Suspended ceiling grid structure including cross tees with detailed measurement indicia

Abstract

A marking system incorporated into a cross runner for use in a suspended grid structure extending within a walled enclosure, the grid structure supporting a plurality of ceiling tiles. A plurality of main runners are suspended from a ceiling of the enclosure in parallel, spaced apart and elongated extending fashion. Each of the main runners define, in cross section, a tile support lip and a web extending from the support lip, a plurality of elongated channels further being formed through first and second opposite faces of the web at axially spaced apart intervals and between first and second ends. A plurality of interconnecting wall angles are secured to selected surfaces of the walled enclosure, each of the wall angles having an elongated body which includes, in cross section, a first side and a second side extending from an interconnecting edge with the first side. A plurality of cross runners extend between a selected wall angle and a selected main runner, each of the cross runners defining, in cross section, a tile support lip and a web extending in substantially perpendicular fashion from a midpoint of the support lip. At least one of first and second connector clips extend from associated first and second ends of each of the cross runners. A marking indicia is applied at selected intervals along each of the cross runners and is capable of identifying, upon positioning of the cross runner, a correct linear and measured distance between the selected main runner and selected wall angle, an end portion of said cross runner capable of being sectioned prior to inserting engagement of a selected and remaining connector clip with the selected main runner and abutting engagement of the sectioned end portion with the wall angle.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A measurement system incorporated into a cross runner for use in a suspended grid structure extending within a walled enclosure, the grid structure supporting a plurality of ceiling tiles, said system comprising: 
 a plurality of main runners and means for suspending said main runners from a ceiling in parallel, spaced apart and elongated extending fashion, each of said main runners defining, in cross section, a tile support lip and a web extending from said support lip, a plurality of elongated channels being formed through first and second opposite faces of said web at axially spaced apart intervals and between a first end and a second end;    a plurality of interconnecting wall angles secured to selected surfaces of said walled enclosure, each of said wall angles having an elongated body which includes, in cross section, a first side and a second side extending from an interconnecting edge with said first side;    a plurality of cross runners extending between a selected wall angle and a selected main runner, each of said cross runners defining, in cross section, a tile support lip and a web extending in substantially perpendicular fashion from a midpoint of said support lip, at least one of first and second connector clips extending from associated first and second ends of each of said cross runners; and    a measurement indicia applied at selected intervals along each of said cross runners and being capable of identifying, upon positioning of said cross runner, a correct linear and measured distance between said selected main runner and said wall angle and which is less than an overall length of said cross runner, an end portion of said cross runner capable of being sectioned prior to inserting engagement of a selected and remaining connector clip with said selected main runner and abutting engagement of said sectioned end portion with said wall angle.    
     
     
         2 . The measurement system as described in  claim 1 , said marking indicia further comprising a first linear marking at a center point of each of said cross runners, at least one additional linear marking extending from said center point and at equidistant locations towards said first and second ends of said cross runner.  
     
     
         3 . The measurement system as described in  claim 2 , said additional linear markings further comprising marking indicia at six inch intervals towards said first and second ends of said cross runner.  
     
     
         4 . The marking system as described in  claim 2 , said additional linear markings further comprising marking indicia at three inch intervals towards said first and second ends.  
     
     
         5 . The marking system as described in  claim 1 , each of said connector clips further comprising an outwardly flared tab portion abutting against an associated side edge of said associated elongated channel of said main runner and preventing inadvertent disengagement of said cross runner from said interengaged main runner.  
     
     
         6 . The marking system as described in  claim 1 , said means for suspending said main runners further comprising apertures formed through each of said main runner webs, hanger wires extending from the ceiling and looping through selected ones of said apertures.