Track system for architectural stretch-fabric applications

{
  "publication_number": "US12012763B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Track system for architectural stretch-fabric applications",
  "abstract": "A fabric housing, a method of installing a fabric housing, and a method of manufacturing a fabric housing are provided. The fabric housing for stretching fabric on walls or ceilings includes a first exterior wall. The fabric housing also includes a second exterior wall. The fabric housing further includes a tensioning leg configured to tightly abut one of the first exterior wall or second exterior wall. The tensioning leg is configured to grip a fabric between the tensioning leg and the one of the first exterior wall or second exterior wall. The fabric housing still further includes a pair of opposing jaws configured to secure the fabric. The pair of opposing jaws are disposed along one of the first exterior wall or the second exterior wall. A corresponding method of manufacturing a fabric housing and installing a fabric housing are provided herein.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A fabric housing for stretching fabric on walls or ceilings, the fabric housing comprising: a first exterior wall; a second exterior wall; a tensioning leg configured to abut one of the first exterior wall or second exterior wall, the tensioning leg being configured to grip a fabric between the tensioning leg and the one of the first exterior wall or second exterior wall; and a pair of jaws separate from the tensioning leg and disposed along one of the first exterior wall or the second exterior wall to secure the fabric, each of the pair of jaws tapering to a free and pointed end, each of the free and pointed ends being oriented in opposing directions such that at least one surface of each of the pair of jaws provide an interlocking engagement, wherein the tensioning leg is configured to removably engage with the same wall as the wall along which the pair of opposing laws are disposed.",
    "2. The fabric housing of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion extension configured to engage with a wall.",
    "3. The fabric housing of claim 1, wherein the tensioning leg is configured to removably engage with a different wall as the pair of opposing jaws are disposed.",
    "4. The fabric housing of claim 1, further comprising a shape mechanism configured to define the exterior shape of fabric positioned in the fabric housing.",
    "5. The fabric housing of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface of each of the pair of jaws is a convex surface.",
    "6. The fabric housing of claim 1, wherein the tensioning leg is maintained in place by an interior leg, the interior leg being configured to be attached to the first exterior leg at one end and the second exterior leg at the other end.",
    "7. The fabric housing of claim 6, wherein: the fabric housing defines a flexible interior area and a rigid interior area, and the interior leg is configured to deflect more than the rigid interior area during positioning of the fabric.",
    "8. The fabric housing of claim 1, wherein the tensioning leg is configured to provide enough grip to the fabric as to restrict any movement.",
    "9. The fabric housing of claim 5, wherein: the pair of jaws comprise a locked position and an unlocked position, and the convex surface of each of the pair of jaws are engaged in direct contact with one another in an instance the opposing jaws are in the locked position.",
    "10. A method of installing fabric into a fabric housing, the method comprising: providing a fabric housing that comprises a first exterior wall, a second exterior wall, a tensioning leg configured to abut one of the first exterior wall or second exterior wall; and a pair of jaws separate from the tensioning leg and disposed along one of the first exterior wall or the second exterior wall, each of the pair of jaws tapering to a free and pointed end, each of the free and pointed ends being oriented in opposing directions such that at least one surface of each of the pair of jaws provide an interlocking engagement; inserting a fabric into the pair of jaws configured to secure the fabric; and in an instance in which the fabric has been inserted into the pair of jaws, further securing the fabric with the tensioning leg configured to grip the fabric between the tensioning leg and the one of the first exterior wall or second exterior wall, wherein the tensioning leg is configured to removably engage with the same wall as the wall along which the pair of opposing laws are disposed.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing the pair of jaws to be interlocked when engaged relative to one another.",
    "12. The method of claim 10, wherein the fabric is inserted into the pair of opposing jaws via an insertion tool.",
    "13. The method of claim 10, further comprising attaching the first exterior wall to a wall or ceiling surface.",
    "14. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a second fabric housing adjacent to the fabric housing.",
    "15. The method of claim 10, further comprising running the fabric over a shape mechanism, wherein the shape mechanism configured to define the exterior shape of fabric positioned in the fabric housing.",
    "16. The method of claim 10, wherein the tensioning leg is configured to provide enough grip to the fabric as to restrict any movement.",
    "17. The method of claim 10, further comprising disengaging the pair of opposing jaws in order to remove the fabric.",
    "18. The method of claim 10, wherein the fabric is installed into a first fabric housing at a first end and a second fabric housing at a second end.",
    "19. A fabric housing for stretching fabric on walls or ceilings, the fabric housing comprising: a first exterior wall; a second exterior wall; a tensioning leg configured to abut one of the first exterior wall or second exterior wall, the tensioning leg being configured to grip a fabric between the tensioning leg and the one of the first exterior wall or second exterior wall; and a pair of jaws separate from the tensioning leg and disposed along one of the first exterior wall or the second exterior wall to secure the fabric, each of the pair of jaws tapering to a free and pointed end, each of the free and pointed ends being oriented in opposing directions such that at least one surface of each of the pair of jaws provide an interlocking engagement, wherein the tensioning leg is maintained in place by an interior leg, the interior leg being configured to be attached to the first exterior leg at one end and the second exterior leg at the other end.",
    "20. The fabric housing of claim 19, wherein: the fabric housing defines a flexible interior area and a rigid interior area, and the interior leg is configured to deflect more than the rigid interior area during positioning of the fabric."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "An example embodiment relates generally to stretching fabrics, and more particularly, example embodiments relate to track systems for stretching fabrics.\n\nNumerous track systems are used worldwide to stretch fabric tightly and evenly over walls and ceilings. The natural gap that is formed between the fabric and wall surface is generally filled with infill materials that provide acoustic treatment. However, various designs may either be costly and/or have performance deteriorate over time. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, many of these identified problems have been solved by developing solutions that are included in embodiments of the present disclosure, many examples of which are described in detail herein.\n\nThe following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements nor delineate the scope of such elements. Its purpose is to present some concepts of the described features in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.\n\nThe new design described herein is manufactured as a one-piece, tucking system, but the re-configuring of the track profile, including the addition of an interior leg and support to a second area of tensioning between legs, along with a different approach to interlocking the fabric, retains the advantages of both styles of conventional designs while also virtually eliminating the major drawbacks of each.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04F 13/005",
    "F16B 2/20"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04F 13/00",
    "F16B 2/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Fabri Trak Systems Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John Bubernak"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2023-03-10",
  "publication_date": "2024-06-18",
  "grant_date": "2024-06-18",
  "priority_date": "2019-08-02",
  "application_number": "US-202318181834-A",
  "family_id": "74258319",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}