Overhead track anchor system

Abstract

A head component for an anchor assembly for mounting a load bearing track to a hanger component attached to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure), said track comprising a rail element and a mounting element, said mounting element comprising one or more retaining formations, each retaining formation defining a holding cavity and an (cavity) opening communicating with the holding cavity, said holding cavity being sized larger than the (cavity) opening communicating therewith, the head component comprising a support member and a flarable member, said flarable member being attached to and flarable from said support member, said head component being sized and configured such that said head component is able to pass through said (cavity) opening into said holding cavity wherein the flarable member is able to flare (i.e. to open or spread) outwardly so as to present a flared formation in the holding cavity sized larger than the cavity opening so as to inhibit withdrawal of the head component in the holding cavity back through the (cavity) opening.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A head component for an anchor assembly for mounting a load bearing track to a hanger component attached to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure), 
 said track comprising a rail element and a mounting element, said mounting element comprising one or more retaining formations, each retaining formation defining a holding cavity and an (cavity) opening communicating with the holding cavity, said holding cavity being sized larger than the (cavity) opening communicating therewith,    the head component comprising a support member and a flarable member, said flarable member being attached to and flarable from said support member,    said head component being sized and configured such that said head component is able to pass through said (cavity) opening into said holding cavity wherein the flarable member is able to flare (i.e. to open or spread) outwardly so as to present a flared formation in the holding cavity sized larger than the cavity opening so as to inhibit withdrawal of the head component in the holding cavity back through the (cavity) opening.    
     
     
         2 . A head component as defined in  claim 1  comprising a connection member for releaseably connecting the support member to said hanger component.  
     
     
         3 . An anchor assembly for mounting a load bearing track to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure), 
 said track having a longitudinal extent (i.e. length dimension) and comprising a rail element and a mounting element, said mounting element comprising one or more retaining formations, each retaining formation defining a holding cavity and an (cavity) opening communicating with the holding cavity, said holding cavity being sized larger than the (cavity) opening communicating therewith,    the anchor assembly comprising    a hanger component (shank) attached to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure)    and    a head component    said head component comprising, a support member and a flarable member, said support member being connected to the hanger component, said flarable member being attached to and flarable from said support member,    said head component being sized and configured such that said head component is able to pass through a said (cavity) opening into said holding cavity wherein the flarable member is able to flare (i.e. to open or spread outwardly) so as to present a flared formation in the holding cavity sized larger than the (cavity) opening so as to inhibit withdrawal of the head component in the holding cavity back through the opening.    
     
     
         4 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 3  wherein said head component comprises a connection member for releaseably connecting the support member to said hanger component.  
     
     
         5 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 3  comprising a lateral stabilization component, said lateral stabilization component comprising an attachment member (e.g. sleeve opening) connecting the lateral stabilization component to the hanger component, said lateral stabilization component being displaceable between a non-wedging configuration and a lodging or wedging configuration in the opening for inhibiting lateral (i.e. wobble) movement of the mounting element transverse to the longitudinal extent of the track.  
     
     
         6 . A combination (kit), for mounting a load bearing track to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure), said load bearing track having a longitudinal extent and comprising a rail element and a mounting element, said mounting element comprising one or more retaining formations, each retaining formation defining a holding cavity and a respective (cavity) opening communicating with the holding cavity, said holding cavity being sized larger than the respective (cavity) opening communicating therewith,  
       said combination (kit) comprising 
 one or more head components, each head component comprising a support member and a flarable member attached to and flarable from said support member, said head component being sized and configured such that said head component is able to pass through a respective (cavity) opening into said holding cavity wherein the flarable member is able to flare (i.e. to open or spread outwardly) so as to present a flared formation in the holding cavity sized larger than the respective (cavity) opening so as to inhibit withdrawal of the head component in the holding cavity back through said respective (cavity) opening  
 and  
 one or more members selected from the class consisting of 
 a hanger component for attaching a respective head component to the overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure)  
 
 and 
 a section of said load bearing track.  
 
 
     
     
         7 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 6  wherein each head component comprises a connection member for (releaseably) connecting the support member to a respective hanger component.  
     
     
         8 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 6  comprising one or more hanger component for attaching a respective head component to the overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure)  
     
     
         9 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 6  comprising one or more sections of said load bearing track  
     
     
         10 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 9  wherein said rail element and said mounting element are integral.  
     
     
         11 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 6  comprising one or more hanger components for attaching a respective head component to the overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure) and one or more sections of said load bearing track  
     
     
         12 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 11  wherein said rail element and said mounting element are integral.  
     
     
         13 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 12  wherein said mounting element comprises an elongated retainer formation extending the longitudinal extent of the track, said elongated retainer formation defining a slot-like (cavity) opening extending the longitudinal extent of the track.  
     
     
         14 . A combination as defined in  claim 6  comprising one or more a lateral stabilization components, each said lateral stabilization component comprising an attachment member (i.e. opening) connecting the lateral stabilization component to a respective hanger component, said lateral stabilization component being displaceable between a non-wedging configuration and a lodging or wedging configuration in the slot-like (cavity) opening for inhibiting lateral movement of the mounting element transverse to the longitudinal extent of the track.  
     
     
         15 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 6  wherein said one or more retainer formations each define a slot-like opening.  
     
     
         16 . A head component for an anchor assembly, for mounting a load bearing track to a hanger component attached to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure), 
 said track comprising a rail element and a mounting element, said mounting element comprising one or more retaining formations, each retaining formation defining a holding cavity and a (cavity) opening communicating with the holding cavity, said holding cavity being sized larger than the opening communicating therewith,    the head component comprising a support member and a pair of opposed engagement wing blade (plate) members, each of said wing blade members being pivotally attached to the support member by a respective pivot connect member, said head component being sized and configured such that said head component is able to pass through said opening into said holding cavity wherein each of the wing blade members are able to pivot outwardly in said holding cavity so as to each engage the retaining formation to create a respective truss formation which acts as a reverse wedge to resist pull out of the head component from the holding cavity through the opening, said truss formation having a base chord defined by the retaining formation, a side chord defined by a respective blade member and a center strut defined by the support member.    
     
     
         17 . A head component as defined in  claim 16  comprising a connection member for releasably connecting the support member to said hanger component.  
     
     
         18 . An anchor assembly, for mounting a load bearing track to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure), 
 said track having a longitudinal extent (i.e. length dimension) comprising a rail element and a mounting element, said mounting element comprising one or more retaining formations, each retaining formation defining a holding cavity and an (cavity) opening communicating with the holding cavity, said holding cavity being sized larger than the (cavity) opening communicating therewith,    the anchor assembly comprising    a hanger component (shank) attached to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure)    and    a head component    said head component being as defined in  claim 16 , said support member being connected to said hanger component.    
     
     
         19 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein said head component comprises a connection member for releaseably connecting the support member to said hanger component.  
     
     
         20 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 18  comprising a lateral stabilization component, said lateral stabilization component comprising an attachment member (i.e. opening) connecting the lateral stabilization component to the hanger component, said lateral stabilization component being displaceable between a non-wedging configuration and a lodging or wedging configuration in the (cavity) opening for inhibiting lateral movement of the mounting element transverse to the longitudinal extent of the track.  
     
     
         21 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein the (cavity) opening has a slot-like configuration and a longitudinal extent, the anchor assembly further comprising a lateral stabilization component,  
       said lateral stabilization component comprising a head member, for gripping the lateral stabilization element for the rotation thereof, and an insert member extending from said head member, 
 said insert member having a rectangular configuration and comprising a pair of opposed outer long sides and a pair of opposed outer short sides  
 said insert member being configured such that said insert member 
 is insertable into the slot-like opening when the long sides of the insert member extend parallel to the longitudinal extent of the slot-like opening, and  
 is pivotable—rotatable in the slot-like opening with respect to the longitudinal extent of the opening so as to dispose the long sides of the insert member transverse to the longitudinal extent of the rail such that the short sides of the insert member engage the retaining formation defining the slot-like opening so as to (or for) inhibit(ing) lateral (sideways) movement of the mounting element transverse (i.e. movement in a direction transverse (e.g. at right angles—perpendicular)) to the longitudinal extent of the track.  
 
 
     
     
         22 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 21  wherein the hanger component comprises a shank member having a longitudinal extent, said head and insert members define a sleeve body having a sleeve opening, said shank member extending through said sleeve opening, said sleeve body and said shank member being configured for rotational displacement of the lateral stabilization component about the longitudinal extent of the shank member (i.e. about the longitudinal axis of the shank member).  
     
     
         23 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 21  wherein the insert member comprises a pair of opposed tab members, each tab member extending from a respective short side of the insert member, said insert member being configured such that said tab members are insertable through the slot-like (cavity) opening into the holding cavity, said tab members, said wing blades and said retaining formation being configured such that when the tab members are in the holding cavity and the short sides of the insert member are made to engage the retaining formation each wing blade member is engaged by (i.e. sandwiched or pinched between) a respective tab member and the retaining formation.  
     
     
         24 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 18  comprising a compression inducing component for placing the wing blade members under compression stress between the retaining formation and said pivot connect member.  
     
     
         25 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein said anchor assembly comprises a pair of opposed base members, each base member projecting from a respective side of said support member, a pair of brace members and a pair of cam members, each brace member comprising a head member and a distal engagement member, each base member being associated with a respective brace member and a respective cam member, each base member and respective brace and cam members being configured such that said head member is able to abut the outside surface of the portion of the retaining formation defining said opening, said distal engagement member is able to pivotally—rotationally engage said base member and when said brace member is rotated said cam member places said brace member under tension stress so as to urge said pivot connect member to urge said wing blade members connected thereto against the retaining formation and thereby placing the wing blade members under compression stress between the retaining formation and said pivot connect member.  
     
     
         26 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 18  comprising a stabilization component, the stabilization component comprising a head member, for gripping the stabilization element for the rotation thereof, and an insert member extending from said head member, 
 the insert member comprising a pair of opposed tab members spaced apart from (e.g. disposed at an end of the insert member distal from the end thereof connected to) the head member,  
 said insert member and the opening being configured such that said insert member including said tab members 
 is insertable into opening with the tab members extending parallel to the longitudinal axis-direction of the rail such that said tab members are insertable through the slot-like opening into the holding cavity, and  
 
 said tab members, said blade members and said retaining formation being configured such that when the tab members are in the holding cavity said insert member including said tab members 
 is pivotable—rotatable with respect to the longitudinal extent of the opening so as to dispose the tab members transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail such that each blade member is engaged by (i.e. sandwiched between) a respective tab member and the retaining formation.  
 
 
     
     
         27 . A combination (kit), for mounting a load bearing track to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure), said load bearing track having a longitudinal extent and comprising a rail element and a mounting element, said mounting element comprising one or more retaining formations, each retaining formation defining a holding cavity and a respective (cavity) opening communicating with the holding cavity, said holding cavity being sized larger than the respective (cavity) opening communicating therewith,  
       said combination (kit) comprising 
 one or more head components as defined in  claim 16 ,  
 and  
 one or more members selected from the class consisting of 
 a hanger component for attaching a respective head component to the overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure)  
 
 and 
 a section of said load bearing track.  
 
 
     
     
         28 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  wherein each head component comprises a connection member for (releaseably) connecting the support member to a respective hanger component.  
     
     
         29 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  comprising one or more hanger component for attaching a respective head component to the overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure).  
     
     
         30 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  further comprising one or more sections of said load bearing track  
     
     
         31 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  wherein said rail element and said mounting element are integral.  
     
     
         32 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  comprising one or more hanger components for attaching a respective head component to the overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure) and one or more sections of said load bearing track  
     
     
         33 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 32  wherein said rail element and said mounting element are integral.  
     
     
         34 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 33  wherein said one or more retainer formations each define a slot-like opening.  
     
     
         35 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 33  wherein said mounting element comprises an elongated retainer formation extending the length of the rail element, said elongated retainer formation defining a slot-like opening extending the length of the rail element.  
     
     
         36 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  comprising one or more lateral stabilization component, each said lateral stabilization component comprising an attachment member (i.e. opening) connecting the lateral stabilization component to a respective hanger component, said lateral stabilization component being displaceable between a non-wedging configuration and a lodging or wedging configuration in the (cavity) opening for inhibiting lateral movement of the mounting element transverse to the longitudinal extent of the track.  
     
     
         37 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  wherein a respective (cavity) opening has a slot-like configuration and a longitudinal extent, said combination comprising one or more lateral stabilization components, each lateral stabilization component comprising a head member, for gripping the lateral stabilization element for the rotation thereof, and an insert member extending from said head member, 
 said insert member having a rectangular configuration and comprising a pair of opposed outer long sides and a pair of opposed outer short sides  
 said insert member configured such that said insert member 
 is insertable into a respective slot-like (cavity) opening when the long sides of the insert member extend parallel to the longitudinal extent of the slot-like (cavity) opening, and  
 is pivotable—rotatable in the slot-like (cavity) opening with respect to the longitudinal extent of the opening so as to dispose the long sides of the insert member transverse to the longitudinal extent of the rail such that the short sides of the insert member engage the retaining formation defining the slot-like (cavity) opening so as to (or for) inhibit(ing) lateral (sideways) movement of the mounting element transverse (i.e. movement in a direction transverse (e.g. at right angles—perpendicular)) to the longitudinal extent of the track.  
 
 
     
     
         38 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 37  wherein the hanger component comprises a shank member having a longitudinal extent, said head and insert members defining a sleeve body having a sleeve opening, said shank member extending through said sleeve opening, said sleeve body and said shank member being configured for rotational displacement of the lateral stabilization component about the longitudinal extent of the shank member.  
     
     
         39 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 37  wherein the insert member comprises a pair of opposed tab members, each tab member extending from a respective short side of the insert member, said insert member including said tab members being configured such that said tab members are insertable through the slot-like opening into the holding cavity, said tab members, said blade members and said retaining formation being configured such that when the tab members are in the holding cavity and the short sides of the insert member engage the retaining formation each wing blade member is engaged (i.e. sandwiched between) a respective tab member and the retaining formation.  
     
     
         40 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  comprising a compression inducing component for placing the wing blade members under compression stress between the retaining formation and said pivot connect member.  
     
     
         41 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  comprising two or more brace members, and wherein said support member is connected to a pair of opposed base members, each base member projecting from a respective side of said support member and being associated with a respective cam member, each brace member comprising a head member and a distal engagement member, each base member and respective brace and cam members being configured such that said head member is able to abut the outside surface of the portion of the retaining formation defining said (cavity) opening, said distal engagement member is able to pivotally—rotationally engage said base member and when said brace member is rotated said cam member places said brace member under tension stress so as to urge said pivot connect member to urge said wing blade members connected thereto against the retaining formation and thereby placing the wing blade members under compression stress between the retaining formation and said pivot connect member.  
     
     
         42 . A combination (kit) as defined in  claim 27  comprising one or more stabilization components, each stabilization component comprising a head member, for gripping the stabilization element for the rotation thereof, and an insert member extending from said head member, 
 the insert member comprising a pair of opposed tab members spaced apart from (e.g. disposed at an end of the insert member distal from the end thereof connected to) the head member,  
 said insert member and the opening being configured such that said insert member including said tab members 
 is insertable into opening with the tab members extending parallel to the longitudinal axis-direction of the rail such that said tab members are insertable through the slot-like opening into the holding cavity, and  
 
 said tab members, said wing blade members and said retaining formation being configured such that when the tab members are in the holding cavity said insert member including said tab members 
 is pivotable—rotatable with respect to the longitudinal extent of the opening so as to dispose the tab members transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail such that each wing blade member is engaged by (i.e. sandwiched between) a respective tab member and the retaining formation.  
 
 
     
     
         43 . A head component as defined in  claim 16  comprising a stop element for limiting each of the wing blade members to a predetermined degree of rotation relative to the support member.  
     
     
         44 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein said head component comprises a stop element for limiting each of the wing blade members to a predetermined degree of rotation relative to the support member.