Channel for interior glass panel

Abstract

A channel for including a glass panel in a suspended ceiling. The channel includes a U-shaped body having a first vertical wall having a top end and a bottom end, a second vertical wall having a top end and a bottom end, and a top wall which connects the top end of the first vertical wall and the top end of the second vertical wall. The first vertical wall, the second vertical wall, and the top wall define a downward facing recess sized to hold an edge of the glass panel. A downward facing hooked protrusion extends from the first vertical leg adjacent to the top end, and an upward facing hooked protrusion extends from the first vertical leg adjacent to the bottom end. A horizontal flange is attached to the bottom end of the first vertical leg which extends away from the downward facing recess.

1 . A channel for supporting a glass panel in a suspended ceiling, the channel comprising:
 a U-shaped body having a first vertical wall having a top end and a bottom end, a second vertical wall having a top end and a bottom end, and a top wall which connects the top end of the first vertical wall and the top end of the second vertical wall, wherein the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall, and the top wall define a downward facing recess sized to hold an edge of a glass panel;   a first downward facing hooked protrusion extending from the first vertical leg adjacent to the top end;   a first upward facing hooked protrusion extending from the first vertical leg adjacent to the bottom end; and   a first horizontal flange attached to the bottom end of the first vertical leg which extends away from the downward facing recess and is perpendicular to the first vertical leg.   
     
     
         2 . The channel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second downward facing hooked protrusion extending from the second vertical leg adjacent to the top end;   a second upward facing hooked protrusion extending from the second vertical leg adjacent to the bottom end; and   a second horizontal flange attached to the bottom end of the second vertical leg which extends away from the downward facing recess and is perpendicular to the second vertical leg.   
     
     
         3 . The channel of  claim 1 , further comprising a first vertical flange extending downward from the bottom end of the first vertical wall. 
     
     
         4 . The channel of  claim 2 , further comprising a vertical flange extending downward from the bottom end of the second vertical wall. 
     
     
         5 . The channel of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the first horizontal flange is textured. 
     
     
         6 . The channel of  claim 2 , wherein a bottom of the second horizontal flange is textured. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for supporting a glass panel in a suspended ceiling, the apparatus comprising
 a first channel including:
 a U-shaped body having a first vertical wall having a top end and a bottom end, a second vertical wall having a top end and a bottom end, and a top wall which connects the top end of the first vertical wall and the top end of the second vertical wall, wherein the first wall leg, the second vertical wall, and the top wall define a downward facing recess sized to hold an edge of a glass panel, 
 a downward facing hooked protrusion extending from the first vertical wall adjacent to the top end, 
 an upward facing hooked protrusion extending from the first vertical wall adjacent to the bottom end, and 
 a horizontal flange attached to the bottom end of the first vertical wall which extends away from the downward facing recess and is perpendicular to the first vertical wall; 
   a connector clip including:
 a channel portion, the channel portion having opposing rounded corners, opposing square corners, a flat top surface, and a flat bottom surface, wherein the distance between the rounded corners is less than the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface, and 
 a beam portion attached to the channel portion at a right angle, the beam portion including a plurality of holes; and 
   a ceiling beam including a bulb, a vertical web extending downward from the bulb, and a horizontally extending flange at a bottom of the web,   wherein the connector clip attaches to the first channel by vertically aligning the opposing rounded corners of the channel portion between the downward facing hooked protrusion and the upward facing hooked protrusion and rotating the connector clip to vertically align the flat top surface and the flat bottom surface, and   wherein the connector clip is attached to the ceiling beam by one or more fastening elements inserted through the holes in the beam portion and into the web of the ceiling beam.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a glass panel inserted into the downward facing recess of the first channel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the glass panel is secured to the first channel by a gasket. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the horizontally extending flange of the ceiling beam rests on the horizontal flange of the first channel. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a ceiling panel resting on the horizontally extending flange of the ceiling beam and the horizontal flange of the first channel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first channel further comprises a vertical flange extending downward from the bottom end of the first vertical wall. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a ceiling panel including a groove, wherein the ceiling panel is supported by the horizontal flange of the first channel and the horizontal flange of the first channel is inserted into the groove of the ceiling panel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the horizontal flange of the first channel includes a textured bottom. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a drywall sheet which rests on the horizontal flange of the first channel and is secured to the horizontally extending flange of the ceiling beam with a fastening element, wherein the drywall sheet is taped to the textured bottom of the first channel. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of holes in the beam portion include a slot which allows the ceiling beam and the connector to move laterally. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the top wall of the first channel is secured to a metal stud with a fastening element. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the metal stud includes a wood backing attached to the fastening element. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first channel is attached to a second channel by a splice plate. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the splice plate includes a set screw in contact with the first vertical wall of the first channel.