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

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to cable management and, more particularly, to a spillover fitting for use in field applications, such as installations using raceways, troughs or other cable management apparatus.
• a spillover fitting is positioned on a lateral trough to route cables from the lateral trough.
• the spillover fitting includes fitting walls and a floor positioned between the fitting walls.
• the floor includes an extension flange that extends into the lateral trough.
• the spillover fitting also includes a containment member that extends from the extension flange.
• the containment member is positioned over the lateral trough for containing cables routed out of the lateral trough into the spillover fitting.
• FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a spillover in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 1 B is an exploded perspective view of the spillover of FIG. 1 A;
• FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a containment member of the spillover of FIG. 1A;
• FIG. 1 D is a front elevational view of the spillover of FIG. 1 A;
• FIG. 1E is a front elevational view of the spillover of FIG. 1A 1 showing a cable being routed out of a lateral trough;
• FIG. 1 F is a side elevational view of the spillover of FIG. 1A;
• FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a spillover in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 2B is a front elevational view of the spillover of FIG. 2A;
• FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a spillover in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 3B is a front elevational view of the spillover of FIG. 3A;
• FIG. 3C is a front perspective view of a containment member of the spillover of FIG. 3A;
• FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a spillover in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 4B is a front elevational view of the spillover of FIG. 4A.
• FIG. 4C is a front elevational view of the spillover of FIG. 4A, showing cables being routed out of a lateral trough.
• FIGs. 1A-1F illustrate one embodiment of a spillover 100, which is shown as having a
• Spillover 100 has two walls 105 and a floor 106 that define an exit path for cables 30 routed from the lateral trough 40.
• Each wall 105 has a curved lead-in wall 108 extending therefrom so as to be disposed over the lateral trough 40 that may provide control for cables 30 being routed out of the lateral trough 40.
• the lead-in walls 108 do not extend below the top of the side wall of the lateral trough 40, as shown in FIG. 1E.
• 106 also includes an extension flange 110.
• the spillover 100 includes a containment member 115, which is generally T-shaped and has a first portion 120 and a second portion 125.
• the containment member 115 is formed separately from the spillover 100 and connected by appropriate means.
• the containment member 115 has a snap feature 130 that engages a corresponding snap arm 135 to secure the containment member 115 to the floor extension flange 110 of spillover 100 (see FIG. 1B). It is understood that the containment member 115 can also be formed integrally with the spillover 100.
• the first portion 120 of the containment member 115 extends perpendicular to, and from the midpoint of, the floor extension flange 110 and is disposed over the lateral trough 40.
• the first portion 120 is rounded so as to provide protection for any cables that enter the spillover fitting by passing on either side of the first portion 120.
• the second portion 125 includes a pair of arms that extend in opposite directions perpendicular to the first portion 120. Each arm of the second portion 125 has a curved section 140 at each distal end 145 adjacent the wall 108, as best seen in FIG. 1F.
• the containment member 115 is made from a flexible yet resilient material such as plastic so that the two arms of the second portion 125 can be deflected to allow cables 30 to be routed out of the lateral trough 40 and into the spillover 100 with ease, and then return to their original position, thereby helping to contain the cables 30 within the spillover 100.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B disclose another embodiment of a spillover 200, which is shown as having a 4x4 inch exit geometry.
• Spillover 200 is the same as spillover 100 except for the size of the spillover 200 and the configuration of the containment member 215.
• the containment member 215 is larger than the containment member 115 due to the size of the spillover 200.
• FIGS. 3A-3C disclose another embodiment of a spillover 300.
• Spillover 300 is the same as spillover 200 except for the configuration of the containment member 315.
• the first portion 320 of the containment member 315 is formed large enough and with the appropriate radii to provide minimum bend radius control for cables passing on either side of the first portion 320.
• FIGS. 4A-4C disclose another embodiment of a spillover 400.
• Spillover 400 is the same as spillover 200 except for the addition of a bend radius control member 450 which clips onto the first portion (not shown, but the same as first portion 220) of the containment member 415.
• the bend radius control member 450 has a first generally flat side 455 and a second curved side 460 opposite the first side 455.
• the second side 460 provides bend radius control for cables 30 that are routed along the second side 460. While the bend radius control member 450 shown is not reversible, it is understood that this could be done if desired.
• a mirror image of the configuration of control member 450 could be used to control cables 30 exiting the lateral trough 40 from the left side.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
• Details Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=42230833

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (10)

Family Cites Families (18)

• 2009
  • 2009-12-02 US US12/629,395 patent/US8315069B2/en active Active
  • 2009-12-03 WO PCT/US2009/066498 patent/WO2010065692A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2009-12-03 JP JP2011539675A patent/JP5265021B2/ja active Active
  • 2009-12-03 EP EP09764682.2A patent/EP2356726B1/en active Active
  • 2009-12-03 CN CN2009801490325A patent/CN102239616B/zh active Active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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