Abstract:
A wire management transition system configured for placement in a floor panel of an aircraft system, and to be secured beneath a tracking strip. The system is configured to secure both data and power cables without damage to the wires. A top portion and bottom portion interconnect and are configured with grooves to secure both the data cables and power cables and prevent the cables from damage and external forces.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a wire management system, and more specifically to a wire management system configured to route wire from beneath a floor surface to a seating system disposed above the floor surface. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In many systems, wires are required to provide electrical power or electronic control signals to components, such as computers, printers, auxiliary hardware, etc. . . . Often, these wires are required in areas with less than optimum conditions, e.g. areas with space constraints, harsh atmospheric conditions. In addition, these wires also require protection from shorts, damage, and other obstacles that may interfere with the transmission of the power or control signals. It is therefore desirable for a wire management system to provide support and protection to the wires transmitting the power or data. 
         [0003]    In aircraft systems, each individual seat requires power or data for various purposes. Typically the power or data is routed to each seat via a seat track route or on top of the floor of the aircraft. The wires travel from the track route to each seat to provide the necessary power or data. The power and data that is transmitted through these wires must originate from one area, typically from beneath the area where the seats are located, and the wires must travel from the source through a space in the floor of the passenger area to the individual seats. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a wire management system that can protect the wires in the floor. Specifically, a wire management system that has a low profile and protects the wires from damage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to a wire management system having a top portion with a first groove extending from openings in the top portion to receive wire and a bottom portion to cover the top portion and prevent the wire in the first groove from being exposed. The top portion and bottom portion are connected by a fastener and the wire management system is configured to fit into an aperture in a discrete location and route the wire. 
         [0006]    The present invention further relates to a wire management system having an aircraft system, a top portion with a first groove extending from openings in the top portion to receive wire and a bottom portion to cover the top portion and prevent the wire in the first groove from being exposed. The top portion and bottom portion are connected by a fastener and the wire management system is configured to fit into an aperture in a floor panel of the aircraft system. 
         [0007]    The present invention also relates to a wire management system having a top portion with a first groove extending from openings in the top portion to receive wire, a bottom portion to cover the top portion and prevent the wire in the first groove from being exposed and a chute extending from a side of the top portion to protect the wire from damage. The invention also includes a pivoting connection to connect the top portion and bottom portion. The top portion and bottom portion are connected by the pivoting connection and the wire management system fits into an aperture in a discrete location and route the wire. 
         [0008]    An advantage of the present invention is that it provides support for the seat track cover in the area where the wires are routed through the floor, which permits the track cover to hold the maximum required downward, side and abuse loads. 
         [0009]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides protection for the wires being routed from beneath the floor to the seating system. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the wire management transition block of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the assembled transition block of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view from the top of the transition block. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom perspective view with the hinge mechanism. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the hinge mechanism. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of an assembled transition block. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a partial perspective view of the transition block. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of the transition block. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded view of an alternate embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present invention is directed to a wire management system that manages wire routing between the floor and the seat track cover in a transportation vessel, e.g. an aircraft. It is to be appreciated that while an aircraft application is referred to throughout this detailed description, the wire management system of the present invention can be used with any vessel or apparatus using wires that can benefit from disposing wires, flexible tubing, hydraulics and pneumatic conduits in a wire management system between two separate defined areas, such as a floor and seat track. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows an opened view of the wire management transition housing  10  having a housing portion  12  and a cover portion  14 . The transition housing  10  is also configured with latches  22  positioned on the sides of the cover portion  14  to fasten the housing portion  12  to the cover portion  14 . The housing portion  12  has corresponding latch receptacles  24  that engage with the latches  22  of the cover portion  14  when the cover portion  14  is placed in the housing portion. Additional latches  30  on the sides of the housing portion secure the transition housing  10  in the seat track of the aircraft. The housing portion  12  of the transition block  10  has a chute portion  28  protruding from the front side that protects the wires entering the transition block  10 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates the transition housing  10  in the closed position with the cover portion secured to the housing portion. The closed position occurs when the cover portion  14  is placed into the housing portion  12  and the latches  22  are engaged with the latch receptacles  24 . The chute portion  28  protruding from the front side protects the wires from being bent, abrased, or crushed by forces that that may damage the wires.  FIG. 3  shows a top view of the chute portion  28 , illustrating the fluted end  32 , which provides additional protection for the wires. The fluted end  32  allows the wires to be routed and bend or flex without contacting a sharp edge that may rub, bend, crush and ultimately damage the wire.  FIG. 3  also illustrates the latches  30  that protrude from the sides of the housing portion  12  that secure the wire management system to the seat track when in place. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the cover portion  14  attached to the housing portion  12  with a hinge  52 . The hinge  52  is separable, with the hinge posts  54  located on one portion of the housing  10  and the hinge fingers  56  located on the opposite portion of the housing  10  ( FIG. 5 ).  FIG. 5  shows the hinge fingers  56  disposed on the cover portion  14  and the hinge posts  54  disposed on the housing portion  12 , however, the hinge fingers  56  may be disposed on the housing portion  12  and the hinge posts  54  may be disposed on the cover portion  14 . The hinge fingers  56  attach to the hinge posts  54  and create a secure, rotatable connection, allowing the housing portion  12  and the cover portion  14  to be connected and open without separation (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The hinge  52  acts in conjunction with the latches  22  to fasten the housing portion  12  to the cover portion  14 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 6-8  illustrates another embodiment of the wire management transition housing  10  having a top portion  34  and a bottom portion  36 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a closed view of the housing  10 . Both portions  34 ,  36  have grooves  38 . The groove  38  is shaped such that a cable or wire could lay in the groove  38  without being pinched, crushed, or otherwise obstructed or damaged by the other portion  34 ,  36  of the housing  10 . The wires enter and/or exit the housing  10  through the groove  38  openings on the side of the housing  10 . 
         [0026]    The housing  10  is also configured with latches  40  on the bottom portion  36  of the housing  10 . The top portion  34  has a pair of corresponding latch receptacles  42  that engage with the latches  40  of the bottom portion  36  when the top portion  34  is in the closed position. While it has been described that the latches  40  are located on the bottom portion  36  of the housing  10  and the latch receptacles  42  are located on the top portion  34  of the housing  10 , it will be known by those skilled in the art that the latches  43  may be located on the top portion  34  of the housing  10  and the latch receptacles  42  may be located on the bottom portion  36  of the housing  10 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  illustrates the housing  10  in an open position. A hinge  48  may be used to connect the top portion  34  and the bottom portion  36 . Further,  FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative latch  40  and latch receptacle  42  arrangement that can be used for the present invention. The chute  28  may also have receptacles  70  that accommodate the use of wire ties or other fastener to secure the wires (not shown) in the chute. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a wire rake  50  may be used to facilitate routing individual wire through the groove  38 . The housing may also include latches  30  disposed on the side of the housing  10  to secure the housing  10  to the seat track, or any other surface used in conjunction with the housing  10 .  FIG. 8  also illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention having a chute portion  28  that protects the wires entering the housing  10 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention where a top portion  60  and a bottom portion  62  are connected with fasteners  64 . The fasteners  64  replace or supplement the hinges shown in  FIGS. 6-8 .  FIG. 9  illustrates the use of four fasteners  64 , however, it is understood that more or less fasteners may be used. Both the top  60  and bottom  62  portions have grooves  66  for the wires to be placed. When connected, the fasteners  64  on both the top  60  and bottom  62  portions link to secure the top  60  and bottom  62  portions together. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.