T-Grid Clip

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/659,163 filed on Jun. 12, 2024, and priority to U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/946,994 filed on Jun. 12, 2024, and U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/989,179 filed on Feb. 10, 2025, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

This invention relates generally to ceiling tiles or backer boards to be mounted to T-grids and more specifically to clips for mounting ceiling tiles or backer boards to T-grids, particularly when the tiles or boards includes design features.

Standard ceiling tiles mounted to T-grids are well known. Ceiling tile systems are widely used in commercial, institutional, and residential buildings to create a finished ceiling surface that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. A common form of ceiling tile installation utilizes a suspended ceiling grid, often referred to as a T-grid or T-bar system, which includes a series of intersecting metal members forming a grid of square or rectangular openings. Ceiling tiles are then placed within these openings to complete the ceiling surface.

Traditional ceiling tiles are typically supported by resting on the horizontal flanges of the T-grid members. While this method is effective for many applications, it has several limitations. First, the tiles are merely gravity-held in place, which can result in displacement due to building vibrations, changes in air pressure, maintenance access, or accidental contact. It is also challenging to mount ceiling tiles with design features that need to hang below the T-grid but still appear to be continuous.

Several solutions have been proposed to address these issues, including the use of magnets, portions of decorative tile, or adhesive materials to secure the tiles to the grid. However, many of these solutions suffer from drawbacks, including increased labor for installation, incompatibility with standard ceiling components, difficulty in removing and reinstalling tiles for access to overhead systems, and a lack of adjustability or precision in alignment.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved ceiling tile mounting system and method that enhances the stability and security of ceiling tiles within a T-grid system, while preserving or improving ease of installation, access, and compatibility with conventional ceiling infrastructure.

In general terms, this invention provides a T-grid clip connector for attaching ceiling tiles to a T-grid, having a body and a mounting head. The mounting head is flexibly connected to the body. The mounting head includes a front portion, a rear portion, and an engagement portion. The rear portion is connected to the body. The mounting head has a normal position with respect to the body and a flexed position with respect to the body. The body is adapted to be mounted to a ceiling tile and the mounting head is adapted to engage a T-grid when in the normal position, temporarily flex to the flexed position as the mounting head passes the T-grid, and return to the normal position and rest upon the T-grid after passing the T-grid to retain the ceiling tile with respect to the T-grid.

The invention also includes the method of mounting a ceiling tile to a T-grid with the T-grid clip of the present invention. The method includes mounting the T-grid clip to a ceiling tile by mounting the body to the ceiling tile. Engaging the mounting head against the T-grid when the mounting head is in the normal position. Pressing the mounting head against the T-grid and flexing the mounting head to the flexed position as the mounting head passes the T-grid. The mounting head then snaps back to the normal position after passing the T-grid with the engagement portion resting on the T-grid to retain the ceiling tile upon the T-grid.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description are described below.

The t-grip clip of the present invention is shown generally atin. The t-grip clipof the present invention is used to support a backer board or ceiling tile, shown atin, from the t-grip frameworkmounted to the ceiling of a building. The present invention is particularly adapted to mount decorative acoustic tileor similar material from the T-grid framework.

T-grip cliphas a bodyand a mounting head. The bodyand mounting headare joined by a connector surface. The bodyhas mounting holes. In the example shown, there are two mounting holes, but it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that there could be more than two, only one and in certain applications no mounting holes. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that they t-grip clipcan be glued or otherwise adhered to the backer board or ceiling tileand either include mounting holes for receipt of fasteners or not have fasteners depending upon the application.

The connector surfaceallows the head portionto flex with respect to the body. As illustrated in, bracingandcan be provided to increase the rigidity of the clip. The head portioncan flex with respect to bodywhen the T-grid clipis mounted to the backer board or ceiling tileand inserted into or removed from the framework. In the disclosed embodiment, several T-grid clipsare shown mounted to the backer board or ceiling tile. The number of T-grid clipsto use depends upon the application.

The head portionhas a sloped front portion, a base portion, and a back portion. The front edgewhere the front portionjoins the base portionis curved or rounded. The rear edgeis also curved or rounded where it joins the back portionand the base portion. The edgesandare curved or rounded to facilitate the insertion and removal of the head portionfrom the T-grids.

With reference to, a locating prongis illustrated for locating the clipon scribed backer panels. This is an optional feature and facilitates the mounting of the cliponto the backerboard or ceiling tile. The locating prongis shown with a legand foot. The footengages the edge of the tilefor proper alignment of the clip.

With reference to, a further embodiment of the t-grip clip of the present invention is shown generally at. The t-grip clipof the present invention is used to support backer boardor ceiling tileas shown in, from the t-grip frameworkmounted to the ceiling of a building.

T-grip cliphas a bodyand a mounting head. The bodyand mounting headare joined by a connector surface. The bodyhas mounting holes. In the example shown, there are two mounting holes, but it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that there could be more than two, only one and in certain applications no mounting holes. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that they t-grip clipcan be glued or otherwise adhered to the backer board or ceiling tileand either include mounting holes for receipt of fasteners or not have fasteners depending upon the application.

The connector surfaceallows the head portionto flex with respect to the body. The headcan flex with respect to bodywhen the T-grid clipmounted to a backer board or a ceiling tileis inserted into or removed from the framework.

The headhas a sloped front portion, a base portion(see) and a back portion. The front edgeis located where the front portionjoins the base portionand is curved or rounded. The rear edgejoins the back portionand the base portionand is curved or rounded. The edgesandare curved to facilitate the insertion and removal of the head portionfrom the T-grids.

Locking fingersare positioned adjacent the head. Each of the locking fingers have an armand finger. The fingerengages the T-gridwhen the T-grid clipis installed onto the T-grid. The T-grid clipand in particular the base portionengages the face of the T-gridand the fingerengages the lip of the T-gridto lock the T-grid cliponto the T-grid.

The invention also includes the method of mounting a ceiling tileto a T-grid with the T-grid clip,of the present invention. The method includes mounting the T-grid clip,to a ceiling tileby mounting the body,to the ceiling tile. Engaging the mounting head,against the T-gridwhen the mounting head,is in the normal position, as shown in the drawings. Pressing the mounting head,against the T-gridand flexing the mounting head,to the flexed position as the mounting head passes the T-grid. The mounting head,then snaps back to the normal position after passing the T-gridwith the engagement portion,resting on the T-gridto retain the ceiling tileupon the T-grid.

The T-grid clipalso has the step of the locking fingerengaging the lip of the T-grid to lock the clipin place. The T-grid clipincludes the optional feature of the footengaging the edge of the ceiling tileto locate the T-grid clipon the ceiling tile.

Clipalso includes a stepped portion, shown with stepsand. These stepsandare used to measure the edge of the panelwhen making changes during installation. They correspond to fitting T-grids that are 9/16 and 15/16 inches, eliminating the need for a tape measure.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.