US3761603A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wiring raceway
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1972-11-14
•
Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1992-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A wiring raceway has identical, relatively flat, elongated base and cover members and a pair of identical, relatively flat, elongated side members. The base and cover members have resiliently deformable marginal channels shaped to receive either of a pair of opposite edges of each of the side members. A first edge of each of the side members is shaped to be received and retained within its respective marginal channel of the base member while a second edge of each of the side members is shaped to be received within its respective marginal channel of the cover member but to allow removal of the cover member from the side members for access to the interior of the wiring raceway without separating the side members from the base member. All members are shaped to facilitate cutting or mitering on location during installation.
Inventors
- 👤 K Hays
- 👤 G Lawson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:29
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/04; H02G3/0437; H02G3/045; H02G3/0406; H02G3/0418
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
341 words
A wireway mountable on a support structure comprising: a pair of identical elongated side members, each of said side members having a side and a pair of tapered longitudinal edge portions, said side of said side members having a longitudinal depression transversely displaced inwardly from said edge portions to define a longitudinal shoulder adjacent each of said edge pOrtions, a first region of said depression adjacent a first of said shoulders having a slope extending downwardly from said first shoulder which is steeper than a slope of a second region of said depression adjacent a second of said shoulders extending downwardly from said second shoulder; a resiliently deformable elongated base member mountable on said support structure and having a side remote from said support structure and at each of its opposite longitudinal margins a pair of ridges extending outwardly from said side of said base member to define a channel therebetween which is shaped to receive either one of said shoulders of said side member, a first ridge of said pair of ridges having a lip extending toward a second ridge of said pair of ridges and projecting into a corresponding one of said first and second regions of said depression when said either one of said shoulders is received within said channel, said lip defining a mouth of said channel having a cross sectional width less than the maximum cross sectional width of said channel, said cross sectional width of said mouth being less than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at said either one of said shoulders; and a cover member identical to said base member, whereby when said first shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said base member and said second shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said cover member, said cover member may be readily removed from said side members for access to the interior of said wireway while said side members are securely retained by said base member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
341 words
A wireway mountable on a support structure comprising: a pair of identical elongated side members, each of said side members having a side and a pair of tapered longitudinal edge portions, said side of said side members having a longitudinal depression transversely displaced inwardly from said edge portions to define a longitudinal shoulder adjacent each of said edge pOrtions, a first region of said depression adjacent a first of said shoulders having a slope extending downwardly from said first shoulder which is steeper than a slope of a second region of said depression adjacent a second of said shoulders extending downwardly from said second shoulder; a resiliently deformable elongated base member mountable on said support structure and having a side remote from said support structure and at each of its opposite longitudinal margins a pair of ridges extending outwardly from said side of said base member to define a channel therebetween which is shaped to receive either one of said shoulders of said side member, a first ridge of said pair of ridges having a lip extending toward a second ridge of said pair of ridges and projecting into a corresponding one of said first and second regions of said depression when said either one of said shoulders is received within said channel, said lip defining a mouth of said channel having a cross sectional width less than the maximum cross sectional width of said channel, said cross sectional width of said mouth being less than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at said either one of said shoulders; and a cover member identical to said base member, whereby when said first shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said base member and said second shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said cover member, said cover member may be readily removed from said side members for access to the interior of said wireway while said side members are securely retained by said base member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 1, wherein asid second ridges of said base member extend respectively from each of said longitudinal margins; and said first ridge is disposed inwardly from said second ridge on said base member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lip of said first ridge is disposed substantially parallel to said side of said base member and includes a retaining surface facing a base of said channel; and said slope of said first region of said depression is substantially perpendicular to said side of said side member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
323 words
A wireway mountable on a support structure comprising: a pair of identical elongated side members, each of said side members having a side and a pair of tapered longitudinal edge portions, said side of said side members having a longitudinal depression transversely displaced inwardly from said edge portions to define a longitudinal shoulder adjacent each of said edge portions, the cross-sectional thickness of said side member at a first of said shoulders being greater than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at a second of said shoulders; a resiliently deformable elongated base member mountable on said support structure and having a side remote from said support structure and at each of its opposite longitudinal margins a pair of ridges extending outwardly from said side of said base member to define a channel therebetween which is shaped to receive either one of said shoulders of said side member, a first ridge of said pair of ridges having a lip extending toward a second ridge of said pair of ridges and projecting into a region of said depression adjacent each of said shoulders when said either one of said shoulders is received within said channel, said lip defining a mouth of said channel having a cross sectional width less than the maximum cross sectional width of said channel, said cross sectional width of said mouth being less than said cross sectional thickness of said side member at said either one of said shoulers; and a cover member identical to said base member, whereby when said first shoulders of each of said side members are respectively reCeived within said channels of said base member and said second shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said cover member, said cover member may be readily removed from said side members for access to the interior of said wireway while said side members are securely retained by said base member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
323 words
A wireway mountable on a support structure comprising: a pair of identical elongated side members, each of said side members having a side and a pair of tapered longitudinal edge portions, said side of said side members having a longitudinal depression transversely displaced inwardly from said edge portions to define a longitudinal shoulder adjacent each of said edge portions, the cross-sectional thickness of said side member at a first of said shoulders being greater than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at a second of said shoulders; a resiliently deformable elongated base member mountable on said support structure and having a side remote from said support structure and at each of its opposite longitudinal margins a pair of ridges extending outwardly from said side of said base member to define a channel therebetween which is shaped to receive either one of said shoulders of said side member, a first ridge of said pair of ridges having a lip extending toward a second ridge of said pair of ridges and projecting into a region of said depression adjacent each of said shoulders when said either one of said shoulders is received within said channel, said lip defining a mouth of said channel having a cross sectional width less than the maximum cross sectional width of said channel, said cross sectional width of said mouth being less than said cross sectional thickness of said side member at said either one of said shoulers; and a cover member identical to said base member, whereby when said first shoulders of each of said side members are respectively reCeived within said channels of said base member and said second shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said cover member, said cover member may be readily removed from said side members for access to the interior of said wireway while said side members are securely retained by said base member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second ridges of said base member extend respectively from each of said longitudinal margins; and said first ridge is disposed inwardly from said second ridge on said base member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: a first of said regions of said depression adjacent said first shoulder having a slope extending downwardly from said first shoulder which is steeper than a slope of a second of said regions of said depression adjacent said second shoulder extending downwardly from said second shoulder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second ridges of said base member extend respectively from each of said longitudinal margins; and said first ridge is disposed inwardly from said second ridge on said base member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 8, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 8, wherein said lip of said first ridge is disposed substantially parallel to said side of said base member and includes a retaining surface facing a base of said channel; and said slope of said first region of said depression is substantially perpendicular to said side of said side member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 11, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 11, wherein said second ridges of said base member extend respectively from each of said longitudinal margins; and said first ridge is disposed inwardly from said second ridge on said base member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 13, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
323 words
A wireway mountable on a support structure comprising: a pair of identical elongated side members, each of said side members having a side and a pair of tapered longitudinal edge portions, said side of said side members having a longitudinal depression transversely displaced inwardly from each of said edge portions to define a longitudinal shoulder adjacent each of said edge portions, a first of said depressions having a slope extending downwardly from a first of said shoulders which is steeper than a slope of a second of said depressions extending downwardly from a second of said shoulders; a resiliently deformable elongated base member mountable on said support structure and having a side remote from said support structure and at each of its opposite longitudinal margins a pair of ridges extending outwardly from said side of said base member to define a channel therebetween which is shaped to receive either one of said shoulders of said side member, a first ridge of said pair of ridges having a lip extending toward a second ridge of said pair of ridges and projecting into said depression when said either one of said shoulders is received within said channel, said lip defining a mouth of said channel having a cross sectional width less than the maximum cross sectional width of said channel, said cross sectional width of said mouth being less than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at said either one of said shoulders; and a cover member identical to said base member, whereby when said first shoulders of each of said side members are respectively receiveD within said channels of said base member and said second shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said cover member, said cover member may be readily removed from said side members for access to the interior of said wireway while said side members are securely retained by said base member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
323 words
A wireway mountable on a support structure comprising: a pair of identical elongated side members, each of said side members having a side and a pair of tapered longitudinal edge portions, said side of said side members having a longitudinal depression transversely displaced inwardly from each of said edge portions to define a longitudinal shoulder adjacent each of said edge portions, a first of said depressions having a slope extending downwardly from a first of said shoulders which is steeper than a slope of a second of said depressions extending downwardly from a second of said shoulders; a resiliently deformable elongated base member mountable on said support structure and having a side remote from said support structure and at each of its opposite longitudinal margins a pair of ridges extending outwardly from said side of said base member to define a channel therebetween which is shaped to receive either one of said shoulders of said side member, a first ridge of said pair of ridges having a lip extending toward a second ridge of said pair of ridges and projecting into said depression when said either one of said shoulders is received within said channel, said lip defining a mouth of said channel having a cross sectional width less than the maximum cross sectional width of said channel, said cross sectional width of said mouth being less than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at said either one of said shoulders; and a cover member identical to said base member, whereby when said first shoulders of each of said side members are respectively receiveD within said channels of said base member and said second shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said cover member, said cover member may be readily removed from said side members for access to the interior of said wireway while said side members are securely retained by said base member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 15, wherein said second ridges of said base member extend respectively from each of said longitudinal margins; and said first ridge is disposed inwardly from said second ridge on said base member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 15, wherein said lip of said first ridge is disposed substantially parallel to said side of said base member and includes a retaining surface facing a base of said channel; and said slope of said first depression is substantially perpendicular to said side of said side member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
318 words
A wireway mountable on a support structure comprising: a pair of identical elongated side members, each of said side members having a side and a pair of tapered longitudinal edge portions, said side of said side members having a longitudinal depression transversely displaced inwardly from each of said edge portions to define a longitudinal shoulder adjacent each of said edge portions, the cross sectional thickness of said side member at a first of said shoulders being greater than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at a second of said shoulders; a resiliently deformable elongated base member mountable on said support structure and having a side remote from said support structure and at each of its opposite longitudinal margins a pair of ridges extending outwardly from said side of said base member to define a channel therebetween which is shaped to receive either one of said shoulders of said side member, a first ridge of said pair of ridges having a lip extending toward a second ridge of said pair of ridges and projecting into said depression when said either one of said shoulders is received within said channel, said lip defining a mouth of said channel having a cross sectional width less than the maximum cross sectional width of said channel, said cross sectional width of said mouth being less than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at said either one of said shoulders; and a cover member identical to said base member, whereby when said first shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said base member and said second shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said cover member, said cover member may be readily removed from said side members for access to the interior of said wireway while said side members are securely retained by said base member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
318 words
A wireway mountable on a support structure comprising: a pair of identical elongated side members, each of said side members having a side and a pair of tapered longitudinal edge portions, said side of said side members having a longitudinal depression transversely displaced inwardly from each of said edge portions to define a longitudinal shoulder adjacent each of said edge portions, the cross sectional thickness of said side member at a first of said shoulders being greater than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at a second of said shoulders; a resiliently deformable elongated base member mountable on said support structure and having a side remote from said support structure and at each of its opposite longitudinal margins a pair of ridges extending outwardly from said side of said base member to define a channel therebetween which is shaped to receive either one of said shoulders of said side member, a first ridge of said pair of ridges having a lip extending toward a second ridge of said pair of ridges and projecting into said depression when said either one of said shoulders is received within said channel, said lip defining a mouth of said channel having a cross sectional width less than the maximum cross sectional width of said channel, said cross sectional width of said mouth being less than the cross sectional thickness of said side member at said either one of said shoulders; and a cover member identical to said base member, whereby when said first shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said base member and said second shoulders of each of said side members are respectively received within said channels of said cover member, said cover member may be readily removed from said side members for access to the interior of said wireway while said side members are securely retained by said base member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 19, wherein said second ridges of said base member extend respectively from each of said longitudinal margins; and said first ridge is disposed inwardly from said second ridge on said base member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 19, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 19, further comprising: a first of said depressions having a slope extending downwardly from a first of said shoulders which is steeper than a slope of a second of said depressions extending downwardly from a second of said shoulders.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 22, wherein said second ridges of said base member extend respectively from each of said longitudinal margins; and said first ridge is disposed inwardly from said second ridge on said base member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 22, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 22, wherein said lip of said first ridge is disposed substantially parallel to said side of said base member and includes a retaining surface facing a base of said channel; and said slope of said first depression is substantially perpendicular to said side of said side member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 25, wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 25, wherein said second ridges of said base member extend respectively from each of said longitudinal margins; and said first ridge is disposed inwardly from said second ridge on said base member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wireway as set forth in claim 27 wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of wire access and ventilating openings extending therethrough.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |