Abstract:
A multi-part mounting assembly for securing a plurality of individual pathway conduits relative to one another extending through a wall panel between adjacently positioned wall studs including two support members extending parallel to one another and defining therebetween a pathway conduit zone for receiving the individual conduits along with end members for providing sealing at the outermost edges and one or more partitioning means securable at a plurality of discrete positions within slots defined in the support members and being securable with respect to the support members and including set screws for safely holding pathway conduits in position extending therethrough.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field Of The Invention 
   The present invention deals with the concept of sleeved apertures which extending through walls for allowing communication between rooms in residential and commercial buildings for various purposes such as for telecommunication lines, computer lines, and/or physical flow lines such as flow lines for gas or liquid materials. Lines for transferring digital information such as computer data lines are in very high usage demand due to common placement of multiple computer stations within various rooms. Modular sleeves are designed to reduce the amount of space required to penetrate the wall barrier as well as to improve the integrity of the wall itself. Since the demand has become so great for such communication lines in position extending through walls and buildings, it is necessary to provide a means for ganging or assembling multiple units extending through a wall panel. The present invention provides a means for providing a fixture which accommodates a given number of wall penetrating pathway conduits while at the same time providing universally adjustable partitions which allows for a secure installation when less than the maximum fixture capacity is utilized extending through a particular wall fixture. 
   2. Description Of The Prior Art 
   Numerous patents have been granted on articles in this field such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,131 patented Nov. 12, 1963 to T. N. Jeffress on “Building Construction”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,166 patented Apr. 14, 1981 to Oleg L. Radzishevsky et al on a “Sealed Inlet For Bunched Conductors”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,343 patented May 30, 1989 to John T. Graef et al and assigned to Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. on a “Two Piece Face Plate For Wall Box Mounted Device”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,019 patented May 23, 1995 to David P. Marshall et al and assigned to Lamson &amp; Sessions Co. on a “Passthrough Device With Firestop”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,560 patented Apr. 23, 1996 to William L. Nash on a “Gangable Plastic Box For Electrical Outlets”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,174 patented Oct. 1, 1996 to Yasuo Goto and assigned to Home Co., Ltd. on a “Connector”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,776 patented Jul. 21, 1998 to John A. Birmingham et al and assigned to O-Z Gedney Company LLC on an “Electrical Cable Penetration Seal With Compliant Module”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,724 patented Aug. 24, 1999 to Thomas R. Russo et al and assigned to The Wiremold Company on a “Wire Containment System For Mounting On A Wall Structure”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,087 patented May 8, 2001 to John Charles Archer and assigned to Thomas &amp; Betts International, Inc. on a “Gangable Electrical Box”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,599 patented Dec. 11, 2001 to Harry I. Zimmerman on a “Flanged Conduit And Insulation For Electric Wires And Method Of Use”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,445 patented Jan. 21, 2003 to Richard Rohmer and assigned to Pass &amp; Seymour, Inc. on a “Gangable Low Voltage Bracket For Electrical Devices”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,345 patented Feb. 18, 2003 to Maijana Marovic et al and assigned to Hubbell Incorporated on a “Self-Squaring Relay Rack Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,169 patented Mar. 25, 2003 to Michael G. Dykhoff and assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company on an “Adjustable Rack For Supporting Firestop Material In A Through-Penetration”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,928,777 patented Aug. 16, 2005 to Brandon L. Cordts and assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company on a “Method and Apparatus For Firestopping A Through-Penetration”; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0015280 published Aug. 23, 2001 to Ronald E. Karst et al and assigned to Pent Assemblies, Inc. on a “Wall Panel Assembly”; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0022231 published Sep. 20, 2001 to Edward P. Dyer and assigned to Hellermann Tyton Corporation on a “Modular Duct”; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0178664 published Dec. 5, 2002 to Michael G. Dykhoff and assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company on an “Adjustable Rack For Supporting Firestop Material In A Through-Penetration”; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0128927 published Jul. 8, 2004 to Michael T. Cole and assigned to The Wiremold Company on an “Integrated Ceiling And Wireway Distribution System”; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0226235 published Nov. 18, 2004 to Shawn Stempinski and assigned to The Wiremold Company on “Modular Floor Panels With Enclosed Wireway Channels”; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0202732 published Sep. 15, 2005 to David J. Rizzo et al and assigned to ILSCO Corporation on a “Lay-In Electrical Connector”. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an apparatus for adjustably retaining and sealing pathway conduits mounted in positions extending through wall panels in commercial or residential buildings. The apparatus includes a first support member securable to a wall adjacent to at least one pathway conduit extending therethrough which is generally L-shaped in cross-section. The first support member is adapted to abut and sealingly engage a pathway conduit positioned immediately thereadjacent. The first support member also defines a plurality of first mounting slots therein and is constructed such as to include a first mounting panel positioned adjacent the wall panel for mounting thereto and a first partition attachment panel being detachably securable with respect to the wall panel. The first mounting panel extends across the wall panel in an orientation generally parallel thereto. The first partition attachment panel extends approximately perpendicular with respect to the first mounting panel and outwardly therefrom. The first mounting slots are defined in the first partition attachment panel and extend generally perpendicularly with respect to the first mounting panel. 
   A second support member is also included which is preferably generally L-shaped in cross-section and can be secured to a wall spatially disposed from the first support member to define therebetween a pathway conduit zone for receiving, retaining and sealing adjacent pathway conduits extending therethrough. This second support member is adapted to abut and sealingly engage a pathway conduit positioned thereadjacent within the pathway conduit zone. The second support member defines a plurality of second mounting slots within each of these mounting slots is aligned with one of the first mounting slots to define therewith a plurality of transverse mounting locations therealong. The second support member includes a second mounting panel positioned adjacent the wall panel for mounting thereto and a second partition attachment panel being detachably securable with respect thereto. The second mounting panel extends across the wall panel and is generally parallel thereto. The second partition attachment panel preferably extends approximately perpendicularly with respect to the second mounting panel and outwardly therefrom. The second mounting slot is defined in the second partition attachment panel. The second mounting slot also preferably extends perpendicularly with respect to the second mounting panel. 
   A first end member is also included extending between the first support member and the second support member which is adapted to abut and sealingly engage a pathway conduit positioned thereadjacent while also maintaining the proper spacing between the first and second support member. Similarly a second end member extends between the first support member and the second support member at a position spatially disposed from the first end member to define the pathway conduit zone therebetween. This second end member is adapted to abut and sealingly engage a pathway conduit positioned thereadjacent within the pathway conduit zone. 
   A partitioning member which preferably extends vertically is detachably securable with respect to the first mounting slots of the first support member and with respect to the second mounting slots of the second support member at at least one of the discrete transverse mounting positions defined therealong in such a manner as to extend therebetween. This partitioning member preferably includes a sealing surface facing outwardly therefrom which is adapted to abut and sealingly engage a pathway conduit positioned thereadjacent within the pathway conduit zone. The partitioning device itself is preferably U-shaped and includes an abutment panel extending between one of the first mounting slots defined in the first support member and one of the second mounting slots defined in the second support member in order to facilitate abutment of the pathway conduit positioned within the pathway conduit zone located thereadjacent. The abutment panel defines the sealing surface facing outwardly therefrom to abut and sealingly engage a pathway conduit positioned thereadjacent within the pathway conduit zone. 
   The partitioning device further includes a first engagement tab extending generally perpendicularly away from the abutment panel in a direction opposite from said sealing surface and generally parallel with respect to the first support member thereacross to facilitate engagement therebetween to retain the abutment panel adjacent the pathway conduit zone. Similarly a second engagement tab is included extending generally perpendicularly away from the abutment panel in a direction opposite from the sealing surface and generally parallel with respect to the second support member thereacross to facilitate engagement therebetween to retain the abutment panel adjacent the pathway conduit zone. The second engagement tab is preferably spatially disposed from the first engagement tab to facilitate positioning thereof adjacent to the second support member. 
   The partitioning member can include set screws positioned in the abutment panel thereof and extendable outwardly toward the pathway conduit positioned within the pathway conduit zone thereadjacent to facilitate sealing engagement therewith and to firmly hold the pathway conduit firmly in place with respect to the surrounding wall panel. 
   A first securement device such as a screw or the like is adapted to secure the first engagement tab of the partitioning member with respect to the first support member. Similarly a second securement means such as a screw device is adapted to secure the second engagement tab of the partitioning device with respect to the second support member for holding the partitioning member in the pre-chosen place after installation. 
   Preferably the apparatus will include the capability of mounting the U-shaped vertically extending partitioning member at a plurality of locations to accommodate the use any number of pathways less than the maximum capacity of the unit. Also various configurations need to be capable of being utilized and for this purpose the partitioning device needs to be capable of facing in a sealingly engaging manner toward either the first end means or the second end means at any of the mounting positions thereof. 
   It is an object of the apparatus of the present invention to provide a system which is usable for mounting multiple pathway conduits through a wall up to the maximum capacity of the unit while at the same time providing a securely mounted unit when less than the maximum number of pathway conduits are utilized. 
   It is an object of the apparatus of the present invention to provide a system which allows for any configuration of pathway conduits in a number less than the total capacity of the mounting system. 
   It is an object of the apparatus of the present invention to provide a system which provides a means for firmly securing pathway conduits with respect to a surrounding wall area. 
   It is an object of the apparatus of the present invention to provide a system which allows two or three sleeves to be positioned with respect to a mounting plate that can accommodate three, four, five or even a greater number thereof. 
   It is an object of the apparatus of the present invention to provide a system which allows for free fixed positioning of pathway conduits at any location within the grid of a multiple unit mounting system. 
   It is an object of the apparatus of the present invention to provide a system which allows the use of less than the full capacity of a pathway conduit wall mounting system. 
   It is an object of the apparatus of the present invention to provide a system which minimizes openings or critical gaps adjacent to pathway conduits extending through such wall panels. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portions herein, a preferred embodiment is set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing vertically extending partition members extending to the left and to the right; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of the prior art shown utilized to full capacity with five pathway conduits positioned within a pathway conduit zone having a capacity of five; 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of the prior art shown in  FIG. 5  wherein four pathway conduits are positioned within a mounting bracket apparatus having a capacity of five which results in an unsealed slot; 
       FIG. 7  shows a prior art device with the use of four non-adjacently positioned pathway conduits and the unsealed section of the prior art; and 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of the present invention showing the vertically extending partitioning member moved to a mounting location such that firm securement with respect to the wall is achievable with a mounting apparatus having a capacity of five pathway conduits in an application where only three such pathway conduits are being utilized. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention provides a unique configuration which facilitates secure mounting of a plurality of pathway conduits  12  within a wall panel  10  where the full capacity of the mounting apparatus is not completely used. Normally multiple pathway conduits  12  extend through a wall to facilitate communication between rooms for various types of lines such as computer lines or electrical lines. A mounting frame is normally provided which extends through a wall panel  10  between adjacently positioned studs  11 . Normally such studs are spaced apart from one another at various predetermined distances of approximately one to one and a half feet. The frame is attached on each opposite end with respect to the studs and defines therebetween a predetermined number of mounting positions for pathway conduits  12  extending therethrough. As shown in the prior art in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , normally the number of mounting locations is five, however, any number of pre-defined locations can be utilized. The difficulty arises when less than the full capacity of pathway conduits  12  is utilized such as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  shows the unsealed slots  72  immediately to the left of the leftmost pathway conduit  12  which results from a lack of adjustability in the mounting frame. In a similar manner  FIG. 7  shows four pathway conduits  12  mounted in a non-adjacent manner which can define therebetween an unsealed section  74  which is also very undesirable. The unsealed slot  72  and the unsealed section  74  are defined as failures when because sealing is a very important characteristic of mounting of pathway conduits  12  within wall panels  10 . As such, in the prior art the capability of mounting a number of pathway conduits  12  less than the total capacity of the wall mounting fixture is a problem. The present invention provides a means for sealing around and firmly securing a number of pathway conduits less than the total capacity of the wall mounting frame. This apparatus includes, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and schematically in  FIG. 8 , a first support member  14  extending usually horizontally and having a generally L-shaped configuration preferably. A second support member  16  similarly configured and mounted as a mirror image thereof is positioned below the first support member  14  spaced apart by a distance determined by the first end member  18  and the second end member  20 . First end member  18  extends between the first support member  14  and the second support member  16  adjacent one end thereof and the second end member  20  is positioned between members  14  and  16  adjacent the opposite end thereof. In this manner an overall frame is provided by the first and second support members  14  and  16  and the first and second end members  18  and  20 . It should be appreciated that this overall frame can be provided as a four piece unit or a two piece unit or as a single integral unit or any number of pieces and still come within the purview of the contemplation of the present invention. 
   The first support member  14  and the second support member  16  will define therebetween the pathway conduit zone  13  which is adapted to receive a number of pathway conduits  12  extending therethrough. Similarly the first end member  18  and the second end member  20  will define therebetween the lateral dimension of the pathway zone  14 . 
     FIG. 1  shows an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention wherein a partitioning means  28  has been positioned in mounting slots to provide the apparatus of the present invention to be usable with three pathway conduits  12  in a secure manner with respect to a wall panel  10  even though the overall capacity of the device is five units. This is made possible by the unique adjustable configuration provided for the mounting position of the partitioning member  28  relative to the first and second support members  14  and  16 . This configuration is provided by defining the first support member  14  with a plurality of individual first mounting slots  22  defined therein. Preferably these mounting slots will be equally spaced along the horizontal dimension of the pathway conduit zone  13  but this is not a requirement and the present invention could easily be practiced with the positioning of the mounting slots  22  with respect to one another being in an unequally spaced manner. In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , however, the first mounting slots  22  are equally spaced with respect to one another. 
   The second support member  16  will define a plurality of second mounting slots  24  which preferably are also equally spaced from one another. In this preferred configuration one second mounting slot  24  is preferably vertically oriented with respect to each first mounting slot  22  thereabove to define therebetween a transverse mounting position  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the five transverse mounting positions are defined as mounting positions  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c ,  26   d  and  26   e . Position  26   a  is the mounting location at the extreme left of  FIGS. 1-4  whereas transverse mounting position  26   e  is the rightmost location when viewing these drawings. 
   It is important that the unsealed slots  72  shown in  FIG. 6  be avoided and this is achieved by the positioning of the partitioning device  28  in the vertically extending position with the sealing surface  30  thereof immediately adjacent to the outer surface of a pathway conduit  12  positioned thereadjacent. The mounting of the partitioning device  28  in position immediately adjacent to the transverse mounting position  26   c  is achieved by careful positioning of the first and second mounting slots  22  and  24  in the first and second support members  16  and  18 . As seen best in  FIG. 2 , the individual first mounting slots  22  will be open and will be adapted to receive the vertical partition  28  therewithin. 
   The first support member  14  preferably includes two discrete members in the overall L-shaped configuration. The first mounting panel  32  thereof is adapted to facilitate securement thereof with respect to a wall structure such as by the use of wall mounting screws  76 . These wall mounting screws  76  preferably extend through wall mounting apertures  78  defined in the first mounting panel  32  of the first support member  14  to facilitate fixed securement of the first support member  14  with respect to the wall panel  10 . 
   The first support panel  14  will also include a first partition attachment panel  34  extending outwardly away from the mounting panel  32  and approximately horizontally therewith to define the overall L-shape configuration. This first partition attachment panel  34  will provide a means for mounting of the vertically extending partition  28  with respect to the first support member  14 . 
   The second end member  20  will also include a second mounting panel  36  which preferably defines wall mounting apertures  78  therewithin which facilitates the use of wall mounting screws  76  for securing of the second support member  16  with respect to the wall panel  10 . In a similar manner a second partition attachment panel  38  will extend away from the second mounting panel  38  and provide the overall L-shaped configuration for the second support member  16 . 
   The preferred configuration for the partitioning means  28  is of the generally U-shaped configuration. This U-shaped design includes an abutment panel  40  which is the main vertically extending panel which includes the sealing surface  30  on one side thereof adapted to engage an seal against an adjacently positioned pathway conduit  12 . The U-shaped configuration for the partitioning device  28  is provided by a first engagement tab  42  which extends generally perpendicularly with respect to the abutment panel in a direction away from the sealing surface  30  at a position adjacent to the first support member  14 . In a similar manner a second engagement tab  44  is provided extending approximately perpendicularly away from the abutment panel  40  of vertical partitioning member  28  in such a manner as to extend along and be engageable with respect to the second support member  16 . In the preferred configuration of the present invention the U-shaped partitioning member will be securable with respect to the first and second support members  14  and  16  by positioning of the abutment panel  40  thereof extending through a pair of first and second mounting slots  22  and  24  positioned normally directly above and below one another. The first tab  42  will extend to the left as shown in  FIG. 1  along the outer surface of the first partition attachment panel  34  of first support member  14 . In a similar manner the second engagement tab  44  will extend to the left as shown in  FIG. 1  to a position to facilitate engagement thereof with respect to the second support member  16 . 
   Preferably the first engagement tab  42  is secured with respect to the first partition attachment panel  34  of first support member  14  by a first securement means such as first screw means  46 . Preferably the first support member  14  will define a first mounting aperture  50  therein to facilitate securement therewith. In a similar manner the second engagement tab  44  will be engageable with respect to the second partition attachment panel  38  of the second support member  16  by a second securement means such as second screw means  48 . It should be appreciated that with this configuration the vertically extending partitioning device  28  can be re-positioned in any of the pair of slots positioned immediately above and below one another, that is, the individual pairs of first mounting slots and second mounting slots  22  and  24 , to allow the use of the apparatus of the present invention with any number of different pathway conduits  12  extending therethrough in any chosen configuration. It is possible by positioning the partitioning device  28  in the rightmost pair of vertically oriented first and second mounting slots  22  and  24  to allow this wall mounting apparatus which has a total capacity for five individual pathway conduits  12  to be utilized with only a single pathway conduit. In such a use the pathway conduit would be sealed from above and below by the first and second support members  14  and  16  and would be sealed on the right by the second end member  20  and would be sealed on the left by the partitioning means  28 . 
   In some circumstances it may be necessary based upon the particular application or design configuration to utilize the apparatus of the present invention to mount pathway conduits  12  in the leftmost portion of the pathway conduit zone  13  as shown best in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1  shows the partitioning means  28  positioned in a primary position  62  facing in the primary direction  64 . On the other hand  FIG. 3  shows the partitioning means  28  of the present invention also in a position as shown in the left portion of the drawing facing in the secondary direction  68  in a secondary position  66 . 
   In order to achieve the capability of orienting the vertically extending partitioning member  28  facing both the primary direction and the second direction, it is preferable to include mounting apertures on both sides of each slot in each of the first and second support members  14  and  16 . For this purpose as shown best in  FIGS. 1-4 , the first mounting aperture  50  can include a primary first mounting aperture  52  and a secondary first mounting aperture  54  positioned on each opposite side of the slot to provide a more universal capability. In a similar manner each of the second mounting apertures  56  can include both a primary second mounting aperture  58  and a secondary second mounting aperture  60 . Thus, when it is desired to have the partition device  28  face the primary direction  64 , the first securement means  46  thereof will be secured with respect to a pair of vertically aligned primary first mounting apertures  52  and primary second mounting apertures  58 . On the other hand, when it is desired that the partitioning device  28  face to the left as shown in the leftmost portion of  FIG. 3 , the first and second securement means  46  and  48  thereof will be mounted with respect to the secondary first mounting aperture  54  and a vertically aligned secondary second mounting aperture  60 . 
   With this configuration the overall adjustability of a mounting apparatus and use thereof with less than the total capacity thereof is significantly enhanced. This construction not only provides a means for mounting such members securely but also maintains the integrity of the surrounding wall panel  10  by providing a firm and secure means of attachment. 
   To facilitate sealing engagement of the sealing surface  30  of the partitioning member  28  set screws  70  can be included which extend therethrough and are adapted to abut and engage a pathway conduit  12  positioned in the pathway conduit zone  13  immediately thereadjacent as shown best in  FIG. 3 . 
   It should be appreciated that the securement screws  46  and  48  which attach the engagement tabs of the present invention with respect to the support members  14  and  16  can be sheet metal screws used with nuts as shown in  FIG. 1  or can be self-tapping screws as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   It should be appreciated that the most important aspect of the present mounting system is the inclusion of movable partitions mounting in a unique manner due to the fact that most mounting systems for pathway conduits  12  extend from one stud to another and therefore are of a predetermined length and accommodate a predetermined number of units. The present invention provides a means for utilizing of such a device with less than the maximum number of units while maintaining a firm and secure mounting of the conduits  12  extending through the wall  10  while maintaining the integrity of the wall panels  10  immediately there surrounding. This system provide a high degree of flexibility in regard to the use of a particular mounting system in various applications and thereby greatly reduces inventory requirements for storing multiple units each having a specific number of pathway conduits  12  with which it is solely usable. 
   While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown in the drawings and described above, it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the form, arrangement and positioning of the various elements of the combination. In consideration thereof, it should be understood that preferred embodiments of this invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.