US3372270A - Ceiling modules - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1968 M. L. QUIN ETAL 3,

I CEILING MODULES Filed Sept. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l r-\\/ y J 2 40\ 40 maxi am Mal/Q04 64Q4/ liraklvsy March 5, 1968 M. L. QUIN ETAL CEILING MODULES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1965 n W n m2 3G 2 a /V0 4 M0 March 5, 1968 M. L. QUIN ETAL CEILI NG MODULES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 22, 1965 m m W 2 a 5% v M; 9 4p M4 2 M 5 5 Nm Om m mm FMK March 5, 1968 M. QUIN ETAL CEILING MODULES 5 Sheets-Sheer, 5

Filed Sept. 22, 1965 I INVENTOR M0 e4r 4. cPU/N 5v W/AAAD jZiRA/Erf ATTOQNE Y,

United States Patent 3,372,270 CEILING MODULES Murray L. Quin, Overland, and Willard R. Garnett, Bellefountaine Neighbors, Mo., assignors to Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis County, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Sept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,312 25 Claims. (Cl. 240-9) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ceiling made up of ceiling modules each formed of four trapezoidal panels, each convergent edge of each of the panels being contiguous a convergent edge of another panel, the long bases of the panels lying in a common plane, and the short bases of the panels defining an open seat. A spine extends along and above each line of con tiguity between adjacent panels and mounting means in the form of outwardly extending hooks are provided on the spines above the line of contiguity. A central closure member openably mounted in the seat defined by the short bases of the trapezoids. The central closure member made up of a lamp housing and a light transmitting panel. Lamps mounted in the housing are oflFset vertically and cross intermediate their ends. Four modules supported at one corner by a single hanger.

Background of the invention practice is to install lighting fixtures and ventilating outlets within suspended ceilings in a manner to conceal their housings, connecting conduits and ducts, and to present an overall decorative appearance when view from the room below.

Heretofore, the assembly of suspended ceilings has been dependent upon the procurement and fitting together of many individual parts and materials, the parts themselves being difl'erentiated in terms of function. The construction of such ceilings has been one of piece-meal assembly requiring considerable prior planning and onsite coordination of workmen. Moreover, the actual functioning of a completed ceiling in terms of overall perform-ance has been diflicult to anticipate because the various parts are generally engineered to operate independently and are tested accordingly.

The problem has been recognized, and several novel proposals have been made heretofore, see, for example, US. Patents t-o Wulle, No. 2,775,927, Wakefield, No. 2,833,199, and Kruger, No. 2,854,565. v

One of the objects of thisinvention is to provide a'ceiling module which has substantial area yet is of a size convenient to handle, which can be installed as a single unit, which used repetitively, provides an attractive and effective ceiling through its entire extent, and which performs additional functions.

Another object is to provide ceiling modules which can perform the necessary illuminating, acoustical and ventilating functions to maintain environmental comfort within rooms.

Still another object of this invention'is to provide a ceiling module which can, in any desired combination therefor, control the distribution of visible energy, control the distribution of acoustical energy, and control the distribution of thermal energy with regard to spaces above and below the ceiling plane.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ceiling module which is light in weight but which is rigid, durable and dimensionally stable for all intended uses.

Summary of the invention In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a'

ceiling module is provided which includes a normal or ventilated lamp housing surrounded by a ceiling-defining area formed of panels symmetrically arranged about it, each of the panels being provided with reinforcing spines which, when assembled form at least a portion of a lamp housing-supporting seat.

The ceiling-defining panels are so arranged that one module can be placed adjacent another module at any or all of the four side edges, so that a multiplicity of the modules can be used to provide a continuous ceiling. It is to be understood, of course, that some panels of diflerent sizes at the periphery of the ceiling may be necessary to accommodate rooms in which the dimensions are not uniformly multiples of the span of one of the ceiling modules of this invention. On the other hand, the modules of this invention lend themselves to the provision of divider channels and the like between successive modules so as to permit flexibility in the installation of room dividers. The ceiling modules of this invention also permit the installation between successive modules of heating and cooling ducts or channels, or to provide a different decorative effect from that which is produced by contiguous, abutting modules. The ceiling defining panels themselves can be, and preferably are, perforated to permit greater sound absorption or to admit air or both. Illustrative embodiments of these various constructions are described and illustrated.

In the embodiments shown and described, the lamp housing itself is square, although it may be 'elonga'tedly rectangular. In the preferred embodiment, provision is made for positioning fluorescent lamps diagonally from corner to corner of the housing in two sets, one above the other, so that the lamps cross in 'the area of the center of the lamp housing. The lamp housing is provided with a ventilating opening immediately above the area of crossing of the fluorescent tubes so as to insure against overheating of the lamps at their intersecting areas. While, as is illustrated hereinafter, arrangements of fluorescent lamps are contemplated in which the lamps extend from side to side of a housing in a conventional way, the arrangement of the diagonal, crossed lamps of the preferred embodiment has several advantages. Longer lamps, e.g. four foot lamps as contrasted with three foot lamps, have longer life and are more efficient in light output per "foot of length. Since fewer lamps are required to produce equal light, the total module weight can be reduced since fewer ballasts are required. Another advantage, less obvious until witnessed, is the overall symmetry of appearance of the crossed lamp module as compared with luminaires with parallel rows of lamps, in spite of the elevational differences between the upper and lower of the crossed lamps. i

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, top plan view of a part of a lamp housing forming a part of the ceiling module of FIGURES 2 and 3, partly broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 5, showing one of the parts reversed to render a ventilating opening inoperative;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of another embodiment of ceiling module of this invention;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of ceiling module of this invention;

FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of ceiling module of this invention;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary, sectional view of yet another embodiment of ceiling module of this invention wherein air is directed through a channel between adjacent modules from a plenum chamber mounted on and extending between the adjacent modules;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary, sectional view of yet another embodiment of ceiling module of this invention wherein air is directed through perforations in a panel of the module from a plenum chamber mounted on and above the panel; and

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of a meeting corner of four ceiling modules of this invention, showing the corner supporting bracket shown in side elevation in FIGURE 3.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, reference number 1 indicates a ceiling made up of a multiplicity of modules 2. Each of the modules 2 includes four panels 3 and a lamp housing 60 as further illustrated in FIG- URE 2.

In the embodiment of module shown in FIGURES 2-6, each of the panels 3 includes a central web section 30, which, in this embodiment, tends upwardly from a lower edge 31 to an upper edge 36 at the foot of a step 37 defined by a vertical riser 38 and an inwardly directed tread 39. A marginal flange 32 is integral with the Web 30 along the lower edge 31. The flange 32 is provided with an inturned lip 33 at its upper edge.

Each of the panels 3 of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2-6 is in the form of an isosceles trapezoid, with the marginal flange 32 along its base, the step 37 along its parallel upper, short edge, and with a spine 40 along and integral with each end. The angle which the ends make with the base and upper edge of the trapezoidal panel is such as to cause the panels to meet at 45, in plan, as shown in FIGURE 2, when the panels are assembled, to form a module which is square in outline.

The spines 40 are high, relative to the marginal flange 32, for example, and extend through substantially the whole length of the ends of the panel. Each of the spines 40 has a flange 41, integral with it, along its upper edge, projecting over the web of the panel of which it is a part. At the upper, inner end of the spine 40, the spine has a vertical wing 43, integral with the spine, and bent to be parallel with the upper and lower edges of the panel. The wings 43 as shown in FIGURE 3 are in two parts, a lower of which extends a short distance along the outside face of the riser 38 and the upper of which is offset vertically and outboardly of the lower part and extends above the treads substantially to the height of the spines.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2-6, a hanging bracket plate 50 is mounted on the outer part of the spine 40. A hook 54 on the plate 50 engages a hanger bracket 55, suspended by a threaded rod 57 from some fixed structure 56. The hanger bracket can be screwed up and down the rod 57 for vertical adjustment.

The panels 3 are joined by welding, riveting, or otherwise securing the flat outer faces of the spines 40 in tight abutment, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The treads 39, when the panels are assembled, form a continuous ledge around the upper edge of the panels. The lower parts of the wings 43 provide reinforcement for the steps 37 and the upper parts form positioning and lateral restraining elements of a seat made up of the wings 43 and treads 39. As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the seat as demarked by the upper part of the wings 43 is square in plan, and is adapted to receive lamp housing 60.

The lamp housing 60 includes side walls 61, a bottom flange 62 which rests on the ledge provided by the treads 39, a frame defining top wall 63 and a removable cover 65. Around its inner periphery the top wall 63, has, integral with it, a trough 64, which is adapted to receive a downwardly bent rim 68 of the cover 65. Four latches 66, one on each edge of the cover, hold the cover but permit it to be easily removed and installed. The cover 65 has in it a central ventilating opening 69, which may be used to permit the interior of the lamp housing to communicate with a plenum chamber defined between the ceiling and the supporting structure, through a bafile plate 70, which is provided with openings 71 offset laterally from the opening 69. A central area of the cover around the opening 69 is embossed upwardly, and the baffle plate 70 is dished, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, so that the two provide a passage 72 for the air moving through the holes 69 and 71 when their offset portions are oppositely disposed as shown in FIGURE 5 and sealed against passage of air when the baflle plate is reversed and nested, as shown in FIGURE 6.

As shown particularly in FIGURES 2 and 3, the side Walls 61, near each corner of the housing, are bridged with compartment-defining webs 74 to accommodate sets of fluorescent lamp-holders 75. The lamp-holder 75 shown in FIGURE 3 is low in the housing 60, at the same level as a lamp-holder in the diagonally opposite corner. In the other two corners lamp-holders 75 are provided at a level sufliciently far above the level of the lower lamp-holders that the lamps cross, as indicated in FIGURE 2, without touching, as indicated in FIGURE 3.

The housing 60 is provided with light-baflled passages along its lower inside edge, which may be of conventional construction, and is provided with a light-diffusing panel or lens 85, supported in a hinged frame, which may also be of conventional design.

Suitable ballast chambers and wiring conduit are provided within the housing 60 to one side of cover 65, in such a way that the cover 65 can be removed easily and that external wiring connections can be made easily through the opening provided when the cover 65 is removed.

It can be seen that since the marginal flanges 32 are flat faced and vertical, and since the hanger plates 50 are offset inwardly from the marginal flanges, the marginal flanges of contiguous modules could be made to abut tightly to form a continuous ceiling area. However, in this embodiment, the corner bracket 55 and bracket plates 50 are so proportioned as to space the flat face of adjacent panels from one another. The intervening gap is bridged by hinged leaves 51, connected to the top edge of the flange 32 by means of piano hinges 52. The use of the hinged leaves 51 not only provides a quick and easy means of closing the gap between modules, but permits expansion of the modules with intense heat without buckling. The hinged leaves also can be used as dampers, with respect to plenum chambers above the module gaps or channels for the control of air.

Merely by way of illustration, the module may be 59 inches square and the lamp housing 37 inches square. The distance across the seat for the housing, from riser to opposite riser, can be 35 /2 inches, and from inner edge of one tread to the opposite one, about 34 /2 inches. The inclination of the web 30 from the plane of the bottom edge of the panels can be 25. The spine 40 can be 5 /2 inches high, measured along its inwardly sloping edge from the outer corner of the panel, as shown in FIGURE 3, and 3 /2 inches high at its upper end. The marginal flanges 32 can be 1% inches high.

As has been pointed out, one standard fluorescent lamp tube comes in four foot lengths; Accordingly, a standard four foot fluorescent lamp would not fit across the housing, which is only 37 inches from side to side. However,

the housing is approximately 52% inches from corner to corner, which provides ample room to mount the sets of lamp-holders 75 and still to accommodate a four foot lamp. In this way, the module can be kept to a size which can be manufactured easily, made rigid and sturdy without undue weight, and handled and installed easily. For example, one type of commercial ceiling module of this invention with crossed lamps weighs, complete, about sixty pounds and can support in excess of 500 pounds with a deflection of less than /s inch.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 for another embodiment of ceiling modules of this invention, the module of this embodiment is defined by four marginal metal panels 703, each of which is provided with a stiffening flange 732 along its outer edge and a flange 738 along its inner edge. In this embodiment, the panels 703 have a flat center web 730, and the flanges 732 and 738 are perpendicular to the center web 730. Each of the panels 703 is in the form of an isosceles trapezoid, with the marginal flange 732 along its base, the flange 738 along its inner edge parallel with the base, and with a spine 740 along and integral with each end. The ends, hence the spines, extend at an angle of 45 from the outer edge of the panel. Four panels are assembled by bolting, riveting, or welding the spines together, to make a square ceiling-defining area and a lamp housing-receiving seat. The lamp housing can be of the type described in connection with the embodiment of module shown in FIG- URES 2-6, or of some different construction, as illustrated in other of the embodiments to be described. The module shown in FIGURE 7 is shown without hinged leaves. It is to be understood that the module of FIGURE 7 can be provided with hinged leaves of the type shown in FIGURE 3, if desired. No central closure panel is shown in this figure or in FIGURE 8, but any suitable lamp housing or the like may be utilized, examples of which are describedhereinafter.

In FIGURE 8 an embodiment of ceiling modules is shown which resembles the one shown in FIGURES 26, and the feature of which can be utilized in the embodiment of FIGURES 26. Four marginal metal panels 803 have center webs 830 which, in this embodiment, are perforated so that all of them are foraminous. Each of the webs 830 is backed by a layer of acoustic and thermal insulation 823 and, covering the insulation 823, by a sound-attenuating metal sheet 824. No hinged leaves are provided around the outer edge of the module shown in FIGURE 8.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 and 10 for still another embodiment of this invention, a ceiling module 902 is provided with an incandescent lamp 901. The panel members of the module 902 are essentially the same as those shown in FIGURES 2-6 and 8. The central web of the panels is perforated, and is backed by a sound-absorbent insulating material 923. A housing 960 rests on a tread 939. A flange 949 on the inner edge of the tread 939 forms a part of a light baffle, with suitable bafliing in the housing 960, as shown particularly in FIGURE 9. The housing 960 also includes a frame-defining top wall 963, with a trough along its inner edge, in which a flange of a removable cover 965 rests. The cover 965 is substantially the same as the cover 65 shown in FIGURE 3, except, that, in lieu of a baffle plate 70, a reflector 970 is attached to the underside of the cover at points radially outboard of the central ventilating opening. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 9, the reflector 970 is attached by sheet metal screws. The reflector 970 has a central cup 971, with a convex bottom, as viewed from above the reflector, which provides a concave reflecting surface. The walls of the cup are provided with air passages 972, which communicate with the central ventilating opening, as shown in FIGURE 9.

As is indicated schematically in both FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 9, the air moving through the central ventilating opening in the cover can either be directed through a conduit of some sort, or into the plenum chamber formed between the ceiling defined by the modules and supporting structure above them.

A conical wall of the reflector 970 has an incandescent lamp holder mounted in it, as shown clearly in FIG- URE 9.

In this embodiment, an enclosure 985 is hinged by means of wings projecting at opposite ends in a manner commonly used in commercial lighting fixtures, to permit the enclosure being swung down when desired. The

enclosure 985 has a perforated metal flat bottom panel 986, backed by sound-absorbent insulation. The bottom 986 has a central aperture, in which a transparent, light controlling lens is seated. The lens is mounted, in the em bodiment shown, by means of four clips, underlying and overlying the flange about the periphery of the light controlling lens.

It will be observed that the reflector 970 is spaced above the upper surface of the insulation on the bottom 986, to permit the passage of cooling air from the lightbaifled passage along the edge of the enclosure, shown in FIGURE 9, under the lower edge of the reflector 9 70, past the incandescent lamp, and out through the holes 972 and the ventilating opening in the cover 965.

In FIGURES 11 and 13,'still another embodiment of ceiling module of this invention, equipped with a bulbar electric discharge lamp such as mercury vapor or the like, is illustrated. In this embodiment, the panel members are identical with the panel members of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 9. The lower portion of a housing 1160 is also identical with a lower part of the housing 960 illustrated in FIGURE 9. An enclosure 1185 includes a frame 1186 hinged to the housing 1160 and mounting av prismatic lighting panel 1187. These can be conventional elements, conventionally mounted. However, because of the more intense heat given off by bulbar electric discharge lamps, the upper surface of the lens can have a thin metallic coating to reflect infrared energy and transmit visible light. The infrared energy reflected from the coating is absorbed by the metal housing surface and transferred to the ventilating flow of air passing through the module. In this embodiment, the housing 1160 has side walls 1161, one of which has a socket arm supporting bracket 1162 welded or otherwise secured to its inside surface. The bracket 1162 carries a tubular lampholder support 1163, at the end of which is a lamp-holder 1164 for the reception of a bulbar electric discharge lamp 1150. Electrical conductors, not here shown, are connected to the lamp-holder 1164, run down the arm 1163, and are connected to a ballast located in a suitable compartment 11-52 mounted to project partly above the housing 1160. The cover 1165, in this embodiment, is domed to serve as a reflector. A ventilating opening in the center of the cover 1165 is in an upwardly offset area of the cover, and is covered on its underside by a reflector baffle plate 1171, with vent holes 1172 around its radially outer area.

In FIGURE 12, an embodiment of ceiling module of this invention is shown in which fluorescent lamps are mounted, in a single layer, parallel with one another and perpendicular to sides of the housing between which they 7 extend, as distinguished from being mounted to extend diagonally of the housing and at two levels.

Referring now to FIGURE 14, an embodiment of ceiling module of this invention is shown in which two modules, which, in the illustrative embodiment shown, can be identical with the modules shown in FIGURE 9 or FIGURE 11, are spaced apart to define between them a channel 1420, which is bridged by an arched top wall 1424 of a plenum chamber 1425. The plenum chamber 1425 also has a bottom wall 1426, and end walls 1427. The plenum chamber 1425 has near its longitudinal center, a duct opening 1428, which receives a duct fitting 1429, which, in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 14, carries air under pressure. The bottom wall 1426 rests upon the insulation on the sloping panel of one of the modules, and terminates coincidently with the vertical face of the marginal flange of that panel. One side edge of the arched wall 1424 of the plenum is provided with a flange which rests, with an intervening gasket 1432, on an in-turned ledge of the marginal flange of the facing panel of the other module. Plenum chamber 1425 is lined with insulating material which, on the inner side of the edge of the arched wall 1424 which rests on the ledge, is substantially coincident vertically with the vertical part of the marginal flange. Accordingly, a gap is defined between the end of the bottom 1426 and the inside face of the insulation on the arched wall 1424, which gap forms a continuation of the passage 1420, all as shown in FIGURE 14.

Referring now to FIGURE 15, an embodiment of ceiling module of this invention is shown in which the panels are foraminous, and at least one of them is not backed with insulation, but is provided with a plenum chamber 1525, open at its bottom, and so constructed as to deliver air under pressure through the foraminous panel itself. Insulation on the inner side of the plenum chamber 1525 serves to deaden sound created and carried by moving air and also sound from the room area below and inhibit the transfer of heat through the plenum chamber walls. The arched wall of the plenum chamber also serves as a sound attenuator.

Numerous variations in the construction of the module of the invention within the scope of the appended claims, will occur to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure. The proportions of the various elements of the combination may be varied, so long as the spines are made of sufiicient height through the length of each panel to provide rigidity and serve as an element of the housing seat. The slope of the web of the panels can be varied even to a negative angle as compared with the angles shown, though the embodiments illustrated are preferred for strength and appearance. The panels can be arched in section, the marginal flanges being planar ver tically. The panels can be coated or decorated in any desired way and, while it is contemplated in the embodiments shown that the panels and housing be made of sheet metal, enameled or otherwise suitably protected and decorated, one or both could be made of other materials. One reason why the preferred embodiments of this invention are made of steel is that, when constructed of steel, all the load bearing areas of the modules described resist deflection and all surfaces expand evenly to prevent warping and distortion when the modules are exposed to extreme temperatures, as in the case of fire. It can be seen that the insulating material shown in several of the embodiments can be also a good thermal insulating material, such as mineral wool, and may be applied liberally, to provide a ceiling which will retard the passage of heat from the space below the ceiling to the supporting structure. The various panels can be made imperforate or foraminous, as the case may be, and backed or not backed. The arrangement of lamps and lamp holders can be varied widely. For example, different numbers of fluorescent and incandescent lamps may be employed. In the fluorescent lamp housings in which the lamps run diagonally, different numbers of lamps, both in total and in different levels can be used. When odd numbers of lamps are used, it is preferable to locate the greater number in the upper tier of lamps. For example, if three are used, it is preferable to locate two lamps above and a single lamp below. These are merely illustrative variations.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A ceiling module comprising a ceiling-defining area defined by a plurality of trapezoidal panels arranged in such a manner that each convergent edge of each said trapezoidal panel is contiguous a convergent edge of another of said trapezoidal panels, the long bases of the trapezoids defining a plane polygon and the short bases of the trapezoid defining an open seat, a spine along each line of contiguity between adjacent panels and extending above said panels, and mounting means on said spines above said line of contiguity.

2. The ceiling module of claim 1 wherein the trapezoidal panel members are foraminous and are covered with thermal and accoustical insulating material.

3. The ceiling module of claim 1 wherein at least one of the trapezoidal panel members is foraminous and communicates directly with a plenum chamber above said panel whereby an air-pressure differential through foramina in said panels is maintained.

4. The ceiling module of claim 1 wherein at least one of the trapezoidal panel members is foraminous and a plenum chamber of a size to fit the panel is mounted on the upper surface of the panel.

5. The ceiling module of claim 1 wherein a plenum chamber is mounted on the upper surface of at least one trapezoidal panel, said plenum chamber having a wall extending beyond the outer margin of said panel and adapted to engage an adjacent module spaced from the module on which the plenum chamber is mounted, said plenum chamber being provided with a gap coincidental with the space between said modules.

6. A ceiling comprising a plurality of ceiling modules each having a ceiling defining area formed of trapezoidal panels arranged about a central opening, each of said panels having on each of two inwardly converging edges a substantially vertical, upwardly extending spine extending along said edge, said panels being joined to form an open seat for a central closure member, said central closure member being openably mounted in said seat; hook means mounted on said spines and projecting outwardly thereof laterally of the ceiling area; suspending and spacing means engaging one of said hook means on a plurality of adjacent modules, by which adjacent of said ceiling modules are spaced from one another to define channels between them, and bridging means, carried by said panels, for bridging the space between adjacent ceiling modules.

7. The ceiling of claim 6 wherein the ceiling module bridging means are hinge leaves, each hingedly connected to one panel along an outer edge of the panel.

8. A ceiling comprising (1) a plurality of ceiling modules, each of said modules comprising (a) a ceiling-defining area comprising a plurality of trapezoidal panels arranged in such a manner that (i) each convergent edge of each said trapezoidal panel is contiguous a convergent edge of another of said trapezoidal panels (ii) the long bases of the trapezoids define a plane polygon (iii) the short bases of the trapezoids define an open seat (b) a central closure member openably mounted in said seat (c) a spine along each line of contiguity between adjacent panels and extending above said panels (d) mounting means on said spines above said lines of contiguity;

(2) a supporting structure; and

(3) hanging means depending from said supporting structure, adapted to engage said mounting means.

9. The ceiling of claim 8 wherein said modules are arranged so that each side of at least one of said polygons is contiguous a side of an adjacent polygon.

10. The ceiling of claim 9 wherein one of said hanging means engages mounting means carried by a plurality of modules.

11. The ceiling of claim 9 wherein contiguous edges of said adjacent polygons are spaced from each other to define channels between them.

12. The ceiling of claim 10 wherein one of said hanging means engages mounting means carried by four modules.

13. The ceiling of claim 11 wherein bridging means are provided above said contiguous edges of said adjacent polygons for bridging the space between adjacent ceiling modules.

14. A ceiling module comprising a ceiling-defining area comprising a plurality of trapezoidal panels arranged in such a manner that each convergent edge of each said trapezoidal panel is contiguous a convergent edge of another of said trapezoidal panels, the long bases of the trapezoids defining a plane polygon and the short bases of the trapezoids defining an open seat, a central closure member openably mounted in said seat, a spine along each line of contiguity between adjacent panels and extending above said panels and mounting means on said spines above said line of contiguity.

15. The ceiling module of claim 14 wherein the central closure member comprises a lamp housing and light transmitting panel.

16. A ceiling module comprising a ceiling-defining area comprising a plurality of trapezoidal panels arranged in such a manner that each convergent edge of each said trapezoidal panel is contiguous a convergent edge of another of said trapezoidal panels, the long bases of the trapezoids defining a plane polygon and the short bases of the trapezoids defining an open seat, and a light transmitting panel mounted in said seat.

17. The ceiling module of claim 16 wherein the area of the polygon defined by said long bases is at least twice the area of said lighting panel.

18. The ceiling module of claim 16 including a ventilated housing above said light transmitting panel, fluorescent lamp-holders arranged in pairs within said housing, each lamp-holder of a pair being opposite to the other and at least two of said pairs being oriented at an intersecting angle to and offset vertically from one another whereby lamps extending between lamp-holders of said pairs cross one another intermediate their ends, said housing having a ventilating opening immediately above the crossing area of said lamps.

19. The ceiling module of claim 18 wherein the housing is essentially square in plan and the lamp-holders are located at corners of said housing, with the lamps extending at right angles to one another.

20. A ceiling module comprising a ceiling-defining area formed of trapezoidal panels arranged about a central opening, each of said panels having on each of two inwardly converging edges, a substantially vertical upwardly extending spine extending along said edge, said panels being joined to form an open seat for a central closure member, said central closure member comprising a light transmitting panel, a lamp housing supporting said light transmitting panel, and a removable cover on said housing.

21. The ceiling module of claim 20 wherein a lampholder is mounted within the housing above said lighting panel.

22. The ceiling module of claim 21 wherein the lampholder is mounted on an arm supported at one end on a side wall of the housing.

23. The ceiling module of claim 21 wherein the lampholder is mounted on a reflector connected to the removable cover of the housing.

24. The ceiling module of claim 21 wherein a ventilating opening, communicating with a plenum chamber, is provided in the center of the cover and a lamp mounted in the lamp holder is positioned directly below said ventilating opening.

25. A ceiling module comprising a ceiling-defining area formed of four inwardly-upwardly inclined isosceles trapezoidal panels the bases of which lie in a common plane, secured to one another and symmetrically arranged about a central square opening defined by edges of ledges integral with said panels and parallel to said bases, each of said panels having integral with each of two inwardly converging edges a substantially vertical spine of substantial height, extending the length of said edge and having, at its upper inner end, a wing extending above a'continguous one of said ledges, contiguous spines being secured in face to face abutment and said wings forming with said ledges, a seat for a square lamp housing, fluorescent lamp-holder arranged in pairs, each of said lamp-holders being mounted at a corner of said housing and the lamp-holders of a pair being diagonally opposed to one another, at least two of said pairs being oriented at right angles to one another and being offset vertically from one another whereby lamps extending between opposed lamp-holders of said pairs cross one another at right angles in the central area of said housing, said housing having a ventilating opening immediately above the crossing area of said lamps, said housing being seated on the ledges of the panels with the wings of said spines extending along the sidewalls of the housing at each corner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,223,874 12/1940 Pieper 24051.11 2,759,094 8/ 1956 Goddard et a1. 2409 X 2,845,855 8/1958 Burns 24047 2,956,149 10/1960 Dowell et al. 2409 X 3,103,157 9/1963 Quin 98-40 3,146,956 9/1964 Schwartz et al. 240-9 3,202,815 8/1965 Moore 24078 3,246,137 4/1966 Zagel 24051.l1 X

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

DAVID L. JACOBSON, JOSEPH F. PETERS, IR.,

' 4mm? Ex i

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