AU2013263828B1 - Cable support system - Google Patents

Abstract

CABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM A cable support system comprises a plurality of cable support elements (100) and a plurality of connector assemblies. Each cable support element (100) has a support element base wall (110) and at least two support element side walls (120) defining a cavity (130) for receipt of a plurality of cables. Each connector assembly comprises an inner connector element (200), an outer connector element (300) and means for securing outer connector element side walls (320) of the outer connector element (300) to an adjacent inner connector element side wall (220) of the inner connector element (200) so as to clamp edge regions (121) of the support element side walls (120) therebetween.

Description

1 CABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to the support of cables, such as data cables and fibre optic cables, and in particular relates to a cable support system. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] Cables, such as electrical, data and fibre optics cables, are often supported and articulated by way of open ducting, with the cables extending along several interconnected lengths of duct. Such ducts are typically formed of plastic extrusions that are joined end-to-end. Various forms of injected moulded fittings are also utilised to accommodate for changes in direction of the cable path and for taking individual cables out of the duct at various positions along the duct for termination in items of electrical equipment. [0003] Individual lengths of duct are typically joined by way of any of various connectors, which often require custom tooling to install. Joints formed with various previously proposed connector systems also leave a large tolerances in the joint, such that they are not self-supporting and thus require the lengths of ducting to be supported at or adjacent the joint, typically either by way of a support rail over which the ducting traverses or vertical hangers suspending the lengths of duct. This can lead to significant deterioration in the load carrying performance of the ducting, limit the ability of the ducting to span across unsupported distances and also presents unsightly deflection of the ducting between supports. OBJECT OF INVENTION [0004] It is an object of the invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, at least one of the above disadvantages. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0005] The present invention provides a cable support system comprising: a) a plurality of cable support elements, each having a support element base wall and at least two support element side walls defining a cavity for receipt of a plurality of cables, said cavity extending between at least two cavity openings each defined by an extremity region of said cable support element comprising edge regions of two of said support element side walls and an edge region of said support element base wall; 2 b) a plurality of connector assemblies each adapted to extend between a said extremity region of each of a pair of said cable support elements to interconnect said pair of cable support elements, each said connector assembly comprising: (i) an inner connector element having an inner connector element base wall, a pair of opposing inner connector element side walls, and at least one pair of opposing tongues extending substantially parallel and adjacent to said inner connector element base wall, said tongues of each said pair of opposing tongues extending in opposing directions and each defining a recess between said tongue and said inner connector element base wall, said inner connector element being adapted to extend between said extremity regions of said pair of cable support elements with each said inner connector element side wall engaging an inwardly facing surface of one said support element side wall of each said cable support element, and said support element base wall of each said cable support element extending into at least one of said recesses and engaging said inner connector element base wall and the tongue defining the respective said recess; (ii) an outer connector element having an outer connector element base wall and a pair of opposing outer connector element side walls, said outer connector element being adapted to extend about said extremity regions of said pair of cable support elements with each said outer connector element side wall engaging an outwardly facing surface of one said support element side wall of each said cable support element; and (iii) means for securing each of said outer connector element side walls to an adjacent said inner connector element side wall so as to clamp the respective said edge regions of said support element side walls therebetween. [0006] Typically, each said cable support element has a plurality of stiffening elements projecting from an outwardly facing surface of at least one said edge region of said support element base wall and extending from the associated said cavity opening, each of said tongues, in use, being located between adjacent said stiffening elements. [0007] For each of at least some said cable support elements, said stiffening elements extend along said support element base wall between opposing said cavity openings.

3 [0008] In a preferred embodiment, for each of at least some said cable support elements, at least one pair of adjacent said stiffening elements is provided with a flange, each said flange extending partway across a gap between said stiffening elements so as to define a slot for receipt of a fastener for securing said cable support system to a support structure. [0009] Preferably, for each of at least some cable support elements, two said pairs of adjacent said stiffening elements are provided with said flanges, with said pairs of adjacent said stiffening elements being located towards opposing said support element side walls. [0010] In a preferred form, for each said cable support element, a rim of each said support element side wall distal to said support element base wall is provided with a web projecting from said outwardly facing surface of said support element side wall and a flange projecting from each said web towards said support element base wall. [0011] Typically, at least one of said cable support elements is in the form of a linearly extending duct having two said support element side walls extending between two opposing said cavity openings. [0012] In one or more embodiments, at least one of said cable support elements is in the form of a tee joint having a first said support element side wall extending between two opposing said cavity openings and second and third said support element side walls each extending from one of said opposing cavity openings to an intermediate said cavity opening for forming a tee branch in said cable support system. [0013] In one or more embodiments, at least one of said cable support elements is in the form of a cross-joint having four said cavity openings and four said support element side walls, said cavity openings being arranged as two pairs of mutually perpendicular opposing said cavity openings. [0014] In one or more embodiments, at least one of said cable support elements is in the form of an external bend joint, with said inwardly facing surface of said support element base wall being concavely curved and extending between two mutually perpendicular said cavity openings.

4 [0015] In one or more embodiments, at least one of said cable support elements is arranged as an internal bend joint, said inwardly facing surface of said support element base wall being concavely curved and extending between two mutually perpendicular said cavity openings. [0016] In one or more embodiments, at least one of said cable support elements is arranged as an exit bend joint with one said extremity region of said cable support element being adapted to be connected to one of said support element side walls of another said cable support element between cavity openings of said another cable support element. [0017] In a preferred embodiment, for each said connector assembly, each of said inner connector element side walls has an outwardly facing surface having a pair of opposing edge sections aligned at least substantially in a common plane and a raised central section outwardly offset from said edge sections so as to define a pair of opposing shoulders between said edge sections and said raised central section such that, in use, said edge regions of said support elements side walls of each of said pair of support elements engage said shoulders with said raised central section located between said pair of said support elements. [0018] Typically, for each said connector assembly, said central raised section of said outwardly facing surface of each of said inner connector element side walls is provided with at least one hole for receipt of a fastener forming said means for securing. [0019] In a preferred embodiment, for each said connector assembly, said outer connector element is provided with a plurality of stiffening elements projecting from and extending about an outwardly facing surface of each of said outer connector element side walls and an outwardly facing surface of said outer connector element base wall. [0020] In a preferred form, for each said connector assembly, said inwardly facing surface of each of said outer connector element side walls comprises a pair of opposing edge sections aligned at least substantially in a common plane and a central recess, said recesses being adapted to receive said raised central sections of the outwardly facing surfaces of said inner connector element side walls. [0021] Typically, each of said outer connector element side walls is provided with at least one aperture for receipt of a fastener forming said means for securing.

5 [0022] Typically, each of said apertures extends through said recesses. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [0024] Fig. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a support element in the form of a duct; [0025] Fig. 2 is a fragmentary inverse isometric view of the duct of Figure 1; [0026] Figure 3 is an end elevation view of the duct of Figure 1; [0027] Figure 4 is an isometric view of an inner connector element; [0028] Figure 5 is an inverse isometric view of the inner connector element of Figure 4; [0029] Figure 6 is an end elevation view of the inner connector element of Figure 4; [0030] Figure 7 is an inverted plan view of the inner connector element of Figure 4; [0031] Figure 8 is an isometric view of an outer connector element; [0032] Figure 9 is an inverse isometric view of the outer connector element of Figure 8; [0033] Figure 10 is an end elevation view of the outer connector element of Figure 8; [0034] Figure 11 is an inverse plan view of the outer connector element of Figure 8; [0035] Figure 12 is an isometric view showing connection of two ducts according to Figure 1 with a connector assembly comprising the inner connector element of Figure 4 and the outer connector element of Figure 8; [0036] Figure 13 is an inverse isometric view of the connection of Figure 13; [0037] Figure 14 is an end elevation view of the connection of Figure 12; 6 [0038] Figure 15 is a plan view of the connection of Figure 15; [0039] Figure 16 is a side elevation view of the connection of Figure 12; [0040] Figure 17 is a cross-sectional side view of the connection of Figure 12; [0041] Figure 18 is an end elevation view of the duct of Figure 1 mounted on a connection structure; [0042] Figure 19 is an end elevation view of the duct of Figure 1 mounted on an alternate connection structure; [0043] Figure 20 is an end elevation of the duct of the Figure 1 mounted on a still further alternate connection structure; [0044] Figure 21 is an isometric view of a cable support element in the form of a tee joint; [0045] Figure 22 is an inverse isometric view of the tee joint of Figure 21; [0046] Figure 23 is an isometric view of a cable support element in the form of a cross joint; [0047] Figure 24 is an inverse isometric view of the cross joint of Figure 23; [0048] Figure 25 is an isometric view of a cable support element in the form of an external bend joint; [0049] Figure 26 is an inverse isometric view of the external bend joint of Figure 25; [0050] Figure 27 is an isometric view of a cable support element in the form of an internal bend joint; [0051] Figure 28 is an inverse isometric view of the internal bend joint of Figure 27; [0052] Figure 29 is an isometric view of a cable support element in the form of an exit bend; [0053] Figure 30 is an inverse isometric view of the exit bend of Figure 29; 7 [0054] Figure 31 is a side elevation view of the exit bend of Figure 29; [0055] Figure 32 through 35 are each end elevation views of the duct of Figure 1 with the exit bend of Figure 29 during subsequent steps of assembly of the exit bend onto the duct. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0056] Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings depict a cable support element in the form of a linearly extending duct 100, forming one cable support element of a cable support system. The duct 100 has a planar support element base wall 110 and two opposing and parallel support element side walls 120 which together define a support element cavity 130 for receipt of a plurality of cables which may be arranged on the support element base wall 110 to extend along the length of the cavity 130. The cavity 130 extends between two opposing cavity openings 131. Each of the cavity openings 131 is defined by an extremity region of the duct 100 comprising edge regions 121 of the support element side walls 120 and an edge region 111 of the support element base wall 110. In the depicted arrangement, the side walls 120 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the base wall 110 and the cavity openings 131 lie in a plane perpendicular to the support element base wall 110 and support element side walls 120. [0057] Referring specifically to Figure 2, a plurality of stiffening elements 114 project from an outwardly facing surface 112 of the support element base wall 110. The stiffening elements 114 are each in the form of a web projecting perpendicular to the outwardly facing surface 112. In the arrangement depicted, the stiffening elements 114 extend from and between the cavity openings 131 along the length of the support element base wall 110. The two outermost pairs of adjacent stiffening elements 114 adjacent the support element side walls 120 are each provided with a flange 115 that extends partway across the gap between the pair of adjacent stiffening elements 114 so as to define a slot 116 for receipt of a fastener for securing the cable support system to a support structure, as will be discussed further below. In the depicted arrangement, there are a total of five spaced stiffening elements 114, with the central stiffening element 114 not being provided with any flange. The outermost stiffening elements 114 are coplanar with the support element side walls 120. It is also envisaged that, rather than having two pairs of adjacent stiffening elements 114 provided with flanges 115, a single pair only of stiffening elements 114 might be provided with the flanges 115 and slot 116 defined thereby.

8 [0058] The upper rim of each of the support element side walls 120 is provided with a web 124 projecting from the outwardly facing surface 122 of the respective support element side wall 120. A flange 125 projects from each web 122 downwardly towards the support element base wall 110. [0059] The duct 100, and each of the other forms of cable support element described below, is integrally injection moulded from a plastics material typically of high impact plastics material, and may be dimensioned to suit the particular application. In the arrangement depicted, the cavity 130 has a width, defined between the opposing support element side walls 120 of approximately 100 mm and a height, defined between the base wall 110 and the rim of each of the support element side walls 120 of approximately 100 mm. The duct 160 will typically be available in a range of widths, such as 50 mm, 100 mm and 200 mm. The duct 100 may be moulded in any desired length and may also be cut to any desired length on site with a simple mitre cut. [0060] The cable support system further includes connector assemblies, each comprising an inner connector element 200, as depicted in Figures 4 to 7, and an outer connector element 300 as depicted in Figures 8 to 11. [0061] The inner connector element 200 has an inner connector element base wall 210 and a pair of opposing inner connector element side walls 220. The inner connector element base wall 210 and inner connector element side walls 220 are sized to mate with the support element base wall 110 and support element side walls 120 of the duct 100 (and other cable support elements) as will be discussed below. At least one pair, and here four pairs, of opposing tongues 215 extend substantially parallel and adjacent to, the inner connector element base wall 210. In the arrangement depicted, the tongues 215 are located adjacent the outwardly facing surface 212 of the inner connector element base wall 210. The tongues 215 of each pair of opposing tongues 211 extend in opposing directions, here substantially parallel to the inner connector element side walls 220. The tongues 215 each define a recess 216 between the respective tongue 215 and the inner connector base wall 210. [0062] Each of the inner connector element side walls 220 has an outwardly facing surface 222 defined by a pair of opposing edge sections 221, aligned at least substantially in a common plane, and a raised central section 227 that is outwardly offset from the edge section 221 so as to 9 define a pair of opposing shoulders 225 between the edge sections 221 and the raised central section 227. Each inner connector element side wall 220 is provided with at least one aperture 228, and here two apertures 228, extending through the raised central raised section 227. The inner connector element base wall 210 is also provided with at least one aperture 218, and here two apertures 218, extending through a central section of the inner connector element base wall 210. [0063] The inner connector element 200 is again integrally injection moulded from a high impact plastics material. [0064] Referring to Figures 8 to 11, the outer connector element 300 has an outer connector element base wall 310 and a pair of opposing outer connector element side walls 320. The outer connector element base wall 310 and outer connector element side walls 320 are sized to mate with the flanges 115 and support element side walls 120 of the duct 100 (and other support elements) as will be discussed below. A plurality, and here four, stiffening elements 314 project from and extend about the outwardly facing surface 322 of each of the outer connector element side walls 320 and the outwardly facing surface 312 of the outer connector element base wall 310. Each of the stiffening elements 314 is here in the general form of a web extending perpendicular from the outwardly facing surfaces 312, 322. [0065] The inwardly facing surface 323 of each of the outer connector side walls 320 comprise a pair of opposing edge sections 321 aligned at least substantially in a common plane, and a central recess 327 that extends from the rim / top of each outer connector element side wall 320 to the outer connector element base wall 310. Each inner connector element side wall 320 is provided with at least one aperture 328, and here two apertures 328, extending through the recess 327. The apertures 328 are arranged to align with the apertures 228 in the inner connector element side walls 220 for receipt of fasteners that form means for securing the inner connector element side walls 220 to the outer connector element side walls 320, as will be discussed below. The inwardly facing surface 313 of the outer connector element base wall 310 has a pair of opposing edge sections 311 aligned at least substantially in a common plane and a raised central section 317 offset from the edge sections 311 and extending between the recesses 327 of the outer element side walls 320. The outer connector element base wall 310 is provided with at least one aperture 318, and here two apertures 318, extending through the raised central section 317. The apertures 218 are arranged to align with the apertures 218 in the inner connector element base 10 wall 210 for receipt of fasteners that form means for securing the inner connector element base wall 210 to the outer connector element base wall 310, as will be discussed below. [0066] The outer connector element 300 is integrally injection moulded from a high impact plastics material. [0067] Figures 12 to 17 depict a connection of the cable support system formed as a connection of two ducts 100 with a connector assembly comprising the inner connector element 200 and outer connector element 300 described above. The outer connector element 300 is a modified version of the outer connector element 300 described above, being provided with additional stiffening elements projecting from the outwardly facing surface 322 of each of the outer connector elements side walls 320. [0068] The connection is formed by first assembling the inner connector element 200 onto the extremity region of one of the ducts 100 defining one of the cavity openings 131 at the end of the duct 100. The inner connector element 200 is assembled onto the extremity region of the duct 100 with the support element base wall 110 extending into the recesses 216 defined between the tongues 215 extending in one direction and the inner connector element base wall 210, as best seen in Figure 14. The support element base wall 110 engages the inner connector element base wall 210 and the tongues 215, with the recesses 216 having a height equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the inner connector element base wall 110. This fit thus supports the inner connector elements 200 on the extremity region of the duct 100 during further assembly of the connection. Each of the tongues 215 is received between adjacent stiffening elements 114. The inner connector element side walls 220, particularly the edge sections 221, engage the inwardly facing surfaces 123 of the support element side walls 120, in the edge regions 121 of the duct 100. The edge regions 121 of the support element side walls 120 engage the shoulders 225 of the inner connector element side walls 220. [0069] The second duct 100 is then assembled onto the opposing side of the inner connector element 200 in the same manner, again with the support element base wall 110 being located within the recesses 216 defined by the opposing tongues 215 and the inner connector element base wall 210. The inner connector element side wall 220, particularly the edge sections 221, engage the inwardly facing surfaces 123 of the support element side walls 120, in the edge regions 121. The edge regions 121 of the support element side walls 120 engage the opposing 11 shoulders 225 of the inner connector element side walls 220. Accordingly, the raised central section 227 of the outwardly facing surface 222 of each of the inner connector element side walls 220 is located between the ducts 100. At this point, the partly assembled connection is self supporting. [0070] The outer connector element 300 is then assembled to extend about the extremity regions of the pair of ducts 100, with each of the outer connector element side walls 320 engaging the outwardly facing surface 122 of each of the support element side walls 120. The outer connector element base wall 310 also engages the flanges 115 of each of the ducts 100. [0071] The connection is completed by securing each of the outer connector element side walls 320 to the adjacent inner connector element side wall 220, so as to clamp the edge regions 121 of the support element side walls 120 of the two ducts 100 therebetween. In the arrangement depicted, the means for securing the inner and outer connector element side walls is in the form of fasteners 260 that extend through the apertures 228 in the inner connector element side walls 220 and the aligned apertures 328 in the outer connector element side walls 320. The fasteners 260 are here in the form of cup head bolts with associated nuts, which are tightened to clamp the edge regions 121 of the support element side walls 120 between the inner connector element side walls 220 and outer connector element side walls 320. Similarly, the outer connector element base wall 310 is secured to the adjacent inner connector element base wall 210 so as to clamp the edge regions 111 of the support element base wall 110 (and associated stiffening elements 114 and flanges 115) therebetween. This is again achieved by way of fasteners 260 that extend through the apertures 218 in the inner connector element base wall 210 and the aligned apertures 318 in the outer connector element base wall 310. For narrower ducts 100, it is envisaged that the apertures 218, 318 in the inner connector element base wall 210 and outer connector element base wall 310, and associated fasteners 260, may be omitted. None of the fasteners 260 pass directly through the duct, so there is no need to form apertures in the extremity regions of the ducts 100, and the ducts 100 can readily be cut to length on site to suit the specific dimensional requirements of the cable support system. The connection may also be established with nothing more than a spanner / wrench. The connection established is also self-supporting, with the clamping arrangement provided by the connector assembly providing a rigid connection. [0072] Figures 18 to 20 depict a duct 100, forming part of a cable connection system, secured to three separate forms of support structure. In Figure 18, the duct 100 is secured to a trapeze form 12 of support structure 10. In Figure 19, the duct 100 is secured to a vertical mount form of support structure 10' with a height adjustment feature. In Figure 20, the duct 100 is secured to a wall mount form of support structure 10". In each arrangement, the duct 100 is secured to a horizontally extending section 11, 11', 11" of the support structure 10, 10', 10" by way of fasteners 260 extending through the slots 116 defined between adjoining flanges 115 below the support element base wall 110. The fasteners 260 pass through apertures provided in the horizontal section 11, 11', 11" of the support structure 10, 10', 10". In the arrangements depicted in Figures 18 to 20, a cover 140 is mounted on the duct 100, extending across and sealing the cavity 130, with the cover 140 being secured to the flanges 125 at the rim of each of the support element side walls 120 by way of a spring steel clip 141. [0073] Figures 21 and 22 depict an alternate form of cable support element that is in the form of a tee joint 400 used for forming a tee branch in the cable support system. The tee joint 400 has a planar support element base wall 410 and first, second and third support element side walls 420, 420', 420" which together define a support element cavity 430 for receipt of a plurality of cables. The first support element side wall 420 extends between two opposing cavity openings 431, 431'. The second support element side wall 420' extends from one of the opposing cavity openings 431' to an intermediate cavity opening 431" which provides for the tee branch in the cable support system. The third element side wall 420" extends from the other opposing cavity 431' to the intermediate cavity 431". The intermediate cavity opening 431" extends in a plane perpendicular to the opposing cavity openings 431', 431". It can be seen that the tee joint 400 is formed with features identical or equivalent to those of the duct 100, enabling the tee joint 400 to be connected to three separate ducts 100 (or other forms of support element as described below), by way of the connector assembly described above in an identical manner to that described above in relation to connection of two ducts 100, about the three extremity regions of the tee joint 500 defining the three cavity openings 431, 431' 431". As with the duct 100, stiffening elements 414 in the form of webs project from the outwardly facing surface 412 of the support element base wall 410, extending from each cavity opening 431, 431' 431". Flanges 415 are also provided between adjacent pairs of stiffening elements 414 in each of the edge regions 411 of the support element base wall 410 adjacent each cavity opening 431, 431', 431". The rim of each of the support elements side walls 420, 420' 420" is also provided with a web 424 and flange 425 equivalent to that of the duct 100.

13 [0074] Figures 23 and 24 depict another form of cable support element in the form of a cross joint 500. The cross joint 500 has a planar support element base wall 510 and four identical support element side walls 520 which together define a support element cavity 530 for receipt of a plurality of cables. Two pairs of opposing cavity openings 531 are defined between the support element side walls 520, with the pairs of cavity openings 531 being mutually perpendicular so as to define a four way cross intersection in the cable support system. The cross joint 500 is again formed with features identical or equivalent to those of the duct 100, enabling the cross joint 500 to be connected to four separate ducts 100 (or other forms of support elements), by way of the connector assembly described above, about the four extremity regions of the cross joint 500 defining the four cavity openings 531. As with the duct 500, stiffening elements 514 in the form of webs project from the outwardly facing surface 512 of the support element base wall 510, extending from each cavity opening 531. Flanges 515 are also provided between adjacent pairs of stiffening elements 514 in each of the edge regions 511 of the support element base wall 510, adjacent each cavity opening 531. The rim of each of the support element side walls 520 is also provided with a web 524 and flange 525 equivalent to that of the duct 100. [0075] Figures 25 and 26 depict another form of cable support element in the form of an external bend joint 600. The external bend joint 600 has a support element base wall 610 with an inwardly facing surface 613 that is convexly curved. The inwardly facing surface 613 of the support element base wall 610 has a constant radius and subtends an angle of 90 degrees between the opposing edge regions 611 of the support element base wall 610. The external bend joint 600 also has two opposing support element side walls 620 which, together with the support element base wall 610, define a support element cavity 630 for receipt of a plurality of cables. The support element side walls 620 extend between two opposing cavity openings 631 which are mutually perpendicular. It can again be seen that the external bend joint 600 is formed with features identical or equivalent to that of the duct 100, enabling the external bend joint 600 to be connected to two separate ducts 100 (or other forms of support element) by way of the connector assembly described above, about the two extremity regions of the external bend joint 600 defining the two cavity openings 631. The curved support element base wall 610 and mutually perpendicular cavity openings 631 provide for forming a downwardly directed 90 degree bend in the cable path defined by the cable support system. As with the duct 100, stiffening elements 614 in the form of webs project from the outwardly facing surface 612 of the support element base wall 610, extending from each cavity opening 631. Flanges 615 are also provided between 14 adjacent pairs of stiffening elements 614 in each of the edge region 611 of the support element base wall 610 adjacent each cavity opening 631. The rim of each of the support element side walls 620 is also provided with a web 624 and flange 625 equivalent to that of the duct 100. [0076] Figures 27 and 28 depict yet another form of cable support element in the form of an internal bend joint 700. The external bend joint 700 has a support element base wall 710 with an inwardly facing surface 713 that is concavely curved. The support element base wall 710 has a constant radius and subtends an angle of 90 degrees between opposing edge regions 711 of the support element base wall 710. The internal bend joint 700 also has two opposing support element side walls 720 which, together with the support element base wall 710, define a support element cavity 730 for receipt of a plurality of cables. The support element side walls 720 extend between two opposing cavity openings 731 which are mutually perpendicular. It can again be seen that the internal bend joint 700 is formed with features identical or equivalent to that of the duct 100, enabling the internal bend joint 700 to be connected to two separate ducts 100 (or other forms of support element) by way of the connector assembly described above in an identical manner to that described, about the two extremity regions of the internal bend joint 700 defining the two cavity openings 731. The curved support element base wall 710 and mutually perpendicular cavity openings 731 provide for forming an upwardly directed 90 degree bend in the cable path defined by the cable support system. As with the duct 100, stiffening elements 714 in the form of webs project from the outwardly facing surface 712 of the support element base wall 710, extending from each cavity opening 731. Flanges 715 are also provided between adjacent pairs of stiffening elements 714 in each of the edge region 711 of the support element base wall 710 adjacent each cavity opening 731. The rim of each of the support element side walls 720 is also provided with a web 724 and flange 725 equivalent to that of the duct 100. [0077] Figures 29 to 31 depict a further form of cable support element in the form of an exit bend joint 800. The exit bend joint 800 is designed to allow cables to be directed out of a duct 100 partway along its length. The exit bend joint 800 has a support element base wall 810 with an inwardly facing surface 813 that is convexly curved. The support element base wall 810 has a constant radius and subtends an angle of 180 degrees between its opposing first and second edge regions 811, 811'. The exit bend joint 800 also has two opposing support element side walls 820 which, together with the support element base wall 810, define a support element cavity 830 for receipt of a plurality of cables. The support element side walls 820 extend between opposing first and second cavity openings 831, 831' which lie in a common plane. It can be seen that the 15 exit bend joint 800 is formed with some features identical or equivalent to that of the duct 100, particularly at the first extremity region defining the first cavity opening 831. The exit bend joint 800 can thus be connected to a duct 100 (or other form of support element) by way of the connector assembly described above, about the first extremity region of the external bend joint 800 defining the first cavity opening 831. As with the duct 100, stiffening elements 814 in the form of webs project from the outwardly facing surface 812 of the support element base wall 810, however, the stiffening elements 814 only extend from the first cavity opening 831 along the first edge region 811 of the support element base wall 810. Flanges 815 are also provided between adjacent pairs of stiffening elements 814 in the first edge region 811 of the support element base wall 810 adjacent the first cavity opening 831. The rim of each of the support element side walls 820 is also provided with a web 824 and flange 825 equivalent to that of the duct 100. [0078] The exit bend joint 800 is configured in the second extremity region defining the second cavity opening 831' to be locked onto a support element side wall 120 of the duct 100 described above. In particular, a recess 850 is defined between the outwardly facing surface 812 of the second edge region 811' of the support element base wall 810 and a guide member 851 that extends parallel to the second edge region 811' of the support element base wall 810, extending beyond the plane of the second cavity opening 831'. Flexible catches 852 are located on either side of the guide member 850. [0079] Referring to Figures 32 through 35, the exit bend joint 800 is mounted on a support element side wall 120 of a duct 100 by first locating the support element side walls 820 of the exit bend joint 800, particularly the ends of the support element side walls 820 at the second cavity opening 831', on the top/rim of the support element side wall 120 of the duct 100, as shown in Figure 32. The exit bend joint 800 is then pushed further onto the duct 100 until the guide member 851 engages the flange 125 formed on the rim of the support element side wall 120, as depicted in Figure 33. Referring to Figures 34 and 35, the exit bend 800 is then pushed downwardly, deflecting the flexible catches 852 as they engage the web 124 formed at the top/rim of the support element side wall 120, with the flexible catches 852 then returning to their undeformed position when they pass the lower end of the flange 125, thereby engaging the lower end of the flange 125 to lock the exit bend joint 800 onto the support side element wall 120. The dropout thus formed by the exit bend joint 800 allows cables to be removed from the cavity 130 of the duct 100 partway along its length whilst still retaining a minimum bend radius in the 16 cables, following the support element base wall 820 of the exit bend joint 800, rather than having the cables bent directly over the support element side wall 120 of the duct 100 without any support. [0080] With use of the various forms of support element described above, and the connector assembly comprising the inner connector element 200 and outer connector element 300, a cable support system forming complex cable pathways including tee branches, fourway cross intersections, vertical deflections both up and down and mid-duct dropouts, may be created as desired. With each of the connections being self-supporting, there is no need to support the cable support system at each connection, which may each be formed relatively simply and without the need for any complex tooling.

Claims (18)

1. A cable support system comprising: a) a plurality of cable support elements, each having a support element base wall and at least two support element side walls defining a cavity for receipt of a plurality of cables, said cavity extending between at least two cavity openings each defined by an extremity region of said cable support element comprising edge regions of two of said support element side walls and an edge region of said support element base wall; b) a plurality of connector assemblies each adapted to extend between a said extremity region of each of a pair of said cable support elements to interconnect said pair of cable support elements, each said connector assembly comprising: (i) an inner connector element having an inner connector element base wall, a pair of opposing inner connector element side walls, and at least one pair of opposing tongues extending substantially parallel and adjacent to said inner connector element base wall, said tongues of each said pair of opposing tongues extending in opposing directions and each defining a recess between said tongue and said inner connector element base wall, said inner connector element being adapted to extend between said extremity regions of said pair of cable support elements with each said inner connector element side wall engaging an inwardly facing surface of one said support element side wall of each said cable support element, and said support element base wall of each said cable support element extending into at least one of said recesses and engaging said inner connector element base wall and the tongue defining the respective said recess; (ii) an outer connector element having an outer connector element base wall and a pair of opposing outer connector element side walls, said outer connector element being adapted to extend about said extremity regions of said pair of cable support elements with each said outer connector element side wall engaging an outwardly facing surface of one said support element side wall of each said cable support element; and 18 (ii) means for securing each of said outer connector element side walls to an adjacent said inner connector element side wall so as to clamp the respective said edge regions of said support element side walls therebetween.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each said cable support element has a plurality of stiffening elements projecting from an outwardly facing surface of at least one said edge region of said support element base wall and extending from the associated said cavity opening, each of said tongues, in use, being located between adjacent said stiffening elements.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein, for each of at least some said cable support elements, said stiffening elements extend along said support element base wall between opposing said cavity openings.

4. The system of either one of claims 2 and 3, wherein, for each of at least some said cable support elements, at least one pair of adjacent said stiffening elements is provided with a flange, each said flange extending partway across a gap between said stiffening elements so as to define a slot for receipt of a fastener for securing said cable support system to a support structure.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, for each of at least some cable support elements, two said pairs of adjacent said stiffening elements are provided with said flanges, with said pairs of adjacent said stiffening elements being located towards opposing said support element side walls.

6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, for each said cable support element, a rim of each said support element side wall distal to said support element base wall is provided with a web projecting from said outwardly facing surface of said support element side wall and a flange projecting from each said web towards said support element base wall.

7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of said cable support elements is in the form of a linearly extending duct having two said support element side walls extending between two opposing said cavity openings. 19

8. The system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of said cable support elements is in the form of a tee joint having a first said support element side wall extending between two opposing said cavity openings and second and third said support element side walls each extending from one of said opposing cavity openings to an intermediate said cavity opening for forming a tee branch in said cable support system.

9. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one of said cable support elements is in the form of a cross-joint having four said cavity openings and four said support element side walls, said cavity openings being arranged as two pairs of mutually perpendicular opposing said cavity openings.

10. The system of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of said cable support elements is in the form of an external bend joint, with said inwardly facing surface of said support element base wall being concavely curved and extending between two mutually perpendicular said cavity openings.

11. The system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one of said cable support elements is arranged as an internal bend joint, said inwardly facing surface of said support element base wall being concavely curved and extending between two mutually perpendicular said cavity openings.

12. The system of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least one of said cable support elements is arranged as an exit bend joint with one said extremity region of said cable support element being adapted to be connected to one of said support element side walls of another said cable support element between cavity openings of said another cable support element.

13. The system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, for each said connector assembly, each of said inner connector element side walls has an outwardly facing surface having a pair of opposing edge sections aligned at least substantially in a common plane and a raised central section outwardly offset from said edge sections so as to define a pair of opposing shoulders between said edge sections and said raised central section such that, in use, said edge regions of said support elements side walls of each of said pair of support elements engage said shoulders with said raised central section located between said pair of said support elements. 20

14. The system of claim 13, wherein, for each said connector assembly, said central raised section of said outwardly facing surface of each of said inner connector element side walls is provided with at least one hole for receipt of a fastener forming said means for securing.

15. The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein, for each said connector assembly, said outer connector element is provided with a plurality of stiffening elements projecting from and extending about an outwardly facing surface of each of said outer connector element side walls and an outwardly facing surface of said outer connector element base wall.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein, for each said connector assembly, said inwardly facing surface of each of said outer connector element side walls comprises a pair of opposing edge sections aligned at least substantially in a common plane and a central recess, said recesses being adapted to receive said raised central sections of the outwardly facing surfaces of said inner connector element side walls.

17. The system of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein each of said outer connector element side walls is provided with at least one aperture for receipt of a fastener forming said means for securing.

18. The system of claim 17, when appended to claim 16, wherein each of said apertures extends through said recesses. Legend Corporate Services Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON