US5140791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Limited access feeder raceway
Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-17
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Granted: 1992-08-25
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Expires: 2010-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A floor construction includes a metal floor decking having a plurality of parallel multi-cell cellular metal floor raceways each of which includes at least one cell for high voltage power wiring. This one cell has a first wiring opening defined in a top thereof. A limited access feeder raceway transversely spans and rests upon the cellular metal floor raceways. The feeder raceway includes an enclosed first wiring raceway separating bottomless second and third wiring raceways. The enclosed first wiring raceway has a plurality of spaced second wiring openings defined through a bottom thereof, one of said second wiring openings being located directly above and in registry with each of the first wiring openings. The feeder raceway includes a closed top having a plurality of spaced access openings defined therethrough, one of which access openings is located directly above each of the second wiring openings. A plurality of access units are mounted upon the feeder raceway, one being associated with each access opening. The access units extend upward from the closed top of the feeder raceway to about a floor level for providing access downward through the access openings into the first, second and third wiring raceways of the limited access feeder raceway and into the cells of the multi-cell cellular metal floor distribution raceways. A concrete floor is poured on top of the metal floor decking and over the closed top of the limited access feeder raceway up to the floor level. An alternative two cell bottomless limited access feeder raceway is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Kimbrough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:42
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F17/00; E04F17/08; H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/28; H02G3/283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A floor construction comprising: a metal floor decking including a plurality of parallel multi-cell cellular metal floor raceways each including a plurality of cells each of which cells has a top wall, and all of said top walls lying in a common plane, at least one cell of each raceway having a first wiring opening defined in said top wall thereof; a limited access raceway transversely spanning and resting upon said top walls of said cells of said cellular metal floor raceways, said limited access raceway including: an enclosed first wiring raceway separating bottomless second and third wiring raceways, said enclosed first wiring raceway having a plurality of spaced second wiring openings defined through a bottom thereof, said bottom resting upon said top walls of said cells, one of said second wiring openings being located directly above and in registry with one of said first wiring openings; a closed raceway top having a plurality of spaced access openings defined therethrough, one of said second wiring openings being located below each of said access openings; a plurality of access means, one associated with each access opening, extending upward from said closed raceway top to about a floor level, for providing access downward through said access openings into said first, second and third wiring raceways of said limited access raceway and into said cells of said multi-cell cellular metal floor raceways; and a concrete floor poured on top of said metal floor decking and over said closed raceway top of said limited access raceway up to said floor level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
A floor construction comprising: a metal floor decking including a plurality of parallel multi-cell cellular metal floor raceways each including a plurality of cells each of which cells has a top wall, and all of said top walls lying in a common plane, at least one cell of each raceway having a first wiring opening defined in said top wall thereof; a limited access raceway transversely spanning and resting upon said top walls of said cells of said cellular metal floor raceways, said limited access raceway including: an enclosed first wiring raceway separating bottomless second and third wiring raceways, said enclosed first wiring raceway having a plurality of spaced second wiring openings defined through a bottom thereof, said bottom resting upon said top walls of said cells, one of said second wiring openings being located directly above and in registry with one of said first wiring openings; a closed raceway top having a plurality of spaced access openings defined therethrough, one of said second wiring openings being located below each of said access openings; a plurality of access means, one associated with each access opening, extending upward from said closed raceway top to about a floor level, for providing access downward through said access openings into said first, second and third wiring raceways of said limited access raceway and into said cells of said multi-cell cellular metal floor raceways; and a concrete floor poured on top of said metal floor decking and over said closed raceway top of said limited access raceway up to said floor level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The floor construction of claim 1, further comprising: a layer of reinforcing material embedded in said concrete floor above said closed raceway top of said limited access raceway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The floor construction of claim 1, wherein: said enclosed first wiring raceway spans each of said access openings, said closed raceway top defining a top wall of said enclosed first wiring raceway except at said access openings where a top of said enclosed first wiring raceway is open to permit access thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The floor construction of claim 1, wherein: said limited access raceway has a fixed vertical height of said closed raceway top.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
184 words
A limited access raceway apparatus to be placed in a floor, comprising: first and second spaced apart substantially parallel side rails; a unitary top plate spanning said side rails and fixedly attached thereto, said top plate having an access opening defined therethrough; an elongated raceway divider means, being channel shaped having first and second flanges attached to and extending downward from said top plate and a web intermediate said flanges at their lower ends thereby defining an enclosed raceway, said enclosed raceway extending parallel to said side rails and separating a space between said side rails into two bottomless raceways located on opposite sides of said enclosed raceway and divider means, a portion of said web of said enclosed raceway and divider means spanning said access opening of said unitary top plate and having a wiring opening defined therein, said wiring opening being located directly below said access opening; and an access means, fixedly attached to said top plate at said access opening and extending upward therefrom, for providing access from a floor level downward through said access opening into said two bottomless raceways.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
184 words
A limited access raceway apparatus to be placed in a floor, comprising: first and second spaced apart substantially parallel side rails; a unitary top plate spanning said side rails and fixedly attached thereto, said top plate having an access opening defined therethrough; an elongated raceway divider means, being channel shaped having first and second flanges attached to and extending downward from said top plate and a web intermediate said flanges at their lower ends thereby defining an enclosed raceway, said enclosed raceway extending parallel to said side rails and separating a space between said side rails into two bottomless raceways located on opposite sides of said enclosed raceway and divider means, a portion of said web of said enclosed raceway and divider means spanning said access opening of said unitary top plate and having a wiring opening defined therein, said wiring opening being located directly below said access opening; and an access means, fixedly attached to said top plate at said access opening and extending upward therefrom, for providing access from a floor level downward through said access opening into said two bottomless raceways.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: said flanges and said web of said channel shaped raceway enclosure and divider means are integrally constructed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: said side rails and said raceway enclosure and divider means have equal fixed vertical heights so that said web of said enclosure and divider means and lower edges of said side rails lie in a common plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: said raceway enclosure and divider means includes horizontally outward extending lips defined on upper ends of said flanges, said lips abutting a lower surface of said top plate and being attached thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein; said lips of said raceway enclosure and divider means terminate adjacent said access opening.
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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) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |