Trenchduct connector units

Claim 2

In a trenchduct connector unit to provide a connection between two trenchduct sections oriented at an angle to one another: a flat base; a sidepiece connected to one side of the base and having a flange disposed above and extending parallel to the base; a unitary second sidepiece disposed on the opposite side of the base and comprising a foot section engaging and connected to the base, a riser extending upwardly from the foot and a flange extending from the top of the riser coplanar with first said flange, the base and sidepieces and flanges thereof being configured to align with one of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected and form an extension of the trench interior and said flanges being for use in supporting a trenchduct cover; a post connected to the base adjacent said riser, the post forming one side of an opening to which the other trench section is to be connected and the post having a contact surface and a guide surface, the contact surface extending up from the base and facing the exterior of the trench and the contact surface being for use in engaging the edge of said other section of trench, the guide surface extending from the inside surface of said riser and intersecting said contact surface and the guide surface being for use in presenting a smooth surface to conductors extending through the connector unit and into said other trench sections; and a stud connected to the post and extending outwardly normal to said contact surface for use in joining the connector unit with said other trench section.

Claim 3

A T-type connector unit to provide a connection between two trenchduct sections oriented at an angle to one another; a flat base; a first unitary sidepiece disposed on one side of the base and including a flange extending substantially parallel said Base; a second unitary sidepiece disposed along said one side of the base and spaced from said first sidepiece and including a flange coplanar with first said flange; a third sidepiece connected to the opposite side of the base and having a flange coplanar with first said flange, said base and side pieces and the flanges thereof being configured to align with one of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected and form an extension of the trench interior and said flanges being for sue in supporting a trenchduct cover; a first post connected to the base adjacent first said sidepiece; a second post connected to the base adjacent said second sidepiece, the two posts forming an opening to which the other trench section is to be connected; and on each post, a guide surface for use in presenting a smooth surface to conductors extending through the connector unit and into the said trench sections.

Claim 4

A T-type connector unit to provide a connection between two trenchduct sections oriented at an angle to one another; a flat base; a first unitary sidepiece disposed on one side of the base and including a flange extending substantially parallel said Base; a second unitary sidepiece disposed along said one side of the base and spaced from said first sidepiece and including a flange coplanar with first said flange; a third sidepiece connected to the opposite side of the base and having a flange coplanar with first said flange, said base and side pieces and the flanges thereof being configured to align with one of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected and form an extension of the trench interior and said flanges being for sue in supporting a trenchduct cover; a first post connected to the base adjacent first said sidepiece; a second post connected to the base adjacent said second sidepiece, the two posts forming an opening to which the other trench section is to be connected; and on each post, a guide surface for use in presenting a smooth surface to conductors extending through the connector unit and into the said trench sections.

Claim 5

A construction in accordance with claim 2 further including a pair of studs respectively connected to the posts and extending outwardly of said opening and being for use in joining the unit with said other trench section.

Claim 6

An L-type connector unit to provide a connection between two trenchduct sections oriented at an angle to one another: a flat base; a first side piece connected to the base and comprising a first section and a second section, the first section extending along one side of the base and the second section extending substantially at right angles to the first section along an adjacent side of the base, the first sidepiece having a first flange disposed above and extending parallel to the base; a second sidepiece disposed on the side of the base opposite said first section and spaced from said second section, the second side piece having a second flange substantially coplanar with said first flange and said first section and said second sidepiece being configured to align with one of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected to form an extension of the trench interior and said flanges being for use in supporting a trenchduct cover; and a post connected to the base adjacent said second sidepiece, the post and said second section forming an opening to which the other section of the trench is to be connected, the post having a guide surface.

Claim 7

An L-type connector unit to provide a connection between two trenchduct sections oriented at an angle to one another: a flat base; a first side piece connected to the base and comprising a first section and a second section, the first section extending along one side of the base and the second section extending substantially at right angles to the first section along an adjacent side of the base, the first sidepiece having a first flange disposed above and extending parallel to the base; a second sidepiece disposed on the side of the base opposite said first section and spaced from said second section, the second side piece having a second flange substantially coplanar with said first flange and said first section and said second sidepiece being configured to align with one of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected to form an extension of the trench interior and said flanges being for use in supporting a trenchduct cover; and a post connected to the base adjacent said second sidepiece, the post and said second section forming an opening to which the other section of the trench is to be connected, the post having a guide surface.

Claim 8

A construction in accordance with claim 4 further including a stud connected to said post and being for use in joining the connector unit with said other section of trench.

Claim 9

An X-type connector unit to provide a connection between four trenchduct sections oriented at angle to one another; a flat base; a first unitary sidepiece disposed on one side of the base and including a flange extending substantially parallel said base; a second unitary sidepiece disposed on the opposite side of the base and including a flange coplanar with first said flange, said base and first and second side pieces and the flanges thereof being configured to align with the first of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected and form an extension of the trench interior and said flanges being for use in supporting a trenchduct cover; a third unitary piece disposed on said one side of the base and spaced from said first piece and including a flange coplanar with first said flange; and a fourth unitary sidepiece disposed along said one side of the base and spaced from said first side piece and including a flange coplanar with first said flange, said base and said third and fourth sidepieces and the flanges thereof being configured to align with the second of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected and form an extensions of the trench interior and said flanges being for use in supporting a trenchduct cover; a first post connected to the base adjacent said first sidepiece; a second post connected to the base adjacent said third sidepiece, the two posts forming an opening to which the third of the trEnch sections is to be connected; a third post connected to the base adjacent said second side piece; a fourth post connected to the base adjacent said fourth sidepiece, the two posts forming an opening to which the fourth of the trench section is to be connected; and on each of said posts, a guide surface for use in presenting a smooth surface to conductors extending through the connector unit and into said trench sections.

Claim 10

An X-type connector unit to provide a connection between four trenchduct sections oriented at angle to one another; a flat base; a first unitary sidepiece disposed on one side of the base and including a flange extending substantially parallel said base; a second unitary sidepiece disposed on the opposite side of the base and including a flange coplanar with first said flange, said base and first and second side pieces and the flanges thereof being configured to align with the first of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected and form an extension of the trench interior and said flanges being for use in supporting a trenchduct cover; a third unitary piece disposed on said one side of the base and spaced from said first piece and including a flange coplanar with first said flange; and a fourth unitary sidepiece disposed along said one side of the base and spaced from said first side piece and including a flange coplanar with first said flange, said base and said third and fourth sidepieces and the flanges thereof being configured to align with the second of the trench sections to which the unit is to be connected and form an extensions of the trench interior and said flanges being for use in supporting a trenchduct cover; a first post connected to the base adjacent said first sidepiece; a second post connected to the base adjacent said third sidepiece, the two posts forming an opening to which the third of the trEnch sections is to be connected; a third post connected to the base adjacent said second side piece; a fourth post connected to the base adjacent said fourth sidepiece, the two posts forming an opening to which the fourth of the trench section is to be connected; and on each of said posts, a guide surface for use in presenting a smooth surface to conductors extending through the connector unit and into said trench sections.

Claim 11

A construction in accordance with claim 6 further including a first pair of studs respectively connected to the first and second posts and extending outwardly of said opening and being for use in joining the unit with said third trench section; and a second pair of studs respectively connected to the third and fourth posts and extending outwardly of said opening and being for use in joining the unit with said fourth trench section.