GB2278739A

GB2278739A - Cable trunking

Info

Publication number: GB2278739A
Application number: GB9311451A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Buckingham
Original assignee: WARDEN PLASTICS
Current assignee: WARDEN PLASTICS
Priority date: 1993-06-03
Filing date: 1993-06-03
Publication date: 1994-12-07
Also published as: GB9311451D0

Abstract

Cable trunking comprises a channel member (1) and a cover member (2) arranged to fit over the walls of the channel member (1) whose outer faces are provided with longitudinally extending ridges (9, 10) which cooperate with corresponding lips (11, 12) on the inner faces of the side walls of the cover member (2) to retain the cover member (2) in place. The plurality of ridges (9, 10) enables the effective cross-sectional area of the trunking to be varied to accommodate different quantities of cabling. The cable trunking also includes L and T-pieces to enable the direction of the trunking to change and to provide for branching of the trunking (Figure 3). The width of the L and T-pieces and the cover members is the same as that when the trunking is assembled, a continuous clean line is obtained at the junctions between the L and T-pieces and the cover members. <IMAGE>

Description

CABLE TRUNRING The present invention relates to cable trunking.

Cable trunking is used to constrain cable runs, for example around buildings, for both aesthetic and safety reasons. A known cable trunking comprises a channel member which is closed by press fitting a cap into the channel. This known cable trunking suffers from the disadvantage that L- and T-pieces, used for changing the direction of or branching the trunking, are required to receive the channel member. Thus, the Land T-pieces have a larger cross-section than the channel piece and cap assembly which results in unsightly projections in a run of cable trunking and therefore spoils an even clean line.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art.

According to the present invention, there is provided cable trunking comprising a channel member, having a base and two opposed side walls, and a cover member, having two opposed side walls to define a channel for receiving the side walls of the channel member to close the channel member, wherein the side walls of the channel member and the side walls of the cover member are provided with complementary coupling structures whereby the cover member is retained in closing relation to the channel member. The side walls of the cover member may be joined by a simple fillet. However, this simple fillet may be replaced by a more complex profile, for instance a V-section. The skilled person will readily appreciate that the form of the portion, coupling the side walls of the cover member, is essentially an aesthetic choice.

Preferably, the coupling structures are arranged to allow press fitting of the cover member to the channel member.

Preferably, the coupling structures comprise a ridge extending along the outer face of a channel member side wall and a ridge extending along the inner face of a cover member side wall. The channel member side wall or the cover member side wall may be provided with a plurality of such ridges. This arrangement enables the internal cross-sectional area of the trunking to be varied in order to accommodate different sizes or quantites of cable.

Conveniently, a cover member includes a first portion and a second portion, extending at an angle to the first portion, to provide for a change of direction of the trunking.

Conveniently, the cover member includes an arm portion to provide for a branch in the trunking.

Preferably, the trunking is dimensioned to receive snugly up to two telephone leads. Suitable internal dimensions for this application would be a width of 6 mm and a depth of 5 mm.

Preferably, the trunking is dimensioned to receive snugly a 1 mm three-core flex. Suitable internal dimensions for this application would be a width of 7.5 mm and a depth of 7.5 mm.

The components of cable trunking according to the present invention are preferably moulded from plastics resin material.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a length of cable trunking according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of cable trunking of the present invention enclosing a telephone cable; Figure 3 is a plan view of cable trunking shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a length of cable trunking comprises a channel member 1 and a cover member 2. The channel member 1 comprises a base 3 and first and second side walls 4, 5, extending parallel and opposite to each other from the longitudinal margins of the base 3.

The cover member 2 is generally U-shaped and comprises a pair of parallel, opposed side walls 6, 7 and a base 8 extending therebetween.

The side walls 4,5 of the channel member 1 are provided with three parallel longitudinally extending ridges 9,10. Respective ridges 11, 12 are provided on the inner faces of the cover side walls 6, 7, towards the free margins thereof. The ridges 11, 12 extend longitudinally along the cover member 2. The ridges 9,10,11,12 preferably extend continuously without interruption along the whole length of the base 3 and cover 2 but they could be intermittent if required.

A strip of double-sided sticking tape 13 is applied to the outer face of the base 3 of the channel member 1.

In use, the channel member 1 is attached along the route of a cable run, for instance along a wall, by means of the double-sided sticking tape 13. The cable or cables 14 are then laid within the channel member 1.

Figure 2 shows a four-wire telephone lead 14 within the channel member 1. The cover member 2 is then pressed down over the channel member 1. As the cover member 2 is pressed down over the channel member 1, its side walls 6,7 flex outwardly as the ridges 11, 12 pass over the ridges 9, 10 on the channel member 1. Cooperation between the ridges 11, 12 on the cover member 2 and the ridges 9, 10 on the channel member 1 retains the cover member 2 in position. It will be appreciated that cabling, having a cross-section greater than the internal cross-section of the channel member 1, may be accommodated provided as the ridges 11, 12 on the cover member 2 are able to pass over at least the upper ridges 9, 10 on the channel member 1.

Referring to Figure 3, changes in the direction of the cable run may be accommodated by L or T pieces 15,16.

Each arm of the L-pieces 15 or T-pieces 16 which have substantially the same cross-section as the cover members 2 and the channel members are configured to fit within and terminate in the arms of the L or T-pieces 15,16. Thus, a continuous clean uninterrupted line is provided throughout the whole trunking system after assembly which has not been possible with prior art systems.

Claims

1. Cable trunking comprising a channel member, having a base and two opposed side walls extending therefrom, and a cover member, having two opposed side walls to define a channel for receiving the side walls of the channel member to close the channel member, wherein the side walls of the channel member and the side walls of the cover member are provided with complementary coupling means whereby the cover member is retained in closing relation on the channel member.

2. Cable trunking according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means are arranged to allow press fitting of the cover member on a channel member.

3. Cable trunking according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling means comprise at least one ridge extending along the outer face of the channel member side walls and a tip extending from the inner face of each side wall of the cover.

4. Cable trunking according to claim 3, wherein said channel member side wall is provided with a plurality of such ridges.

5. Cable trunking according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover member includes a first portion and a second portion, extending at an angle to the first portion, to provide for a change of direction of the trunking.

6. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cover member includes an arm portion to provide for a branch in the trunking.

7. Cable trunking as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the external width of the first and second portion and/or the arm portion is the same as the external width of a cover member of a length of cable trunking when connected thereto.

8. Cable trunking according to any preceding claim, dimensioned to receive two telephone leads.

9. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 to 7, dimensioned to receive a single 1 mm three-core flex.

10. Cable trunking substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.