Trunking system

Abstract: A multiple socket outlet module 2 for use in a modular power and communications management and supply system has a body 3 and receives busbars 7 extending through the body and electrical contact clips 6 connected to the busbars 7. A cover has pin apertures for permitting pins of plugs to engage the contact clips 6. Shutter portions 9 have further pin apertures 14 and connected by a connection portion 10 with integrally moulded hinge portions 11 at either end to permit the shutter portions 9 to be slid so that the pin apertures 14 overlie the contact clips 6. The shutter portions 9 are resiliently biased to overlie the contact clips so as to bar contact clip access but are cammable upon plug insertion to provide contact clip access.

Description: The present invention relates to a trunking system for installation in a building to enable services such as an electrical power supply or a telecommunications network to be distributed throughout the building or a room or rooms of the building. The invention is concerned more particularly with such a system having a plurality of socket outlets which provide access to the services. Trunking systems are known already which embody socket outlets which can be positioned and repositioned within a room or building with minimal structural alteration. However, the known systems, once installed, are of fixed construction and cannot easily be modified. EP-A-389 382 which claims priority of French patent application 89 03841 filed 24 March 1990 and was published on 26 September 1990 discloses a highly robust modular trunking system comprising base and capping parts. Assembly of such parts of a light weight alloy (namely a lightweight aluminium alloy) or other relatively rigid ("resistant") plastics material requires substantial forces for effecting snap-fitting of the component parts. To overcome this problem a long lever arm for increased mechanical advantage is employed enabling the use of relatively moderate manual forces. EP-A-389 382 teaches a separate and distinct cylindrical bead and complementary cylindrical socket respectively provided on first and second base parts for rocking one base part with respect to the other base art along an arcuate path to facilitate snap-fitting engagement. Such a dedicated pivotal connection is necessarily employed regardless of the material from which the base parts are made. In DE GM 1 903 574 there is disclosed a trunking system comprising one or more channel-shaped base parts and a corresponding number of covers adapted to be received at the free ends of the channel-shaped members for defining service voids. When assembled there are two overlying channel sidewalls between successive service voids of the trunking. The service voids are defined by the respective base parts (each having a first and a second limb and inter-fitting means at the respective ends of the first limb and on the sidewall of the second limb) and capping parts. Each service void is delimited between the first and second limbs of the associated base part. An object of the present invention is to provide a trunking system of modular design which uses a small number of basic parts and which permits easy modification both during and after installation. In accordance with the broadest aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular trunking system comprising a plurality of inter-fitting parts including at least one base part and at least one capping part therefor, the at least one base part having plural integrally formed inter-fitting means for selectively inter-fitting with complementary inter-fitting means integrally formed respectively with the capping part and with another such base part, said at least one base part having an open transverse cross section for lateral access along the length of the base part, said at least one base part having a generally L-shaped cross-section with a first, backwall limb and second, transverse limb, said plural inter-fitting means being provided comprising first inter-fitting means at a free end of the first limb, third inter-fitting means at the other end of the first limb and second inter-fitting means at a free end of the second limb, respective base parts being inter-fittable by relative sliding movement or snap fitting and being devoid of pivotal connections with one another, such that a desired trunking configuration can be built up from a plurality of modules of base and capping parts, service voids being formed between respective base and capping parts when brought into inter-fitting relation and being delimited by second limbs of respective adjacent base parts. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the first inter-fitting means is for selective inter-fitting with the third inter-fitting means integrally formed with the other base part, and the third inter-fitting means is for selective inter-fitting with the first inter-fitting means integrally formed with another adjacent base part. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the second inter-fitting means at the free end of the second limb comprises two inter-fitting means, each of the last-mentioned inter-fitting means being for selective inter-fitting with respective capping parts capable of forming selective service voids with respective said base parts. According to a preferred feature, the capping part is U-shaped and engages the second inter-fitting means of both the first base part and the other, adjacent base part. Once a desired number of service voids has been built up, one or both ends of the ducting are conveniently closed by closure parts. At the upper end of the ducting the closure part engages with the first inter-fitting means of the final base part and the upper limb of its upper capping part. If desired, the closure part can itself form a void with a co-operating bevelled facia part. At the lower end of the ducting, the closure part engages with the third inter-fitting means of the first base part. Further, a bevelled facia part may interfit with both the lower closure part and the second inter-fitting means of the first base part. The lower closure part can form a further void at the bottom of the trunking system. The further voids may be of smaller cross-sectional area than the main void or voids of the trunking system. The or each of the ducts carries a service such as a power supply cabling or telecommuncations cabling. Thus, in a situation where two voids are provided one may carry electrical power cables, socket outlets being provided in the or each capping part for access, the second void carrying telecommunications cabling accessible from data supply outlets provided in the capping part for that void. In a preferred embodiment of the invention each of the component parts is extruded from plastics material. The parts may be slideable one relative to the other or, alternatively, some or all of the parts may be snap fitted one relative to the other. The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A, Figure 1B and Figure 1C are perspective views of trunking systems embodying the present invention and having a different number of voids, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a multiple socket outlet module moulding for incorporation in the trunking system of the present invention, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but having additional parts, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3 with addititional parts and in a subsequent stage of assembly, Figure 5 shows the multiple socket outlet of Figures 2, 3 and 4 in a fully assembled condition ready for insertion into the trunking system of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the multiple socket outlet shown in Figure 5, with a standard British 3-pin plug located therein, Figure 7 is a sectional view of a connector clip for use with the multiple socket outlet of Figure 5 showing its location within the trunking system of Figure 1, and Figure 8 is an exploded view of the connector clip shown in figure 7. Figure 1A illustrates a modular trunking system in accordance with the present invention and having a plurality of voids arranged one above the other and each designed to carry a service to a room or building. Conveniently, the overall appearance of the trunking systen is that of a conventional skirting board thus enabling the system to be fitted in place of conventional skirting boards against the internal walls of an office for example. The system includes a generally L-shaped base part 101 having first inter-fitting means 120 at the free end of its longer limb, second inter-fitting means 122 at the free end of its shorter limb and third inter-fitting means 124 at the juncture between its two limbs. An identical base part is provided above the first base part as may be seen for example in Figure 1A. Thus, the third inter-fitting means 124 of the upper L-shaped base part is engaged with the first inter-fitting means 120 of the first base part. This arrangement permits a generally U-shaped capping part 104 to engage the second inter-fitting means 122 of both the lower and upper base parts to form a service void 107. It will be appreciated that by fitting together in superimposed relationship a plurality of L-shaped base parts and capping pieces 104, a number of service voids can be arranged one above the other. Thus, in Figure 1B, there is one service void 107, in Figure 1C there are two service voids and in Figure 1A three. If desired, a partitioning 103 may be provided within a service void 107 to sub-divide it into two service voids as may be seen in the lowermost void of Figure 1A. The inter-fitting means may be of any convenient design and may permit either sliding of the parts relative to one another or such as to enable snap fitting together. Essentially, on one part is a tongue 126 which is received in a complementary groove 128. The inter-fitting means 122 for the capping parts are slightly different inasmuchas a nose portion 130 is provided at each free end of the cap. Thus, when the cap is to be fitted the two noses 130 are slightly compressed so that they will pass between the corresponding tongues of the second inter-fitting means 122 so that when the noses 130 have passed over the tongues they expand again so that the noses 130 engage behind the tongues 126 thus preventing the capping part 104 from being removed from the ducting. When a sufficient number of voids has been built up, one or both ends of the ducting are closed by closure parts. At the upper end of the ducting the closure part is designated 102 and engages with the first inter-fitting means of the uppermost base part 101 and the upper limb of its capping part. A bevelled facia part 105 is fitted to the closure part 102 in order to impart a skirting board like appearance to the upper side of the ducting and at the same time provide an upper generally triangular cross-sectional void 108 as may best be seen from Figure 1C. The lower end of the void can be similarly finished by means of a closure part 103 which clips to the third inter-fitting means of the base part 101 as may best be seen from Figure 1B. A bevelled cover 105 clips onto the closure part 103 in order to provide the lower part of the composite ducting with an attractive appearance and also provide a lower generally triangular shaped void 109 which may also be used for carrying a mains service. Once the ducting has been installed in an office for example, then as may be seen from Figure 1C which has two principal service voids 107, telecommunications cabling is provided in the lower void and mains power cabling in the upper void. To provide access to these services from the office a multiple socket outlet module is connected to the mains cabling and similarly a data supply outlet may be connected to the telecommunications cabling. It will be appreciated that a major advantage of the trunking system of the present invention is that any number of the base component parts may be clipped together to form an indefinite number of voids to suit user requirements, these being secured to an office wall as may be convenient. Furthermore, the socket outlets will be visually integrated in a skirting board arrangement or dado rail arrangement and can be readily modified or added to should the requirement to do so arise later. The ducting shown in Figure 1 is suitable for incorporating the modular power and communications management and supply system shown in Figures 2 to 6. The electrically insulating parts of the multiple socket outlet module are made from an integrally moulded complex part illustrated in Figure 2. The moulded part can be shaped such that there are no re-entrant portions so permitting the part to be made by two moulds. The part is preferably moulded from a modified polycarbonate or nylon material which combines the necessary thermal stability with a degree of flexibility. The moulded part includes a body 3 for receiving straight, round-sectioned busbars 7 and contact clips 6 for making electrical contact with pins of a conventional standard British three-pin plug. Shutter portions 9 have apertures for the plug pins 14 and are connected by a connection portion 10 and flexible integrally moulded hinge portions 11 with the body 3. The shutter portions 9 also include integrally moulded inclined portions 12 onto which the pins of plugs operate and can best be seen in Figure 4. A cover 4 has apertures 13 for the plug pins and is retained by screws 8 to positively accomodate the internal components. The contact clip 6 for the earth pin of the plug is made of brass and has a bent-over tab forming a leaf spring 5 which fits in a slot 15 in the shutter portion 9 thus retaining it in the position best shown in Figure 4. The moulding is formed with a variety of recesses which have not been individually indicated in all cases and which may be changed in accordance with the optimum design of the moulded part. Recesses for three busbars 7 extend the full length of the module, being shown at 16, the recesses opening to the front of the body 3 to facilitate the full length insertion of the busbars 7. The body 3 is additionally recessed to receive the contact clips 6 which are located by frictional engagement with the assistance of the busbars 7, the body 3 and projections 17 on the inside of the cover 4. Appropriate recesses are also formed for the springing action of the earth contact clip 6 and for reducing the volume of plastics material used for the moulded body 3. Figure 6 shows how the insertion of a three-pin plug has the effect of lowering the shutter portion 9 by the earth pin engaging with the inclined portion 12 which permits the power spins below to pass through the aligned pin apertures 13 and 14 so as to establish electrical contact. When no plug is inserted the earth contact clip 6 will spring the shutter portion 9 upwards so as to prevent access from outside through the pin apertures 13 to the lower contact clips 6. It can be seen that not only does the multiple socket module involve only a very small number of parts but also the assembly of the parts is extremely straightforward. Figures 7 and 8 show that when the multiple mains socket outlet module 2 is inserted within a void 107 of the ducting system shown in Figure 1, it is retained securely by mechanically locking connector clips 20 which clip over the exposed ends of the busbars 18 found at either end of the multiple socket outlet module 2 (Figure 5) and protruding spreader clips 26 simultaneously engage the relevant retaining section 110 of the base part 101. The protruding spreader clips 26 are first expanded and then mechanically locked in situ by means of a screw 24. The mechanically locking connector clip once fixed in position within a void 107 is covered with a cover clip 25 which is clipped for example to the second inter-fitting means 122 between consecutive multiple socket outlet modules and/or capping part profiles 104 (Figure 1) thus providing a secure and visually continuous system. The body 21 of the mechanically locking connector clip is preferably moulded from a modified polycarbonate or nylon material which combines the necessary thermal stability with a degree of flexibility. It has protruding clips 26 (as previously described) which open outwards on insertion of the screw 24 through the hole 27 located in between the clips 26 and retaining recesses accommodate U-shaped brass or bronze clips 22 which frictionally engage the exposed busbar ends 18 found at either end of the multiple socket outlet module 2 (Figure 5). The U-shaped brass or bronze clips 22 are internally threaded to accomodate or receive two grub screws (per clip) which are used to maintain connection with electrical cable for supplying the multiple socket outlet modules 2. By using the modular power and communications management and supply system shown a mains supply can be conveniently combined with a wide variety of data cablings such as are necessary for telephone, modems or computers, but at the same time the length of the busbars which have to be accomodated to provide a flexible layout is kept to a mimimum. In modified versions of the invention, not specifically described, various parts which are connected by integrally moulded hinged portions can of course be made so that they fasten in some other way instead, although this will necessitate the separate moulding of parts. For example the shutter portion 9 may be produced as a separate item. It is also possible for the shutter portion 9 to be operated by using distinctly produced parts and using, separate springs and not necessarily the springing portion 5 of the earth clip 6.

Claims: A modular trunking system comprising a plurality of inter-fitting parts including at least one base part (101) and at least one capping part (104) therefor, the at least one base part having plural integrally formed inter-fitting means (120, 122, 124) for selectively inter-fitting with complementary inter-fitting means integrally formed respectively with the capping part and with another such base part, said at least one base part having an open transverse cross section for lateral access along the length of the base part, said at least one base part having a generally L-shaped cross-section with a first, backwall limb and second, transverse limb, said plural inter-fitting means (120,122,124) comprising first interfitting means (120) at a free end of the first limb, third inter-fitting means (124) at the other end of the first limb and second inter-fitting means (122) at a free end of the second limb, respective base parts being inter-fittable by relative sliding movement or snap fitting and being devoid of pivotal connections with one another, such that a desired trunking configuration can be built up from a plurality of modules of base and capping parts, service voids (107) being formed between respective base and capping parts when brought into inter-fitting relation and being delimited by second limbs of respective adjacent base parts. A modular trunking system according to claim 1 characterized in that the first inter-fitting means (120) is for selective inter-fitting with the third inter-fitting means integrally formed with the other base part, and the third inter-fitting means (124) is for selective inter-fitting with the first inter-fitting means integrally formed with another adjacent base part. A modular trunking system according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said second inter-fitting means (122) comprises two inter-fitting means, each of the last-mentioned inter-fitting means being for selective inter-fitting with respective capping parts (104) capable of forming selective service voids (107) with respective said base parts (101). A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second limb is shorter than the first limb. A modular trunking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base parts (101) when assembled define a base wall and limbs outwardly protruding therefrom. A modular trunking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one capping part (104) has inter-fitting means inter-fitting with the second inter-fitting means (122) on adjacent base parts (101). A modular trunking system according to claims 5 and 6 when taken together, characterized in that the outwardly projecting second limbs in cooperation with lateral flanges of the capping parts (104) define the partitions between service voids (107) of respective modules. A modular trunking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one base part (101) is an extrusion, the third inter-fitting means (124) being located at the juncture of the first and second limbs. A modular trunking system according to claim 8, characterized in that the capping part (104) is U-shaped and engages the second inter-fitting means (122) of both the at least one base part (101) and the other, adjacent base part (101). A modular trunking system according to claim 9, wherein the services voids (107) are disposed one above another, characterized in that the trunking system further comprises a closure part (102) for closing an uppermost service void. A modular trunking system according to claim 10, characterized in that the closure part (102) engages with the first inter-fitting means (120) of an uppermost base part and an upper inter-fitting means of an uppermost capping part. A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the lower end of the trunking is closed off by a lower closure part which engages with the third inter-fitting means (124) of the lowermost base part. A modular trunking system according to claim 12, characterized in that a further bevelled facia part (165) is provided for inter-fitting both with the lower closure part (102) and the second inter-fitting means (122) of the lowermost base part (101). A modular trunking system according to any one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein a mains power supply or data supply socket outlet module (2) is accommodated in a service void, characterized by mechanically locking connector clips (20) for the socket outlet module and a cover part (4) located over the connector clips to form a visually continuous exterior surface with the outlet module. A modular trunking system according to claim 14, characterized in that the base parts having retaining sections, the mechanically locking connector clips (20) have protruding clip members (26) which engage the retaining sections (110) of the base part (101) and lock in situ by means of screws cooperable with the clip members for securely engaging the clip members with the retaining sections and thereby locking the socket outlet module in position in the system. A modular trunking system according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the at least one base part (101) includes a bevelled upper cover profile to provide a duct for accommodating mains and data cabling for a skirting board system. A modular trunking system according to claim 16 characterized in that the base part (101) includes a bevelled upper cover profile and an extension profile which can also be used as a shelf within the voids, clips to the lower base part to allow a bevelled lower cover profile to be clipped to provide a duct for accommodating mains and data cabling for a dado rail system. A modular trunking system according to any one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein a multiple socket outlet module (2) is inserted in a service void (107), the socket outlet module comprising a body (3), contacts mounted in the body and adapted to be connected to conductors extending through the service void, a cover (4) having pin apertures (13) for insertion of pins of plugs (14) to engage the contacts, resiliently biased shutter portions (9) having further pin apertures (14) and camming means for camming the shutter portions upon plug insertion to provide contact access, characterized in that connection portions (10) with integrally formed hinge means (11) connect the shutter portions to the body for movement of the shutter portions in response to plug insertion. A modular trunking system according to claim 18, characterized in that the connection portions (10) comprise at one end one integral hinge (11) connected to the corresponding shutter portion and at an opposite end another integral hinge connected to the body (3). A modular trunking system according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the connectors are busbars (7) extending through the body and the contacts are contact clips (6) connected to the busbars. A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the shutter portions (10) are mounted for sliding movement. A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that said camming means comprises cam portions integrally formed with said shutter portions. A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a multiple socket outlet module (2) is accommodated in a service void, the outlet module having a body through which busbars extend on which electrical contact clips are connected, and a cover having pin apertures to allow pins of plugs to engage the contact clips, characterized in that shutter portions having further pin apertures are mounted for movement under resilient bias exerted by a resilient leaf spring portion of an earth contact clip to bar clip access, and camming means to cam the shutter portions on plug insertion to provide contact clip access. A modular trunking system according to claim 23, characterized in that the body has suitably configured open sided recesses for receiving the busbars (7). A modular trunking system according to claim 24, characterized in that the busbars contact the clips (6) directly for assisting their location, the contact clips also acting to retain busbar and contact clip assembly. A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the cover (4) has projections (17) locating the busbars in a closed condition. A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that it further comprises mechanically locking connector (20) clips having protruding clip portions (26) engageable with corresponding retaining sections (110) of base parts (101), and screw means (24) for locking the mechanically locking clips in situ to secure the module (2) in the system. A modular trunking system according to claim 27, characterized in that the mechanically locking connector clips (20) each include U-shaped clips (22) for frictionally engaging exposed busbar ends. A modular trunking system according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that the mechanically locking connector clips (20) each include further U-shaped clips which are each internally threaded to accommodate or receive two screws (23) to maintain the connection between an electrical cable and the busbars. A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 22 to 29, characterized in that a plurality of the modules disposed end-to-end are joined by means of separate busbars. A modular trunking system according to any one of claims 22 to 30, characterized in that it further comprises cover clips (25) for covering the mechanically locking connector clips (20) to provide a visually continuous exterior surface.

Inventors: DRAKE CHRISTOPHER JAMES THOMAS, HODGES KEVIN NEVILLE, DRAKE, CHRISTOPHER JAMES THOMAS, HODGES, KEVIN NEVILLE
Applicants: INOVAC SA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H02G3
IPC codes: H01R25, H02G3, H01R13