MXPA99004833A - Roof cover mounted on surface resistant to alterac - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a conduit for wiring, or the like, and comprising: (a) an elongated conduit base defining at least one channel having opposite side walls, said side walls having longitudinally extending marginal edges that are separated from one another to define an elongated opening therebetween, said marginal edges defining base edges projecting inwardly in said base aperture; (b) an elongated conduit cover having a width connecting said aperture, said cover marginal edges extending longitudinally adapted to rest on said marginal edges, said marginal edges of cover defining dependent flanges that interact with said flanges in turn of said marginal edges to releasably secure said cover to said base, and (c) at least a bracket provided between said dependent cover tabs to ensure said cover to said base, so that said cover is non-releasably secured to said base when said bracket is provided therebetween.

Description

BUCKET OF DUCT MOUNTED ON SURFACE RESISTANT TO ALTERATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to surface mounted ducts, and more particularly deals with ducts characterized by a duct base, which defines at least one forwardly open channel for wiring or the like, and a cover of conduit that is adapted to be releasably secured to the base, as a result of the flexibility of the sidewalls of the channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Metal conduits are available from The Wiremold Company of West Hartford, Connecticut under various designations including, but not limited to, Wiremold's 3000, 4000 and 6000. Generally, a normal Wiremold conduit system of this type comprises a elongated canal-shaped duct base, and opposite side walls extending away from the base and defining the marginal edges that are understood longitudinally. These edges are separated from one another to define an elongated opening between them. These marginal edges further define inwardly projecting flanges, which are adapted to receive dependent flanges extending longitudinally of the conduit cover. The side walls of the channel or base can be slightly expanded to allow entry of the flanges of the conduit cover for mounting the cover with the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the means for preventing the removal of a conduit cover once assembled with its base is provided, and said means preferably comprises at least one bracket for each cover. of conduit, provided adjacent to one end of the cover and including end portions of the bracket that conform to the flanges of the base of the conduit, and also fit into raised regions of the flanges of the conduit cover, so that once the bracket with base and cover has been mounted, the cover can not be easily removed or otherwise altered by unauthorized persons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAMETERS These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with respect to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a cross section and in slightly relation schematic, a normal shell and duct base; Fig. 2 shows the same cover and duct base of Fig. 1, but in assembled relation to each other; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with a bracket provided adjacent an end portion of a duct cover (shown in translucent lines) so that the bracket serves to interlace the cover and the base , avoiding any dismantling of the base cover without first removing the bracket; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket illustrated in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the duct cover with notched or embossed end portions of the cover-dependent tabs so formed as to receive the final portions of the bracket; Fig. 6 is an elevated view of the deck in assembled relation to the bracket, but with the base (not shown) to better reveal the interaction between the final portion of the bracket and the raised region of the flange of the conduit cover; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mounted conduit cover and an alternative configuration bracket, but with the same equivalent end portions to fit the raised regions of the conduit cover flanges. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a conduit access cover plate, such as that used to terminate a run as described hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION DETAILED DESCRIPTION Returning now to a detailed description of the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, and referring first to the prior art conduit configuration of Figs. 1 and 2, a surface duct base 10 is preferably formed of metal, such as steel or aluminum, but could also be polymeric plastic material. The conduit generally has a channel shape, as best shown in Fig. 1, so that the opposite side walls 12 and 14 are provided integrally with a bottom wall 16. The bottom wall is adapted to be secured to a structure, such as a wall, for example, in order to provide separate conduit channels capable of accommodating power lines, communication lines, fiber optic cabling or the like. Although not shown, conventional spacers may be provided within the channel shape to separate the various types of wires contained therein. The conduit base 10 is adapted to receive a cover 30 connecting these base side walls, but it is within the scope of this invention to provide a base spacer that will accommodate a plurality of covers, so that access can be had to each one of the several separate channels without disturbing an adjacent channel. The duct base 1 0 defines a simple channel of appropriate size between a practical minimum cross section to a practical maximum. In larger sizes, more than one channel would generally be provided by supporting conventional spacers (not shown) supported within the channel according to prior art teachings. The marginally turned edge portions 18 and 20 of the side walls 10 and 12 define the shoulders 22 and 24 that provide a convenient anchoring point for the support locks (not shown) which, in turn, support the spacers.

Continuing with the cover 30, preferably it is also of plastic or bent metal configuration having a flat central portion 32 which is adapted to cover the opening defined by the base 10, and the cover 30 further includes marginal edges 34 and 36 which adapt to overlap or rest on, respectively, the marginal edges 1 8 and 20 of the base sidewalls 1 0 and 12. The integrally formed cover 30 further includes dependent flanges 38 and 40, said flanges being adapted to be releasably received between the marginal edges turned inwards 18 and 20 of the base 1 0. Such construction provides the installer with ease of assembly since no tool is required to mount the cover 30 with the base 1 0. However, as a result of designing these components so that they have such ease of assembly, it will be evident that these components can also be easily disassembled. Such a situation may be undesirable in an environment where the alteration of the wiring in some installations is a definite disadvantage. Accordingly, in accordance with the present invention, a means is provided for preventing the easy disassembly of these components without interfering with the ease with which such components are assembled in the field. As best shown in Fig. 3, such means for securing said cover to said base, preferably takes the form of a bracket 40 which may be similar or even identical to that commonly used in such conduits to support electrical devices, such as plugs. of exit, or telephone receptacles, or the like.

Still with reference to Fig. 3, the bracket 40 connects the aperture defined by the base 10 and is adapted to be provided between the flanges dependent on the conduit cover 30. According to the present invention, the conduit cover flanges they are cut or embossed to accommodate the bracket 40. Unlike conventional use of such brackets 40, where the cover tabs are cut to locate an outlet plug or the like, the present invention requires that these tabs be notched in a manner precise, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In accordance with the present invention, the bracket 40 is provided in relation to an underlying portion of the duct cover, as suggested in Fig. 7 for the bracket 50. The bracket 50 is of a different configuration than the one illustrated at 40 in Figs. 3 and 4, but the end portions of the bracket 50 and the end portions of the bracket 40 are of identical geometry as they allow easy mounting of the bracket with the base by expanding the base side walls lightly with a tool, such as a screwdriver, according to techniques currently known to the installer in connection with the installation of output devices, for example. With particular reference to Fig. 4, the bracket 40 has opposite ends 42 and 44 which are adapted to fit the marginal edges in turn and the flanges of the duct base. More particularly, the bifurcations 42a and 42 of the end 42 of the bracket 40 serve the dual function of engaging the marginal edges 18 and 20 in the base, and also serve to engage raised regions, or notches provided for this purpose in the duct cover tabs. These raised regions or notches of the conduit cover flanges are best shown in Figs. 5 and 6 at 38. Note the configuration of stepped notches and the innermost narrow notch to receive the bifurcation 42a. The down-turned L-shaped shelf 42c of the bracket 40 only needs to have a free notch in the flange of the cover because it is intended to fit the flange of the base. However, the innermost narrow notch is engaged by the bifurcation 42a of the bracket, in order to prevent it from pushing the cover 30 from the base 10 as previously mentioned. The L-shaped shelf portions or elbow portions 42c and 44c that anchor each end portion of the bracket 40 in the base 10 prevent its removal, except as a result of expanding the side walls 12 and 14 of the base 10. Such expansion of the side walls is effectively disabled in the present design as a result of the configuration of the notches 38 described above in the cover tabs. 30. Although Fig. 6 does not show the base, the relationship between the bifurcation 42a and the configuration of the notch 38 is such that the removal of the cover is effectively prevented, unless it can slide longitudinally relative to the base away from the bracket 40. Only as a result of the separation of the cover 30 from the bracket 40, one can achieve the necessary expansion of the side walls of the base, in order to allow the removal of the cover or the bracket from the base.

It should be noted that the installer of a conduit system that has been provided in accordance with the present disclosure should, by necessity, have sufficient freedom of movement for the cover relative to the base, in order to allow assembly of the components in the manner described. FIG. 8 shows an access plate that can be used to secure two duct covers instead of any point, where the installer will need to provide a final assembly without having much freedom of movement of a cover relative to the base. The installer, either at the end of a run, or in a conduit between two walls, will reach a point where it is not possible to provide the last conduit cover in position as a result of using a bracket of the type described above. At such a point, it is necessary to use an access plate resistant to alteration 50, to complete and maintain the nature resistant to the alteration of the conduit system. This alteration-resistant plate does not need a slider in the duct, and has tabs 50a completely filled with notches at both ends, to allow the plate 50 to be placed directly down on the brackets projecting out of the adjoining covers. The tabs of the plate are also marked in the center 50b, and the plate enters with two flared holes to allow special "tamper-resistant" fasteners to be screwed through the cover into a bracket of the type described above. In summary, a conventional duct cover with specially configured notches is provided at the ends of the cover flanges. A conventional device bracket or equivalent is connected in the conduit channel adjacent the end of the cover, following which the bracket slides so that its end portions move towards the notches under the cover. The bracket protrudes from under the cover a distance approximately equal to half its width, as suggested in Fig. 7. In this way, the bracket is held at the base by much, in the same way as a bracket. Conventional device is held in place, but due to the nature of and configuration for the notches in the flanges of the cover, the bracket supports the cover in the conduit channel. The next cover can be connected over the conduit channel and slide into place along the cover shown in Fig. 7. As a result, a conventional appearance for the conduit system is provided, but the access to, or alteration of, the duct cover, except for the necessary access provided to locations where it will be necessary to remove the covers, such as the end of a line adjacent to the corner of a room. A small 15.24 cm plate can be used in this region, and special purpose screws provided in order to discourage alteration of the conduit system even in such locations. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it will be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example, and not limitation.

Claims (14)

1. REIVI NDICATIONS 1 . A conduit for wiring, or the like, and comprising: (a) an elongate conduit base defining at least one channel having opposite side walls, said side walls having longitudinally extending marginal edges that are spaced from one another to define an elongated opening therebetween, said marginal edges defining base edges projecting inwardly in said base aperture; (b) an elongated conduit cover having a width connecting said opening, said cover having marginal edges extending longitudinally adapted to rest on said marginal edges, said marginal edges of cover defining dependent flanges that interact with said flanges in turn. said marginal edges to releasably secure said cover to said base; and (c) at least one bracket provided between said dependent cover tabs to secure said cover to said base, such that said cover is non-releasably secured to said base when said bracket is provided between them.
2. 2. The conduit according to claim 1, wherein said bracket has opposite ends to fit said dependent cover flanges.
3. 3. The conduit, according to claim 1, wherein said bracket has opposite ends to fit said flanges of said conduit base.
4. The conduit, according to claim 1, wherein said bracket has opposite ends defining portions of elbow that engage said ridges of said conduit base, and said conduit cover flanges having regions enhanced to accommodate said elbow portions. of said opposite ends of the bracket.
5. 5. The conduit according to claim 1, wherein said flanges dependent on said conduit cover extend in said channel beyond said flanges of said marginal base edges, whereby said conduit cover can be secured in a manner that releasable to said base when expanding said side walls.
6. The conduit, according to claim 5, wherein said bracket has opposite ends to fit said cover-dependent flanges.
7. The conduit, according to claim 5, wherein said bracket has opposite ends to fit said flanges of said conduit base.
8. The conduit, according to claim 5, wherein said bracket has opposite edges defining portions of elbow that engage said ridges of said conduit base, and said conduit cover flanges having raised regions to accommodate said portions of said conduit. elbow of said opposite corbel ends.
9. 9. The conduit according to claim 8, wherein said raised regions of said conduit cover flanges are provided adjacent to at least one end of said conduit cover.
10. The conduit, according to claim 1, wherein each of said brackets has opposite ends, each end including bifurcations to fit the raised region of each of said conduit-dependent flanges, and further including each end of said bracket an L-shaped shelf depending between said bifurcations to fit said rim of said duct base. eleven .
11. The conduit according to claim 10, wherein said raised regions of said conduit cover flanges are provided adjacent to at least one end of said conduit cover.
12. The conduit according to claim 10, wherein said flanges dependent on said conduit cover extend said channel beyond said flanges of said marginal base edges, whereby said conduit cover can be secured from said conduit cover. releasable manner to said base when expanding said side walls.
13. The conduit, according to claim 1, wherein said bracket is adapted to be secured between said flanges of said base when said side walls expand, whereby said bracket and said cover can be slidably moved in a mounted relation. to another along said base.
14. 14. The conduit, according to claim 1, further comprising an access plate having end portions that fit on top of the brackets associated with adjacent but separate conduit covers, at a predetermined location along a structure of wall, where a plurality of said covers and duct bases are installed, and a bracket behind said plate to which said plate is secured.