Hinged bridging plates for lay-in wireways

Claim 2

In a lay-in wireway, a pair of channel members connected endto-end and having corresponding open sides through which wiring is placed in said members; covers hingedly connected to said channel members disposed to close the open sides of their respective channel members; a bridging plate hingedly connected to at least one of said channel members adapted to extend transversely across the open sides of said channel members at the connected ends thereof and in underlapping relation to said covers; and means for sealing the joints between said channel members and said covers, the joints between said channel members and said bridging plate, and the joints between said bridging plate and said covers when said bridging plate and said covers are closed, said covers and said bridging plate adapted to be opened to permit unobstructed placement of wiring in said channel members and said covers adapted to engage and close said bridging plate automatically as said covers are closed.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises a first sealing gasket means disposed between the connected ends of said channel members and extending at least slightly above the open sides of said channel members and second sealing gasket means on the underside of said bridging plate engageable with the channel members And simultaneously with said first sealing gasket means when said bridging plate is closed.

Claim 4

A lay-in wireway according to claim 1 wherein the hinge connection for said bridging plate is attached to said channel members adjacent to the open sides thereof for pivotal opening and closing movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said wireway.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the hinge connections for said covers are disposed at the same side of said channel members as the hinge connection for said bridging plate and similarly adapted for pivotal opening and closing movement about axes extending longitudinally of said wireway.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said covers overlap said bridging plate and wherein said bridging plate and said covers are mounted for pivotal closing movement in the same direction so that said bridging plate is engaged and closed automatically by said covers upon closing of said covers.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 5 further including fastening means for securing said covers tightly in closed positions, whereby securing of said covers in a closed position also secures said bridging plate in a closed position.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said sealing means is secured to said bridging plate.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said sealing means is secured to said bridging plate and is cooperative with a second portion of said sealing means disposed between the connected ends of said channel members to seal said wireway.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said sealing means is secured to said covers.

Claim 11

In a lay-in wireway, a pair of channel members disposed end-to-end having outwardly extending radial flanges at the adjacent ends thereof and corresponding open sides, inwardly turned longitudinal flanges extending along the open sides of said channel members, sealing means disposed between said radial flanges at the adjacent ends of said channel members, fastening means securing said radial flanges and said channel members together, a bridging member adapted to span a portion of the open sides of said channel members and to overlay said radial flanges and having resilient sealing means on the underside thereof, hinge means connecting said bridging member to a side of said channel members for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said wireway, whereby said bridging member can be opened to expose the open sides of said channel members at the adjacent ends thereof or closed to cover said open sides at the adjacent ends of the channel members, said resilient sealing means engaging said inwardly turned flanges on either side of said radial flanges in the closed position of said bridging member, a cover member for each of said channel members extending substantially the full length of the latter and overlapping said bridging member, said cover members having resilient sealing means on the undersides thereof engageable with the upper side of said bridging member upon closing of said cover members, and fastening means for said cover members operable to press the resilient sealing means of said cover members against said bridging member and to press the resilient sealing means of said bridging member simultaneously against said inwardly turned flanges to provide a sealing engagement therebetween, whereby said wireway is sealed at the adjacent interconnected ends of said channel members when said bridging member and said covers are closed.

Claim 12

In a lay-in wireway, a pair of channel members disposed end-to-end having outwardly extending radial flanges at the adjacent ends thereof and corresponding open sides, inwardly turned longitudinal flanges extending along the open sides of said channel members, sealing means disposed between said radial flanges at the adjacent ends of said channel members, fastening means securing said radial flanges and said channel members together, a bridging member adapted to span a portion of the open sides of said channel members and to overlay said radial flanges and having resilient sealing means on the underside thereof, hinge means connecting said bridging member to a side of said channel members for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said wireway, whereby said bridging member can be opened to expose the open sides of said channel members at the adjacent ends thereof or closed to cover said open sides at the adjacent ends of the channel members, said resilient sealing means engaging said inwardly turned flanges on either side of said radial flanges in the closed position of said bridging member, a cover member for each of said channel members extending substantially the full length of the latter and overlapping said bridging member, said cover members having resilient sealing means on the undersides thereof engageable with the upper side of said bridging member upon closing of said cover members, and fastening means for said cover members operable to press the resilient sealing means of said cover members against said bridging member and to press the resilient sealing means of said bridging member simultaneously against said inwardly turned flanges to provide a sealing engagement therebetween, whereby said wireway is sealed at the adjacent interconnected ends of said channel members when said bridging member and said covers are closed.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said cover members includes a hinge mounting said cover member for pivotal opening and closing movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said wireway.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said bridging member has an extension opposite its hinge means with said resilient sealing means in part secured to the other underside of said extension for engaging said rAdial flanges.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 12 further including bracket means mounting said bridging member hinge to one of said radial flanges.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said bracket means is an L-shaped member having one leg secured to said bridging member hinge and another leg secured to said one radial flange.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said bridging member hinge is a piano hinge having a pair of integral hinge plates with one of said hinge plates secured to said bridging member and another of said hinge plates secured to said one leg of said bracket.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said hinge is a piano hinge having a pair of integral hinge plates with one of said hinge plates secured to said bridging member and another of said hinge plates secured to one of said radial flanges.