Hangable apparatus and systems and methods therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11457762-B2
Application number	US-202117195464-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2021
Priority date	Jul 25, 2018
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A track hanger ( 100 ) includes a hook ( 103 ) and an extension ( 104 ), a base member ( 102 ), and a key ( 403 ). The key is detachable from the hook, and the base member is detachable from the extension. The key can include a first major surface ( 401 ) and a second major surface ( 402 ). The first major surface can define one or more barbs ( 404 ) that facilitate one-way insertion of the key into a track ( 106 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track hanger, comprising:
a first base member portion comprising a first half rail clamp and defining a first half head-receiving aperture;
a second base member portion coupled to the first base member portion, the second base member portion comprising a second half rail clamp and defining a second half head-receiving aperture;
a hanger comprising an extension situated between a hook and a head, the head situated within a head-receiving aperture formed by the first half head-receiving aperture and the second half head-receiving aperture, with an upper surface of the head exposed to the first half rail clamp and the second half rail clamp; and
a coupler coupling the first base member portion to the second base member portion;
wherein threading the coupler onto the first base member portion and the second base member portion moves the head of the hanger toward the first half rail clamp and the second half rail clamp.

2. The track hanger of claim 1 , further comprising a rail situated between the first half rail clamp and the second half rail clamp.

3. The track hanger of claim 2 , the coupler causing the head of the hanger to clamp onto the rail situated between the first half rail clamp and the second half rail clamp.

4. The track hanger of claim 1 , further comprising a head receiver extending distally from the head-receiving aperture.

5. The track hanger of claim 4 , wherein both the head receiver and the head are cylindrical, and the head-receiving aperture is circular.

6. The track hanger of claim 5 , wherein an exterior surface of head receiver defines one or more threads.

7. The track hanger of claim 6 , further comprising a key that is detachable from the hook.

8. The track hanger of claim 7 , the key comprising a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface defining one or more barbs.

9. The track hanger of claim 8 , the first base member portion comprising one or more bosses, the second base member portion comprising one or more boss receivers.

10. The track hanger of claim 9 , the one or more bosses inserting into the one or more boss receivers when the first base member portion and the second base member portion abut.

11. The track hanger of claim 7 , wherein the first base member portion is separable from the second base member portion along a medial major axis.

12. The track hanger of claim 7 , the key comprising a distal end receiver, the hook comprising a distal end inserted into the distal end receiver.

13. The track hanger of claim 12 , the distal end receiver defining at least one engagement recess, the distal end comprising at least one engagement protrusion projecting from the distal end and engaging the at least one engagement recess when the distal end is inserted into the distal end receiver to retain the key to the distal end.

14. The track hanger of claim 7 , further comprising a track coupled to the key and a tool comprising a track grabber situated atop the track, the track grabber defining a half-U shape comprising an arch and a major face.

15. The track hanger of claim 14 , wherein a diameter of the arch is wider at a resistance point of the track grabber than at other portions of the track grabber.

16. A track hanger, comprising:
a hook, a head, and an extension, the extension disposed between the head and the hook;
a base member comprising a first half rail clamp and a second half rail clamp, the base member comprising a head receiver defining a head-receiving aperture exposing the head to the first half rail clamp and the second half rail clamp when the head is inserted into the head-receiving aperture;
a key, the key being selectively attachable to the hook; and
a coupler;
wherein the head is insertable into the head receiver and the coupler is operable to engage an exterior surface of the head receiver to move the head through the head-receiving aperture toward the first half rail clamp and the second half rail clamp.

17. The track hanger of claim 16 , wherein the key comprises a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface defining one or more barbs.

18. The track hanger of claim 17 , further comprising a track, the one or more barbs facilitating one-way penetration of the key into the track.

19. The track hanger of claim 18 , further comprising an end cap attached to the track, the end cap comprising a wall abutment and an extension that situates around an exterior end of the track, the track comprising one or more complementary barbs, the end cap further comprising a track insertion key inserted into the one or more complementary barbs.

20. The track hanger of claim 19 , further comprising one or more hangers hanging from the track.

Assignees

• Medline Industries Lp

Inventors

• Wexler Paige
• Bobo Joshua
• Piazzi John

Classifications

• A47H1/142

  for supporting rods · CPC title

• A47H1/144

  for supporting rails · CPC title

• A47H1/104 Primary

  for mounting curtain rails (A47H1/12, A47H1/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47H1/14 Primary

  Brackets for supporting rods or rails · CPC title

• A47H1/04

  Curtain rails · CPC title