US2996609A - Sheet panel - Google Patents

Sheet panel Download PDF

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Publication number
US2996609A
US2996609A US746717A US74671758A US2996609A US 2996609 A US2996609 A US 2996609A US 746717 A US746717 A US 746717A US 74671758 A US74671758 A US 74671758A US 2996609 A US2996609 A US 2996609A
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Prior art keywords
dimples
sheet
sheets
side walls
panel
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US746717A
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Wilson Bertram Arnold
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Individual
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Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US746717A priority Critical patent/US2996609A/en
Priority to GB22730/59A priority patent/GB872410A/en
Priority to FR799502A priority patent/FR1229409A/en
Priority to CH7541659A priority patent/CH373886A/en
Priority to US33318A priority patent/US2996417A/en
Priority to DE19611422017 priority patent/DE1422017A1/en
Priority to ES0267843A priority patent/ES267843A1/en
Priority to GB1982361A priority patent/GB914868A/en
Publication of US2996609A publication Critical patent/US2996609A/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V3/00—Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C51/00—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C51/006—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor for making articles having hollow walls
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B9/32—Translucent ceilings, i.e. permitting both the transmission and diffusion of light
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B9/34—Grid-like or open-work ceilings, e.g. lattice type box-like modules, acoustic baffles
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
    • E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
    • E04C2/30—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the shape or structure
    • E04C2/32—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the shape or structure formed of corrugated or otherwise indented sheet-like material; composed of such layers with or without layers of flat sheet-like material
    • E04C2/326—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the shape or structure formed of corrugated or otherwise indented sheet-like material; composed of such layers with or without layers of flat sheet-like material with corrugations, incisions or reliefs in more than one direction of the element
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
    • E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
    • E04C2/54—Slab-like translucent elements
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
    • E04D3/24—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets with special cross-section, e.g. with corrugations on both sides, with ribs, flanges, or the like
    • E04D3/28—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets with special cross-section, e.g. with corrugations on both sides, with ribs, flanges, or the like of glass or other translucent material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/13—Single flanged joints; Fin-type joints; Single hem joints; Edge joints; Interpenetrating fingered joints; Other specific particular designs of joint cross-sections not provided for in groups B29C66/11 - B29C66/12
    • B29C66/131—Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B29C66/438—Joining sheets for making hollow-walled, channelled structures or multi-tubular articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
    • B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
    • B29C66/54—Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
    • B29C66/541—Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles a substantially flat extra element being placed between and clamped by the joined hollow-preforms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
    • B29C66/733—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, e.g. fluorescence, phosphorescence
    • B29C66/7336—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, e.g. fluorescence, phosphorescence at least one of the parts to be joined being opaque, transparent or translucent to visible light
    • B29C66/73365—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, e.g. fluorescence, phosphorescence at least one of the parts to be joined being opaque, transparent or translucent to visible light at least one of the parts to be joined being transparent or translucent to visible light
    • B29C66/73366—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, e.g. fluorescence, phosphorescence at least one of the parts to be joined being opaque, transparent or translucent to visible light at least one of the parts to be joined being transparent or translucent to visible light both parts to be joined being transparent or translucent to visible light
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/747—Lightning equipment
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/23—Sheet including cover or casing
    • Y10T428/234—Sheet including cover or casing including elements cooperating to form cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/24—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
    • Y10T428/24273—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.] including aperture

Definitions

  • This invention is a panel for light diffusing ceilings and I the like adapted to manufacture from fire resisting sheet Plastic such as Poly inylchloride. v
  • the panel is made of two sheets of transparent or translucent plastic sealed in face to face contact around the periphery. At least one of thesheets has a section dished away from the other sheet with the bottom wall of the dished section dimpled at many points back into contact with the other sheet.
  • the light transmission may be increased without materially affecting the rigidity by punching holes in the bottoms of the dimples within the united areas of the sheets. The rigidity is increased when both sheets are dished away from each other and the dimples of each sheet register and are in contact with each other.
  • FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a panel such as used in light diffusing ceilings; and FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional edge view of the panel.
  • the panel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which is of primary use in light diffusing-ceilings is made from two sheets 1 and 2 of transparent or translucent plastic such as polystyrene or polyvinylchloride, polyvinylchloride being preferred for locations 'where fire resistance is important because it will not support combustion.
  • the sheets are in face to face contact throughout the entire peripheral edges and are integrally united to form an outwardly projecting peripheral flange 3a by which the 'Ipanel may be supported, for example by resting on one of the flanges 3 of a T-shaped joist 4.
  • the manner of support is not critical.
  • the flange 3a may be trimmed off and the panel supported by having the peripheral edges of its lower face rest on the .supporting structure.
  • Each of the sheets has a section 5 dished away from the plane of its peripheral edge consisting of a side wall 6 adjacent the edge of the sheet and a bottom wall 7 lying in a plane parallel to the edge of the sheet.
  • the bottom wall 7 has formed therein dimples 8 extending back to the plane of the edge of the sheet. These dimples are spaced on the same centers alongcenterlines extending both angularly and crosswise ofthe sheet with the dimples in adjacent crosswise rows in staggered relation to each other to obtain a partial nesting of the dimples.
  • the side walls of adjacent dimples form hollow light directing ribs as is apparent in FIG. 2.
  • the dimples in the sheets 1 and 2 extend toward and are in register with each other so that when the sheets 1 and 2 are placed in face to face contact with theirdished sections 5 registering with each other as illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom walls 10 of the dimples are in contact with each other and may easily be united, for example by heat sealing.
  • the dimples 8 appear as domes and the bottom walls 10 of the dimples are the crests of the domes.
  • the center section of the united walls It)v may be punched out within the united area as indicated at 11 to improve the light transmission and also to improve the sound deadening effect as is desirable for ceiling panels.
  • the panel is completely sealed around its peripheral edge and around the holes 11 which makes it easy to clean by immersion in a cleaning solution or by other procedures.
  • the sheets and 2 can have the dished sections 5 and the dimples 8 formed therein easily in a single step by 1 Vacuum forming.
  • The. dimples of round cross section illustrated are preferred because that shape results in the simplest and lowest cost mold. Other cross sectional shapes of dimples may be used.
  • each of the sheets 1 and Z has its rigidity greatly increased even though before forming the sheets are quite limp.
  • the rigidity is further increased by the uniting of the peripheral'edges of the sheets 1 and 2 and is still further increased by the uniting of the bottom walls 10 of the registering opposed dimpless.
  • the dimples 8 may be approximately /2 inch in diameter and with the centers of any two adjacent dimples 95 of an inch apart, and with the depth of the side walls 6 approximately half the diameter of the dimples.
  • the rigidity is such that the panel may be supported by its edges as shown in FIG. 2 without sagging in panel sizes of two feet by four feet or larger.
  • the rigidity is not appreciably affected by the punching of the inch diameter holes 11 which is desirable not only for increasing the light transmission but also for permitting the flow of water through the holes when the ceiling is installed below a sprinkler system.
  • the holes 11 permit direct light transmission, the light diffusing properties are not seriously affected because the holes occupy only a minor fraction of the area.
  • Direct view of the light source can be had only by looking along a line of sight inclined upwardly at greater than 45 degrees from the horizontal. For practical purposes the light source is shielded even though direct view is possible.
  • the dimples 8 are confined to the bottom wall 7 of the dished portion and that the side walls 6 of the dished portion form a continuous stiffening flange bounding the entire dimpled area. Also, there is a continuous unbroken surface of the bottom wall 7 of the dished portion connecting the lower edges of the side walls 6.
  • the dimples are closely packed to provide the maximum light transmission.
  • a light diffusing ceiling unit for use below a light source comprising a supporting frame and a panel edge "supported by said frame below said light source and comprising a sheet of light transmitting plastic having a dished section with side walls transverse to and bordered by the peripheral edge of the sheet and with a bottom wall spaced from the plane of said peripheral edge, said bottom wall having a plurality of dimples therein spaced from each other and from said side walls and extending back toward said plane with the side walls of adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs, another sheet of the same shape as the first sheet, the two sheets being arranged with the dimples and side walls extending toward and abutting each other, and said sheets being united at the abutting portions of the side walls and at the bottoms of the dimples.
  • a light diffusing ceiling unit for use below a light source comprising a supporting frame and a panel edge supported by said frame below said light source and Patented Aug. 15, 1961 comprising upper and lower sheets of light transmitting plastic united around their peripheral edges, the lower sheet having a plurality of upwardly extending spaced dimples with the side walls of adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs, the upper sheet having a plurality of downwardly extending spaced dimples opposing the dimples in the lower sheet and with the side walls supported by said frame below said light source and comprising a sheet of light transmitting vinyl plastic havof adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs,
  • a light difiusing ceiling unit for use below a light source comprising a supporting frame and a panel edge supported by said frame below said light source and comprising a sheet of light transmitting plastic bordered by a continuous flange transverse to the sheet, the area of the sheet within the flange having a plurality of dimples therein extending transverse to the sheet in the same direction as the flange with the side walls of adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs, and another sheet overlying and united to said flange and the bottoms of the dimples.
  • a light difiusing ceiling unit for use below a light source comprising a supporting frame and a panel edge ing a dished section with side walls transverse to and bordered by the peripheral edge of the sheet and with a bottom wall spaced from the plane of said peripheral edge, said bottom wall having a plurality of dimples therein spaced from each other and from said side walls and extending back toward said plane with the side walls of adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs, another sheet of the same shape as the first sheet, the two sheets being arranged with the dimples and side walls extending toward and abutting each other, and said sheets being united at the abutting portions of the side walls and at the bottoms of the dimples.

Description

Aug. 15, 1961 a. A. WILSON 2,996,609
SHEET PANEL Filed July'7, 195a FIG. 1
PIC 12 7 INVENTOR.
SHEET PANEL Bertram Arnold Wilson, 516 G. Daniel sala Bldg,
I Erie, Pa. Filed July 7,1958, Ser. No. 746,717
. 6Claims. (('ll.240 '1 This invention is a panel for light diffusing ceilings and I the like adapted to manufacture from fire resisting sheet Plastic such as Poly inylchloride. v
In a preferred form, designed for light diffusing ceilings, the panel is made of two sheets of transparent or translucent plastic sealed in face to face contact around the periphery. At least one of thesheets has a section dished away from the other sheet with the bottom wall of the dished section dimpled at many points back into contact with the other sheet. By uniting the two' sheets at the pointsof contact, a rigid structure is obtained even though the plastic sheets have a thickness of as little as fifteen mils. The light transmission may be increased without materially affecting the rigidity by punching holes in the bottoms of the dimples within the united areas of the sheets. The rigidity is increased when both sheets are dished away from each other and the dimples of each sheet register and are in contact with each other.
In the accompanying drawing, FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a panel such as used in light diffusing ceilings; and FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional edge view of the panel.
The panel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which is of primary use in light diffusing-ceilings is made from two sheets 1 and 2 of transparent or translucent plastic such as polystyrene or polyvinylchloride, polyvinylchloride being preferred for locations 'where fire resistance is important because it will not support combustion. The sheets are in face to face contact throughout the entire peripheral edges and are integrally united to form an outwardly projecting peripheral flange 3a by which the 'Ipanel may be supported, for example by resting on one of the flanges 3 of a T-shaped joist 4. The manner of support is not critical.
The flange 3a may be trimmed off and the panel supported by having the peripheral edges of its lower face rest on the .supporting structure. Each of the sheets has a section 5 dished away from the plane of its peripheral edge consisting of a side wall 6 adjacent the edge of the sheet and a bottom wall 7 lying in a plane parallel to the edge of the sheet. The bottom wall 7 has formed therein dimples 8 extending back to the plane of the edge of the sheet. These dimples are spaced on the same centers alongcenterlines extending both angularly and crosswise ofthe sheet with the dimples in adjacent crosswise rows in staggered relation to each other to obtain a partial nesting of the dimples. This permits the dimpling of a larger proportion of the area of the bottom wall 7 while still maintaining an adequate wall section of the bottom wall between adjacent dimples as indicated at 9. The side walls of adjacent dimples form hollow light directing ribs as is apparent in FIG. 2. The dimples in the sheets 1 and 2 extend toward and are in register with each other so that when the sheets 1 and 2 are placed in face to face contact with theirdished sections 5 registering with each other as illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom walls 10 of the dimples are in contact with each other and may easily be united, for example by heat sealing. When viewed from the opposite side, the dimples 8 appear as domes and the bottom walls 10 of the dimples are the crests of the domes.
The center section of the united walls It)v may be punched out within the united area as indicated at 11 to improve the light transmission and also to improve the sound deadening effect as is desirable for ceiling panels.
I The panel is completely sealed around its peripheral edge and around the holes 11 which makes it easy to clean by immersion in a cleaning solution or by other procedures.
The sheets and 2 can have the dished sections 5 and the dimples 8 formed therein easily in a single step by 1 Vacuum forming. The. dimples of round cross section illustrated are preferred because that shape results in the simplest and lowest cost mold. Other cross sectional shapes of dimples may be used.
'After the vacuum forming, each of the sheets 1 and Zhas its rigidity greatly increased even though before forming the sheets are quite limp. The rigidity is further increased by the uniting of the peripheral'edges of the sheets 1 and 2 and is still further increased by the uniting of the bottom walls 10 of the registering opposed dimpless. For the construction shown in FIG. 2 where the sheets I and 2 are of polyvinylchloride fifteen mils thick, the dimples 8 may be approximately /2 inch in diameter and with the centers of any two adjacent dimples 95 of an inch apart, and with the depth of the side walls 6 approximately half the diameter of the dimples. The rigidity is such that the panel may be supported by its edges as shown in FIG. 2 without sagging in panel sizes of two feet by four feet or larger. The rigidity is not appreciably affected by the punching of the inch diameter holes 11 which is desirable not only for increasing the light transmission but also for permitting the flow of water through the holes when the ceiling is installed below a sprinkler system. Although the holes 11 permit direct light transmission, the light diffusing properties are not seriously affected because the holes occupy only a minor fraction of the area. Direct view of the light source can be had only by looking along a line of sight inclined upwardly at greater than 45 degrees from the horizontal. For practical purposes the light source is shielded even though direct view is possible.
It will be noted that the dimples 8 are confined to the bottom wall 7 of the dished portion and that the side walls 6 of the dished portion form a continuous stiffening flange bounding the entire dimpled area. Also, there is a continuous unbroken surface of the bottom wall 7 of the dished portion connecting the lower edges of the side walls 6.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the dimples are closely packed to provide the maximum light transmission.
What is claimed as new is:
l. A light diffusing ceiling unit for use below a light source comprising a supporting frame and a panel edge "supported by said frame below said light source and comprising a sheet of light transmitting plastic having a dished section with side walls transverse to and bordered by the peripheral edge of the sheet and with a bottom wall spaced from the plane of said peripheral edge, said bottom wall having a plurality of dimples therein spaced from each other and from said side walls and extending back toward said plane with the side walls of adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs, another sheet of the same shape as the first sheet, the two sheets being arranged with the dimples and side walls extending toward and abutting each other, and said sheets being united at the abutting portions of the side walls and at the bottoms of the dimples.
2. The unit of claim 1 having holes extending through the dimples within the united areas whereby the unit is adapted for use below sprinklers.
3. A light diffusing ceiling unit for use below a light source comprising a supporting frame and a panel edge supported by said frame below said light source and Patented Aug. 15, 1961 comprising upper and lower sheets of light transmitting plastic united around their peripheral edges, the lower sheet having a plurality of upwardly extending spaced dimples with the side walls of adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs, the upper sheet having a plurality of downwardly extending spaced dimples opposing the dimples in the lower sheet and with the side walls supported by said frame below said light source and comprising a sheet of light transmitting vinyl plastic havof adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs,
and the bottoms of the dimples in the upper and lower sheets registering with each other and being united and having holes extending through the dimples within the united areas.
4. A light difiusing ceiling unit for use below a light source comprising a supporting frame and a panel edge supported by said frame below said light source and comprising a sheet of light transmitting plastic bordered by a continuous flange transverse to the sheet, the area of the sheet within the flange having a plurality of dimples therein extending transverse to the sheet in the same direction as the flange with the side walls of adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs, and another sheet overlying and united to said flange and the bottoms of the dimples.
5. The unit of claim 4 having holes extending through the dimples and the other sheet united thereto within the united areas.
6. A light difiusing ceiling unit for use below a light source comprising a supporting frame and a panel edge ing a dished section with side walls transverse to and bordered by the peripheral edge of the sheet and with a bottom wall spaced from the plane of said peripheral edge, said bottom wall having a plurality of dimples therein spaced from each other and from said side walls and extending back toward said plane with the side walls of adjacent dimples forming hollow light directing ribs, another sheet of the same shape as the first sheet, the two sheets being arranged with the dimples and side walls extending toward and abutting each other, and said sheets being united at the abutting portions of the side walls and at the bottoms of the dimples.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,410,744 Powers Nov. 5, 1946 2,429,482 Munters Oct. 21, 1947 2,481,046 Scrulock Sept. 6, 1949 2,710,335 Wong June 7, 1955 2,803,741 Guth Aug. 20, 1957 2,851,390 Chavannes Sept. 9, 1958 2,860,237 Baker et al. Nov. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 163,515 Austria July 11, 1949 539,745 Italy Feb. 22, 1956
US746717A 1958-07-07 1958-07-07 Sheet panel Expired - Lifetime US2996609A (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US746717A US2996609A (en) 1958-07-07 1958-07-07 Sheet panel
GB22730/59A GB872410A (en) 1958-07-07 1959-07-02 Light diffusing panels
FR799502A FR1229409A (en) 1958-07-07 1959-07-07 Panel made of plastic or similar sheets
CH7541659A CH373886A (en) 1958-07-07 1959-07-07 Light-diffusing ceiling framework
US33318A US2996417A (en) 1958-07-07 1960-06-01 Luminous ceiling panel
DE19611422017 DE1422017A1 (en) 1958-07-07 1961-05-30 Luminous ceiling board
ES0267843A ES267843A1 (en) 1958-07-07 1961-05-31 Luminous ceiling panel
GB1982361A GB914868A (en) 1958-07-07 1961-06-01 Light transmitting ceiling panel

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US746717A US2996609A (en) 1958-07-07 1958-07-07 Sheet panel
US33318A US2996417A (en) 1958-07-07 1960-06-01 Luminous ceiling panel

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US2996609A true US2996609A (en) 1961-08-15

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US746717A Expired - Lifetime US2996609A (en) 1958-07-07 1958-07-07 Sheet panel
US33318A Expired - Lifetime US2996417A (en) 1958-07-07 1960-06-01 Luminous ceiling panel

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US33318A Expired - Lifetime US2996417A (en) 1958-07-07 1960-06-01 Luminous ceiling panel

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Country Link
US (2) US2996609A (en)
CH (1) CH373886A (en)
DE (1) DE1422017A1 (en)
ES (1) ES267843A1 (en)
FR (1) FR1229409A (en)
GB (2) GB872410A (en)

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US3140833A (en) * 1961-08-11 1964-07-14 Lightolier Inc Ceiling fixture
US3600570A (en) * 1967-12-11 1971-08-17 Mitsubishi Rayon Co Low glare louver
WO1982001930A1 (en) * 1980-12-03 1982-06-10 Sven A Willumsen A double grid for fluorescent lamp units
US20030046889A1 (en) * 2001-09-11 2003-03-13 Lynch Diane Irene Moire ceiling panels

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US3462330A (en) * 1965-12-09 1969-08-19 Woodall Industries Inc Method for making a hollow plastic core structure
US3525663A (en) * 1967-03-09 1970-08-25 Jesse R Hale Anticlastic cellular core structure having biaxial rectilinear truss patterns
US3834177A (en) * 1972-12-07 1974-09-10 Philco Ford Corp Refrigerator cabinet structure and its manufacture
US3996458A (en) * 1974-02-25 1976-12-07 Jones Terry D Ceiling system
US4023319A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-05-17 Takao Kurata Curtain wall assembly of interfitting glass blocks
CA1209770A (en) * 1982-12-17 1986-08-19 Robert C. Heritage Openwork screen assembly
DK173787A (en) * 1987-04-06 1988-10-07 Willumsen Sven A Hybridomas which produce a receptor which immunoreacts with thrombospondin, such receptors, a diagnostic, site- specific, image-formation reagent comprising such receptors, an in-vitro method for detecting and differentiating between stimulated
ATE376648T1 (en) * 2000-05-10 2007-11-15 Regent Beleuchtungskoerper Ag LIGHT DISTRIBUTOR FOR A LIGHTING DEVICE AND LIGHTING DEVICE AND USE OF A LIGHTING DEVICE

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US2410744A (en) * 1938-11-10 1946-11-05 Milton A Powers Plastic product
US2429482A (en) * 1939-04-06 1947-10-21 Munters Carl Georg Method and means for the production of foil material
AT163515B (en) * 1947-09-05 1949-07-11 Stefan Vollmer Hollow construction panel made of plastic, preferably compressed wood fiber
US2481046A (en) * 1947-11-13 1949-09-06 Western Engineering Associates Panel structure
US2710335A (en) * 1952-12-30 1955-06-07 Cepco Inc Light diffusing and sound absorbing unit
US2803741A (en) * 1953-10-01 1957-08-20 Edwin F Guth Ceiling illumination
US2851390A (en) * 1955-06-30 1958-09-09 Marc A Chavannes Fabric and method of manufacture
US2860237A (en) * 1956-07-11 1958-11-11 Cell Ceiling Inc Cellular diffusion panel

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US2695430A (en) * 1947-01-18 1954-11-30 F W Wakefield Brass Company Luminous panel
US2850109A (en) * 1954-04-27 1958-09-02 Benjamin Electric Mfg Co Light-permeable sound-absorbing panel
US2913576A (en) * 1957-03-18 1959-11-17 Curtis Lighting Inc Louver-diffuser

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US2410744A (en) * 1938-11-10 1946-11-05 Milton A Powers Plastic product
US2429482A (en) * 1939-04-06 1947-10-21 Munters Carl Georg Method and means for the production of foil material
AT163515B (en) * 1947-09-05 1949-07-11 Stefan Vollmer Hollow construction panel made of plastic, preferably compressed wood fiber
US2481046A (en) * 1947-11-13 1949-09-06 Western Engineering Associates Panel structure
US2710335A (en) * 1952-12-30 1955-06-07 Cepco Inc Light diffusing and sound absorbing unit
US2803741A (en) * 1953-10-01 1957-08-20 Edwin F Guth Ceiling illumination
US2851390A (en) * 1955-06-30 1958-09-09 Marc A Chavannes Fabric and method of manufacture
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US3140833A (en) * 1961-08-11 1964-07-14 Lightolier Inc Ceiling fixture
US3600570A (en) * 1967-12-11 1971-08-17 Mitsubishi Rayon Co Low glare louver
WO1982001930A1 (en) * 1980-12-03 1982-06-10 Sven A Willumsen A double grid for fluorescent lamp units
US20030046889A1 (en) * 2001-09-11 2003-03-13 Lynch Diane Irene Moire ceiling panels
US7658046B2 (en) * 2001-09-11 2010-02-09 Usg Interiors, Inc. Moiré ceiling panels

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES267843A1 (en) 1961-10-01
FR1229409A (en) 1960-09-07
GB872410A (en) 1961-07-12
US2996417A (en) 1961-08-15
GB914868A (en) 1963-01-09
DE1422017A1 (en) 1968-10-10
CH373886A (en) 1963-12-15

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