System and method for continuous truss mounted track system

Abstract

A track that can provide a continuous track between adjacent trusses. The track includes a plurality of recesses configured to engage and support a track hanger and a plurality of carriage assemblies. The track hanger is configured to secure the track to the truss, while the carriage assemblies are configured to secure an appliance, such as a spot light, to the track. The carriage assemblies are selectively lockable at discrete positions along the track allowing for selective positioning of the appliances. The track includes pin holes on both ends of the track. The ends of adjacent tracks can be securely connected via an elongated pin. Connecting adjacent tracks aligns the respective plurality of recesses defining an elongated track that extends between adjacent trusses. The carriage assemblies can be slidably moved from one truss to another along the elongated track.

1 . A track for attaching one or more appliances to a truss, the track comprising:
 a body extending horizontally defining a first end and a second end, the track having a plurality of sides, the track further comprising;
 a plurality of recesses with each individual recess located on one of the respective plurality of sides of the track, wherein the recesses each are operable to receive and support fasteners along the length of the track; and 
 two bores located on the first end and the second end of the track respectively, wherein the two bores each extend horizontally within the track and are operable to receive at least a portion of an elongated pin therein; 
   wherein the track is attachable to the truss using at least one of the recesses on the track;   wherein the track is connectable to a second adjacent track that is attached to a second truss by inserting the elongated pin into one of the two bores of the track and also into a second bore of the second track; and   wherein attachment of the first track to the second track via the pin aligns at least one of the plurality of recesses in the track with at least one of a second plurality of recesses on the second track defining an elongated track.   
     
     
         2 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein the track is attached to the truss via a track hanger selectively engaged with one of the plurality of recesses on the track and a crossbar of the truss. 
     
     
         3 . The track of  claim 2 , wherein the first track is attached to the first truss by exactly two track hangers. 
     
     
         4 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is attached to the truss via a carriage assembly that attaches to the track via one or more of the plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         5 . The track of  claim 4 , wherein the carriage assembly is slidably movable within the elongated track defined by the first and second tracks. 
     
     
         6 . The track of  claim 5 , wherein the carriage assembly is selectively securable at any location along the elongated track. 
     
     
         7 . The track of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of carriage assemblies are secured to the recesses of the track, the plurality of carriage assemblies each configured to support at least one appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein the track has a generally rectangular shape with one recess on each of the four sides of the track. 
     
     
         9 . The track of  claim 8 , wherein one of the four recesses receives a track hangar for attachment of the track to the truss and the three remaining recesses define mounting points for attachment of appliances to the track and truss via one or more carriage assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . A truss assembly with a continuous track, comprising:
 a first truss comprising:
 four horizontally extending tubular members, wherein two of the tubular members define a top frame and the other two tubular members define a bottom frame; 
 a plurality of cross members connecting the first tubular member of the top frame to the second tubular member of the top frame; 
 a plurality of vertical members and a plurality of angular members connecting the top frame to the bottom frame; and 
 one or more flanges configured to connect the first truss to an adjacent truss; 
   a second truss identical to the first truss defining the adjacent truss;   a plurality of track hangers attached to the cross members of the first or second trusses;   a first track comprising a first plurality of recesses configured to engage fasteners and a first bore located on a first end of the track, wherein the first track is attached to the first truss via a first subset of the plurality of track hangers; and   a second track comprising a second plurality of recesses configured to engage fasteners and a second bore located on a second end of the second track, wherein the second track is attached to the second truss via a second subset of the plurality of track hangers, the first subset and the second subset being mutually exclusive; and   wherein the first and second trusses are connected together via their respective flanges such that the first end of the first track is positioned adjacent to the second end of the second track;   wherein an elongated pin is inserted into the first bore of the first track and the second bore of the second track linking the first track to the second track and defining a continuous track between the first truss and the second truss; and   wherein when the first and second tracks are connected, the plurality of recesses of the first track align with the plurality or recesses of the second track.   
     
     
         11 . The truss assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second tracks generally have a square cross-section and include one recess on each side of the track. 
     
     
         12 . The truss assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of track hangers engage one recess on one side of the continuous track to connect the tracks to the trusses. 
     
     
         13 . The truss assembly of  claim 10 , wherein one or more carriage assemblies engage one or more of the plurality of recesses of the continuous track to connect an appliance to the track. 
     
     
         14 . The truss assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the carriage assemblies include selectively lockable fasteners that engage a central wall of one of the recesses of the track to prevent slidable movement of the carriage assembly/appliance along the length of the track. 
     
     
         15 . A method of assembling a truss with a continuous track, the method comprising:
 attaching one or more track hangers to one or more respective cross members of the truss;   inserting fasteners of one or more track hangers within at least one of a plurality of recesses of a track;   sliding the track relative to the track hangers until the track is properly aligned within the truss;   tightening the fasteners of the track hangers to secure the track to the truss;   engaging the flanges of at least one carriage assembly with at least one of the plurality of recesses of the track not occupied by the track hangers;   sliding the carriage assembly along the length of the track to a discrete position;   tightening fasteners of the carriage assembly to selectively secure the carriage assembly to the track at said discrete location; and   attaching the appliance to the carriage assembly;   wherein the truss is configured to connect to an adjacent truss; and   wherein the track is configured to link with an adjacent track identical to the track defining a continuous track from the truss to the adjacent truss.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the carriage assembly includes a T-bar, a lifting eye, or a turn-buckle with a lifting eye. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the track includes a bore at a first end of the track and a bore at a second end of the track, said bores configured to receive part of an elongated pin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 inserting the elongated pin into the bore on one end of the track;   linearly aligning the truss with the adjacent truss comprising the adjacent track;   inserting the elongated pin into a bore on an end of the adjacent track connecting the first track to the adjacent track and defining a continuous track between the truss and the adjacent truss;   securing the first truss to the adjacent truss; and   optionally, sliding one or more carriage assemblies from the truss to the adjacent truss and vice versa via the continuous track defined therebetween.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein two or more tracks can be linearly aligned and connected to assemble the continuous track at various lengths. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the track has a generally square cross-section and includes one recess on each side of the track, defining one mounting point for the track hangers and three mounting points for carriage assemblies/appliances.