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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This present invention relates to room ceiling and illumination systems and
in particular to exposed subceiling systems supported only from mountings
at the wall or soffit and wherein an associated rigid frame work supports
translucent diffusion panels beneath wall, soffit or ceiling mounted
fluorescent light fixtures.
When designing an illumination system for a room, the challenge is to
provide the right amount of light, in the right places, as efficiently as
possible. Some situations call for intense light to be directed over side
perimeter work spaces, while requiring less intense ambient light
throughout the remainder of the room. The typical domestic kitchen is the
most common example of such a design.
One or more centrally located ceiling mounted light fixtures is most common
solution. Although providing general ambient light, such fixtures do not
beneficially illuminate perimeter counter space and instead create shadows
on the work surface. Work related injuries can result and/or eye strain.
Alternative recessed, track, or under cabinet lighting may be difficult
and/or expensive to install in a remodeling situation, due to difficulties
of concealing the electrical wiring to each fixture. That is, proper
installation requires that the wiring be concealed. These types of systems
are also not efficient because they provide such localized lighting that
several fixtures are often times required to provide a desired coverage
for the perimeter work surfaces.
Another solution is a suspended ceiling system with fluorescent light
modules supported by an inverted T-grid framework. Typically, such systems
are installed to lower the effective ceiling level by approximately one
(1) foot. This reduces the typical eight foot high ceiling to a seven
foot, which significantly reduces total room volume and produces a
confined environment. These systems however tend to be heavy, and require
several suspension wires to be attached to eyelets or other fasteners that
must be screwed directly into the room ceiling. The decision to install a
suspended ceiling system in an established room must therefor be
considered a relatively permanent change, due to the resulting damage to
the original ceiling surface.
Whatever the precise merits, features and advantages of the above cited
systems, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes of the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide intense light
over the perimeter working spaces of a room, while maintaining an
appropriate level of ambient room light and reducing the detrimental
affects of shadows.
Further objects of the invention are that relatively few and/or relatively
inexpensive light fixtures be required; that the ceiling height in the
center of the room not be significantly reduced; that ceiling mounted
fixtures, not be required; that no fastenings be made to the existing
finished ceiling surface; and that the electrical wiring be concealed, as
by installation in the space above the installed sub-ceiling or behind
exposed wall, soffit, cabinet, or ceiling surfaces.
In fulfillment of the above objects, the present invention provides for a
few relatively long fluorescent light fixtures (i.e. four to eight foot
shop lights) which are mounted exclusively to the soffit or wall along at
least two sides of the room. These fixtures are installed end-to-end such
that they run the full length or width of the room, directly over the
perimeter work surfaces.
The ceiling system otherwise comprises right angled or T-shaped grid
members tracks which are mounted exclusively to the lower interior edges
of a provided soffit or to the wall at a desired distance from the
ceiling. The outer ends of long inverted T-bars and short, cross T-bars
are, in turn, suspended from the perimeter track to form a rigid grid
framework which supports a number of translucent diffusion panels along
each side relative to the light fixtures. Arched ribs span a central space
between perimeter panels and support still other translucent diffusion
panels which conform to the curvature of the ribs. The arched panels are
indexed to the ribs with locating tabs and the ends of the ribs are
secured to the grid framework.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an isometric view from a point above the ceiling system of the
preferred embodiment of the invention for a soffited installation.
FIG. 2 shows an isometric view from a point beneath a wall mounted
installation.
FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the proper positioning of a perimeter
T-member when mounted to a soffit.
FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of the positioning of a perimeter angle
member when mounted to a wall, along with the mounting of a vaulted rib
member to the framework.
FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of the manner of attachment one of the
primary T members to a perimeter support member.
FIG. 6 shows an exploded isometric view of the mounting of the arched ribs
to the grid framework.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, an isometric view is shown of the preferred embodiment
of the invention from a viewing point above the installed system, with the
ceiling removed. Mounted, end-to-end along and to the right soffit 2 are a
number of fluorescent light fixtures 4, only two of which are shown, but
which run the entire length of the opposite sides of the room. Additional
fixtures 4 can also be secured to the end wall 6 or where soffits aren't
provided, as in FIG. 2, directly to the side walls 7. The number and
positioning of the fixtures 4 thus can be varied as desired. White two
tube, four foot long shop fixtures have been found to work best,
alternatively eight foot fixtures can be used.
The fixtures 4 are installed approximately one and one-half inches above
the bottom edge of the soffit 2 which provides sufficient clearance for
the grid members 8 and 10 of the sub-ceiling framework 12, while providing
light directly over the side perimeter work spaces. Conventional mountings
and wiring techniques are used to secure and make the fixtures 4
operational. Typically, too, the power for the fixtures 4 is derived from
a junction box (not shown), which supplies power to a center-positioned
room light, and which is no longer required once the present illumination
system is added.
With additional attention to FIG. 3, secured to the bottom edge of each
soffit 2 are appropriate lengths of the relatively long, rigid T-members
10. The members 10 are particularly secured to the soffit 2 with screws
13, nails, or the like. When mounted in the fashion shown, the exposed
face of each member 10 hides the soffit edge, yet provides an inner ledge
16 to support a plurality of cross T-members 8 and translucent panels 14
placed thereover.
If no soffit 2 exists on one or both side walls 6, such as at the end wall
7, right angle support members 20 (only one of which is shown) are
installed at an equal distance from the ceiling surface as the bottom of
the soffit 2. See also the detailed cross-section view of FIG. 4 wherein a
side wall 6 does not support a soffit 2. Otherwise, the ends of the
T-members 10 which extend parallel to the soffits 2 are supported at their
ends from the members 20 secured to the end walls 7.
Cross T-members 8 are supported at two or four foot intervals in
perpendicular relation to the soffits 2. Their outer ends rest on the
ledge 16 and their inner ends interlock to the adjacent T-members 10. That
is, a protruding end portion 9 of each cross T-member 8 is insertable
through a slot 11 in each T-member 10, reference FIGS. 4 and 6. Normally
the ends 9 are then bent flush against the vertical web 21 of the
T-members 10. In the present invention, however, the ends 9 interlock with
rib members 24 in a fashion to be described below.
Although the outer ends of the T-members 8 and 10 need respectively only
rest on the ledge 16 of the wall mounted members 20 and soffit mounted
T-members 10, in the present system it is preferable that they be rigidly
secured thereto. In this regard and with attention to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 a
right angle bracket 22 is respectively secured with screw fasteners 23 and
13, to the vertical web 21 of each T-member 8 and 10 and to each member 20
or 10. The system is thereby made more rigid, with the ends of each of the
T-members 8 and 10 being firmly secured to the soffits 2 and walls 6, 7.
Referring to the cutaway portion of FIG. 1 and also to FIGS. 4 and 6, a
plurality of nominal one sixteenth inch thick, one inch wide, aluminum
flat stock rib members 24 are cut to desired length and inserted between
the inner T-members 10 to align with the cross members 8 to create a
arched or vaulted support surface for ones of the plurality of translucent
panels 14. Typically, the arched ribs 24 are cut six inches longer than
the span between the adjacent T-members 10 which usually provides
sufficient arc to accommodate an available one foot of head room below the
ceiling. The goal being to trial fit the rib members 24 to assure
sufficient clearance between the top center of the arched ribs 24 and the
ceiling surface sufficiently so as not to interfere with any interviewing
structures. The vaulting of the panels 24 not only provides an accent
feature to the sub-ceiling, but also serves to diffuse the light from the
fixtures 4 to the center areas of the room.
Let into the opposite ends of each ribs are one sixteenth inch wide, three
eighths inch long slots 26, one of which is shown in the exploded assembly
view of FIG. 6. Except for the two end ribs 24, the slots 26 of each rib
24 locates over the protruding tab ends 9 of each cross T-member 8.
Adhesively bonded midway along the length of each rib member 24 to its
unexpected surface is an angle bracket 30. Two brackets 30 are otherwise
secured to the end rib members 24, approximately one third the length from
each end of the rib 24. The brackets 30 of the two end ribs are screw.
fastened to the adjacent soffit 2 or wall 6 or 7 at the natural arc
established when the ribs are positioned and serving as an indexing means.
Adjustment can be made as necessary to assure that all ribs 24 align to
form a uniform vaulted surface.
Once all the rib members 24 are positioned, the panels 14 are positioned
between the ribs 24. Each panel 14 is cut to a comparable length of each
rib members 24 to exhibit the same arc. Otherwise the panels 14 are
generally flexible enough to mate with the rib members 24 by virtue of
their inherent weight. Clips (not shown) can also be used at each member
10 to prevent the ends from lifting from the ribs. Proper lateral
alignment is assured by virtue of the angle brackets 30 along with the
tabs 9, notches 26 and web 21 of each T-member 10 which properly locate
the arched diffusion panels 14 relative to each other.
While the present invention as been described with respect to its presently
preferred embodiment, it is to be appreciated still other constructions
might suggest themselves to those of skill in the art upon exposure
hereto. Accordingly, the following claims should be interpreted to include
all those equivalent embodiments within the spirit and scope of the
forgoing described invention.
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