Raceway for housing electrical components

Abstract: A longitudinal raceway (10) is provided for housing electrical components (14) such as in a space-dividing wall structure or the like. The raceway includes a pair of elongated raceway sections (30, 32) which, when in longitudinal juxtaposition, define a generally closed hollow structure for concealing and protecting the electrical components. A hinge (34) is connected between adjacent longitudinal sides (30b, 32b) of the raceway sections whereby the sections are movable about the hinge between open and closed positions. Complementary interengaging latches (42, 44) are provided on the opposite longitudinal sides (30a, 32a) of the raceway sections to hold the sections in the closed position.

Description: This invention relates to a longitudinal raceway for housing electrical components according to the preamble of claim 1. There are various applications or environments wherein structural raceways are used to house electrical components and/or circuitry to hide the circuitry, to protect the circuitry or for other purposes. An example of such an environment is in space divider systems for dividing offices or other interior regions into smaller work areas. Such systems normally include a plurality of upright panels releasably joined together, and, in contemporary environments, the panels are individually prewired, with electrical connectors or terminating power blocks of adjacent panels being joined by flexible electrical components. Such systems afford the user high flexibility in arranging and rearranging work areas to meet changing work situations. Delivery of necessary power and communications service to the various work areas normally is accomplished in one of two methods. Each wall panel may be prewired or a power supply and communications system may be installed in longitudinal recessed areas of the panels or under the bases of the wall panels. In the latter systems, normally a power and communication raceway structure normally extends longitudinally of the panels to facilitate the extension of both electrical and communication circuitry along the system in an efficient yet hidden and protected manner, still providing utilization of the circuitry at selected locations. In a raceway of the kind referred to above (US-A 4,423,284) there are two raceway sections which can be mounted together to form a hinge and which can be closed by interengaging latching means. The outer surface of the raceway does not provide mounting means. In another preknown raceway (US-A 3,786,171) L-shaped raceway sections are connected together by a bead forming a hinge member. No external mounting means are provided. EP-A 0 453 392 having a priority of April 19, 1990 and denominating Italy (among others) discloses a raceway formed of U-shaped sections which are hinged and latched together. No outer mounting means is provided. Although known raceway systems have proven highly desirable and have met with success, there nevertheless is continued attempts to improve the manufacture, usability, flexibility, dependability and convenience of such systems, particularly in endeavors to incorporate the power and communications structural raceway as an integrally associated component of panel divider systems. Accordingly, this invention relates to improvements in raceway structures of the character described. An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved raceway structure for housing electrical components. The invention is defined in claim 1. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a pair of elongated raceway sections are provided such that, when in longitudinal juxtaposition, the sections define a generally hollow closed structure for concealing and protecting the electrical components. Hinge means are connected between adjacent longitudinal sides of the raceway sections whereby the sections can be moved between open and closed positions. Complementary interengaging latch means are provided on the opposite longitudinal sides of the raceway sections to hold the sections in the closed position. As disclosed herein, the raceway sections are unitary plastic components and the complementary interengaging latch means are formed unitary with the raceway sections. The latch means include hooks for snapping into locking engagement. The hinge means are provided in the form of a web extending lengthwise of the raceway sections. The sections have sockets longitudinally thereof, and the web has enlarged portions for positioning in the sockets. The raceway sections are generally U-shaped in cross-section with each section having two leg portions joined at proximal ends by a bight portion. The hinge means and the complementary interengaging latch means are provided at the distal ends of the leg portions of the U-shaped sections. Furthermore, the outer side of the raceway has mounting means in the form of elongated hooks so as to cooperate with further mounting brackets. It is contemplated that the raceway sections can be extruded of dielectric material, such as plastic or the like. Therefore, the raceway sections simply are cut to desired lengths, in pairs, to provide a closed raceway of that length when the sections are interengaged. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a power and communications supply system as might be used in a modular wall panel system, and including the raceway structure of the invention; FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, looking toward the left-hand end of Figure 1, and illustrating the raceway in open condition in conjunction with an electrical connector; FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, with the electrical connector in position within one of the raceway sections; FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of Figures 2 and 3, with the raceway sections in closed condition completely encapsulating the connector; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing a communications as well as power supply system; FIGURE 6 is an elevational view looking at the left end of Figure 5 showing the raceway sections in a closed condition with a communication as well as power conduit; FIGURE 7 is a section view looking at the right end of Figure 1; and FIGURE 8 is a detailed drawing of the web. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to Figure 1, the invention is incorporated in a raceway, generally designated 10, which forms a component of a power and communication supply system, generally designated 12, which may be used in conjunction with a modular wall panel system. For instance, supply system 12 may be provided in a bottom recessed area along the bottom edge of a single wall panel of the modular wall panel system. Power and communications supply system 12 includes an electrical connector or power block, generally designated 14, within one open end 16 of raceway 10. A flexible conduit 18 projects outwardly from the opposite end of raceway 10, and another electrical connector, generally designated 20, is electrically coupled to the power and communication wires or lines within flexible conduit 18. As an example, connector 20 may comprise a plug connector and connector 14 may comprise a receptacle connector. Therefore, plug connector 20 can connected to a receptacle connector 14 of another power and communications supply system 12 in an adjacent wall panel of the modular wall panel system. Of course, it must be understood that supply system 12 is but an example of the utility of raceway 10 which incorporates the concepts of the invention. For instance, raceway 10 may interengage with other components such as mounting brackets 22 to facilitate mounting the raceway within or along the bottom of a wall panel. In addition, raceway 10 may include side apertures 24 within which are mounted conventional receptacle plates 26. It can be seen that each receptacle plate 26 has a pair of "three-prong" arrays of holes for receiving conventional grounded electrical plugs. Appropriate terminal contacts are provided within raceway 10 in communication with the holes to terminate the conventional grounded plugs to electrical or communications circuitry within the raceway and coupled between connectors or power blocks 14 and 20. Referring to Figure 2 in conjunction with Figure 1, the invention contemplates that raceway 10 be fabricated of a pair of elongated generally U-shaped sections, generally designated 30 and 32. U-shaped raceway section 30 includes two leg portions 30a and 30b joined by a bight portion 30c. Likewise, U-shaped raceway section 32 includes two leg portions 32a and 32b joined by a bight portion 32c. Raceway sections 30 and 32 are designed such that, when in longitudinal juxtaposition, the raceway sections define a generally hollow closed structure for concealing and protecting the electrical components therewithin, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. Generally, hinge means 34 are interconnected between adjacent longitudinal sides (i.e., legs 30b and 32b) of the raceway sections whereby the sections are movable about the hinge means between an open position (Figs. 2 and 3) and a closed position (Figs. 1 and 4). More particularly, hinge means 34 is provided in the form of a web extending lengthwise of the raceway sections. The sections have socket means in the form of channels 36 formed in the outside surfaces of legs 30b and 32b. The web has enlarged side edges 38 which are disposed in channels 36 to retain the web in position. The web is fabricated of flexible material so that sections 30 and 32 can pivot from their open position as shown in Figure 3, in the direction of dotted arrowed line 40 to their closed position as shown in Figure 4. Generally, raceway sections 30 and 32 include complementary interengaging latch means on the longitudinal sides thereof opposite hinge means 34 (i.e., on legs 30a and 32a) to hold the raceway sections in their closed position. More particularly, as seen in Figures 2-4, leg 30a of raceway section 30 is provided with a hook 42 on the outside thereof, and leg 32a of raceway section 32 is provided with a hook receiver or projection 44 on the outside thereof. Therefore, when the raceway sections are moved or pivoted about hinge means 34, such as indicated by dotted arrowed line 40 in Figure 3, hook 42 will snap behind hook projection 44 as shown in Figure 4, thereby holding or locking the sections in their closed position surrounding, concealing and protecting the electrical components therein, such as receptacle connector 14. The raceway sections may be provided with other interior or exterior features commensurate with the usage of the raceway. For instance, elongated hooks 46 are provided on the outside of legs 30a and 32a of raceway sections 30 and 32, respectively. As seen in Figure 4, the hooks point outwardly in opposite directions. As seen in Figure 1, the hooks are used for snapping lips 48 of mounting brackets 22 onto the top of the raceway to eliminate extraneous mounting hardware. Reviewing the above description, raceway sections 30 and 32 can be fabricated individually and then joined by the hinge means provided by web 34 as shown in Figure 2 wherein the sections are in their completely open condition. The electrical components which are to be mounted within the raceway, such as electrically connector 14, power wires, communication cables and the like then are positioned within one of the raceway sections, such as section 32 shown in Figure 3. The other raceway section, such as section 30, then is pivoted to the closed position as shown in Figure 4, whereupon hook 42 snaps into engagement over hook projection 44. The electrical components now are completely concealed and protected within the raceway which has been provided by only two pivotally connected parts. Although raceway sections 30 and 32 can be fabricated by molding techniques, it is contemplated that the sections be extruded so that they can be cut in any given lengths to provide a raceway 10 of any length for a variety of desired applications. It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims: A longitudinal raceway for housing electrical components, comprising a pair of elongated raceway sections (30, 32) being generally U-shaped in cross-section with each section (30, 32) including a first leg portion (30a, 32a) having proximal and distal ends a second leg portion (30b, 32b) having proximal and distal ends and a bight portion (30c, 32c) joining said proximal ends of said legs; hinge means (34) connecting the distal ends of the second leg portions (30b, 32b) of the raceway sections (30, 32), so that the sections (30, 32) are movable about the hinge means (34) between open and closed positions of the raceway (10); complementary interengaging latch means (42, 44) provided on the distal ends of said first leg portions (30a, 32a) to hold the sections (30, 32) in the closed position of the raceway (10) in which a generally hollow closed structure for concealing and protecting the electrical components (14) is formed, characterized in that an elongate hook (46) is provided on the outside of the first leg portion (30a, 32a) of each raceway section (30, 32) near to said proximalend so as to form a raceway mounting means which mates with lips (48) on cooperating mounting brackets (22). The longitudinal raceway of claim 1 wherein said raceway sections (30, 32) comprise unitary plastic components. The longitudinal raceway of claim 2 wherein said complementary interengaging latch means (42, 44) are unitary with the raceway sections (30, 32). The longitudinal raceway of claim 3 wherein said complementary interengaging latch means (42, 44) comprise hook means for snapping into locking engagement. The longitudinal raceway of claim 3 wherein said complementary interengaging latch means (42, 44) extend substantially the entire length of the raceway sections (30, 32). The longitudinal raceway of any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said hinge means (34) is formed by a flexible web extending lengthwise of the raceway sections (30, 32). The longitudinal raceway of claim 6 wherein the distal ends of the second leg portions (30b, 32b) of said raceway sections (30, 32) have channels (36) and the web (34) has enlarged portions (38) which are disposed in the channels. The longitudinal raceway of claim 7 wherein said channel (36) runs along substantially the entire length of each raceway section (30, 32) and said enlarged portions (38) comprise ribs along opposite edges of the web (34) positioned in the channels. The longitudinal raceway of any of claims 1 to 8 wherein in said closed position of said raceway (10), said distal ends of said second leg portions (30b, 32b) are abutting each other. The longitudinal raceway of any of claims 1 to 9 wherein said hooks (46) of the raceway mounting means point outwardly in opposite directions.

Inventors: BOGIEL STEVEN B, DATA MARK M, DEROSS ROBERT, SKOWRONSKI DAVID M, BOGIEL, STEVEN B., DATA, MARK M., DEROSS, ROBERT, SKOWRONSKI, DAVID M.
Applicants: MOLEX INC, MOLEX INCORPORATED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H02G3
IPC codes: H02G3