Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   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. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an overhead adjustable track system constructed according to the principles of the present invention, showing a sign member being supported between a pair of elongated moveable rails; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an elongated rail, which could be either a fixed rail or a moveable rail; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a connector, showing the tapered shoulders on each side thereof, and its connected pinchable projection extending transversely from a midpoint thereof; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a moveable rail showing the procedure of a connector being inserted into an elongated rail and end caps arranged for placement thereon; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a pair of elongated fixed rails attached to an overhead support, and a pair of elongated moveable rails being attached therewith; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view showing a longitudinal representation of an elongated moveable rail attached to an elongated fixed rail in transverse viewing; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an overhead adjustable track system attached to one another and secured to a plurality of ceiling fixed tubes, the upper end of which are secured to an overhead support such as a ceiling. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the present invention which comprises an overhead adjustable track system  10  for supporting a display or a signage arrangement  12  in an accommodative manner, from an overhead support such as a ceiling  14  or the like. The overhead adjustable track system  10  in a first preferred embodiment thereof, comprises a first elongated fixed rail  16  and a second elongated fixed rail  18 , each individually and separately secured to an overhead building component, such as the ceiling  14 . Such first and second elongated fixed rails  16  and  18  need not necessarily be parallel with one another when they are secured to the overhead building component, for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow, although parallel installation is preferred. The overhead adjustable track system  10  as illustrated also includes a first elongated moveable rail  20  and a second elongated moveable rail  22 . Each elongated fixed rail  16  and  18  and each elongated moveable rail  20  and  22  are preferably structurally the same for ease of manufacturability, but do not need to be. The movable rails  20  and  22  each preferably have a clip  25  attached thereto, as shown in  FIG. 1 , for supporting the sign  12  therefrom by a connective line  27 . 
   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  FIG. 2 . Each such rail  16  and/or  20  has an elongated extruded base  24  having a first elongated flange  26  extending along one side thereof and a second elongated flange  28  extending along the opposite side thereof. The first elongated flange  26  has a first inwardly extending lip  30  running along a distal edge of the first flange  26 . The second flange  28  has a second inwardly directed lip  32  extending along a distal edge of the second flange  28 . The first and second inwardly facing lips  30  and  32  have an elongated gap  34  running therebetween. An elongated central channel  36  is defined between the elongated base  24  and the first and second elongated flanges  26  and  28  with their respective first and second inwardly directed lips  30  and  32 . A first side rail  38  extends off the elongated base  24  from a first edge thereof. A second elongated side rail  40  extends off the second edge of the elongated base  24 . Each side rail  38  and  40  has a pinched waist portion  42  with each side rail  38  and  40  having an outer rounded edge  44  thereon, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The overhead rail system  10  includes a connector  50 , as best shown in  FIG. 3  and also shown partially in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 . The connector  50  comprises a shallow “clothes hanger” shaped member (see  FIG. 3 ) having a first shoulder  52  and a second shoulder  54  which are each tapered to a narrowed first end  56  and a tapered narrowed second end  58 . The first tapered end  56  and the tapered second end  58  are connected with a curvilinear main web  60  extending therebetween. 
   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  FIG. 3 . The projection  62  is squeezably pinchable as represented by arrows “A” so as to collapse and make its width narrower for insertion through gap  34 , as will be recited hereinbelow. 
   The connector  50  has a transverse axis “T” which extends between the tapered first end  52  and the tapered second end  54 , shown in  FIG. 3 . That transverse axis “T” is arranged in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis “L” of the elongated central channel  36  within the respective elongated adjustment extrusions  20  and  22 , as represented in  FIG. 6 . The projection  62  of the connector  50  extends through the elongated gap  34  between the first inwardly directed lip  30  and the second inwardly directed lip  32  on the elongated moveable rail  20  and  22 , and into the elongated gap  34  on the fixed rail  16  and  18  and is slidable therewithin for adjustment purposes thereof. It is to be noted that such connector  50  could be inserted within the elongated central channel  36  of either the fixed rail  16  or  18  and project into the moveable rail  20  or  22 , or vice versa. The elongated rails  16  and  18  and  20  and  22  may have a first end cap  70  and a second end cap  72  which sealingly plug the open end of each end of the elongated central channel  36 . The projections  62  of each connector  50  may be slidingly arranged within the elongated channel  36  of the elongated fixed rail  16  and  18 . 
   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  FIG. 6 . The distalmost tip  64  of the projection  62  of the connector  50  is spaced sufficiently apart from any head of a threaded connector  76  so as to permit slidable adjustability of the connector  50  with respect to the fixed rail  16 / 18  as well as to the elongated moveable rail  20 / 22 . 
   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  FIG. 7 .

Technology Category: g