GB2494426A

GB2494426A - Cable trunking assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2494426A
Application number: GB201115462A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Ditchfield
Original assignee: Legrand Electric Ltd
Current assignee: Legrand Electric Ltd
Priority date: 2011-09-07
Filing date: 2011-09-07
Publication date: 2013-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-07
Also published as: GB201115462D0; GB2494426B; IE86808B1; IE20120389A1

Abstract

A cable trunking or ducting assembly comprises: first and second cable trunking components 2 which are fastened together by one or more fastening components 10 (e.g. bolts); first and second lids 6 fitted to respective cable trunking components 2; and an interface cover component 46 fitted over the interface between the lids 6 after the first and second cable trunking components 2 have been fastened together. The cover component 46 is securable to the first and second cable trunking components 2 using a part of the fastening component(s) 10. The cover component 46 may include: a central cover portion for covering the interface between the lids 6; and wing portions on opposite sides of the central portion, wherein the wing portions define one or more windows 48. The fastening component(s) 10 may have a protruding portion (e.g. the head of a bolt) that protrudes from an external surface of the first and/or second cable trunking components 2 such that the cover component 46 is retained in position over the interface between the lids 6 by clipping over the protruding portion such that the protruding portion is received in the window 48 of the wing portions of the cover component 46.

Description

CABLE TRUNKING DEVICE

The present invention relates to devices for routing one or more power and/or communication cables from one location to another.

Cable trunking devices generally come in easily transportable and manageable sections that can be assembled together on site.

Assembling cable trunking typically involves connecting generally U-shaped base sections each comprising a pair of side walls and a base wall, and thereafter fitting lids over the open sides of the U-shaped base sections. GB2472837 describes a technique involving fitting a respective lid to each base section and then fitting an extra lid to cover a gap between those two lids.

There has been identified the challenge of developing a new technique for covering any gaps at the interface between two adjacent lids of a cable trunking assembry.

It is an aim of the present invention to meet this challenge.

There is provided a cable trunking device, comprising: first and second cable trunking components; one or more fastening components for fastening said first and second cable trunking components together; first and second lid components for fitting to said first and second cable trunking components; and an interface cover component for fitting over the interface between said first and second lid components after said first and second cable trunking components are fastened together; wherein said cover component is securable to said first and second cable trunking components using a part of said one or more fastening components. 1 F

According to one embodiment, said one or more fastening components have a protruding portion that protrudes from an external surface of at least one of the first and second cable trunking components after the first and second cable trunking components are fastened together; and said cover component is retainable in position over said interface between said first and second lid components by interaction of a part of said cover component with said protruding portion of said one or more of fastening components.

According to one embodiment, said cover component is clippable over said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components into a position in which said cover component is retained in position over opposing edge portions of said first and second lid components by said interaction of a part of said cover component with said protruding portion of said one or more of fastening components.

According to one embodiment, said cover component includes a central cover portion for covering said interface between said first and second lid components, and wing portions on opposite sides of said central cover portion, each wing portion defining one or more one or more windows for receiving said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components.

According to one embodiment, said wing portions have respective leading edge portions, and the cover component is configured such that said leading edge portions are forcibly slidable over said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components to a position at which said cover component returns to a relaxed configuration and said protruding portions are received in said one or more windows.

According to one embodiment, the device further comprises a coupling component and said fastening components are supported on a wall of said coupling component; and wherein the first trunking component has an end portion for insertion into or receiving a first end portion of the coupling component, and the second trunking component has an end portion for insertion into or receiving a second end portion of the coupling component; wherein said end portions of the first and second trunking components define in one or more walls thereof one or more guide channels configured to receive and guide respective ones of said fastening components to respective fastening positions1 at which the fastening components are usable to increase the force of contact between the trunking components and the coupling component.

According to one embodiment, at least one fastening component at said first end portion of the coupling component is associated with at least one respective fastening component at said second end portion of the coupling component via an internal or external bridge.

According to one embodiment, the fastening components are male screw-thread components, and the bridge defines holes with complementary female screw-threads at opposite ends of the bridge.

According to one embodiment, each bridge comprises female screw-threaded components fixed to opposite ends of a support strip.

According to one embodiment, each bridge is angled outwards in relation to the opposing wall of the coupling component about a line at a substantially central portion of the bridge.

According to one embodiment, the device further comprises one or more pointed projections on one of the bridge and the coupling component, wherein said one or more pointed projections are directed towards the other of the bridge and the coupling component.

According to one embodiment, each bridge comprises one or more pointed projections directed towards an inner surface of the opposing wall of the coupling component.

According to one embodiment, each bridge comprises at least one of said pointed projections on each side of said substantially central portion of the bridge.

According to one embodiment, said end portion of each trunking component extends in a first direction to a first end thereof; and the guide channels defined in said end portion extend from said first end, and at said fastening position relative movement of the respective trunking component and coupling component in said first direction is blocked.

According to one embodiment, said fastening components are detachable from the coupling component.

According to one embodiment, the first trunking component has an end portion for insertion into a first end portion of the coupling component, and the second trunking component has an end portion for insertion into a second end portion of the coupling component, and the bridge is an external bridge; and the end portions of the trunking components each have two side walls joined by a base wall; each guide channel includes a proximal part extending from said first end substantially in the first direction and leading to a distal part extending substantially perpendicular to the first direction and away from the base wall; and the height of the side walls of the end portions of the coupling component is less than the height of the side walls of the trunking components so as to enable sliding of the fastening components along the proxima' and distal pads of the respective guide channels to guide the coupling component to said fastening position.

There is also provided a method, comprising: fastening first and second cable trunking components together by one or more fastening components; fitting first and second lid components to said first and second cable trunking components; fitting an interface cover component over the interface between said first and second lid components after said first and second cable trunking components are fastened together; and securing said cover component to said first and second cable trunking components using a part of said one or more fastening components.

According to one embodiment, said one or more fastening components have a protruding portion that protrudes from an external surface of at least one of the first and second cable trunking components after the first and second cable trunking components are fastened together; and the method comprises retaining said cover component in position over said interlace between said first and second lid components by interaction of a part of said cover component with said protruding portion of said one or more of fastening components.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises clipping said cover component over said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components into a position in which said cover component is retained in position over opposing edge portions of said first and second lid components by said interaction of a part of said

S F

cover component with said protruding portion of said one or more of fastening components.

According to one embodiment, said wing portions have respective leading edge portions, and the method comprises forcibly sliding said leading edge portions over said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components to a position at which said cover component returns to a relaxed configuration and said protruding portions are received in said one or more windows.

According to one embodiment, the fastening components are supported on a wall of a coupling component; and the method comprises: inserting an end portion of the first trunking component into a first end portion of the coupling component, or receiving a first end portion of the coupling component in an end portion of the first trunking component; inserting an end portion of the second trunking component into a second end portion of the coupling component, or receiving a second end portion of the coupling component in an end portion of the second trunking component; using said guide channels defined in one or more walls of said end portions of the first and second trunking components to receive and guide respective ones of said fastening components to respective fastening positions; and at the fastening positions Lising the fastening components to increase the force of contact between the trunking components and the coupling component.

According to one embodiment, one or more pointed projections are provided on one of the bridge and the coupling component, wherein said one or more pointed projections are directed towards the other of the bridge and the coupling component.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises inserting an end portion of the first trunking component into a first end portion of the coupling component, and inserting an end portion of the second trunking component into a second end portion of the coupling component; and wherein the bridge is an external bridge; the end portions of the trunking components each have two side walls joined by a base wall; each guide channel includes a proximal part extending from said first end substantially in the first direction and leading to a distal part extending substantially perpendicular to the first direction and away from the base wall; and the height of the side walls of the end portions of the coupling component is less than the height of the side walls of the trunking components so as to enable sliding of the fastening components along the proximal and distal parts of the respective guide channels to guide the coupling component to said fastening position.

Hereunder follows a detailed description of embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:-

B

Figure 1 illustrates a technique according to an embodiment of the present invention for covering any gaps at the interface between two adjacent lids; Figure 2 illustrates a technique according to another embodiment of the present invention for covering any gaps at the interface between two adjacent lids; Figure 3 illustrates in more detail the cover component of the technique illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates in more detail the cover component of the technique illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 5 illustrates one example of assembling the two trunking base sections in the technique illustrated in Figure 1; and Figures 6 and 7 illustrate in more detail the internal clamping plate used in the assembly technique illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 1 illustrates one example of a technique according to an embodiment of the present invention for covering the interface between the lids of adjacent sections 2 of cable trunking. In the example of Figure 1, the two open sections of cable trunking 2 are both straight sections having identical shape and dimensions, and are assembled together using a connecting unit 4, and fastening means 10, 14. The fastening means is illustrated in more detail in Figures 5 to 7 for the example of an assembly technique involving four sets of fastening means at each end of the connecting unit, instead of the two sets shown in the example of Figure 1.

The first and second cable trunking sections 2 and the connecting unit 4 each comprise a pair of opposing side walls connected via a respective base wall to form parts that have a substantially U-shaped external profile. The widths of the first and second cable trunking sections 2 are selected such that their end portions closely fit inside the end portions of the connecting unit 4 without leaving a substantial gap between the external walls of the connecting unit 4 and the respective walls of the first and second cable trunking sections 2.

The two sets of fastening means 10 provided at each end of the connecting unit 4 each comprise a bolt 10 inserted into a respective hole defined in the external side wall of the connecting unit 4, and having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head 11 of the bolt 10. The distal ends 13 of the bolts are screwed into complementary female nutserts 15 provided as part of internal clamping plates 14, by which the bolts 10 are held on the external wall of the connecting unit 4. Each clamping plate 14 is provided with two nutserts 15, one for receiving a bolt 10 at one end portion of the connecting unit 4 and one for receiving a bolt 10 at the opposite end portion of the connecting unit. Pairs of corresponding bolts at opposite ends of the connecting unit 4 are associated with one another via the clamping plate 14.

The number of sets of fastening means 10 provided at each end of the con necting unit could be more than 2 depending on the height of the side walls of the trunking sections. For example, it may be advantageous with trunking sections 2 of relatively large height to have four or more sets of fastening means 10 at each end of the connecting unit 4, as illustrated in Figure 5.

The clamping plate 14 is made from a strip of sheet steel 22 in which holes 23 are cut to retain nutserts 15. The nutserts 15 secured to the strip of sheet steel 22 are aligned to receive respective bolts 10. A cutting/punching tool is used to force substantially triangular portions of the sheet steel strip out of the plane of the remainder of the strip to form sharp points 19 projecting from the surface 21 of the clamping plate 14 that, prior to assembly, faces the inner surface of the external wall of the connecting unit 4, and upon assembly contacts the inner surface of the external wall of the cable trunking section 2 (i.e. the clamping plate surface 21 opposite to that on which the nutserts 15 are located). In this example, the angle that the above-mentioned triangular portions make with respect to the plane of the steel strip is about 10 degrees.

Furthermore, the sheet steel strip is bent about a line located substantially centrally between the two nutserts secured to opposite ends of the clamping plate 14. In this example, the sheet steel strip is bent by about 3 degrees; the two halves of the surface 21 of the clamping plate 14 that, prior to assembly, faces the inner surface of the external wall of the connecting unit 4, and upon assembly contacts the inner surface of the external wall of the cable trunking section 2 (i.e. the clamping plate surface 21 opposite to that on which the nutserts are located) define a reflex angle of about 183 degrees.

In order to resist the accidental removal of a bolt 10 from the respective nutsert 15 and the bolt 10 becoming detached from the cable trunking section 2, the bolts 10 can include a nylon insert or can include a slight deformation on a portion of the screw thread at the distal end 13 of the bolt 10. This has the advantage, for example, that it reduces the risk of the bolt 10 becoming accidentally separated from the connecting unit 4 during transportation to the assembly site. Slots 20 are defined in the side walls at both end portions of the first and second cable trunking sections 2. The slots 20 extend from the end of the cable trunking sections 2 and are configured to receive the bolts 10 provided on the connecting unit 4. Each slot 20 is substantially [-shaped and comprises a relatively long first straight section extending substantially parallel to the base wall of the cable trunking section, and a relatively short second straight section extending substantially perpendicular to the first straight section and away from the base wall. At the time of assembly, the connecting unit 4 and one of the trunking section 2 are connected together by sliding a portion of the shaft of the bolts 10 between the external wall of the connecting unit 4 and the clamping plate 14 along respective [-shaped slots 20 to the end of the slots 20. When the base walls of the connecting unit 4 and the trunking section 2 are at the same level, the entrance of the slots 20 is at a lower level than the respective corresponding bolt 10 supported on the connecting unit 4. In order to slide the shafts of the bolts 10 along the slots 20, the connecting unit 4 is first lowered relative to the trunking section 2 (assuming that the trunking section 2 and the connecting unit 4 are oriented with their base walls downwards). When the shafts of the bolts 10 reach the end of the first straight section of the slots 20, the connecting unit 4 is raised relative to the trunking section 2 until the base wall of the trunking section 2 lies against the base wall of the connecting unit, and the shafts of the bolts 10 sit at the top of the second straight section.

With the shafts of the bolts 10 located at the end of the L-shaped slots 20, the part of the side wall that defines the second straight section of a slot blocks the respective bolt 10 from moving in a direction parallel to the base walls of the connecting unit and cable trunking section 2. In this configuration, the bolts 10 are forcibly turned further into the respective nutserts 15 to increase the force of contact between the side walls of the trunking section 2 and the clamping plates 14 and external walls and of the connecting unit 4. The heads 11 of the bolts 10 are adapted so that the bolts 10 may be turned and tightened by all of a hex head socket, a cross-head screwdriver and a flat blade screwdriver. The heads 11 are also provided with serrations on the underside of the head, for a better earthing continuity between the connecting unit 4 and the trunking sections 2. The head is flanged and the serrations are provided on the underside of the flange. For example, the hex head socket is an M5 hex head socket and the cross-head screwdriver is a Pozi No. 2.

The action of forcibly turning the bolts 10 into the respective nutserts 15 presses the clamping plates 14 against the inner surface of the side walls of the trunking section 2. The sharp points 19 of the clamping plate 14 are designed to, at this time, cut through any paint or other non-metallic surface deposits on the inner surface of the side wall of the trunking section 2, and thereby create a rehable conductive, earthing connection between the clamping plate 14 and the trunking section 2, As mentioned, the clamping plate 14 is bent about a line located substantially centrally between the two nutserts 15 provided on the clamping plate 14. The action of tightly forcing one half of each clamping plate 14 against the inner surface of the side wall of the trunking section 2 leaves the other half of the clamping plate 14 in a diverging configuration in relation to the inner surface of the external wall of the connecting unit 4. This diverging configuration facilitates the assembly of the second trunking section 2 and the connecting unit 4 by making it easier to locate the side walls of the second trunking section 2 in the gaps between the clamping plates 14 and the inner surfaces of the external wall of the connecting unit 4. The second trunking section 2 and connecting unit 4 are assembled in the same way as the first trunking section 2 and the connecting unit 4.

The connecting unit 4 is designed such that the ends of the two cable trunking sections 2 substantially meet at a central location within the connecting unit 4.

A good conductive, earthing connection between each half of the clamping plates and the inner surfaces of the trunking sections can provide a better conductive, earthing connection between the two trunking sections 2.

After the open cable trunking sections 2 are connected together and cable is installed therein, the open cable trunking sections are closed off using lids 6. The lids can, for example, be reversibly fitted to the open cable trunking sections 2 using clip-locking devices 8 of the kind described in GB2472917, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, The lids 6 mentioned above could be supplied detached from the trunking sections 2.

The clip-locking devices mentioned above enable the lids 6 to be push fit by hand on to the trunking sections 2 without requiring the use of a screwdriver to rotate turnbuckles or screws as is common practice with some conventional trunking systems. The use of such clip-locking devices can further reduce the assembly time on site for the contractor.

Next a steel cover component 46 is forcibly clipped down onto the upper surface of the section of the assembly at the interface between the two lids 6. In its relaxed configuration, the cover component 46 has a width smaller than the distance between the outer surface of the head of one bolt 10 and the outer surface of the head of the bolt 10 in the corresponding position on the opposite side of the assembly. When pressing the cover component 46 down onto the assembly, the interaction between the heads of the bolts 10 and the leading edges of the cover component 46 forces the cover component into a stressed configuration in which the leading edges can slide over the heads of the bolts 10-When the cover component 46 is pressed down so far that the heads of the bolts 10 can be received in the windows 48 defined in the cover component 46 at locations upwards of the leading edges of the cover component, the cover component 46 returns to a less stressed configuration, and the heads of the bolts 10 act to resist the removal of the cover component 46 from the assembly. The cover component 46 completely covers any small gap 40 at the interface between the two lids 6, and better prevents the potentially dangerous insertion of objects into the inside of the trunking sections where hazardous electrical voltages might be carried in the cables located therewithin. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the cover component 46 is held clipped in place by its interaction with the heads of bolts 10 at both ends of the connecting unit 4.

The occurrence of the above-mentioned small gaps at the interface between two adjacent lids can arise, for example, for the following reason. Cable trunking assemblies are usually supplied in standard section lengths e.g. 3 metres long, and joined together with connecting units 4 to form continuous runs of trunking in modules of 3,6,9 metres etc.. Because the buildings in which they are installed are not of this modular design, it can become necessary for a contractor to cut some trunking sections on site to a smaller length dimension. Cutting inaccuracies at this time can result in the occurrence of small gaps at the interfaces between trunking lids 6, The steel cover 46 is designed to bridge over any potential gaps at the interfaces between the two lids, Similarly, the connecting unit 4 serves to bridge over any potential gaps at the interface between two trunking base sections 2.

Unless otherwise specifically specified, all of the above-described components are made out of steel.

In the example of Figure 1, the two trunking sections are connected by an external coupling unit, but the same technique of covering a gap between lids is, for example, also equally applicable to the example of trunking sections connected by an internal coupling unit, where the heads of the fastening bolts similarly protrude from an outer surface of the trunking sections after assembly.

Also, in the example of Figure 1, assembly of the trunking sections involves sliding the shafts of fastening bolts secured to the connecting unit 4 along slots defined in the ends of the trunking sections 2, but the same technique of covering gaps between lids of adjacent straight sections is also equally applicable to the opposite kind of configuration in which assembly involves sliding the shafts of fastening bolts secured to the ends of the trunking sections 2 along slots defined in the ends of the connecting unit 4, according to which configuration the heads of the fastening bolts similarly protrude from an outer surface of the assembly.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of a technique for covering gaps between the lids of two adjacent trunking sections 2, where one of the trunking sections 2 is a corner section. In this example of Figure 2, no connecting unit 4 is employed to connect the trunking sections 2, Instead, the same kind of fastening bolts as used in Figure 1 are secured to the end of one of the two trunking sections 2, and the same kind of slots as used in Figure 1 are defined in the end of the other of the two trunking sections 2.

The bolts are held in position by means of a corresponding nutsert provided on the inner surface of the trunking section 2. Assembly involves sliding the shafts of the bolts 10 along the slots 20 to the end of the slots 20 in the same way as described for the example of Figure 1, and then securing the two trunking sections 2 together by forcibly further turning each bolt 10 tightly into its respective nutsert, The lid sections 6 are then clipped onto the open Irunking sections 2 in the same way as Figure 1, and a cover component 146 is then clipped into position over the interface between the two lids 6 in the same way as in Figure 1, except that the windows 148 defined in the cover component 146 have a smaller lateral dimension to receive the head of only bolt 10 instead of two.

In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that, in addition to variations explicitly mentioned above as examples, various other modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments within the scope of the invention.

The applicant draws attention to the fact that the present invention may include any feature or combination of features disclosed herein either implicitly or explicitly or any generalisation thereof, without limitation to the scope of any definitions set out above. i7

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A cable trunking device, comprising: first and second cable trunking components, one or more fastening components for fastening said first and second cable trunking components together; first and second lid components for fitting to said first and second cable trunking components; and an interface cover component for fitting over the interface between said first and second lid components after said first and second cable trunking components are fastened together; wherein said cover component is securable to said first and second cable trunking components using a part of said one or more fastening components.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A cable trunking device according to claim 1, wherein said one or more fastening components have a protruding portion that protrudes from an external surface of at least one of the first and second cable trunking components after the first and second cable trunking components are fastened together; and said cover component is retainable in po&tion over said interface between said first and second lid components by interaction of a pad of said cover component with said protruding portion of said one or more of fastening components.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A cable trunking device according to claim 2, wherein said cover component is clippable over said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components into a position in which said cover component is retained in position over opposing edge portions of said first and second lid components by said interaction of a part of said cover component with said protruding portion of said one or more of fastening components.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A cable trunking device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said cover component includes a central cover portion for covering said interface between said first and second lid components, and wing portions on opposite sides of said central cover portion, each wing portion defining one or more one or more windows for receiving said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A cable trunking device according to claim 1, wherein said wing portions have respective leading edge portions, and wherein the cover component is configured such that said leading edge portions are forcibly slidable over said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components to a position at which said cover component returns to a relaxed configuration and said protruding portions are received in said one or more windows.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A cable trunking device according to claim 1 further comprising a coupling component and said fastening components are supported on a wall of said coupling component; and wherein the first trunking component has an end portion for insertion into or receiving a first end portion of the coupling component, and the second trunking component has an end portion for insertion into or receiving a second end portion of the coupling component; wherein said end portions of the first and second trunking components define in one or more walls thereof one or more guide channels configured to receive and guide respective ones of said fastening components to respective fastening positions, at which the fastening components are usable to increase the force of contact between the trunking components and the coupling component.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A device according to claim 6wherein at least one fastening component at said first end portion of the coupling component is associated with at least one respective fastening component at said second end portion of the coupling component via an internal or external bridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the fastening components are male screw-thread components, and the bridge defines holes with complementary female screw4hreads at opposite ends of the bridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A device according to claim 8, wherein each bridge comprises female screw-threaded components fixed to opposite ends of a support strip.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A device according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein each bridge is angled outwards in relation to the opposing wall of the coupling component about a line at a substantially central portion of the bridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A device according to any of claims 7 to 9, further comprising one or more pointed projections on one of the bridge and the coupling component, wherein said one or more pointed projections are directed towards the other of the bridge and the coupling component.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A device according to claim 11, wherein each bridge comprises one or more pointed projections directed towards an inner surface of the opposing wall of the coupling component.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A device according to claim 12 as dependent on claim 10, wherein each bridge comprises at least one of said pointed projections on each side of said substantially central portion of the bridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A device according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein said end portion of each trunking component extends in a first direction to a first end thereof; and wherein the guide channels defined in said end portion extend from said first end, and wherein at said fastening position relative movement of the respective trunking component and coupling component in said first direction is blocked.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A device according to any of claims 7 to 13, wherein said fastening components are detachable from the coupling component.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the first trunking component has an end portion for insertion into a first end portion of the coupling component, and the second trunking component has an end portion for insertion into a second end portion of the coupling component, and the bridge is an external bridge; and wherein the end portions of the trunking components each have two side walls joined by a base wall; each guide channel includes a proximal part extending from said first end substantially in the first direction and leading to a distal part extending substantially perpendicular to the first direction and away from the base wall; and wherein the height of the side walls of the end portions of the coupling component is less than the height of the side walls of the trunking components so as to enable sliding of the fastening components along the proximal and distal parts of the respective guide channels to guide the coupling component to said fastening position.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A device as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, or Figures 2 and 4 of the accompany drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A method, comprising: fastening first and second cable trunking components together by one or more fastening components; fitting first and second lid components to said first and second cable trunking components; fitting an interface cover component over the interface between said first and second lid components after said first and second cable trunking components are fastened together; and securing said cover component to said first and second cable trunking components using a part of said one or more fastening components.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said one or more fastening components have a protruding portion that protrudes from an external surface of at least one of the first and second cable trunking components after the first and second cable trunking components are fastened together; and comprising retaining said cover component in position over said interface between said first and second lid components by interaction of a part of said cover component with said protruding portion of said one or more of fastening components.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A method according to claim 18, comprising clipping said cover component over said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components into a position in which said cover component is retained in position over opposing edge portions of said first and second lid components by said interaction of a part of said cover component with said protruding portion of said one or more of fastening components.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A method according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein said cover component includes a central cover portion for covering said interface between said first and second lid components, and wing portions on opposite sides of said central cover portion, each wing portion defining one or more one or more windows for receiving said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. A method according to claim 18, wherein said wing portions have respective leading edge portions, and further comprising forcibly sliding said leading edge portions over said protruding portions of said one or more fastening components to a position at which said cover component returns to a relaxed configuration and said protruding portions are received in said one or more windows.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. A method according to claim 18, wherein said fastening components are supported on a wall of a coupling component; and wherein the method comprises: inserting an end portion of the first trunking component into a first end portion of the coupling component, or receiving a first end portion of the coupling component in an end portion of the first trunking component; inserting an end portion of the second trunking component into a second end portion of the coupling component, or receiving a second end portion of the coupling component in an end portion of the second trunking component; using said guide channels defined in one or more walls of said end portions of the first and second trunking components to receive and guide respective ones of said fastening components to respective fastening positions; and at the fastening positions using the fastening components to increase the force of contact between the trunking components and the coupling component.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. A method according to claim 23,wherein at least one fastening component at said first end portion of the coupling component is associated with at least one respective fastening component at said second end portion of the coupling component via an internal or external bridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the fastening components are male screw-thread components, and the bridge defines holes with complementary female screw-threads at opposite ends of the bridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>26. A method according to claim 25, wherein each bridge comprises female screw-threaded components fixed to opposite ends of a support strip.</claim-text> <claim-text>27. A method according to any of claims 24 to 26, wherein each bridge is angled outwards in relation to the opposing wall of the coupling component about a line at a substantially central portion of the bridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>28. A method according to any of claims 24 to 26, wherein one or more pointed projections are provided on one of the bridge and the coupling component, wherein said one or more pointed projections are directed towards the other of the bridge and the coupling component.</claim-text> <claim-text>29. A method according to claim 28, wherein each bridge comprises one or more pointed projections directed towards an inner surface of the opposing wall of the coupling component.</claim-text> <claim-text>30. A method according to claim 29 as dependent on claim 27, wherein each bridge comprises at least one of said pointed projections on each side of said substantially central portion of the bridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>31. A method according to any of claims 24 to 29, wherein said end portion of each trunking component extends in a first direction to a first end thereof; the guide channels defined in said end portion extend from said first end; and at said fastening position relative movement of the respective trunking component and coupling component in said first direction is blocked.</claim-text> <claim-text>32. A method according to any of claims 24 to 30, wherein said fastening components are detachable from the coupling component.</claim-text> <claim-text>33. A method according to claim 31, comprising inserting an end portion of the first trunking component into a first end portion of the coupling component, and inserting an end portion of the second trunking component into a second end portion of the coupling component; wherein the bridge is an external bridge; the end portions of the trunking components each have two side walls joined by a base wall; each guide channel includes a proximal part extending from said first end substantially in the first direction and leading to a distal part extending substantially perpendicular to the first direction and away from the base wall; and the height of the side walls of the end portions of the coupling component is less than the height of the side walls of the trunking components so as to enable sliding of the fastening components along the proximal and distal pads of the respective guide channels to guide the coupling component to said fastening position.</claim-text> <claim-text>34. A method as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, or Figures 2 and 4 of the accompany drawings.</claim-text>