Modular rail system
AssigneeRayoMar Enterprises, Inc.
InventorRichard C. Rayos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rail system includes a first rail unit with a hook portion forming a recessed cavity with an opening. A resilient strip or cord is located within the recessed cavity and is at least partially exposed through the opening. A cam portion positioned apart from the hook portion has a detent and a recessed portion. A second rail unit, releasably fastenable to the first rail unit, has a first flange section insertable into the hook portion of the first rail unit to compress the strip or cord and a second flange section snappable into the recessed portion of the cam portion of the first rail unit. The first flange extends through the opening of the recessed cavity and an end surface of the first flange engages the strip or cord when the second rail unit is fastened to the first rail unit.
Claims20
A rail system, comprising:
- a first rail unit including a hook portion comprising a recessed cavity having an opening, a rim of the opening at least partially defined by a first protrusion and a second protrusion located opposite the first protrusion, a resilient strip or cord disposed within the recessed cavity, the strip or cord being at least partially exposed through the opening in the cavity, and a cam portion positioned apart from the hook portion, the cam portion having a detent and a recessed portion, the hook portion and the cam portion being directly or indirectly structurally connected and configured to be releasably fastenable by resiliency of the strip or cord following compression, the strip or cord located between the rim of the opening and the cam portion;
- and
- a second rail unit releasably fastenable to the first rail unit, the second rail unit having a first flange insertable through the rim of the opening and into the hook portion of the first rail unit to compress the strip or cord and a second flange insertable into the recessed portion of the cam portion of the first rail unit, the first flange including a first side, a second side opposite the first side and an end surface extending between the first and second sides, the end surface located between the first and second sides and the second flange, the first and second sides extending through the rim of the opening into the recessed cavity and the end surface engaging the strip or cord of the first rail unit when the second flange of the second rail unit is inserted into the recessed portion of the cam portion of the first rail unit.
A rail unit, comprising:
- a rail;
- a fastening apparatus on a surface of the rail, the fastening apparatus including a hook portion comprising a recessed cavity having an opening, a rim of the opening at least partially defined by a first protrusion and a second protrusion spaced from and located opposite the first protrusion, a resilient strip or cord disposed entirely within the recessed cavity, the strip or cord being at least partially exposed through the opening in the cavity;
- and
- a cam portion positioned apart from the hook portion, the cam portion having a detent and a recessed portion, the hook portion and the cam portion being directly or indirectly structurally connected and configured to be releasably fastenable by resiliency of the strip or cord following compression, the strip or cord located between the rim of the opening and the cam portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.