JP7788656B2 - Panel Device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a panel device.

Conventionally, various devices such as lighting devices, fire detectors, and audio devices are installed on the ceiling.
For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a ceiling system in which an equipment line is created by erecting an equipment plate between adjacent ceiling bars, the equipment plate incorporating a lighting cover for lighting equipment equipped with a light source and a speaker.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-10439

However, instead of the above-mentioned configuration in which lighting covers and equipment plates are combined and arranged, it is also possible to arrange adjacent panels, each with a mounting section to which equipment can be attached. In this case, there is a concern that a step may be formed between adjacent panels because the panels will be subjected to the weight of the equipment.

This disclosure was made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a panel device that allows for the attachment of equipment while reducing the step between panels arranged adjacently in the first direction.

To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the panel device disclosed herein comprises a pair of ceiling substrates that are elongated in a first direction and spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; multiple panels that are arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction and whose second-direction ends are held by the pair of ceiling substrates; and a connecting member that is arranged across the adjacent first-direction ends of the panels and connects the first-direction ends together; the panels are provided with protrusions that protrude toward the under-ceiling side and extend in the first direction so as to define an equipment mounting groove that opens toward the interior and extends in the first direction, and the connecting member is provided with a fitting recess into which the protrusion fits.

The panel device disclosed herein has the above-described configuration, which allows for the attachment of equipment while reducing the step between panels arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction.

1 is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view schematically illustrating an example of a panel device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view, partially cut away, of the panel device. 1A is a partially cutaway schematic exploded perspective view of the panel device with a portion thereof omitted, and FIG. 1B is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view of the panel device with a portion thereof omitted. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic exploded plan view of the panel device, with a portion thereof omitted. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic exploded vertical cross-sectional view of the panel device. 1(a) to 1(c) are partially cutaway schematic vertical cross-sectional views.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
In some drawings, some of the detailed reference numerals used in other drawings are omitted.
In the following embodiment, directions such as the up-down direction will be described based on the state in which an example of a panel device according to this embodiment is installed.
1 to 6 are diagrams schematically showing an example of a panel device according to this embodiment and an example of a panel installation structure using the panel device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the panel device 1 of this embodiment includes a pair of frames 10, 10 that constitute a ceiling substrate and are elongated in a first direction and spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The panel device 1 includes equipment mounting panels 20, 20 that constitute multiple panels arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction, with each end 22, 22 in the second direction (see FIG. 6(a)) held by the pair of frames 10, 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the equipment mounting panel 20 has a protrusion 25 that protrudes toward the under-ceiling side and extends in the first direction to define an equipment mounting groove 29 that opens toward the indoor side and extends in the first direction. With this configuration, equipment can be mounted in the equipment mounting groove 29 on the indoor side of each equipment mounting panel 20.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the panel device 1 includes a connecting member 30 that straddles the first-direction ends 21 of adjacent equipment mounting panels 20 arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction and connects these first-direction ends 21 together. This configuration reduces the step between the equipment mounting panels 20 arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction using the connecting member 30. The connecting member 30 has a mating recess 31 into which the protrusions 25 of the equipment mounting panels 20 are fitted. Therefore, by fitting the protrusions 25 of the first-direction ends 21 of the equipment mounting panels 20 arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction into the mating recess 31 of the connecting member 30, the alignment of the connecting member 30 can be easily achieved and misalignment in the second direction between the equipment mounting panels 20 arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction can be suppressed. In other words, the protrusions 25, 25 of the equipment mounting panels 20, 20 serve both to define the equipment mounting grooves 29, 29 and to allow the connecting member 30 to fit into them.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the panel device 1 includes a spacing member 40 arranged to span a pair of frames 10. Each end (fixed piece) 41 of the spacing member 40 in the second direction is fixed to a location above (above the ceiling) the panel holders 15 that hold each end 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction. This configuration allows the spacing member 40 to maintain the distance between the pair of frames 10 in the second direction. By fixing each end 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction to the frames 10 on both sides, the equipment mounting panel 20 and the spacing member 40 can prevent the frames 10 from rotating around an axis along the longitudinal direction. An example of a specific configuration of the equipment mounting panel 20, connecting member 30, and spacing member 40 will be described later.

This panel device 1 may be installed as a ceiling for relatively small buildings such as residences and offices, or may be installed as a ceiling for various relatively large buildings such as gymnasiums, halls, shopping malls, factories, and schools.
In the illustrated example, ceiling panels 8, 8 are disposed on both sides of the equipment mounting panels 20, 20 in the second direction.
The ceiling panel 8 may be held by sills 7 arranged on both sides of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction at intervals in the first direction and extending in the second direction. The sills 7 may be held by sill supports 6 arranged parallel to the frame 10. The sill supports 6, sills 7, and ceiling panel 8 may be included in the panel device 1.
In the illustrated example, the ceiling panels 8, 8 on both sides of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction are supported by siding supports 6 arranged parallel to the frame 10 to form the ceiling base and are held by sidings 7 extending in the second direction. In other words, the sidings 7 and siding supports 6 that suspend the ceiling panel 8 and the frame 10 that suspends the equipment mounting panel 20 are not dependent on each other, and are, so to speak, installed separately.

The siding support 6 and the frame 10 may be held by hanging members 2 arranged at multiple locations spaced apart in the first and second directions. With this configuration, the frame 10 that holds the equipment mounting panel 20 can be held by a general hanging member 2 that holds the siding support 6. In other words, the hanging member 2 that holds the ceiling panel 8 and the hanging member 2 that holds the equipment mounting panel 20 can be a common part. The hanging member 2 may be provided in the panel device 1.
The suspension member 2 is equipped with suspension bolts 3 that are threaded into female threaded members such as inserts that are provided at multiple locations at intervals in the first and second directions on the upper layer slab or steel frame that serves as the suspension base, and that are arranged to extend in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. The suspension member 2 is equipped with hangers 4 that are held relative to the suspension bolts 3 so that their vertical positions can be adjusted.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the hanger 4 includes a retained piece portion having an insertion hole through which the suspension bolt 3 is inserted, and a hanging piece portion that hangs down from the retained piece portion. The hanger 4 includes a hooking piece 4a that bends upward from a bottom piece provided at the lower end of the hanging piece portion. When viewed in the first direction, the hanger 4 has a generally U-shaped (approximately C-shaped) opening upward. In the illustrated example, the upper end of the hooking piece 4a has a bent portion that narrows the opening, and a retaining protrusion is provided inside the bent portion. The upper end of the hooking piece 4a has an inclined shape that widens the opening. The hangers 4 are provided above and below the retained piece portion and are fixed to the suspension bolt 3 by being sandwiched by nuts threaded onto the suspension bolt 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6( a), some of the multiple hangers 4 are equipped with brace mounting brackets 5 to which the lower ends of braces (not shown) are attached.
The suspension member 2 including this hanger 4 is not limited to the above configuration, but may be a known suspension member used as a suspension member for the ceiling substructure of a suspended ceiling, or may have various other configurations.

The soffit supports 6 are elongated in the first direction and arranged at multiple locations at intervals in the second direction to form a steel ceiling substructure (lightweight ceiling substructure). The soffit supports 6 may be channel-shaped with a horizontal opening. The soffit supports 6 are attached to the hangers 4 by being inserted through the upper openings of the hangers 4 with the elastic deformation of the hooking pieces 4a, and may be secured with fasteners such as screws. The vertical dimension from the bottom piece of the hanger 4 to the retaining protrusion is approximately the same as the vertical dimension of the soffit support 6. The vertical dimension between the hanging piece of the hanger 4 and the lower end portion of the hooking piece 4a is approximately the same as the vertical dimension of the soffit support 6. The steel ceiling substructure may also include a soffit support joint that joins adjacent soffit supports 6, 6 in the first direction.

The rafters 7 are arranged in multiple locations, elongated in the second direction and spaced apart in the first direction, to form a steel ceiling substructure (lightweight ceiling substructure). The rafters 7 are arranged on both sides of the area where the equipment mounting panel 20 is to be installed in the second direction and, if necessary, on at least one of both sides in the first direction, so as to surround the area where the equipment mounting panel 20 is to be installed. In other words, the equipment mounting panel 20 is held in place of the rafters 7 by a frame 10 installed in an area where no rafters 7 are installed. The rafters 7 may be channel-shaped and open upward, or may have lips formed at the top ends of both side walls. The rafters 7 may be held to the rafter support 6 via known clips, as appropriate. The steel ceiling substructure may also have rafter joints that join adjacent rafters 7, 7 in the second direction. Instead of such a joist 7, the ceiling base that holds the ceiling panel 8 can be a so-called T-bar, which has a flange at its lower end on which the end of the ceiling panel 8 rests.

The ceiling panel 8 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view (seen in the thickness direction). In the illustrated example, the first direction of the ceiling panel 8 is the panel width direction, and the second direction is the panel length direction.
Each end of the ceiling panel 8 in the first direction is held by the rafters 7, 7 spaced apart in the first direction. Each end of the ceiling panel 8 in the first direction may be directly fixed to the rafters 7, 7 with fasteners such as screws, or may be fixed to the rafters 7, 7 via fixing members or hooking members attached to each end of the ceiling panel 8 in the first direction. The dimension of the ceiling panel 8 in the first direction, i.e., the width dimension, may correspond to the pitch of the rafters 7, 7 and may be, for example, approximately 300 mm to 1200 mm. The dimension of the ceiling panel 8 in the second direction, i.e., the length dimension, may be, for example, approximately 600 mm to 2000 mm. The thickness dimension of the ceiling panel 8 may be, for example, approximately 3.0 mm to 20.0 mm.

The frame 10 is suspended and held by the hanging member 2. The frame 10 includes a suspended portion 11 having insertion holes 14 (see FIG. 1 ) for receiving the hook pieces 4a of the hanging member 2 at multiple locations spaced apart in the first direction. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6( a), the frame 10 includes a panel holding portion 15 that is connected to the suspended portion 11 and holds the end 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction. The pair of frames 10, 10 have the same configuration, and therefore, an example of the specific configuration will be described below using one of the frames 10 as an example.
The frame 10 is disposed between the rafters 7, 7 that are disposed facing each other at a distance in the second direction, and with its longitudinal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rafters 7. The frame 10 has a generally uniform shape over its entire length. The length of the frame 10 may be an integer multiple of the length of the equipment mounting panel 20. For example, the length of the frame 10 and the length of the equipment mounting panel 20 may be approximately the same.

The insertion hole 14 of the frame 10 is an elongated hole extending in the first direction so that the hooking position of the hook piece 4a can be adjusted in the first direction. The minor axis of the insertion hole 14 along the second direction corresponds to the thickness of the hook piece 4a, whose thickness direction is the second direction. The minor axis of the insertion hole 14 is an appropriate dimension so that the anti-detachment protrusion provided on the hook piece 4a can be inserted therethrough.
The suspended portion 11 of the frame 10 is provided with a hooked piece 13 having an insertion hole 14. The hooked piece 13 is generally strip-shaped and arranged with its thickness direction aligned vertically. The insertion hole 14 is formed by penetrating the hooked piece 13 in the thickness direction. The width dimension of the hooked piece 13 in the second direction may be an appropriate dimension so that the insertion hole 14 can be formed and from the perspective of weight reduction, etc.

The suspended portion 11 is provided with a fixing piece 12 that rises from the outer edge of the hooked piece 13 in the second direction and is fixed to the hanger 4. The fixing piece 12 is generally strip-shaped and disposed so that its thickness direction is in the second direction. An upper end piece is provided at the upper end of the fixing piece 12, protruding toward the opposite side in the second direction (the center side of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction, and the inner side in the second direction). The upper end piece is generally strip-shaped and disposed so that its thickness direction is in the up-and-down direction.
The suspended part 11, which includes the upper end piece, fixed piece 12, and hooked piece 13, is shaped like a channel steel that opens sideways. The vertical dimension of the suspended part 11 is approximately the same as the vertical dimension of the soffit support 6. The dimension of the hooked piece 13 from the fixed piece 12 to the insertion hole 14 in the second direction and the dimension of the upper end piece in the same direction are approximately the same as the dimensions of the lower end piece and upper end piece of the soffit support 6 in the same direction. In other words, the upper end piece, fixed piece 12, and the section of the suspended part 11 up to the insertion hole 14 of the hooked piece 13 are approximately the same size and shape as the soffit support 6 so that it can be suspended by the same hanging member 2 as the soffit support 6.

5 and 6(a), the panel holding portion 15 of the frame 10 includes a mounting piece 17 that constitutes a mounting portion on which the second-direction end 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 is placed. The mounting piece 17 is generally strip-shaped and arranged so that its thickness direction is the up-down direction. The width dimension of the mounting piece 17 along the second direction may be an appropriate dimension so that the second-direction end 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 can be placed.
The panel holding portion 15 is provided so as to rise from the placing piece portion 17 and has a rising piece portion 16 arranged so as to face the end portion 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction. This rising piece portion 16 faces the end portion 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction and constitutes a fixing piece portion through which a fastener for fixing the equipment mounting panel 20 passes. With this configuration, the equipment mounting panel 20 can be fixed to the frame 10 via the fastener. The hook piece portion 13 described above is provided so as to extend outward in the second direction from the upper end of this rising piece portion 16.

The rising piece 16 is provided to rise from the edge of the mounting piece 17 on the outside in the second direction (on the outside in the second direction of the equipment mounting panel 20) and is generally strip-shaped with its thickness direction aligned with the second direction. In other words, the mounting piece portions 17 are provided to protrude in directions facing each other from the lower end edges of the rising piece portions 16 of the pair of frames 10 arranged with a gap in the second direction.
The width dimension of this rising piece portion 16 in the vertical direction may be an appropriate dimension so that the fasteners that secure the equipment mounting panel 20 can pass through, and may be larger than the thickness dimension of the equipment mounting panel 20 (the thickness dimension of the outer shape).
6(a), the frame 10 is provided with extension pieces 19 that extend into the room and face the end faces 8a of the ceiling panels 8 on both sides in the second direction. With this configuration, the end faces 8a of the ceiling panels 8 arranged on both sides of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction can be made less noticeable by the extension pieces 19 of each frame 10.

The extension piece 19 is provided so as to hang down from the edge of the support piece 17 on the side opposite to the second direction, and is generally strip-shaped with its thickness direction aligned with the second direction. The end of the ceiling panel 8 on the extension piece 19 side is positioned below the support piece 17 (on the room side).
The thickness of this extension piece 19 may be an appropriate dimension from the viewpoints of strength and weight reduction, or may be the same thickness as the mounting piece portion 17. The width of this extension piece 19 in the vertical direction may be an appropriate dimension so that the end surface 8a of the opposing ceiling panel 8 is less noticeable, or from the viewpoint of weight reduction, etc. The width of this extension piece 19 in the vertical direction may be an appropriate dimension so that the lower end of the extension piece 19 is positioned approximately at the same height as or lower than the underside (indoor side) of the ceiling panel 8. This extension piece 19 is provided over the entire length of the mounting piece portion 17.
The frame 10 may be made of steel, similar to the siding 7 and siding support 6, which are formed from various metallic materials. Although the frame 10 is shown as having the fixing piece 12, the hook piece 13, the rising piece 16, the placing piece 17, and the extension piece 19, any of these may be omitted.

As shown in Figures 3(a), 4, and 5, a wiring duct 34 is inserted into the equipment mounting groove 29 of the equipment mounting panel 20 so that both ends in the first direction are positioned at both ends of the equipment mounting groove 29 in the first direction. This configuration allows various devices, such as lighting equipment, to be mounted at any position in the first direction relative to the wiring duct 34 mounted in the equipment mounting groove 29. Furthermore, because a single wiring duct 34 is mounted in the equipment mounting groove 29 of a single equipment mounting panel 20, maintainability is improved compared to a configuration in which a single wiring duct 34 is mounted across multiple equipment mounting panels 20. Furthermore, it is easy to align the equipment mounting panel 20 with the wiring duct 34 and to provide a temporary holding function for the wiring duct 34 on the equipment mounting panel 20, improving workability during installation. This configuration is also expected to prevent the total power consumption of multiple devices mounted on a single wiring duct 34 from becoming excessive.

The connecting member 30 has an opening 33 that connects the indoor side to the under-the-ceiling side via a wiring insertion portion 28 provided in the protrusion 25 of the equipment mounting panel 20. With this configuration, various cords such as a power cord, earth wire, and communication line on the under-the-ceiling side can be connected to the wiring duct 34 via the opening 33 and the wiring insertion portion 28. The periphery of the wiring insertion portion 28 provided on the equipment mounting panel 20 can also be reinforced by the connecting member 30.
Of the first-direction end portions 21, 21 of two equipment mounting panels 20, 20 arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction, a wiring insertion portion 28 is provided only at the end portion 21 of one of the equipment mounting panels 20, opening toward the end portion 21 of the other equipment mounting panel 20. In other words, the wiring insertion portion 28 is provided only at one end portion (first end portion) 21A of the end portions 21, 21 adjacent to each other in the first direction, and no wiring insertion portion is provided at the other end portion (second end portion) 21B. This configuration eliminates the need for a wiring insertion portion at the second end portion 21B compared to a configuration in which wiring insertion portions are provided at both the first end portion 21A and the second end portion 21B of the two equipment mounting panels 20, 20, thereby improving processability. Furthermore, although the wiring insertion portion 28 is provided in a notch shape at the first end portion 21A, the periphery of the notch can be reinforced by the connecting member 30.

Specifically, the equipment mounting panel 20 has a generally rectangular flat plate shape that is elongated in the first direction. The length of this equipment mounting panel 20 in the first direction may be, for example, approximately 600 mm to 2000 mm. In the illustrated example, the length of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the first direction is approximately twice the width of the ceiling panel 8 in the first direction (see Figures 1 and 2). The width of this equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction may be, for example, approximately 150 mm to 600 mm. The illustrated example shows an example in which another panel material 9 that has approximately the same width as the equipment mounting panel 20 and does not have a protrusion 25 or the like is provided on one side in the first direction of multiple equipment mounting panels 20 adjacent in the first direction, but this example is not limited to this.

Each end 22, 22 in the second direction of this equipment mounting panel 20 and one of the mounting pieces 17, 17 of the above-mentioned frames 10, 10 are provided with an engagement recess 23, 23 into which the engagement protrusion 18, 18 provided on the other end is inserted. With this configuration, by inserting the engagement protrusion 18 into the engagement recess 23, the equipment mounting panel 20 can prevent the pair of frames 10, 10 suspended and held by the hanging members 2, 2 from moving apart. With movement thus prevented, the equipment mounting panel 20 can be fixed to the pair of frames 10, 10, as described below, thereby improving workability. Furthermore, the equipment mounting panel 20, which is temporarily held by being placed on the mounting pieces 17, 17, can be prevented from unintentionally falling.

In the illustrated example, engagement recesses 23 are provided at each end 22 in the second direction of the equipment mounting panel 20, penetrating the thickness direction, and engagement protrusions 18 are provided on the mounting pieces 17. As shown in FIG. 5, the engagement protrusion 18 of the mounting piece 17 is provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of a portion of the mounting piece 17 midway in the second direction. These engagement protrusions 18 are provided at multiple locations spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the frame 10. These engagement protrusions 18 are generally flat, with the thickness direction being the second direction, and are provided so as to extend in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the frame 10. These engagement protrusions 18 may be provided in the mounting piece 17 in a bent shape.

As shown in FIG. 4, the engagement recesses 23 are elongated in the first direction. These engagement recesses 23 are provided at multiple locations spaced apart in the first direction so as to correspond to the engagement protrusions 18 of the frame 10. The illustrated example shows an example in which recesses are provided at each end 21, 21 in the first direction, opening outward in the first direction and constituting the engagement recess 23 together with similar recesses provided in the adjacent equipment mounting panel 20. Instead of providing the engagement protrusions 18 on the mounting piece 17 of the frame 10 and the engagement recesses 23 on the equipment mounting panel 20, these may be provided on opposite sides. That is, the configuration may include an engagement recess on the mounting piece 17 of the frame 10 and an engagement protrusion on the equipment mounting panel 20. Furthermore, a configuration without such engagement protrusions or engagement recesses may also be used.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5 and 6(a), fixing pieces 24, 24 that are fixed to the frames 10 on both sides are provided along the entire length of the equipment mounting panel 20 at each end 22, 22 in the second direction. These fixing pieces 24, 24 are provided so as to protrude upward from the edge of each end 22, 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 in the second direction, and are generally flat plates arranged so that their thickness direction is in the second direction. These fixing pieces 24, 24 are arranged so as to extend along the inside of the upright pieces 16, 16 of the frames 10, 10 in the second direction. The equipment mounting panel 20 is fixed to the frames 10, 10 by fasteners that pass through the fixing pieces 24, 24 from the outside of the upright pieces 16, 16 in the second direction and fasten them. That is, by fixing the equipment mounting panel 20 to the pair of frames 10 , the pair of frames 10 are connected by the equipment mounting panel 20 .
The protruding dimension (dimension along the vertical direction) of these fixed pieces 24, 24 is smaller than the dimension along the vertical direction of the standing pieces 16, 16.

The protrusion 25 is provided over the entire length of the center in the second direction of the equipment mounting panel 20. In other words, the equipment mounting groove 29 is also provided over the entire length of the center in the second direction of the equipment mounting panel 20. The equipment mounting groove 29 has a rectangular groove shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the groove.
The protrusion 25 of the equipment mounting panel 20 has flat plate-like portions on both sides in the second direction, with the thickness direction aligned vertically. The protrusion 25 includes side pieces that protrude upward from the inner edges of the flat plate-like portions on both sides in the second direction and define both sides of the equipment mounting groove 29 in the groove width direction, and a groove bottom piece that connects the side pieces and defines the groove bottom of the equipment mounting groove 29. The upper surface of the protrusion 25 is generally flush with the upper end surfaces of the fixing pieces 24, 24. A temporary holding portion 26 that temporarily holds the wiring duct 34 is provided at a longitudinal midpoint of the protrusion 25 (e.g., approximately the longitudinal center). In the illustrated example, the temporary holding portion 26 is a bolt that is threaded into a nut-shaped female thread provided on the upper surface of the protrusion 25.
The side pieces and groove bottom piece of this protrusion 25, as well as the flat plate-like portions and fixing pieces 24, 24 on both sides in the second direction, are thin plates of the same thickness. The thickness of each portion of the equipment mounting panel 20 may be an appropriate dimension from the standpoints of weight reduction and strength, and may be, for example, approximately 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm. The engaging recesses 23, 23, fixing pieces 24, 24, and protrusion 25 of this equipment mounting panel 20 may be formed by appropriate bending, press working, punching, etc.

3( a) and 4, the wiring insertion portion 28 is provided so as to penetrate in the up-down direction at the first end portion 21A and open outward in the first direction. This wiring insertion portion 28 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the up-down direction. The outer opening edge of this wiring insertion portion 28 in the first direction is formed by the second end portion 21B of the equipment mounting panel 20 arranged adjacent to the equipment mounting panel 20 in which the wiring insertion portion 28 is provided.
In the illustrated example, the wiring insertion portion 28 is provided by cutting out the groove bottom piece and the groove bottom portions (upper portions) of the both side pieces of the protrusion 25 of the first end portion 21A. The wiring insertion portion 28 is provided only at the first end portion 21A, which is the end portion 21 on one side in the first direction of the equipment mounting panel 20, and is not provided at the second end portion 21B, which is the end portion 21 on the other side in the first direction.
The dimensions of the wiring insertion portion 28 along the first direction and the second direction may be set to appropriate dimensions so that a cord connected to the wiring duct 34 can be inserted therethrough.

The fitting recess 31 of the connecting member 30 is formed in a groove shape that opens downward and extends over the entire length of the connecting member 30 in the first direction. The connecting member 30 includes a groove bottom piece that abuts against the groove bottom piece of the protrusion 25 and defines the groove bottom of the fitting recess 31, and side pieces that abut against the side pieces of the protrusion 25 and define both sides of the fitting recess 31 in the groove width direction. The thickness dimensions of the groove bottom piece and the side pieces of the connecting member 30 may be set to an appropriate dimension from the perspectives of weight reduction and strength, and may be, for example, approximately 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.
On both sides of the opening 33 of the connecting member 30 in the first direction, fixing portions 32 are provided. The fixing portions 32 are fixed to the respective first-direction end portions 21 of two equipment mounting panels 20 adjacent to each other in the first direction. The fixing portions 32 on both sides in the first direction have the same dimension along the first direction. That is, the dimension from the outer edge of the connecting member 30 on one side in the first direction to the one first-direction edge of the opening 33 is the same as the dimension from the outer edge of the connecting member 30 on the other side in the first direction to the other first-direction edge of the opening 33. This configuration allows the fixing portions 32 of the connecting member 30 to be fixed to either side of the respective first-direction end portions 21 of two equipment mounting panels 20 adjacent to each other in the first direction, thereby improving the attachability of the connecting member 30.

The opening 33 of the connecting member 30 is provided so as to penetrate in the up-down direction through the central portion of the connecting member 30 in the first direction. This opening 33 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the up-down direction. In the illustrated example, the opening 33 is formed by cutting out the groove bottom piece at the central portion of the connecting member 30 in the first direction and the groove bottom side portions (upper portions) of the both side pieces.
The dimension of this opening 33 in the first direction is the same as the dimension of the wiring insertion portion 28 in the first direction. With this configuration, by aligning one of the first direction side edges of the opening 33 of the connecting member 30 with one of the first direction side edges of the wiring insertion portion 28, the positioning of the connecting member 30 with respect to the equipment mounting panels 20, 20 can be easily performed.

The fixing portions 32, 32 on both sides of the opening 33 in the first direction are fastened with fasteners such as screws that secure the connecting member 30 to adjacent equipment mounting panels 20, 20 from the indoor side. The first end 21A and the second end 21B of the equipment mounting panels 20, 20 adjacent in the first direction are provided with fixed portions 27, 27 to which the fixing portions 32, 32 of the connecting member 30 are respectively fixed. Each fixed portion 27, 27 is provided with an insertion hole through which the shank of the fastener is inserted. The illustrated example shows an example in which multiple (two in the illustrated example) insertion holes are provided in each of the first end 21A and the second end 21B so as to penetrate the groove bottom pieces of the protrusions 25, 25 and be spaced apart in the first direction.
The fixing portions 32, 32 are provided with fastener attachment portions that are positioned in accordance with the insertion holes. These fastener attachment portions may be female threads or pilot holes or the like.
The dimensions of these fixing portions 32, 32 along the first direction may be set to an appropriate dimension so that they can be fixed to the equipment mounting panels 20, 20 with fasteners and from the standpoint of the strength of the connecting member 30 itself. The connecting member 30 and the equipment mounting panel 20 may be formed from various metallic materials.

The wiring duct 34 is elongated in a first direction and has a rail shape. As shown in Fig. 5, the wiring duct 34 is provided with a receiving groove 35 that receives plugs of various devices such as lighting fixtures and holds them at any position in the longitudinal direction. The receiving groove 35 is provided so as to open downward and extend over the entire length of the wiring duct 34. A pair of electrodes 37, 37 that are connected to an external power source and supply power to the device are provided on both sides of the receiving groove 35 in the groove width direction and extend in the longitudinal direction.
4, a temporarily held portion 36 that is temporarily held by the temporary holding portion 26 is provided at a midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the wiring duct 34. In the illustrated example, the temporarily held portion 36 is a potbellied hole that has a large diameter portion through which the head of the bolt-shaped temporary holding portion 26 can be inserted and a small diameter portion through which the shaft of the temporary holding portion 26 can be inserted, and these portions are connected in the longitudinal direction of the wiring duct 34. The wiring duct 34 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes at intervals in the longitudinal direction, through which fasteners can be inserted.

A wiring duct connection member (feed-in cap) 38 that supplies power to the electrode portions 37, 37 of the wiring duct 34 is attached to a first end portion on one longitudinal side of the wiring duct 34. The wiring duct connection member 38 is provided with an insertion portion that is inserted into the receiving groove 35 of the wiring duct 34 and has terminals and the like that are electrically connected to the electrode portions 37, 37, and a cover and the like that has an outer shape similar to the outer shape of the wiring duct 34. Although not shown, a cord connection portion is provided at a portion of the wiring duct connection member 38 that is exposed to the ceiling space through the wiring insertion portion 28 and the opening 33.
An end cap 39 is attached to the second end of the wiring duct 34 on the other side in the longitudinal direction.

The length of the duct body, with the wiring duct connecting members 38 and end caps 39 attached to both ends of the wiring duct 34, is approximately the same as the length of the equipment mounting panel 20 along the first direction. In other words, when the duct body is attached to the equipment mounting groove 29 of the equipment mounting panel 20, each longitudinal end face of the duct body and each longitudinal end face of the equipment mounting panel 20 are approximately flush with each other. The above-mentioned potbellied hole-shaped temporary retaining portion 36 is arranged so that, with the shaft portion of the temporary retaining portion 26 positioned in its small diameter portion, each longitudinal end face of the duct body and each longitudinal end face of the equipment mounting panel 20 are approximately flush with each other. All or at least one of the wiring duct 34, wiring duct connecting members 38, and end caps 39 that make up this duct body may be provided by the panel device 1. The wiring ducts 34 attached to the equipment mounting grooves 29 of the equipment mounting panels 20 are not limited to a configuration in which the length is approximately the same as the length of the equipment mounting panels 20 and there is a one-to-one correspondence. For example, multiple wiring ducts 34 may be attached to one equipment mounting panel 20, or one wiring duct 34 may be attached across multiple equipment mounting panels 20. The equipment attached to the equipment mounting grooves 29 of the equipment mounting panels 20 is not limited to such duct bodies (wiring ducts 34), and various other equipment may also be used.

1, the spacing member 40 is disposed so as to be located above the end portions 21, 21 in the first direction that are adjacent to the equipment mounting panels 20, 20 that are disposed adjacent to each other in the first direction. The spacing member 40 is elongated in the second direction.
The lower surfaces of the second end portions of the main body of this spacing member 40, which is approximately rectangular and flat when viewed in a plane, abut against the upper surfaces of the upper end pieces of the suspended parts 11, 11 of each frame 10, 10 (see also Figure 6).
5 and 6, fixed pieces 41, 41 are provided at each end of the spacing member 40 in the second direction so as to hang down outside the fixing pieces 12, 12 of each frame 10, 10 in the second direction. These fixed pieces 41, 41 are generally flat plates whose thickness direction is in the second direction.

These fixed pieces 41, 41 are arranged along the outer surfaces of the fixing pieces 12, 12 of each frame 10, 10 in the second direction. Fasteners passing through these fixed pieces 41, 41 are fastened to the fixing pieces 12, 12 of each frame 10, 10, thereby securing the spacing member 40 to the frame 10, 10. As described above, the frame 10 is configured with a panel holding portion 15 on the opposite side of the suspended portion 11 suspended from the hanger 4 in the second direction (the second-direction center side of the equipment mounting panel 20). Therefore, the weight of each frame 10, 10, tends to cause the extension pieces 19, 19 of both frames 10, 10 to open outward in the second direction. As shown in Figure 6(b), when the fasteners are not fastened, a gap is formed between the fixing pieces 12 of the frame 10 and the fixed pieces 41 of the spacing member 40. With this configuration, as shown in Figure 6(c), by fastening the fastener to the fixed piece 12 of the frame 10 via the fixed piece 41 of the spacing member 40, the fixed piece 12 can be pulled toward the fixed piece 41. This prevents the extension piece 19 from opening outward in the second direction.

This spacing member 40 has a hanging piece 42 that hangs down from one edge of its main body in the first direction. This hanging piece 42 is provided over substantially the entire second direction of the main body so that a space is formed between each end of the hanging piece 42 in the second direction and the fixed piece portions 41 on both sides of it to receive the upper ends of the suspended parts 11. The tip surfaces of the upper end pieces of each frame 10 are adjacent to each end of the hanging piece 42 in the second direction. This spacing member 40 may be formed from an appropriate metallic material. A configuration without such a spacing member 40 is also possible.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the panel device 1 may include temporary connection members 43 that temporarily connect the frames 10, 10 adjacent to each other in the first direction.
This temporary connection member 43 is attached so as to engage with each of the suspended parts 11, 11 of frames 10, 10 adjacent in the first direction. This temporary connection member 43 may be provided with an inner portion arranged along the inner side in the second direction of fixing piece portions 12, 12 of suspended parts 11, 11, and an outer portion arranged along the outer side in the second direction of fixing piece portions 12, 12. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which such temporary connection member 43 is not provided.

When installing the panel device 1 configured as described above, the hook pieces 4a of the hangers 4 of the hanging members 2 provided at the installation location of the equipment mounting panel 20 are inserted into the insertion holes 14 of the frame 10 to attach the frame 10 to the hangers 4. Then, the height of the pair of frames 10, 10 provided to extend in the first direction on both sides of the second direction is adjusted. At this time, the height of the siding supports 6 may also be adjusted so that the height difference between the frame 10 and the siding supports 6 that hold the siding 7 that form the ceiling base of the ceiling panel 8 installed around the installation location of the equipment mounting panel 20 is an appropriate dimension. Furthermore, adjacent frames 10, 10 in the first direction may be connected by temporary connecting members 43.
Then, the second direction ends 22, 22 of the equipment mounting panel 20 are placed on the mounting pieces 17, 17 of the frames 10, 10 on both sides in the second direction, and the fixing pieces 24, 24 are fixed to the upright pieces 16, 16 of the frames 10, 10.

Furthermore, the equipment mounting panels 20, 20 adjacent in the first direction are connected by the connecting member 30 with the fixing portions 32, 32 fixed to the fixed portions 27, 27 thereof.
Furthermore, the spacing member 40 may be fixed to the frames 10, 10 on both sides in the second direction so as to bridge between the frames 10, 10 on both sides in the second direction.
After the final height is confirmed, the hangers 4 and brace fixtures 5 may be fixed to the frame 10 with fasteners such as screws, and braces may be attached as needed. The ceiling panel 8 and panel materials 9 may be installed so as to surround a predetermined number of equipment mounting panels 20. Various types of equipment, such as appropriate wiring ducts 34, may also be attached to the equipment mounting panels 20. The above-described installation procedure for the panel device 1 is merely an example, and various other modifications are possible.

In the above example, the dimensions of the fixing portions 32, 32 on both sides of the connecting member 30 along the first direction are the same, but they may be different dimensions.
In the above example, a wiring insertion portion 28 is provided only at the end portion 21 of one of the first direction end portions 21, 21 of the two equipment mounting panels 20, 20, but it is also possible to provide a wiring insertion portion 28 at both end portions 21, 21.
In the above example, the connecting member 30 is provided with the opening 33 corresponding to the wiring insertion portion 28 of the equipment mounting panel 20, but it may be configured not to have such an opening 33. In this case, the wiring insertion portion 28 of the equipment mounting panel 20 may be provided in another position that is not covered by the connecting member 30.
The components constituting the panel device 1 are not limited to the above-described configuration, and various other modifications are possible.

1 Panel device 10 Frame (ceiling base)
15 Panel holding portion 20 Equipment mounting panel (panel)
21 End portion in first direction 22 End portion in second direction 25 Protrusion 28 Wiring insertion portion 29 Device mounting groove 30 Connection member 31 Fitting recess 32 Fixing portion 33 Opening 34 Wiring duct 40 Spacing member 41 Fixed piece portion (end portion in second direction)

Claims (6)

The system comprises a pair of ceiling substructures that are elongated in a first direction and spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a plurality of panels whose ends in the second direction are held by the pair of ceiling substructures and that are arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction, and a connecting member that is arranged across the ends in the first direction of the panels that are adjacent to each other and connects the ends in the first direction to each other,
A panel device characterized in that the panel has a protrusion that protrudes toward the ceiling and extends in a first direction so as to define an equipment mounting groove that opens toward the inside of the room and extends in a first direction, and the connecting member has a mating recess into which the protrusion fits. In claim 1,
A panel device characterized in that a wiring duct is inserted into the equipment mounting groove and mounted so that both ends in the first direction are positioned at both ends in the first direction of the equipment mounting groove. In claim 2,
A panel device characterized in that the connecting member has an opening that connects the indoor side and the ceiling side through a wiring insertion portion provided in the protrusion of the panel. In claim 3,
A panel device characterized in that the wiring insertion portion is provided only at the first-direction end of one of two panels arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction, and so as to open toward the first-direction end of the other panel. In claim 3 or 4,
A panel device characterized in that fixing portions are provided on both sides of the opening in the first direction of the connecting member, which are fixed to each end in the first direction of two panels arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction, and the dimensions along the first direction of the fixing portions on both sides of the first direction are the same. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
A panel device characterized by having a spacing retaining member arranged to span the pair of ceiling substrates, and each end in the second direction of the panel being fixed to a position above the panel retaining portion that holds each end in the second direction of the panel on the pair of ceiling substrates.