Patent Grant
7712239
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to alignable overhead support systems for hanging displays such as signs and panels or other objects from ceilings or overhead rails or the like, which support system is fully adjustable in a plane normal to the vertical axis.
2. Prior Art
Commercial establishments always need overhead display support for signage, merchandising, and the like. The signage which is intended to be hung from such overhead arrangements typically needs to be changed on a regular basis.
Often, such signage or support members may need to be attached to an overhead ceiling which does not have any structure to attach to, such as grid, as in the case of plaster ceilings.
It is an object of the present invention, to provide a system of supports which are moveable, and may overcome any surface irregularities in the overhead support structure.
It is a further object of the present invention, to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention, to provide an overhead support system which is adjustable, maneuverable, and readily changeable, permitting the objects that they support, to be readily changed and/or accommodated as needed.
The present invention comprises an overhead rail system for supporting a display or a signage arrangement in an accommodative manner, from an overhead support such as a ceiling or the like. The overhead rail system in a first preferred embodiment thereof, comprises two or more elongated fixed rails, each individually and separately secured to an overhead building component, such as a ceiling. Such elongated fixed rails need not necessarily be parallel with one another when they are secured to the overhead building (ceiling) component, for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow, although parallel is preferred. The overhead adjustable track system also includes one or more elongated moveable rails. Each elongated fixed rail and each elongated moveable rail are preferably structurally the same for ease of manufacture, although they do not need to be for the system to function.
Such elongated fixed rail and such an elongated moveable rail hence preferably have corresponding cross-sectional configurations. Each such rail has an elongated extruded base having a first elongated flange extending along one side thereof and a second elongated flange extending along the opposite side thereof. The first elongated flange has a first inwardly extending lip running along a distal edge of the first flange. The second flange has a second inwardly directed lip extending along a distal edge of the second flange. The first and second inwardly facing lips have an elongated gap running therebetween. An elongated central channel is defined between the elongated base and the first and second elongated flanges with their respective first and second inwardly directed lips. A first side rail extends off the elongated base at a first edge thereof. A second elongated side rail extends off the second edge of the elongated base. Each side rail has a pinched waist portion with a rounded edge thereon.
The overhead adjustable track system includes a connector. The connector comprises a shallow “clothes hanger” shaped member having a first shoulder and a second shoulder which are each tapered to a narrowed first end and tapered to a narrowed second end. The first tapered end and the tapered second end are connected with a curvilinear main web extending therebetween.
An engaging projection extends connected transversely with respect to the first and second shoulders, from a midpoint thereof, and pointing away from the curvilinear main web. The extending projection has a distal tip with a first channel lip engaging flange on one side and a second channel lip engaging flange on the other side. The projection is inwardly collapsible so as to make its width narrower as will be defined hereinbelow.
The connector has a transverse axis which extends between the tapered first end and the tapered second end. That transverse axis is arranged to be in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the elongated central channel within the elongated moveable rail. The projection of the connector extends through the elongated gap between the first inwardly directed lip and the second inwardly directed lip on the elongated fixed rail and is slidable therewithin for adjustment purposes thereof. The elongated rails may have a first end cap and a second end cap which sealingly plug the open end of each end of the elongated central channel. The projections of each connector may be slidingly arranged within the elongated channel of the elongated fixed rail.
The projections extending from the elongated gap between inwardly directed lips may, during the assembly process, be pushed so as to be inserted within the elongated gaps between the lips of the elongated fixed rails which may be facing downwardly from its point of attachment to an overhead support such as a ceiling or the like. Such projections may slide within the elongated gap of the fixed rail to allow for slidability of the moveable rails.
The tapered shoulders of the connector which are disposed within the elongated central channel of the elongated moveable rail permit a sliding motion of the connector therewithin, to accommodate any irregularities or disparities of non-parallel alignment between the respective fixed rails to which the moveable rails are secured.
The elongated rails utilized as the fixed rails may be hand drilled on site, and have a threaded fastener member or the like extending therethrough into a ceiling or overhead support. The tip of the projection of the connector is spaced sufficiently apart from any head of a threaded connector so as to permit slidable movement of the connector with respect to the fixed rail.
In a yet further embodiment of the securement portion for the adjustable track system, the elongated fixed rails may be threadedly secured through an arrangement of ceiling fixed tubes by for example, a threaded securement member extending into the lower end of those ceiling anchor tubes through the elongated base of that fixed rail.
The invention thus comprises a system for supporting display panels or other objects from an overhead support, comprising: preferably two or more spaced-apart, elongated, hollow, extruded fixed rails which are attachable to an overhead support; preferably one or more spaced-apart, elongated, hollow, extruded moveable rails; a plurality of connectors slidably disposed within the fixed rails, the connectors having a projection extending though an elongated gap in the moveable rail and into slidable receipt in the fixed rail, the moveable rails providing support for a display supporting clip.
The connector is also preferably slidable within the moveable rail. The connector preferably has tapered shoulders to permit the accommodative slidability within the rail. The fixed rail preferably has an elongated gap for pushed receipt of the projection of the connector.
The fixed rails may be arranged non-parallel with one another. The projection on the connector may have a pair of channel lip-engaging flanges disposed thereon for snapping into the gap on an adjoining opposed rail. The fixed rails and the moveable rails are preferably structurally similar to one another, although they do not need to be. The connector has a transverse axis which is movable with respect to a longitudinal axis of said fixed rail. The tapered shoulders at each end of the connector are connected by a curvilinear main web and their connection to the side portions of the projection.
The invention also includes a method of supporting a display panel or other object from an overhead support, comprising one or more of the following steps of: attaching a first elongated extruded hollow fixed rail to the overhead support; placing further elongated extruded hollow fixed rails to the overhead support; sliding a tapered shouldered connector into an elongated extruded hollow moveable rail, wherein the connector has a projection extending out of the moveable rail, through an elongated gap therealong; pushing the projection extending from the moveable rail into the elongated gap extending along the fixed rail; attaching the moveable rail to the further fixed rails by further connectors extending from the moveable rail; and attaching a clip to the moveable rail for support of a display panel or other object therefrom. The first elongated fixed rail may be generally parallel to the second fixed rail. The first fixed rail may also be arranged in a non-parallel relationship with the second fixed rail. The method may include sliding the projection into the elongated gap in the fixed rail from one end.
The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to
Such elongated fixed rail 16 and such an elongated moveable rail 20 hence preferably have corresponding cross-sectional configurations, as is represented for example, in
The overhead rail system 10 includes a connector 50, as best shown in
An engaging projection 62 extends connected to and transversely with respect to the first and second shoulders 52 and 54, from a midpoint thereof, and pointing away from the curvilinear main web 60. The extending projection 62 has a distal tip 64 with a first channel lip engaging flange 66 on one side and a second channel lip engaging flange 68 on the other side, as shown in
The connector 50 has a transverse axis “T” which extends between the tapered first end 52 and the tapered second end 54, shown in
The projection 62 of each connector 50 is pushed between inwardly directed lips 30 and 32 and may, during the assembly process, collapse inwardly so as to be receivingly inserted within the elongated gaps 34 between the lips 30 and 32 of the elongated fixed rails 16 and 18 which may be facing downwardly from its point of attachment to an overhead support such as a ceiling 14 or the like. Such projections 62 may slide within the elongated gap 34 of the fixed rail 16 while the lower shape formed by shoulders 52/54 and bridge 60 allow the connector 50 to slide within the elongated gap 34 of the elongated moveable rail 20 to accommodate spacing variations between the fixed rail 16/18 and/or the moveable rails 20/22.
The tapered shoulders 52 and 54 of the connector 50 which are disposed within the elongated central channel 36 of the elongated moveable rail 20/22 permit a sliding motion of the connector 50 therewithin, to accommodate any irregularities or disparities of non parallel alignment between the respective fixed rails 16 and 18 to which the moveable rails 20 and 22 are secured.
The elongated rails (preferably extruded aluminum) utilized as the fixed rails 16 and 18 may be hand drilled on site, and may then have for example, a threaded fastener member 76 or the like extending therethrough into a ceiling or overhead support 14, as represented in
In a yet further embodiment of the securement portion for the adjustable track system 10, the elongated fixed rails 16 and 18 may be threadedly secured through an arrangement of ceiling fixed tubes 78 by, for example, a threaded securement member (not shown for clarity of view) extending into the lower end of those ceiling fixed tubes 78 through the elongated base 24 of that fixed rail 16/18, as represented in
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4490064 | Ducharme | Dec 1984 | A |
| 5381991 | Stocker | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5409191 | Wenmaekers | Apr 1995 | A |
| 6960045 | Schmalzhofer | Nov 2005 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20090056186 A1 | Mar 2009 | US |
