Terminal block mounting track

Details Terminal block mounting track Terminal block mounting track

1999-10-22

2002-11-26

King, Anita (Department: 3632)

Supports

Electrical outlet box support

C248S223410, C248S224510, C439S110000, C052S749100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06484997

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to terminal block mounting track and, more specifically, to a track designed to support objects of more than one type.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When wiring electrical panels, all electrical devices must be interconnected. To do so neatly, electricians will route the electrical wiring in wiring ducts. These ducts typically are U-shaped channels, several inches deep, with openings along the sides for routing wiring into and out of the ducts. The ducts also typically include a cover to close the top of the U-shaped channel once the wiring is complete. These wiring ducts typically mount to the electrical panel with the open end of the U-shaped channel facing away from the panel. Electrical devices, such as circuit breakers and terminal blocks, are then typically mounted to a terminal mounting track. Wires are then routed through the ducts to a place where a wire exits the duct to be connected to an electrical device, such as the circuit breaker or switch, or to a terminal block which connects one piece of wire to another piece of wire. As the ducts, which are several inches deep, fill with wire, it is easiest to have pieces of wire entering and exiting the duct near the top of the U-shaped channel, or at least part way up the wall. If the electrician were to have the wire exit near the base of the U-shaped channel, it would be necessary to move all the other wiring already in the channel to do so. Therefore, it is simplest to have the wire exit higher up away from the panel. Because the wire is to be connected to a terminal block or an electrical device, it is desirable to have the electrical device or terminal block supported up off the panel also. Therefore, traditional terminal block mounting track was developed to provide this function.
A standard piece of terminal track
10
is shown in FIG.
2
. The track
10
has a base
12
which is a generally flat member with mounting holes
14
defined therein for mounting the track
10
to an electrical panel. A support wall
16
projects perpendicularly from the base
12
so as to extend away from an electrical panel that the base
12
is mounted to. The support wall
16
is also a generally flat member. An elongated mounting rail
18
is supported at the top of the support wall
16
so that it is spaced from the base
12
. The rail
18
includes a pair of parallel and spaced apart elongated mounting flanges
20
and
22
and a trough shaped mid-portion
24
which joins the flanges
20
and
22
to the support wall
16
. Terminal track
10
comes in a variety of standard sizes. For example, the distance between the outer edges of the flanges
20
and
22
is designed so that electrical devices and mounting blocks can attach thereto by gripping the outer edges. There are generally three standard sizes. First, there is NEMA standard track wherein the outer edges of the flanges
20
and
22
are approximately 0.9 inches apart. NEMA standard track has traditionally been used in the United States. NEMA terminal blocks easily connect to the top of NEMA standard track. Therefore, when wiring a panel, a piece of terminal track, such as standard track
10
, is mounted near a wiring duct. Then, where a piece of wire exits the duct, a terminal block may be mounted to the top of the track
10
such that it grips the flanges
20
and
22
. The track
10
supports the terminal block up off of the panel so that it is easy to wire.
Another standard track size is known as DIN wherein the outer edges of the flanges
20
and
22
are approximately 35 millimeters apart. There is also a standard size known as mini-DIN wherein the outer edges of the flanges
20
and
22
are approximately 15 millimeters apart. Standard DIN and standard mini-DIN track is used in a manner similar to standard NEMA track, but is designed to accept electrical devices and terminal blocks of other sizes. DIN and mini-DIN are two standard sizes generally used in Europe.
A problems arises in that many wiring projects either preferably or necessarily use a mixture of NEMA, DIN and mini-DIN electrical devices and mounting blocks. Each of these devices and blocks will only mount to a piece of mounting tracks specifically sized for them. Therefore, an electrician is often forced to use multiple small pieces of one or more sizes of track so as to provide mounting spaces for each of the types of devices and blocks to be used. For comparison, where only one size of device and block is to be used, a continuous piece of mounting track in the corresponding size may be run along the side of a wiring duct so that anywhere a piece of wire exits the duct, a device or block may be mounted to the track in close proximity. Where a mixture of sizes is to be used, a single continuous piece of track cannot be used. Instead, the electrician must first determine where each type of device will be used along the run of the duct and then provide different short pieces of mounting track in the corresponding locations. This greatly hampers flexibility and complicates installation. Electricians are forced to cut small pieces of track and mount them end to end. If the design changes, it requires removing and replacing the piece of track so that a different type of device can be supported.
In light of this, there is a need for a terminal mounting track that will support electrical devices and mounting blocks of more than one type, preventing the need for intermixing different types of tracks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, many of the shortcomings of the prior art terminal mounting tracks are overcome. A terminal mounting track for supporting objects, such as electrical devices and mounting blocks, of more than one type includes a base which is configured to attach the track to a support surface, such as an electrical panel. A support member projects from the base and an elongated mounting rail is supported by the support member in a spaced apart relationship with the base. The rail includes a pair of spaced apart elongated mounting flanges and a mid-portion which joins the flanges to the support member. The mid-portion defines a first wall segment and a second wall segment, with these wall segments being joined together so as to define a V-shaped groove configured to accept sheet metal screws. This device allows objects, such as pieces of other widths of tracks and electrical boxes to be mounted to the track using a sheet metal screw which engages the groove.


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