Patent Publication Number: US-2009229645-A1

Title: Tent Frame Structural Member With Utility Channel and Tent Made Therewith

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/037,231, filed Mar. 17, 2008, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to tents and more particularly to frames and structural members for tents. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tents can be very large and can be used for providing a shelter and environment for large gatherings and celebrations such as theatrical events, wedding receptions and conventions. A shell of the tent provides shelter and defines the environment for the event. The shell is typically formed from one or more fabric panels that are supported by a frame. The frame of a large tent typically includes a plurality of interconnected structural members that combine to support the shell. The structural members may include vertical legs that define the walls and rafters that extend at an angle relative to the vertical legs and toward a peak of the tent to define the roof. 
     As the tents are used to provide shelter for all types of events, the tents are typically adorned with accessories such as lighting, sound systems, decorations, fans, banners and heaters, to name a few. However, assembly of the tent and hanging of these accessories has been time consuming and even frustrating. 
     Normally, as the structural members of the tent frame are continuous beams, cables, wire trays, bungee cords, or other attachment devices that are able to wrap around the structural members of the frame are required to attach the accessories to the structural members. However, the use of these devices can be aesthetically unsatisfactory and may also compromise structural stability and integrity. Further, ease of assembly and adjustment of the location of the accessories relative to the structural members of the tent frame is also limited and difficult, particularly after the accessories have been mounted to the structural members. 
     The present invention provides improved structural members, and tents utilizing these structural members, that facilitate improved assembly and configuration of tents and particularly improved hanging of accessories. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has several aspects that may be claimed and stand as patentable independently and individually or in combination with other aspects, including but not limited to the following. 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a structural member for a tent frame that includes a utility channel that provides an attachment location for securing accessories thereto. In practicing an embodiment, the utility channel includes undercuts that permit a mounting structure to be secured within the utility channel. The utility channel preferably includes a retaining portion and a mouth portion with the retaining portion being positioned relative to the mouth portion to form the undercut regions in the channel 
     In another embodiment, devices that are mounted to the structural member using the mounting structures can be infinitely positioned along the length of the structural member. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a tent that includes structural members that include integrally formed utility channels to provide attachment locations for mounting accessories to the tent. 
     In one embodiment, the structural member may be a connector for interconnecting a plurality of generally straight structural members. The connector includes a utility channel have a substantially identical profile as the rest of the structural members such that a substantially continuous utility channel is provided by the interconnected structural members. 
     In a more particular embodiment of a structural member, the structural member generally has a rectangular periphery when viewed perpendicular to the utility channel. The rectangular periphery includes first, second, third and fourth sides. The channel is formed in the fourth side. The structural member has a hollow interior bounded by first, second, third and fourth sidewalls. The first, second, third and fourth sides are defined by the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls, respectively. The first and third sides extend generally perpendicular to and between the third and fourth sides forming a first corner between the first and second sides, a second corner between the second and third sides, a third corner between the third and fourth sides and a fourth corner between the fourth and first sides. 
     In an even more particular embodiment, the fourth sidewall has first and second peripheral sidewall portions substantially defining the outer surface of the fourth sidewall that faces away from the second sidewall. The first and second peripheral sidewall portions form a gap therebetween forming at least part of the mouth. First and second mouth wall portions extend inward from distal ends of the first and second peripheral sidewall portions that face one another. The first and second mouth wall portions define, in part, the mouth therebetween. First and second undercut wall portions extending laterally outward from ends of the first and second mouth wall portions, respectively. The first and second undercut wall portions extending generally parallel to the first and second peripheral sidewall portions and are generally co-planar. First and second retaining wall portions extend inward from ends of the first and second undercut wall portions, respectively. The first and second retaining wall portions are generally parallel to the first and third sidewalls. A channel bottom wall portion extends between and connects distal ends of the first and second retaining wall portions. The bottom wall portion is generally parallel to the undercut wall portions. The first and second mouth wall portions are spaced apart a first distance. The first and second retaining wall portions are spaced apart a second distance. The first distance is less than the second distance. The first and second undercut wall portions, first and second retaining wall portions and the bottom wall portion substantially bounding and defining the retaining portion. 
     The first and second corners may define C-channels for engaging enlarged edge portions of a fabric panel. Each of the C-channels having a narrowed mouth portion leading to an enlarged retaining portion. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a tent including a plurality of structural members interconnected to form a tent frame. The tent also includes a utility channel formed in and running along a length of at least one of the plurality of structural members. The utility channel includes a retaining portion and a mouth portion. The tent also includes at least one device secured to the at least one structural member. The at least one device includes mounting structure including a mounting head inserted into the retaining portion and a neck portion extending from the mounting head through the mouth portion. The mounting head has a width in at least one dimension in a relaxed state being larger than a width of the mouth portion to create an interference engagement between the utility channel and the mounting head. 
     In a more particular implementation, the retaining portion is positioned relative to the mouth portion such that the utility channel has a pair of undercut regions on adjacent sides of the mouth portion. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective illustration of a tent according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of a structural member of the tent of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the structural member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the structural member of  FIG. 3  including an attachment member mounted to the structural member; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are front and side views of the attachment member of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIGS. 7-9  illustrate devices that can be attached to a structural member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are simplified alternative cross-sections of the structural member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are top view illustrations of alternative mounting head arrangements of mounting structures according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a partial cross-section of a structural member taken about line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 4 , detailing one embodiment of an attachment structure inserted into a utility channel; 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate additional arrangements of devices connected to structural members utilizing a utility channel of the structural member; 
         FIG. 17  is an alternative embodiment of a wire tray according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is an alternative embodiment of a wire tray according to the teachings of the present invention attached to a structural member; 
         FIG. 19  is an end view illustration of the wire tray and structural member illustrated in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is an end exploded illustration of the wire tray and structural member of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is an end view illustration of the wire tray and structural member of  FIG. 18 , with the wire tray attached in a different manner; and 
         FIG. 22  is an enlarged partial end view illustration of the wire tray and structural member of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a partial illustration of a tent  100  including structural members in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The tent  100  includes a tent frame  102  that supports a shell  104  to provide a shelter or building like structure. 
     The tent frame  102  is generally constructed of a plurality of structural members including a plurality of legs  108  that generally define the vertical walls of the tent, a plurality of rafters  110  that extend at an angle relative to the legs  108  and that meet at the peak  112  of the tent  100  and a plurality of purlins  114  that extend horizontally between the rafters  110  and generally parallel to the peak  112 . Typically, purlins  114  are made of smaller profiles. The peak  112  is formed by purlins  114 . Purlins in this position are also referred to as ridge purlins. The illustrated tent frame  102 , is a clear span tent frame that is free of interior poles. 
     The legs  108  are mounted to feet  116  which rest on the ground upon which the tent  100  is built. The feet  116  support the legs  108  in an upright or vertical orientation. During installation, the feet  116  allow the legs  108  to be pivoted from a horizontal position into an upright position. 
     The tent  100  may further include guy-wires  118  at predetermined locations that extend between various structural members to provide increased support and stability of the structure. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate a structural member  120  that can be used as any of the components of the tent frame  102 , such as a leg  108 , rafter  110  or purlin  114  of the tent frame  102 . With primary reference to  FIG. 3 , the structural member  120  is of a hollow box beam construction having a generally rectangular cross-section including sides  122 - 125 . Typically, the structural member  120  is formed from extruded metal, and more typically from extruded aluminum. 
     The corners formed by the intersections of adjacent ones of the sides  122 - 125  include C-shaped channels  134 - 137  that extend the length of the structural member  120 . Channels  134 - 137  engage edges of fabric panels forming shell  104 . The edges of the fabric panels generally include an enlarged region that is slid axially through channels  134 - 137  and laterally secures the fabric panels to the structural members  120 . 
     Sides  122 ,  123 ,  124  include pairs of ribs  126  and side  125  includes channels  127 . The ribs  126  of side  123  are sized and configured to cooperate with channels  127  of side  125  to align structural members  120  when they are stacked on top of each other for shipping or storage. This interlocks the structural members  120  to prevent tipping and promote integrity of a stack of structural members  120 . Further, the ribs  126  assist in reducing the amount of surface area by which the structural members  120  are supported while surface treating the structural members  120 , such as during anodizing. 
     Side  125  forms a utility channel  140  running the length of the structural member  120  The utility channel  140  of the illustrated embodiment has a T-shape including a generally rectangular retaining portion  141  connected to a smaller mouth portion  142 . The mouth portion  142  provides access to the larger retaining portion  141 . The mouth portion  142  has a smaller width than the retaining portion  141  such that the retaining portion  141  includes undercut regions  143 , formed between wall portion  145  and bottom wall portions  147 . 
     The utility channel  140  is formed by a plurality of inter-connected wall portions that form sidewall  125 . 
     The utility channel  140  can be used to mount devices such as a clamp  146  (see  FIG. 7 ), carabineer  148  (see  FIG. 8 ), wire tray  150  (see  FIG. 9 ) or other devices to the structural member  120 . 
     More particularly, the devices can be mounted to the structural member  120  using a mounting structure, such as a T-bolt  149  illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 . The T-bolt  149  includes a mounting head  152  and neck portion  154  that corresponds to the T-shape of the utility channel  140 . The neck portion  154  extends through mouth portion  142  of the utility channel  140  and connects the mounting head  152  to the device, such as the clip portion  156  of the carabineer  148  of  FIG. 8 . 
     The mounting head  152  is sized to be received and retained in the retaining portion  141  of the utility channel  140 . More particularly, the mounting head  152  is sized and configured such that it can be arranged in the retaining portion  141  so that the mounting head  52  cannot pass through the mouth portion  142  of the utility channel  140 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting head  152  has a first dimension having a width W 1  (see  FIGS. 6 and 12 ) that is sized smaller than the width W 2  (see FIG.  3 ) of the mouth portion  142  of the utility channel  140  such that the mounting head  152  can be inserted through the mouth portion  142  and into retaining portion  141 . Further, the mounting head  152  has a second dimension having width W 3  (see  FIGS. 5 and 12 ), generally transverse to the first dimension, that is greater than the width W 2  of the mouth portion  142 . 
     As such, the mounting head  152  may be passed through the mouth portion  142  with the first dimension having width W 1  aligned with the width of the mouth portion  142 . Once the mounting head  152  has been received in the retaining portion  141 , the T-bolt  149  can be rotated 90 degrees such that the larger dimension having width W 3  is transverse to the width W 2  of the mouth portion  142 , preventing the mounting head  152  from passing back through the mouth portion  142 . This embodiment presumed that width W 3  is less than or substantially equal to the width W 4  of the retaining portion  141  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     However, in alternative embodiments, the larger dimension having width W 3  of the mounting head  152  could be larger than width W 4  of the retaining portion  141 , such as illustrated in  FIG. 14  This can be beneficial such that as the T-bolt  149  is rotated relative to the structural member  120 , the T-bolt  149  is prevented from rotating due to interference between the walls defining the retaining portion and the mounting head  152 . Further, the mounting head  152  of the T-bolt  149  may be trapezoidal in shape such that the mounting head will lock into position when turned after insertion through mount portion  142 . This locking prevents the T-bolt  149  from spinning indefinitely or, at least 180 degrees, such that it will re-align with the mouth portion  142  such that it can be removed. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  are top view illustrations of examples of mounting heads  152 ,  152 B of T-bolts  149  and  149 B according to the teachings of the present invention. Mounting head  152  has a rectangular cross-section while mounting head  152 B has an oval or elliptical cross-section. However, alternative head shapes can be incorporated while staying within the scope of the invention. 
     Alternatively, and with reference to  FIG. 7 , a mounting head  152   a  could include snap structure such that can be compressed (illustrated by arrows  160 ) such that it can be passed through the mouth portion  142  and that then expanded (illustrated by arrows  162 ) within the retaining portion  141  to retain the device to the structural member  120 . The snap structure may sufficiently engage the walls defining the utility channel  140  to prevent rotation. 
     Further, devices may be mounted to the utility channels by using other types of mounting structure that are inserted through an end of the utility channel, rather than the mouth portion  142 . Mounting structure such as bolts that have flats on their heads, for example as hex head bolt, can be inserted into the retaining portion  141  such that flats of the hex head engage sidewalls  164 ,  166  defining the retaining portion  141  so that the bolt would not rotate within the utility channel  140 . This locking arrangement allows nuts or devices to be tightened onto the threads of the bolt without the bolt rotating within the utility channel. 
     Alternatively, a carriage bolt could be used to secure devices to the structural member  120 . In such an embodiment, the head of the carriage bolt would reside in the retaining portion  141  of the utility channel  140 . Flats of the carriage bolt would extend through the mouth portion  142  of the utility channel  140  and engage the sidewalls  168 ,  170  of the structural member  120  defining the mouth portion  142  to prevent rotation of the carriage bolt. 
     By including the utility channel  140 , devices can be easily mounted to the structural members  120  and can also be easily positioned along the length of the structural member  120 . The devices, and particularly the mounting structure, can be merely slid within the utility channel  140 . This provides infinite adjustment along the length of the structural member  120 . 
     The use of the utility channel  140  eliminates the need for aesthetically displeasing cables, tie wraps, bungee cords or other attachment devices that previously required wrapping all the way around the structural member to secure accessories to the structural members  120 . 
     The rigid connection that can be provided between the structural members  120  and devices such as the hooks  146 , carabineers  148  and wire trays  150  provides improved structural integrity and support of the accessories that are mounted to and supported by the tent frame  102 , such as lights as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 .  FIG. 16  illustrates that carabineers  148  can be used at opposite ends of a device, such as the light assembly to mount a device. 
     While the illustrated structural member  120  has rectangular shaped retaining and mouth portions  141 ,  142 , alternative embodiments can have alternative shapes. For example, the retaining portion could be rounded (see  FIG. 11 ) or trapezoidal (see  FIG. 10 ) in cross-section. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9 ,  15  and  16  wire trays  150  according to the present invention are illustrated. A wire tray  150  hides the wires  180  for the accessories such as the lights  182  as the wires  180  extend along the rafter  110  (i.e. structural member  120 ). For the following descriptions, rafter  110  and structural member  120  may be used interchangeably. With reference to  FIG. 9 , the wire tray  150  mounts to the bottom surface  184  of the support structure  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the wire tray  150  is generally T-shaped. 
     The wire tray  150  includes a top abutment flange  186  that abuts against the bottom surface  184  of structural member  120 . A wire supporting flange  188 , forming a wire holding tray portion, is offset from the abutment flange  186  by two parallel spacing walls  190 ,  192 . The spacing walls  190 ,  192  extend generally perpendicular to the abutment flange  186  and the wire supporting flange  188 . 
     The wire supporting flange  188  has upturned ends  194 ,  196 . The wire supporting flange  188  and the spacing walls  190 ,  192  combine to form wire storing channels  197 ,  198 . 
     The abutment flange  186  includes a pair of parallel spaced apart ribs  200 ,  202  running the axial length of the wire tray  150 . The ribs  200 ,  202  insert into channels  127  formed in the bottom surface  184  of side  125 . The engagement between the channels  127  and the ribs  200 ,  202  aligns the wire tray  150  relative to structural member  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the ribs  200 ,  202  are latterly spaced apart such that they straddle the spacing walls  190 ,  192 . The ribs  200 ,  202  are formed proximate the lateral edges of the abutment flange  186 . While the ribs  200 ,  202  are illustrated as being formed on the abutment flange  186  and the channels  127  are formed in the bottom surface  184  of the structural member  120 , the arrangement could be switched. As such, the ribs could be formed by the structural member and the channels formed by the wire tray. If the ribs and channels were switched, the ribs  126  of the structural member would also need to be switched to channels so as to permit stacking as more fully described previously. 
     The wire tray  150  may be secured to the structural member  120  using an attachment member such as a T-bolt  149 . The neck portion  154  of the T-bolt is long enough to extend axially through an aperture in the abutment flange  186 , through a cavity  204  formed between the parallel spacing walls  190 ,  192  and then through an aperture formed in the wire supporting flange  188 . The neck portion  154  includes a threaded end  206  that receives a nut  208  to secure the wire tray  150  to the structural member  120 . 
     However, the wire tray could include snap structure, such as illustrated in  FIG. 7  to snap-engage the wire tray  150  to the structural members  120 . The snap structure could be integrally formed with the wire tray  150  or added as a separate component. For example, the snap structure could be at the end of bolt-like structure that replaces T-bolt  149 . Such a device would extend through the wire tray  150  such that the snap structure would extend away from the abutment flange  186  and wire supporting flange  188 . 
     A further embodiment of a wire tray  250  is illustrated in  FIG. 17 . This embodiment connects to the structural member  120  by engaging channels  136 ,  137 . The wire tray  250  includes a modified abutment flange  286 . The abutment flange  286  includes two clips  287 ,  288  on opposite ends. The clips  287 ,  288  are connected to the ends of the abutment flange  286  by integral hinges  289 ,  291 . Thus, clips  287 ,  288  are formed as a one-piece construction with abutment flange  286 . A “one-piece construction” as used herein shall not include multiple independent components connected together. 
     The clips  287 ,  288  include catch portions  302 ,  304  that extend laterally toward one another and through the throat of the channels  136 ,  137  to engage structural member  120 . The clips  287 ,  288  also include lever portions  294 ,  296  spaced apart from the catch portions  302 ,  304 . The lever portions  294 ,  296  permit a user to disengage the catch portions  302 ,  304  from the structural member  120 . More particularly, the user may press lever portions  294 ,  296  toward one another causing the clips  287 ,  288  to pivot through hinges  289 ,  291  causing the catch portions  302 ,  304  to disengage channels  136 ,  137 . 
     Opposite the lever portions  294 ,  296 , the clips include flared tips  298 ,  300  that flare laterally outward from one another. The flared tips  298 ,  300  facilitate snap engaging the wire tray  250  to the structural member. They further facilitate removal of the wire tray  250  from the structural member. Further facilitating engagement between the wire tray  250  and the structural member  120 , the catch portions  302 ,  304  have a tapered outward facing surfaces that function as cam surfaces when mounting the wire tray  250 . 
     The wire tray also includes downward depending flanges  308 ,  310  that include laterally inward facing channels  312 ,  314  that permit additional devices to be snap engaged to wire tray  250 . For example, lights  316 , the attachment structure illustrated schematically as a rectangular box in  FIG. 17 , could be engaged between flanges  308 ,  310  and within channels  312 ,  314 . Alternatively, the lights  316  could be replaced by a flat piece of material that is mounted in between flanges  308 ,  310 . This forms an additional fully enclosed cavity to the wire tray  250  for storing additional wires. In an alternative example, another wire tray  150  (of a previous embodiment) may be snap engaged to wire tray  250  to provide for more wire support. Again, the channels  312 ,  314  could be replaced by a single rib that would engage channels of a connected device, such as the light or an additional wire tray. 
     While clips  287 ,  288  engage channels  136 ,  137  alternative embodiments could use similar clip devices that engage into utility channel  140 . 
     A tent  100  according to the present invention may include a plurality of wire trays  150 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a plurality of wire trays  150  may be mounted to a single rafter  110  (i.e. structural member  120 ). Where two wire trays  150  axially meet, an attachment device such as a carabineer  148  or clamp  146  may be interposed between the two adjacent wire trays  150  to provide a mounting location for accessories such as the light assemblies  212 ,  214 . Further, the gap between the adjacent wire trays  150  provides an easy outlet from the wire channels  197 ,  198  for the wires  180  to exit the wire tray  150  and extend to the accessory, i.e. lights  182 . 
     To secure a wire  180 , the user merely inserts the wire through the gap formed between the upturned edges  194 ,  196  and the abutment flange  186 . With the addition of the wire trays  150 , there is no need to drape the wires  180  over the structural members  120  or to affix wires  180  to the structural members  120  such as by way of cords, bungee straps, wire ties, etc. Further, the wires  180  need not be fed between various structural members and the shell of the tent. Thus, the aesthetic displeasing arrangements of the free hanging wires can be substantially eliminated. The wire trays  150  can, depending on the size of the wires  180 , entirely hide the wires  180  as they run along the structural members  120 . 
     In preferred embodiments, the wire trays are formed of plastic or aluminum. However, the wire tray  150  could be formed of any suitable material such as wood, metal, etc. 
     Further, with reference to  FIG. 16 , any bracing, fittings or connectors between various structural members may also be configured to receive a wire tray. For example, a peak fitting  193  may includes a utility channel to which a wire tray  150  may be connected. Further, the fitting  193  includes the C-shaped channels, such as channel  137  which can be further used to mount a wire tray. In other words, the bracing, fittings or connectors can be configured to continue the mounting structure of the structural members  120 . The utility channel  140  of the rafters merge smoothly into the utility channel  140  of the peak fitting  193 . The same arrangement occurs for channels  136 ,  137 . 
     With regard to the structure of  FIG. 16 , wire tray  150  is arcuate in shape such that it matches the arcuate shape of the peak fitting  193 . Alternatively, two separate wire trays could be positioned such that there ends stop at the beginning of the curvature of fitting  193 . However, in this configuration, a portion of the wires that pass between the two wire trays would be exposed, presenting a less than ideal configuration, but a configuration none-the-less in the event that a curved wire tray is not available. 
     This promotes improving the aesthetic appearance of the tent by hiding the wires substantially the entire way from the ground to the device that requires the wiring. In some embodiments, wire trays may extend substantially from the foot  116  of one leg  108  across the tent to the foot  16  of a coordinated leg  108 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 16 , the wire trays would first extend up the first leg  108  from foot  116 . Then the wire trays would extend along a first rafter  110  directly connected to the leg  108 . Then the wire trays would extend from the first rafter  110  to a second rafter  110  connected to the first rafter by a peak fitting  193  (see  FIG. 16 ). Next, the wire trays would extend down the second rafter  110  to a second leg  108 . Finally, the wire trays would extend down along the second leg  108  connected to the second rafter  110  to the foot  116  of this second leg. Again, if any bracing or structural member connectors are positioned between two adjacent structural members, for example a leg  108  and an adjacent rafter  110 , that bracing or connector may also be connected to a wire tray so that there are substantially no or very limited breaks in the wire tray from the foot  116  of one leg  108  to the foot  116  of the other leg  108 , positioned across the tent. 
       FIGS. 18-22  illustrate a further embodiment of a wire tray  350 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 21 , the wire tray is configured to be connected to different style structural members  120 ,  120 ′ as well as may be connected to either a utility channel  140  ( FIG. 19 ) or C-shaped channels  136 ,  137  ( FIG. 21 ) as will be more fully described below. 
       FIGS. 19 and 20  illustrate end views of the wire tray  350  and a structural member  120 . The wire tray  350  includes a wire supporting flange  388 , forming a wire holding tray portion from which two parallel mounting walls  390 ,  392  extend. These mounting walls form a neck portion much like the T-bolts described above. The mounting walls  390 ,  392  extend generally perpendicular to the wire supporting flange  388  when in a relaxed state. However, in other embodiments, the parallel mounting walls  390 ,  392  need not be parallel or could have an arcuate profile in the relaxed or bent state. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting walls  390 ,  392  are connected at a first end to the wire supporting flange  388 . Preferably, the outer surfaces of the mounting walls  390 ,  392  are laterally spaced a greater distance than the width W 2  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the mouth portion  142  of the utility channel  140 . This arrangement causes the mounting walls  390 ,  392  to be compressed toward one another when the wire tray  350  is mounted to the structural member  120 . As such, the mounting walls  390 ,  392  will be canted toward one another. This provides a more secure connection between the wire tray  350  and structural member  120  by providing a loading of the sidewalls  168 ,  170  (see  FIG. 3 ) forming mouth portion  142 . 
     However, the inner surfaces of the mounting walls  390 ,  392  is preferably narrower than the overall width of the distance W 5  (see  FIG. 22 ) of the distance between the distal ends of the walls defining C-shaped channels  136 ,  137  so as to cause the mounting walls  390 ,  392  to compress against the distal ends when mounted to C-shaped channels  136 ,  137 , such as illustrated in  FIG. 21 . 
     Mounting clips  393 ,  395  are formed at the distal ends of the mounting walls  390 ,  392 , respectively. The mounting clips  393 ,  395  engage the structural member  120  to secure the wire tray  350  to the structural member  120 . As such, the mounting clips  393 ,  395  are a form of a head portion similar to the head portion of the T-bolt described above, however, their method of engaging the undercuts of the utility channel is different. With reference to  FIG. 22  the mounting clips  393 ,  395  will be explained. However, only mounting clip  393  will be described as mounting clip  395  is an exact mirror opposite of mounting clip  393 . 
     Mounting clip  393  includes an outer clip portion  399  that extends laterally outward beyond the outer surface  400  of the mounting wall  390 . The outer clip portion  399  is illustrated as being canted back towards wire supporting flange  388  such that a channel  402  is formed between the outer clip portion  399  and outer surface  400 . The outer clip portion  399  is canted relative to mounting wall  390  at an acute angle, but could extend at other angles, including perpendicular or obtuse, depending on the required engagement needed between the wire tray  350  and the structural member  120 . The outer clip portion  399  extends laterally into undercut  143  of the retaining portion  141  of the utility channel. A distal end  404  of outer clip portion  399  axially engages bottom wall portion  147  forming a catch relationship therebetween that prevents, without other manipulation, the mounting wall  390  and mounting clip  393  from being pulled out of the utility channel  140 . Preferably, the outer clip portion  399  is arcuate such that it curves back toward the mounting wall  390  so as to place the outer clip portion  399  closer to a state of compression rather than bending to increase the strength of the mounting clip  399 . 
     Opposite the outer clip portion  399  is an inner clip portion  406 . With additional reference to  FIG. 21 , the inner clip portion  406  is configured to engage C-shaped channels  136 ,  137  of a structural member  120 . This provides an engagement like that of the embodiment of  FIG. 17 . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , the inner clip portion  406  extends generally laterally inward beyond an inner surface  408  of mounting wall  390 . The inner clip portion  406  is generally hook shaped and in an extension portion  410  extends outward from the mounting wall  390  at an obtuse angle and away from the wire supporting flange  388  but then includes an arcuate hook portion  412  that curves back around toward wire supporting flange  388  having a distal end  414  that generally faces wire supporting flange  388 . This hook shape defines a cavity or channel  416  that receives a distal end of the wall of the structural member  120  defining the C-shaped channels  136 ,  137 . 
     In one embodiment, the width W 2  of the mouth portion  142  of the utility channel  140 , the spacing of the outer surfaces of the mounting walls  390 ,  392  and the inner clip portions  406  of each mounting clip  393 ,  395  are configured such that when the wire tray  350  is mounted to the structural member  120 , the hook portions  412  of the inner clip portions  406  laterally contact one another. In one more preferable arrangement, this contacting causes the distal ends of the mounting walls  390 ,  392  to be laterally biased away from one another, i.e. opposite the way they are biased by being mounted within mouth portion  142  of the utility channel  140 . This arrangement further promotes securement within utility channel  140 . However, other embodiments will have the arrangement of the mounting walls  390 ,  392 , inner clip portions  406  such that the inner clip portions  406  will not contact when passing through the mouth portion  142  so as to facilitate easier installation and removal of the wire tray  350 . 
     The top surfaces  418 ,  420  of the mounting clips  393 ,  395  face away from one another and form cam surfaces for assisting in mounting the wire tray  350  to the utility channel  140 . Similarly, the outer surface of the hook portions  412  will function as cam surfaces during mounting of the wire tray  350  such as illustrated in  FIG. 21 . 
     The mounting walls  390 ,  392  are preferably resilient members such that the mounting walls  390 ,  392  can be resilient bent toward one another to disconnect the wire tray  350  and particularly outer clip portions  399  from a structural member  120  when mounted to the utility channel  140  thereof. Further, the mounting walls  390 ,  392  are preferably resilient such that the mounting walls  390 ,  392  can be resilient bent away from one another to disconnect the wire tray  350  and particularly inner clip portions  406  from a structural member  120  when mounted to the C-shaped channels  136 ,  137  thereof. 
     To assist in the resilient flexure toward one another, there is gap formed between the mounting walls  390 ,  392 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 19 , the wire supporting flange  388  has upturned ends  394 ,  396 . The wire supporting flange  388  and the mounting walls  390 ,  392  combine to form wire storing channels  397 ,  398 . This embodiment also illustrates that the upturned ends  394 ,  396  also include increasingly canted end portions  422 ,  424  that extend inward toward each other. This provides slight undercut arrangements to assist in securing wires within the wire storing channels  397 ,  398 . 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.