Support rail

Abstract

A support rail comprises a rail body having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein at least a portion of the rear surface is adapted to engage a fixed wall support member for attachment thereto. The support rail also includes a longitudinal channel portion that is at least partially defined by the front surface, wherein the channel is adapted to receive a longitudinal edge of a wall panel. Also disclosed are wall mounting systems and methods of installing a wall support rail system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A support rail comprising: 
 a rail body having a front surface and a rear surface, at least a portion of the rear surface adapted to engage a fixed wall support member for attachment thereto; and,    a longitudinal channel portion at least partially defined by the front surface wherein the channel is adapted to receive a longitudinal edge of a wall panel;    wherein the support rail is configured to effectively cover a longitudinal edge of a wall panel received in the channel.    
     
     
         2 . The support rail of  claim 1 , further comprising slots configured to selectively engage shelving hangers.  
     
     
         3 . The support rail of  claim 1 , further configured to receive longitudinal edges of two adjacent wall panels for attachment to the wall support member.  
     
     
         4 . The support rail of  claim 1 , wherein the rail body further comprises a side wall configured to partially define the longitudinal channel.  
     
     
         5 . The support rail of  claim 4 , wherein the rail body further comprises a base member attached to the side wall and configured to partially define the longitudinal channel.  
     
     
         6 . The support rail of  claim 5 , wherein the rail body further comprises a first leg member attached to the base member.  
     
     
         7 . The support rail of  claim 6 , wherein the first leg member is provided with at least one aperture for attaching the support rail to the wall support member in use.  
     
     
         8 . The support rail of  claim 6 , wherein the rail body further comprises a second leg member.  
     
     
         9 . The support rail of  claim 8 , wherein the second leg member has a length substantially less than the first leg member.  
     
     
         10 . The support rail of  claim 8 , wherein the second leg member comprises a protruded portion adapted to mount over the wall support member for attachment.  
     
     
         11 . The support rail of  claim 8 , wherein the first leg member and the second leg member are each provided with at least one aperture for attaching the support rail to the wall support member in use.  
     
     
         12 . The support rail of  claim 4 , wherein the rail body further comprises an integral cap attached to the side wall and configured to cover a seam at the longitudinal edge of the wall panel.  
     
     
         13 . The support rail of  claim 12 , wherein the cap is provided with at least one aperture configured to receive a fastener for attaching the wall panel to the wall support member.  
     
     
         14 . The support rail of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one push plug configured to cover a fastener within the aperture in the cap.  
     
     
         15 . The support rail of  claim 1 , wherein the support rail further comprises a cap separate from the rail body but adapted to engage the rail body, wherein the cap is configured to cover a seam at the longitudinal edge of the wall panel.  
     
     
         16 . The support rail of  claim 15 , wherein the cap is further configured to partially define the longitudinal channel.  
     
     
         17 . The support rail of  claim 15 , wherein the cap is further configured to cover a fastener within an aperture in said rail body.  
     
     
         18 . The support rail of  claim 15 , wherein the cap comprises a protrusion, said rail body comprises a groove, and the cap is configured to attach to the rail body by interlocking the protrusion with the groove.  
     
     
         19 . A support rail comprising: 
 a rail body having a front surface, a rear surface, and a cap having slots for selective attachment of hangers to the support rail, wherein at least a portion of the rear surface is adapted to engage a fixed wall support member for attachment thereto; and    a longitudinal channel portion at least partially defined by the front surface wherein the channel is adapted to receive a longitudinal edge of a wall panel to be secured to the wall support member.    
     
     
         20 . The support rail of  claim 19 , wherein the cap is configured to effectively cover the longitudinal edge of a wall panel received in the channel.  
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a wall support rail system including a support rail having a rail body and a longitudinal channel, the method comprising: 
 inserting a longitudinal edge of a wall panel into the channel;    engaging the rail body over a portion of a wall support member; and    affixing the wall panel to the wall support member and to the rail body by inserting one or more fasteners through apertures in the rail body.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of effectively covering the longitudinal edge of the wall panel received in the channel with a cap.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cap is provided as an integral extension of the rail body.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cap is provided as a separate piece which is attached to the rail body after the longitudinal edge is inserted into the channel.  
     
     
         25 . A method of installing a wall support rail system comprising a plurality of support rails, each support rail having a rail body and at least two longitudinal channel portions, the rail body having a front surface and a rear surface, at least a portion of the rear surface adapted to engage a wall support member for attachment thereto, wherein the longitudinal channel portion is at least partially defined by the front surface and is adapted to receive a longitudinal edge of a wall panel, the method comprising: 
 abutting a proximal end of a first wall panel in a first longitudinal channel portion of a first support rail;    engaging the rail body of the first support rail over a portion of a first wall support member;    affixing the rail body of the first support rail to the first wall support member;    abutting the proximal end of a second wall panel in a second longitudinal channel portion of the first support rail;    abutting the distal end of the second wall panel in a first longitudinal channel portion of a second support rail;    engaging the rail body of the second support rail over a portion of a second wall support member; and    affixing the rail body of the second support rail to the second wall support member.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising affixing the first and second wall panels to the first wall support member with fasteners.  
     
     
         27 . A wall mounting system comprising: 
 a support rail comprising a cap, the cap having longitudinal slots and configured to cover a seam between an adjacent wall panel and the support rail, wherein the support rail is adapted to be substantially recessed into a wall except for a portion of the cap;    a mount having at least one flange configured for insertion into at least one of the longitudinal slots; and    an implement supported by the mount.    
     
     
         28 . The wall mounting system of  claim 27 , wherein the implement comprises a shelf.