GB2465009A

GB2465009A - Device for holding a trunking cover in place with a releasably lockable element.

Info

Publication number: GB2465009A
Application number: GB0820198A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Burge
Original assignee: Wandsworth Group Ltd
Current assignee: Wandsworth Group Ltd
Priority date: 2008-11-04
Filing date: 2008-11-04
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Also published as: GB0820198D0

Abstract

A device 1 for holding a cover for trunking in place comprising a first part 4 supporting a section of trunking and a second part 6 supporting a cover of the trunking in position, there being a releasable and moveable locking element 7 to engage with the trunking and to hold the cover in place. The locking latch 7 may be pivotably mounted on the first part 4, which may engage in a complimentary profile on the trunking. The cover may have a channel in which the second part 6 may slidingly engage. In use, the devices are slid along the trunking sections, the cover is engaged with the devices, a tool is used in the gap between cover and trunking to lock the devices, and a trim strip is added to cover the gap.

Description

I

TRUNKING

The invention relates to trunking, particularly to trunking for utility supply.

Such trunking is often secured to a wall or ceiling, and provides space and support for utility supply such as electricity cables, gas pipes, water pipes, fibre optic cables and the like.

The trunking provides unobtrusive housing for such utility supply and keeps the cables, pipes etc. tidy, hidden from view yet providing easy access thereto for maintenance or retro-fitting.

Such trunking is often made of metal, particularly aluminium which may be extruded.

Such extrusions often have tolerance defects which can present problems when trunking is assembled, particularly using a snap-fit assembly method.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate such disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for holding a cover for trunking in place, comprising a first part adapted in use to support a section of trunking and a second part adapted in use to support a cover of the trunking in position, there being a releasable locking element which is moveable from an unlocked to a locked position to engage with the trunking and hold the cover in position.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a set of parts for assembly to form trunking, comprising trunking sections, a cover therefor and a plurality of devices as hereinbefore described spaced apart along the length of the assembled trunking According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided trunking whenever assembled from a set of parts as hereinbefore described.

The invention extends to a building incorporating trunking as hereinbefore described.

A device, set of parts and trunking embodying the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Figs. IA and 13 show respectively an unlocked and a locked mode of a device according to the invention to hold a cover of trunking in place; Fig. 2 shows to a reduced scale than Figs. 1A and lB an end elevation of trunking using the devices of those Figs; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of part of trunking according to the invention showing an end or transverse section thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1A and lB show a device 1 for holding a cover 2 for trunking 3 in place, comprising a first part 4 for adapted in use to support a section 5 of truriking and a second part 6 adapted in use to support the cover 2 of the trunking 3 in position, there being a releasable locking element 7 which is moveable from an unlocked to a locked position to engage with the trunking 3 and hold the cover 2 in place.

The device I is made of plastic, the locking element 7 being moveably mounted as by being pivotable on the first part 4. There is retaining means in the form of a detent or protrusion 8 on the first part 4 which seats in a complementary recess or seating 9 of the locking element 1 in the unlocked position. The locking element 1 has a surface 10 for engaging with a force fit a surface of the cover 2 to hold same in place.

The trunking 3 is for utility supply and has upper 11, middle 2 and lower 12 trunking sections, the upper section 11 and the lower section 12 having respective dividers 13 and the cover 2 bei'ig convex to cover the trunking sections, there being an upper 14 and lower 14 side cover and the (central) cover 2.

The first part 4 of the clip and lock device 1 has a profile 16 complementary to a lower in use surface 17 of the upper divider 13.

The second part 6 of the clip and lock device 1 has a depending part 18 for being received in seating means in the form of an upwardly and inwardly directed in use channel part 19 of the cover 2 and a projecting part 20 which has upwardly and inwardly directed in use channel part 19 of the cover 2 and a projecting part 20 which has upwardly curved wings 21 for engaging surfaces of the channel part 19.

The trunking sections and the covers are made of resilient material, in the embodiment of extruded aluminfrtm, while the clip and lock device I is made of plastics.

In use, the trunking sections 11, 12 are mounted to a substrate such as a wall by suitable means. The side covers 14, 15 are offered up and mounted in position as by sliding.

The central cover 2 is then mounted in position by being maintained on the lower divider at an angle so that parts X, Y are engaged in a hinge like arrangement. The central cover is then hinged upwardly in the direction of arrow S' so that parts R, T snap-engage.

One or more clip and lock devices 1 is/are then slid into position from one end in the unlocked position, the detent and recess 8, 9 maintaining the locking element in the unlocked position (Fig. 1A).

The locking elements 1 are provided in sufficient numbers at spaced apart intervals along the trunking to hold the central cover 2 firmly in place. To achieve this, a tool such as a screw-driver is placed in a gap between the slide 14 and central cover 2 and slid along. This action engages the locking element I and causes the detent 8 and recess 9 to disengage owing to the resiliency of the plastics so that the locking element 7 moves from the Fig. 1A to the locked position of Fig. 2A. This action maintains the parts R, T in snap-engagement and thus gives the central cover 2 resiliency sufficient to achieve and maintain a snap fit and thereby to overcome tolerance problems usually associated with aluminium extrusions. In a modification the surface 10 of the element 7 forces the part 20 down to engage the channel means and the part 4 up into firm engagement with the upper divider section 13.

The gap is covered with a trim strip 22 as shown; Fig. 3.

It will be understood that by removing the trip strip 22 and running the tool in the opposite direction, the devices I can be moved from the locked to the unlocked position so that the central cover 2 can be removed by an operation the reverse of the mounting operation for access to the interior of the trunking 3.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for holding a cover for trunking in place, comprising a first part adapted in use to support a section of trunking and a second part adapted in use to support a cover of the trunking in position, there being a releasable locking element which is moveable from an unlocked to a locked position to engage with the trunking and hold the cover in position.
2. A device according to Claim 1, the locking element being mounted on the first part of the device.
3. A device according to Claim 2, the locking element being pivotably mounted on the first part.
4. A device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, the locking element having a surface for pressure engagement with a part of the cover to hold same in position.
5. A device according to any of Claims 2 to 4, there being a detent of the first part cooperating with a seat of the locking element in the unlocked position.
6. A set of parts for assembly to form trunking, comprising trunking sections, a cover therefor and a plurality of devices according to any preceding claim spaced apart along the length of the assembled trunking.
7. A set according to Claim 6, there being three trunking elements in use providing an upper, a middle and a lower section, each of the upper and lower sections having a divider section having a surface profile complementary in shape to the shape of the first part of the device.
8. A set according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, the cover having means for receiving the second part of the device.
9. A set according to Claim 7, the means comprising a channel means in which the second part is receivable in sliding engagement.
10. A set according to any of Claims 6 to 9, the trunking sections and cover comprising alum ini m.
11. A set according to Claim 10, the aluminium being extruded.
12. A set according to any preceding claim, including a trim strip for insertion between a trunking section and the cover.
13. A set according to Claim 12, there being two trim strips.
14. A set according to any of Claims 6 to 13, including a tool for moving the device between the locked and unlocked positions.
15. A trunking, whenever assembled from a set of parts according to any of Claims 6to 13.
16. Trunking according to Claim 15, for utility supply.
17. A device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A set of parts, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. Trunking, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. A building, incorporating trunking according to Claim 16 or Claim 19.