GB2527600A - Fastener - Google Patents

Fastener Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2527600A
GB2527600A GB1411497.9A GB201411497A GB2527600A GB 2527600 A GB2527600 A GB 2527600A GB 201411497 A GB201411497 A GB 201411497A GB 2527600 A GB2527600 A GB 2527600A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fastener
section
cable tray
end section
intermediate section
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Granted
Application number
GB1411497.9A
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GB201411497D0 (en
GB2527600B (en
Inventor
David Stephen Atkinson
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Legrand Electric Ltd
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Legrand Electric Ltd
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Priority to GB1411497.9A priority Critical patent/GB2527600B/en
Publication of GB201411497D0 publication Critical patent/GB201411497D0/en
Publication of GB2527600A publication Critical patent/GB2527600A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2527600B publication Critical patent/GB2527600B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02—Details
    • H02G3/06—Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing or channels, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint
    • H02G3/0608—Joints for connecting non cylindrical conduits, e.g. channels

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Abstract

A fastener for fastening together cable tray components comprises a first end section 100, an intermediate section 102 and a second end section 104. The first and second end sections are displaced from the intermediate section in the same direction via respective steps 101a, 101b and 103a, 103b. The fastener is configured such that, when fastening together overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections of cable tray components, the fastener presses the sheet sections together using at least one of the first end section and the intermediate section. The first section may not be parallel to the intermediate section, and the intermediate section may have a slight bend. The fastener may be made from a spring rod and have two arms 102a and 102b.

Description

FASTENER
HELD
There is provided a fastener, an assembly comprising the fastener and a method for using the fastener.
BACKGROUND
Cable tray assernbes are used for routing cabling and comprise a number of components including, at least, cable tray sections, The cable tray sections may be of standardised configurations, such as straight sections and corner sections.
Fasteners (also referred to herein as fastening means) are used to fasten cable tray sections together to form a cable tray assembly using a bracket. A known fastener is described in International patent applicaton number WO 92/04755 Al. The fastener in this document is described as compri&ng a spring cp made from spring ste& rod.
It is shaped in V-configuration and has a right angled step at the apex of the V to define a portion which can be passed through a first pair of aligned apertures in overlapped components of a cable tray assembly (such as a bracket/coupler and a cable tray). The extremities of the rod have steps which can, after stressing the clip to narrow the Vconfiguration, be passed together through another aperture of a second pair of aligned apertures in component of the cable tray assembly.
The inventor(s) for the present invention have identified the chaHenge of further facilitating the assembly of cable tray sections. In particular, to improve the coupling provided by the fastener described in WO 92/04755 Al
SUMMARY
The present invention is defined by the appended independent claims. Certain more specific embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a fastener for fastening together cable tray components having overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections to form a cable tray assembly, comprising: a first end section; an intermediate section; and a second end section connected to the first end section via the intermediate section, the first and second end sections being displaced from the intermediate section in a same direction via respective steps; wherein the fastener is configured such that, when fastening together overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections of cable tray components, the fastener presses said sheet sections together using at least the first end section and the intermediate section by acting to return to a rSaxed state in which the relative orientation of the first end section and the intermediate section has a greater angular difference than when the fastener is being used to fasten said sheet sections together.
The intermediate section may be bent such that when the fastener is fastening cable tray components together, the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on the sheet sections is located in the region of said bend, According to a second aspect, there is provided a fastener for fastening together cable tray components having overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections to form a cable tray assembly, comprising: a first end section; an intermediate section; and a second end section connected to the first end section via the intermediate section, the first and second end sections being displaced from the intermediate section in a same direction via respective steps; wherein the intermediate section is bent such that when the fastener is fastening cable tray components together, the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on the sheet sections is located in the region of said bend.
The fastener may be configured such that, when fastening together overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections of cable tray components, the fastener presses said sheet sections together using at east the first end section and the intermediate section by acting to return to a relaxed state in which the relative orientation of the first end section and the intermediate section has a greater angular difference than when the fastener is being used to fasten said sheet sections together.
Such fasteners represent an improvement over the fastener described in WO 92/04755 Al. In particular, the feature of the fastener being configured such that, when fastening together overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections of cable tray components, the fastener presses said sheet sections together using at least the first end section and the intermediate section by acting to return to a relaxed state in which the relative orientation of the first end section and the intermediate section has a greater angular difference than when the fastener is being used to fasten said sheet sections together, and or the feature of intermediate section being bent such that when the fastener is fastening cable tray components together, the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on the sheet sections is located in the region of said bend, improves the fit between the connector and the components in the cable tray assembly, reducing raffle and sliding motion between the components.
Reducing raffle and sliding motion eads to an improved joint strength and electrical continufty between components.
The angular difference may be predominantly a result of the relaxed state angle of the first end section.
The angle of the first end section, the intermediate section and the step therebetween may be configured such that only part of the first end section is configured to contact one of said sheet sections, The fastener may be formed from a spring rod, the first end section forming a hoop and the second end section comprising two free extremities.
The second end section may comprise two free extremities configured to be sprung into an aperture in at least one cable tray component. Each of the free extremities may face in opposite directions to each other, The fastener may be configured to fasten a bracket to two adjacent cable tray sections, the first end section being configured to pass through aligned apertures of the bracket and one of the cable tray sections, and the second end section being configured to pass through aligned apertures of the bracket and the other cable tray section, The fastener may be configured to fasten two cable tray components, the first end section being configured to pass through aligned apertures of the two cable tray components, and the second end section being configured to pass through other aligned apertures of the cable tray components.
There is also provided an assembly comprising two overlapping cable tray components, each having a sheet section comprising an aperture, and a fastener as described above, the fastener being arranged in the assembly such that one of the end sections of the fastener only contacts one of said cable tray components whilst the intermediate section contacts the other of said cable tray components and wherein said apertures are aUgned such that the step connecting said end section to the intermediate section may pass through One of the cable tray components may be a first cable tray section and the other cable tray component may be a bracket.
s The assembly may further comprise a second cable tray section having a sheet section coplanar with the sheet section of the first cable tray section, wherein the sheet section of the bracket comprises a second aperture configured to afign with an aperture in the sheet section of the second cable tray such that the other end section of the fastener may pass through.
There is also provided a method of fastening cable tray components together to form a cable tray assembly using a fastener as described above, wherein the second end section comprises two free extremities, the method compri&ng: passing the first end section through first aligned apertures of cable tray components; applying a force to the fastener so as to bring the two free extremities closer together; passing the two is free extremities through second aHgned apertures of cable tray components; and removing said force so that the tree extremities move away from each other.
The force may be a squeezing force appUed to the intermediate section.
There is also provided a fastener substantially as described herein with reference to figures IA and 13.
There is also provided an assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1A to 2C, This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Nor is the claimed subject matter limited to implementations that solve any or aD of the
disadvantages noted in the Background section.
FIGURES
An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures IA and lB iUustrate an example fastener; and Figures 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate an assembly of cable tray components fastened using the fastener of Figures IA and 1 B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
s In accordance with a first aspect, the foflowing describes a fastener suitable for fastening together cable tray components having overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections to form a cable tray assembly. The fastener comprises a first end section, an intermediate section and a second end section connected to the first end section via the intermediate section. The first and second end sections are displaced from the intermediate section in a same direction via respective steps. The fastener is configured such that, when fastening together overlapping, substantiafly parallel sheet sections of cable tray components, the fastener presses said sheet sections together using at east the first end section and the intermediate section by acting to return to a relaxed state in which the relative orientation of the first end section and is the intermediate section has a greater angular difference than when the fastener is being used to fasten said sheet sections together.
A cable tray component is a component used for forming a cable tray assembly. A cable tray component may be any of a bracket, a coupler and a cable tray section for carrying cables. These are given as example cable tray components only and are not limiting. A cable tray component comprises at least one aperture, through which at least one of the ends of the fastener is configured to pass in order to contact a surface on the other side of the cable tray component. The contact is a pressing force.
The fastener may be suitable for fastening other components together, depending on the relative dimensions of the connection points of those components and on the dimensions of the intermediate section, In general, the first and second end sections of the fastener are configured to be inserted through aligned apertures of components being connected, In this context, the term "aUgned apertures" covers those cases where there is only a partial alignment between apertures on two separate components to be fastened, The apertures should overlap to the extent that the first and/or second end section (whichever is configured to pass through those aligned apertures) may pass through them. The length of the intermediate section determines the length of the spacing between the afigned apertures through which the first and second end sections are respectiv&y configured to pass.
In the above, it is mentioned that the first and second end sections are displaced from the intermediate section in a same direction via respective steps. In particular, S the same direction is perpendicular to the intermediate section, aithough it is understood that the step(s) may have components in directions that are parallel to the intermediate section. The parallel components of the steps do not have to be the same as each other, and may even be in opposing directions, This can be visuaUsed by assuming that the intermediate section is the topmost section and the first and second end sections lie below t (or alternatively that the intermediate section is the bottommost section and the first and second end sections lie above it). The displacement is such that, when fastening sheet sections of cable tray component, the first and second end sections are configured to press together sheet sections from an opposite side to the side pressed by the intermediate section. In the is following, the steps connecting the first and second end sections to the intermediate sections are S-shaped (or Z.'shaped) bends in the fastener. The steps are preferably approximately equal in length.
In further embodiments, the intermediate section is bent such that when the fastener is fastening cable tray components together, the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on the sheet sections is located in the region of said bend.
Preferably, the end of the intermediate section that is closest to the second end section extends away from a cable tray component being pressed by the intermediate section. Thus the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on any of the cable tray components rests in the region of the bend in the intermediate section.
According to a second aspect, there is provided a fastener for fastening together cable tray components having overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections to form a cable tray assembly. The fastener comprises a first end section, an intermediate section and a second end section connected to the first end section via the intermediate section, The first and second end sections are displaced from the intermediate section in a same direction via respective steps. The intermediate section is bent such that when the fastener is fastening cable tray components together, the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on the sheet sections is located in the region of said bend. Preferably, the end of the intermediate section that is closest to the second end section extends away from a cable tray component.
Thus the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on any of the cable tray components rests in the region of the bend in the intermediate section.
The second aspect may revert to the embodiment of the first aspect when the fastener is configured such that, when fastening together overlapping, substantially parallel sheet sections of cable tray components, the fastener presses said sheet sections together using at least the first end section and the intermediate section by acting to return to a relaxed state in which the relative orientation of the first end section and the intermediate section has a greater angular difference than when the fastener is being used to fasten said sheet sections together. Comments about features made above in respect of the first aspect so apply in respect of the second aspect.
The following describes features that may be applied to both aspects of the present
disclosure.
The angular difference described above may be predominantly a result of the relaxed state angle of the first end section. By this, it is meant that the first end section is configured to rotate about the step connecting the first end section to the intermediate section during fastening so as to decrease the angular difference therebetween, In one embodiment, the angle of the first end section, the intermediate section and the step(s) connecting them are configured such that only part of the first end section is configured to contact one of said sheet sections. This leads to the greatest pressure being exerted by the first end section on a cable tray component in the region where the first end section contacts the cable tray component. This is in the region of the first end section that is furthest from the intermediate section. When the fastener is not fastening sheet sections of components together (and/or is free of deforming forces), it is known as being in the relaxed state. In the relaxed state, at least one of the end portions and the intermediate portion of the fastener have parts thereof that are separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the t.
direction in which sheet sections are configured to lie in the fastener by a distance smaUer than the combined thickness of the sheet sections.
The fastener may be formed from a suitable material, such as a steS spring rod, For a particular structure of fastener, the material is selected to provide an elastic modulus E such that the fastener seeks to return to that structure if the fastener is removed from a cable tray assembly. In other words, the fastener is elastic (also known as flexible) with respect to the forces applied in fastening overlapping (co planar), sheet sections of cable tray sections together.
When the fastener is formed from a spring rod, the first end section may form a hoop to and the second end section may comprise two free extremities. The hoop may be substantiaUy C-shaped. The intermediate section would then comprise two arms, each leading from a respective free extremity in the second end section to a respective end of the hoop in the first end section. In other words, both ends of the spring rod reside in the second end secUon whflst a central portion of the spring rod is resides in the first end section of the fastener.
The two free extremities of the second end section are preferably configured to be sprung into an aperture in at least one cable tray component. The two free extremities may be brought together, for example, by the application of an external force on opposing sides of the second end section or of the intermediate section.
Once brought together, they may be passed through ahgned apertures of two components to be fastened together before being released, As, as mentioned above, the elasticity of the fastener material is such that, after being deformed by use in a cable tray assembly, the fastener returns to its original shape, the free extremities move apart again in the absence of an application of an external force. This leads to the steps connecting the free extremities to the intermediate section hooking" onto or into opposing sides of the aperture through which they extend.
Preferably, each of the free extremities face in opposite directions to each other. This means that, when the steps connecting the free extremities to the intermediate section hook" onto the aperture, the free extremities point in opposite directions away from the centre of the aperture. If the Thooking9 of the steps is said to provide a horizontal retaining force to prevent movement in a horizontal direction, the free extremities can be said to provide a vertical retaining force to help prevent a movement verticaUy. In other words, the steps between the intermediate section and the second end section are configured to prevent lateral movement between the cable tray components whereas the forces exerted by the first and second end components and the intermediate components are configured to prevent the separation of the cable tray components.
In an embodiment, the cable tray components to be fastened together are two cable tray sections and a bracket. The bracket is used to provide a supportive connection between the two cable tray sections and is fastened to each of the cable tray sections. A single fastener may be configured to fasten the components together.
For example, the first end section may be configured to pass through aligned apertures of the bracket and one of the cable tray sections whilst the second end section is configured to pass through aligned apertures of the bracket and the other cable tray section.
In an embodiment the cable tray components to be fastened together are two cable Is tray components, one of which being at least partly nestled within the other cable tray component. In this case, the first end section is configured to pass through aligned apertures of the two cable tray components and the second end section is configured to pass through other aligned apertures of the cable tray components.
Thus each of the cable tray components in this case has at least two apertures that are configured to at least partially align with respective apertures on the cable tray component to which it is to be fastened.
There is also provided an assembly comprising two overlapping cable tray components, each having a sheet section comprising an aperture, and a fastener as described above. The fastener is arranged in the assembly such that one of the end sections of the fastener only contacts one of said cable tray components whilst the intermediate section contacts the other of said cable tray components. It is, however, noted that the mentioned end section of the fastener and the intermediate section of the fastener may additionally contact other cable tray components. The apertures are aligned such that the step connecting the mentioned end section to the intermediate section may pass through. The mentioned end section should also be able to pass through the aligned apertures for the initial connection. It is noted that the cable tray components may have a plurality of apertures not mentioned herein.
In such a configuration, the mentioned end section of the fastener forcibly presses against one Se of the sheet sections in a direction substantiaUy perpendicular to the sheet sections, and the intermediate portion of the fastener (k,cated on an opposite side of the sheet sections to the mentioned end section of the fastener) forcibly S presses against an opposite side of the sheet sections in a direction substantiaUy perpendicular to the sheet sections In the assembly, one of the cable tray components may be a first cable tray section and the other cable tray component may be a bracket. The assembly may further comprise a second cable tray section having a sheet section coplanar with the sheet section of the first cable tray section, In this case, the sheet section of the bracket comprises a second aperture configured to align with an aperture in the sheet section of the second cable tray such that the other end section of the fastener may pass through. Thus the intermediate section of the fastener extends across the join (and/or gap) between the coplanar sheet sections of the cable tray sections and the end sections are directly above or below respective cable tray sections.
There is also provided a method of fastening cable tray components together to form a cable tray assembly. The method of fastening uses a fastener as described above in which the second end section comprises two free extremities. The method comprises passing the first end section through first aligned apertures of cable tray components; applying a force to the fastener so as to bring the two free extremities closer together; passing the two free extremities through second aligned apertures of cable tray components; and removing said force so that the free extremities move away from each other.
As in the case described above, the force may be a squeezing force that is applied to the fastener in the intermediate section s understood that other types/locations of externally applied forces may achieve the effect of bringing the free extremities closer together, such as a squeezing force applied to the free extremities themselves. However, as the first and second end sections are configured for insertion through respective ahgned apertures in the cable tray components, it is advantageous to apply the force to the intermediate section, which is not configured to pass through aligned apertures in the cable tray components.
Hereinafter there is described a particular embodiment of a fastener (and an assembly comprising the fastener) with reference to figures 1A to 2C. Features in the different Figures that are labelled with the same reference numeral are equivalent to each other.
s Figure 1A is an isometric view of the fastener. The fastener is formed of a single piece of spring rod materiaL Two ends of the spring rod are each comprised within the second end section 104, which comprises free extremities 104a and 104b corresponding to respective ends of the spring rod. The free extremities 104a and 104b are connected to respective arms lO2a and 102b in the intermediate section to 102 via respective steps 103a and 103b. The arms 102a and 102b of the intermediate section extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the steps 103a and 103b and that is perpendicular to the free extremities 104a and 104b.
The arms 102a and 102b of the intermediate section 102 are connected to the first end section 100 via respective steps lOla and bib. The first end section 100 is configured so that the spring rod forms a Cshape. Each free end of the Cshape is connected to a respective step lOla and lOib for connection to the arms l02a and 102b of the intermediate section 102. In profUe, the first end section is angled r&ative to the intermediate section so that they are not co-planar. Both the first and second ends 100! 104 are displaced from the intermediate section 102 in a same direction.
A view along AA' in Figure IA is depicted in Figure 13. In this view, free extremity 104a is shown coming out of the page. Step 103a connecting free extremity 104a to arm 102a is perpendicular to free extremity I04a and appears to extend upwards before bending to connect with arm 102a in the intermediate section 102. Arm 102a is shown as comprising a slight bend, or kink, 105. Bend 105 is such that the central portion of the arm 102a is verticafly doser to the free extremity 104a than the part of the arm 102a closest to the free extremity. At the opposite end of the arm 102a to the step 103a, there is another step lola, which connects arm 102a to the first end section 100. The step lola is not paraflel with the step 103a, Instead, the step lOla is angled away from the arm 102a as the step lola nears the first end section 100.
The first end section 100 is also angled, although it is perpendicular to the step 1 Ola.
The first end section 100 is angled so that at locations furthest from the intermediate section 102, the first end section is verticafly closer to the intermediate section 102 than it is at locations closest to the intermediate section.
The use of such a fastener as described in relation to Figures IA and lB when forming a cable tray assembly is depicted in Figures 2A to 2C.
Figure 2A shows the fastener 201 of flgures 1A and 18 fastening together a bracket 202 with a first cable tray 203 and a second cable tray 204, The combined bracket fastener feature therefore connects the first and second cable trays 203, 204. The first cable tray 203 and the second cable tray 204 are adjacent to each other. Both of the first and second cable trays are riesUed within bracket 202 such that any gap or join between them is covered on at least one face by the bracket 202. The bracket 202 and first and second cable trays 203, 204 comprise apertures 205 (depicted in Figure 28).
As shown in Figure 2A, the first end section 100 of the fastener 201 is configured to contact a face of the bracket 202. As the first end section 100 is angled, only part of Is the first end section 100 directly contacts the bracket 202. In particular, the part of the first end section 100 furthest from the intermediate section 102 is the only part of the first end section 100 configured to contact the bracket 202. This means that a force is directly exerted on the bracket by the first end section 100 only through part of the first end section 100 (i.e. the contacting part of the first end section 100).
The intermediate section is configured to contact at least one (and preferably both) of the cable trays 203, 204. As the intermediate section 102 comprises a slight bend, only part of the intermediate section 102 directly contacts the cable tray(s) 203, 204.
This means that a force is directly exerted on the cable tray(s) 203, 204 by the intermethate section 102 only through part of the intermediate section 102 (i.e. the contacting part of the intermediate section 102).
The second end section 104 is configured to contact the same face of the bracket 202 as the first end section 100. The first and second end sections 100, 104 of the fastener 201 are configured to exert a force on the bracket 202 that is opposite in direction to the force exerted by the intermediate section 102 on the cable trays 203, 204.
Figure 2B depicts a top.view of the assembly of Figure 2k In the Figure, items that are disposed on the underside of the cable trays (such as part of the bracket 202 and the first and second end sections 100, 104) are indicated by dashed fines.
Figure 2B shows that the bottommost surface of the cable trays 203, 204 comprises S a plurality of apertures, at least one of which on each cable tray is at least partiafly aligned with a respective corresponding aperture 205, 206 on the bracket 202. It is also noted in Figure 2B that there is a smafi gap separating cable tray sections 203, 204 in the direction along which the intermediate section 102 extends. The size of this gap is determined by the aUgnment of the bracket apertures 205, 206 with the cable tray apertures. To reduce sliding between cable tray components 201, 202, 203, 204, and to reduce rattling, the tolerance of the components is preferably high.
Figure 2C is a view along the crosssection of Figure 2B indicated by the fine BB'.
Figure 2C illustrates the cable tray 203 (having substantiafly an Lshape) nestled at least partly within bracket 202, Bracket 202 contacts the cable tray 204 on both Is outer4aces of the L-shaped cable tray 203. Fastener 201 is shown as having first and second end sections 100.104 that contact the bracket 202 and an intermediate section 102 that contacts the cable tray section 203.
In the above described example of Figures 2A to 2C, the cable assembly components 201, 202, 203, 204 are aU made of steeL The applicant draws attention to the fact that the present invention may include any feature of combination of features disclosed herein either implicitly or explicitly or any generalisation thereof, without limitation to the scope of any definitions set out above. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the abovedescribed embodiments within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

  1. Claims 1. A fastener for fastening together cable tray components having overlapping, substantiaUy parafl& sheet sections to form a cable tray assembly, comprising: a first end section; an intermediate section; and a second end section connected to the first end section via the intermediate section the first and second end sections being displaced from the intermediate section in a same direction via respective steps; wherein the fastener is configured such that, when fastening together overlapping, substantiaHy parallel sheet sections of cable tray components, the fastener presses said sheet sections together using at least the first end section and the intermediate section by acting to return to a relaxed state in which the relative orientation of the first end section and the intermediate section has a greater angular difference than when the fastener is being used to fasten said sheet sections together.
  2. 2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate section is bent such that when the fastener is fastening cable tray components together, the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on the sheet sections is located in the region of said bend.
  3. 3. A fastener for fastening together cable tray components having overlapping, substantially parafl& sheet sections to form a cable tray assembly, comprising: a first end section; an intermediate section; and a second end section connected to the first end section via the intermediate section, the first and second end secUons being displaced from the intermediate section in a same direction via respective steps; wherein the intermediate section is bent such that when the fastener is fastening cab'e tray components together, the greatest force exerted by the intermediate section on the sheet sections is located in the region of said bend.
  4. 4. A fastener as daimed in claim 3, wherein the fastener is configured such that, when fastening together overlapping, substantially paraDel sheet sections of cable tray components, the fastener presses said sheet sections together using at least the first end section and the intermediate section by acting to return to a relaxed state in which the relative orientation of the first end section and the intermediate section has a greater angular difference than when the fastener is being used to fasten said sheet sections together. i's
  5. 5. A fastener as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 and 4, wherein the angular difference is predominantly a result of the relaxed state angle of the first end section.
  6. 6. A fastener as claimed in any of claims 1, 2, 4 and 5, wherein the angle of the first end sectbn, the intermediate section and the step therebetween are configured such that only part of the first end section is configured to contact one of said sheet sections,
  7. 7. A fastener as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastener is formed from a spring rod, the first end section forming a hoop and the second end section comprising ro free extremities,
  8. 8. A fastener as claimed in any preceding claim, second end section comprises two free extremities configured to be sprung into an aperture in at least one cable tray component.
  9. 9. A fastener as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the free extremities face in opposite directions to each other, 10A fastener as daimed in any preceding claim, wherein said fastener is configured to fasten a bracket to two adjacent cable tray sections, the first end section being configured to pass through aligned apertures of the bracket and one of the cable tray sections, and the second end section being configured to pass through aligned apertures of the bracket and the other cable tray section.ItA fastener as daimed in any of claims I to 9, wherein said fastener is configured to fasten two cable tray components, the first end section being configured to pass through agned apertures of the two cable tray components, and the second end section being configured to pass through other aHgned apertures of the cable tray components.12,An assembly comprising two overlapping cable tray components, each having a sheet section comprising an aperture, and a fastener as daimed in any of claims I to 11, the fastener being arranged in the assembly such that one of the end sections of the fastener only contacts one of said cable tray components whst the intermediate section contacts the other of said cable tray components and wherein said apertures are aligned such that the step connecting said end section to the intermediate section may pass through.13,An assembly as claimed in claim 12 when dependent on any of claims I to 10, wherein one of the cable tray components is a first cable tray section and the other cable tray component is a bracket.14.An assembly as claimed in claim 13, further compri&ng a second cable tray section having a sheet section coplanar with the sheet section of the first cable tray section, wherein the sheet section of the bracket comprises a second aperture configured to align with an aperture in the sheet section of the second cable tray such that the other end section of the fastener may pass through.15A method of fastening cab'e tray components together to form a cable tray assembly using a fastener according to any preceding claim, wher&n the second end section comprises two free extremities, the method comprising: passing the first end section through first aligned apertures of cable tray components; applying a force to the fastener so as to bring the two free extremities closer together; passing the two free extremities through second aligned apertures of cable tray components; and removing said force so that the free extremities move away from each other.l6A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the force is a squeezing force applied to the intermediate section.I7A fastener substantiaUy as described herein with reference to figures IA and lB.18An assembly substantiaHy as described herein with reference to Figures IA to 2G.
GB1411497.9A 2014-06-27 2014-06-27 Fastener Active GB2527600B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

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GB2527600A true GB2527600A (en) 2015-12-30
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11171470B1 (en) * 2020-06-04 2021-11-09 James C. White Company, Inc. Non-welded horizontal cable tray redirector

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992004755A1 (en) * 1990-09-06 1992-03-19 Swifts Of Scarborough Limited Cable tray systems and connecting devices therefor
EP0599634A1 (en) * 1992-11-24 1994-06-01 Rich Muller Ltd A device for coupling cable tray components
EP0645862A1 (en) * 1993-09-24 1995-03-29 Dzus Fastener Europe Limited Spring clip fastener
US20090159312A1 (en) * 2005-06-28 2009-06-25 Obo Bettermann Gmbh & Co. Kg Arrangement for establishing a connection between two cable support device elements and connection elements

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992004755A1 (en) * 1990-09-06 1992-03-19 Swifts Of Scarborough Limited Cable tray systems and connecting devices therefor
EP0599634A1 (en) * 1992-11-24 1994-06-01 Rich Muller Ltd A device for coupling cable tray components
EP0645862A1 (en) * 1993-09-24 1995-03-29 Dzus Fastener Europe Limited Spring clip fastener
US20090159312A1 (en) * 2005-06-28 2009-06-25 Obo Bettermann Gmbh & Co. Kg Arrangement for establishing a connection between two cable support device elements and connection elements

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GB2527600B (en) 2019-10-30

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