AU731783B2 - Device for mounting ceiling panels - Google Patents

Description

Device for Mounting Ceiling Panels This invention relates to a device according to the preamble of Claim 1. Ceiling panels are ordinarily raised to below the ceiling for mounting, and held in this position. With this position maintained, the ceiling panels then have to be fastened to the ceiling. To do this, of course, requires precise orientation and positioning. Adjacent ceiling panels have to be'seated with a predetermined joint gap between them. Only then can they be mounted. Even when lifting the ceiling panels into the fastening.position, at least two persons are needed. The actions of the persons then have to be coordinated so that adjacent ceiling panels bound one another with a predetermined joint gap.

Because of temperature expansion, of course, definite joint widths have to be observed, which should then remain constant along the length of the joint. There is also the problem of great ceiling heights, so that the worker doing the holding has to climb ladders or the like to hold and position the ceiling panel to be fastened and then to fasten it to the bottom of the ceiling. After the ceiling panel has been positioned, of course, there can be mechanical support so that the efforts of the coworker are available for other purposes. However, there is a risk here of the ceiling panel shifting from its oriented panel position, and with it a risk of more work to be done.

S US-PS 3,910,421 discloses a mechanical jack with which a ceiling board can be brought only S into its approximate final position.

In the case of the lifting frame pursuant to GB 2 29 44 94, the transverse edge facing the ceiling of a ceiling panel to be mounted is pinched by pivoting upward. The lifting frame can therefore reasonably be used only in the wall area, since-no clamping beneath the ceiling is necessary there.

•*0o oo o o •ooo The above discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

According to the invention there is provided a device for mounting ceiling panels, particularly with dimensions for two-man handling or larger, with a pre-clamping support and with a panelsupporting surface that is connected with one side to the pre-clamping support through a swivel pin and is able to pivot between a lowered position for loading a ceiling panel and a raised position for fastening the ceiling panel, and with another clamping support to which the pivoting panel-supporting surface in the raised position is connected at its other end through another swivel pin substantially parallel to the ceiling, wherein the length of the two clamping supports can be adjusted to be greater than the distance between floor and ceiling and can be set pressure-rigid with these lengths in such a way that the clamping supports can be clamped slightly inclined between floor and ceiling, and wherein the pre-clamping support has a bearing seat parallel to the ceiling that is hinged to rotate with its own associated swivel pin on the top end of the pre-clamping support, and wherein the panel-supporting surface is connected through its own associated swivel pin to the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling in such a way that, in the fastening position: the swivel pin parallel to the ceiling lies in the rear plane of the ceiling panel to S"be mounted; and the top of the panel-supporting surface is pivoted in a plane flush with the 25 bottom of ceiling panels previously mounted to beneath the ceiling, with the fastening position being reached just by firmly clamping the pre-clamping support and then pivoting upward the panel-supporting surface and subsequently firmly clamping the post-clamping support.

o*oo 30 The invention therefore addresses the drawbacks of the prior art, and provides a device with which one person alone can mount such ceiling panels with precise fit and at high speed.

o0 -o~ w:ChrisodeeLev48194-97.doc Transtek Document No. GE0217 The invention produces the benefit that the ceiling panel to be mounted is raised in elevator fashion with millimeter precision to below the ceiling, where it can first be further oriented and positioned in the raised position before it is then finally held in the fastening position so that it can be solidly connected to the bottom of the ceiling. The invention holds the still-unmounted ceiling panel practically in its final mounted position. The second clamping support does this in cooperation with the seating on the first clamping support parallel to it.

Both of the pre-clamping supports in this case are clamped in between floor and ceiling.

Nevertheless, the panel-supporting surface can still be pivoted freely with the clamped preclamping supports until the ceiling panel is flush against the bottom of the ceiling. This flush placement is guaranteed over the entire length of the panel-supporting surface.

For a free-standing lifting frame, it is proposed to attach the panel lift projecting freely from the pre-clamping supports so that it can travel with a vertical component. Of course it has to be considered that the panel lift with a panel on it has to be able to travel vertically without hindrance up to the mounting position beneath the ceiling.

Accordingly, the panel lift in the fastening position of the panel-supporting surface has to be able to move upward until the ceiling panel over its entire length is just below the ceiling so that the vertical travel of the panel lift is prevented by contact with the ceiling. Of course the preclamping support is supported beneath the ceiling. The top of the panel-supporting surface is able to travel to the panel thickness below the bottom of the ceiling.

The invention in principle provides that the lifting frame is composed of two clamping supports, both.of which are clamped in between floor and ceiling.

If In this way, a lifting frame can be constructed by simple and easy means that can be used directly at any place in a house.

The weight of the individual clamping supports is exceedingly low. The lifting frame including the panel lift can consist of units that can be individually disassembled, each of which is portable Transtek Document No. GE0217 by itself. Therefore, of course, such a lifting frame with panel lift can also be used wherever there is limited space, for example in lofts or cellars.

According to the invention, the length of the clamping supports is somewhat greater than the distance between floor and ceiling. The two clamping supports can then be clamped in easily between floor and ceiling with axial compression. They then assume a slightly slanted position, but this permits enormous vertical pressure and clamping action. The pre-clamping support can also be extended to produce the clamping. Attention has to be paid to the free pivoting mobility of the panel-supporting surface into the fastening position.

For the motion of the panel lift on the lifting frame, it is provided for the panel lift to be designed so that it provides a pivotable panel-supporting surface that is connected to the pre-clamping support at one end through a swivel pin that is practically parallel to the ceiling. The swivel pin parallel to the ceiling is displaced downward from the bottom of the ceiling by at least the panel thickness, while the top of the panel-supporting surface is then spaced from the bottom of the ceiling by the panel thickness. This provides the benefit that ceiling panels can also be attached by the mounting device pursuant to this invention at roof slopes.

In this case the pivoted position of the panel-supporting surface corresponds to the roof slope angle, so that the ceiling panel to be mounted then reaches its fastening position flush with and parallel to the roof slope.

To this end it is also proposed that the top of the panel-supporting surface at the pre-clamping support end be able to pivot to beneath the ceiling practically flush with the bottom of the ceiling pane!s previously mounted. The pivoting motion of the panel-supporting surface is produced by a swivel,pin practically parallel to the ceiling at the pre-clamping support, through which the panel-supporting surface is connected to the pre-clamping support. This clamping support is called the pre-clamping support because it is clamped in beneath the ceiling before placing the ceiling panel on the panel-supporting surface in the loading position, and provides a first fixed support for the lifting frame with panel lift. In this lowered position, the panel-supporting surface is loaded with the ceiling panel to be mounted and is then pivoted to beneath the ceiling around Sswivel pin parallel to the ceiling on the pre-clamping support. When the ceiling panel to be Transtek Document No. GE0217 mounted rests flush beneath the ceiling, another clamping support is moved beneath the panelsupporting surface that has been pivoted upward and is clamped beneath it so that the panelsupporting surface pivoted upward is held in this position by being clamped in.

With this, the ceiling panel is practically premounted, and the actual fastening of the ceiling panel to the bottom of the ceiling can begin.

In addition, it can be provided that the post-clamping support be connected to the panelsupporting surface with freedom to pivot. This provides a lifting frame with panel lift consisting of parts hinged to one another with increased utility and simplified portability. The pivoting angle can be 900 from the vertical and slightly more. A ball-and-socket joint is preferred so that the post-clamping support is freely movable in all directions.

If it is additionally provided for the post-clamping support to be connected to the panelsupporting surface in such a way that the post-clamping support in the loading position of the panel-supporting surface is at an acute angle to the panel-supporting surface, this provides the benefit that the post-clamping support when the panel-supporting surface is pivoted automatically reaches the support position beneath the ceiling because it has to follow the pivot point on the panel-supporting surface because of its own gravity, while its end on the floor at the same time slides along the floor until the panel-supporting surface has reached its mounting position.

To be able to use the device pursuant to the invention for rooms of different heights, it is proposed that the clamping supports be adjustable in height. The height adjustment can be continuoug or stepwise. In addition to stepwise height adjustment, a fine height adjustment can also b6 provided, Examples of embodiment of this will be described.

1 Of particular benefit to the invention is the fact that a bipod is sufficient in principle for bringing even heavy and awkward ceiling panels securely and precisely into the fastening position.

This benefit is derived from the fact that clamping supports once positioned are also held in place Uinst lateral tilting. Since a longitudinal seat parallel to the ceiling is provided with each Transtek Document No. GE0217 clamping support, on which rests the ceiling panel to be mounted, the tendency toward lateral tilting of the clamping supports in question is likewise minimized if not actually prevented.

A lifting frame with only two clamping supports is therefore directly feasible for the invention.

Nevertheless, a lifting frame is also to be included that is designed as a so-called tripod and can therefore stand by itself in any room.

High lateral stability is also obtained when several support points are connected by a common bridge that has only one clamping support set at its center. The projecting bridge should be positioned directly beneath the ceiling so that lateral tilting is prevented.

Precise positioning of the ceiling panels also requires the panel-supporting surface to be precisely positionable. To this end it is proposed that the panel-supporting surface match the ceiling panels in length, width, and size. The panel-supporting surface can be adjustable in length and/or width for this purpose.

Another important aspect originates from the fact that with the pre-clamping support clamped in with the panel-supporting surface pivoted down, i.e. when the panel-supporting surface is to be loaded with the ceiling panel, there is a risk that the ceiling panel placed on it will slip off. To prevent this, it is proposed to provide a panel-retaining ridge on the side of the post-clamping support. iThe panel-retaining ridge projects over the top of the panel-supporting surface toward the'ceilifig to a distance less than the panel thickness. In this way, on the one hand, the ceiling panels are' prevented from slipping off, while on the other hand the panel-retaining ridge ends in front dfthe bottom of the ceiling without hindrance in the fastening position of the panelsupporting surface.

The desirable leverage ratio in a pivotable panel-supporting surface can be further improved if the pivoting motion of the panel-supporting surface occurs through pivot gearing. The pivot gearing should be supported with a support strut on the panel-supporting surface on the one hand, and on the pre-clamping support on the other. Examples of embodiment of this will be described.

Transtek Document No. GE0217 The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to examples of embodiment. The Figures show: Fig. 1: a first example of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2: an example of embodiment of the invention with clamping supports adjustable in height, Fig. 3: a perspective view of the invention with various examples of embodiment, Fig. 4: an outline drawing of the invention with continuous lift gearing, Fig. 5: an example of embodiment of the invention with stepwise lockable lift gearing.

If not otherwise stated below, the following description applies to all of the Figures.

The Figures show a device for mounting ceiling panels 8. Such ceiling panels 8 ordinarily have dimensions that assume processing by at least two coworkers. Such ceiling panels 8 are raised to below the ceiling 3 and in the raised position are nailed, screwed, or the like to ceiling laths for example.

To this end it is proposed that a panel lift 4 movable with a vertical component on a lifting frame 1,'be mroved between a lowered position for loading a ceiling panel 8 loading position 6) and a raised position with the ceiling panel 8 resting flush beneath the ceiling 3 fastening 1 positiOn 7).

The examples of embodiment shown show that a lifting frame 1 is provided in each case that consists of two clamping supports 1 la, 1 lb that can be clamped in between floor 2 and ceiling 3 with slanted positions. For this purpose, the length of the clamping supports 1 la, 1 lb is slightly greater than the height of the room in which the ceiling panels are to be mounted. Therefore, the cgamping supports 1 la, 1 lb are not precisely vertical but are inclined by an angle of about Transtek Document No. GE0217 from the vertical. The clamping supports 1 la, 1 lb in the fastening position 7 shown are wedged below the ceiling 3 and are immovably seated.

Although this is not to be a limitation of the invention to this form of embodiment, a pivotable panel-supporting surface is provided in this case as the panel lift 4, which is connected to one clamping support 1 la at its ceiling end 13 through a swivel pin practically parallel to the ceiling.

The clamping support 1 la is called a pre-clamping support. This will be discussed later. The orientation of the swivel pin 48 is such that the top 14 of the panel-supporting surface 4 can be pivoted to beneath the ceiling 3 to be practically flush with the bottom 15 of ceiling panels already mounted. In the flush position, which is the fastening position 7, another clamping support 1 lb at the opposite end 16 of the panel-supporting surface can be clamped beneath the panel-supporting surface 4 pivoted upward. In this way the end of the panel-supporting surface 4 that was originally toward the floor is clamped below the ceiling by the clamping support 1 lb engaging there and called the post-clamping support, after being pivoted upward into the fastening position 7, and is held there.

The process of raising the ceiling panel 3 to be mounted therefore has two steps. First of all, the entire mounting device with post-clamping support 1 lb swung downward has to be brought into the loading position 6. The pre-clamping support 1 la is wedged below the ceiling to hold the mounting device in this loading position 6.

To be able to wedge the pre-clamping support under the ceiling so that the panel-supporting surfade 4, with the pre-clamping support 1 la wedged, is freely movable to below the ceiling, on the,'one hand the panel-supporting surface is spaced from the bottom of the ceiling by the panel thickness, 'vhile the swivel pin 48 of the panel-supporting surface 4, parallel to the ceiling, is also disp!aced downward from the bottom of the ceiling by a distance at least equal to the panel thickness. This distance in practice is to be increased by the distance that is reached between the top of the panel-supporting surface 4 and the swivel pin 48 parallel to the ceiling.

This guarantees a freely movable panel-supporting surface 4, which still always has complete freedom of motion when the pre-clamping support 1 la is wedged in, and nevertheless permits 4sing a ceiling panel to be mounted to below the ceiling with no clearance.

Transtek Document No. GE0217 A bearing seat 50 that is placed at the top end of the pre-clamping support 1 la to pivot around another swivel pin 52 parallel to the ceiling provided there serves for wedging the pre-clamping support 1 la beneath the ceiling.

The bearing seat 50 parallel to the ceiling has an upright bumper flange 51 at its edge facing the panel-supporting surface 4 whose height above the bearing seat 50 parallel to the ceiling equals the panel thickness or is 1-2 mm less than this. A fastening tip 55 can also be provided that digs into the ceiling/fastening laths from below. The fastening tip 55 projects upward from the already-mounted ceiling panel 8 by a few mm.

The function of the bumper flange .51 will be discussed later.

However, it is important for the height 53 of the bumper flange 51 to be no greater than the thickness 54 of an already-mounted ceiling panel, but to be less than this by as little as possible.

This makes it possible to wedge the pre-clamping support 1 la beneath a ceiling panel that is already mounted so that the upright bumper flange 51 rests against the joining edge of the ceiling panel previously mounted. The thickness of the material of the bumper flange 51 thus determines the width of the expansion crack that is to be left open between adjacent ceiling panels to permit thermal expansion.

In this way the pre-clamping support 1 la determines the exact crack width between two adjacent ceiling panels just as soon as it is wedged beneath the ceiling.

The ceiling panel 8 is then placed on the panel-supporting surface 4. The panel-supporting surf ac surfce 4 is next pivoted to beneath the ceiling 3 and is held there with the help of the postclamping support 1 lb for mounting the ceiling panel 8. To facilitate this, the post-clamping support, lb is joined to the panel-supporting surface 4 with the ability to pivot, in such a way that it can pivot around the ball-and-socket joint or around the swivel pin 17 at an acute angle 18 to the panel-supporting surface 4 when the latter is in the loading position 6.

The principle of the invention thus consists of the fact that with the panel-supporting surface 4 1aded, during the motion of the panel-supporting surface in the direction of motion 5, the top of Transtek Document No. GE0217 the ceiling panel 8 is raised over its entire length until it is just beneath the fastening laths until its top is flush there and its bottom is flush with the adjacent, previously mounted ceiling panel. The pivoting mobility of the post-clamping support 1 lb is made possible by the swivel pin 17. The swivel pin 17 is seated at the end 16 of the panel-supporting surface 4 on the floor side when the latter is in the loading position 6. A pivoting motion of up to 1800 in all directions can be made possible by a ball-and-socket joint.

To be able to adapt the device shown to different room heights, devices .19 for height adjustment are provided. These devices will differ according to whether they are devices for continuous height adjustment 20 or for stepwise height adjustment 21.

To this end, it is proposed that the pre-clamping support and/or the post-clamping support 1 la or 1 lb be provided with threads 23 that can be adjusted to the required length dimension in combination with the threaded grip of a threaded counterpart 24 on the ceiling end. It is also complied with here that the threads 23 are outside threads that are made on a pedestal 22 of the pre-clamping support or of the post-clamping support. In this way the pre-clamping support 1 la and/or the post-clamping support 1 lb is divided into an upper part 25 and lower part 26, and the upper part 25 and lower part 26 are adjustable in the longitudinal direction relative to one another and can be fastened in the shifted positions. The height adjustment can be made in given height increments 21 because the upper part and lower part are made up of telescoping tubes. The inner tubl6 has tross-bores 27 that are arranged at predetermined distances from one another. The outer tube has at least one cross-bore that is called the positioning bore 28. The positioning bore 28 can be brought into alignment with the cross-bore 27. In the aligned position, the socket pin 29 can be inserted into the positioning bore 28 together with the cross-bore 27 aligned with it.

As shown additionally in Fig. 3, the panel-supporting surface 4 can have at least three support points 30, 31, 32, that together make up a tripod. This provides a lifting frame that also stands independently, to which the panel-supporting surface 4 is hinged. In addition, it can be provided that two of the support points 30, 31, 32 are connected by a bridge 33 to which only one clamping support is then to be attached.

Transtek Document No. GE0217 To adapt the panel-supporting surface 4 to the particular panel dimensions, it should consist of at least two parallel seat struts 34, 35, that run practically in parallel between the pre-clamping support 1 la and the post-clamping support 1 lb and are adjustable at least to the length of a ceiling panel 8. A length-adjusting and fixing device 36 is used for this purpose, which consists, for example, of a hollow profile strutand an inner strut that can slide relative to it and be fastened: In a refinement of the invention, it is of considerable importance for a panel bumper 37 to be provided on the panel-supporting surface 4 on the side of the post-clamping support 1 Ib, which projects beyond the top of the panel-supporting surface 4 and provides a bumper ridge there for the loaded ceiling panel. The panel bumper 37 should have an oversize 38 that is 1 2 mm smaller than the panel thickness dimension 39. This causes the top edge of the panel bumper 37 to end without hindrance before reaching the bottom of the ceiling when the panelsupporting surface 4 is swung up into the fastening position. Nevertheless, the ceiling panel is just below the mounting laths 10 and can preferably be fastened.

The panel bumper 37 on the one hand makes it possible to set the exact length of the panelsupporting surface 4 corresponding to the length of the ceiling panel 8 to be mounted. To this end, the panel bumper 37 provides a defined bumper ridge for the ceiling panel 8 to be mounted.

The length of the panel-supporting surface 4 is then set so that the swivel pin 48 around which the panel-supporting surface 4 can rotate lies in the rear panel plane 49 of the ceiling panel 8. The other function of the panel bumper 37 consists of the fact that when the panel-supporting surface 4 is set at the proper length, each loaded ceiling panel 8 can be pivoted to below the ceiling 3 with definite positioning.

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To pivotthe panel-supporting surface 4, pivot gearing 40 can be provided that can be locked in :ihefastening position 7. To this end, at least one support strut 41 that is hinged to the panelsupportig surface 4 and that can be adjusted with a pivot drive and locked on the pre-clamping support 1 la can be provided on the pivot gearing For this purpose the support strut 41 is provided with ratchet recesses 43 that can latch into ratchet projections 42 as a back rest. The support strut is used in the latched position as a rigid onnection between the panel-supporting surface 4 and the pre-clamping support 1 la.

inuous lift gearing can also be provided for precise positioning of the panel-supporting Transtek Document No. GE0217 surface 4 below the ceiling 3. Fig. 4 in this regard shows that the lift gearing comprises a gear drive 44 that in combination with a toothed ratchet strut 45 makes possible the vertical motion of the panel-supporting surface 4. In every case the top 14 of the panel-supporting surface 4 with the raised panel-supporting surface is made to lie in the same plane as the bottom of the ceiling 46, so that the ceiling panel 8 to be mounted is in flush contact with the bottom of the ceiling 46. In case of fastening laths 10, the bottom of the ceiling 46 in this regard coincides with the surface enclosed by the fastening surfaces of the ceiling laths Figs. 2 and 3 also show that the clamping supports 11 are provided with non-slip pedestals 47.

The pedestals 47 can consist of soft, elastic material that does not slipon the usual floor materials even under load in a slanted position.

Concerning function: To begin mounting such ceiling panels, the pre-clamping support 1 la has to be wedged beneath the ceiling in such a way that the bearing seat 50 parallel to the ceiling is fixed beneath the ceiling at a distance practically equal to the panel thickness. For this purpose, a spacer plate or the like that can be made of the panel material should be clamped between the bearing seat and the bottom of the ceiling as an aid.

The upright bumper flange 51 is then positioned so that the basic alignment of the first ceiling panel to be mounted is provided by it. The upright bumper flange 51 thus determines the alignment of the ceiling panels parallel to the wall.

A ceiling panel 8 to be mounted is then loaded onto the panel-supporting surface 4 and is pivoted up, tUo flush contact beneath the ceiling. The ceiling panel 8 to be mounted is then held beneath the,ceiling with no clearance by tightening the post-clamping support 1 lb. It can then be screwed

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to the available'mounting laths 10, for example.

After pivoting back the post-clamping support 1 lb and the pre-clamping support 1 la, the ,--ounting device can then be moved to the next position. For this purpose the upright bumper Transtek Document No. GE0217 flange 51 is brought to rest against the end edge of the ceiling panel 8 just mounted, and the preclamping support 1 la is then wedged beneath the ceiling.

The material thickness of the bumper flange 51 therefore defines the crack width between two adjacent ceiling panels so that a gap of definite width is formed 2 mm) which can then be spackled.

It is important in every case, however, for the height 53 of the bumper flange 51 not to exceed the thickness 54 of the ceiling panels 8 already mounted, but preferably to be 1-2 mm smaller, so that the bearing seat 50 parallel to the ceiling can rest exactly parallel on the bottom of ceiling panels 8 already mounted. The parallel arrangement is not hindered by the centering tip, but the top end of the pre-clamping support is already practically fixed even before the pre-clamping support is clamped in.

This also applies appropriately to the panel bumper 37 at the end of the panel-supporting surface 4 to be pivoted upward, becausethis makes it possible for the ceiling panel 8 to be mounted to rest directly beneath the ceiling and/or beneath the fastening laths .,In'a special embodiment of the invention, the swivel pin 48 of the panel-supporting surface 4 and the'swivel pin 52 of the bearing seat 50 coincide. This provides the added benefit of reduced manufacturing costs. This state of affairs is illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, and Transtek Document No. GE0217 List of Reference Symbols 1 Lifting frame 2 Floor 3 Ceiling 4 Panel lift, panel-supporting surface Direction of motion 6 Loading position 7 Fastening position 8 Ceiling panel 9 Top of ceiling panel Fastening laths Ila Clamping support, pre-clamping support 1 lb Clamping support, post-clamping support 13 End of panel-supporting surface toward the ceiling 14 Top of panel-supporting surface Bottom of ceiling panels already mounted 16 End of panel-supporting surface toward the floor 17 Swivel pin of the post-clamping support 18 Acute angle 19 Device for height adjustment Continuous height adjustment 21 Stepwise height adjustment 22 Pedestal of the pre-clamping support 23 Outside threads 24 Threaded counterpart I '.Upper part

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26.I Lower part 27 Cross-bore 28 'Positioning bore 29 Socket pin 2 1st to 3rd support points Transtek Document No. GE0217 33 Bridge 34 Seat strut Seat strut 36 Length-fixing device 37 Panel bumper 38 Oversize dimension 39 Plate thickness Pivot gearing 41 Support strut 42 Back rest 43 Ratchet recess 44 Gear drive Toothed ratchet strut 46 Bottom of ceiling 47 Pedestal 48 Swivel pin of the panel-supporting surface 49 Rear panel plane Bearing seat parallel to the ceiling 51 Upright bumper flange 52, Swivel pin of the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling 53 Height of bumper flange 54 Thickness of ceiling panel 8 already mounted Fastening tip

Claims (20)

1. A device for mounting ceiling panels, particularly with dimensions for two-man handling or larger, with a pre-clamping support and with a panel-supporting surface that is connected with one side to the pre-clamping support through a swivel pin and is able to pivot between a lowered position for loading a ceiling panel and a raised position for fastening the ceiling panel, and with another clamping support to which the pivoting panel-supporting surface in the raised position is connected at its other end through another swivel pin substantially parallel to the ceiling, wherein the length of the two clamping supports can be adjusted to be greater than the distance between floor and ceiling and can be set pressure-rigid with these lengths in such a way that the clamping supports can be clamped slightly inclined between floor and ceiling, and wherein the pre-clamping support has a bearing seat parallel to the ceiling that is hinged to rotate with its own associated swivel pin on the top end of the pre-clamping support, and wherein the panel-supporting surface is connected through its own associated swivel pin to the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling in such a way that, in the fastening position: the swivel pin parallel to the ceiling lies in the rear plane of the ceiling panel to be mounted; and the top of the panel-supporting surface is pivoted in a plane flush with oo•°o the bottom of ceiling panels previously mounted to beneath the ceiling, with the fastening position being reached just by firmly clamping the pre-clamping support and then pivoting upward the panel-supporting surface and subsequently 25 firmly clamping the post-clamping support. *oooo oooa 0 A device according to claim 1, the length of the panel-supporting surface being •adjustable so that the swivel pin, around which the panel-supporting surface is rotatable, lies in the rear panel plane of the ceiling panel.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein there is continuous height adjustment for the pre-clamping support and/or the post-clamping support. W:hris'odelete46194-97,doc 17

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein a pedestal of the pre-clamping support and/or of the post-clamping support has threads that provide continuous height adjustment in combination with the threaded grip of a counterpart on the ceiling side.

5. A device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the pre-clamping support and/or the post-clamping support have/has at least one upper part and one lower part, with the upper part and the lower part being movable relative to one another longitudinally and being able to be fixed in place.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, providing height adjustment in predetermined steps.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the pre-clamping support and/or the post-clamping support have/has an inner tube with cross-bores at different distances from its top end, an outer tube with at least one bore aligned with the cross-bores of the inner tube, and at least one socket pin that can be inserted into the cross-bores and projects beyond the outer tube.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, the panel-supporting surface having at least three support points that together form a tripod.

9. A device according to claim 8, at least two of the support points being connected by a bridge to which only a single one of the clamping supports is attached.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, the panel-supporting surface being adjustable in length by means of a length-fixing device. S. S. 11. A device according to any preceding claim, the panel-supporting surface having at least two seat struts that are arranged essentially in parallel between the pre-clamping 30 support and the post-clamping support and that have at least the length of a ceiling panel.

12. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel-supporting surface can be pivoted to beneath the ceiling and can be fixed in place by means of W:Achdsiodeete46194-97.doc 18 pivot gearing, with the post-clamping support consisting of a support strut and pivot gearing that is supported on the pre-clamping support and with the support strut being hinged to the panel-supporting surface and being adjustable by the pivot gearing and being able to be fixed in place relative to the pre-clamping support.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein a support strut is provided with ratchet recesses that can latch to a ratchet projection of the pre-clamping support.

14. A device according to claim 13, the pivot gearing having continuous lift gearing. A device according to claim 14, the lift gearing comprising a toothed drive gear that produces the adjustment in combination with a toothed ratchet strut.

16. A device according to any preceding claim, the pre-clamping support and the post-clamping support having non-slip pedestals.

17. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the swivel pins of the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling and of the panel-supporting surface coincide. 20 18. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the swivel pins of the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling and of the panel-supporting surface are separate.

19. A device according to any preceding claim, the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling having an upright bumper flange whose height above the top surface of the bearing seat corresponds to or is slightly smaller than the thickness of the ceiling panels. .o 20. A device according to claim 19, the bumper flange having one or more fastening tip(s) that increase(s) the height of the bumper flange by not more than 3 mm. a. 30 21. A device according to any preceding claim, the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling being fixed below the ceiling at a distance substantially equal to the panel thickness. W:Aftsenodelete'46194-97.doc 19

22. A device according to claim 21, the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling being set down exactly parallel on the bottom of ceiling panels already mounted.

23. A device according to claim 21 or claim 22, the bearing seat parallel to the ceiling being set down on a spacing plate beneath the ceiling.

24. A device according to claim 23, the spacing plate consisting of the panel material of the ceiling panels.

25. A device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 8 February, 2001 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: GAMMAH WERKZEUGE GMBH o..oe S S S

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