Suspended Ceiling System and Foldable Runner Therefore

Abstract

Each one of the runners of the suspended ceiling system has a base with two laterally opposite flanges for supporting ceiling tiles. A web can be hingedly connected to the base between the flanges. The runners can be suspended from above using cable fasteners which lockingly engage with apertures provided in the runners.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A runner for suspended ceilings, the runner being elongated in shape, having a base with two laterally opposite flanges for supporting ceiling tiles and a web hingedly connected to the base between the flanges so as to be foldable between a flat configuration with the web folded against one of the flanges, and an inversed-T configuration with the web normal to the base for suspension and use; wherein the web and the base are formed of a single, integral component made of a plastic material and having a flexible portion at the base of the web providing the hinged connection between the web and the base. 
     
     
         2 . The runner of  claim 1  wherein the flexible portion has a smaller thickness than the remainder of the web. 
     
     
         3 . The runner of  claim 1  wherein the flexible portion has a W-shaped notch defined therein. 
     
     
         4 . The runner of  claim 1  wherein a material constituting the flexible portion is more flexible than a material constituting the remainder of the web. 
     
     
         5 . The runner of  claim 1  wherein the web has a plurality of regularly longitudinally interspaced apertures on a side thereof away from the base. 
     
     
         6 . The runner of  claim 5  wherein the apertures are rectangular and flat in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The runner of  claim 1  wherein both flanges have the same width. 
     
     
         8 . A suspended ceiling system having a plurality of runners, each one of the runners having a base with two laterally opposite flanges for supporting ceiling tiles and a web hingedly connected to the base between the flanges. 
     
     
         9 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 8  wherein the runners are suspended to a building structure in a grid configuration, with a plurality of parallel and equally interspaced longitudinal runners and a plurality of parallel and equally interspaced transverse runners and an array of intersections therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . A method of installing a suspended ceiling comprising unfolding a runner having a web hingedly mounted to a base from a folded configuration where the web is folded against the base, to an unfolded configuration where the web is normal to the base. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising prior to said unfolding, unrolling the runner from a coiled configuration.