Rail system

A rail system for supporting a plurality of upper and lower modular wall panels adjacent a plurality of spaced apart studs to define a wall, the rail system comprising:

• a plurality of spaced apart studs;
• an upper rail mounted horizontally to the studs adjacent a ceiling, the upper rail including a vertical plate which bears against the studs and a horizontal crown member extending outward from a top portion thereof, said crown member having a portion depending downwardly therefrom which is spaced apart from the plate to create a downwardly extending channel for receiving the upper portion of the upper wall panels;
• a lower rail mounted horizontally to the studs adjacent an abutting surface such as a floor, bathtub, or shower pan, the lower rail including a vertical plate which bears against the studs and a portion extending outward therefrom which defines an upwardly extending channel for receiving the lower portion of the lower panels;
• a middle rail mounted horizontally to the studs between the upper and lower rails, the middle rail including a vertical plate having a portion thereof which bears against the studs, a portion extending outward therefrom adjacent a top edge thereof which defines an upwardly extending channel for receiving the lower portion of the upper panels, and a portion extending outward therefrom adjacent a bottom edge thereof which defines a downwardly extending channel for receiving the upper portion of the lower panels;
• an elongated bar spaced apart from said middle rail and mounted longitudinally thereof;
• a plurality of attachment devices attached to the middle rail plate and to the bar;
• and
• a cover attached to the middle rail, the cover having a wall spaced apart from the middle rail plate to define an interior chamber therebetween, said wall having a plurality of apertures therein for receiving the attachment devices.

A rail system comprising:

• a plurality of spaced apart studs;
• an upper rail mounted horizontally to a plurality of spaced apart studs adjacent a ceiling, the upper rail including a vertical plate which bears against the studs and a horizontal crown member extending outward from a top portion thereof, the crown member having an interior chamber for the laying of cables therein, said interior chamber being defined by a top wall including a substantially horizontal portion and an upwardly extending portion, a first side wall depending downwardly from the top wall at an angle away from the plate, a second side wall depending downwardly from the first side wall at an angle toward the plate, and a substantially horizontal bottom wall between the plate and the second side wall, said top wall defining an upwardly extending channel for the placing of a longitudinal light therein, and said second side wall extending downward past the bottom wall to form a downwardly extending channel for receiving an upper portion of a plurality of upper wall panels, the second wall also having a longitudinal notch formed in an exterior surface thereof for receiving various accessories;
• a lower rail mounted horizontally to said studs adjacent an abutting surface such as a floor, bathtub, or shower pan, the lower rail including a vertical plate which bears against the studs, a T-shaped member extending outwardly therefrom to create an upwardly extending channel and a downwardly extending channel, and a J-shaped member extending outward from a lower edge thereof to create an upwardly extending channel, whereby the upwardly extending channel formed by the T-shaped member receives a lower portion of a plurality of lower panels;
• a base cover releasably secured to the lower rial, said base cover having a portion extending therefrom which fits into the downwardly extending channel of the T-shaped member and the upwardly extending channel of the J-shaped member;
• a middle rail mounted horizontally to said studs between the lower and upper rails, the middle rail including a vertical plate having a portion thereof which bears against the studs and horizontal flanges extending outward from top and bottom edges thereof, the horizontal flanges having a protuberance extending substantially vertically outward from outer edges of said flanges for receiving a cover;
• a plurality of base members including a support plate bearing against the middle rail plate and a substantially rectangular post extending perpendicularly outward therefrom, the support plate having a plurality of apertures therein for receiving fastening means, said post having a rectangular chamber formed therein and an aperture formed in at least one wall thereof for receiving fastening means;
• a plurality of joint members having a support arm for insertion into the interior chamber of the base member post, and a pair of substantially rectangular, opposing hub portions extending perpendicularly therefrom in an angular relation relative to a vertical plane, at least one wall of the support arms having an aperture therein in alignment with the aperture in a corresponding base member post for the insertion of fastening means therein;
• a cover having a wall spaced apart from the middle rail plate to define an interior chamber between said cover and plate, the cover having horizontal flanges extending inward from top and bottom edges thereof and a plurality of substantially rectangular sleeves extending outward therefrom which receive the support plate posts, said flanges having a longitudinal groove formed in a bottom portion thereof approximately the same size as the protuberances extending from the flanges of the middle rail plate for securing the cover to said plate, and at least one wall of the sleeve having an aperture therein aligned with the apertures in a corresponding base member post and joint member support arm for receiving fastening means;
• and
• a plurality of elongated support bars spaced apart from the cover, said bars having end portions which mate with the support arm hub portions for securing said bars in a substantially horizontal position, said bars also having a substantially rectangular cross-section defined by four exterior surfaces which are positioned at an angle relative to a vertical plane.