Sectional junction box

Receptacles – Outlet or junction box type – With closure

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C220S003300

Reexamination Certificate

active

06250489

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to junction boxes and in particular, the present invention relates to a sectional junction box, for routing electric wires, of a strengthened modular design which, when assembled, at all times sections off low and high voltage wires running therethrough.
BACKGROUND
Typical junction boxes are constructed of many different parts and therefore difficult to assemble and install. Low voltage data wires and high voltage power wires are often run through these duct systems and rerouted to various parts of a particular facility. Commonly, shielding conduit or deep groves are required in ducts connecting to the junction boxes to keep the low and high voltage wires from touching, thereby preventing EMF interference between the wires. This type of duct system is costly to manufacture. In addition, duct systems that route the wires in separate vent passageways do not provide closed passageway integrity once the wires enter the junction box thereby resulting in possible EMF interference. Moreover, these types of junction boxes of typically have only one large access port disposed in the top, which makes box structurally weak. These types of junction boxes also do not section off the data wires from the power wires when the access port is open, which may undesirably expose a technician repairing the low voltage data wires to the high voltage power wire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention eliminates the above difficulties and disadvantages by providing a junction box for routing at least one power wire and at least one data wire through a cell duct. The junction box includes a bottom wall, a side wall bounding the bottom wall, and a cover member spaced apart from the bottom wall and supported by the side wall. First and second access ports are adjacently disposed in the cover member. A first access region receives the data wire and is disposed below the first access port. A second access region receives the data wire, is disposed below the second access port, and is adjacent the first access region. The first access region is sectioned from the second access region such that the power wire is inaccessible from the first access region and the data wire is inaccessible from the second access region when the first and second access ports are open.
Preferably, a separator wall is integrally formed with the bottom wall and a splitter wall is integrally formed with the separator wall and is in contact with the bottom wall. Also preferably, the splitter wall is perpendicular to the separator wall. Advantageously, the first access region is further defined by the bottom wall, the separator wall, the splitter wall, the side wall, and the cover member, while the second access region is further defined by the bottom wall, the separator wall, the splitter wall, the side wall, and the cover member.
It is also preferred that the data wire, once received in the first access region, can be fed forward and at two opposing right angles without coming in contact with the power wire. Moreover, the power wire, once received in the second access region, can be fed forward and at two opposing right angles without coming in contact with the data wire.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the junction box further includes a first ramp, adjacent the first access region, for receiving the data wire thereover when fed from the first access region, a power passageway extending through the first ramp for receiving the power wire thereunder when fed from the second access region, a second ramp, adjacent the second access region, for receiving the power wire thereover when fed from the second access region, and a data passageway extending through the second ramp for feeding the data wire thereunder when fed to the second access region. Also advantageously, the separator wall is disposed between the first access region, the first ramp, and the power passageway, and the second access region, the second ramp, and the data passageway.
Preferably, the power passageway and the data passageway are angled such that the power wire and the data wire, respectively, do not become lodged therein when fed therethrough. It is also desirable that the separator wall includes a first opening wherein the data wire is fed therethrough into the first access region. It is further desirable that the separator wall includes a second opening wherein the at least one power wire is fed through the second opening into the power passageway from the second access region.
One advantage is that the junction box is of two piece construction wherein the bottom wall, the side wall bounding the bottom wall, the splitter wall, and the separator wall are integrally formed, and the cover member is supported by a ledge formed on the side wall. Another advantage is that the side wall includes at least one internally threaded conduit port integrally formed therewith for securing a conduit to the junction box. Still another advantage is that the ledge and the cover member seal the junction box such that downward forces applied to the cover member are distributed to the ledge.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1396434 (1921-11-01), Horton
patent: 1925849 (1933-09-01), Sharp
patent: 2046351 (1936-07-01), Walker
patent: 2741117 (1956-04-01), Hoseason
patent: 2930504 (1960-03-01), Hudson
patent: 3471629 (1969-10-01), O'Leary
patent: 3565276 (1971-02-01), O'Brian et al.
patent: 3592956 (1971-07-01), Fork
patent: 3844440 (1974-10-01), Hadfield et al.
patent: 3864883 (1975-02-01), McMarlin
patent: 3955836 (1976-05-01), Traupe
patent: 4040755 (1977-08-01), Jorgensen et al.
patent: 4496067 (1985-01-01), Benscoter
patent: 4922672 (1990-05-01), Bartee et al.
Pamphlet: Panduit Pan-Way Twin-70 Tee Fitting; Installation Instructions; Part Nuamber T702T 3 pages; Panduit Raceway Systems Div., 17301 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park IL 60477.

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