Abstract:
A raceway separated into multiple wireways by a dividing element is presented, said dividing element being supported by divider clips having an intermediate “U” shape to envelope three sides of the dividing element. Raceway base sections are joined by a raceway coupling particularly adapted to lie along the sidewall of each raceway base section being joined so as not to interfere with the dividing element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to surface mounted electrical raceways of the type having a raceway base adapted to receive a cover held to said raceway base by the opposed raceway base sidewalls, and having divider clips received in the raceway base for supporting dividing elements between the opposed sidewalls of the base. The raceway base elements or components are held in a similar relationship with one another by couplers that do not interfere with the dividing elements. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Raceways are protective conduits for containing varied types of wire and cable, comprising an elongated channel shaped raceway base section, and a raceway cover through which penetrate electrical receptacles, female phone jacks, and the like. The raceway base incorporates a rear wall, two opposing sidewalls, and any number of retaining means by which the raceway cover may snap onto or otherwise attach. Divided electrical raceways are those having multiple wireways physically separated from one another within a single raceway base by a dividing element, and are known in the art. They are widely used, and the need has arisen for more efficient and economical raceway construction that facilitates installation of the dividing elements and the divider clips that support said dividing element, as well as raceway couplings that connect various raceway base sections to one another. The need for raceways incorporating at least two wireways is expected to grow to accommodate various configurations of power, cable and optical carrier lines throughout a building&#39;s interior. 
     Divided raceways typically employ a substantially flat dividing element that parallels the raceway base sidewalls. The dividing element is supported within a raceway base by divider clips. The dividing element installs over the divider clips and is retained by a locking tab mechanism. Divider clips typically require a multi-step fabrication process whereby rolled steel is fed into a 4-slide machine, the steel is formed, multiple sections of the interior portion is stamped, cut, or bent as desired, and the formed steel is sliced into individual components. Prior art divider clips suffer from two deficiencies. First, they require fairly thick steel to support the dividing element, and thus waste material and impose undue wear on the 4-slide machine. Second, they require tools to install within a raceway, thus making installation more labor intensive. 
     Pairs of raceway base sections, whether divided or not, are joined by couplers that secure raceway sections together in an end to end relationship. Prior art couplers typically span the entire rear wall of a raceway base. They are partly inserted into a first raceway base section, and a second raceway base section is subsequently slid into place adjacent to the first over an extending portion of the coupler. Prior art couplers typically require four screws, one each near the top and bottom of each raceway base section being joined. The primary disadvantage is that these couplers would twist when the screws were tightened, causing the raceway cover to bow. Since they are slid into the open ends of raceway sections, they also require that multiple raceway sections be removed in order to replace a single damaged raceway section. Even during initial installation, the prior art raceway couplings create difficulties in that raceway base sections often do not properly align due to sidewall toe-in. Toe-in results from the roll forming manufacturing process, causing raceway ends that do not precisely match. Prior art couplings often do not readily slide onto both raceway sections due to this toe-in, and must be manually manipulated to fit, further increasing the installation labor. 
     The present invention overcomes the above shortfalls. First, the divider clip of the present invention may be manufactured without an initial cutout step, and from much thinner metal stock. Second, the present invention employs divider clips that do not include a locking tab mechanism, nor does the disclosed divider clip require that it be installed underneath the dividing element. Thus divided raceways of the present invention are easily reconfigured and upgraded after initial assembly. The coupler of the present invention precludes bowing of the raceway, twisting of the dividing element, and separation of the raceway cover. The coupler of the present invention is easily replaceable within a divided raceway, does not require removal of the dividing element, and allows a single damaged raceway section to be replaced without removing adjacent sections. Finally, the coupler of the present invention overcomes the toe-in match up difficulties since its design tends to cause adjacent sidewalls to align as the coupler is tightened. 
     The foregoing features are especially advantageous when provided in a two-piece metal raceway system of the type sold by the assignee herein under the WIREMOLD 4000 series steel raceway product line. Such raceway base sections are preferably joined end-to-end to provide a secure structure that is preferably grounded to avoid transient or fault currents that can be induced from the wires and electrical cables carried by the raceway system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, several raceway base sections are joined end to end by a unique coupling that is adapted to fit along the sidewall and in the corner between the rear wall and sidewall of each raceway base section to be clamped in place. 
     In addition to coupling the raceway base sections together, the present invention provides a unique support for dividing elements provided between these opposed sidewalls so that the dividing elements define separate wireways for accommodating discrete types of wiring in a single raceway base. 
     The dividing element is held in place by spaced divider clips which support the dividing elements, and each clip is provided with end portions that are constructed and arranged to cooperate with the marginal edges of the base sidewalls for this purpose. 
     Each divider clip preferably includes an intermediate portion of a flattened U-shape. More particularly, this “U” shape is rearwardly open to facilitate the divider clips to be pre-assembled in spaced relationship on the dividing element so that the entire assembly can be conveniently snapped into place by an installer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating two adjacent raceway base sections joined together by a coupling element of the present invention, and provided with a dividing element that is held in place by divider clips constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the raceway base section, a divider clip, and the dividing element, taken through section plane  10  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the divider clip in isolation, but in the configuration it would assume as assembled (see FIG.  2 ); 
     FIG. 3A shows the divider clip of FIG. 3 in its normal uncompressed configuration prior to being deformed resiliently at assembly to assume the FIG. 3 configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the coupling element in isolation; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the raceway base section and coupling, taken through section plane  11  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating two adjacent raceway base sections joined together by two coupling elements of the present invention, one of which is shown in shadow. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the illustrations, FIG. 1 shows a typical first raceway base section  20   a  and a second raceway base section  20   b  joined by a raceway coupling  22 . Running the longitudinal length of the raceway interior is a dividing element  24  supported by several divider clips  26 . The dividing element  24  separates an upper wireway  28  from a lower wireway  30 , each wireway providing a distinct conduit in which electrical, fiber-optic, or similar cable may lie. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a typical raceway base  20  specifically cross sectioned through the plane  10  of FIG. 1 so as to additionally depict a dividing element  24  and a divider clip  26 . The raceway base incorporates a rear wall  32  that mounts flush against a surface. Beginning at a rear wall/top sidewall corner  34 , a top sidewall  36  extends perpendicular from the rear wall  32 , terminating at a marginal edge  38  and an inwardly projecting top lip  40 . The raceway base  20  is symmetric about section line C-C′, so that the rear wall/bottom sidewall corner  44 , the bottom sidewall  46 , the marginal edge  48 , and the inwardly projecting lower lip  50  are in similar relation as their mirror components previously described. Opposite the rear wall  32  and between the inwardly projecting lips  40  and  50  is a forward opening  52  through which wires and cables may be placed into the raceway base  20 . A raceway cover, not shown ultimately closes this forward opening  52 . 
     Particular aspects of the divider clip  26  of the present invention are detailed in FIG.  3 . The divider clip is formed from a flat metal strip having a top end portion  54  comprising an inwardly curved lip  55  that rests substantially behind the inwardly projecting top lip  40  of the raceway base, and a bottom end portion  56  not similarly curved or bent. Rather, the bottom end portion  56  incorporates a protruding tab  58 . This protruding tab positively assures that the divider clip is electrically grounded to the raceway base, and also helps to prevent sliding of the divider clip  26  along the longitudinal direction of the raceway base. In a typical WIREMOLD 4000 series raceway system, the base and cover are usually painted to protect them from oxidation and other environmental damage during shipment, installation, etc. It is important, therefor, that the tab  58  on the divider clip  26  be so constructed and arranged as to penetrate this paint and assure that the electrical ground is achieved between the base and the clip. 
     The intermediate portion of the divider clip  26  is fashioned to be received within the raceway base  20 , said clip having a top section  60  to abut the raceway top sidewall  36  and a rear section  62  to abut the raceway rear wall  32 . A bottom section  66  similarly abuts the raceway bottom sidewall  46 . Along the rear section  62  is an intermediate U-shaped section  64  that extends substantially perpendicular from the rear section  62  when installed within a raceway. As shown in FIG. 3A the divider clip  26  has a normal configuration such that the legs of the U-shaped section  64  are not parallel as in the assembled FIG. 3 configuration. It is only at assembly that these legs assume a compressed parallel configuration so as to support the divider  24 . The metal clip  26  is resiliently deformable to allow the installer to insert the clips (and divider) into the raceway base channel as described below. This U-shaped section  64  is fashioned so that when installed, the closed end of the “U”, shown generally at  64   a , faces the raceway base forward opening  52  (shown in FIG. 2) and the open end of the “U”, shown generally at  64   b , faces the raceway base rear wall  32  (shown in FIG.  2 ). The shape of the “U” is sufficiently deep and narrow so as to retain a dividing element  24  in place by enveloping it around three sides. 
     The protruding tab  58  additionally allows the divider clip  26  to be short enough that it may be installed by hand rather than requiring tools to manipulate it into place. The bottom end portion  56  is inserted behind the base marginal edge  48 , the intermediate “U” portion  64  is placed over a dividing element  24 , and the top end portion  60  and the rear section  62  are resiliently deformed by hand pressure to insert the inwardly curved lip  55  behind the inwardly projecting lip  40  of the raceway base  20 . While the illustration depicts a divider clip capable of holding one dividing element equidistant from the raceway sidewalls, the present invention and claims encompass divider clips capable of retaining one or more dividing elements in any position between the raceway sidewalls. 
     FIG. 4 details particular aspects of the raceway coupling  22  of the present invention, which is used to secure two raceway base sections together even if said sections are not divided raceways. Interaction between the coupling  22  and the raceway base  20  is illustrated in FIG. 5, and the following description refers to both FIGS. 4 and 5. Additionally, FIG. 6 illustrates in perspective view two raceway base sections  20   a  and  20   b  being joined by two raceway couplings  22 , one of which is in shadow, for a better understanding of the invention. For simplicity, the coupling is described herein as being mounted on the raceway base bottom sidewall  46 . In fact, the preferred embodiment incorporates a coupling along both the top and bottom sidewalls of the raceway base as depicted in FIG.  6 . Thus each pair of adjacent raceway bases are secured with two couplings  22 . 
     The raceway coupling comprises a substantially flat coupling base  70  that lies along the bottom sidewall  46  when installed. The coupling base  70  terminates in a forward edge  72  that is received underneath the inwardly projecting lip  50  of the raceway base. Opposite the forward edge  72  is an angled segment  74  that is inclined approximately 45° from the coupling base and that terminates in a rearward edge  76 . Near the lateral ends of the angled segment  74  are first and second openings,  78  and  80  respectively, each capable of receiving a screw. The openings  78  and  80  are situated such that when the coupling is positioned to straddle an abutment between a first and second raceway base section, the first opening faces the first raceway base section and the second opening faces the second raceway base section. A first and second screw,  82  and  84  respectively, are threaded through these respective openings and impact their respective raceway base sections near the corner defined by the rear wall and sidewall. The above configuration minimizes the potential for bowing of the raceway base sections and affords electrical continuity between raceway base sections. 
     Tightening the screws drives the coupling forward edge  72  firmly against the marginal edges  48  of both raceways, thus securing two raceway base segments in end-to-end relationship. This also aligns the sidewalls and corrects toe-in discrepancies. Blunt end screws are used so that at least a part of the screw&#39;s blunted end forcibly impacts the rear wall of the raceway base. The angled segment  74  may include any orientation from approximately 20° to approximately 70° from the coupling base. Angles greater than approximately 70° tend to bow the raceway similar to prior art couplings, while angles less than approximately 20° tend to cause the screws to merely raise the coupling off the sidewall rather than forcibly drive against the rear wall or corner. 
     As described previously with reference to the tab  58  on clip  26 , the screws  82  and  84  are designed to penetrate the painted surface of the base sections and assure that the electrical ground potential of the raceway system is continuous throughout the system, and ground faults or transient voltage conditions are minimized. 
     While the preferred embodiment and several exemplary modifications have been shown and described, additional various modifications and substitutions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments described above are hereby stipulated as illustrative rather than exhaustive. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 20 
                 raceway base 
               
               
                   
                 20a 
                 first raceway base section 
               
               
                   
                 20b 
                 second raceway base section 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 raceway coupling 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 dividing element 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 divider clip 
               
               
                   
                   
                 raceway base components 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 upper wireway 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 lower wireway 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 rear wall 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 rear wall/top sidewall corner 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 top sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 base marginal edge 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 inwardly projecting lip 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 rear wall/bottom sidewall corner 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 bottom sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 base marginal edge 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 inwardly projecting lip 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 forward opening 
               
               
                   
                   
                 divider clip components 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 top end portion 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 inwardly curved lip 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 bottom end portion 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 protruding tab 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 top section 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 rear section 
               
               
                   
                 64 
                 intermediate U-shaped portion 
               
               
                   
                 64a 
                 closed end of U-shaped portion 
               
               
                   
                 64b 
                 open end of U-shaped portion 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 bottom section 
               
               
                   
                   
                 coupling components 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 coupling base 
               
               
                   
                 72 
                 forward edge 
               
               
                   
                 74 
                 angled segment 
               
               
                   
                 76 
                 rearward edge 
               
               
                   
                 78 
                 first opening 
               
               
                   
                 80 
                 second opening 
               
               
                   
                 82 
                 first screw 
               
               
                   
                 84 
                 second screw