Patent Abstract:
A system for securing an access opening of a cable raceway using a single padlock includes a cover having a securing wall and opposed first and second sidewalls, which form a channel for accommodating at least a portion of the cable raceway with the securing wall covering the access opening. First and second insert bars engage the first and second sidewalls and a lock bar engages the first and second insert bars and may be locked in an engaged position to prevent the first and second insert bars from being disengaged with the cover and to secure the cover about the cable raceway preventing access to the access opening.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to cable raceways for the distribution of electrical and data/telecommunication cables in buildings and, more particularly to systems for securing said cable raceways against intrusion and tampering. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Cable raceways are structures that distribute electrical and data/telecommunication wiring in office buildings, warehouses, stores and other similar facilities where electrical and data/telecommunication wiring is desired. In some applications, for example, in government buildings or other heightened security environments, it is desirous to provide a Protective Distribution System (PDS) where the cable raceway distribution system is secured against intrusion and/or tampering. 
         [0005]    One conventional method for securing cable raceway distribution systems is to glue or epoxy covers over access openings in raceway distribution systems, where access is necessary during installation, thereby preventing future access to the electrical and data/telecommunication wiring within the cable raceway. However, securing a cable raceway in this manner is disadvantageous in that it prevents future access, even if authorized, in the event that changes need to be made to the distribution system. Therefore, it is desirous to provide an improved system for securing access openings in cable raceway distribution systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to the present invention, a system for securing an access opening of a cable raceway using a single padlock or other suitable locking device includes a cover having a securing wall and opposed first and second sidewalls, which form a channel for accommodating at least a portion of the cable raceway. The securing wall may cover the access opening when the cover is engaged with the cable raceway. First and second insert bars may engage the first and second sidewalls and a lock bar may engage the first and second insert bars and may be locked in an engaged position by the padlock or other suitable locking device to prevent the first and second insert bars from being disengaged with the cover and to secure the cover about the cable raceway, thereby preventing access and tampering through the access opening. 
         [0007]    The first and second sidewalls may be substantially perpendicular to the securing wall and may include slots for engaging the first and second insert bars. In some embodiments, the slots may be formed on tabs of the first and second sidewalls. 
         [0008]    The first and second insert bars may include position stops, which may be projections, formed at one end thereof. The first and second insert bars may include slots for engaging the lock bar formed at ends opposite the position stops. 
         [0009]    The lock bar may include a position stop formed at one end thereof and a hole for accommodating a shackle portion of the padlock at an end opposite the position stop. In some embodiments, the position stop may include at least one projection. 
         [0010]    The system of the present invention advantageously allows for authorized access to the cable raceway through the access opening, while still allowing the access opening to be secured against intrusion and/or tampering when access is not required. Additionally, unlike the glue used to secure a cover to a cable raceway according to the prior art, all of the locking components of the system of the present invention are visible from the external of the cable raceway. Thus, any tampering with or damage to the system of the present invention will advantageously be evident from outside of the cable raceway. Additionally, the system advantageously reduces the cost associated with securing access openings against intrusion and/or tampering by allowing each access opening to be secured with the single padlock or other suitable locking device. 
         [0011]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded front perspective view of a system for securing an access opening of a cable raceway according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a flat pattern of a cover of the system of  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1  securing an access opening at a junction point of a raceway distribution system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system  10  for securing an access opening  12  of a cable raceway  14  of a cable raceway distribution system is shown. The system  10  includes a cover  18 , a first insert bar  20 , a second insert bar  22  and a lock bar  24 , which are configured to interface about a portion  26  of the cable raceway  14  that includes the access opening  12  to secure the access opening  12  against intrusion and/or tampering. 
         [0018]    The cover  18  includes a securing wall  28 , a first sidewall  30  and a second sidewall  32  that form a channel  34  for accommodating the portion  26  of the cable raceway  14  that includes the access opening  12 . The first sidewall  30  extends from a first end  36  of the securing wall  28  at a first radius  37  and the second sidewall  32  extends from a second end  38  of the securing wall  28  that is opposite the first side  36  at a second radius  39 , thereby forming the channel  34  between the first sidewall  30  and the second sidewall  32 . In some embodiments, the first sidewall  30  and the second sidewall  32  may be substantially perpendicular to the securing wall  28 . However, in other embodiments, the first sidewall  30  and second sidewall  32  may extend away from the securing wall  28  at some angle other than ninety degrees to accommodate cable raceways  14  of differing shape and size. 
         [0019]    The first sidewall  30  includes a plurality of slots  40  formed therethrough proximate to an end  42  of the first sidewall  30  distal from securing wall  28 . The slots  40  may be formed on tabs  44  or may simply be formed through the body of the first sidewall  30  if tabs  44  are not included in the cover  18 . 
         [0020]    The second sidewall  32  includes a plurality of slots  46  formed therethrough proximate to an end  48  of the second sidewall  32  distal from securing wall  28 . Like the slots  40 , the slots  46  may be formed on tabs  50  or may simply be formed through the body of the second sidewall  32  if tabs  50  are not included in the cover  18 . Preferably, the slots  46  of the second sidewall  32  are substantially identical to and substantially align with the slots  40  of the first sidewall  30  to allow the first insert bar  20  and the second insert bar  22  to be slidably engaged therein, as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the cover  18  may be formed from a single sheet of metal that is then bent and shaped at the first end  36  to form the first radius  37  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and at the second end  38  to form the second radius  39  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to properly position the first sidewall  30  and the second sidewall  32  relative to the securing wall  28 . 
         [0022]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the first insert bar  20  and the second insert bar  22  are preferably substantially identical, each including an elongated body  52  with a position stop  54  formed at one end thereof. Each elongated body  52  has a slot  56  formed therethrough at an end  58  opposite the position stop  54  and has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially the same and sized slightly smaller than the slots  40  of the first sidewall  30  and the slots  46  of the second sidewall  32  such that each elongated body  52  may slidably engage in the slots  40  and the slots  46 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 1 , the slots  40 , the slots  46  and the cross-sectional shape of the elongated body  52  are all rectangular. The position stop  54  includes one or more projections  60  that extend outward from the elongated body  52  to prevent the first insert bar  20  and the second insert bar  22  from passing entirely through the slots  40  and the slots  46  when the elongated body  52  is slidably engaged therein. 
         [0023]    The lock bar  24  includes an elongated body  62  with a position stop  64  formed at one end thereof and a hole  66  for accommodating a shackle portion of a padlock or other suitable locking device at the opposite end  68 . The elongated body  62  has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially the same and sized slightly smaller than the slots  56  of the first insert bar  20  and the second insert bar  22  such that the elongated body  62  may slidably engage in the slots  56 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 1 , the slots  56  and the cross-sectional shape of the elongated body  62  are rectangular. The position stop  64  includes one or more projections  70  that extend outward from the elongated body  62  to prevent the lock bar  24  from passing entirely through the slots  56  when the elongated body  52  is slidably engaged therein. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , in order to install the system  10  to the cable raceway  14  over an access opening  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), the cover  18  is slid onto the portion  26  of the cable raceway  14  that includes the access opening  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), with the first sidewall  30  and the second sidewall  32  slidably engaging the cable raceway  14  and the securing wall  28  covering the access opening  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The first sidewall  30  and the second sidewall  32  are configured so that the portions containing the slots  40  and the slots  46 , such as tabs  44  and tabs  50 , extend beyond the cable raceway  14 . Preferably, an end of each slot  40  and  46  most proximate the securing wall  28  is positioned just beyond a rear wall  72  of the cable raceway  14  when the cover  18  is fully engaged with the cable raceway  14 . 
         [0025]    The elongated body  52  of the first insert bar  20  may then be slid into one slot  40  of the first sidewall  30  and through the substantially aligned slot  46  of the second sidewall  32  until the position stop  54  of the first insert bar  20  contact the first sidewall  30 . Similarly, the elongated body  52  of the second insert bar  22  may be slid into a second slot  40  of the first sidewall  30  and through the substantially aligned slot  46  of the second sidewall  32  until the position stops  54  of the second insert bar  22  contact the first sidewall  30 . The first insert bar  20  and the second insert bar  22  are configured so that the ends  58  containing the slots  56  extend beyond the cable raceway second sidewall  32 . Preferably, an end of each slot  56  most proximate the second sidewall  32  is positioned just beyond the second sidewall  32  when the position stops  54  are fully engaged with the first sidewall  30 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the elongated body  62  of the lock bar  24  may then be slid into the slot  56  of the first insert bar  20  and then through the slot  56  of the second insert bar  22  until the position stop  64  of the lock bar  24  contact the first insert bar  20 . The lock bar  24  is configured so that the hole  66  at the end  68  extends beyond the second insert bar  22 . Preferably, an edge of the hole  66  is positioned just beyond the second insert bar  22  when the position stop  64  is fully engaged with the first insert bar  20 . 
         [0027]    The shackle portion of the padlock may then be passed through the hole  66  and the padlock may be locked to prevent the lock bar  24  from being removed from the slots  56  of the first insert bar  20  and the second insert bar  22 . Locking the lock bar  24  in the slots  56  prevents the first insert bar  20  and the second insert bar  22  from being removed from the slots  40  and  46  of the cover  18 , which, in turn, prevents the cover  18  from being tampered with or removed from the portion  26  of the cable raceway  14 . Thus, when the padlock is locked on the lock bar  24 , the securing wall  28  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) remains positioned over the access opening  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to secure the access opening  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) against intrusion and/or tampering. Advantageously, the system  10  of the present invention may be employed at essentially any access opening  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) in the raceway distribution system in the manner described above. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, the system  10  may be implemented to secure the access opening  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) at a junction point  74  of the cable raceway  14  where wiring is fed into and/or out of the cable raceway  14 . For example, the wiring may be fed from a second cable raceway (not shown) of the raceway distribution system that is arranged perpendicular to the cable raceway  14 . Advantageously, the first insert bar  20 , second insert bar  22  and lock bar  24  of the system  10  are arranged about the periphery of the junction point  74  so as not to interfere therewith. 
         [0029]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  of the present invention advantageously allows for authorized access to the cable raceway  14  through the access opening  12  by allowing authorized personnel to unlock the padlock or other suitable locking device, e.g. with the appropriate key or combination, thereby allowing the lock bar  24  to be removed from the slots  56 , which, in turn, allows the first insert bar  20  and second insert bar  24  to be removed from the slots  40  and  46  and allows the cover  18  to be removed from the cable raceway  14 . Once access is no longer required, the access opening  12  may be re-secured against intrusion and/or tampering in substantially the same manner discussed above. 
         [0030]    Additionally, unlike the glue used to secure a cover to a cable raceway according to the prior art, all of the locking components of the system  10  of the present invention are visible from the external of the cable raceway  14 . Thus, any tampering with or damage to the system  10  of the present invention will advantageously be evident from outside of the cable raceway  14 . The system  10  of the present invention is also advantageous in that it reduces the cost associated with securing access openings  12  against intrusion by allowing each access opening  12  to be secured with a single padlock or other suitable locking device. 
         [0031]    Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. For example, although the various slots  40 ,  46  and  56  are shown as being substantially rectangular, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the slots  40 ,  46  and  56  could be formed in various other shapes to provide similar or enhanced functionality. Similarly, although the hole  66  of the lock bar  24  is shown as being substantially circular, the hole  66  could instead be formed in as some other shape, such as a square, without altering the functionality of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8