CN114828681A

CN114828681A - Slidable button on monorail slide rail for fastening and unfastening clothes

Info

Publication number: CN114828681A
Application number: CN201980102884.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: E·L·马丁
Original assignee: E LMading
Current assignee: E LMading
Priority date: 2019-11-27
Filing date: 2019-12-02
Publication date: 2022-07-29
Also published as: EP4064920A1; EP4064920A4; WO2021107962A1; USD940437S1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the fit of a garment. Previously, conventional garments did not include adjustable fasteners that provided adjustments, such as fine adjustment, to the garment. Embodiments of the present invention use a monorail slide rail that has a plurality of rail teeth spaced apart along its length. A track carriage is slidably engaged with the monorail slide. A button is operably attached to the track carriage. At least one of the track carriage and the button includes a locking device to removably engage with the plurality of slide rail teeth.

Description

Slidable button on monorail slide rail for fastening and unfastening clothes

Technical Field

Embodiments herein relate generally to garments and, more particularly, to a button slidably engaged with a slide rail to adjust the size of a garment.

Background

Conventional buttons are designed to engage a button hole. Thus, conventional buttons can only provide a garment with one fit size unless there are multiple buttonhole options. Unfortunately, many individuals do not fit exactly to a predefined size. For example, if a man is purchasing pants and has a waist size of 35, 34 may be too tight and 36 may be too large. Therefore, he needs to choose a pair of trousers that does not fit very well. Further, the size of the waist circumference of the user may vary day to day, week to week, month to month, or year to year. More recently, production lines may not be consistent in producing a particular size and may differ by as much as 1/2' ", meaning that a first pair of pants from a particular production line may differ slightly from a second pair of pants from a particular production line. This can be even more problematic when comparing a size of one brand to the same size of a different brand, leading to the frustration of purchasing a similar piece of clothing from a different brand. However, conventional garments do not include adjustable fasteners that provide adjustments to the garment, such as fine adjustment.

Accordingly, there is a need for fasteners that allow for customization or sizing, wherein the fasteners include buttons that are designed to slide along a monorail slide rail and removably lock into a desired position on the slide rail to form an adjustable size for a garment.

Disclosure of Invention

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a device for adjusting the fit of a garment. The apparatus may comprise: a monorail slide rail having a plurality of rail teeth spaced apart along its length; a track carriage slidably engaged with the monorail slide; and a button operably attached to the rail carriage, wherein at least one of the rail carriage and the button includes a locking device to removably engage with the plurality of slide rail teeth. The locking means may be a trigger post with a button tooth, a meshing pin, a pinch clamp, a leaf spring, a magnet, etc. Sizing of the garment may be accomplished by sliding the buttons to the desired location of the monorail slide and using the locking means to lock the buttons into place.

Drawings

A detailed description of some embodiments of the invention follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals represent corresponding parts of the drawings.

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in use with a loose button.

Fig. 1B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure shown in use with a fastened button.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2B is a side view of the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present disclosure showing the buttons engaged.

Fig. 2D is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present disclosure showing the button undone.

Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure showing the buttons engaged.

Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure showing the button undone.

Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present disclosure showing the buttons engaged.

Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present disclosure showing the button undone.

Fig. 4C is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5A is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the clamps engaged.

Fig. 5B is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the clamp released.

Fig. 5C is a front view of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the clamps engaged.

Fig. 5D is a front view of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the clamp released.

Fig. 6A is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6B is a side view of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6C is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the buttons engaged.

Fig. 6D is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the button undone.

Fig. 7A is a side view of a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the teeth engaged.

Fig. 7C is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the buttons engaged.

Fig. 7D is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure showing the button undone.

Fig. 8A is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8B is a side view of a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8C is a cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the buttons engaged.

Fig. 8D is a cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the button undone.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are described. However, it will be clear and understood to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be adapted to any of several applications.

The device of the present disclosure may be used as a garment fastener that provides adjustable sizing and may include the following elements. This list of possible constituent elements is intended to be exemplary only, and is not meant to limit the apparatus of the present application to only these elements. One of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains will appreciate that there are equivalent elements within this disclosure that may be substituted without changing the essential function or operation of the device.

Button with elastic element

Single-rail sliding rail

The various elements of the devices of the present disclosure may be related by the following illustrative means. The scope or nature of the relationship between the various elements is not intended to be limited and the following examples are presented only as illustrative examples.

For example and with reference to fig. 1A-8D, some embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus for adjusting the fit of a garment, the apparatus comprising: a monorail slide rail 26, said monorail slide rail 26 comprising an elongate rail; and a button 24, the button 24 designed to slide along the monorail slide rail 26 and to be removably locked in place at any desired point along the length of the monorail slide rail 26. As shown in fig. 1A and 1B, the device may be incorporated into a garment, such as a pair of pants, where the device may replace conventional buttons and allow the garment to have an adjustable fit. The device may be mounted to or incorporated within a garment in a variety of ways. For example, the monorail slide rail can be attached to a garment, such as a belt, using any conventional snap(s), such as mounting screws or cap posts extending into the mounting apertures 34 on the monorail. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8A, the monorail may have side flaps 42 extending from its outer edges, wherein the side flaps 42 may be sewn, glued or otherwise attached to the fabric. In some embodiments, the device may be nested or sandwiched between two layers of cloth, with the top layer having a slit of length similar to the length of the monorail slide rail 26 through which the buttons 24 extend.

Additionally, in embodiments, a garment (such as pants) may include a rear fly with a zipper. However, the zipper can be spaced from the waistband to allow for the provision of the monorail slide 26 and buttons 24. Additionally, a front fly designed to cover the monorail slide rail 26 and zipper may include excess fabric so that the monorail slide rail 26 and zipper are covered by the front fly regardless of the location of the buttons on the monorail slide rail 26. The zipper may resist sudden movement of the waistband such that the zipper is taut during any sled button movement or action.

The buttons 24 and the monorail slide rail 26 may each have any suitable structure that allows the buttons 24 to slide along the length of the monorail slide rail 26 and to be removably locked in place at a desired location along the monorail slide rail 26.

For example and as shown in fig. 2A-2D, a first embodiment of a device for adjusting the fit of a garment includes a monorail slide rail 26 and buttons 24, the buttons 24 being operably attached to a rail carriage 28, wherein the rail carriage 28 is slidably engaged with the monorail slide rail 26. The track carriage 28 may include an aperture through which the monorail slide rail 26 extends. The top surface of the monorail slide rail 26 may include a plurality of monorail teeth 30 configured in the top surface, wherein the monorail teeth 30 may include an angled ramp and a wall that extends vertically downward from the angled ramp to the bottom of an adjacent angled ramp. As shown in fig. 2C and 2D, the button 24 may include a button top surface and a downward extension protruding into the button 24, wherein the downward extension may be positioned within the trigger post 38, wherein an end of the trigger post distal from the button top surface may include a button tooth designed and sized to engage the monorail teeth 30. The track carriage 28 may extend around the monorail slide 26 and upward toward the top surface of the buttons 24. In an embodiment, the track carriage 28 may be a generally cylindrical hollow member having a flared bottom adjacent the monorail slide rail 26. At a location of the track carriage 26 proximate the bottom of the top surface of the button 24, the track carriage 26 may have a flange extending inwardly toward the center of the track carriage 26, with the inner diameter of the flange-type edge sized to receive the button extension therein. As shown in the figures, the trigger post 38 may comprise a sleeve designed to surround a button extension, wherein the button teeth may extend from the distal end of the sleeve. The outer diameter of the trigger post 38 may decrease away from the monorail slide rail 26 such that a cavity exists between the inner diameter of the rail carriage 28 and the outer diameter of the trigger post 38. A spring 32 (such as a compression spring) may be located within this cavity, wherein the compression spring 32, when in a relaxed state, causes the trigger post 38 to press downwardly toward the monorail slide rail 26, thus causing the button teeth to press downwardly onto the track teeth 30 on the monorail slide rail 26 and engage with the track teeth 30. When the button top 24 is pulled away from the monorail slide rail 26, the flange of the trigger post 38 near the lower portion of the monorail slide rail 26 pushes up and compresses the spring 32, allowing the button teeth to disengage from the rail teeth 30 and ultimately allowing the buttons 24 to slide to a desired position along the length of the monorail slide rail 26.

The second embodiment 12 of the device may also include buttons 24, the buttons 24 being operatively attached to a rail carriage 28, the rail carriage 28 being designed to slide along the monorail slide rail 26 and lock in place; the buttons 24, however, may be locked in place by removable engagement with the teeth 30, the teeth 30 being spaced from the monorail slide 26. For example, and as shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the monorail slide rail 26 may be spaced apart from and substantially parallel to a row of teeth 30, wherein the teeth 30 have a similar structure as in the first embodiment 10. While the buttons 24 are still operably attached to the track carriage 28 that is slidable along the length of the monorail slide rail 26, a spring 32 is positioned between the monorail slide rail 26 and the row of teeth 30. Further, the button 24 may be operably attached to the trigger post 38 with the button teeth 38 extending from the distal end of the trigger post such that when the button head is pulled away from the monorail slide rail 26, the trigger post 38 also moves away from the row of teeth 30, thereby disengaging the button teeth from the row of teeth 30 and thus allowing the button 24 and the rail carriage 28 to slide along the length of the monorail slide rail 26. Specifically, pulling the button head away from the monorail slide rail 26 may cause the trigger 38 to compress the spring 32. When the button head is not pulled away from the monorail slide rail 26, the spring 32 can relax and press the button teeth 38 into the row of teeth 30, eventually locking the buttons 24 in the desired position.

As shown in fig. 4A-4C, the third embodiment 14 of the device can include buttons 24, the buttons 24 being operatively attached to a rail carriage 28, the rail carriage 28 being designed to slidably engage with a split-rail monorail slide 26. The split-rail monorail slide rail 26 may comprise an elongate slide rail having an aperture that extends through a central portion of the elongate slide rail and substantially the entire length of the slide rail. Similar to the second embodiment, the monorail slide rail 26 may be spaced apart from and substantially parallel to a row of teeth 30. Button 24 may include a button head and a button extension projecting downwardly therefrom, wherein the button extension may be operably attached to trigger post 38, wherein a distal end of trigger post 38 may include a button tooth designed and sized to removably engage teeth 30. The trigger post 38 may extend from an area proximate the row of teeth 30 up through a break in the track to the buttonhead. The firing post 38 may include a flange-type edge extending outwardly from the center of the firing post 38, wherein the flange-type edge is positioned proximate the button tooth. The track carriage 28 may surround the separate monorail slide 26 and the trigger post 38, with the track carriage 28 having an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the trigger post 38, forming a cavity between the track carriage 28 and the trigger post 38, between the separate monorail slide 26 and the row of teeth 30, such that the spring 32 may be positioned within the cavity. Similar to the first two embodiments, when the button head 24 is pulled away from the separate monorail slide rail 26, the spring 32 can compress, allowing the teeth on the trigger post 38 to disengage from the row of teeth 30 and the rail carriage 28 to slide along the length of the monorail slide rail 26. When the button head 24 is released, the spring 32 presses the flange-type edge on the trigger post toward the row of teeth so that the trigger post teeth engage one of the teeth on the row of teeth 30.

As shown in fig. 5A-5D, the fourth embodiment 16 of the device may include an elongated monorail 26 and buttons 24, the buttons 24 being operatively attached to a button track carriage 28, the buttons including pinch grips 36 housed within the buttons 24 and extending from the buttons 24, wherein the button track carriage 28 is designed to slide along the elongated monorail, and the pinch grips 36 are designed to removably engage with a plurality of track teeth 30 on the monorail 26. Unlike the first three embodiments, the monorail 26 of the fourth embodiment 16 can include a base having an elongated projection that extends upwardly from the base and along the length of the base, with the buttons 24 designed to straddle the monorail. A plurality of teeth 30 may be configured into the sides of the elongated protrusion. In an embodiment, the teeth 30 may include grooves, such as square grooves spaced along the length of the monorail 26. The pinch grip 36 may include a pair of upstanding arms attached to one another by a centrally located crossbar. The upright arm may extend from a first end proximate the button head to a second end proximate the monorail 26. The first end of each of the upright arms may include a tab extending away from the center of the pinch 36, while the second end of each of the upright arms may include a trigger post 38, the trigger post 38 designed to removably engage the teeth 30 on the monorail. Thus, as shown in the figures, when the tabs of the upright arms of the clamp 36 are pressed toward each other, the trigger post 38 moves away from the monorail 26, thus disengaging from the teeth 30 and allowing the rail carriage 28 to freely slide along the length of the monorail 26. On the other hand, when the upright arms of the clamp 36 are in their relaxed state (i.e., when they are not pushed together), the trigger post 38 may squeeze into the teeth 30 on the monorail 26, thereby locking the buttons 24 in the desired positions.

As shown in fig. 6A-6D, a fifth embodiment 18 of the device may comprise: an elongated monorail 26, the elongated monorail 26 comprising a substantially flat and wide rail shaped like a tongue depressor; and buttons operatively attached to a button track carriage 28, the button track carriage 28 designed to slide along the length of the monorail 26. As shown in the figures, the track carriage 28 may include: a base to which buttons 24 are attached; and an angled end at one end of the base. The angled end may include an aperture extending therethrough, wherein the aperture is sized to receive a monorail 26 therethrough. Button clamps 37 may also be attached to the angled ends of the track carriage 28 on the opposite side of the monorail 26 from the buttons 24. The button clamp 37 may have: a hooked end that engages with an aperture on an angled end of the button rail carriage 28; and a clamp arm 35, the clamp arm 35 extending from the hook end to form a leaf spring. The clamp arm 35 is removably engageable with the groove or tooth 30 on the bottom surface of the monorail 26 to removably lock the buttons 24 in a desired position along the length of the monorail 26. As shown in the figures, when the button 24 is in place, the clamp arm 35 engages the teeth 30. On the other hand, when the buttons 24 are pulled away from the monorail 26, the rail carriage 28 can be slid along the length of the monorail 26 to a desired position, as shown in fig. 6D.

A sixth embodiment 20 (fig. 7A-7D) of the device comprises: a generally flat, thin, and flat monorail 26, said monorail 26 having a central linear aperture (similar to monorail 26 shown in fig. 8A) that extends along the length of monorail 26, said monorail 26 comprising a plurality of monorail teeth 30 that are spaced apart along the length of monorail 26; and a button 24, the button 24 operatively attached to the track carriage 44, the button 24 and track carriage 44 together housing a centrally located spring 32 and an engagement pin 33, the engagement pin 33 stabilized within an end of the spring 32 proximate the monorail 26, wherein the engagement pin 33 is designed to removably engage with the teeth 30 on the monorail 26, and the track carriage 44 extends through a linear aperture in the monorail 26 and is designed to slide along the length of the monorail 26. As shown in fig. 7C and 7D, the button 24 may include a button head and a hollow button protrusion extending downward from the button head. The track carriage 44 may comprise a generally hollow cylinder having an interior cavity, with a first end of the cylinder positioned within the hollow button projection and an end of the cylinder distal from the button head having a diameter that increases in a stepwise function. For example, the diameter may be increased by a factor of two. The end of the rail carriage distal from the button head may include a rounded tab extending toward the bottom surface of the monorail 26. A spring 32 (such as a compression spring) may be positioned within the interior cavity of the track carriage proximate the button head. The button 40 may be positioned within an end of the track carriage 44 distal from the button head, wherein an outer surface of the button 40 is not covered by the track carriage. The button 40 may have a shape that closely approximates the shape of the inner wall of the end of the track carriage 44 distal from the button head. In other words, the button 40 may have a maximum diameter (or width) away from the monorail 26, may taper to a first smaller diameter proximate the monorail 26, and eventually to a third smaller diameter that is sized to extend through an aperture in the monorail 26 when the button 40 is pressed toward the monorail 26. As shown, when the button 40 is pressed toward the monorail 26, the end of the button closest to the button head contacts and pushes the engagement pin 33, disengaging the engagement pin 33 from the teeth 30 on the monorail 26 and allowing the rail carriage 44 to slide freely along the length of the monorail 26.

As shown in fig. 8A-8D, a seventh embodiment 22 of the device may comprise: a monorail slide rail 26, the monorail slide rail 26 being elongated and substantially flat, having a centrally located elongated aperture that extends along a portion of the length of the monorail slide rail 26, wherein the monorail slide rail 26 comprises a plurality of rail teeth 30 spaced apart along the length of the monorail slide rail 26; and a button 24, the button 24 operably attached to the track carriage 28, the track carriage 28 designed to slide within the aperture along the monorail slide rail 26, the button 24 including a trigger post 38, the trigger post 38 designed to lock the button 24 and the track carriage 28 in a desired position along the length of the monorail slide rail 26. For example and as shown, the button 24 may include a button head and a button projection extending downward from the button head toward the monorail slide 26, wherein a central portion of the button projection may include the trigger post 38. The end of the trigger post 38 distal to the button head may include a button tooth sized and designed to removably engage the track tooth 30. In other embodiments, the button teeth may include an engagement pin, such as a generally cylindrical engagement pin. The track carriage 28 may extend through the aperture above and below the monorail slide rail 26, wherein a top portion of the track carriage 28 may be substantially cylindrical and hollow such that the button projections may be received therein. The inside diameter of the top portion of the track carriage 28 may be greater than the outside diameter of the button protrusions such that a cavity is formed between the track carriage 28 and the button protrusions. The topmost surface of the rail carriage 28 may include a flange extending inwardly toward and abutting the button projection, and the lowermost surface of the button projection may include a flange extending outwardly toward and abutting the rail carriage 28, thus closing the top and bottom of the cavity. A spring 32, such as a compression spring, may be positioned within the cavity. The bottom portion of the track carriage 28 may include a generally flat cap, which in some embodiments may be generally circular. The cap may have an extension extending upwardly from the cap, where the extension passes through the monorail aperture and connects to the top portion of the track carriage 28. As shown in fig. 8D, when the buttons 24 are pulled away from the track carriage 28, the springs 32 compress and the button teeth disengage from the track teeth 30, allowing the track carriage 28 and buttons 24 to slide to a desired position along the length of the monorail slide rail 26. When the button 24 is released, the spring 32 is in its relaxed state, applying pressure to the flange of the button projection and causing the button teeth to press down into and engage the rail teeth 30, thus locking the button 24 into its desired position along the monorail slide 26.

The slide rail teeth 30 and button teeth may have any desired configuration that allows them to be easily and smoothly engaged and disengaged with each other. For example, both the rack teeth and the button teeth may have a saw tooth structure that can cause the button to move in and along the rack in a single direction to make the size tighter without the use of an actuator (pulling or pushing a button head or button or squeezing a clamp). The device may include a pin and hole system instead of teeth, wherein the button includes a pin operably attached to the spring/trigger and the slide rail includes a plurality of pin holes. When sliding the button along the slide rail, the pin is designed to engage with one of the holes in the slide rail. To disengage the pin, the trigger/spring may be compressed.

The devices of the present disclosure may be made of any suitable or desired material and may, in some embodiments, be aesthetically designed to resemble conventional garment buttons. The device may also be used to achieve various sizes, which may depend on the intended use of the device. The device may be incorporated into any garment, article of clothing, or article, such as pants, skirts, laces, blouses, jackets, any other garment, shoes, bags, etc., that would benefit from an adjustable fit or size. The term "pant", as used herein, may refer to any garment designed to be worn about the lower body of a user's body, wherein the garment is secured to the user's waist via a waistband.

To use the device of the present disclosure, the monorail slide 26 with attached buttons 24 can be sewn or otherwise attached to a desired item, such as a garment. The buttons can be slid along the monorail slide rail 26 to their desired location, and then the buttons 24 can be passed through button holes on the garment to secure the garment to the user. To adjust the positioning of the button head, a corresponding actuator may be utilized which pushes or pulls the button head, thereby pushing a button or pinching a clamp.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous design configurations may possess the functional benefits of the system of the present invention. Accordingly, in view of the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention, the scope of the present invention is reflected by the scope of the appended claims, without being limited by the above-described embodiments.

Industrial applicability

Embodiments of the disclosed invention are used to adjust the fit of a garment.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the fit of a garment, the device comprising:

a monorail slide rail having a plurality of rail teeth spaced apart along its length;

a track carriage slidably engaged with the monorail slide; and

a button operably attached to the rail carriage,

wherein:

at least one of the track carriage and the button includes a locking device to removably engage with the plurality of slide rail teeth.

2. A device for adjusting the fit of a garment, the device comprising:

a track carriage slidably engaged with the monorail slide;

a button operably attached to the rail carriage, wherein the button comprises:

a button head;

a button projection extending from the button head toward the monorail slide; and

a locking device designed to engage with the plurality of teeth; and

a spring compressibly engaged with the locking device such that the locking device engages one of the plurality of teeth when the spring is in a relaxed state and disengages from the plurality of teeth when the spring is in a compressed state, thereby allowing the button and the track carriage to freely slide along the length of the monorail slide.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the monorail slide rail comprises a flat monorail having a central linear aperture that extends along the length of the flat monorail; and is

The plurality of monorail teeth are spaced apart along the central linear aperture along an inner edge of the monorail slide rail.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the locking means is an engaging pin extending from the button head within the button protrusion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the button and the track carriage together house the spring and the engagement pin, the spring being a centrally located spring, the engagement pin being stabilized within an end of the spring proximate the monorail slide; and is provided with

The track carriage extends through the linear aperture in the monorail slide rail and is designed to slide along the length of the monorail.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the button protrusion is hollow;

the track carriage comprises a substantially hollow cylinder having an interior cavity;

a first end of the cylinder is positioned within the hollow button projection; and is

The end of the cylinder remote from the button head has a diameter that increases in a step function.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a button positioned within an open end of the track carriage distal from the button head, the button positioned to removably contact the engagement pin.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the locking device is a trigger post, wherein an end of the trigger post distal to the button head includes button teeth.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein a central portion of the button protrusion comprises the trigger post.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the track carriage extends through the elongated aperture above and below the monorail slide;

a top portion of the rail carriage is substantially cylindrical and hollow and sized to receive the button projection therein;

an inner diameter of the top portion of the track carriage is greater than an outer diameter of the button projection such that a cavity is formed between the track carriage and the button projection;

a topmost surface of the track carriage includes a carriage flange extending inwardly toward and abutting the button protrusion;

the lowermost surface of the button projection may comprise a projection flange extending outwardly toward and abutting the rail carriage, thus closing the top and bottom of the cavity; and is

The spring is positioned within the cavity.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the bottom portion of the track carriage includes a covered generally flat cap; and is

The flat cap has a cap extension extending upwardly from the flat cap, wherein the cap extension passes through the aperture and is connected to the top portion of the track carriage.