Ceiling panel structure for a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus or the like Number:6,802,361 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Ceiling panel structure for a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus or the like

Abstract: A ceiling panel structure (10, 310) is mounted on a ceiling surface (201) downstream of an air-outlet (211) of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus (indoor unit) (200) having an air-inlet (210) at a central portion and the conditioning air-outlet (211) at a peripheral portion. The ceiling panel structure minimizes the smudging of the ceiling surface, and is applicable even to the pre-mounted or existing air-conditioning apparatus. The ceiling panel structure (10, 310) can be mounted on the ceiling surface (201) outside of the air-conditioning apparatus (200), and has a deflection induction portion (47, 347) substantially rigid against the airflow to deflect a part (S1, S2) of the conditioning air blown out through the air-outlet (211) of the air-conditioning apparatus (200) back to the room air-inlet (210). The ceiling panel structure (10, 310) includes, typically, a base member (20, 320) mounted on the ceiling 201, and a cover member (40, 340) attached to the base member (20, 320) and having portions such as the deflection induction portion (47, 347).

Patent Number: 6,802,361 Issued on 10/12/2004 to Hatanaka

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Inventors:	Hatanaka; Iwayoshi (Chiba, JP)
Assignee:	Air Techno Company Limited (Chiba, JP)
Appl. No.:	09/873,346
Filed:	June 5, 2001

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Foreign Application Priority Data

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Jun 22, 2000 [JP]			2000-187145
Feb 21, 2001 [JP]			2001-045391

Current U.S. Class:	165/53 ; 165/54; 454/248
Field of Search:	165/53,57,54,56 454/233,313,237,241,243,245,248

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References Cited [Referenced By]

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U.S. Patent Documents

	3768395		October 1973		Rick
	3791281		February 1974		Steiner
	3945306		March 1976		Brown
	4672888		June 1987		Crombie et al.
	4821628		April 1989		Sarazen, Jr. et al.
	5487766		January 1996		Vannier
	5569078		October 1996		Kirkpatrick
	5577958		November 1996		Kumekawa et al.
	5595068		January 1997		Amr
	5810658		September 1998		Seo
	6030287		February 2000		Core
	6089972		July 2000		Gunji et al.
	6250373		June 2001		Vecchi et al.
	6263632		July 2001		Cadorette
	6345667		February 2002		Hata et al.
	6386970		May 2002		Vernier, II et al.
	6450880		September 2002		Asahina et al.
	RE37985		February 2003		Felsen

Foreign Patent Documents

	1 003 002		May., 2000		EP
	62-120151		Jul., 1987		JP
	62-194128		Aug., 1987		JP
	1-217141		Aug., 1989		JP
	7-12847		Mar., 1995		JP
	7-324802		Dec., 1995		JP
	8-94160		Apr., 1996		JP
	8-100942		Apr., 1996		JP
	08-261552		Oct., 1996		JP
	8-313042		Nov., 1996		JP
	9-222237		Aug., 1997		JP

Primary Examiner: Ciric; Ljiljana
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack L.L.P.

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Claims

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What is claimed is:

1. A ceiling panel structure to be mounted to a ceiling surface downstream of an air outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, the air-conditioning unit having a central air inlet and having the air outlet arranged at a periphery of the air inlet, said ceiling panel structure comprising: a plurality of linear panels, each of said linear panels including: a base member having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite said first side surface, said base member to be mounted to the ceiling surface so as to extend along a corresponding linear side edge of the air-conditioning unit with said first side surface against the ceiling surface, said base member having an engaging portion at said second side surface, and having an adjustable length and width; and a cover member having an adjustable length, having an engaging portion for engaging said engaging portion of said base member so as to fix said cover member to said base member, and having a substantially rigid deflection induction portion for deflecting a portion of the conditioned air discharged from the air outlet of the air-conditioning unit back toward the air inlet of the air-conditioning unit; and a plurality of corner panels, each of said corner panels being operable to engage ends of adjacent linear panels when positioned between said ends of said adjacent linear panels.

2. The ceiling panel structure of claim 1, wherein each of said corner panels includes a base member having engaging portions, and includes a cover member having engaging projections for engaging said engaging portions of said base member so as to fix said cover member to said base member.

3. A ceiling panel structure to be mounted to a ceiling surface downstream of a periphery of an air outlet of a ceiling-mounted conditioning-air-discharge apparatus, the air outlet being arranged at the ceiling surface, said ceiling panel structure comprising: a plurality of linear panels, each of said linear panels including: a base member having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite said first side surface, said base member to be mounted to the ceiling surface so as to extend along a corresponding linear side edge of the conditioning-air-discharge apparatus with said first side surface against the ceiling surface, said base member having an engaging portion at said second side surface, and having an adjustable length and width; and a cover member having an adjustable length, having an engaging portion for engaging said engaging portion of said base member so as to fix said cover member to said base member, and having a substantially rigid deflection induction portion for deflecting a portion of the conditioned air discharged from the air outlet of the conditioning-air-discharge apparatus away from the ceiling surface; and a plurality of corner panels, each of said corner panels being operable to engage ends of adjacent linear panels when positioned between said ends of said adjacent linear panels.

4. The ceiling panel structure of claim 1, wherein each of said corner panels includes a base member having engaging portions, and includes a cover member having engaging projections for engaging said engaging portions of said base member so as to fix said cover member to said base member.

5. A ceiling panel structure comprising: a plurality of linear panels to be mounted to a ceiling surface at a periphery of an air-conditioning outlet, each of said linear panels including: a base member having a first side surface to face the ceiling surface and a second side surface opposite said first side surface, said base member having an engaging portion at said second side surface, and having an adjustable length and width; and a cover member having an adjustable length, having an engaging portion for engaging said engaging portion of said base member so as to fix said cover member to said base member, and having a substantially rigid deflection induction portion for deflecting a portion of the conditioned air discharged from the air outlet away from the ceiling surface; and a plurality of corner panels, each of said corner panels being operable to engage ends of adjacent linear panels when positioned between said ends of said adjacent linear panels.

6. The ceiling panel structure of claim 5, wherein each of said corner panels includes a base member having engaging portions, and includes a cover member having engaging projections for engaging said engaging portions of said base member so as to fix said cover member to said base member.

7. A ceiling panel structure to be mounted to a ceiling surface downstream of an air outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, the air-conditioning unit having a central air inlet and having the air outlet arranged at a periphery of the air inlet, said ceiling panel structure comprising: at least one panel to be mounted to the ceiling surface at an outer periphery of the air outlet of the air-conditioning unit, each of said at least one panel including an inner edge to be disposed adjacent to the air outlet, an outer edge opposite said inner edge, and a substantially rigid deflection induction portion protruding at said outer edge, said deflection induction portion being configured so as to deflect a portion of the conditioned air discharged toward said deflection induction portion from the air outlet back toward the said inner edge.

8. The ceiling panel structure of claim 7, wherein each of said at least one panel includes: a base member having a first side surface to be mounted against the ceiling surface, having a second side surface opposite said first side surface, and having an engaging portion at said second side surface; and a cover member having an engaging portion for engaging said engaging portion of said base member so as to fix said cover member to said base member, said deflection induction portion being formed on said cover member.

9. The ceiling panel structure of claim 8, wherein said base member of each of said at least one panel comprises a corner base member to be mounted to the ceiling surface at a peripheral edge of a corner of the air-conditioning unit, and said cover member of each of said at least one panel comprises a linear cover member having a longitudinal end to be engaged with said corner base member and having an adjustable length, said at least one panel further including a corner cover member to be engaged with said corner base member adjacent to said longitudinal end of said linear cover member.

10. The ceiling panel structure of claim 8, wherein said cover member of each of said at least one panel further has a flow-resistance projection portion formed upstream of said deflection induction portion with respect to the airflow from the air outlet, said projection portion being configured to resist airflow from the air outlet so as to reduce a flow rate of the airflow from the air outlet.

11. The ceiling panel structure of claim 8, wherein said base member and said cover member of each of said at least one panel is formed of plastic material.

12. The ceiling panel structure of claim 8, wherein said base member and said cover member of each of said at least one panel is formed of substantially opaque material.

13. The ceiling panel structure of claim 8, wherein said base member of each of said at least one panel comprises a linear base member to be mounted to the ceiling surface so as to extend along at least one linear side edge of the air-conditioning unit, said linear base member having at least one of an adjustable width and an adjustable length; and wherein said cover member of each of said at least one panel comprises a linear cover member to be engaged with said linear base member and having an adjustable length.

14. The ceiling panel structure of claim 13, wherein said at least one panel comprises a linear panel including said linear base member and said linear cover member, and comprises a corner panel including a corner base member to be mounted to the ceiling surface adjacent to a longitudinal end of said linear base member and including a corner cover member to be engaged to said corner base member adjacent to a longitudinal end of said linear cover member.

15. The ceiling panel structure of claim 13, wherein said linear base member of each of said at least one panel has a conditioning airflow guide surface at a width-wise end of said second side surface closest to the air outlet of the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, said engaging portion of said linear base member being arranged so as to be farther from the air outlet of the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit with respect to a width-wise direction of said linear base member.

16. The ceiling panel structure of claim 15, wherein said linear base member further has a flow-resistance projection portion at a width-wise outer end of said guide surface, said projection portion being configured to engage a width-wise inner end of said linear cover member, and being configured to resist airflow from the air outlet so as to reduce a flow rate of the airflow from the air outlet.

17. A ceiling panel structure to be mounted to a ceiling surface downstream of an air outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, the air-conditioning unit having a central air inlet and having the air outlet arranged at a periphery of the air inlet, said ceiling panel structure comprising: at least one panel to be mounted to the ceiling surface at an outer periphery of the air outlet of the air-conditioning unit, each of said at least one panel including: a linear base member to be mounted to the ceiling surface so as to extend along at least one linear side edge of the air-conditioning unit, said linear base member having at least one of an adjustable width and an adjustable length; a linear cover member to be engaged with said linear base member, said linear cover member having an adjustable length and having a substantially rigid deflection induction portion; an inner edge to be disposed adjacent to the air outlet; and an outer edge opposite said inner edge, said deflection induction portion of said cover member protruding at said outer edge and being configured so as to deflect a portion of the conditioned air discharge toward said deflection induction portion from the air outlet back toward said inner edge.

18. The ceiling panel structure of claim 17, wherein said at least one panel comprises a linear panel including said linear base member and said linear cover member, and comprises a corner panel including a corner base member to be mounted to the ceiling surface adjacent to a longitudinal end of said linear base member and including a corner cover member to be engaged to said corner base member adjacent to a longitudinal end of said linear cover member.

19. The ceiling panel structure of claim 17, wherein said linear base member of each of said at least one panel has a conditioning airflow guide surface at a width-wise end of said second side surface closest to the air outlet of the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, said engaging portion of said linear base member being arranged so as to be farther from the air outlet of the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit with respect to a width-wise direction of said linear base member.

20. The ceiling panel structure of claim 19, wherein said linear base member further has a flow-resistance projection portion at a width-wise outer end of said guide surface, said projection portion being configured to engage a width-wise inner end of said linear cover member, and being configured to resist airflow from the air outlet so as to reduce a flow rate of the airflow from the air outlet.

21. A ceiling panel structure to be mounted to a ceiling surface downstream of an air outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, the air-conditioning unit having a central air inlet and having the air outlet arranged at a periphery of the air inlet, said ceiling panel structure comprising: at least one panel to be mounted to the ceiling surface at an outer periphery of the air outlet of the air-conditioning unit, said at least one panel including: a corner base member to be mounted to the ceiling surface at a peripheral edge of a corner of the air-conditioning unit a linear cover member having a longitudinal end to be engaged with said corner base member, having an adjustable length, and having a substantially rigid deflection induction portion for deflecting a portion of the conditioned air discharged from the air outlet toward the air inlet; and a corner cover member to be engaged with said corner base member adjacent to said longitudinal end of said linear cover member, said corner cover member having a substantially rigid deflection induction portion for deflecting a portion of the conditioned air discharged from the air outlet toward the air inlet.

22. A ceiling panel structure to be mounted to a ceiling surface downstream of an air outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, the air-conditioning unit having a central air inlet and having the air outlet arranged at a periphery of the air inlet, said ceiling panel structure comprising: at least one panel to be mounted to the ceiling surface at an outer periphery of the air outlet of the air-conditioning unit, each of said at least one panel including: a base member; a cover member having a substantially rigid deflection induction portion, and having a flow-resistance projection portion formed upstream of said deflection induction portion with respect to the airflow from the air outlet, said projection portion being configured to resist airflow from the air outlet so as to reduce a flow rate of the airflow from the air outlet; an inner edge to be disposed adjacent to the air outlet; and an outer edge opposite said inner edge, said deflection induction portion of said cover member protruding at said outer edge and being configured so as to deflect a portion of the conditioned air discharge toward said deflection induction portion from the air outlet back toward said inner edge.

23. A ceiling panel structure to be mounted to a ceiling surface, said ceiling panel structure comprising: a plurality of panels arranged around central area, each of said panels including: an inner edge adjacent to the central area; an outer edge opposite said inner edge; and a substantially rigid deflection induction portion protruding at said outer edge, said deflection induction portion being configured so as to deflect at least a portion of air flowing toward said deflection induction portion back toward said inner edge.

24. An apparatus comprising: a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit including a central air inlet and an air outlet arranged at a periphery of said central air inlet; and a ceiling panel structure mounted downstream of said air outlet of said ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, said ceiling panel structure comprising at least one panel mounted at an outer periphery of said air outlet of said air-conditioning unit, each of said at least one panel including: an inner edge disposed adjacent to said air outlet; an outer edge opposite said inner edge; and a substantially rigid deflection induction portion protruding at said outer edge, said deflection induction portion being configured so as to deflect a portion of the conditioned air discharged toward said deflection induction portion from said air outlet back toward said central air inlet.

25. A ceiling panel structure to be mounted to a ceiling surface downstream of an air outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit, the air-conditioning unit having a central air inlet and having the air outlet arranged at a periphery of the air inlet, said ceiling panel structure comprising: at least one panel to be mounted to the ceiling surface at an outer periphery of the air outlet of the air-conditioning unit, each of said at least one panel including: a main portion having an inner edge to be disposed adjacent to the air outlet, and having an outer edge opposite said inner edge; and a substantially rigid deflection induction portion protruding at said outer edge of said main portion, said deflection induction portion having a proximate end connected to said outer edge of said main portion, and having a distal end opposite said proximate end, said distal end being bent towards an inner edge-side of said main portion.

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Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an apparatus for reducing smudging of a ceiling by blowing conditioned air out through an outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus (referred to hereinafter also as "ceiling-mounted air-conditioner") or the like.

2. Description of the Related Arts

An air-conditioning system essentially includes a pair of heat exchangers through which a heating/cooling medium is circulated. The air is warmed or heated/cooled when passing through a first one of the heat exchangers, while the medium having been cooled/heated upon warming/cooling the air in the first heat exchanger is heated/cooled at the second heat exchanger. In the air-conditioning system where the pair of heat exchangers are made of separate units, the unit including the first heat exchanger is usually called an "indoor unit" or a "package type air-conditioner", while the other is called an "outdoor unit". The ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus, in which the apparatus is mounted or installed or almost embedded in the ceiling, corresponds to the indoor unit (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,068). More specifically, the ceiling-mounted air-conditioner has a room air-inlet at a central portion of a bottom thereof, and has a conditioning air-outlet at a peripheral portion of the bottom thereof. Therefore, the air-conditioner sucks or introduces the room air from the room air-inlet at the central portion of the bottom portion of the room and, after having warmed or cooled the introduced room air by the heat exchanger, discharges or blows out the conditioned air from the air-outlet at the peripheral portion of the bottom portion.

The conditioned air is blown out in a direction generally along a ceiling surface so that the conditioned air can spread over a wide region in the room. Therefore, the air inherently tends to flow along the ceiling surface. Accordingly, the conditioned air smudges an area of the ceiling surface near the air-outlet due to the contamination of the conditioned air itself or the contamination of the room air which is entangled in a rapid flow of air blown out through the air-outlet. When the air-conditioning apparatus has been used for a long period of time, the smudged ceiling surface becomes too unsightly to be neglected.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it has been proposed to adjust an inclination of a wind direction plate, which is disposed near the air-outlet within an air discharge passage, in response to a degree of contamination of the room air and a selected air-conditioning state, i.e., cooling or warming, so as to change a direction of conditioning airflow from the air-outlet (refer for example to Japanese Patent Application Publication (i.e., Laid-Open) No. 8-100942 (100942/96). Alternatively, it has been proposed to change an air discharge direction and/or the size of an opening near each of the longitudinal ends of an air-outlet, where the discharged air tends to flow along the ceiling surface (refer for example to Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 7-324802 (324802/95), 8-313042 (313042/96) and 9-222237 (222237/97).

These proposals are intended to regulate or control the conditioning airflow directly at the air-outlet formed or defined as a part of an outer casing or frame of the air-conditioning apparatus, sizes or dimensions of which are practically limited. However, such direct control of the overall airflow at the air-outlet where the flow speed or flow rate is high encounters various disadvantages. For example, when the airflow is controlled so as not to be directed to the ceiling surface, there is a possibility that intended effects cannot be obtained because of the possibility that the conditioned air cannot be spread fully in the room, and there is also a possibility that the adjustment conditions should be changed when the flow rate changes.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-94160 (94160/96) discloses forming a step or projection on a cover plate constituting an outer frame of the air-conditioning apparatus, which acts to deflect the conditioned air having been blown out through the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus, and deflects the air away from the ceiling surface. A Microfilm of Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-8595 (8595/86) corresponding to Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-120151 (120151/87) discloses a blow-out guide having an "L"-shaped cross-section which provides a similar function. However, there is a possibility that these devices will also encounter similar problems.

In addition, the above-mentioned prior art directed to modification of a body of the air-conditioning apparatus cannot solve the problem of contamination or smudging of the ceiling surface where the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus has been already mounted or installed.

Another attempt at a solution has been made domestically inside of Japan. In other words, the embodiment described now in this paragraph is not prior art except in a country where novelty- and/or obviousness-related provisions define that publicly accessible use of a structure even in another country or countries may also constitute prior art. In this attempt, a transparent plastic film or sheet having been bent in an obtuse angle is attached to an area of the ceiling surface where smudging is likely to be produced. However, when the flow rate of the blown-out air is low, there is a possibility that the air flows over the obtusely bent wall of the plastic film to smudge an area of the ceiling surface outside of the attached plastic film. On the other hand, when the flow rate of the blown-out air is high, an obtusely inclined and dependent deflection portion having an "L"-shaped cross-section is pressed by the airflow to be deformed away from the airflow.

In the meantime, it has also been proposed to form a peripheral portion of an air-conditioning duct opened in the ceiling with an arcuately curved portion so as to reduce contamination or smudging of the ceiling surface (Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-12847 (12847/95)). However, this proposal also involves similar problems as in the above-mentioned proposed ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatuses. In addition, behavior of conditioned airflow having been blown out through the air-outlet in the air-conditioning duct is somewhat different from that of the air-conditioning apparatus having the air-inlet at the central portion and the air-outlet at the peripheral portion, because the air-conditioning duct does not have the air-inlet in the opening but the whole opening serves as the air-outlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing, and one object of the invention is to provide a ceiling panel structure capable of also being applied to an existing, i.e., pre-installed, ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus which has already been installed or mounted to the ceiling so as to minimize smudging or contamination of the ceiling surface around the air-conditioning apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling panel structure facilitating mountability thereof even in a case where the ceiling surface is not flat but undulated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling panel structure including a base member or structure and a cover member or structure, in which engagement/disengagement of the cover member or structure with/from the base member or structure can be facilitated, i.e., carried out easily.

According to the invention, the above-mentioned first object can be accomplished by a ceiling panel structure adapted to be mounted to a ceiling downstream of a conditioning air-outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus. The structure has a room air-inlet at a central portion thereof, and has the air-outlet at a peripheral portion thereof. The ceiling panel structure is adapted to be mounted to the ceiling outside of the air-conditioning apparatus, and includes a deflection induction portion which is substantially rigid against an airflow to deflect a part of the conditioned air blown out through the outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus, back to the room air-inlet.

As explained above, the ceiling panel structure of the invention comprises a deflection induction portion which is substantially rigid against an airflow to deflect a part of the conditioned air blown out through the outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus back to the room air-inlet. Therefore, by merely mounting the ceiling panel structure to a predetermined position of the ceiling, the ceiling panel structure can deflect, by means of the deflection induction portion thereof, the airflow having been blown out through the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus back to the room air-inlet. Thus, the conditioned airflow that blows against or impinges on the ceiling surface is minimized and spread therealong so as to minimize the ceiling surface smudged by fine solid and/or liquid particles contained in the conditioning air. In addition, because the deflection induction portion is substantially rigid against the airflow, the deflection induction portion can deflect the airflow (i.e., change the direction of airflow into predetermined directions) even in a case where the air flows relatively rapidly. Further, the ceiling panel structure is situated in a spatial region, near the ceiling surface and more or less remote from the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus, which is open to a room or indoor space. Therefore, the airflow can spread more or less before impinging on the deflection induction portion and can be directed to spread downwards upon impinging on the deflection induction portion, so that the conditioned airflow can be deflected appropriately upon impinging on the deflection induction portion. Although the deflection induction portion is typically constituted by a deflection guide part having a concavely curved guide surface to deflect the airflow therealong, the detailed or concrete configuration or shape thereof may be of any form so long as the direction of airflow can be changed significantly. Meanwhile, it is typically preferred to reduce beforehand the flow rate and the wind pressure or dynamic pressure thereof to be described later so as to change significantly the direction of airflow by the deflection induction portion. Furthermore, because the ceiling panel structure is mounted to the ceiling, at the downstream of the air-outlet, around or outside the air-conditioning apparatus, the air-conditioning apparatus may have been already installed in the ceiling. When mounted around the air-conditioning apparatus having been already installed in the ceiling, the ceiling panel structure of the invention will not only prevent the further progress of the smudging of the ceiling, but will also hide the smudge of the ceiling by covering a part of the smudged ceiling.

The ceiling panel structure and/or element(s) thereof is mounted or attached to the "lower" face of the ceiling, which may be expressed hereinafter as being mounted "on" the ceiling surface or "on" the ceiling, although, strictly speaking, the ceiling panel structure or the like is mounted "beneath" the ceiling surface or ceiling.

In order to facilitate the mounting work of the ceiling panel structure on the ceiling surface, the ceiling panel structure according to a preferred embodiment of the invention typically comprises at least one base member adapted to be mounted to a ceiling downstream of the air-conditioning apparatus and having an engaging portion at a side thereof opposite to a side faced to the ceiling. At least one cover member is engaged at an engaged portion thereof with the engaging portion of the at least one base member to be fixed thereto, and the at least one cover member has the deflection induction portion.

In the ceiling panel structure of the preferred embodiment, the cover member has a deflection induction portion which is substantially rigid against an airflow to deflect a part of the conditioned air having been blown out through the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus back to the room air-inlet. Therefore, by merely engaging the cover member with the base member, having been attached to the predetermined position of the ceiling, to be fixed thereto, the ceiling panel structure can deflect, by means of the deflection induction portion of the cover member, a part of the airflow having been blown out through the outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus back to the room air-inlet. Therefore, the conditioning airflow impinging on the ceiling surface can be minimized, and the spread of the airflow along the ceiling surface can be minimized. In addition, because the deflection induction portion of the cover member is substantially rigid against the airflow, the deflection induction portion can deflect the airflow (i.e., change the direction of airflow) into predetermined directions even in a case where the air flows relatively rapidly. Further, the cover member is situated in the spatial region, near the ceiling surface and more or less remote from the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus, which is opened to a room or indoor space. Therefore, the airflow tends to be deflected appropriately upon impinging on the deflection induction portion.

In addition, the ceiling panel structure of the embodiment comprises at least one base member to be mounted to the ceiling downstream of the air-conditioning apparatus and having an engaging portion at a side opposite to the ceiling, and at least one cover member engaged at an engaged portion thereof with the engaging portion of the at least one base member to be fixed thereto. As a result, the cover member can be easily fixed to the ceiling surface at the predetermined position.

More specifically, the ceiling panel structure having a configuration for adjusting the conditioning airflow necessarily has a considerable thickness. If such a thick ceiling panel structure is intended to be fixed directly to the ceiling surface without affecting an appearance thereof, it will become necessary to have a configuration for preventing heads of fastening screws or the like from being exposed. This arrangement would, in turn, make it difficult or hard to carry out the mounting work thereof so that the structure is facing upward toward the ceiling surface from a lower position, or would require plural persons or workmen to carry out even a simple mounting process. In contrast to these situations, in the above-mentioned embodiment of ceiling panel structure, the engaged portion of the cover member can be essentially formed at a side faced to the base member to be engaged with the engaging portion thereof. Thus, the mounting of the cover member can be carried out with ease even by a minimum number of person(s), such as a single workman.

Further, because the base member is provided separately from the cover member in the ceiling panel structure of the embodiment, the base member can be configured to facilitate the mounting work thereof by screws etc. on the ceiling surface without consideration of appearance thereof, and to have the engaging portion for facilitating the engagement thereof with the cover member. As a result, the mounting of the base member on the ceiling is facilitated and can be performed even by a minimum number of person(s), such as one person. Moreover, the engaging portion of the base member can be covered (hidden) by the cover member, and the engaged portion of the cover member can be designed to have a configuration or structure as desired in view of ease of mounting and strength of engagement and fixation. Therefore, the engagement/fixation of the cover member with/to the base member can be carried out easily. Accordingly, both mounting work of the base member to the ceiling surface and engagement/fixation of the cover member with/to the base member can be performed by a minimum number of person(s), e.g., by one person, which enables the entire mounting process of the ceiling panel structure on the ceiling surface to be performed by the minimum number of person(s), e.g., by one person. Each of the cover and base members may be formed by a single or integral member or by a combination of plural members or parts.

The ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus may have any outer shape or any two dimensional shape, such as a rectangular (square or quadrilateral) or circular shape or other shape, in which a lower end of the apparatus extends or spreads along the ceiling surface in a state where almost all of the apparatus is embedded in the ceiling, so long as the apparatus has the room air-inlet at the central portion thereof and the conditioning air-outlet at the peripheral portion thereof. As a matter of course, although the air-conditioning apparatus has more or less three dimensional shapes protruding downward from the ceiling surface, the three dimensional shape may be of any form so long as the apparatus has the room air-inlet at the exposed central bottom part thereof and the conditioning air-outlet at the exposed peripheral bottom part thereof.

The conditioning air-outlet may be provided at only a part of the peripheral portion or part of the apparatus or over substantially the whole periphery thereof, so long as the air-outlet is provided at the periphery and is configured or adapted to blow out the conditioned air more or less outwards. For example, in a case where the two dimensional shape or configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus on the ceiling surface, i.e., shape in plan view (strictly, bottom view), is rectangular, the air-outlet may be formed along only one side of the four sides of the rectangle or along two parallel sides thereof or along all of the four sides thereof. The air-outlet may be formed at the corner.

The ceiling panel structure according to an embodiment of the invention typically comprises cover member(s), each having a deflection induction portion to deflect the flow of the conditioned air blowing out of the associated one of the air-outlet(s). Therefore, if there is one linearly extending air-outlet, each cover member typically comprises a single linear cover member (as a matter of course, the single cover member may be formed by combination of plural parts). However, if desired, each cover member may further comprise, at the longitudinal end of the linear cover member, a corner cover member curved at the corner. The cover member may also be configured like a picture frame in the form of a rectangular or four-sided closed loop to surround the entire periphery of the air-conditioning apparatus.

The base member typically has a two-dimensional shape or configuration similar to that of the cover member to be engaged by the cover member to be fixed thereto. Thus, when the cover member is a linear cover member, the base member is typically a linear base member, while the base member is typically a corner base member curved at the corner when the cover member is a corner cover member curved at the corner. However, the base member may have a two dimensional shape different from that of the cover member, so long as the base member can engage the cover member to be fixed thereto. For example, when the cover member is a linear cover member, the base member must engage at least a part of the cover member near either longitudinal end thereof to support it. Thus, both ends of the linear cover member may be supported by the associated corner base members situated at the associated corners.

Typically, the surface of the cover member is configured to adjust the conditioning airflow, to deflect the airflow (i.e., to change the direction of airflow), to provide a resistance against the airflow (i.e., to serve as flow-resistance against the airflow thereby reducing the wind pressure and flow rate of the air) and/or to guide the airflow (i.e., to regulate the direction of airflow without substantially preventing the flow of air, while changing or not changing the direction of the airflow). If the cover member covers the base member substantially completely, only the surface of the cover member performs these functions. However, a part of the base member may be exposed at the ceiling surface without being covered by the cover member. Such being the case, the surface configuration for the deflection, flow-resistance (reduction in flow rate), and/or flow-guide to adjust the conditioning airflow may be partially provided by the base member. Even in these circumstances, the cover member serves not only to adjust the conditioning airflow at the deflection induction portion thereof and to cover a mounting structure portion of the base member to the ceiling surface, but also to cover the engagement portions of the base member and cover member. The induction or guide portion having a flow-deflection function has more or less the flow-resistant function also.

Thus, in a typical ceiling panel structure according to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one base member comprises a linear base member capable of being mounted at one principal face thereof to a surface of the ceiling to extend along at least one linear side edge of the air-conditioning apparatus, the linear base member having an adjustable length and/or width, and the at least one cover member comprises a linear cover member engaged with the linear base member and having an adjustable length. In addition, the linear base member comprises a conditioning airflow guide surface at one widthwise end portion of a principal face opposite to the one principal face generally parallel to the one principal face. The one widthwise end portion is closer than another widthwise end to the side edge of the air-conditioning apparatus where the air-outlet is provided. The engaging portion is located at a position more remote than the guide surface in the widthwise direction from the side edge of the air-conditioning apparatus. Moreover, the linear cover member comprises the deflection induction portion for deflecting a part of the conditioning air, flowing along the guide surface of the linear base member, back to the room air-inlet.

In addition, in one typical ceiling panel structure according to an embodiment of the invention, the linear base member further comprises a flow-resistant projection portion, at a widthwise outer end of the guide surface, engaged with a widthwise inner end of the linear cover member. The projection portion serves as a resistance against the airflow for reducing a flow rate of the conditioning air having spread along the guide surface.

Further, in one typical ceiling panel structure according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover member comprises a flow-resistant projection portion, at an upstream of the deflection induction portion, which serves as a resistance against the airflow for reducing a flow rate of the conditioning air flowing along the surface of the cover member. There may be a plurality of such flow-resistant projections. Typically, the flow-resistant projection of the cover member is adapted to have a higher flow-resisting function than that of the base member. However, the relationship therebetween may be reversed.

In any case, the appropriate reduction in the wind pressure or flow rate of the conditioning air before flowing into the deflection induction portion allows the airflow impinging on the deflection induction portion to tend to flow along the guide face of the deflection induction portion.

The ceiling panel structure is formed to have a shape and sizes based on an outer shape and dimensions (sizes) of the air-conditioning apparatus mounted in the ceiling surface. Therefore, the base and cover members constituting the ceiling panel structure are formed to be length-adjustable. The length adjustment is typically carried out by cutting (using a saw or the like) the base and cover members, each having a constant shape in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, at the mounting site by the workman. The base and cover members constituting the ceiling panel structure are typically made of plastic material and are produced by extrusion molding. The plastic material may be, for example, vinyl chloride resin. However, other plastic material may be used to minimize the environmental pollution. The material of the members may, however, be other materials such as metal, wood or a composite material of metal and plastics so long as the member can be cut with a saw at the mounting job site by the workman.

The ceiling panel structure is mounted around the air-conditioning apparatus in an unoccupied area of the ceiling surface where the apparatus is mounted, typically in a manner to avoid obstacle(s), such as a power-supply line or electric wiring output and various sensors like a smoke sensor, which may happen to be in or on the ceiling surface near the outer periphery of the air-conditioning apparatus. Therefore, in the ceiling panel structure, typically, the constituent base and cover members are also designed to be width-adjustable. In some cases, a longitudinal side of the air-conditioning apparatus may be as long as two meters. Therefore, in order to facilitate the width-adjustment over a length of about two meters along the longitudinal direction thereof, the ceiling panel structure has typically weakened parts extending in the longitudinal direction thereof to allow, if desired, a widthwise end part thereof to be removed by forming a cutting line therealong by means of a cutter knife or the like so that the width thereof can be adjusted. Typically, each of the weakened parts comprises a groove extending in the longitudinal direction. Such grooves are formed in a rear face, i.e. a side faced to the ceiling, in view of appearance.

Therefore, in a typical ceiling panel structure according to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one base member comprises a linear base member capable of being mounted at one principal face thereof to a surface of the ceiling to extend along at least one linear side edge of the air-conditioning apparatus. The linear base member has an adjustable length and/or width, and the at least one cover member comprises a linear cover member engaged with the linear base member and having an adjustable length.

In this case, it is possible to mount the linear base member so as to avoid the obstacle(s) near the air-conditioning apparatus by adjusting the width of the base member. In addition, it is possible to adjust the lengths of the linear base and cover members at the mounting job site, based on the length of the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus or a size of a side extending parallel with the air-outlet of the apparatus, to mount or install the ceiling panel structure.

In a typical ceiling panel structure according to an embodiment of the invention, the base member includes a corner base member capable of being mounted at one principal face thereof to the ceiling surface adjacent to a longitudinal end of the linear base member at an outside of a corner portion of the air-conditioning apparatus. The cover member includes a corner cover member engaged with the corner base member adjacent to a longitudinal end of the linear cover member.

In this case, for example, the ceiling panel structure may have, in plan view, a generally rectangular shape or the like to typically surround the entire periphery of the air-conditioning apparatus or to be situated at least around two sides thereof.

In a typical ceiling panel structure according to an embodiment of the invention, the base member includes a corner base member capable of being mounted to a surface of the ceiling at an outside of a corner portion of the air-conditioning apparatus. The cover member includes a linear cover member engaged with the corner base member at either longitudinal end thereof and having an adjustable length and width. A corner cover member is engaged with the corner base member adjacent to the longitudinal end of the linear cover member. In this case, the base member is minimized while facilitating the mounting. However, in a case where the air-conditioning apparatus is of large dimension or size and the length of the linear base member is long, another or separate base member may be disposed at a rear side of an intermediate position of the linear cover member (i.e. between the ceiling surface and the cover member) to support the linear cover member firmly.

A typical ceiling panel structure according to an embodiment of the invention is adapted to be mounted to a ceiling downstream of a conditioning air-outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus, having a room air-inlet at a central portion thereof and the air-outlet at a peripheral portion thereof. The ceiling panel structure comprises linear panel structures and corner panel structures. Each of the linear panel structures comprises a base member capable of being mounted to a surface of the ceiling at one principal face thereof so as to extend along an associated linear side edge of the air-conditioning apparatus, a length and width of the base member in an extending direction thereof being adjustable. The base member has an engaging portion at a principal face thereof opposite to the one principal face, and a cover member having an adjustable length and width is adapted to be engaged with the engaging portion of the associated base member at an engaged portion thereof to be fixed thereto. The cover member has a deflection induction portion which is substantially rigid against an airflow to deflect a part of the conditioning air having been blown out through the outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus, back to the room air-inlet. Each corner panel structure is adapted to be positioned between adjacent ends of the associated linear panel structures to be engaged with the adjacent ends.

So long as the smudge on the ceiling surface near the air-outlet of the ceiling mounted air-conditioning apparatus having been already installed or mounted can be covered and hidden, at least a part of the base and/or cover members may be transparent or semi-transparent. However, in order to ensure to cover and hide the smudge on the ceiling surface near the air-outlet of the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus having been already installed, it is preferred that the base and cover members are typically made of substantially opaque material. However, at least a part of the members may be made of transparent or semi-transparent material in a case where the ceiling surface is not smudged yet or where the air-conditioning apparatus is mounted in the ceiling surface for the first time.

According to one aspect of the invention, the above-mentioned further object of the invention can be attained by a ceiling panel structure adapted to be mounted to a ceiling downstream of a conditioning air-outlet of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus, in which the ceiling has a room air-inlet at a central portion thereof and an air-outlet at a peripheral portion thereof. The ceiling panel structure includes a deflection induction portion which is substantially rigid against an airflow so as to deflect the conditioning air blown out through the outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus away from the ceiling. The ceiling panel structure comprises a base structure adapted to be mounted to a ceiling outside of the air-conditioning apparatus, and has an engaging portion at a side opposite to a side facing the ceiling. The base structure includes a linear base member adapted to be mounted to a surface of the ceiling at one principal face thereof so as to extend along a side edge of the air-conditioning apparatus. A cover structure has an engaged portion that engages the engaging portion of the base structure to be fixed thereto. The cover structure includes a linear cover member adapted to be engaged with the linear base member, and has the deflection induction portion. The engaging portion of the linear base member comprises a pair of engaging recesses spaced from each other in a widthwise direction thereof and opened at opposite sides to face away from each other. One of the recesses has side walls, and one of the side walls is situated closer to the surface of the ceiling than another one of the side walls having an inclined face inclined to be closer to the surface of the ceiling as departing more remote from another of the recesses. The engaged portion of the linear cover member comprises a pair of engaged projections for engaging the pair of engaging recesses of the linear base member, and the engaged projections are spaced from each other in a widthwise direction of the linear cover member. The pair of engaged projections are situated at sides facing each other, and are capable of being displaced resiliently toward/from each other. One of the projections has a guide part movable along the inclined face of the side wall, closer to the surface of the ceiling, of the one recess.

The ceiling panel structure according to the first aspect of the invention is adapted to be mounted or installed to the ceiling outside the air-conditioning apparatus and includes a deflection induction portion substantially rigid against the airflow for deflecting the airflow blown out through the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus in a direction away from the ceiling surface. Therefore, by mounting the ceiling panel structure at a predetermined position of the ceiling outside the apparatus, it is possible to deflect by the deflection induction portion the conditioning airflow blown out through the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus, in the direction away from the ceiling, to minimize the conditioning airflow out of the air-outlet blowing against or impinging on the ceiling and/or spreading along the ceiling surface, thereby minimizing the smudging of the ceiling surface by fine particles or the like such as solid or liquid particles contained in the conditioning airflow. In addition, because the deflection induction portion is substantially rigid against the airflow, the deflection induction portion can deflect the airflow (change the direction of the airflow) in a predetermined direction(s) even when the airflow is relatively strong or rapid. Further, because the ceiling panel structure is situated in a spatial region, near the ceiling surface and more or less remote from the air-outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus, which is opened to a room or indoor space, the airflow more or less spreads before impinging on the deflection induction portion and can be directed to spread downwards upon impinging on the deflection induction portion. Therefore, the conditioning airflow having impinged on the deflection induction portion can be deflected appropriately.

Further, the ceiling panel structure of the above-mentioned aspect comprises a base structure adapted to be mounted to a ceiling at an outside of the air-conditioning apparatus and having an engaging portion at a side opposite to the ceiling. The base structure includes a linear base member adapted to be mounted on the ceiling surface at one principal face thereof so as to extend along a side edge of the air-conditioning apparatus. A cover structure has an engaged portion engaged with the engaging portion of the base structure to be fixed thereto, and the cover structure includes a linear cover member adapted to be engaged with the linear base member. Therefore, the mounting or installation of the ceiling panel structure can be carried out with ease by mounting the base structure on the ceiling surface with a fixing means such as screws, by laying the cover structure on (beneath) the base structure to cover the mounting part(s) of the fixing or mounting means, and by engaging the engaged portion of the cover structure with the engaging portion of the base structure. The base structure typically comprises the linear base member and a corner base member, while the cover structure typically comprises the linear cover member and a corner cover member. However, the base structure may constitute one linear base member, and the cover structure may constitute one linear cover member.

Because the linear base member is provided separately from the linear cover member also in the ceiling panel structure of the embodiment according to the first aspect, the linear base member can be configured to facilitate the mounting work thereof by screws etc. on the ceiling surface without consideration of appearance because a part thereof is to be covered by the linear cover member, and is to have the engaging portion for engaging the linear cover member. As a result, the mounting work of the linear base member on the ceiling is facilitated and can be performed even by a minimum number of persons, such as one person. Moreover, the engaging portion of the linear base member can be covered to be hidden substantially by the linear cover member, and the engaging portion of the linear base member and the engaged portion of the linear cover member can be designed to have configurations or structures as desired in view of easy and firm engagement and fixation/easy disengagement. Therefore, the engagement and disengagement of the linear cover member with and from the linear base member can be carried out easily. Accordingly, both the mounting of the linear base member to the ceiling surface and the engagement of the linear cover member with the linear base member can be performed by a minimum number of persons, such as one person, so that the entire mounting process of the ceiling panel structure on the ceiling surface can be performed by th