Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Plural duct
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-21
2001-06-26
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Plural duct
C248S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252171
ABSTRACT:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cable trays—more particularly, to a ladder-type cable tray having a pair of parallel spines with at least one open side face on at least one of the spines, through which open face may be passed electrical wiring, or data networking or telephone cabling, for ducting through the hollow interior of the open-faced spine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ladder-type cable trays comprise pairs of beamed or spined members having regularly spaced transverse arms between said spines for cradling cables, wiring, tubes and the like, such as for computer networks, telecommunications and the like. Ladder-type cable trays normally are suspended from ceilings on rods. In computer network installations, ladder-type cable trays are used for routing network cables along the ceiling of a dedicated room to upright components known as racks. Occasionally, the ladder-type cable trays might be laid out on top of the racks. Ladder-type cable trays are often found in large installations where they may travel great distances, both indoors and outdoors, such as at petroleum refineries and the like.
It is also necessary, however, to run electrical power into and around the area to the racks and to other related equipment served by the cable trays. For purposes of isolating the electrical power wiring from interference with communication signals in the network cables, and for reasons of safety, electrical power wiring typically is carried within the hollows of separately mounted ducts called raceways. Prior art ladder-type cable trays, which are limited to carrying externally exposed cabling, therefore are not suitable for electrical wiring. To run electrical wiring along the cable arms thereof would not be in compliance with building code requirements. In order to meet building code requirements and the IEEE specifications, a metallic barrier must separate electrical wiring and low voltage cabling.
Prior developments in this field may be generally illustrated by reference to the following information disclosure statement:
U.S. Patent Documents
U.S. Pat. No.
Patentee
Issue Date
5,629,496
J. Navazo
May 13, 1997
5,659,151
J. Dale
Aug. 19, 1997
5.123,618
D. Geterman et al.
Jun. 23, 1992
5,323,988
I. Handler
Jun. 28, 1994
5,131,860
S. Bogiel
Jul. 21, 1992
4,166,195
A. Schwab
Aug. 28, 1979
4,017,137
W. Parks
Apr. 12, 1977
5,614,695
J. Benito Navazo
Mar. 25, 1997
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,123,618 and 5,323,988 teach typical cable trays having arms that are designed to hold multiple strands of cable in a distribution system.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,131,860, 4,166,195, 4,017,137 and 5,614,695 teach electrical wiring raceways comprising hollow ducts with snap-on covers. Some of these covers feature knockout or punch-out tabs for accepting electrical outlets.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,629,496 and 5,659,151 teach other box-like hollow mechanisms having provisions for electrical outlets and wiring.
It is possible to find ladder-type cable trays and electrical raceways mounted side-by-side in a single installation, resulting in a great deal of duplication of effort, materials and the like—not to mention the amount of space wasted in rooms, corridors, and the like—which often are no larger than closets. There has been no suggestion in the art that such unnecessary duplication could be eliminated were a single device to be designed to perform both functions safely.
Accordingly, there continues to be a need for a new and improved ladder-type cable tray which addresses the problems of construction, effectiveness and ease of use that are attendant in the prior art. In this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known art, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to teach a new and improved ladder-type cable tray with power channel which has all of the important advantages of the prior art and few, if any, of the disadvantages.
The present invention is a dual-hollow-spine ladder-type cable tray having cable arms wherein the hollow channel of at least one body spine (presently unused in the art) is adapted for running and holding electrical wiring. This is achieved by enlarging at least one spine, and thus its hollow channel, and by molding one side face of said spine (or both spines) so as to open outwardly except when covered by one or more snap-on cover plates.
The cover plates may include mounts suitable for holding standard 110 volt, 220 volt or NEMA outlets. Preferably, however, separate fixtures (herein “outlet plates”) bearing or adapted to bear the outlets are configured to snap on over the open face of one or both spines between adjacent cover plates.
FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ladder-type cable tray with power channel which has all, or nearly all, of the advantages of the prior art, while simultaneously overcoming most of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ladder-type cable tray with power channel which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
A further object or feature of the present invention is a new and improved ladder-type cable tray with power channel which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a novel ladder-type cable tray with power channel which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the public, thereby making the ladder-type cable tray with power channel economically available to the trade.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel ladder-type cable tray with power channel wherein an increased ease of assembly is permitted relative to the art.
Another object or feature is a new and improved ladder-type cable tray with power channel that is easy to use, tidy in function and appearance, and suitable for mass production.
Accordingly, a feature of this invention is a ladder-type cable tray including: first and second parallel hollow spines elongated along first and second longitudinal axes; a first top wall of said first spine; a first bottom wall of said first spine; at least one first open side face of said first spine between said first top and first bottom walls, said first open side face forming an elongated first opening parallel to said first longitudinal axis; a plurality of cable arms mounted through said first and second spines perpendicular thereto and perpendicular to said longitudinal axes; and means for mounting at least one type of electrical outlet, said mounting means releasably engaged with said first opening.
A further feature is such an apparatus wherein said cable arms are straight beams, and further including at least one snap-on cover plate releasably engaged with at least said first opening.
Still another feature is disclosed wherein said at least one snap-on cover plate includes said mounting means.
Another feature is wherein said mounting means is a plurality of opposed pairs of knockout tabs adapted to form apertures within which to engage said at least one type of electrical outlet.
In one preferred embodiment, said at least one type of electrical outlet is 110 volt.
A further feature is wherein said mounting means is at least one aperture within which to engage said at least one type of electrical outlet.
As a preferred feature, there are at least two snap-on outlet plates, namely, at least one 110 volt outlet plate having a pair of said at least one apertures within which to engage a first said type of electrical outlet, namely, a 110 volt electrical outlet, and at least one 220 volt (or, alternatively, a NEMA) outlet plate having one of said at least one apertures within which to engage a second said type of electrical outlet, namely, a 220 volt electrical o
Nino Adolfo
Reichard Dean A.
White Douglas E.
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