GB2503221A - Support for flanged planar tray, particularly for holding cables or pipes - Google Patents

Abstract

A support 13.002 has side walls 13.006, 13.008 defining a channel with at least one re-entrant hook 13.014 formed on wall 13.006; hook 13.014 is suitably substantially square. A generally planar, and preferably rectangular, tray 13.032 supports one or more cables or pipes and comprises at least one flange 13.034 receivable in hook 13.014. Tray 13.032 has a second attachment 13.036 which may engage a hook 13.014 or an aperture in tray 13.032. Tray 13.032 is preferably somewhat stiff and somewhat flexible and may have rigid flanges; suitably, tray 13.032 is comprised of polycarbonate or another polymer. Support 13.002 may receive a bolt 13.022 for attachment to a desk, ceiling or other body; bolt 13.022 may be held in a slide nut 13.021 supported by overhangs 13.017, 13.019. An opening of the channel may be narrower than a flange 13.034 of tray 13.032. Tray 13.032 may hold cables or pipes on the underside of a desk.

Description

I

A Support Tray and Pipe Support

Field of the invention

[0011 This invention relates to a support tray and a pipe support.

[002] The invention is particulary suded for use wh light weight loads, such as power and commuricafion cables for appliances and computers. The tray can be attached under a desk to hold the various wires. Whereas the pipe support invention can be used with the heavier loads associated with pipes and the materials for which they act as a conduit.

Background of the invention

[0031 One aspect of the invenUon relies on the stiffness of certain flexible rnateriais such as polycarbonates and the ke.

Stiffness is the resistance of an elastic body to deformation by an applied force &ong a given degree of freedom (DOF) when a set of loading points and boundary conditions are prescnbed or [he elastic boay. The stiffness, Ic, of a body is a measure of the resistance offered by an elastic body to deformation. For an &astic body with a &ngle Degree of Freedom (for example, stretching or compression of a rod), the stiffness is defined as Ic FRi where: F is the force appUed on the body; O 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 utilizes the flexibility of such materials.

Summary of the invention

[006] The present invention provides a support assembly inokiding: one support member having a profile defining one channel having first and second side walls and an open end, wherein a r&entrant hook formation is formed on each of the first and second side walls proximate the open end; and a generally planar tray member including first and second flanges along opposite sides of the tray member, the material of the tray member being stiff and flexible; wherein the first and second flanges of the tray member are adapted to be retained by respective reentrant hooks.

[007] The assembly can further comprise a reentrant hook formation formed from the second side wall proximate the channel aperture, wherein the first and second flanges of the tray member are respectiv&y adapted to be retained by a corresponding reentrant hook formation.

[008] The support member can indude an attachment flange.

[000] The attachment flange can be transverse to a wafi of the channeL [010] The attachment flange can be parail& with a waThf the channeL [011] The support member can include a mounting formation 1.o receive a lixing means to secure the support member to another body.

[012] The mounting formation can inciude at east one overhang extending torn the channeL [013] There can be two overhangs spaced from each other to accommodate a fixing mens.

[014] The support assembly ccii further indude a retaining portion to which the fixing means a attached.

[015] One of the side waDs can he tapered proximate the open end.

A width of an opening in the open end of the channel can be less than a width of an engaging flange of the tray member.

[017] The opening in the open end of the channel can have a width of between 0.5mm and 4 mm, [01$] A depth of the channel can be greater than a width. of an engaging flange oF the tray member.

[019] The re*entrant hook formation can have a generaDy square shape, [020] The first and second flanges of the tray member can be each outwardly directed from the body of the tray member and are formed to be situated on the same side of the tray member when., fiat.

(0211 The tirat and second flanges of the tray member can be each outwardly directed from the body of the tray member and are formed to be situated on opposite sides of the tray member when fiat.

[022] The first and second paraDel flanges of the tray member can be each inwardly directed from the body of the tray member.

[023) The width of the channel aperture can be greater than twice the thickness of the tray member materiaL [024] The present invention also provides a support assembly including: one support member having a profile defining one channel havng first and second side was and an open end, wherein a reentrant hook formation is formed on one the first or second side waDs proximate the open end; and a genera Dy planar tray member including at east a first flange along a flrst Sc of the tray member, and the mater of the flange being rigid; wherein the first flange of the tray member is adapted to be retained by the r&entrant hook, and a second side of the tray member includes attachment means to connect the end of the tray member to another pomfion of the tray member or the support member.

[025] The attachment means on second side of the tray member can include a hook means to hook the second side to an aperture formed in the tray member.

[026) The attachment means on second side can include a second flange which is adapted to engage the upper end of the First flange when in the support member or is adapted to engage the reentrant hook.

[027] The first flange, and second flange if present, of the tray member can be each at an angle to the body of the tray member in the region of where the flanges are attached to the body and are formed to be situated on opposite sides of the tray member when flat.

[028] The first flange, and second flange if present, of the tray member can be each at an ang t.o the body of the tray member in the region of where the flanges are attached to the body and are formed to be situated on the same side of the tray member when fiat, and the tray member is aWe to be twisted so that when folded over, the flanges extend to the same &de of the tray member.

[029] The support assembly described above can support one or more than one of the foilowing: cables, data cables, power cables, water supply pipes, waste water pipes.

Brief dscriptio of the drawings [030] 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: [031] Figure 1 is illustrative of an extrusion according to an embodiment of the nvention.

[032] Figure 2 is an enSon view of the extrusion of Figure 1.

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

[034] Figure 4 is an enSon view of the tray member of Figure 3.

[035] Agure 5 ifiustrates an assembled cabe tray accordThg to an embodiment of the nventon.

[036] Agure 6 ifiuslrates an afternatve tray assemhy.

[037] Hgure 7 ifiustrates a dosed tray assemby accorthng to an emhodment of the nvenflon.

[038] Agure B ifiustrates a dosed tray asse.mby accordng to another emhodment of the nvenflon, [039] Agure 9 ustrates a dosed tray assemby accordng to a further embothment of the nvendon.

[040] Agure 10 ustretes an aternahve tray assemby.

[041] Agure 11 ustrates another afternafive tray assembiy, where both flanges of the tray member engage the support member or r&entrant hook.

[042] Agure 12 ustrates an extrusbn according to a further embodment of the nvenhon.

[043] Agure 13 ustrates a perspecUve view of a ppe hangng system or support whch uses an ext.ru&on &rnflar to figure 12.

[044] Rgure 14 ustrates a cross secUon through another assenby smarto that of figure Ii, wher&n a flange of the tray member engages the reentrant hook whe the other end engages another porhon of the tray member.

045] Hgure 15 Hustrates a cross secfion through an aternative tray member whereh there a a dnge flange for e-ngagThg the reentrant hook on the support member and the other end of the tray member has a hook means or flange arrangement to engage the upper end of the flange/tray member when n the support member.

046] The numbering convenUon used Rn the drawRngs s that the thgRts Rn front of the fu stop RndRcate the drawing number, and the dRgRts after the fu stop are the Sement reference numbers. Where posshe, the same dement reference number Re used n dfferent drawRngs to ndRcate corresponthng eRernents.

047] ft a understood that. uness nd!r;ated otharMse, the drawings are ntended to be fflustratRve rather than exact representatRons, and are not necesserHy drawn to scaRe.

The orRentatRon of the cirawRngs a chosen to Hustrate the features of the objects shown, and does not nec.essarRy represent the orRentatRon of the objects Rn use, Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments [048] Figure 1 iHustrates a support member or extrusion I.002 adapted to be attached to a surface and to engage one side of a tray member as will he described below.

The support member or extrusion has a first side 1.004 forming an attachment flange and a second side I.008 transverse to the flrst side I.004. A wall 1.006 is parael to the second side 1.008 and spaced therefrom to define a narrow channel 1.101 with one open end.

[049] Figure 2 illustrates detail of the support member or extrusion of Figure 1 shown in crosssection. The first side 2.. 004 is shown as horizontal in this view. The second side 2.008 projects downward from the first side 2002. The wall 2.006 is substantially parallel with the second side 2008 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 2.00$ has a reentrant hook-likelormation 2.014. The channel 2,010 has a depth indicated at 2.020.

[0501 A longitudinal groove 2.012 is proded to provide a start for s&I4appinq screws.

[051] Optionally a lower portion of wall 2.00$ can taper to a narrower lower end as iustrated by angle 0, at 2,018.

[052] The support member or extrusion 1.002 can be of any desired length.

[053] Figure 3 illustrates a tray member 3,030. The tray member is formed of a relatively thin, still. 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 stifi The flanges can he formed by plastic deformation, or heat forming.

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

[055] Figure 4 is an enSon 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 he greater than the width of the channel aperture 2.022 to ensure that, once the flange is inserted into the channel, the resilience of the fly member material will cause the free end of the flange to be engages in the reentrant hook formation 2.01$ as shown in FigureS.

1056] Figure 5 illustrates a tray assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. The assembly includes a pair of support members or extrusions 5.002. 5.003 mounted parallel with their attachment fianges facing away from each other, The support members or extrusions are spaced apart by a distance less than the width 4.040 of the tray member 5.032. The edges of the tray member 5.032 with the flanges 5.034, 5.036 are inserted into respective channels of the support members or extrusions 5.002, 5.003.

Because the support members or extrusions are spaced apart by less than the width of the tray member, the tray member, being flexible, adopts a curved profile. The flanges 5.034, 5.036 are longer than the width of their respective extrusion channels, and the material oF the tray member is stiff, the flanges wfll remain substantiafly straight because they are comparativy short.

[057] The free ends of the flanges 5.034, 5.036 will be engaged in the reentrant hook formations 2.014 of their respective support members or extrusions.

[058] The width of the flanges 5.034, 5.036 is such that the junction or apex 5.050 of the flange with the tray body 5.032 wUl be pressed against the inner side of the wa, while the free ends of the flanges seat or sit in the r&entrant hook formation. The resilience of [he tray material in cooperation with the reentrant hook formation, provides a snapiook 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 the normal to the wall by an angle 3, at 5.046. Preferably, f is greater than 4&. Preferably; the angle is of the order of about 60".

[059] The weight of tb,e cables in [he tray is applied 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 channel width, the channel aperture width and the width of the flanges 5.034, 5.035, the spacing beveen the support members or 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 angie 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 ioads nornially appiled during normal use.

[060] The width 2.024 of the channel 2,010 is smaller than the fold 3.034. The channel aperture is sufficiently wide to permit the double 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 oFahout7to 10 mm. The included angle of the flange 4.034 and the tray member body 4.032 can he whin a range of approximat&y 30 to 600, [061] The tray member can be inserted into the attached support members or extrusions from an end, or by pushing the apex 5.050 of the flange body junction through the channel aperture 2022 so the flange snaps into place when it is clear of the top of the reentrant hook formation 2014. The depth 2.020 of the channel can be sufficient to permit the flange to dear the top of the reentrant hook Formation.

[062] As shown in Figure 6, the tray member 6.032 can he inserted upside down in relation to the arrangement of Figure 5. WhUe this arrangement will function, the appUed load to the flanges 6.034, 6.036 from the weight of the cables in the tray wi be less optimahy apped to the flange.

[063] flgure 7 iHustrates a further emhodftnent of the invention, in which the tray member is folded to provide a substantiafly closed channeL In this embodiment, the support members or extrusions have a different shape. The support member or extrusion attachment flanges 7.060, 7.062 can he formed by an extension of the side of the channel.

A single support member or extrusion with horizontally opposed channels can be used, or two individual opposed support members or extrusions can be used. A substantiaHy closed channel is formed by the tray body and the support members or extrusions.

[064] FigureS illustrates a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the support member or extrusion 8.002 includes one attachment flange 8.060 which connects two opposed channels which are parallel to each other. Each channel supports a corresponding one of the flanges 8.034, 8036 of the support tray member 8,032.

[065] Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment similar to that depicted in Figure 8, except the locations of the reentranI hook formations 9.014.

[066] Figure 10 iliustrates another invention, where the support member or extrusion includes a single channel 10010 having two spaced apart sidewalls 10.006, 10,008 that are connected by a web 10.005. The channel 10.010 can be either a support tray or a pipe support. The sidewalis 10.006, 10.008 each include a reentrant hook, so as to support the flanges 10034, 10.036 of the tray or support member 10.032. The web 10005 can function as the attachment flange of the previous embodiments. For instance, it can optionally include one or more apertures to accommodate fixing means such as bolts or screws, or include a longitudinal groove similar to that provided in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2. It desired there can be provided a further attachment flange 10.0051 which is illustrated in broken lines, which extends away from the single channel 10.010 and which accommodates fixing means such as bolts or screws. Such a flange 100051 would be ntegray moulded or extruded with the channel 1(1010 [067] Figure 11 illustrates a further embodiment of a support tray or pipe support, whereby both flanges ii.036, 11.034 of a single tray or pipe support member ii.032 are supported by an support member or extrusion having a single reentrant hook. The channel includes first and second sdewas 11.006, 11.008, one of which has the reentrant hook formabon I 1.014. The free ends of both flanges 11.036, 11.034 are seated in the reentrant hook formation 11,014, owing to the geometry of the channel and the tray flanges, as previously described with respect to the other embodiments. it wI be noted that the flange 11.036 is iHustrated as being marginay longer than the flange 11.038. however if the material of the tray or pipe support member is of sufficient thinness, the lengths can be almost equal. Whereas it can he seen from figure 11, the greater the thickness of 11.032 then the length of 11.036 may need to be greater than 11.034. An attachment flange 11.060, such as one provided in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, can be included.

[068] In the embodiment of figure 11, the fly member 11.032 has the two flanges such that flanges 11.034 and 11.036 of the. tray member 11.032 are each at an angle, of less than 45 degrees (so that the flange can act as a column), to the rest of the tray member in the region of where the flanges are attached to the tray member. It will be noted that the flanges 11.034 and 11.036 and are formed to be situated on the opposite sides of the tray member when flat, However, they can be located on the same side of the tray member as in figures 8 and 9, hut in the pipe support embodiment, the tray members would need to be relatively thin, and thus are able to have one end twisted relative to the other, so that the flanges 11.034 and 11.036 wiU be on the same side of the folded over tray member, for insertion into the support member 11.002.

[069] Figure 12 illustrates a reiatively thin support tray system which will be suitable tar a pipe support whereby the support member or extrusion 12.002 includes a further channel 12.013 located adjacent the channel 12.010 within which the tray flanges are to be retained. The channel 12.010 and further channel 12.013 are separated in this case by a webl2.005. In this example, the sidewalls 12.007, 12.009 of the further channel are extensions of the first and second sidewails 12.006, 12.008 of channel 12010, respectively. The sidewalis 12.007, 12,009 of the further channel 12.013 each extend inwardly, into overhangs 12.017 and 12.018. The overhangs 12.017, 12.019 are spaced apart each other, to accommodate the insertion of a thdng means 12.022 such as a bolt, screw, or the like. The fixing means 12.022 is affixed to a retaining portion 12,021 such as a slide nut, or rectangular member or strip 12.021, which has a width that is smaller than the width of the channel 12.013. The support member or exir on 12002 is thus supported on the bolt 12.022.

[070] The embodiment of figure 13 is of a similar construction to Figure 10 and 12 in combination, where the support member or extrusion includes two reentrant portions 13.014 on opposed sides, so as to receive opposed flaps 13.03$ and 13.034 which then bear against each other and the upper porbons of the tray or pipe support 13032, to form a pipe hanging system, which can he suspended from a ceiling by means of a boll 13.022 and sde nut 13.021.

[071] n fomiing a pipe support, the support member or extruskn 13,002, or the support members or extrusions of figures 10 to 12, can be cut to any appropriate length. so as to support a pipe intermittently at discrete locations along its length, or if needs be, by providing a long support member or extrusion and a planar pipe support 13.032 oF equS length, then a pipe supported along a substantial length of the pipe can be achieved.

Further, if desired, a relatively long length of support member or extrusion can be provided whe a number of relatively short length planar pipe supports 13.032 can be pro1ded.

[0721 In embodiments where two channels are included in a single support member or extruson, the overhangs can each extend respectively irom the corresponding one of the two outermost sidewafle of the support member or extrusion profile.

[073] For the support tray for cables and the like the planar member which forms the support tray 9.032 can be made from appropriate materials such as nolymeric sheeting such that a relatively thin, stiff, flexible sheet is provided with flanges formed along opposite side, so that the flanges can be formed by plastic deformation, or heat ibrming. Suitable materiS for the tray member include polycarhonate or other polymeric materials.

(074] Such materials can also be suitable for the pipe support system of figures 10 to 13, providing the pipes are of appropriate weight. However, for most pipe support arrangements it wi be better that stronger materials are used, so that the flanqes formed are better able to interact with the support member or extrusion and the reentrant hook or hooks in order to carry increased weight as may be associated with pipe work. Such stronger sheet materials will include metal, metal ailoys, spring steel, stainless steel, composite materials, and web type materials such as Kevlar and carbon fibre and other strong textiles. in the case of such textile or web type material, the flanges can be formed by a relatively rigid strip of material joined to the textile by any appropriate means such as adhesive, sonic welding, heat welding, riveting or other means. In the case of the sheet being made from metals, the prefeffed method of forming the flanges is by bending but if desired a line of weakness could be provided which weakens the metal making it easier to I 0 bend, but which wont inhibit he sheets abity to carry the designed for pipe support loads.

An ternative to bending could be the forming of a hinge between the flange and the rest of the sheet material, which will provide a pipe support that works as described above. A further alternative is to provide a flange which a joined to the edge of a metal sheet, whereby the sheet material and flange can interact with the support member or extrusion and reentrant hook or hooks.

[075] Ulustrated in flgure 14 is a pipe support system simflarto that of figure 11, with like parts being like numbered, In this embodiment there is a single flange 14.034 on the tray or pipe support 14.032, and the support 14.032 has an aperture 14.321 into which a flange or hook 14.036, on the other end of the member 14,032 opposite to that of flange 14.034, can be engaged. In this embodiment one thickness of member 14.032 will support the fu weight, and thus the material selected will need to be strong enough for this purpose, taking into account that the aperture 14.0321 may create a ocalised weakened area on the tray member 14.032.

076 Ulustrated in figure 15 is another tray member arrangement, which could he used instead of the ones iflustrated in figures 11 and 14, whereby a single flange 15.034 is provided on one side of the tray member so as to engage the support member and the re entrant hook, while the opposite side of the tray member has a hook 15.036 which can he a flange or other hook means. to hook onto or engage the upper end of the flange 15.034 and the adjacent tray member, which is located inside the support member.

[077] The above embodiments can be used to form a support tray or a pipe support which can carry cables of the data and or power types, but the embodiments of Figures 10 to 12 with appropriates means for attachment to ceiling stringers and mountings, can be used as a simple to assemble pipe holding system, such as pipes for water supply, waste water and the ike.

[076] While the above embodiments describe the assembly being made from a support member which is an extrusion so as to form the reent,rant hook or hooks, it is readily understood that the member can be made by other means such as by moulding or roll forming or with a fabrication process that may require some assembly. However, extrusion would seem to be the most cost effective method of manufacture of the support member.

[079] ln 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 skiHed worker in the field of this invention at the priority date of this specification, unless othese stated.

[080] n this spedlllcaüon, terms indicating orientation or direction, such as "up", down", "verticar, "horizontar, left", "right" "upright", "transverse" etc. are not intended to be absolute terms unless the context requires or indicates otherwise. These terms wm normay refer to orientations shown in the drawings.

[081] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that s. in the sense of including", and thus not mited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only or. A corresponding meaning is to he attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

[082] It wi be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the indMdual features mentioned or evident from the text. A of these dWferent combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[083] WhUe particular embodiments of this invention have been desodhed, it will be evident to those skifled 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 exampies are thereidre to be considered in aU respects as Ulustrative and not restrictive, and aU modifications which would he ohvbus to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein. Caims