Patent Publication Number: US-2011056722-A1

Title: Wiring Duct Cover With Foam Insert

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/154,633, filed Feb. 23, 2009, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a wiring duct cover with a foam insert and, in particular, the invention relates to a fiber duct cover with a foam insert to block airflow within a fiber duct. 
     Currently available wiring duct having solid walls may include snap-on or hinged covers. Panduit Corp.&#39;s Type FS wiring duct is an example of a solid wall raceway having a snap-on cover, and Panduit Corp.&#39;s Type HS wiring duct is an example of a solid wall raceway having a hinged cover. Either type of wiring duct may be used to fully enclose cables and provide cable protection in a vertical cable drop. However, neither type of wiring duct provides the ability to block airflow within the wiring duct. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a wiring duct that blocks airflow within the wiring duct, especially in vertical cable drops into a network cabinet. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A wiring duct includes a base and a snap-on or hinged cover. The base has a bottom wall and two sidewalls extending perpendicularly from the bottom wall. Each sidewall may include a projection to receive a snap-on cover. The snap-on or hinged cover includes a foam insert attached to the bottom side of the cover by adhesive. Support members may be attached to the sides of the foam insert to provide containment when the foam insert is positioned within the base of the wiring duct. When the snap-on or hinged cover is fully installed on the base, the foam insert is compressed between the base, the cables and the cover to block airflow within the wiring duct. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a wiring duct in accordance with the present invention, wherein the wiring duct connects a fiber spillover fitting to the top of a network cabinet; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the wiring duct of  FIG. 1 , wherein a snap-on cover with a foam insert is being secured to a base of the wiring duct; 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the cover of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a wiring duct in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, wherein a snap-on cover with a foam insert is being secured to a base of the wiring duct; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a wiring duct in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein a hinged cover is in the open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the wiring duct of  FIG. 5 , wherein the hinged cover is being closed; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the wiring duct of  FIG. 5 , wherein the hinged cover is in the closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a wiring duct  10  connecting a fiber spillover fitting  12  to the top of a network cabinet  14 . Preferably, wiring duct  10  is Panduit Corp. Type FS wiring duct. However, it is contemplated that the present invention may use other solid wall wiring duct. Typically, cables are routed out of cable trough  18  upward into spillover fitting  12 , which provides bend radius control for cables passing therethrough. Cables exit spillover fitting  12 , pass through wiring duct  10  and enter the top of network cabinet  14 . Network cabinet  14  may include various types of servers, switches and other electronic components. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , wiring duct  10  includes base  20  and snap-on cover  22 . Base  20  has a bottom wall  24  and two solid sidewalls  26  extending perpendicularly from bottom wall  24 . Each sidewall  26  includes a projection  28  to receive cover  22 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , cover  22  includes foam insert  30 . Foam insert  30  is substantially rectangular and is attached to bottom side  32  of cover  22  by adhesive  34 . Foam insert  30  may be attached to cover  22  by other means known in the art. Support members  36  attach to the sides of foam insert  30  and extend along the length of foam insert  30  to provide containment when foam insert  30  is positioned within base  20  of wiring duct  10 . When cover  22  is fully installed on base  20 , foam insert  30  is compressed between base  20 , cables  16  and cover  22  to block airflow within wiring duct  10 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a snap-on cover  38 . Cover  38  is identical to cover  22 , but foam insert  40  does not include support members. Cover  38  functions in a similar manner to cover  22 . 
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate another embodiment of wiring duct  10 , referred to as wiring duct  50 . Preferably, wiring duct  50  is Panduit Corp. Type HS wiring duct. However, it is contemplated that the present invention may use other solid wall wiring duct. 
     Base  52  is similar to base  20 , but base  52  is configured to engage with hinged cover  54 . Cover  54  includes foam insert  56 . Foam insert  56  is substantially rectangular and is attached to bottom side  58  of cover  54  by adhesive  60 . Foam insert  56  may be attached to cover  54  by other means known in the art. As shown in  FIG. 6 , foam insert  56  is pushed in the direction of arrow  62  as cover  54  is rotated down to avoid pinching foam insert  56 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , when cover  54  is fully installed on base  52 , foam insert  56  is compressed between base  52 , cables  16  and cover  54  to block airflow within wiring duct  50 .