초록

A panel, for installation on a ceiling as a component of a matrix grid of similar panels, with the ceiling panels capable of being installed directly on sheetrock ceilings without the otherwise need for affixing a wooden structure to the sheetrock ceiling before affixing the ceiling panels.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A panel constructed of a material for installation on a ceiling as a component of a matrix grid of multiple said panels, with each said panel comprising: two side edges of each said panel having a flange extension along at least a portion of the length of said side edge

The invention claimed is: 1. A panel constructed of a material for installation on a ceiling as a component of a matrix grid of multiple said panels, with each said panel comprising: two side edges of each said panel having a flange extension along at least a portion of the length of said side edge; said side edge of said panel which immediately adjoins said flange extension having a female interlock component along at least a portion of the length of said side edge; the interior of said female interlock component having two opposing interior surfaces, one of which is a flat interior surface and the other of which has one or more protrusions, with said protrusions directed toward said flat interior surface; each side edge of said panel not having said flange extension and not having said female interlock component having instead a male interlock component; and said protrusions on said interior wall of said female interlock component being configured and positioned to mesh with and interface with the male interlock component upon the male interlock component being inserted into said female interlock component. 2. A panel constructed of material for installation on a ceiling as a component of a matrix grid of multiple said panels, with each said panel comprising: two side edges of each said panel having a flange extension along at least a portion of the length of said side edge; said side edge of said panel which immediately adjoins said flange extension having a female interlock component along the length of said side edge; the interior of said female interlock component having two opposing surfaces, one of which is flat and the other of which has one or more convex protrusions, with said protrusions directed toward said flat interior surface; each side edge of said panel not having said flange extension and not having said female interlock component having instead a male interlock component; said convex protrusions on said interior wall of said female interlock component being configured and positioned to mesh with and interface with the male interlock component upon the male interlock component being inserted into said female interlock component. 3. A panel constructed of material for installation on a ceiling as a component of a matrix grid of multiple said panels, with each said panel comprising: two side edges of each said panel having a flange extension along at least a portion of the length of said side edge; said side edge of said panel which immediately adjoins said flange extension having a female interlock component along the length of said side edge; the interior of said female interlock component having two opposing surfaces, one of which is flat and the other of which has one or more convex protrusions, with said protrusions directed toward said flat interior surface; said convex protrusions being capable of being temporarily plastically flexibly displaced or deformed, or both; each side edge of said panel not having said flange extension and not having said female interlock component having instead a male interlock component; said male interlock component having on its surface one or more protrusions and corresponding indentations; said convex protrusions on the said male interlock component being capable of being temporarily plastically flexibly displaced or deformed, or both; said convex protrusions on said interior wall of said female interlock component being configured and positioned to mesh with and interface with the corresponding protrusions and corresponding indentations on said male interlock component upon the male interlock component being inserted into said female interlock component; each said flange extension extending for a minimum width from said side edge of said panel a distance at least as wide as the diameter of the head of a screw by which said panel can be affixed to a ceiling; and each said flange extension having at least one hole through which a screw for affixing the said panel to said ceiling can be inserted. 4. The panel of claim 1 wherein said surface of any said protrusion is coated, treated or otherwise conditioned or textured to thereby increase the coefficiency of friction between said surface and any other surface with which it is in contact. 5. The panel of claim 2 wherein said surface of any said protrusion is coated, treated or otherwise conditioned or textured to thereby increase the coefficiency of friction between said surface and any other surface with which it is in contact. 6. The panel of claim 3 wherein said surface of any said protrusion is coated, treated or otherwise conditioned or textured to thereby increase the coefficiency of friction between said surface and any other surface with which it is in contact. 7. A flat panel constructed of thin sheet metal material for installation on a ceiling as a component of a matrix grid of multiple said panels, with each said panel comprising: two side edges of each said panel, and located on two contiguous side edges of said panel, having a flange extension along at least a portion of the length of said side edge; said side edge of said panel which immediately adjoins said flange having a female interlock component along at least a portion of the length of said side edge for insertion of a male interlock component in the course of installation of a ceiling; the interior of said female interlock component having two opposing interior surfaces, one of which is flat and the other of which has one or more protrusions, with said protrusions directed toward said flat interior surface; each said protrusion of the female interlock component being perpendicular to the plane of said interior surface; each side edge of said panel not having said flange extension and not having said female interlock component having instead a male interlock component; said male interlock component having on its surface one or more protrusions perpendicular to the plane of said surface; and said protrusions on said interior wall of said female interlock component being configured and positioned to mesh with and interface with the corresponding protrusions on said male interlock component upon the male interlock component being inserted into said female interlock component. 8. A flat panel constructed of sheet metal material for installation on,a ceiling as a component of a matrix grid of multiple said panels, with each said panel comprising: two side edges of each said panel, located on two contiguous side edges of said panel, having a flange extension along at least a portion of the length of said side edge; said side edge of said panel which immediately adjoins said flange having a female interlock component along at least a portion of the length of said side edge for insertion of a male extension in the course of installation of a ceiling; the interior of said female interlock component having two opposing interior surfaces, one of which is flat and the other of which has one or more protrusions, with said protrusions directed toward said flat interior surface; each said protrusion being perpendicular to the plane of said interior surface; each side edge of said panel not having said flange extension and not having said female interlock component having instead a male interlock component; said male interlock component having on it's surface one or more protrusions perpendicular to the plane of said surface; said protrusions on said interior wall of said female interlock component being configured and positioned to mesh with and interface with the corresponding protrusions on said male interlock component upon the male interlock component being inserted into said female interlock component; each said flange extension extending for a minimum width from said side edge of said panel a distance at least as wide as the diameter of the head of a screw by which said panel can be affixed to a ceiling; and each said flange extension having at least one hole through which a screw for affixing the said panel to said ceiling can be inserted. 9. The flat panel of claim 7 wherein said surface of any said protrusion is coated, treated or otherwise conditioned or textured to thereby increase the coefficiency of friction between said surface and any other surface with which it is in contact. 10. The flat panel of claim 8 wherein said surface of any said protrusion is coated, treated or otherwise conditioned or textured to thereby increase the coefficiency of friction between said surface and any other surface with which it is in contact. 11. A method for installation of ceiling panels, wherein each of said ceiling panels includes two female interlock component female side edges and two male interlock component side edges, with said female interlock component side edge also having a flange extending away from said ceiling panel, with said flange having at least one hole, comprising: inserting a male interlock component side edge of a first ceiling panel into a female interlock component side edge of an adjacent second ceiling panel, whereby said first panel and said second panel are interlocked with each other; placing said first ceiling panel in direct contact with an overhead ceiling; inserting one or more sheetrock screws through said hole or holes in said flange on the female interlock component side edge of said first ceiling panel; and rotating the said sheetrock screws into a sheetrock material to hold the first panel to the ceiling and preventing the second panel from falling while attaching the second panel to the sheetrock material. 12. A method for installation of ceiling panels directly to a sheetrock ceiling, wherein each of said ceiling panels includes at two female interlock component side edges and two male side edges, with said female interlock component side edge also having a flange extending away from said ceiling panel, with said flange having at least one hole, comprising: inserting a male interlock component side edge of a first ceiling panel into the female interlock component side edge of an adjacent second ceiling panel which has already been affixed to said ceiling, whereby said first panel and said second panel are interlocked with each other, said first panel is held in position near said ceiling and prevented from falling by said male and female interlock components; placing the said first ceiling panel in contact with an overhead sheetrock ceiling; inserting one or more sheetrock screws through said hole or holes in said flange on the female interlock component side edge of the said first ceiling panel; and rotating the said sheetrock screws into said sheetrock. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said male edge is a male interlock component side edge.