Supporting element for suspended ceiling systems

Abstract

Disclosed is a supporting element for a suspended ceiling system, wherein the suspended ceiling system includes hanging wires coupled to a structural ceiling; includes “T”-bars supported by the hanging wires; and includes a plurality of ceiling panels arranged in an array of cells defined by the “T”-bars; wherein flat end-portions of the “T”-bars defines a general ceiling plane for the plurality of ceiling panels; wherein the supporting element, when in operation, supports a given ceiling panel of the plurality of ceiling panels in at least one of higher than the general ceiling plane, lower than the general ceiling plane, or at a tilted angle relative to the general ceiling plane, wherein the given ceiling panel, of the plurality of ceiling panels, supported by the supporting element provides a three-dimensional appearance to the suspended ceiling system.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A supporting element for a suspended ceiling system,
 wherein the suspended ceiling system:   (i) includes hanging wires coupled to a structural ceiling;   (ii) includes “T”-bars supported by the hanging wires; and   (iii) includes a plurality of ceiling panels arranged in an array of cells defined by the “T”-bars,   
       wherein flat end-portions of the “T”-bars defines a general ceiling plane for the plurality of ceiling panels, 
       wherein the supporting element, when in operation, supports a given ceiling panel of the plurality of ceiling panels in at least one of:
 higher than the general ceiling plane; 
 lower than the general ceiling plane; or 
 at a tilted angle relative to the general ceiling plane; 
 
       wherein the given ceiling panel, of the plurality of ceiling panels, supported by the supporting element provides a three-dimensional appearance to the suspended ceiling system. 
     
     
         45 . The supporting element of  claim 44 , wherein the supporting element comprises:
 a mounting portion that is detachably mounted in operation on a given “T”-bar; and   at least one supporting portion that is integral with the mounting portion, wherein the at least one supporting portion, when in operation, supports at least one of:
 a portion of the given ceiling panel; 
 a covering element; or 
 a ceiling device. 
   
     
     
         46 . The supporting element of  claim 45 , wherein the mounting portion includes an elongate U-shaped structure formed by:
 a single continuous mounting element; or   a plurality of flat mounting elements.   
     
     
         47 . The supporting element of  claim 46 , wherein the supporting portion includes:
 at least one linear supporting element extending along or opposite to at least one leg of the elongate U-shaped structure; and   a plurality of lateral supporting elements extending from the at least one linear supporting element.   
     
     
         48 . The supporting element of  claim 45 , wherein the supporting portion includes
 a plurality of linear supporting elements; and   a plurality of lateral supporting elements, wherein a given linear supporting element is integral with a given lateral supporting element to form a L-shaped structure;   
       wherein a plurality of L-shaped structures, corresponding to the plurality of linear supporting elements and lateral supporting elements, is integral to form a square zigzag structure. 
     
     
         49 . The supporting element of  claim 45 , wherein the supporting portion includes
 a plurality of linear supporting elements; and   a plurality of lateral supporting elements, wherein a given lateral supporting element is integral with at least one linear supporting element to form one of a L-shaped structure or a U-shaped pocket;   
       wherein the L-shaped structure is integral with the U-shaped pocket. 
     
     
         50 . The supporting element of  claim 49 , further comprising an intermediate lateral supporting element integral with one of a linear supporting element, of the U-shaped pocket, away from the L-shaped structure, wherein the intermediate lateral supporting element is arranged perpendicular or inclined to the linear supporting element. 
     
     
         51 . The supporting element of  claim 47 , further comprising an optical-device supporting element, wherein the optical-device supporting element is coupled to at least one of:
 a given linear supporting element of the at least one linear supporting element, or   a given lateral supporting element of the plurality of lateral supporting elements.   
     
     
         52 . The supporting element of  claim 51 , wherein the ceiling device comprises at least one of: the optical-device or a sensor. 
     
     
         53 . The supporting element of  claim 51 , wherein the optical-device comprises at least one of: a light source, a light guide, a diffuser, a reflector or a refractive lens. 
     
     
         54 . A suspended ceiling system having hanging wires coupled to a structural ceiling, “T”-bars supported by the hanging wires and a plurality of ceiling panels arranged in an array of cells defined by the “T”-bars, wherein flat end-portions of the “T”-bars define a general ceiling plane for the plurality of ceiling panels, 
       wherein the suspended ceiling system further comprises:
 supporting elements that are mounted in operation on the T″-bars for supporting the plurality of ceiling panels thereon, wherein the supporting elements, when in operation, support a given ceiling panel of the plurality of ceiling panels in at least one of:
 higher than the general ceiling plane; 
 lower than the general ceiling plane; or 
 at a tilted angle relative to the general ceiling plane; and 
 wherein the given ceiling panel of the plurality of ceiling panels, supported by the supporting, element provides a three-dimensional appearance to the ceiling system; and 
 
 ceiling devices, when in operation, mounted on the supporting elements. 
 
     
     
         55 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 54 , wherein each of the supporting elements comprises:
 a mounting portion that is detachably mounted on the given “T”-bar; and   at least one supporting portion integral with the mounting portion, wherein the at least one supporting portion, when in operation, supports at least one of:
 a portion of the given ceiling panel; 
 a covering element; or 
 the ceiling devices. 
   
     
     
         56 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 55 , wherein the mounting portion includes an elongate U-shaped structure formed by:
 a single continuous mounting element; or   a plurality of flat mounting elements.   
     
     
         57 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 56 , wherein the supporting portion includes:
 at least one linear supporting element extending along or opposite to at least one leg of the elongate U-shaped structure; and   a plurality of lateral supporting elements extending from the at least one linear supporting element.   
     
     
         58 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 55 , wherein the supporting portion includes:
 a plurality of linear supporting elements; and   a plurality of lateral supporting elements, wherein a given linear supporting element is integral with a given lateral supporting element to form a L-shaped structure;   
       wherein a plurality of L-shaped structures, corresponding to the plurality of linear supporting elements and lateral supporting elements, is integral to form a square zigzag structure. 
     
     
         59 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 55 , wherein the supporting portion includes
 a plurality of linear supporting elements; and   a plurality of lateral supporting elements, wherein a given lateral supporting element is integral with at least one linear supporting element to form one of a L-shaped structure or a U-shaped pocket;   
       wherein the L-shaped structure is integral with the U-shaped pocket. 
     
     
         60 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 57 , wherein the supporting portion further comprises an optical-device supporting element, wherein the optical-device supporting element is coupled to at least one of:
 a given linear supporting element of the at least one linear supporting element, or   a given lateral supporting element of the plurality of lateral supporting elements.   
     
     
         61 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 60 , wherein the optical-device comprises at least one of: a light source, a light guide, a diffuser, a reflector or a refractive lens. 
     
     
         62 . The suspended ceiling system of  claim 54 , wherein the supporting elements includes at least a pair of the supporting elements, mounted on either side of the given “T”-bar, when each of the pair of the supporting elements has a length equal to one of: half of the length of the given “T”-bar, one-third of the length of the given “T”-bar or a quarter of the length of the given “T”-bar. 
     
     
         63 . A method for installing a suspended ceiling system having hanging wires coupled to a ceiling, “T”-bars supported by the hanging wires, and a plurality of ceiling panels arranged on array of cells defined by the “T”-bars, wherein flat end-portions of the “T”-bars define a general ceiling plane for the plurality of ceiling panels, wherein the method includes:
 mounting supporting elements onto the “T”-bars, for supporting the plurality of ceiling panels thereon along with the “T”-bars, wherein the supporting elements, when in operation, support a given ceiling panel of the plurality of ceiling panels in at least one of:
 higher than the general ceiling plane; 
 lower than the general ceiling plane; or 
 at a tilted angle relative to the general ceiling plane; and 
 
 mounting ceiling devices on the supporting elements.