AU2010200150B2

AU2010200150B2 - A Duct and Method and Arrangement of Mounting a Duct

Info

Publication number: AU2010200150B2
Application number: AU2010200150A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jeremy Gray
Original assignee: Assembly Electronics Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Assembly Electronics Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-01-30
Filing date: 2010-01-14
Publication date: 2016-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-14
Also published as: NZ582633A; AU2010200150A1

Abstract

A wall duct 1.002 includes attachment means 1,012, 1.014 adapted to engage a projection I.Oattached to a wall. The attachment can include a longitudinal slot 1.014 on the back of the duct. The slot can include a downwardly projecting rib 1.012. The duct can be attached to a wall by inserting a pair of screws at an appropriate height into a wall, with the screw heads 1.015 projecting to engage the projecting rib. 1.028, 1.012 1.004 1041.008 1.041 -01.014 1.d16 1.024

Description

A Duct and Method and Arrangement of Mounting a Duct Field of the invention [001] This invention relates to ducting for installation as a skirting for a wall.

[002] The invention is particularly suited for providing ducting for electrical and data wiring and electrical and data sockets.

Background of the invention [003] One factor to be considered when installing perimeter wall electrical skirting duct is that it has to be installed approximately 10mm above the finish floor to allow for the carpet to fit underneath. The floor leave is usually uneven and the installer needs to place packers under the duct to raise it for the carpet, they also need to make sure it level.

[004] Current ducting is attached to the wall by screws which are inserted through the back wall of the ducting and into the wall. The installation of such ducting is difficult in that the ducting must be correctly aligned. The installer must ensure that the ducting is correctly aligned while drilling the holes into the wall, and this requires the installer to hold the ducting in the correct alignment while drilling the holes.

Summary of the invention [005] According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a wall duct having a rear wall, an attachment means having a rear external rib which is adapted to engage an attachment projection attached to a wall, and a support for supporting an electrical or data connector, the support comprising a pair of parallel ribs or rails which extend from an interior surface of said rear wall, the rear wall being coplanar with at least a portion of the rear external rib, the rear wall and said portion being flush against said wall in use.

[006] The attachment means can be in the form of a rib.

[007] The rear external rib can have a tapering face.

[008] The attachment projection can be the head of a screw.

[009] The attachment means can include a slot.

[010] The pair of parallel ribs or rails can have transverse flanges.

[011] The ducting section can include support means adapted to support an electrical or data connector.

[012] The support means can be a pair of parallel ribs or rails with transverse flanges.

[013] The ducting section can include a joining means.

[014] The joining means can include a bead adapted to receive a screw.

[015] The ducting section can include fascia attachment means.

[016] The fascia attachment means can include a pair of spaced apart parallel slots adapted to receive and hold the fascia.

[017] The fascia can be a strip panel.

[018] The strip panel can be flexible to enable the fascia to be inserted into the slots by transversely flexing the fascia.

[019] The invention also provides a duct mounting arrangement including a duct as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment projection includes the head of a screw mounted on a wall.

[020] The attachment attachment can include a longitudinal slot in the rear wall of the dust section.

[021] The slot can include a downwardly projecting flange.

[022] The invention also provides a method of mounting a duct section mentioned above, the attachment projection including a longitudinal slot in the rear wall of the duct section, the slot including a downwardly projecting flange, including the steps of: inserting a first screw into the wall with the head of the screw projecting from the wall to form the hanging projection, the screw being inserted at a height above a floor such that, when the attachment attachment engages the screw head, at least a portion of the weight of the duct will be supported on the screw head; inserting a second screw level with or at the same height the first screw; the distance between the first and second screws being less than the length of the duct section; and hooking the hanging attachment of the duct section on to the screws.

Brief description of the drawings [023] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [024] Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a duct having an attachment arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; [025] Figure 2 represents a section of duct having an attachment arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; [026] Figure 3 is a rear view of the duct section shown in Figure 2.

[027] Figure 4 illustrates an attachment arrangement for an electrical device adapted for use with a duct having a profile according to an embodiment of the invention.

[028] Figure 5 is s schematic illustration of a latch for affixing an electrical device.

[029] The numbering convention used in the drawings is that the digits in front of the full stop indicate the drawing number, and the digits after the full stop are the element reference numbers. Where possible, the same element reference number is used in different drawings to indicate corresponding elements.

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments [030] The invention will be described with reference to a duct having a profile as shown in the drawings.

[031] Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a duct 1.002 having an attachment arrangement 1.012, 1.014, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[032] The duct has a channel section with the rear face 1.024 being closed and the side walls turned inward and formed with fascia receiving channels 1.008, 1.010 to receive a fascia panel 1.004. The fascial pane can be provided with apertures such as 1.006 through which devices such as switches, sockets, or connectors can be fitted. The apertures can be pre-cut or made in-situ.

[033] A pair of ribs 1.016, 1.020, project from the inner face of the rear wall 1.024. The distal ends of the ribs are provide transverse attachment flanges 1.018, 1.022 to which devices such as electrical sockets or data connections having appropriate connection means can be attached. The transverse flanges can be turned outward or inward.

[034] On the external side of the rear wall 1.024, a mounting slot or groove 1.014 is provided having a downwardly projecting rib 1.012 depending from the upper edge of the slot 1.014. The slot 1.014, and the rib 1.012 are arranged so the rear side of the rib 1.012 lies in the plane of the outer side of the rear wall to facilitate flush mounting against a wall such as 1.040. The slot 1.014 is adapted to receive the heads of mounting screws 1.041 fixed to the wall 1.040. The inner wall of the rib 1.012 can be tapered to conform to the sloping face of the head of the mounting screw 1.041. The mounting screw should preferably be installed to ensure that the weight of the duct is at least partly supported by the screw so the base of the duct just contacts the floor 1.042. The lower rear comer 1.026 of the duct can be chamfered to facilitate mounting of the duct. Once the duct has been located on the mounting screws 1.041, the installer can drill attachment holes through the wall of the duct and into the wall and make a permanent screw attachment of the duct to the wall.

[035] By putting a groove in the rear of the extrusion the installer can fit a screw at either end of the wall and run a string line between the screws. These screws can be placed to ensure the base of the duct provides a clearance “h” (see Figure 1) for carpet installation. The installer can add additional screws along the line and hang the duct on the screws using the grove before fixing the duct to the wall. Once the duct is hung on the hanging screws, it is then fixed in place with additional holding screws through the ducting and into the wall. This reduces installation time as it eliminates the need to pack the duct and the duct runs true.

[036] Electrical or data cabling may be run in the space between the ribs 1.016, 1,020. Further cable supports can be provided in the form of longitudinal shelves such as 1.023.

[037] A fascia panel 1.004 can be fitted into the fascia mounting slots 1.008, 1.010 either by sliding the fascia panel into the slots from one end, or by inserting one longitudinal edge into its corresponding mounting slot and flexing the panel to permit the other edge to snap into position in its corresponding mounting slot.

[038] Apertures such as 1.006 are provided in the fascia panel in positions where the electrical or data devices are to be located. In one embodiment, the device can be formed with a body 1.031 and a detachable face panel 1.033. The body 1.031 and the face panel 1.033 can be sized to project beyond the edges of the fascia aperture 1.006. A reduced section 1.035 of the device can be adapted to pass through the aperture to enable the face panel of the device to be connected to the body of the device. The reduced section 1.035 can be attached to either the face panel of the device or to the body of the device. The rear wall of the device can be provided with mounting means such as mounting hooks 1.032, 1.034 adapted to engage the mounting flanges 1.018, 1.022 of the duct. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the connection devices can be slid onto the mounting ribs of the duct from one end. Alternatively, the aperture can be arranged so the front panel is a neat fit within the aperture, the body of the device being oversized to prevent the device from projecting beyond its designed location.

[039] Joining bead 1.028 in the form of a hollow cylinder mounted on an upright rib are provided in the upper and lower walls of the duct. These can be used for attaching end plates or for corner connectors having projection adapted to frictionally engage the bore of the hollow cylinder.

[040] Optionally, an internal screw attachment slot 1.025 can be formed between a pair of longitudinal parallel ribs. This enables screw attachments to be made within the duct at any longitudinal position.

[041] In Figure 2, the longitudinal mounting ribs 2.018, 2.022 and the fascia slots 2.008, 2.010 can be seen.

[042] Figure 3 is a rear view of a duct section such as shown in Figure 2, showing the attachment rib 3.012 and the attachment slot 3.014. This slot means that the horizontal spacing of the mounting screws such as 1.041 is not critical to the alignment of the ducting. This also simplifies the installation of the ducting. For each section of ducting, the installer merely needs to install two mounting screws at the appropriate height and at the approximate distance within the span of the ducting section. The height can be determined by an appropriate height gauge, or by us of a laser level, or other suitable means of determining the correct height.

[043] Figure 4 illustrates a device, such as an electrical power point having a switch and socket, adapted for mounting in the ducting of the present invention. The power point has a pair of hooks 4.032, 4.032 adapted to engage the upwardly turned rib 1,018 of Figure 1. The opposed downwardly facing rib 1.022 is engaged by the mounting blocks 4.046, 4.048 and the snap-latch arrangement.

[044] The snap latch arrangement includes a pair of latch blocks 4.052, 4.054 having latch slide grooves or tracks 4.049, 4.051 and latch detents 4.053, 4.055. A sliding latch element 5.060 is adapted to slide between the latch blocks and to snap into a latching position. To this end the latch element includes a hollow rectangular body 5.062 made of a flexible or resilient material and including a pair of projecting flanges 5.068, 5.070 adapted to slidably engage the slide grooves 4.049, 4.051. The flanges retain the latch element in engagement with the latch blocks. A tapered engagement tongue 5.070 is provided at the leading end of the latch element and this is adapted to provide4 an interference engagement with the lower rib 1.022 to hold the connector device in place.

[045] In this arrangement, it is not necessary to slide the connector device from the end of the flanges 1,018, 1.022 as the hooks 4.032 can be hooked over the flange 1.018, and then the latch element can be slid up so the tongue makes an interference engagement with the lower flange 1.022. In this position, the resilient spring elements 5.064, 5.066 projecting from the sides of the body 5.062 snap into the detents 4.053, 4.055 of the latch blocks 4.052, 4.054.

[046] In this specification, reference to a document, disclosure, or other publication or use is not an admission that the document, disclosure, publication or use forms part of the common general knowledge of the skilled worker in the field of this invention at the priority date of this specification, unless otherwise stated.

[047] In this specification, terms indicating orientation or direction, such as “up”, “down”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “left”, “right” “upright”, “transverse” and similar terms are not intended to be absolute terms unless the context requires or indicates otherwise. These terms will normally refer to orientations shown in the drawings.

[048] Where ever it is used, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its “open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limited to its “closed” sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of’. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words “comprise”, “comprised” and “comprises” where they appear.

[049] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[050] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

Claims

1. A wall duct having a rear wall, an attachment means having a rear external rib which is adapted to engage an attachment projection attached to a wall, and a support for supporting an electrical or data connector, the support comprising a pair of parallel ribs or rails which extend from an interior surface of said rear wall, the rear wall being coplanar with at least a portion of the rear external rib, the rear wall and said portion being flush against said wall in use.
2. A wall duct as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear external rib has a tapering face.
3. A wall duct as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means includes a slot.
4. A wall duct as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pair of parallel ribs or rails has transverse flanges.
5. A wall duct as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including joining means.
6. A wall duct as claimed in claim 5, wherein the joining means includes a bead adapted to receive a screw.
7. A wall duct as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including fascia attachment means.
8. A wall duct as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fascia attachment means includes a pair of spaced apart parallel fascia mounting slots adapted to receive and hold the fascia.
9. A wall duct as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fascia is a strip panel.
10. A wall duct as claimed in claim 9, wherein the strip panel is flexible or resilient to enable the fascia to be inserted into the fascia mounting slots by transversely flexing the fascia.
11. A duct mounting arrangement including a duct as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment projection includes the head of a screw mounted on a wall.
12. A method of mounting a duct section on a wall, the duct section as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, the attachment projection including a longitudinal slot in the rear wall of the duct section, the slot including a downwardly projecting flange, the method including the steps of: inserting a first screw into the wall with the head of the screw projecting from the wall to form the hanging projection, the screw being inserted at a height above a floor such that, when the attachment projection engages the screw head, at least a portion of the weight of the duct will be supported on the screw head; inserting a second screw level with or at the same height the first screw; the distance between the first and second screws being less than the length of the duct section; and hooking the hanging attachment of the duct section on to the screws.