WO2011061526A1

WO2011061526A1 - Ceiling mounted track

Info

Publication number: WO2011061526A1
Application number: PCT/GB2010/051901
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Charles Hunt
Original assignee: Kenex (Electro-Medical) Limited
Priority date: 2009-11-18
Filing date: 2010-11-15
Publication date: 2011-05-26
Also published as: GB0920139D0

Abstract

A ceiling mounted track comprising parallel rails (50) connected to the underside of a plurality of ceiling mounted mounting plates (52) by a plurality of connecting means (58), wherein the mounting plates (52) comprise receiving means (60) adapted for receiving a respective connecting means (58) from a direction substantially parallel to the ceiling, and wherein the receiving means (60) are offset from the ceiling.

Description

Title: Ceiling Mounted Track Technical field

The present invention relates to a ceiling or wall mounted track, a kit of parts for mounting such a track and to a method of installing the track. Background

Supports for medical equipment are widely employed in medical facilities, such as hospitals. Generally, the primary function is to support the weight of the equipment whilst allowing a full range of movement. In this way, medical equipment which is often quite heavy, can be moved to its desired location without medical support staff being required to support the weight of the equipment.

A common type of support takes the form of a track mountable on a surface, such as a ceiling or wall for carrying a carriage moveable along the track.

Such tracks typically comprise at least two parallel rails which are mounted to ceiling mounted mounting plates. The rails are often C-shaped in cross-section and are suitable for housing the wheels of a carriage. Known tracks are constructed by attaching, e.g. by use of nuts and bolts, the mounting plates to the parallel rails. For reasons of access, the attachment process involves use of a face of the mounting plates which are to be placed in contact with the ceiling, e.g. by turning a screw whose head is flush with the ceiling facing plate. Once assembled, the track is then fixed to the ceiling, typically by bolting the mounting plates.

However, when long tracks and/or large spacing between rails are desired, it can be inconvenient to assemble the track prior to mounting it on the ceiling. In particular it may require several installers and/or require mechanical assistance to complete. Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a ceiling mounted track comprising parallel rails connected to the underside of a plurality of ceiling mounted mounting plates by a plurality of connecting means, wherein the mounting plates comprise receiving means adapted for receiving a respective connecting means from a direction substantially parallel to the ceiling, and wherein the receiving means are offset from the ceiling. In this way, the track can be installed in a modular fashion, by first attaching the mounting plates to the ceiling. Subsequently, the parallel rails can be attached to the mounting plates, one at a time, and attached by movement of connecting means parallel to the ceiling. Because the receiving means is offset from the ceiling, access is provided for securing of the connecting means to the mounting plate.

Although the track is primarily for mounting on a ceiling, it can of course equally be mounted on a wall.

Thus, in a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of fitting a ceiling mounted track, comprising securing mounting plates to the ceiling wherein the mounting plates comprise receiving means adapted for receiving a respective connecting means and being offset from the ceiling when mounted, and then securing parallel rails to the mounted mounting plates by movement of connecting means in a direction parallel to the ceiling to engage with the receiving means, and then securing the connecting means to the receiving means.

The connecting means are associated with the rails, e.g. by being attached in a fixed or moveable manner. Preferably they are attached in a moveable manner, more preferably by being slideably moveable.

In a preferred embodiment the connecting means are removably attached to the receiving means, e.g. by use of a nut and bolt arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, the slideably movable attachment is provided by a partially enclosed channel running along the length of the rail. The connecting means comprises a bluff end which is capable of moving along the channel but is physically too large to pass through the partial opening in the channel.

It has been found particularly convenient if the receiving means are adapted to receive a respective connecting means from a direction parallel to the rails.

The receiving means may take a variety of forms, such as a hole (whether threaded or otherwise) or a slot. Preferably the receiving means is a slot adapted to accommodate a connecting means from a direction parallel to the ceiling, preferably parallel to the rails.

In this way the connecting means can be moved into engagement with the slot and then subsequently employed to secure the rail to the mounting plate.

The connecting means is typically a bolt and may be threaded or otherwise. Preferably it is a threaded bolt and can be employed to secure the rail to the mounting plate by tightening a nut with a spanner means. Typically the nut is positioned at the upper end of the bolt. In this embodiment the spanner means can be employed to tighten the nut because access is provided by the receiving means (i.e. slot) being offset from the ceiling.

Thus, the connecting means preferably comprises a bolt with a nut threaded on its upper end. In use, the bolt is moved into the slot from a direction parallel to the ceiling and the nut is tightened by spanner means with access provided by the offset from the ceiling.

The rails are preferably mounted in pairs and may comprise C-shaped or I-shaped cross-sections comprising with mutually facing open channels or downwardly facing channels. The rails are preferably mounted in pairs and comprise C-shaped cross- sections, preferably with mutually facing open channels. This is particularly useful for supporting a moveable carriage, mounted between the two rails with wheels running along the two channels.

As discussed above, the invention is particularly useful when the rails are long and therefore the rails are preferably at least 2.0 m in length, more preferably at least 3.0 m.

The offset should be large enough to provide access, e.g. spanner access to tighten a nut, but not so great that it has the effect of the rails being offset from the ceiling by too great a distance. Thus, the offset is preferably from 8 mm to 30 mm, more preferably from 10 mm to 20 mm.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a kit of parts for the installation of a ceiling mounted track described herein, comprising a plurality of mounting plates, a plurality of rails and a plurality of connecting means.

The invention will now be illustrated, by way of example, and with reference to the following figures, in which:- Figures la to Id are schematic representations of a prior art ceiling mounted track.

Figure 2 is a perspective view schematic representation of part of a ceiling mounted track according to the present invention. Figures 3a to 3d are perspective view schematic representations of a ceiling mounted track according to the present invention.

Figures 4a to 4c are perspective view schematic representations of the stages of installing a ceiling mounted track according to the present invention.

Turning now to the figures, Figures la to Id show prior art ceiling mounted track in its various stages of installation. The track comprises two parallel rails 10 attached to a plurality of mounting plates 12. The rails 10 are C-shaped in cross-section and comprise a partially enclosed channel 14 running along their upper face. During installation a number of square nuts 16 are fed into the partially enclosed channel 14. Threaded bolts 18 are then passed through the upper face of the mounting plates 12 and threaded into a respective square nut 16. In this manner, the rails 10 are securely mounted on the mounting plates 12. As can be seen in Figure lb, ceiling screws 20 are then fed into the mounting plates 12 from their underside, and as can be seen from Figure Id, the entire track is then fitted to a ceiling, by application of ceiling screws 20. As can be seen from Figure lc, screws 18 are not accessible and the rails 10 are therefore not removable from the mounting plates 12.

Figure 2 illustrates the components of a ceiling mounted track according to the invention. Shown in part are parallel C-shaped cross-section rails 50 and one mounting plate 52. The parallel rails 50 each comprise a partially enclosed channel 54 running along the length of the rail. Four bolts 58 with nuts attached to their upper end are threaded into square nuts 56 at their lower end. The square nuts 56 are passed into partially enclosed channels 54 and are slideably movable therein. Mounting plate 52 is mounted to a ceiling (not shown) and comprises four slots 60, constituting receiving means. The slots are adapted to receive one of the bolts 58 from a direction parallel to the rails.

Upon installation, one of the rails 50 is brought into the vicinity of mounting plate 52. Bolts 58 are then slideably moved parallel to the rails 50 to engage with slots 60. Because slots 60 are offset from the ceiling, a fitter can then tighten the nuts at the top of the bolts 58 with a spanner means to securely mount the rail onto the mounting plates. This procedure can then be repeated for the second rail 50.

Figures 3a to 3d show the same embodiment as shown in Figure 2, however from a different view. As can be seen from these figures, the square nuts 56 are passed into partially enclosed channel 54, wherein they are slideably movable. When brought into the vicinity of a mounting plate 52, already fitted to a ceiling, the bolts 58 are slideably moved to engage with the offset slots 60. As can be seen in Figure 3d, the offset provides spanner means access for tightening of the nuts to securely mount the rails with the mounting plates 52. Figures 4a to 4c illustrate the sequence of installation of the ceiling track shown in Figures 2 and 3a to 3d. As shown in Figure 4a, a plurality of mounting plates are first installed onto the ceiling. Subsequently a first rail is mounted onto the mounting plates, as shown in Figures 2 and 3a to 3d. Then a second rail 50 is fitted in the same manner.

As can be seen from the figures, the present invention enables the ceiling track to be installed in a modular manner, which may be achieved by one or two fitters, and does not require additional mechanical assistance.

Claims

1. A ceiling mounted track comprising parallel rails connected to the underside of a plurality of ceiling mounted mounting plates by a plurality of connecting means, wherein the mounting plates comprise receiving means adapted for receiving a respective connecting means from a direction substantially parallel to the ceiling, and wherein the receiving means are offset from the ceiling.

2. A method of fitting a ceiling mounted track, comprising securing mounting plates to the ceiling wherein the mounting plates comprise receiving means adapted for receiving a respective connecting means and being offset from the ceiling when mounted, and then securing parallel rails to the mounted mounting plates by movement of connecting means in a direction parallel to the ceiling to engage with the receiving means, and then securing the connecting means to the receiving means.

3. A track according to claim 1 or a method according to claim 2, wherein the connecting means are removably attached to the receiving means.

4. A track or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting means are attached to the rails in a moveable manner.

5. A track or method according to claim 4, wherein the connecting means are attached to the rails in a slideably moveable manner.

6. A track or method according to claim 5, wherein the slideably movable attachment is provided by a partially enclosed channel running along the length of the rail and the connecting means comprising a bluff end which is capable of moving along the channel but is physically too large to pass through the partial opening in the channel.

7. A track or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving means are adapted to receive a respective connecting means from a direction parallel to the rails.

8. A track or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving means is a slot adapted to accommodate a connecting means from a direction parallel to the ceiling.

9. A track or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting means is a threaded bolt and secures the rail to the mounting plate by tightening a nut with a spanner means.

10. A track or method according to claim 9, wherein the nut is positioned at the upper end of the bolt.

1 1. A track or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rails are mounted in pairs and comprise C-shaped cross-sections comprising mutually facing open channels.

12. A track or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rails are at least 2.0 m in length.

13. A track or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the offset is from 8 mm to 30 mm.

14. A kit of parts for the installation of a ceiling mounted track according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 13, comprising a plurality of mounting plates, a plurality of rails and a plurality of connecting means.