Panel hangers for sliding panel track systems

Abstract

A sliding panel track system has a headrail with traversing rails therein, the traversing rails having open-ended channels with downwardly facing slots. Panels for the system are attached to hangers, including different hangers for different types of panels. The hangers are readily and easily inserted into and withdrawn from the channels and slots via the open ends thereof.

1 . A sliding panel track system, comprising:
 a headrail defining a track;   a traversing rail disposed in said track for movement therein, said traversing rail defining a cavity having an elongated slot opening exposed downward, said cavity having a transverse cavity width, and said slot having a transverse slot width less than said cavity width;   a panel hanger at least partly disposed in said cavity and having at least a portion thereof contained in said cavity, said portion having a width less than said cavity width and greater than said slot width, said hanger being one of:
 an “L”-shaped body retained in said cavity, said “L”-shaped body having a base segment wider than said slot width; and 
 a clamping body having a head disposed in said cavity and wider than said slot width, a neck extending from said head through said slot, and opposed arms outwardly of said cavity, said opposed arms being deformable toward each other; and 
 a panel attached to said hanger. 
   
   
   
       2 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 1 , said headrail defining a plurality of tracks; at least first and second panel hangers disposed in different tracks of said plurality of tracks; and each said first and second hangers being one of said “L”-shaped body and said clamping body. 
   
   
       3 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 2 , said first and second panel hangers each being a said “L”-shaped body. 
   
   
       4 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 2 , said first and second panel hangers each being a said clamping body. 
   
   
       5 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 2 , one of said first and second panel hangers being a said “L”-shaped body, and the other of said first and second panel hangers being a said clamping body. 
   
   
       6 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 2 , including at least first and second panel hangers disposed in a same track of said plurality of tracks; a third panel hanger disposed in another track of said plurality of tracks; and each said first, second and third hangers being one of said “L”-shaped body and said clamping body. 
   
   
       7 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 1 , said hanger being a said “L”-shaped body, and said panel being attached to said body by a staple. 
   
   
       8 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 1 , said hanger being a said clamping body, said panel being held by said arms compressed against said panel, and at least one of said arms having a rib on an inwardly facing surface thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 8 , said rib being at least partly embedded in said panel. 
   
   
       10 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 1 , said hanger being a said clamping body, said panel being held by said arms compressed against said panel, each of said arms having an inwardly facing surface, and each of said arms having a rib on the inwardly facing surface thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 10 , said ribs being at least partly embedded in said panel. 
   
   
       12 . A sliding panel track system, comprising:
 a headrail defining a plurality of tracks;   first and second traversing rails disposed in different tracks of said plurality of tracks, said first and second traversing rails each defining an elongated cavity having an elongated slot opening thereto exposed downward, said cavity of each traversing rail having a transverse cavity width and each said slot having a transverse slot width less than said cavity width;   a plurality of panels each panel of which is connected to a panel hanger for selective insertion into said cavities, each said hanger being one of:
 an “L”-shaped body retained in said cavity, said “L”-shaped body having a base segment wider than said slot width; and 
 a clamping body having a head disposed in said cavity and wider than said slot width, a neck extending from said head through said slot, and opposed arms outwardly of said cavity, said opposed arms being deformable toward each other. 
   
   
   
       13 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 12 , at least one of said panels being secured to a said “L”-shaped body by at least one staple. 
   
   
       14 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 12 , at least one of said panels being secured to a said clamping body by said arms of said clamping body compressed against said at least one panel. 
   
   
       15 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 14 , said arms having ribs at least partly embedded in said at least one panel held therebetween. 
   
   
       16 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 12 , including removable end caps at opposite ends of said traversing rails covering open ends of said cavities in said traversing rails. 
   
   
       17 . A sliding panel track system, comprising:
 a headrail defining a plurality of tracks;   first and second traversing rails disposed in different tracks of said plurality of tracks, said first and second traversing rails each defining an elongated cavity having an elongated slot opening thereto exposed downward, said cavity of each traversing rail being open on at least one end of the traversing rail and having a transverse cavity width, and said slot of each said traversing rail being open on the same end as the end opening of said cavity thereof, and having a transverse slot width less than said cavity width;   a first hanger type for attachment to light-weight panels;   a second hanger type for attachment to panels that are heavier than said light-weight panels; and   each of said hangers being slidable axially into said cavities with a panel attached thereto.   
   
   
       18 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 17 , said first hanger type being an “L”-shaped body having a base segment wider than said slot width. 
   
   
       19 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 18 , including a panel attached by staples to said first hanger type. 
   
   
       20 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 17 , said second hanger type being a clamping body having a head disposed in said cavity and wider than said slot width, a neck extending from said head through said slot, and opposed arms outwardly of said cavity, said opposed arms being deformable toward each other for clamping a panel therebetween. 
   
   
       21 . The sliding panel track system of  claim 20 , including a rib on an inside surface of at least one of said arms. 
   
   
       22 . A panel assembly for a sliding track system having a headrail defining a track and a traversing rail disposed in the track, the traversing rail defining an elongated cavity having an elongated slot opening thereto exposed downward, the cavity being open on at least one end of the traversing rail and having a transverse cavity width, and the slot being open on the same end as the end opening of the cavity, and having a transverse slot width less than the cavity width, said panel assembly comprising:
 a panel hanger of an “L”-shape having a base segment wider than the slot width and narrower than the cavity width; and a vertical segment; and   a panel attached to said vertical segment;   said panel assembly slidable axially into the traversing rail open end.   
   
   
       23 . The panel assembly of  claim 22 , including a staple connecting said panel to said vertical segment 
   
   
       24 . A panel assembly for a sliding track system having a headrail defining a track and a traversing rail disposed in the track, the traversing rail defining an elongated cavity having an elongated slot opening thereto exposed downward, the cavity being open on at least one end of the traversing rail and having a transverse cavity width, and the slot being open on the same end as the end opening of the cavity, and having a transverse slot width less than the cavity width, said panel assembly comprising:
 a panel hanger having a head wider than the slot width, a neck extending from said head, and opposed arms extending from said neck, said opposed arms being deformable toward each other; and   a panel held in said panel hanger by compression of said arms against said panel.   
   
   
       25 . The panel assembly of  claim 24 , at least one of said arms having a rib at least partially embedded in said panel. 
   
   
       26 . The panel assembly of  claim 25 , each said arm having a rib at least partially embedded in said panel.