US3906146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular wiring duct and wire holder system
Assignee: Taylor Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1974-02-06
•
Granted: 1975-09-16
•
Expires: 1994-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A wiring duct and wire holder modular system for use in wiring electrical equipment as used in control panels and electrical cabinets for machine tools, industrial installation, computers and the like. The wiring duct or wireway system of the invention consists of modular units for supporting and distributing to electrical equipment a plurality of electrical conductors which are routed through a plurality of wiring duct modular units interlocked end to end or at a right angle to each other for forming branching wireways, or T-connections, and turns, or Lconnections. Each modular unit consists of a base member, preferably provided on each end with interlocking means for connection to a second modular unit disposed in alignment therewith so as to form a guideway of an appropriate length, and of a row of pins mounted on two parallel edges of the base member, each pin having a foot portion for insertion into a mounting aperture in the base member, an appropriate slotted locking means being disposed in the foot portion of the pin for secure engagement in the mounting aperture such that each lateral row of pins form a sidewall for the guideway. The pins are provided with an enlarged head portion so as to form between consecutive pins a space through which individual electrical conductors may be routed through the sidewall of the guideway. The electrical conductors may be threaded through the spaces between consecutive pins, or a pin may be manually deflected such as to increase the spacing between the enlarged heads of consecutive pins so that an electrical conductor may be slipped into the space. The juxtaposed enlarged head portions of the pins retain the electrical conductors through the spaces when the pins are in their normal aligned position. A corner modular unit is also provided by the invention, consisting of a substantially square base member provided with pin mounting apertures along each side of the base. Pins are inserted in appropriate mounting apertures to provide either a closure end wall for a duct, or an appropriate L or elbow connection between two ducts.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip W Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:16
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/06; H02G3/0608; H02G3/04; H02G3/0437; H02G3/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
378 words
A holder for supporting, containing and distributing a plurality of electrical conductors, said holder comprising a base plate member made of plastic material and having a lower and an upper surface, interlocking means disposed at each end of said base plate member for interlocking said member with another, a plurality of aligned apertures disposed substantially parallel to one edge of said plate member, pins on the upper surface of said plate member each disposed in one of said apertures, each of said pins being made of plastic material and having an elongated body portion provided at an end thereof with an enlarged head portion and at the other end thereof with a foot portion for mounting on said plate member, said body portion having a frusto-conical shape of decreasing diameter from proximate the foot portion thereof to proximate the enlarged head portion thereof and said foot portion comprising a radially extending flange portion in engagement with the upper surface of said base plate member and a tapered projecting portion inserted in said aperture and having a major lateral dimension section slightly larger than said aperture, a peripheral groove disposed proximate said major lateral dimension section, said groove being so dimensioned as to snuggly fit in said aperture, a longitudinal slot formed in said projecting portion and extending at least partially through said groove for allowing said projecting portion to laterally resiliently contract during insertion into said aperture and to laterally resiliently expand for holding the foot portion of said pin with said groove in said aperture, and a recess formed in the lower surface of said plate member accommodating said projecting portion of said pin, wherein a plurality of said pins is disposed in a row defining a wall provided with a plurality of openings each of which is formed between two adjecent pins for passage of electrical conductors through said openings and each of said pins is resiliently flexible for deflection of the free end thereof, whereby the enlarged head portion of said pin is deflected away from the enlarged head portion of adjacent pins for providing a spacing between said adjacent enlarged head portions wide enough to accept an electrical conductor therethrough for routing of said electrical conductor through an opening between two consecutive adjacent pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
378 words
A holder for supporting, containing and distributing a plurality of electrical conductors, said holder comprising a base plate member made of plastic material and having a lower and an upper surface, interlocking means disposed at each end of said base plate member for interlocking said member with another, a plurality of aligned apertures disposed substantially parallel to one edge of said plate member, pins on the upper surface of said plate member each disposed in one of said apertures, each of said pins being made of plastic material and having an elongated body portion provided at an end thereof with an enlarged head portion and at the other end thereof with a foot portion for mounting on said plate member, said body portion having a frusto-conical shape of decreasing diameter from proximate the foot portion thereof to proximate the enlarged head portion thereof and said foot portion comprising a radially extending flange portion in engagement with the upper surface of said base plate member and a tapered projecting portion inserted in said aperture and having a major lateral dimension section slightly larger than said aperture, a peripheral groove disposed proximate said major lateral dimension section, said groove being so dimensioned as to snuggly fit in said aperture, a longitudinal slot formed in said projecting portion and extending at least partially through said groove for allowing said projecting portion to laterally resiliently contract during insertion into said aperture and to laterally resiliently expand for holding the foot portion of said pin with said groove in said aperture, and a recess formed in the lower surface of said plate member accommodating said projecting portion of said pin, wherein a plurality of said pins is disposed in a row defining a wall provided with a plurality of openings each of which is formed between two adjecent pins for passage of electrical conductors through said openings and each of said pins is resiliently flexible for deflection of the free end thereof, whereby the enlarged head portion of said pin is deflected away from the enlarged head portion of adjacent pins for providing a spacing between said adjacent enlarged head portions wide enough to accept an electrical conductor therethrough for routing of said electrical conductor through an opening between two consecutive adjacent pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein the enlarged head portion of each pin engages the enlarged head portion of each adjacent pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein said pin has a circular cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein each of said apertures in said base plate member has a conical countersink disposed toward the upper surface of said base plate member facilitating the insertion of the tapered projecting portion of the foot portion of said pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein the projecting foot portion of said pin is cemented in said aperture in the base plate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein said flange portion is cemented to the surface of said base plate member in engagement therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises a pair of U-shaped upstanding integral tabs formed on at least an end of said plate member, said tabs being so spaced and disposed as to be engageable in one of said recesses in the lower surface of said plate member for interconnecting a pair of said holders disposed with their longitudinal axes at a right angle to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The holder of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of aligned apertures disposed proximate each of two parallel edges of said plate member, one of said pins being mounted in each of said apertures such as to provide a pair of substantially parallel rows of pins for said holder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
The holder of claim 8 further comprising a removable cover comprising a plate element, a pair of substantially parallel edge wall portions each formed along an edge of said plate element, and a pair of substantially parallel intermediate wall portions each disposed parallel to and a predetermined distance away from each of said edge wall portions engaging diametrically opposite sides of the enlarged heads of said pins of a row, the edge portion of at least one of said walls having a laterally projecting lip engaged below the enlarged head portion of said pins and securedly interlocking said cover with said enlarged head portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein mounting apertures are disposed through said base plate member for mounting upon a surface by means of fasteners.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein an adhesive is disposed as a coating on the lower surface of said base plate member for mounting upon a surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises a tongue projecting at one end of said base plate member, a recess disposed proximate the other end of said base plate member, a wedge-like projection dependent from said tongue engageable in saId recess, and a tab extending above said recess for guiding said tongue and forcing said wedge-like projection into said recess when the tongue at the end of a base plate member is engaged between the tab and the recess at the end of another base plate member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
363 words
A modular holder unit for supporting and distributing a plurality of elongated flexible objects, said holder unit comprising a rectangular base member, a plurality of substantially equidistant pins disposed in a row parallel to one of the sides of said rectangular base member, said pins being of substantially equal length and each provided with an elongated body portion provided at its free end with an enlarged head portion, said row of pins defining an apertured wall provided with a plurality of openings each of which is formed between the body portions of two adjacent pins for passage of said elongated flexible objects through said openings, and interlocking means integrally disposed at each end of said base member for securely connecting a plurality of individual modular holder units in an end-to-end relationship to form an apertured wall of a predetermined length, wherein said base member has a plurality of aligned apertures disposed substantially parallel to an edge of said base member, and each of said pins has a foot portion comprising a radially extending flange portion engaged with the upper surface of said base member and a tapered projecting portion inserted through one of said apertures and having a major lateral dimension section slightly larger than said aperture, a peripheral groove disposed proximate said major lateral dimension section, said groove snuggly fitting in said aperture, a longitudinal slot formed in the projecting portion and extending at least partially into said groove for allowing said projecting portion to laterally resiliently contract during insertion into said aperture and to laterally resiliently expand for holding the foot portion of said pin with said groove in said aperture, and a recess formed in the surface of said base member accommodating said projecting portion of said pin, wherein each of said pins is resiliently flexible for deflection away from an adjacent pin for providing a spacing between the enlarged head portions of adjacent pins wide enough to accept an elongated flexible object therethrough for routing of said object through the opening between two consecutive adjacent pins, and the body portion of said pins has a gradually decreasing cross section from the foot portion thereof to the head portion thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
363 words
A modular holder unit for supporting and distributing a plurality of elongated flexible objects, said holder unit comprising a rectangular base member, a plurality of substantially equidistant pins disposed in a row parallel to one of the sides of said rectangular base member, said pins being of substantially equal length and each provided with an elongated body portion provided at its free end with an enlarged head portion, said row of pins defining an apertured wall provided with a plurality of openings each of which is formed between the body portions of two adjacent pins for passage of said elongated flexible objects through said openings, and interlocking means integrally disposed at each end of said base member for securely connecting a plurality of individual modular holder units in an end-to-end relationship to form an apertured wall of a predetermined length, wherein said base member has a plurality of aligned apertures disposed substantially parallel to an edge of said base member, and each of said pins has a foot portion comprising a radially extending flange portion engaged with the upper surface of said base member and a tapered projecting portion inserted through one of said apertures and having a major lateral dimension section slightly larger than said aperture, a peripheral groove disposed proximate said major lateral dimension section, said groove snuggly fitting in said aperture, a longitudinal slot formed in the projecting portion and extending at least partially into said groove for allowing said projecting portion to laterally resiliently contract during insertion into said aperture and to laterally resiliently expand for holding the foot portion of said pin with said groove in said aperture, and a recess formed in the surface of said base member accommodating said projecting portion of said pin, wherein each of said pins is resiliently flexible for deflection away from an adjacent pin for providing a spacing between the enlarged head portions of adjacent pins wide enough to accept an elongated flexible object therethrough for routing of said object through the opening between two consecutive adjacent pins, and the body portion of said pins has a gradually decreasing cross section from the foot portion thereof to the head portion thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein the projecting portion of said pin is cemented in said aperture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein each of said apertures in said base member has a conical countersink disposed toward the upper surface of said base member for facilitating insertion of the tapered projecting portion of the foot portion of said pin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein the enlarged head portion of each pin engages the enlarged head portion of each adjacent pin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein each of said pins has a circular cross section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein each of said pins has a frusto-conical shape of constantly decreasing diameter from proximate the base member to proximate the enlarged head portion of said pin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein said interlocking means comprises a pair of integral tabs formed on at least an end of said base member, said tabs being so spaced and disposed as to be engageable in a recess in said base member for interconnecting a pair of said holder units disposed with their longitudinal axes at a right angle to each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein mounting apertures are disposed through said base member for mounting upon a surface by means of fasteners.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein an adhesive is disposed as a coating on the lower surface of said base member for mounting upon a surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hoLder unit of claim 13 wherein a plurality of aligned pins are disposed in two parallel rows each proximate an edge of said base member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
95 words
The holder unit of claim 22 further comprising a removable cover having two pairs of substantially parallel edge walls, each of which comprises a wall along an edge of said cover and an intermediate wall disposed a predetermined distance away from the edge wall engaging diametrically opposite sides of the enlarged heads of the pins in a single row, the edge portion of at least one of said walls in each pair having a laterally projecting lip engaged below the enlarged head portion of the pins and interlocking said cover with said enlarged head portions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
86 words
The holder unit of claim 13 wherein said interlocking means comprises a tongue member projecting integrally beyond said base member and a one-way locking step disposed on the surface of said first tongue member, a second tongue member integrally formed proximate the other end of said base member and having a lower surface adapted to engage the upper surface of said first tongue member, and a portion formed proximate the end of said base member for interlocking engagement with the step of said first tongue member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The holder unit of claim 24 wherein said first tongue is provided with a transverse weakening groove on the surface thereof for breaking away said first tongue substantially flush with the end of said base member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
The holder unit of claim 16 further comprising a corner modular unit abutting an end thereof, said corner unit comprising a square base member having a row of apertures disposed proximate each side thereof, a plurality of pins each lockably insertable in one of said apertures, and interlocking means at each side of said square base member for interlocking with said end of said holder unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2128606A
Cited
US2233107A
Cited
US2526766A
Cited
US2940016A
Cited
US3024301A
Cited
US3126185A
Cited
US3229029A
Cited
US3297168A
Cited
US3363050A
Cited
US3573373A
Cited
US3752198A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |