Abstract:
A cable rail assembly including a first cable rail having a base, a cover, and a closing member, a second cable rail having a base, a cover, and a closing member, and wherein the first and second cable rails are engageable with each other along a longitudinal axis of the first and second cable rails.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to cable rails and more specifically to cable rails which hide line voltage cables and low voltage cable for an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     2. Background Art 
     Electrical cords and plugs are well known and are used to provide electrical current to a number of devices. Modern televisions are light enough to be hung on the wall, yet still need to be connected to an electrical outlet. In new construction, an electrical outlet can be located where a television will ultimately be mounted, yet the majority of households have electrical outlets near the floor. In these instances, the television electrical cable droops from the mounted television to reach the electrical outlet near the floor and creates an unsightly appearance. Further, DVD players, cable boxes, and similar devices which play through the television must be connected to the television with an HDMI cable or other suitable cable. These cables then must be run up the wall and further clutters the television&#39;s appearance. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of this disclosure relate to a cable rail assembly. In one aspect, a cable rail assembly includes a first cable rail having a base, a cover, and a closing member, a second cable rail having a base, a cover, and a closing member, and wherein the first and second cable rails are engageable with each other along a longitudinal axis of the first and second cable rails. 
     In an implementation, the first and second cable rails are releasably engageable with each other. The first and second cable rails may include closing members which are biased in the open position. The first and second cable rails may each include a hinge member. The first and second cable rails may each include a side wall separating the base and cover. The cover may include a curved portion. The first rail may include a mating portion. The second rail may include a mating portion. The first and second rails may each include a mating portion. Each of the mating portions may be formed in a sidewall. The first and second rail mating portions may be positioned on the longitudinal axis. The first rail mating portion may be a recessed mating portion. The second rail mating portion may be a protruding mating portion. The first rail may include a protruding mating portion and the second rail may include a recessed mating portion. 
     In an implementation, a third cable rail may be positionable between and engageable with the first and second cable rails. The third cable rail may be generally square or rectangular. The third cable rail may include at least one mating portion. The at least one mating portion may be two mating portions, with one mating portion being a protruding mating portion and the other mating portion being a recessed mating portion. The third rail protruding mating portion may be oriented about a longitudinal axis of the third rail. 
     In another aspect, a method of hiding cables includes engaging a first cable rail and a second cable rail along a longitudinal axis at a mating portion of each of the first rail and the second rail, opening the first cable rail at a closing member, mounting the first and second cable rails to a wall, positioning at least one cable within an opening in the first cable rail, and closing the closing member. 
     In an implementation, the method may include opening the second cable rail at a closing member, positioning at least one cable within an opening in the second cable rail, and closing the second cable rail closing member. 
     Aspects and applications of the disclosure presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explain how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventors&#39; intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims. 
     The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above. 
     The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first aspect cable rail assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the region labeled  FIG. 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second aspect cable rail assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the region labeled  FIG. 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third aspect cable rail assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the region labeled  FIG. 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fourth aspect cable rail assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of the region labeled  FIG. 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an endwise view of the first aspect cable rail assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is an endwise view of the second aspect cable rail assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  is an endwise view of the third aspect cable rail assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 12  is an endwise view of the fourth aspect cable rail assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded enlarged perspective view of the second aspect cable rail assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the intended operation and assembly procedures for a cable rail system will become apparent for use with implementations of a cable rail system from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular components are disclosed, such components and other implementing components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such implementing components, consistent with the intended operation of a cable rail system. 
       FIGS. 1 through 13  illustrate various views of the cable rail assembly  20  of the present disclosure.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  9  illustrate views of the fully assembled large chair rail application which is generally 4.125″ tall.  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  10  illustrate views of the fully assembled small chair rail application which is generally 3.125″ tall.  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  11  illustrate views of the fully assembled large baseboard rail application which is generally 3.25″ tall.  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  12  illustrate views of the fully assembled small baseboard rail application which is generally 2.25″ tall.  FIG. 13  illustrates an exploded view of the small chair rail application to better illustrate the connectivity between the various components of the system. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  9 , the large chair rail application is the largest of the cable rail assembly  20 . Cable rail assembly  20  may include a baseboard rail  21  having a cover portion  22 , a curved cover portion  23  with a hinge  24 . Hinge  24  may at least partially connect the cover portion and the curved cover portion while providing flexibility to open the curved cover portion  22  and permit access to a cavity  25  for securing wires (not shown) along the length of the cable rail assembly  20 . The baseboard rail  21  may also include a base portion  26 , a sidewall portion  28  having walls  27  and  33  forming a recessed mating portion  29  in the sidewall portion  28 . Still further, sidewall portion  28  includes a sidewall  32  having a stepped surface. Baseboard rail  21  may further include a closing member  30  formed distal to sidewall portion  28 . In this manner, closing member  30  maybe biased to the closed position so that the wires within cavity  25  remain fully enclosed but the closing mechanism can easily be overcome to provide access to the cavity  25  in combination with the hinge  24 . 
     An extension rail  34  may include a top wall having a protruding mating portion  36  having a pair of locking rails  37  shaped and oriented in a manner to be received within recessed mating portion  29  of baseboard rail  21 . Extension rail  34  may also include a sidewall portion  38  having walls  39  and  40  forming a recessed mating portion  43 . A base portion  42  may be positioned opposite cover portion  45 . As can be seen, extension rail  34  is shown without a hinge, closing member or other suitable mechanism to access a cavity  47 . Nevertheless, a person of skill in the art will immediately appreciate that a closing member and hinge may be incorporated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, a slit may be positioned between locking rails  37  to provide access therein. 
     A quarter round rail  44  is also shown having a cover portion  46  which is generally rounded and a hinge portion  48  connecting the portion  46  and a top portion  55 . A base portion  52  is positioned with a closing member  50  to provide access to cavity  53  for wiring (not shown) to extend the length of the quarter round rail  44 . Similar to extension rail  34 , top portion  55  includes a protruding mating portion rails  51  arranged to be received within the recessed mating portion of the baseboard rail or extension rail. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the rails, individually and collectively have a length along a transverse axis  54  to the cross-sectional area. In some applications, the rail assembly is sold in 8 foot sections and can be cut by the installer or purchaser to the desired length. A number of adapters may be utilized and compatible with the chair rail to provide entry for the cable from the top or bottom or to extend the overall length of the assembly. 
     Moving now to  FIG. 13 , baseboard rail  21  and quarter round rail  44  are shown in greater detail. Accordingly it seen that the protruding mating portion of quarter round rail  44  (or the extension rail) may include two or more trapezoidal or other shaped locking rails running along the transverse axis length  54 . In this orientation, the locking rails are complimentary shaped to the recessed mating portion  29  of baseboard rail  21  (or extension rail as the case may be) so that the mating portions may be slide lengthwise together and connected together. After this connection, the pieces may be separated by relative movement in the direction associated with axis  54  and create a single, larger volume wiring storage device. While the shape and number of locking rails can be helpful, a number of suitable sizes, shapes, and orientations may be utilized to connect multiple rails into a single rail that can be mounted on a wall or other suitable structure as a single piece. 
       FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  10  illustrate the combination of baseboard rail  21  with quarter round rail  44 . In this orientation, a smaller chair rail assembly is accomplished utilizing the same locking features and connection methodology disclosed above. Accordingly, the installer may select the two necessary components from the chair rail assembly parts, slide the baseboard rail  21  and the quarter round rail  44  together along the transverse axis, open the closing members to round cables and mount the combined rail assembly to a wall in a short period of time. 
       FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  11  illustrate the combination of baseboard rail  21  with extension rail  34  to form a larger baseboard rail assembly. In this orientation, the assembly is accomplished utilizing the same locking features and connection methodology disclosed above but the quarter round rail  44  is merely omitted. 
       FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  12  illustrate the baseboard rail  21  alone as may be utilized in applications where only a shorter baseboard rail is desired. In this manner, the installer may simply open the closing member, mount the baseboard rail to a wall through known means (screws, nails, double sided tape, etc.), route cables through the cavity, and close the closing member. Alternatively, the installer may route wires through the cavity (as is applicable to all embodiments disclosed herein) before securing the rail assembly to a wall or floor. 
     Alternatively, double sided tape, or a single sided tape may be utilized between the locking rails and on each side of the locking rails to provide a smooth and flat surface for mounting the baseboard rail or extension rail to a hard surface, such as the floor or a wall. Still further, the same methodology may be used to locate double sided tape adjacent to the locking rails on the quarter round rail and to assist with securing the quarter round to a wall or floor as may be appropriate. 
     Accordingly, it is seen that a single kit of components may provide a larger number of applications which when combined together properly form a single structure that can be mounted to a wall or floor to secure wiring in a cavity with the appearance of a large or small baseboard, a large or small chair rail, or a quarter round rail. 
     It will be understood that implementations are not limited to the specific components disclosed herein, as virtually any components consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for a cable rail system may be utilized. Components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for a cable rail system. 
     The concepts disclosed herein are not limited to the specific implementations shown herein. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the components included in a particular implementation of a cable rail system may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations that can readily be formed into shaped objects and that are consistent with the intended operation of a cable rail system. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; polymers and/or other like materials; plastics, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals and/or other like materials; alloys and/or other like materials; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
     Furthermore, embodiments of the cable rail system may be manufactured separately and then assembled together, or any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled or removably coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material(s) forming the components. 
     In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of a cable rail system, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other cable rail systems. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in this document. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.