AU634882B2 - Wall ducting assembly - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALI6 3 4 FORM PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int.Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: .*'riority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: FELT Address of Applicant: 261- 'EX COMMERCIAL INTERIORS PTY LTD 263 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, New h1 W l 200 C lh 4- f l i so 0 LL..I ViYO.±e LU U I UILL I WiVa1L U _ULL Actual Inventor: SAddress for Service: SHELSTON WATERS, 55 Clarence Street, Sydney Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "WALL DUCTING ASSEMBLY" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:aC a 1 f The presenit invention relates to a ducting system for conveying cable along a surface whereby the cable is enclosed and substantially concealed from view.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in ducting flexible cables around walls in commercial offices and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

In commercial offices, there are generally large see* numbers of cables such as electrical, computer and telecommunications cables required to provide *e interconnected networks of telephones, computers and electrical appliances. Such cables when not properly routed are unsightly, difficult to trace, and potentially dangerous.

In the past, in order to ameliorate these problems,

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various attempts have been made to provide cable ducting, for example in the form of skirting ducts or ducted floor eas tiles. However, such systems have met with limited success. Firstly, non-segregated ducting makes the Stracing of individual cables difficult. Further, many known systems are neither functionally integrated with office work stations nor visually coordinated with office decor and are therefore both inefficient and aesthetically undesirable. More importantly, however, most known ducting systems lack flexibility in that once installed they cannot be conveniently rearranged and adapted to accommodate alterations in office layout. This problem 2 has become particularly significant as flexible "open plan" type office layouts have gained prominence in recent years.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved ducting system which overcomes or substantially ameliorates some of these disadvantages of the prior art, .or at least provides a viable alternative.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a ducting system comprising a body formed from a base member adapted sea.

"'0io to be secured to a wall and a cover plate connected to the base member, the body being partitioned internally to o define a plurality of longitudinalll extending ducts to *9 convey flexible cable, at least one of the ducts being defined by a generally U-shaped channel formed integrally with the base member and a resilient flap substantially covering the channel whereby resilient deformation of the flap permits cables to pass out from the corresponding duct at appropriate positions along the length thereof, the cover plate being moveable between a closed position to substantially conceal the ducts and an open position So:% providing access to the ducts and the cable, said system

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further including retaining means to releasably retain the cover plate in the closed position.

Preferably, the base member and cover plate are fabricated from complementary aluminium extruded sections which may be formed in any desired lengths to suit particular applications.

Preferably also, the ducting system incorporates at 3 least one power socket providing mains power access for appliances positioned adjacent the wall.

In the preferred embodiment, the base member is partitioned to define discrete first, second and third longitudinally extending ducts adapted respectively to isolate and convey telecommunications, electrical and computer cables.

Preferably also, the body incorporates an aperture whereby cables may pass out from the ducting system. In the prefdrred embodiment, a region of the body defined intermediate the base member and cover plate is substantially open.

In one preferred form of the invention, the ducting system is formed by a plurality of discrete ducting assemblies fabricated in predetermined lengths, each being adapted for engagement with adjacent like assemblies in longitudinal alignment to provide an effectively :continuous ducting system of any desired length.

Preferably, selected ones of said ducting assemblies incorporate power boards, each comprising a plurality of power sockets accessible through the cover plate to 0 provide mains power access. The power boards are preferably releasably retained at least partially within a ~corresponding duct.

25 The lower marginal edge of the base member preferably incorporates locating means in the form of a substantially continuous longitudinally extending edge flange adapted to releasably receive and locate mounting brackets for a desk 4 top. In the preferred embodiment, the desk top incorporates spaced apart outwardly protruding locating formations and each mounting bracket incorporates a vertical array of complementary key-hole slots. The locating formations are preferably adapted for releasable engagement with selected pairs of horizontally aligned slots to provide for height adjustment of the desk top beneath the ducting system.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be 0e 10 described, by way of example only, with reference to the e..

accompany drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a wall ducting system according to the invention in conjunction with a typical office work station; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing the wall duct assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevation showing one of the desk mounting brackets of Figure 1; and o Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mounting brackets shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, wherein corresponding features are denoted by corresponding reference numerals, the invention provides a ducting system 1 comprising a body 2 formed from a base member 3 adapted to be secured to a wall or partition 4 and a cover plate 5 hingedly connected to the base member.

The cover plate 5 includes an arcuate longitudinally extending upper edge flange 10 releasably and slidably 5 engageable with complementary arcuate channel 11 recessed into the mating longitudinal edge of the base member 3.

This forms a detachable hinged connection permitting rotational movement of the cover plate between an open and a closed position as well as complete removal from the base member.

As best seen in Figure 2, the base member includes two substantially continuous internal partitions 12 which define discrete first, second and third longitudinally 00 0"10 extending ducts 13, 14 and 15 adapted respectively to e• see* isolate and convey telecommunications, electrical and .00 0 0 00 0 computer cables (not shown). Channels 14 and 15 are each covered by a respective pair of mutually opposed inwardly extending flexible resilient flaps 20. Resilient deformation of the flaps permits cables to pass out from the respective ducts at any desired positions along the lengths thereof, whilst elsewhere retaining the cables within the ducts.

In the closed position, the cover plate obscures flaps 20 associated with respective ducts 14 and 15 from view, whilst defining the outer wall of duct 13. In the open position, the cover plate permits easy access to the ducts and associated cables. The cover plate is retained in the closed position by a series of longitudinally spaced apart spring steel retaining clips 21 disposed on the cover plate to resiliently engage complementary longitudinally extending retaining flange 22 on the base member. The lower region of the body defined intermediate 6 the base member and cover plate is substantially open to form a series of longitudinally aligned apertures (not shown) intermediate the retaining clips 21 whereby cables dedicated for particular appliances may pass out from the ducting system.

The lower marginal edge of the base member preferably incorporates locating means in the form of a substantially continuous longitudinally extending edge flange defining a generally T-shaped channel 27 adapted to releasably g e.

""60 receive and locate mounting brackets 28 for a desk top 29,

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or other item of office furniture. The desk top S. S incorporates a series of spaced apart outwardly protruding 2. locating formations (not shown) and each mounting bracket includes a vertical array of complementary key-hole slots The locating formations on the desk top are adapted for releasable engagement with selected sets of respective horizontally aligned slots 30 on the mounting brackets to provide for selective height adjustment of the desk top eec.

beneath the ducting system.

The base member and cover plate are preferably fabricated from interengageable aluminium extruded sections which may be formed in continuous lengths to suit particular applications. In the preferred form of the invention, however, the ducting system is formed from a plurality of ducting assemblies 35 fabricated in predetermined lengths, each being adapted for engagement with adjacent like assemblies in longitudinal alignment to provide an effectively continuous ducting system of any 7 desired length. In this form of the invention, selected ones of the ducting assemblies 35 incorporate power boards 36 each comprising a series of power sockets 37 accessible through corresponding aligned apertures formed in the cover plate to provide mains power access for appliances positioned near the power board.

As best seen in Figure 2, the power boards are releasably retained within central duct 14 by tongues 39 which engage corresponding lands 40 on the power board.

The boards are released by resilient outward deformation

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of the internal partitions 12 which support tongues 39, and also define the central duct.

S It will be appreciated that ducting assemblies incorporating the power boards may be conveniently located at any desired positions along the ducting system where required for use, for example, adjacent computer work 0 S stations, or the like. Other cables such as computer and telecommunications cables can be conveniently directed 41"• outwardly through the bottom of the duct body at any desired positions to provide suitably interconnected networks of telephones, computers and electrical 0 s- appliances in a system which is easy to assemble on site, safe to use, and aesthetically integrated with the office layout.

Importantly, the system according to the present invention provides increased flexibility, permitting the ducting to be easily rearranged and adapted to accommodate alterations in office design. For example, the duct body 8 can be adapted to be suspended from complementary sections of office partitioning in an open plan. In this way, the ducting system can be conveniently coordinated with the partitioning system to provide maximum flexibility for variations in office layout. Thus, the invention represents a commercially significant improvement over the prior art.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

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Claims (12)

1. A ducting system comprising a body formed from a base member adapted to be secured to a wall and a cover plate connected to the base member, the body being partitioned internally to define a plurality of longitudinally extending ducts to convey flexible cable, at least one of the ducts being defined by a generally U-shaped channel formed integrally with the base member and a resilient flap substantially covering the channel whereby resilient deformation of the flap permits cables to pass out from the corresponding duct at appropriate positions along the length thereof, the cover plate being moveable between a closed position to substantially conceal the ducts and an open position providing access to the ducts and the cable, said system further including retaining means to 15 releasably retain the cover plate in the closed position.

2. A ducting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base member and cover plate are fabricated from complementary extruded sections.

3. A ducting system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the base member is partitioned to define discrete first, second and third longitudinally extending ducts.

4. A ducting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the body incorporates an aperture whereby cables may pass out from the ducting system.

A ducting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein a region of the body defined intermediate the base member and cover plate is substantially open. 'o t 10 lT O2

6. A ducting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to formed by a plurality of discrete ducting assemblies fabricated in predetermined lengths, each being adapted for engagement with adjacent like assemblies in longitudinal alignment to provide an effectively continuous ducting system.

7. A ducting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein selected ones of said ducting assemblies incorporate power boards, each comprising a plurality of power sockets accessible through the cover plate to provide mains power access.

8. A ducting system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said power boards are releasably retained at least partially within a corresponding duct.

9. A ducting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a lower marginal edge of the base member incorporates locating means in the form of a substantially continuous longitudinally extending edge flange adapted to 5 releasably receive and locate mounting brackets 'or a desk top.

10. A ducting system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said desk top incorporates spaced apart outwardly protruding locating formations and each mounting bracket incorporates a vertical array of complementary key-hole slots.

11. A ducting system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said locating formations are adapted for releasable engagement with selected pairs of horizontally aligned slots to 11 4% R '<A7 provide for height adjustment of the desk top beneath the ducting system.

12. A ducting system substantiall; as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 29th day of APRIL, 1991 FELTEX COMMERCIAL INTERIORS PTY LIMITED Attorney: LEON K. ALLEN Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS t I* *e 4 0* a.€ a OS *o 12