Suspended ceiling panel holding clip

Abstract

A hold down clip for retaining one or more ceiling panels on lower flanges of a suspended ceiling tee and allowing removal of the ceiling panels from below after installation. The hold down clip includes at least one outward curved section with a crest between an upper end and a lower end. The clip elastically deforms to produce reactive spring forces when a ceiling panel engages a contact point below the crest of the outward curved section. The clip also includes at least one continuously formed latching section, which may extend from the upper end, lower end, or a transition point below the crest of the outward curved section. The latching section engages the grid tee to generate the spring force. Alternatively, the clip includes a fastener secured to the at least one outward curved section. The fastener is configured for threaded attachment to a receptacle of the grid tee.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A suspended ceiling panel hold down clip, comprising:
 a first outward curved section extending from an upper end to a lower end and including a crest between the upper end and the lower end; and   a first latching section extending in an inward direction from a transition point along the first outward curved section, wherein the first latching section is continuously formed with the first outward curved section, and wherein the first latching section is configured to engage and exert an inward force on a grid tee of a suspended ceiling to cause the first outward curved section to apply an outward spring force.   
     
     
         2 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 1 , wherein the transition point is at the lower end of the first outward curved section; and wherein the transition point includes a small radius curve between the first outward curved section and the first latching section; wherein the first latching section extends in an upward direction from the transition point. 
     
     
         3 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 2 , wherein an upper end of the first latching section is configured to engage a shoulder of the grid tee. 
     
     
         4 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 2 , further comprising a second latching section extending from the upper end of the first outward curved section, and wherein a distal end of the second latching section is also configured to engage the grid tee. 
     
     
         5 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a bridge section extending from the upper end of the first outward curved section, wherein the bridge section is configured to fit over an upper end of the grid tee to position the first outward curved section and the first latching section along a first side of the grid tee; and   a second latching section extending from the bridge section, wherein the second latching section is configured to engage a second side of the grid tee.   
     
     
         6 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 1 , wherein the transition point is between the crest and the lower end of the first outward curved section; and wherein the transition point includes a small radius curve between the first outward curved section and the first latching section; wherein the first latching section extends in an upward direction from the transition point. 
     
     
         7 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 6 , wherein the transition point is formed by a split section of the first outward curved section. 
     
     
         8 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 7 , wherein an upper end of the first latching section is configured to engage a shoulder of the grid tee. 
     
     
         9 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 1 , wherein the transition point is above the crest of the first outward curved section; and wherein the first latching section extends in a downward direction from the transition point of the first outward curved section. 
     
     
         10 . A suspended ceiling panel hold down clip, comprising:
 a first outward curved section extending from an upper end to a lower end and including a crest between the upper end and the lower end; and   a first latching section extending from the upper end of the first outward curved section, wherein the first latching section is continuously formed with the first outward curved section, and wherein the first latching section is configured to engage and exert an inward force on a grid tee of a suspended ceiling to cause the first outward curved section to apply an outward spring force;   wherein the suspended ceiling panel hold down clip is configured to engage only one side of the grid tee.   
     
     
         11 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 10 , wherein the first latching section is configured to engage a receptacle on a side of the grid tee. 
     
     
         12 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 11 , wherein the first latching section includes a U-shaped portion configured to fit within the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 11 , further comprising a second latching section extending in an upward direction from a transition point at the lower end of the first outward curved section, wherein the second latching section is continuously formed with the first outward curved section, and wherein the second latching section is configured to engage a second receptacle of the grid tee. 
     
     
         14 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 13 , wherein the transition point includes a small radius curve between the first outward curved section and the second latching section. 
     
     
         15 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 10 , wherein the first latching section is configured to engage an upper receptacle of the grid tee. 
     
     
         16 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 15 , wherein the first latching section includes a U-shaped portion configured to fit within the upper receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . A suspended ceiling panel hold down clip, comprising:
 a first outward curved section extending from an upper end to a lower end and including a crest between the upper end and the lower end;   a bridge section extending from an upper end of the first outward curved section;   a first latching section extending from the bridge section, wherein the first latching section is continuously formed with the bridge section and the first outward curved section;   wherein the bridge section is configured to fit over an upper end of a grid tee of a suspended ceiling to position the first outward curved section along a first side of the grid tee and to position the first latching section along a second side of the grid tee, wherein the first outward curved section is configured to elastically deform to produce reactive forces when in contact with a compressive element.   
     
     
         18 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 17 , further comprising a second latching section extending in an upward direction from a transition point below the crest of the first outward curved section, wherein the second latching section is continuously formed with the first outward curved section, and wherein the second latching section is configured to engage the grid tee. 
     
     
         19 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 18 , wherein the transition point is at the lower end of the first outward curved section; and wherein the transition point includes a small radius curve between the first outward curved section and the second latching section. 
     
     
         20 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 19 , wherein an upper end of the second latching section is configured to engage a shoulder of the grid tee. 
     
     
         21 . A suspended ceiling panel hold down clip, comprising:
 a first outward curved section extending from an upper end to a lower end and including a crest between the upper end and the lower end; and   a fastener secured to the upper end of the first outward curved section, wherein the fastener is configured to threadedly engage a threaded receptacle in an upper end of a grid tee of a suspended ceiling to position the first outward curved section along a first side of the grid tee, wherein the first outward curved section is configured to elastically deform to produce reactive forces when in contact with a compressive element.   
     
     
         22 . The suspended ceiling panel hold down clip of  claim 21 , further comprising a second outward curved section extending from an upper end to a lower end and including a crest between the upper end and the lower end, wherein the upper end is secured to the fastener, wherein the second outward curved section is configured to be positioned along a second side of the grid tee when the fastener engages the threaded receptacle, wherein the second outward curved section is configured to elastically deform to produce reactive forces when in contact with a compressive element.