AU733986B1

AU733986B1 - Connector for cable support apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU733986B1
Application number: AU65375/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruce James Odgen
Original assignee: FCI Connectors Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Phoenix Steel Sales Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-12-21
Filing date: 1999-12-21
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-21
Also published as: JP2001235064A

Description

Our Ref:7462770 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: FCI Connectors Australia Pty Limited Tarlington Place Smithfield New South Wales 2164 Australia DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Connector for cable support apparatus The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 P:\WPDOCS\DYS\SPFCrE\7462770oSPE 1213/01 -1- CONNECTOR FOR CABLE SUPPORT APPARATUS This invention relates generally to a connector suitable for use in connecting articles together such as for example components of cable support apparatus.

Cable support apparatus which form a rigid structure for supporting cables are known and typically comprise a series of tray sections of selected length and shape which are connected together to form a cable support structure of selected configuration. These tray sections are adopted to be attached to a building wall or other structure. It is the current practice to interconnect adjacent tray sections by means of connectors sometimes referred to as fish plates. The currently used fish plates which are bolted to adjacent tray sections so as to hold the sections together. A typical system is described in United States Patent Specification No. 4,432,519.

15 In Australian Patent Specification No. 23712/99 there is described a connector for use in applications described above.

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It is an object of the present invention to provide a further modified connector which is suitable for use with cable support apparatus.

20 According to the present invention there is provided a cable support assembly connector for joining adjacent sections of a cable support assembly, the sections including a wall having connector mounting apertures therein; the connector including a main body and a plurality of fastenings extending from a surface of the main body, each fastening including a shank portion and a generally resiliently deformable head portion in the region of the free end of the shank, the head portion being deformable so that it can pass through a respective one of the mounting apertures of one of the sections and in a fitted position subsequently adopt a configuration where retraction of the fastener head through the mounting aperture is inhibited, the connector further including biassing means which when the connector is in the fitted position, causes a biassing force towards the walls of the sections of the cable support assembly, said biassing means including one or more substantially resilient tabs in the main Sbody of the connector, the or each said tab being configured so that in the fitted position the -7> >KNT3 P.\WPDOCS\DYS\SPECIE\7462770.SPE 12/3/01 -2or each tab causes said biassing force.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable support assembly which includes at least two sections arranged, the sections including a wall having connector mounting apertures therein; a connector as described above joining the adjacent sections together, at least one said fastening on said connector being associated with an aperture on one of said sections and at least another said fastening on said connector being associated with an aperture on the adjacent said section.

Preferably, the or each tab includes a projecting portion which in an unstressed state projects from the main body. Preferably, the or each tab may be in the form of a substantially U-shaped cut out portion of the main body of the connector. Preferably, the free edge section of the U-shaped tab is of greater thickness than the remaining portion of the tab and thereby defines the projecting portion. In one particular embodiment, there are at least two tabs, the tabs being oriented in reverse configuration relative to one another.

The connector may further include an electrical conductive element operatively connected to the main body so that in the fitted position abuts against the section of the cable support assembly and is urged in abutment by the biassing means.

Preferably, the main body includes a channel shaped plate which includes a main connector web and opposed flanges on opposite sides of the connector web and extending from the web with the surface thereof. Preferably, the electrical conductive element includes a plate which includes mounting apertures therein through which the fastenings pass for movement relative thereto.

Preferably, the head portion of each fastener is generally arrow shaped or wedge shaped.

The main body may be formed of plastic materials such as nylon TM. Preferably, the nylon includes glass fibre therein. Preferably, the main body is moulded Preferably, the fastenings are moulded to the main body as are the resilient tabs are moulded to the main body. Preferably, the electrical conducting element is a copper plate or strip. Preferably, the flanges form side rails which in the fitted position overlie the edges iti.

lt,. V 3 P:\WPDOCS\DYS\SPECIE\746277SPE 21299 -3of the cable support sections.

Example embodiments of the connector according to the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a connector according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of a connector according to the invention together with a portion of cable support trays; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the connector shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end elevation of the connector shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the connector shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the sectional line X in Figure 3; Figure 7 is a side elevation of the connector shown in Figure 1; Figure 8 is an end elevation of a connector according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a front elevation of the connector shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is an end elevation of a connector according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 11 is a front elevation of the connector shown in Figure P:\WPDOCS\DYS\SPECIE\7462770.SPE 2/1299 -4- Referring to Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings there is shown a connector generally indicated at 110 for use in joining adjacent support sections 151 and 152 of a cable support assembly 150 (see Figure The support sections 151 and 152 of the assembly each include a wall 154, 155 having connector mounting apertures 157 therein. The connector 110 includes a main body 112 and a plurality of fasteners 116, 117, 118 and 119 extending from a fastener mounting surface 114 of the main body 112. The main body 112 is a channel shaped plate which includes a main connector web 115 and opposed flanges 111 and 113 on opposite sides of the connector web and the flanges extending from web to either side of the fastener mounting 114 thereof. The flanges 111 and 113 form side rails which in the fitted position overlie the edges of the walls 154 and 155 of the cable support sections 151 and 152.

Each fastener includes a shank 121 and a generally resiliently deformable head portion 122 in the region of the free end of the shank. The head portion 122 is arrow shaped and is deformable so that it can pass through a respective one of the mounting apertures 157 of the support sections 151 and 152 so that when the connector is in a fitted position retraction of the fastener head through the mounting aperture in the support section is inhibited. The main body is formed of moulded nylon with glass fibre therein. Each shank 121 may include two curved locating sections 123 which assist in locating the fastener in the apertures 132 in the electrical conductive element described hereinafter and apertures 157 of the support 20 sections.

In the embodiment shown, the connector 110 further includes an electrical conductive element 130 in the form of a copper plate which is operatively connected to the main body so that in the fitted position it abuts against the walls 154 and 155 of the sections of the cable support assembly. The plate 130 includes mounting apertures 132 therein through which the fastenings pass.

Biassing means 140 is provided for urging the electrical conductive element 130 into abutment with the walls 154 and 155 of the sections of the support assembly when in the fitted position. As shown, the biassing means 140 includes a series of resilient tabs 142 P:\WPDOCS\DYS\SPECIE\7462770SPE 2/1299 moulded into the main body. The tabs 142 are in the form of a generally U-shaped cut out and have an enlarged end portion 143 which causes the tabs to deflect when in the fitted position. It will be appreciated that in some circumstances the element 130 may not be required. In such circumstances the resilient tabs serve to maintain the connector in a firm fitted position.

To assemble the connector and tray sections together the copper strip 130 clips over the arrow shaped protrusions 122 of the fasteners of connector body. The arrow heads 122 compress down to fit through the apertures 132 of the copper strip 130 and spring back into this original position after the copper strip is clipped to the connector body.

The resilient tabs 142 on the body force the copper strip 130 forward. The connector is then pushed onto the tray sections. The arrow heads 122 once again compress down and spring back into position to secure the connector and copper strip to the tray sections.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a further embodiment of connector in which the various parts function in substantially the same fashion as those similar parts described with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9 there is a connector 210 which includes a main body 212 which comprises two leg sections 214 and 215 which are inclined to one another so that the main body is generally V-shaped. The main body further includes flanges 211 and 213 on opposite sides of the main body. The connector further includes fasteners 216 and 217 and biassing tabs 242. The fasteners and tabs are of the same structure as those described earlier with reference to Figures 1 to 7. This connector can be used to connect two sections of a cable support assembly for example which are inclined to one another.

A further form of connector is shown in Figures 10 and 11. In this embodiment the connector 310 includes a main body 312 in the form of a flat plate with fasteners 316 and 317 thereof. Biassing tabs 342 are interposed between the fasteners and again the tabs and P:\WPDOCS\DYS\SPECIE\7462770.SPE 2/1299 -6fasteners are of the same structure as previously described with reference to the earlier embodiments.

Preferably, in each embodiment the connector is moulded as an integral unit from glass filled nylon.

Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

1. A cable support assembly connector for joining adjacent sections of a cable support assembly, the sections including a wall having connector mounting apertures therein; the connector including a main body and a plurality of fastenings extending from a surface of the main body, each fastening including a shank portion and a generally resiliently deformable head portion in the region of the free end of the shank, the head portion being deformable so that it can pass through a respective one of the mounting apertures of one of the sections and in a fitted position subsequently adopt a configuration where retraction of the fastener head through the mounting aperture is inhibited, the connector further including biassing means which when the connector is in the fitted position, causes a biassing force towards the walls of the sections of the cable support assembly, said biassing means including one or more substantially resilient tabs in the main body of the connector, the or each said tab being configured so that in the fitted position the or each tab causes said biassing force.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein the or each said tab includes a projecting portion which in an unstressed state projects from the main body.

3. A connector according to claim 2 wherein the or each said tab is in the form of a substantially U-shaped cut out portion of the main body of the connector.

4. A connector according to claim 3 wherein the free edge section of the U-shaped tab is of greater thickness than the remaining portion of the tab and thereby defines said projecting portion.

A connector according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein there are at least two said tabs, said tabs being oriented in reverse configuration relative to one another.

6. A connector according to any preceding claim further including an electrical conductive element operatively connected to the main body so that in the fitted position abuts against the section of the cable support assembly and is urged in abutment by said biassing P:\WPDOCS\DYS\SPECIE7462770.SPE I V3/01 -8- means.

7. A connector according to any preceding claim wherein the main body includes a channel shaped plate which includes a main connector web and opposed flanges on opposite sides of the connector web and extending from the web with the surface thereof.

8. A connector according to claim 6, wherein the electrical conductive element includes a plate which includes mounting apertures therein through which the fastenings pass for movement relative thereto.

9. A connector according to any preceding claim wherein the head portion of each fastener is generally arrow shaped or wedge shaped.

A connector according to any preceding claim wherein the main body is formed of plastic materials such as nylon TM

11. A connector according to claim 10 wherein the nylon includes glass fibre therein.

12. A connector according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the main body is moulded

13. A connector according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the fastenings are moulded to the main body.

14. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the resilient tabs are moulded to the main body.

A connector according to any one of claims 6 to 13 wherein the electrical conducting element is a copper plate or strip.

16. A connector according to any one of claims 7 to 15 wherein the flanges form side rails which in the fitted position overlie the edges of the cable support sections. P:\WPDOCS\DYS\SPECIE\7462770.SPE 21/3/01 -9-

17. A cable support assembly which includes at least two sections arranged, the sections including a wall having connector mounting apertures therein; a connector according to any preceding claim joining the adjacent sections together, at least one said fastening on said connector being associated with an aperture on one of said sections and at least another said fastening on said connector being associated with an aperture on the adjacent said section. Dated this 21 st day of March, 2001 FCI CONNECTORS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE