Patent ID: 6364215
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: E01B

Abstract:
A guide rail for guiding a pair of angled or horizontal guide wheels (17,18) of a guide assembly, the guide rail comprising:a rail base (2) for engagement with a support surface, a rail head (4); a rail web (3) interconnecting the rail base (2) with the rail head (4), and at least one of the rail head (4) with a rail web (3) forming a guiding pathway (13,14) for guiding the guide wheels of the guide assembly when engaged therewith; wherein the rail head (4) has at least one zone which facilitates at least one of engagement of the guide wheels with the guide rail and disengagement of the guide wheels from the guide rail, the at least one zone has a narrowed area in which the guide head (4) has a narrower transverse width dimension which is less than a larger transverse width dimension of the guide head (4) on opposite sides of the at least one zone such that the pair of guide wheels (17,18) are only movable vertically into and out of engagement with the guide rail, relative to the narrower transverse width dimension, in the at least one zone while the pair of guide wheels (17,18) are prevented from moving vertically into and out of engagement with the guide rail, relative to the guide rail, by the larger transverse width dimension of the guide head (4).