GB2486762A

GB2486762A - A cable support tray assembly for a desk has a flexible tray secured between two extruded supports

Info

Publication number: GB2486762A
Application number: GB1120563.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy Charles Gray
Original assignee: Assembly Electronics Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Assembly Electronics Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-24
Filing date: 2011-11-30
Publication date: 2012-06-27
Also published as: NZ596759A; AU2011253744A8; GB201120563D0; AU2011253744A1

Abstract

An extrusion 5.002, 5.003 for supporting a cable tray 5.032 of a cable support tray assembly has a profile defining at least one channel having first and second side walls and an open end defining a channel aperture, wherein a re-entrant hook formation is formed on the first side wall proximate the channel aperture and which, in use engages a flange 5.036 formed on the side edge of a flexible cable tray 5.032. The re-entrant hook is formed on a first side wall and is preferably L-shaped. A second side wall of the channel may be tapered. Attachment flanges may extend parallel to or transverse to a wall of the channel. Also disclosed is a cable supporting tray member 5.036 which includes a planar, substantially rectangular body having first and second parallel flanges 5.034, 5.036 along opposite sides of the tray body, the material of the tray member being stiff and flexible. The flanges of the cable tray are adapted for insertion in channels of the support tray extrusions to engage the re-entrant hook formations of the extrusions. The attachment flanges extending from the channel provide attachment points for securing the cable support tray underneath a desk.

Description

I

A Support Tray

Field of the hivention

[001] This invention rSates to a support tray.

[002] The invenflon is particularly suited for use with light weight bads, such as power and communication cables for appances and computers. The tray can be attached under a desk to hold the various wires.

Background of the invention

[003] One aspect of the invenfion r&ies on the stiffness of certain flexible maters such as polycarbonates and the Uke, [004] Stiffness is the re&stance of an elastic body to deformation by an apped force along a given degree of freedom (DOF) when a set of loading points and boundary conditions are prescribed on the elastic body. The stiffness, k, of a body is a measure of the resistance offered by an &asfic body to deformation. For an elastic body with a single Degree of Freedom (for example, stretching or compression of a rod), the stiffness is defined as k F1ö where: F is the force applied on the body; ö is the displacement produced by the force along the same degree of freedom.

[005] The invention requires a material which has sufficient stiffness to resist compressive failure over a working load range. The invention also utiRzes the flexibility of such materials.

Summary of the invention

[006] The present invention provides a support tray extrusion having a profile defining at least one channel having first and second side walls and an open end defining a channel aperture, wherein a reent.rant hook formation is formed on the first side wall proximate the channel aperture.

[007] The extrusion can include an attachment flange.

[008] The attachment flange can be transverse to a wall of the channel.

[009] The attachment flange can be parallel with a wall of the channel, [0101 The second side wall can be tapered proximate the open end.

(011] The hivenfion also provides a support tray member including a planar, quadrUateral body having first and second paraflel flanges along opposite sides of the tray body, the material of the tray member being stiff and flexible.

1012] The tray member can be rectangular.

[013] The flange can have a width, thickness, and stiffness such that it resists compressive failure within a predefined load limit.

[014] The material of the tray member can be plastically deformed to form the flanges.

[015] The material of the tray member can be thermay formed to form the flanges.

(016] The invention also provides support tray assembly induding at least one extrusion, and a tray member, wherein the channel aperture width is greater than twice the thickness of the tray member material.

[017] The width of the support tray flanges can be greater than the width of the extrusion channel

Brief description of the drawings

[018] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [019] Figure 1 is illustrative of an extrusion according to an embodiment of the invention.

[020] Figure 2 is an endon 4ew of the extrusion of Figure 1.

[021] Figure 3 is illustrative of a tray member according to an embodiment of the invention.

[022] Figure 4 is an en&on view of the tray member of Figure 3.

[023] Figure 5 illustrates an assembled cable tray according to an embodiment of the invention.

[024] Figure 6 illustrates an alternative tray assembly.

[025] Figure 7 illustrates a closed tray assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

[026] The numbering convention used in the drawings is that the digits in front of the full stop indicate the drawing number, and the digits after the full stop are the element reference numbers. Where possible, the same element reference number is used in different drawings to indicate corresponding elements.

[027] It is understood that, unless indicated otherwise, the drawings are intended to be illustrative rather than exact representations, and are not necessery drawn to scale.

The orientation of the drawings is chosen to illustrate the features of the objects shown, and does not necessarily represent the orientation of the objects in use.

DetailS description of the embodiment or embodiments [028] Figure 1 iilustrates an extrusbn I.002 adapted to be attached to a surface and to engage one side of a tray member as will be described below. The extrusion has a first side 1.004 forming an attachment flange and a second side 1.008 transverse to the first side 1.004. A wail 1.006 is parallel to the second side 1.008 and spaced therefrom to define a narrow channel 1.010 with one open end.

[029] Figure 2 illustrates detail of the extrusion of Figure 1 shown in cross-section.

The first side 2.004 is shown as horizontal in this view. The second side 2.008 projects downward from the first side 2.002. The wail 2.006 is substantially parallel with the second side 2.008 and spaced therefrom by distance 2.024 to define a channel 2.010. The lower end of the channel 2.024 is open at aperture 2.022. The lower end of the second side 2.008 has a re-entrant hook-like formation 2.014. The chann& 2.010 has a depth indicated at 2.020.

[030] A longitudinal groove 2.012 is provided to provide a start for self-tapping screws.

[031] Optionally a lower portion of wall 2.006 can taper to a narrower lower end as illustrated by angle 9, at 2.018.

[032] The extrusion 1.002 can be of any desired length.

[033] Figure 3 illustrates a tray member 3.030. The tray member is formed of a relatively thin, stiff, flexible, rectangular sheet and has a central body 3.032 and parallel flanges 3.034, 3.036 formed along opposite side. The material of the channel is flexible and stiff. The flanges can be formed by plastic deformation, or heat forming.

[034] Suitable materials for the tray member include polycarbonate or other polymeric materials.

[035] Figure 4 is an end-on illustration of the tray member of Figure 3. The central body 4.032 has a width 4.040. The flanges 4.034, 4.036 have a width 4.042 which is greater than the width 2.024 of the channel 2.010. The free ends of the flanges 4.034, 4.036 are spaced from the body 4.032 by a distance 4.044 which can be greater than the width of the channe aperture 2.022 to ensure that, once the flange is inserted hito the channeL the resifience of the tray member material wHI cause the free end of the flange to be engages in the reentrant hook formation 2.014 as shown in Figure 6.

[036] Agure 5 illustrates a tray assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. The assembly includes a pair of extrusions 5M02, 5.003 mounted parallel with their attachment flanges facing away from each other. The extrusions are spaced apart by a thstance less than the width 4.040 of the tray member 5.032. The edges of the tray member 5.032 wtth the flanges 5.034, 5.036 are inserted into respective channe of the extrusions 5.002, 5.003. Because the extrusions are spaced apart by less than the width of the tray member, the tray member, being flexible, adopts a curved proflle, The flanges 5.034, 5.036 are longer than the width of their respecflve extrusion channels, and the material of the tray member is stiff, the flanges will remain substantially straight because they are comparativ&y short.

[037] The free ends of the flanges 5.034, 5.036 will be engaged in the reentrant hook formations 2.014 of theft respective extrusions, [038] The width ci the flanges 5.034, 5.036 is such that the junction or apex 5.050 of the flange with the tray body 5.032 will be pressed against the inner side of the wall, whe the free ends of the flanges seat or sit in the reentrant hook formation. The resillence of the tray matedal in cooperation wfth the reentrant hook formafion, provides a snap.iock function to flanges in the channeL Because the width of the flanges 5.034, 5.025 is greater than the width of the channeL the flanges will be inclined to Lhe normal to the wall by an angle 3, at 5,046. Preferably, is greater than 450, Preferably, the angle is of the order of about 60°.

[0391 The weight of the cables in the tray is applled to each apex 5.050 of the flange and the tray body intersections along the tangent of the tray body at the apex. The apex 5,050 is pressed against the side of the channeL The dimensions of the chann& width, the channel aperture width and the width of the flanges 5.034, 5.036, the spacing between the extrusions and the width of the tray body, stiffness of the tray body material, as well as the weight of the cables, will influence the tangent angle of the tray body at the apex. The closer the tangent angle of the tray body is to the flange angle the better the load is applied to the flange. Factors which limit the minimum tangent angle include the width of the channel, the width of the flange, and the width of the channel aperture. When the angle between the flange and the tray tangent is less than 45°, a substantial proportion of the load applied to the flange will be a compressive load, The flange has a width, thickness, and stiffness sufficient to resist compressive failure under the loads normaHy appiled during normal use.

10401 The width 2.024 of the channel 2.010 is smafler than the fold 3.034. The channel aperture is sufficiently wide to permit the doubk thickness of the tray and fold to be pushed therethrough. The thickness of the tray member material can be of the order of about 0,2mm. The width of the flanges 5.034, 5.036 can be of the order of about 7 to 10 mm. The included angle of the flange 4.034 and the tray member body 4.032 can be within a range of approximately 30 to 60°.

[041] The tray member can be inserted into the attached extrusions from an end, or by pushing the apex 5.050 of the flange body junction through the channel aperture 2.022 so the flange snaps into place when it is clear of the top of the reentrant hook formation 2.014. The depth 2.020 of the channel can be sufficient to permit the flange to clear the top of the reentrant hook formation.

[042] As shown in Figure 6, the tray member 6.032 can be inserted upside down in relation to the arrangement of Figure 5. While this arrangement will function, the applied load to the flanges 6.034, 6.036 from the weight of the cables in the tray will be less optimally applied to the flange.

[043] Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention, in which the tray member is folded to provide a substantially closed channel. In this embodiment, the extrusions have a different shape. The extrusion attachment flanges 7,060, 7.062 can be formed by an extension of the side of the channel. A single extrusion with horizontally opposed channels can be used, or two individual opposed extrusions can be used. A substantially closed channel is formed by the tray body and the extrusions.

[044] In this specification, reference to a document, disclosure, or other publication or use is not an admission that the document, disclosure, publication or use forms part of the common general knowledge of the skilled worker in the field of this invention at the priority date of this specification, unless otherwise stated.

[045] In this specification, terms indicating orientation or direction, such as "up", "down", "vertical", "horizontal", "Ieft, "right" "upright", "transverse" etc. are not intended to be absolute terms unless the context requires or indicates otherwise. These terms will normally refer to orientations shown in the drawings.

[046] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of Aconsisting only of. A corresponthng meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comphac", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

[047] It will be understood that the invention disdosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individu& features mentioned or evident from the text. AU of these different combinations constitute various afternative aspects of the invention.

[048] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it wUl be evident to those sMIled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

Claims 1. A support tray extrusion having a proflle defining at least one chann& having first and second side walls and an open end defining a channel aperture, wherein a re entrant hook formation is formed on the first &de wall proximate the chann& aperture.
2. A support hay extrusion as daimed in claim I induding an attachment flange.
3. A support tray extrusion as daimed in claim 2, wherein the attachment flange is transverse to a wall of the channeL
4. A support tray extrusion as claimed in claim 2, wheren the attachment flange is parallel with a wall of the channeL 5. A support tray extrusion as daimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second side wall is tapered proximate the open end.
5, A support tray extrusion as claimed in any one of Sims I to 5, wherein the width of the chann& is less than the width of an engaging flange of a support tray.7. A support tray extrusion as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein the open end of the channel defines an aperture having a width of between 0.5mm and 4 mm.5. A support tray extrusion as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein depth of the channel is greater than the width of an engaging flange of a support tray.9. A support tray extrusion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reentrant hook formation has an L shape.10. A support tray member including a planar, substantially rectangular body having first and second parallel flanges along opposite sides of the tray body, the material of the tray member being stiff and flexible.11. A support tray member as daimed in claim 6, wherein the flange has a width, thickness, and stiffness such that it resists compressive failure within a predefined load limit, 12. A support tray member as claimed in claim 10 or claim lit wherein the material of the tray member is plastically deformed to form the flanges.13. A support tray member as claimed in claim 10 or claim lit wherein the material of the tray member is thermally formed to form the flanges.14. A support tray assembly including at least one extrusion as claimed in any one of claims I to 9, and a tray member as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13. wherein the chann& aperture width is greater than twice the thickness of the tray member material, 15. A support tray assemby as daimed in daim 14, wherein the width of the support tray flanges is greater than the width of the extrusion channeL 16. A support tray extrusion substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanyhig drawings.17 A support tray member substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.13. A support tray assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawfrigs.