US3968322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wiring duct
Assignee: Taylor Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-22
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Granted: 1976-07-06
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Expires: 1993-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A wiring duct, or wireway, of the type used in electrical equipment for supporting and retaining electrical conductors and for permitting individual conductors to be routed to and from the wiring duct, in the form of a U-shaped channel having sidewalls, at least one of which has a plurality of longitudinally spaced slits open to the edge of the wall defining a plurality of flexible finger-like members. Each slit is substantially wider at one end than the other and has sides diverging at a predetermined angle towards the edge of the sidewall but terminating proximate each edge by a narrow gap restriction permitting passage of the conductors routed through the slit as a result of the deflection of the flexible finger-like members. The width of each slit at its widest portion is at least 1.5 that of its width at its narrowest portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip W. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:31
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/04; H02G3/0437; H02G3/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
349 words
In a wiring duct for supporting a plurality of electrical conductors generally of a predetermined diameter, said duct comprising an elongated channel of a substantially U-shaped cross section defining a substantially planar base portion and a pair of substantially planar sidewalls projecting integrally from said base portion, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike slits formed in at least one of said sidewalls and having parallel axes of symmetry normal to a terminal edge of said sidewall and said slits being open to said edge of said sidewall, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike finger-like members being thusly defined between consecutive slits, each of said finger-like members being widened at the end portion thereof proximate the terminal edge of said sidewall for defining a narrow gap open end for each of said slits, said channel being made of a substantially flexible material for permitting deflection of said finger-like members in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said channel to provide widening of said narrow gap open end of said slit for passage therethrough of said electrical conductors, the side of said slit proximate said terminal edge of said sidewall being defined by a pair of aligned separate side portions of consecutive finger-like members substantially parallel to said base portion of the channel, the improvement comprising each of said slits having its opposite sides substantially straight and diverging one from the other in the direction of said terminal edge such that each of said slits is wider proximate the widened end portion of said finger-like members than proximate said base portion, said sides being disposed at an angle of the order of between 5° and 30°, said sides further being joined proximate said base portion by an arcuate side, the ratio of the width of said slit at the widest portion thereof to the width of said slit at the narrowest portion thereof being at least 1.5 to 1 and the width of the narrow gap open end of said slits being less than the width of each of said slits at the narrowest portion thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
349 words
In a wiring duct for supporting a plurality of electrical conductors generally of a predetermined diameter, said duct comprising an elongated channel of a substantially U-shaped cross section defining a substantially planar base portion and a pair of substantially planar sidewalls projecting integrally from said base portion, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike slits formed in at least one of said sidewalls and having parallel axes of symmetry normal to a terminal edge of said sidewall and said slits being open to said edge of said sidewall, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike finger-like members being thusly defined between consecutive slits, each of said finger-like members being widened at the end portion thereof proximate the terminal edge of said sidewall for defining a narrow gap open end for each of said slits, said channel being made of a substantially flexible material for permitting deflection of said finger-like members in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said channel to provide widening of said narrow gap open end of said slit for passage therethrough of said electrical conductors, the side of said slit proximate said terminal edge of said sidewall being defined by a pair of aligned separate side portions of consecutive finger-like members substantially parallel to said base portion of the channel, the improvement comprising each of said slits having its opposite sides substantially straight and diverging one from the other in the direction of said terminal edge such that each of said slits is wider proximate the widened end portion of said finger-like members than proximate said base portion, said sides being disposed at an angle of the order of between 5° and 30°, said sides further being joined proximate said base portion by an arcuate side, the ratio of the width of said slit at the widest portion thereof to the width of said slit at the narrowest portion thereof being at least 1.5 to 1 and the width of the narrow gap open end of said slits being less than the width of each of said slits at the narrowest portion thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wiring duct of claim 1 wherein the narrow gap open end of said slits widens from proximate the terminal edge of said sidewall to said terminal edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wiring duct of claim 1 wherein both said sidewalls are provided with said slits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wiring duct of claim 1 wherein the gap open end of each of said slits includes a pair of successively convergent and divergent arcuate curved edges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a wiring duct for supporting a plurality of electrical conductors generally of a predetermined diameter, said duct comprising an elongated channel of a substantially U-shaped cross section defining a substantially planar base portion and a pair of substantially planar sidewalls projecting integrally from said base portion, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike slits formed in at least one of said sidewalls and having parallel axes of symmetry normal to a terminal edge of said sidewall and said slits being open to said edge of said sidewall, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike finger-like members being thus defined between consecutive slits, each of said finger-like members being widened at the end portion thereof proximate the terminal edge of said sidewall for defining a narrow gap open end for each of said slits, said channel being made of a substantially flexible material for permitting deflection of said finger-like members in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said channel to provide widening of said narrow gap open end of said slit for passage therethrough of said electrical conductors, the side of said slit proximate said terminal edge of said sidewall being defined by the widened end portions of two consecutive finger-like members, the improvement comprising each of said slits having its opposite sides substantially straight and joined by an arcuate side proximate said base portion and being separated at said arcuate side one from the other at corresponding points of tangency to said arcuate side by a predetermined first distance, said sides being separated one from the other proximate the widened end portions of said finger-like members by a predetermined second distance, the ratio of said second distance to said first distance being of the order of between 1.5 to 1 and 3 to 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a wiring duct for supporting a plurality of electrical conductors generally of a predetermined diameter, said duct comprising an elongated channel of a substantially U-shaped cross section defining a substantially planar base portion and a pair of substantially planar sidewalls projecting integrally from said base portion, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike slits formed in at least one of said sidewalls and having parallel axes of symmetry normal to a terminal edge of said sidewall and said slits being open to said edge of said sidewall, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike finger-like members being thus defined between consecutive slits, each of said finger-like members being widened at the end portion thereof proximate the terminal edge of said sidewall for defining a narrow gap open end for each of said slits, said channel being made of a substantially flexible material for permitting deflection of said finger-like members in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said channel to provide widening of said narrow gap open end of said slit for passage therethrough of said electrical conductors, the side of said slit proximate said terminal edge of said sidewall being defined by the widened end portions of two consecutive finger-like members, the improvement comprising each of said slits having its opposite sides substantially straight and joined by an arcuate side proximate said base portion and being separated at said arcuate side one from the other at corresponding points of tangency to said arcuate side by a predetermined first distance, said sides being separated one from the other proximate the widened end portions of said finger-like members by a predetermined second distance, the ratio of said second distance to said first distance being of the order of between 1.5 to 1 and 3 to 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wiring duct of claim 5 wherein both said sidewalls are provided with said slits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
288 words
In a wall for supporting a plurality of electrical conductors, said wall comprising a planar portion, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike slits formed in said planar portion and having parallel axes of symmetry normal to a terminal edge of said planar portion and said slits being open to said edge of said planar portion, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike finger-like members being thus defined between consecutive slits, each of said finger-like members being widened at the end portion thereof proximate the terminal edge of said planar portion for defining a narrow gap open end for each of said slits, said wall being made of a substantially flexible material for permitting deflection of said finger-like members in a direction generally normal to the plane of said planar portion to provide widening of said narrow gap open end of each of said slits for passage therethrough of said electrical conductors, the side of each of said slits proximate said terminal edge of said planar portion being defined by a pair of aligned separate side portions of consecutive finger-like members substantially parallel to said terminal edge, the improvement comprising each of said slits having its opposite sides substantially straight and diverging one from the other in the direction of said terminal edge, said sides being disposed at an angle of the order of between 5° and 30° such that the width of each of said slits is greater proximate the widened end portion of said finger-like members than proximate said base portion, and the ratio of the width of each of said slits at the widest portion thereof to the width of each of said slits at the narrowest portion thereof being at least 1.5 to 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
288 words
In a wall for supporting a plurality of electrical conductors, said wall comprising a planar portion, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike slits formed in said planar portion and having parallel axes of symmetry normal to a terminal edge of said planar portion and said slits being open to said edge of said planar portion, a plurality of evenly spaced substantially alike finger-like members being thus defined between consecutive slits, each of said finger-like members being widened at the end portion thereof proximate the terminal edge of said planar portion for defining a narrow gap open end for each of said slits, said wall being made of a substantially flexible material for permitting deflection of said finger-like members in a direction generally normal to the plane of said planar portion to provide widening of said narrow gap open end of each of said slits for passage therethrough of said electrical conductors, the side of each of said slits proximate said terminal edge of said planar portion being defined by a pair of aligned separate side portions of consecutive finger-like members substantially parallel to said terminal edge, the improvement comprising each of said slits having its opposite sides substantially straight and diverging one from the other in the direction of said terminal edge, said sides being disposed at an angle of the order of between 5° and 30° such that the width of each of said slits is greater proximate the widened end portion of said finger-like members than proximate said base portion, and the ratio of the width of each of said slits at the widest portion thereof to the width of each of said slits at the narrowest portion thereof being at least 1.5 to 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The wall of claim 7 wherein the narrow gap open end of each of said slits widens from proximate the terminal edge of said planar portion to said terminal edge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wall of claim 7 wherein the gap open end of each of said slits includes a pair of successively convergent and divergent arcuate curved edges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wall of claim 9 wherein the closed end of each of said slits is arcuate.
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) | 1979-07-06 | 1980-01-05 | 1980-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-06 | 1984-01-05 | 1984-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-06 | 1988-01-05 | 1988-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |