Ceiling system

Abstract

There are disclosed two embodiments of a renovated ceiling system of the type in which acoustical tiles are suspended in side-by-side relation by a grid of inverted tee-shaped hangers, each such embodiment including a lower level of acoustical tiles suspended from the hangers of the existing ceiling system by means of parts which are snapped into releasable attachment to the hangers as well as to one another merely in response to lifting of the parts from below.

Description

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Ser. No. 07/247,967, filed Sept. 22, 1988, and entitled "Improved Connecting Assembly For Ceiling And Walls" now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to a ceiling system in which acoustical tiles are suspended in side-by-side relation by means of a grid of inverted, tee-shaped hangers. More particularly, it relates to improvements in the renovation of a system of this type in which the bottom side edges of the tiles are supported on the exposed flanges of the tees and thus may be individually lifted from the tees to permit access to the space above them.

In another system of this general latter type, the flanges of the tees of the grid fit within kerfs in the sides of the tiles. Although they may not be individually lifted, the tees of this latter type of system are concealed from below by the closely spaced side edges of adjacent tiles. In either system, the stem of each hanger extending above its flanges is suspended from a wire hung from the lower side of the floor or roof above.

At present, an exposed type system may be renovated, when, for example, the tiles become damaged or soiled, only by replacing each tile. This can be very disruptive of the normal activities in the area beneath the ceiling, including the need for removing or relocating furniture and fixtures. Also, even when renovated, the system is still of the exposed type, which, for aesthetic reasons, may not be desirable. That is, in the event a concealed system is desired, it is necessary to also replace the tees of the grid, although, as above noted, in this case, the tiles cannot be lifted to provide easy access to the space above them.

An object of this invention is to renovate an exposed ceiling system of the type described with the least amount of disruption in the area beneath it, and, more particularly, without the need for skilled labor or special tools and equipment.

A more particular object is to provide an assembly of parts which enable another ceiling, comprised of a lower level of tiles to be easily and quickly installed beneath the existing system, thus not only avoiding the need for replacing the existing system, but also forming a lower space beneath it and the upper level of tiles which provides greater sound and temperature insulation for the area below.

A further object is to provide such an assembly comprised of parts which may be quickly installed, and, if desired, disassembled for use at another location, with relative ease.

Still another object is to provide a lower level of tiles which may be so installed as to conceal the assembled parts from below, while nevertheless permitting disassembly by insertion of a single tool between side edges of the tiles and into the space above them.

These and other objects are accomplished, in accordance with the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, by an assembly of parts which includes a plurality of first support members each comprising an elongate, inverted, channel-shaped body, clip means on the upper side of the base thereof releasably attachable to the opposite side edges of the exposed flanges of an inverted tee, in response to upward movement of the clip means against the lower sides of the flanges, so that the channel-shaped bodies may be releasably supported from the tees in spaced apart, parallel relation, and rod-shaped parts extending longitudinally along the lower ends of the legs of the base. More particularly, the assembly also includes a plurality of second support members each comprising an elongate, substantially L-shaped body, clip means on the upper side of one leg thereof releasably attachable to a rod-shaped part, in response to upward movement of the upper side of the one leg against the rod-shaped part, so that the L-shaped bodies may be releasably supported from the channel-shaped bodies in spaced apart, parallel relation and a flange extending inwardly along the end of its other leg and adapted to be received within the first set of kerfs formed in the opposite edges of side-by-side acoustical tiles, whereby the tiles may be supported therefrom beneath the upper level and with the first set of edges near one another, the clip means on the L-shaped bodies being slidable along the rod-shaped part to which it is releasably attached to permit the other set of opposite edges of the tiles to be disposed near one another. As will be understood, with the tiles so supported, a simple tool may be inserted upwardly between the edges of adjacent tiles in order to engage and pull down on the upper side of a tile in order to release the L-shaped body from which it is supported from a rod-shaped part.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the L-shaped clip means of the L-shaped bodies are arranged to attach them to spaced channel-shaped bodies for extension longitudinally thereof, and, in accordance with another embodiment, to extend longitudinally thereof. In either or both embodiments, the edges of the lower tiles above the kerf are spaced inwardly of the edges beneath the kerf, whereby the lower edges of adjacent lower tiles may be moved close to one another.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the invention, the clip means on the channel-shaped bodies has inwardly extending, spaced resilient parts for sliding upwardly over the opposite side edges of the flanges of an inverted tee so as to snap over the upper sides of the flanges. Similarly, the clip means on the L-shaped bodies has inwardly extending, spaced resilient parts for sliding over the opposite sides of the rod-shaped parts of the channel-shaped bodies so as to snap over the upper sides of the rods. Preferably, the resilient parts are tapered upwardly and inwardly so that they may be detached merely by pulling downwardly on the members to which they are mounted.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used throughout to designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, as seen from below, of part of an existing ceiling of the above described grid type and another ceiling comprised of a lower level of suspended acoustical tiles as they are installed beneath the existing system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the existing ceiling including the end edges of adjacent acoustical tiles suspended from an inverted tee-shaped hanger, together with a first support member and a second support member positioned for attachment to the hanger and one another, respectively, in order to suspend the acoustical tiles of the lower ceiling of FIG. 1 therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a view from the side of the portion of the existing ceiling and the support members for the lower ceiling, as seen along broken lines 3--3 of FIG. 2, and showing the side edges of an acoustical tile of the lower ceiling in position to be moved laterally into supported position on one of the second support members;

FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the existing ceiling and the support members of FIGS. 2 and 3, but upon attachment of the first member to the tee-shaped hanger and the second members to the first member and further upon movement of the side edges of adjacent tiles of the lower ceiling into supported positions on the second support members for disposal close to one another;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of part of the existing ceiling and the assembled tiles of the lower ceiling, as seen along broken lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view as seen from above, of a pair of acoustical tiles of the lower ceiling supported at their side edges by a pair of second support members preparatory to attachment to the laterally spaced apart first support members;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a diffuser or the like having clips mounted along its edges for attachment to the rod-shaped parts of first support members on opposite sides of a light fixture in the lower ceiling, as shown in the prospective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a part of an existing ceiling suspended from a tee-shaped hanger, similar to that shown in FIG. 2, but with the side edges of a pair of adjacent tiles of a lower ceiling suspended from the existing ceiling by means of first and second support members detachably connected to the hanger and to one another in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support members of FIG. 8, but shown in exploded fashion with a clip on the second member separated from a rod-shaped part of the first member; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of the vertical leg of an L-shaped body of the second support member; and

FIG. 11 is a view of the bottom of the horizontal leg of the L-shaped body.

With reference now to the details of the above-described drawings, the existing ceiling shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of acoustical tiles 20 supported by inverted tee-shaped hangers 21 suspended from the lower side of the floor thereabove by means of wires 22 or the like. More particularly, the hangers are arranged in a grid fashion with certain of them extending laterally and others extending longitudinally beneath the floor or roof. As best shown in FIG. 2, for example, the bottom side edges of adjacent tiles 20 are supported on the flanges 23 at the lower end of the inverted tee-shaped hanger. Thus, as previously described, this system is of the "exposed" type wherein the tiles may be lifted from the flanges of the hangers, but wherein access may not be had to the space above the ceiling without removing the tiles.

As also shown in FIG. 1, the acoustical tiles 24 of a lower ceiling are suspended from the upper ceiling to provide a space between them. More particularly, and as will be described to follow, the lower level of tiles are supported by first and second support members releasably attached to the flanges of the inverted tee-shaped hangers 21 and to one another, respectively. In the particular lower ceiling shown, the acoustical tiles may be one foot by one foot arranged in laterally adjacent pairs which span between adjacent pairs of laterally and longitudinally extending, inverted tee-shaped hangers 21. As also shown in FIG. 1, the lower ceiling may include a light fixture 25 whose lower end may be covered by a diffuser 26 installed in much the same manner as the acoustical tiles.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, and as previously described, the embodiment of the lower ceiling shown in FIG. 1 is installed by means of an assembly of parts including a series of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced apart first support members 27 adapted to be releasably attached to the flanges 23 at the lower end of the inverted tee-shaped hangers 21, and a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced apart second members 28 from which the opposite sides of the tiles are supported and adapted to be releasably attached to the first members 27. More particularly, and as will be described in more detail to follow, the second members are so attached to the first members as to extend laterally and perpendicularly with respect thereto and thus in longitudinally spaced apart relation so as to span the lateral space between adjacent pairs of the first members. In this way, each laterally spaced pair of acoustical tiles 24 are supported in side-by-side relation with their longitudinally spaced, laterally extending ends supported from longitudinally spaced pairs of second members.

Thus, as best shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 first support member 27 comprises an inverted channel-shaped body 29 having a base 30 and spaced apart legs 31 depending from opposite ends of the base. More particularly, spaced apart clips 32 are fixed to the upper side of the base 30 of the inverted channel-shaped body, and rod-shaped parts 33 are connected to the lower ends of the legs 31. Each clip 32 comprises a base 34 welded or otherwise secured to the upper side of the base 30 of the channel-shaped body, and inwardly extending, spaced apart resilient legs 35 extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base 34. The clips are spaced longitudinally along the base 30 of the channel-shaped body 31, with each channel-shaped body having at least a pair of such clips disposed adjacent its opposite ends for attachment to the hanger 21.

Each clip is made from spring metal, and the legs extend upwardly and inwardly toward one another from the opposite sides of the base 34, with their upper edges spaced apart a distance less than the width of the flanges 23 at the lower end of the inverted tee-shaped hanger 21. More particularly, the upper ends of the legs are curved outwardly to connect with flanges 36, which, as the clip is moved upwardly against the lower sides of the flanges 23, are cammed outwardly to move over the opposite side edges of the flanges and then snap inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 5 so as to attach the clip and thus the first support member to the hanger 21. As the clips are moved upwardly with the channel-shaped bodies, the flanges 36 will bear against the lower sides of the acoustical tiles to raise them upwardly to the positions shown in FIG. 5.

Each second support member 28 includes an L-shaped body having a relatively long leg 37 adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position during attachment of the second member to the channel-shaped member, and a relatively short leg 38 extending perpendicularly with respect to the leg 37 and disposable in a vertical position during such assembly. As shown, these legs extend laterally and thus perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinally extending body of the first support member and thus with respect to the longitudinally extending hangers 21 for the existing ceiling.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each second support member 28 also includes a flange 39 which extends inwardly from the lower end of the short leg 38 for fitting within kerfs 40 formed in a first set of opposite side edges of the acoustical tiles 24 of the lower ceiling. More particularly, the flange 39 is spaced below the flange 37 of the L-shaped body a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the tile 24 above the kerf 49 so that this portion of the kerf is received closely within the space between the flange 39 and lower side of the leg 37.

Each second support member 28 also includes clips 41 each having a base 42 fixed to the upper side of the leg 37 of each L-shaped body and legs 43 extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base 42. Each clip 41 is similar to each clip 32 in that the legs 41 extend upwardly and inwardly toward one another to provide a space between their upper ends which is less than the width of the rod-shaped part 43 of the first support member to which the L-shaped body is to be attached. More particularly, flanges 44 extend upwardly and outwardly from the upper ends of the legs 43 so as to guide the legs of the clip upwardly and over the opposite sides of the rod-shaped part 33 so that the legs of the clip snap thereover and thus attach the L-shaped body to the channel-shaped body.

As previously described, the clips 41 are spaced laterally from one another and fixed to the L-shaped body adjacent its opposite ends, whereby one end of the L-shaped body may be connected to a rod of one channel-shaped body, and the opposite end thereof to a rod-shaped part of the laterally adjacent channel-shaped body, whereby the L-shaped bodies extend laterally between the adjacent pairs of channel-shaped bodies. As previously described, the opposite ends of a pair of acoustical tiles 24 of the lower ceiling are supported in side by side relation from longitudinally adjacent pairs of the L-shaped bodies. Thus, for example, a pair of one foot by one foot tiles of the lower ceiling may be suspended beneath an acoustical tile of the upper ceiling which is two feet wide in a lateral direction and one foot wide in a longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, and as will be apparent from FIG. 1, the clips 41 of the second support members are so spaced from the adjacent ends of the L-shaped bodies that, upon assembly of the second support members to the rod-shaped parts 33 of the support member, the end edges of the L-shaped bodies are substantially adjacent from one another, thus "concealing" the parts of the ceiling thereabove. As will be apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, the laterally extending edges of the L-shaped bodies are adjacent one another, as shown in FIG. 4, so as to conceal parts of the ceiling thereabove. Thus, upon movement of the clips of adjacent pairs of L-shaped members into releasable attachment with rod-shaped parts of the channel-shaped bodies from which they are suspended, and sliding of the clips along the rods toward one another, the legs 38 extending laterally of the L-shaped members may be moved into positions adjacent one another.

As previously described, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end edge of each acoustical tile 24 above the kerf 40 is spaced inwardly of the laterally extending edge thereof below the kerf 40. More particularly, this inward spacing approximates the thickness of the leg 38 of the L-shaped body, so that when the L-shaped bodies are moved into positions adjacent one another, as shown in FIG. 4, the end edges of the tiles 24 below the kerf are substantially adjacent one another, as shown in FIG. 4.

As previously described, the tiles 24 of the lower ceiling may be removed by simply pulling downwardly on them so as to release the clips 41 of the second support members from the rod-shaped parts of the first support members to which they are attached by causing the legs 41 of the clips to spread and move downwardly past the enlarged sides of the rod-shaped parts 33. More particularly, this may be accomplished by inserting a simple tool, which may be nothing more than a bent wire, upwardly between the adjacent edges of the tiles 24 and turning the tool to a position in which its upper end is above the tile so as to permit it to pull downwardly thereon and thus release the clip of the L-shaped body from the rod-shaped part of the channel-shaped body. Obviously, upon removal of the tiles by release of the clips from the channel-shaped bodies, the channel-shaped bodies may be pulled downwardly and released from the inverted tee-shaped hangers of the existing ceiling by causing the clips 32 to be released from the legs 23 of the hangers.

As previously described, the lower ceiling has the advantage of not only concealing the parts thereabove, but also permitting access to the space above the lower ceiling to permit it to be removed or replaced, as described above. As also previously described, the lower ceiling forms a space beneath the existing ceiling, which can be useful for many purposes, including sound and heat insulation, enable this space being easily accessible for purposes of repair or the like.

FIG. 5 shows a pair of acoustical tiles 24 supported from longitudinally spaced, laterally extending second support members each having clips 41 at spaced locations along the upper sides of the horizontal legs 37 of the L-shaped bodies. The longitudinally extending side edges of the adjacent pair of tiles 24 are shown moved into positions adjacent one another, with the opposite longitudinally extending edges of the L-shaped members being aligned with the ends of the L-shaped bodies so that the longitudinally extending ends of adjacent tiles may be moved adjacent one another, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 shows the diffuser 26 having a frame 47 about its side edges, and clips 48 of a construction similar to the clips 41 fixed to the upper sides of the laterally extending legs 49 of the frame. Thus, the diffuser may be assembled over the light fixture 25 by moving the clips upwardly into attachment with rod-shaped parts of longitudinally adjacent pairs of the inverted channel-shaped members. Thus, when the diffuser and the adjacent tiles 25 are moved into place, the longitudinally extending sides 50 of the diffuser frame 47 will be adjacent the longitudinally extending end edges of adjacent tiles so as to conceal the parts thereabove.

The existing ceiling system from which the ceiling system according to the other embodiment of the present invention is suspended may be the same as the ceiling system from which the first described embodiment of the lower ceiling system is suspended. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, it may comprise a plurality of acoustical tiles 20 supported by inverted tee-shaped hangers 21 arranged in a grid part. Thus, as in the case of the existing ceiling shown in FIG. 1, the hangers 21 have flanges 23 at their lower ends upon which the bottom side edges of the lower tiles 24 are supported with a first set of their end edges adjacent one another. Consequently as in the case of the existing ceiling of FIG. 1, the acoustical tiles 20 may be removed by being raised from the flanges 23 to permit access to the space above the existing ceiling. However, the system is of the exposed type ceiling since the flanges 23 of the hangers 21 may be seen from below.

The assembly of parts made in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention is similar to that of the first described embodiment in that it includes first and second support members similar to those of the first described embodiment, and differing in the manner in which the second support members are disposed and attached to the first support members in that they extend parallel to the first members rather than perpendicularly thereto. Thus, as in the first described embodiments, each first support member includes an inverted, channel-shaped body 51 having a base 52 with legs 53 depending from the opposite ends thereof. However, the clips by which the channel-shaped members are releasably attached to the hanger 21 differ in that each comprises a pair of clip parts 54 which are stamped from the channel-shaped body, with each part having one leg 55 bent outwardly from the base and another leg 56 which is bent inwardly and downwardly from the upper end of an upstanding leg and one spaced apart a distance less than the width of the flanges. More particularly, the clip parts are formed of a resilient material which permit the inwardly and downwardly extending legs 56 to be bent inwardly as the channel-shaped member is moved upwardly over the flanges to permit them to pass over the outer ends of the flanges 23 of the hanger 21, and then snap inwardly to releasably attach the inverted channel-shaped body to the hanger. As in the case of the first support members of the previously described embodiment of the invention, rod-shaped parts 59 are suspended on the lower ends of the legs 53 for extension longitudinally of the channel-shaped body, as best shown in FIG. 9.

As previously described, this assembly of parts also includes second support members 60 which include L-shaped bodies, each of which has a longitudinally extending, relatively wide upper leg 61 and a relatively narrow, longitudinally extending vertical leg 62. The horizontal leg 61 is adapted to fit over the upper side of a tile 24 of the lower ceiling system, and a flange 63 extends inwardly from the lower end of the vertical leg 62 for disposal within a kerf 40 formed in the side edge of the tile. Thus, as in the case of the first described embodiment, the portions of the lower tiles above the kerf 40 fit closely within the space between the flanges 63 and upper ends 60 of the L-shaped bodies.

Each of the second support members is releasably attached to a rod-shaped part of the channel-shaped body of the first member by means of clips fixed to the upper sides of the horizontal legs of the L-shaped bodies. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 9, each clip includes a bracket 64 having a long leg 65 for fitting over the upper side of the horizontal leg of the L-shaped body and a short leg 66 for fitting closely over the outer side of the vertical leg 62 of the L-shaped body. More particularly and as shown, the bracket of each clip 64 includes an inwardly extending flange on the lower end of the leg 66 and an inwardly extending flange on the outer opposite end of the leg 64 for fitting respectively over the lower side of the flange 63 of the L-shaped body and the free edge of the horizontal leg 60 of the L-shaped body. When so mounted on the L-shaped body of the L-shaped member, the bracket 64 may be fixed to the L-shaped body of the second support member by welding or by rivoting thereto.

Each clip also includes a base secured to the upper side of the horizontal leg of the L-shaped body and has upwardly and inwardly extending legs whose upper ends are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the rod-shaped part and formed of a resilient material which permits the legs to be moved upwardly past the rod-shaped parts and over their upper sides so as to releasably attach thereto. For this purpose, flanges extend outwardly from the upper ends of the legs to guide the upper ends of the legs over the opposite sides of the rod-shaped parts. The clips are arranged in longitudinally spaced relation along the length of the L-shaped body, with at least two such spaced clips being provided on each L-shaped body for permitting it to be attached to a rod-shaped part of the inverted channel-shaped body of the first support member.

As shown in FIG. 8, the longitudinally extending vertical legs 62 of the L-shaped member are disposable adjacent one another, when the clips are releasably attached to the rod-shaped parts of an inverted channel-shaped body. In this way, the end edges of the acoustical tiles are disposed close to one another so as to substantially conceal the parts thereabove. The longitudinally spaced laterally extending ends of the L-shaped members will be substantially aligned with the laterally extending end edges of the tile or tiles supported therefrom, whereby those tile edges may also be disposed substantially adjacent one another.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the vertical legs of the L-shaped bodies are provided with complimentary parts which deter vertical movement of one such leg with respect to the adjacent leg of the adjacent L-shaped member. Thus, interlocking beads 70 may be formed on one such leg, as shown in FIG. 10, for snapping into place within complimentary grooves 71 formed in the vertical leg of the adjacent L-shaped member. More particularly, each leg may be formed with alternately formed protrusions and grooves.

As in the previously described system, a simple tool may be forced upwardly between the adjacent side edges of the lower acoustical tiles to permit a downward force to be applied to the upper sides of the tiles for removing them from the first support members. Slots 57, which are formed in the inverted, channel-shaped bodies to form the clip parts 54, enable a screw driver or other tool to engage and depress the legs 56 of the clip parts to release the channel-shaped body from the hanger 21.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. In a ceiling system having an upper level of side-by-side, acoustical tiles supported along their bottom side edges by the exposed flanges of a grid of inverted, tee-shaped hangers,

the improvement comprising

a plurality of first support members each comprising

an elongate, inverted, channel-shaped body,

clip means on the upper side of the base of the body and releasably attached to the opposite side edges of the flanges of an inverted tee, in response to upward movement of the clip means against the lower sides of the flanges, so as to releasably support the channel-shaped bodies from the tees in spaced apart, parallel relation, and

rod-shaped parts extending longitudinally along the lower ends of the depending legs of the body, and

a plurality of second support members each comprising

an elongate, substantially L-shaped body,

clip means on the upper side of one leg of the body and releasably attached to a rod-shaped part, in response to upward movement of the clip means against the rod-shaped part, so as to releasably support the L-shaped bodies from the channel-shaped bodies, in spaced apart, parallel relation, and

a flange extending inwardly along the end of the other leg of the body, and

a lower level of acoustical tiles each having kerfs formed in a first set of opposite edges thereof and in which the flanges of the adjacent pairs of spaced apart L-shaped bodies are received to support the tiles therefrom with said first set of edges of adjacent tiles near one another,

the clip means on the L-shaped bodies being slidable along the rod-shaped parts to dispose the other set of opposite edges of adjacent tiles near one another.

2. A ceiling system of the character described in claim 1, wherein

the L-shaped bodies are attached to spaced channel-shaped bodies so as to extend transversely thereof.

3. A ceiling system of the character described in claim 1, wherein

the L-shaped bodies are attached to a single channel-shaped bodies so as to extend parallel thereto.

4. A ceiling system of the character described in claim 1, wherein

the edges of the lower tiles above the kerf are spaced inwardly of the edges beneath the kerf, whereby the lower edges of adjacent lower tiles may be moved close to one another.

5. In a ceiling system having an upper level of side-by-side, acoustical tiles supported along their bottom side edges by the exposed flanges of a grid of inverted, tee-shaped hangers,

the improvement comprising

a plurality of first support members each comprising

an elongate, inverted, channel body,

longitudinally spaced clips on the upper side of the base of the body, and

rod-shaped parts extending longitudinally along the lower ends of the depending legs thereof,

each clip having inwardly extending, spaced apart, resilient parts releasably attached over the opposite side edges of the flanges of an inverted tee, in response to upward movement of the clips against the lower sides of the flanges, so as to releasably support the channel-shaped bodies from the tees in spaced apart, parallel relation, and

a plurality of second support members each comprising

an elongate, substantially L-shaped body, and

longitudinally spaced clips on the upper side of the one leg thereof,

each clip having inwardly extending spaced apart, resilient parts releasably attached over a rod-shaped part, in response to upward movement of the upper side of the clips against the rod-shaped part, so as to releasably support the L-shaped bodies from the channel-shaped bodies, in spaced apart, parallel relation, and

a flange extending inwardly along the end of the other leg of the body, and

a lower level of side-by-side acoustical tiles each having kerfs formed in a first set of opposite edges thereof and in which the flanges of the adjacent pairs of spaced apart L-shaped bodies are received to support the tiles therefrom with their said first set of edges of adjacent tiles near one another, and

the clip means on the L-shaped bodies being slidable along the rod-shaped parts to dispose the other set of opposite edges of adjacent tiles near one another.

6. A ceiling system of the character described in claim 5, wherein

the L-shaped bodies are attached to spaced channel-shaped bodies so as to extend transversely thereof.

7. A ceiling system of the character described in claim 5, wherein

the L-shaped bodies are attached to a single channel-shaped bodies so as to extend parallel thereto.

8. A ceiling system of the character described in claim 5, wherein

the edges of the lower tiles above the kerf are spaced inwardly of the edges beneath the kerf, whereby the lower edges of adjacent lower tiles may be moved close to one another.

9. For use in suspending a lower level of side-by-side, acoustical ceiling tiles from an upper level of side-by-side acoustical ceiling tiles supported along their bottom side edges by the exposed flanges of a grid of inverted, tee-shaped hangers, an assembly comprising

a plurality of first support members each comprising

an elongate, inverted channel-shaped body,

clip means on the upper side of the base of the body which are releasably attached to the opposite side edges of the flanges of an inverted tee, in response to upward movement of the upper side of the channel-shaped member against the lower sides of the flanges, so that the channel-shaped bodies may be releasably supported from the tees in spaced apart, parallel relation, and

rod-shaped parts extending longitudinally along the lower ends of the depending legs of the body, and

a plurality of second support members each comprising

elongate substantially L-shaped body,

clip means on the upper side of one leg thereof which are releasably attachable to a rod-shaped part, in response to upward movement of the upper side of the one leg against the rod-shaped part, so that the L-shaped bodies may be releasably supported from the channel-shaped bodies in spaced apart, parallel relation, and

a flange extending inwardly along the end of the other leg of each body and adapted to be received within a first set of kerfs formed in the opposite edges of side-by-side acoustical tiles, whereby the tiles may be supported therefrom beneath the upper level and with the first set of edges near one another,

the clip means on the L-shaped bodies being slidable along the rod-shaped part to which it is releasably attached to permit the other set of opposite edges of the tiles to be disposed near one another.

10. An assembly of the character described in claim 9, wherein

the clip means of the L-shaped bodies are arranged to attach them to the spaced channel-shaped bodies for extention longitudinally thereof.

11. An assembly of the character described in claim 9, wherein

the clip means of the L-shaped bodies are arranged to attach them to the spaced apart channel-shaped members so as to extend laterally thereof.

12. An assembly of the character described in claim 9, including

a plurality of tiles having edges above the kerf are spaced inwardly of the edges below the kerf.

13. For use in suspending a lower level of side-by-side, acoustical ceiling tiles from an upper level of side-by-side acoustical ceiling tiles supported along their bottom side edges by the exposed flanges of a grid of inverted, tee-shaped hangers, an assembly comprising

a plurality of first support members each comprising

an elongate, inverted, channel-shaped body,

longitudinally spaced clip on the outer side of the base of the body, and

rod-shaped parts extending longitudinally along the ends of the legs thereof,

each clip having inwardly extending, spaced apart resilient parts for sliding upwardly over the opposite side edges of the flanges of an inverted tee so as to snap over the upper sides of the flanges, in response to lifting of the outer side of the base thereof against the lower sides of the flanges of the tee, and thus releasably attach the channel-shaped body to the tee, and

a plurality of second support members comprising

an elongate, substantially L-shaped body, and

longitudinally spaced clips on the outer side of one leg thereof,

each clip having inwardly extending, spaced apart resilient parts for sliding upwardly over the opposite sides of a rod-shaped part so as to snap over the upper sides of such parts, in response toward movement of the upper side of the one leg against the rod-shaped part, and thus permit the L-shaped bodies to be releasably attached to the channel-shaped bodies in spaced apart, parallel relation, and

a flange extending inwardly from the outer leg of each L-shaped body adapted to fit within a kerf formed in the a first set of opposite edges of side-by-side acoustical tiles, whereby the tiles may be supported therefrom below the upper level and with the first set of edges close to one another,

the clip means on the L-shaped bodies being slidable along the rod-shaped part to which it is releasably attached to permit the other set of opposite edges of the tiles to be disposed near one another.

14. An assembly of the character described in claim 13, wherein

the L-shaped bodies are arranged to attach them to the spaced channel-shaped bodies for extention longitudinally thereof.

15. An assembly of the character described in claim 13, wherein

the clip means of the L-shaped bodies are arranged to attach them to the spaced apart channel-shaped members so as to extend laterally thereof.

16. An assembly of the character described in claim 13, including

a plurality of tiles having edges above the kerf are spaced inwardly of the edges below the kerf.