US3763401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wiring duct and terminal system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-07
•
Granted: 1973-10-02
•
Expires: 1992-08-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrical wiring system including a duct for carrying a group of wires. The duct includes provisions for passing wires outwardly through the wall thereof at numerous locations along the length thereof. Additionally, a plurality of terminals are attached to one of the walls of the duct for receiving and terminating internally of the duct certain ones of the group of wires, and providing structure externally of the duct for subsequently receiving one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires to various remote locations. Several embodiments of the duct and the terminals are disclosed. However, all of the terminals pass through the wall of the duct and include particular structure for attachment thereof to the duct.
Inventors
- 👤 D Ransom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:25
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/04; H02G3/0437; H02G3/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
459 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of upstanding fingerlike members defining a plurality of slots for selectively passing wires therethrough, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means and subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said one vertical wall, said terminal means respectively including proximal and distal horizontally disposed flange portions joined by midportions, said flange portions respectively including said means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, attachment means for attaching said terminal means to said duct means, and at least one elongated ancillary channel means for cooperating with said duct means to electrically isolate portions of said plurality of terminal means from adjacent duct support structure, said ancillary channel means including first and second confrontingly arranged vertical walls joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, the first of said walls of said ancillary channel means being considerably lower in height than either of said vertical walls of said duct means, said first wall of said ancillary channel means terminating upwardly thereof with an inwardly directed shelflike protrusion extending along the length thereof, at least one of said vertical walls of said duct means including an inwardly directed shelflike protrusion extending along the length thereof, said protrusion of said duct means being positioned subjacent said slots and being at a height thereon which corresponds to the height of said first vertical wall of said ancillary channel means, said webs of said duct and channel means being in a single plane with saiD first wall of said ancillary channel means contiguously engaging one of said vertical walls of said duct means, said inwardly directed protrusion of said ancillary channel means being remotely positioned with respect to said inwardly directed protrusions of said duct means, said terminal means respectively passing through certain of said slots of said duct means, said midportions of said terminal means including said attachment means which grippingly engages said protrusions of said duct and ancillary channel means, and said proximal portions of said terminal means being disposed within said duct means and said distal portions thereof being disposed within said ancillary channel means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
459 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of upstanding fingerlike members defining a plurality of slots for selectively passing wires therethrough, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means and subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said one vertical wall, said terminal means respectively including proximal and distal horizontally disposed flange portions joined by midportions, said flange portions respectively including said means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, attachment means for attaching said terminal means to said duct means, and at least one elongated ancillary channel means for cooperating with said duct means to electrically isolate portions of said plurality of terminal means from adjacent duct support structure, said ancillary channel means including first and second confrontingly arranged vertical walls joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, the first of said walls of said ancillary channel means being considerably lower in height than either of said vertical walls of said duct means, said first wall of said ancillary channel means terminating upwardly thereof with an inwardly directed shelflike protrusion extending along the length thereof, at least one of said vertical walls of said duct means including an inwardly directed shelflike protrusion extending along the length thereof, said protrusion of said duct means being positioned subjacent said slots and being at a height thereon which corresponds to the height of said first vertical wall of said ancillary channel means, said webs of said duct and channel means being in a single plane with saiD first wall of said ancillary channel means contiguously engaging one of said vertical walls of said duct means, said inwardly directed protrusion of said ancillary channel means being remotely positioned with respect to said inwardly directed protrusions of said duct means, said terminal means respectively passing through certain of said slots of said duct means, said midportions of said terminal means including said attachment means which grippingly engages said protrusions of said duct and ancillary channel means, and said proximal portions of said terminal means being disposed within said duct means and said distal portions thereof being disposed within said ancillary channel means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
The system of claim 1 in which said attachment means that engages said protrusions of said duct and ancillary channel means includes confrontingly arranged springlike clips which respective engage said inwardly directed protrusions of said duct and ancillary channel means, said clips yieldably allowing downward movement thereof from said protrusions during the installation of said terminal means and precluding upward movement to remove said terminal means subsequent to the installation thereof, said clips respectively being joined by horizontally disposed bridges that pass through said slots of said duct means with corresponding portions thereof conforming to and engaging certain portions of said protrusions of said duct and ancillary channel means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
272 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of upstanding fingerlike members defining a plurality of slots for selectively passing wires therethrough, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of first apertures, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means for subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said first apertures in said one vertical wall, said terminal means respectively including proximal and distal horizontally disposed flange portions joined by vertically disposed midportions, said flange portions respectively including said means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, and attachment means for attaching said terminal means to said duct means; said one vertical wall of said duct means including a plurality of second apertures, said midportions of said terminal means respectively being provided with apertures and said attachment means including a plurality of rivets, each of said terminal means being attached to said duct means by said rivets being received through said second apertures and said apertures in said midportions said terminal means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
272 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of upstanding fingerlike members defining a plurality of slots for selectively passing wires therethrough, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of first apertures, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means for subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said first apertures in said one vertical wall, said terminal means respectively including proximal and distal horizontally disposed flange portions joined by vertically disposed midportions, said flange portions respectively including said means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, and attachment means for attaching said terminal means to said duct means; said one vertical wall of said duct means including a plurality of second apertures, said midportions of said terminal means respectively being provided with apertures and said attachment means including a plurality of rivets, each of said terminal means being attached to said duct means by said rivets being received through said second apertures and said apertures in said midportions said terminal means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
323 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of upstanding fingerlike members defining a plurality of slots for selectively passing wires therethrough, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of first apertures, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of saId duct means subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said first apertures in said one vertical wall, said terminal means respectively including proximal and distal horizontally disposed flange portions joined by vertically disposed midportions, said flange portions respectively including said means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, and attachment means for attaching said terminal means to said duct means; at least one of said vertical walls of said duct means including ledge means for engaging and supporting said terminal means, said ledge means being disposed beneath said first apertures and projecting outwardly from said duct means, said attachment means includes bias means for engaging said ledge means to yieldably allow downward movement of said terminal means during the installation thereof and preclude upward movement subsequent to the installation thereof, said respective proximal flange portions of said terminal means passing through said first apertures, and each proximal flange portion thereof being provided with a pair of remotely arranged notches which engage portions of said one vertical wall of said duct means defining said first apertures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
323 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of upstanding fingerlike members defining a plurality of slots for selectively passing wires therethrough, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of first apertures, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of saId duct means subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said first apertures in said one vertical wall, said terminal means respectively including proximal and distal horizontally disposed flange portions joined by vertically disposed midportions, said flange portions respectively including said means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, and attachment means for attaching said terminal means to said duct means; at least one of said vertical walls of said duct means including ledge means for engaging and supporting said terminal means, said ledge means being disposed beneath said first apertures and projecting outwardly from said duct means, said attachment means includes bias means for engaging said ledge means to yieldably allow downward movement of said terminal means during the installation thereof and preclude upward movement subsequent to the installation thereof, said respective proximal flange portions of said terminal means passing through said first apertures, and each proximal flange portion thereof being provided with a pair of remotely arranged notches which engage portions of said one vertical wall of said duct means defining said first apertures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
344 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of upstanding fingerlike members defining a plurality of slots for selectively passing wires therethrough, a pluralijy of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means for subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said one vertical wall, said terminal means including proximal and distal horizontally disposd flange portions joined by midportions, said flange portions respectively including means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, and attachment means for attaching said terminal means to said duct means; each of said plurality of upstanding fingerlike members of said duct means including at least one protuberance, said terminal means respectively being restingly supported by said protuberances, said protuberances being positioned substantially intermediate the lengths of said fingerlike members, said terminal means respectively passing through certain of said slots with said proximal flange portions thereof being disposed within said duct means and said distal flange portions thereof being disposed externally of said duct means, said midportions of said terminal means respectively including said attachment means, said attachment means including boxlike means having at least three sides thereof joined one to the other with two sides thereof defining a mouthlike opening, the interior of said boxlike means substantially conforming to the respective cross sectional shape of fingerlike members, and said mouthlike openings respectively receiving said fingerlike members allowing lateral movement of said terminal means during the installation thereof wherein said boxlike means circumferentially engages said fingerlike members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
344 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, at least one of said vertical walls including a plurality of upstanding fingerlike members defining a plurality of slots for selectively passing wires therethrough, a pluralijy of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means for subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said one vertical wall, said terminal means including proximal and distal horizontally disposd flange portions joined by midportions, said flange portions respectively including means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, and attachment means for attaching said terminal means to said duct means; each of said plurality of upstanding fingerlike members of said duct means including at least one protuberance, said terminal means respectively being restingly supported by said protuberances, said protuberances being positioned substantially intermediate the lengths of said fingerlike members, said terminal means respectively passing through certain of said slots with said proximal flange portions thereof being disposed within said duct means and said distal flange portions thereof being disposed externally of said duct means, said midportions of said terminal means respectively including said attachment means, said attachment means including boxlike means having at least three sides thereof joined one to the other with two sides thereof defining a mouthlike opening, the interior of said boxlike means substantially conforming to the respective cross sectional shape of fingerlike members, and said mouthlike openings respectively receiving said fingerlike members allowing lateral movement of said terminal means during the installation thereof wherein said boxlike means circumferentially engages said fingerlike members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 5 in which said protruberances of said respective fingerlike members are directed outwardly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 5 in which said protuberances of said respective fingerlike members are directed inwardly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of clAim 5 in which said boxlike means includes a fourth side partially closing said mouthlike opening, said boxlike means being resilient to yieldably allow lateral movement of said terminal means during the installation thereof and said fourth side engaging said fingerlike member precluding lateral movement to remove said terminal means subsequent to the installation thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 8 in which each of said plurality of fingerlike members includes a pair of remotely arranged laterally extending nibs positioned adjacent the free end thereof with opposite sides of the boxlike means respectively engaging said nibs which preclude upward movement of said terminal means away from said protuberances.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means for subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said one vertical wall, said terminal means including proximal and distal horizontally disposed flange portions joined by vertically disposed midportions, said flange portions respectively including means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, and attachment means for fixedly attaching said vertically arranged midportions of said terminal means to said duct means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means for subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said one vertical wall, said terminal means including proximal and distal horizontally disposed flange portions joined by vertically disposed midportions, said flange portions respectively including means for receiving one of the ends of certain wires, and attachment means for fixedly attaching said vertically arranged midportions of said terminal means to said duct means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
273 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means for subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said one vertical wall, at least one elongated ancillary channel means for cooperating with said duct means to isolate portions of said plurality of terminal means from adjacent duct support structure, said ancillary channel means including first and second confrontingly arranged vertical walls joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, said webs of said duct and channel means being in a single plane with said first wall of said ancillary channel means contiguously engaging one of said vertical walls of said duct means, said terminal means being respectively positioned with one end thereof disposed within said duct means and with the other end thereof disposed within said ancillary channel means, and attachment means located on said terminal means for grippingly engging said first wall of said ancillary channel means and said one of said vertical walls of said duct means to fixedly attach said ancillary channel means to said duct means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
273 words
An electrical wiring system comprising channel-like duct means for carrying a group of wires, said duct means being formed from an electrical insulating substance and having a pair of confrontingly arranged vertical walls integrally joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, a plurality of terminal means attached to one of said vertical walls, said terminal means including means for receiving and terminating internally of said duct means certain ones of the group of wires and means externally of said duct means for subsequently receiving selectively one of the respective ends of additional wires to electrically extend certain ones of the group of wires, said terminal means being formed from an electrical conductive substance and extending through said one vertical wall, at least one elongated ancillary channel means for cooperating with said duct means to isolate portions of said plurality of terminal means from adjacent duct support structure, said ancillary channel means including first and second confrontingly arranged vertical walls joined by a horizontal web extending along the lengths thereof, said webs of said duct and channel means being in a single plane with said first wall of said ancillary channel means contiguously engaging one of said vertical walls of said duct means, said terminal means being respectively positioned with one end thereof disposed within said duct means and with the other end thereof disposed within said ancillary channel means, and attachment means located on said terminal means for grippingly engging said first wall of said ancillary channel means and said one of said vertical walls of said duct means to fixedly attach said ancillary channel means to said duct means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |