. In at least one such embodiment, a piece of sheet metal is cut and bent into a shape that generally approximates the shape of the registration guide 600. For instance, the piece of bent metal comprises a flat, or an at least substantially flat, attachment portion, similar to the attachment portion 601, a first projection extending from the attachment portion, and a second projection extending from the attachment portion. The first projection comprises a bent leg that extends upwardly and away from the attachment portion and then back downwardly to form a first registration face, similar to the first registration face 603. Similarly, the second projection comprises a bent leg that extends upwardly and away from the attachment portion and then back downwardly to form a second registration face, similar to the second registration face 605.

As discussed above, the first registration face 603 of first projection 602 is recessed laterally inwardly from a lateral side of the ceiling panel 500, such as a lateral side 506 or 508, and the second registration face 605 of the second projection 604 is also recessed laterally inwardly from another lateral side 506 or 508 of the ceiling panel 500. As a result, the first registration face 603 and the second registration face 605 are positioned over the top side of the ceiling panel 500. In various alternative embodiments, the first registration face 603 and/or the second registration face 605 is positioned laterally outwardly with respect to a lateral side 506, 508 of the ceiling panel 500. As such, the first registration face 603 and/or the second registration face 605 are not positioned over the top side of the ceiling panel 500.

Referring again to FIG. 16, further to the above, the registration guide 600′ is similar to the registration guide 600 in many respects except for the fastener aperture 609′ being an elongate slot. When the registration guide 600′ is mounted to the ceiling panel 500 by a fastener 610, for example, the elongate slot 609′ extends along an elongate axis 619′ that is aligned with a bifurcation axis 519 of a corner 505. When the first and second lateral sides 506, 508 of the ceiling panel 500 define a 90 degree angle therebetween, the elongate axis 619′ evenly splits the corner 505 into 45 degree halves. In use, the fastener 610 extending through the elongate slot 619′ can be loosened such that the registration guide 600′ can be slid toward or away from the corner point 515 of the corner 505 depending on the direction in which the registration guide 600′ needs to be adjusted. In various instances, the first and second registration faces 603, 605 of the registration guide 600′ may not be engaged with the support grid 200 when the ceiling panel 500 is assembled to the support grid 200. In such instances, the fastener 610 can be loosened, the registration guide 600′ can be slid toward the corner point 515, and the fastener 610 can be re-tightened to secure the registration guide 600′ in a new position. In other instances, the fastener 610 can be loosened, the registration guide 600′ can be slid away from the corner point 515, and the fastener 610 can be re-tightened to secure the registration guide 600′ in a new position. In various embodiments, the fastener 610 may lightly secure the registration guide 600′ to the top side 502 of the ceiling panel 500 such that the registration guide 600′ can slide away from the corner point 515 when the ceiling panel 500 is assembled to the guide frame 200 and the registration guide 600′ is positioned too close to the corner point 515. In such instances, the registration guide 600′ is dynamically responsive to the engagement of the ceiling panel 500 to the support grid 200.

In various embodiments, as discussed above, registration guides 600 are attached to the top side 502 of the ceiling panel 500 by fasteners 610. In various other embodiments, the ceiling panel 500 comprises a panel body and at least one of the registration guides 600 is integrally formed with the panel body. In at least one such embodiment, the panel body is comprised of material that is pressed into shape during a manufacturing process and, during this process, one or more registration guides 600 are pressed into, or molded into, the top face 502 of the ceiling panel 500. In various embodiments, all of the registration guides 600 are integrally formed with the panel body. In at least one embodiment, at least one of the registration guides 600 is integrally formed with the panel body while at least one of the registration guides 600 is attached to the panel body by a fastener 610. In at least one embodiment, at least one of the registration guides 600 is integrally formed with the panel body of a ceiling panel 500 which also includes at least one registration guide 600′ adjustably mounted to the panel body. In such embodiments, the at least one registration guide 600′ can be adjusted to fine tune the fit of the ceiling panel 500 with the support grid 200. In at least one embodiment, a ceiling panel 500 can include at least one integrally-formed registration guide 600, at least one registration guide 600, and at least one adjustable registration guide 600′.

FIG. 15 illustrates a ceiling panel 800 comprising integral registration guides 900. The ceiling panel 800 comprises a rectangular body 801 and the integral registration guides 900 extend upwardly from the body 801. That said, a ceiling panel having integral registration guides can have any suitable shape. Each registration guide 900 comprises an elevated plateau 904 defined by a perimeter wall 902. Each registration guide 900 has a square configuration defined by four corners 905; however, the registration guides 900 can have any suitable shape. The perimeter walls 902 of the registration guides 900 are recessed inwardly from an outer perimeter 803 of the body 801. As a result of this arrangement, a flat perimeter surface 802 extends around the registration guides 900. Moreover, a flat transverse surface 804 extends between the registration guides 900. Although not illustrated in FIG. 15, the ceiling panel 800 further comprises a sufficient number of torsion springs 400 mounted thereto that are configured to assemble the ceiling panel 800 to a support grid, such as the support grid 200, for example. When the ceiling panel 800 is assembled to the support grid 200, for example, the perimeter walls 902 of the registration guides 900 engage the grid support members 202, 204 which assists in orienting the ceiling panel 800 relative to the support grid 200 and the other ceiling panels 800 assembled to the support grid 200.

As discussed above, the registration guides 600 and 600′, for example, can orient the ceiling panels 500 of a ceiling system 1100 relative to one another by orienting the ceiling panels 500 relative to a support grid 200, for example. In various instances, the registration guides 600 and 600′ can control the rotational, or angular, orientation of the ceiling panels 500 relative to the support grid 200. More specifically, the support grid 200 comprises grid openings 208 defined therein by grid support members 202, 204 that are engaged by the registration guides 600, 600′ when a ceiling panel 500 is attached to the support grid 200 that can control the rotational orientation of the ceiling panel 500 relative to the grid opening 208. Further to the above, the proximity of the registration faces 603, 605 of the registration guides 600 and 600′ to the corners 505 of the ceiling panels 500 provides a high degree of control over the rotational orientation of the ceiling panels 500 relative to the grid openings 208, and to one another.

Further to the above, referring to FIG. 17, a ceiling panel 700, which is similar to the ceiling panel 500 in many respects, comprises registration clips 802 and 804 mounted thereto. More specifically, the ceiling panel 700 comprises two registration clips 802 positioned along one edge of the ceiling panel 700 and two registration clips 802 positioned along an opposite edge of the ceiling panel 700 and, similarly, two registration clips 804 positioned along one lateral edge of the ceiling panel 700 and two registration clips 804 positioned along an opposite lateral edge of the ceiling panel 700. Similar to the above, the registration clips 802, 804 are configured to contact the grid support members 202, 204 when the ceiling panel 700 is assembled to the support grid 200 and orient the ceiling panel 700 relative to the support grid 200. For each corner 705 of the ceiling panel 700, a pair of registration clips 802, 804 are positioned relative to the corner 705. Notably, though, the registration clips 802, 804 of the ceiling panel 700 are not positioned adjacent the corners 705 which, as a result, can permit the ceiling panel 700 to become angularly unregistered, or rotationally mis-oriented, with respect to the grid opening 208, as seen in FIG. 17. In this embodiment, the ceiling panel 700 comprises a square configuration having 24″ sides and the outermost ends of the registration clips 802, 804 are each positioned 2 inches away from the centerlines, or midlines, 709 of the ceiling panel 700 which can permit the ceiling panel 700 to rotate about 3.5 degrees in a clockwise direction about a central axis 701 and/or about 3.5 degrees in a counterclockwise direction about the central axis 701, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the angular misalignment between the ceiling panel 700 and the support grid 200 in such instances is most noticeable when comparing the position of the corners 705 of the ceiling panel 700 relative to the corners 205 of the grid openings 208.

Further to the above, a ceiling panel 700′ is illustrated in FIG. 18 that is similar to the ceiling panel 700 except that the registration clips 802, 804 are closer to the corners 705 of the ceiling panel 700′. In this embodiment, the outermost ends of the registration clips 802, 804 are 11 inches away from the centerlines, or midlines, 709 of the ceiling panel 700′ which can permit the ceiling panel 700′ to rotate only about 0.5 degrees in a clockwise direction about the central axis 701 and/or about 0.5 degrees in a counterclockwise direction about the central axis 701—much less than the embodiment depicted in FIG. 17. As a result, the ceiling panel 700′ is angularly aligned or registered with the support grid 200 and the grid opening 208 when the ceiling panel 700′ is attached to the support grid 200. In various embodiments, a ceiling panel remains angularly aligned or registered with a support grid when the maximum angular rotation of the ceiling panel relative to the support grid in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction is 0.5 degrees or less. In various embodiments, a ceiling panel remains angularly aligned or registered with a support grid when the maximum angular rotation of the ceiling panel relative to the support grid in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction is 0.75 degrees or less. In various embodiments, a ceiling panel remains angularly aligned or registered with a support grid when the maximum angular rotation of the ceiling panel relative to the support grid in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction is 1.0 degree or less.

Referring again to FIG. 18, the ceiling panel 700′ comprises a square shape having 24 inch sides and the grid opening 208 also comprises a square shape but with 23 inch sides. With the outermost ends of the registration clips 802, 804 being 11 inches away from the midlines 709 of the ceiling panel 700′, as described above, the outermost ends of the registration clips 802, 804 are only a 0.5 inch away from the support grid 200. Moreover, the ratio of the distance between the outermost ends of the registration clips 802, 804 and the midlines 709 (11 inches) to the distance between the support grid 200 and the midlines 709 (11.5 inches) is about 0.95, or 95%, which allows the registration clips 802, 804 to have a high degree of control over the angular orientation of the ceiling panel 700′ relative to the support grid 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 17 where the distance between the outermost ends of the registration clips 802, 804 and the midlines 709 is only 2 inches, however, the ratio is only 0.17 (2 inches/11.5 inches), or 17%, and, as discussed above, this means that the registration clips 802, 804 have a low degree of control over the angular orientation of the ceiling panel 700 to the support grid 200. In various embodiments, registration clips can have a suitable degree of control over the angular orientation of a ceiling panel relative to a support grid when the above-discussed ratio is at 0.50, or 50%, or higher. In at least one embodiment, the registration clips 802, 804 can have a suitable degree of control over the angular orientation of a ceiling panel relative to the support grid 200 when the above-discussed ratio is at 0.67, or 67%, or higher, for example. In at least one embodiment, the registration clips 802, 804 can have a suitable degree of control over the angular orientation of a ceiling panel relative to the support grid 200 when the above-discussed ratio is at 0.75, or 75%, or higher, for example.

Referring again to FIGS. 17 and 18, the ceiling panels 700, 700′ comprise a square shape having 24 inch sides and the grid openings 208 also comprise a square shape but with 23 inch sides. Among other things, this means that the ceiling panels 700, 700′ are bigger than the grid openings 208 and that the planar bodies of the ceiling panels 700, 700′ sit below the support grid 200 when the ceiling panels 700, 700′ are attached to the support grid 200. The registration clips 802, 804, on the other hand, extend upwardly into the grid openings 208 to engage the grid support members 202, 204 as described above. In these embodiments, the registration faces of the registration clips 802, 804 are positioned 11.5 inches away from the midlines 709 of the ceiling panels 700, 700′ such that they engage the grid support members 202, 204. In at least one embodiment, the registration faces of the registration clips 802, 804 can be further than 11.5 inches away from the midlines 709 but can flex inwardly to the 11.5 inch distance when the ceiling panels 700, 700′ are engaged with the support grid 200.

As depicted in connection with the embodiments of FIGS. 17 and 18, the registration clips 802 and 804 are not directly connected to one another, but are, in a sense, connected via the ceiling panel. In other embodiments, the registration clips 802 and 804 are directly connected to one another, similar to the registration guides 600, 600′ described above. In embodiments where the registration clips 802 and 804 are close to the corner of a ceiling panel, directly connecting the registration clips 802 and 804 becomes possible without introducing an excessive amount of weight to the ceiling panel. In various instances, the direct connection between the registration clips 802 and 804 can assist in controlling the angular orientation of the ceiling panel relative to the grid support 200.