Adjustable mounting system for accessibility devices and other arrangements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025179806-A1
Application number	US-202318840675-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2023
Priority date	Mar 9, 2022
Publication date	Jun 5, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An adjustable mounting system for selectively coupling an external device or arrangement to a physical structure includes a mounting track positioned along a longitudinal axis for coupling to the physical structure. The mounting track includes a number of rails extending a distance along the longitudinal axis for having the external device or arrangement adjustably coupled thereto at any location along the distance. The system further includes a number of decorative covers selectively coupled to the mounting track.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An adjustable mounting system for selectively coupling at least an external device or arrangement to a physical structure, the adjustable mounting system comprising:
a mounting track positioned along a longitudinal axis and structured to be coupled to the physical structure, the mounting track having a number of rails extending a distance along the longitudinal axis and structured to have the external device or arrangement adjustably coupled thereto at any location along the distance; and a number of decorative covers structured to be selectively coupled to the mounting track.

2 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the number of rails comprises a pair of rails.

3 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 1 , wherein:
the number of decorative covers comprises a plurality of decorative covers, and one decorative cover of the plurality of decorative covers is selectively coupled to the pair of rails.

4 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 3 , wherein:
a second decorative cover of the plurality of decorative covers is coupled to the mounting track along a first edge of the one decorative cover, and a third decorative cover of the plurality of decorative covers is coupled to the mounting track along a second edge of the one decorative cover opposite the first edge.

5 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 4 , wherein the second decorative cover and the third decorative cover are selectively coupled to the mounting track.

6 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 4 , wherein the second decorative cover and the third decorative cover are permanently coupled to the mounting track.

7 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the number of decorative covers are structured to resemble one of door trim, window trim, baseboard, or crown molding.

8 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 2 , further comprising the external device or arrangement.

9 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 8 , wherein the external device or arrangement is adjustably coupled to the rails via a carriage element slidably positioned within a channel bounded by the rails, wherein the external device or arrangement is selectively coupled to the carriage element via a number of fasteners.

10 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 8 , wherein the external device or arrangement is adjustably coupled to the rails via a quick-release arrangement engaged with the rails.

11 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 8 , wherein the external device or arrangement comprises an accessibility device.

12 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 8 wherein the accessibility device comprises a grab bar structured to be grasped by a hand of a human being for steadying the human being.

13 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 8 , wherein the external device or arrangement comprises one or more of: a table, shelf, nightstand, soap dispenser, hooks, and/or lighting arrangement.

14 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 8 , wherein the external device or arrangement is structured to engage another portion of the physical structure in addition to via the mounting track.

15 . The adjustable mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the number of decorative covers form a decorative cover arrangement that is structured to conceal the mounting track when the mounting track is mounted to the physical structure and the number of decorative covers are coupled to the mounting track.

16 . A method of providing an accessibility device on a rigid structure, the method comprising:
securing a mounting track to the rigid structure, the mounting track having a pair of rails extending a distance along the mounting track and structured to have an external accessory adjustably coupled thereto at any location along the distance; selectively positioning the accessibility device at a desired location along the rails; and selectively coupling the accessibility device to the rails at the desired location via a number of anchoring arrangements of the accessibility device.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein selectively coupling the accessibility device to the rails via the number of anchoring arrangements of the accessibility device comprises selectively coupling the anchoring arrangements to the rails via a carriage member slidably disposed within a channel defined in-part by the rails and a number of fasters selectively engaged with the slidable member.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein selectively coupling the accessibility device to the rails via the number of anchoring arrangements of the accessibility device comprises selectively coupling the anchoring arrangements to the rails via a quick-release arrangement.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising selectively coupling a plurality of decorative covers to the mounting track about the anchoring arrangements of the accessibility device.

Assignees

• Univ Pittsburgh Commonwealth Sys Higher Education

Inventors

• Pearlman Jonathan L
• Brienza David M
• James Iii Alton E
• Delazio Alexandra Marie
• Hargroder Todd
• Villacreces Paulina Michelle

Classifications

• E04F11/1863

  Built-in aids for ascending or descending stairs (lifts associated with stairs B66B9/08) · CPC title

• E04F11/1804 Primary

  Details of anchoring to the wall · CPC title