GB2254353A

GB2254353A - Hanger rail formed from interengaging profiles

Info

Publication number: GB2254353A
Application number: GB9200843A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Howarth
Original assignee: ALUMPLAST Ltd
Current assignee: ALUMPLAST Ltd
Priority date: 1991-01-19
Filing date: 1992-01-15
Publication date: 1992-10-07
Also published as: GB9200843D0; GB9101237D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a rail adapted to be arranged in a structure to carry a depending closure for an opening of the structure, comprising an assembly of at least two profiles of which a first profile 11a is adapted to be fixed in the structure 12 and a second profile 11b is carried in the first profile, the said first and second profiles being of essentially deep (in the direction in which the closure is to depend) and flat (orthogonally to said direction) configuration and adapted to interengage to form a rail, also of essentially deep, flat configuration which is rigid against sagging in its depthwise direction but which can be bent around a radius orthogonal to the depthwise direction, the interengagement being of such fit as to permit relative lengthwise movement between the two profiles. The closure may be mounted on runners 13b or fixed directly to the second profile (figure 3). <IMAGE>

Description

RAIL This invention relates to rails adapted to be arranged in a structure to carry a depending closure.

The rails may be particularly, though by no means exclusively, useful in connection with shower enclosures.

Shower enclosures may take many forms but usually have a closure in the form of a curtain or a door, which is often a sliding door. Many different forms of curtain support are available, and also many different types of track for sliding doors. Curtain rail may need to be bent on a curve. The different demands of curtain rail and sliding door track would appear, even after rationalisation of design, to require different component parts. However, the present invention provides improved rails which with a minimum of component parts can serve both purposes.

The invention comprises a rail adapted to be arranged in a structure to carry a depending closure for an opening of the structure, comprising an assembly of at least two profiles of which a first profile is adapted to be fixed in the structure and a second profile is carried in the fist profile, the said first and second profiles being of essentially deep (in the direction in which the closure is to depend) and flat (orthogonally to said direction) configuration and adapted to interengage to form a rail, also of essentially deep, flat configuration which is rigid against sagging in its depthwise direction but which can be bent around a radius orthogonal to the depthwise direction, the interengagement being of such fit as to permit relative lengthwise movement between the two profiles.

The two profiles may be similar, and indeed can be the same profile, so that only one e.g. aluminium extrusion need be made.

Each profile may have a bead and a recess, the bead of one fitting into the recess of the other.

The interengaging surfaces may be separated by antifriction material, which may be in the form of plastics sleeving.

The rail may comprise a curtain track, which may be adapted to be bent around a radius by virtue of the said permitted relative lengthwise movement.

On the other hand, the rail may comprise a sliding door-hanging track and runner, the first profile being fixed in the structure and the second profile carrying the door for sliding in the first profile.

Embodiments of rail according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a section of a first rail supporting a shower curtain; Figure 2 is a plan view of the rail. -of Figure 1 bent around a radius, and Figure 3 is a section of a second rail, supporting a sliding door.

The drawings illustrate rails 11 adapted to be arranged in a structure 12 to carry a depending closure - a curtain 13, Figures 1 and 2, or a door 14, Figure 3.

The rails 11 comprise an assembly of two identical profiles lla,llb. The profile lla is fixed in the structure 12 - in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 by brackets 15 attached by screws 15a to shower enclosure walls 16, in the embodiment of Figure 3 by incorporation into a door surround 17. The profile llb is carried in the profile lla.

The profiles lla,llb are of essentially deep and flat configuration and interengage to form the rails 11 so that the rails are also of essentially deep, flat configuration which is rigid against sagging in its depthwise direction but which can be bent, as shown in Figure 2, around a radius R orthogonal to the depthwise direction.

The interengagement between the two profiles lla,llb is of such fit as to permit relative lengthwise movement therebetween.

Each profile lla,11b has a bead 18 and a recess 19, the bead 18 of the one fitting into the recess 19 of the other. interengaging surfaces between the beads and recesses are separated by anti friction plastics sleeving 21.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a curtain track formed by the rail 11 supported in brackets 15 at its ends which are on two adjacent, right-angled shower enclosure walls 16. The rail 11 is bent around a radius R so that the curtain 13 closes off the two sides of the square complementary to the walls 16. The curtain 13 hangs on hooks 13a from runners 13b running on ledges 13c of the profiles lla,llb.

The act of bending the rail 11 results in the rails moving relatively lengthwise. The fact that the ribs 24,25 joining the beads 18 and recesses 19 respectively to the main parts 26 -of the profiles lla,llb are angled with regard to the main parts 26 ensures that bending is not difficult and- the- facility- for relative movement of the two profiles, especially through the anti friction sleeving allows the entire section to be bent without buckling or distortion.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the facility for relative movement between the two profiles enables the rail llb to slide in the rail Ila for opening and closing the door 14, which is hung from the profile llb by bolts 20 engaged with nuts 21. The door 14 may run in a lower track formed exactly like the upper track 11.

It is surprising that rails according to the invention can satisfactorily fulfill the diverse requirements of the two end uses. The fact that only a single extrusion is required reduces production costs and inventory costs to the installer. The sections need not, however, be made of identical profiles should special requirements dictate otherwise. In any event, rails made from identical or different, or more than two profiles, according to the invention, will doubtless find application in many different situations outside the shower cabinet, in domestic and office furniture and fittings, for example. Provided fastenings are supplied to hang curtains or doors from or secure fixed panels to the rails, a space may be divided in various ways and with ready adaptability for versatile semi-open plan office accommodation, or for a hospital ward or the like utilising but a single type of rail.

Claims

1. A rail adapted to be arranged in a structure to carry a depending closure for an. opening of the structure, comprising an assembly of at least two profiles of which a first profile is adapted to be fixed in the structure and a second profile is- carried in the fist profile, the said first and second profiles being of essentially deep (in the direction in which the closure is to depend) and flat (orthogonally to said direction) configuration and adapted to interengage to form a rail, also of essentially deep, flat configuration which is rigid against sagging in its depthwise direction but which can be bent around a radius orthogonal to the depthwise direction, the interengagement being of such fit as to permit relative lengthwise movement between the two profiles.

2. A rail according to claim 1, of which the two profiles are similar.

3. A rail according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which each profile has a bead and a recess, the bead of one fitting into the recess of the other.

4. A rail according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which interengaging surfaces are separated by anti-friction material.

5. A rail according to claim 4, in which the antifriction material is in the form of plastics sleeving.

6. A rail according to any one of claims 1 to 5r comprising a curtain track adapted to be bent around a radius by virtue of the said permitted relative lengthwise movement.

7. A rail according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a sliding door-hanging track and runner, the first profile being fixed in the structure and the second profile carrying the door for sliding in the first profile.