Patent Application
20060038091
The invention relates generally to cable management systems, and more particularly to wire mesh cable support trays that are interconnected at improved support brackets.
Cable tray systems are known for supporting a network of cables below raised floors or above hung ceilings and other areas where cable networks are located. The conventional cable tray system is made of a large number of trays or modules positioned end to end along the desired route where cables are to placed and supported. The cable trays, in turn, are supported by a number of brackets or hangers mounted on posts (sub-floor posts holding up a raised floor or any other columns), walls, ceilings, floors or other building structures. The trays are connected to each other by separate clips or clamps.
As shown in
Adjacent mesh trays 202 are joined to each other at their abutting longitudinal ends by separate clips (not shown) typically on the sidewalls of the mesh trays of 202 to form one continuous support. This system is inefficient, however, since it requires two separate connections to the trays (one to the bracket for supporting the tray and the other with separate clips attaching the trays to each other).
Other pieces or modules of the cable tray system include solid, flat junction plates (sometimes referred to as “pizza boxes”). These junction plates act as a hub or turning location, and connect to two or more support trays, each extending in a different direction. The junction plate has a number of straight (i.e., in one line) arrays of holes where each array extends in a different direction on the junction plate. Each array used to connect to a support tray can only receive one end of one support tray. The end of the support tray has a row of hooked wires that can be placed in the holes in one of the arrays.
The known junction plates have limited adaptability because they do not provide a way for consecutive wire mesh trays to be placed directly next to each other in all possible directions (for example along the left edge, right edge, upper edge or lower edge in plan view) over the junction plate. In other words, no more than one support tray can engage any single array of holes. Thus, the known junction plate does not provide any way to maintain the continuous end-to-end positioning of the support trays over the junction plate in multiple directions in order to maintain the continuous cable route on the support trays without a break in the route for the junction plate.
These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification.
In the present invention, brackets are provided that both hold wire mesh support trays and provide the connection between adjacent wire mesh trays eliminating the need for separate clips between the wire mesh trays.
In a first aspect of the invention, a cable support system has a support bracket with an elongated member defining a longitudinal central axis. The member also defines at least one slot with its longest dimension transverse to the central axis. At least two adjacent support trays are provided and each have an end secured to the bracket. Each tray end has a wire with a bent hook end where the two hook ends of the two adjacent support trays oppose each other and engage the slot of the member. A fastening mechanism is provided for securing both tray ends to the elongated member.
In another aspect of the invention, the bracket member has an alternating array of apertures and slots along its central axis in order to connect to the fastening mechanism in between the slots provided for the hook ends.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the feature of using slots extending parallel to the longitudinal wires on the support trays is applied to other support devices such as the junction plates. More specifically, a cable guide system has at least two wire-mesh support trays. Each tray has at least one end with a plurality of wires where the wires have a bent hook end. A junction plate with multiple arrays of elongated slots is provided to receive the hook ends of support trays. The slot arrays are arranged for selectively extending the support tray(s) in two or more different directions from the plate. Since slots are used on the plate, instead of just circular holes, on all or most of the arrays on the plate, two adjacent support trays can be connected end-to-end at any one of the slot arrays. The arrays also have alternating hole arrays to engage a fastening mechanism to secure the trays to the plate.
The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and accompanying drawings, provide a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention.
A cable support system, indicated in general at 10 in
As shown in
The main wires 16 have bent hook ends 22 (shown in FIGS. 4B and 8-10) for connecting to bracket 24. It will be appreciated that while the hook ends 22 are shown bent straight downward at 90 degrees, the hook ends can have many different configurations including downwardly extending curves, multiple bends, bends at angles other than 90 degrees and even hooks extending upward.
Bracket 24 (shown in
As shown in
The bracket 24 or 28 holds two opposing longitudinal ends 18 of adjacent support trays 12a and 12b as shown in
In other embodiments, the main wires 16a and 16b may be at an angle to axis 34, as shown in
It will also be appreciated that while
As shown in
It will be appreciated that the trays 12 can be clamped to any arm or member of the brackets 24 or 28 (horizontal or vertical) as long as space exists for the trays, clips and brackets. Thus,
It will also be appreciated that while the clip 36 and trays 12 attach to the top of the bracket member 23, the wires and clip could be attached to the bottom of the member 23 by inverting the connection.
In another alternative, clip 36 could be sized to engage transverse wires 20 rather than, or in addition to, main wires 16.
In another aspect of the invention, a solid junction plate, indicated in general at 60 in
The junction plate 60 has one array of slots 62-68 along each of its edges 80 as well as one array 70 diagonally across the center of the plate 60. Each edge 80 terminates in its own rim or lip 82. Another two arrays 72, 74 are positioned across the center of the plate 60 in a “+” pattern. This allows support trays 12 to extend off of the junction plate 60 in six different directions (off of each edge 80 and two ways from diagonal array 70). The arrays (62, 72, 66) and (64, 74, 68) allow for attachment at three different horizontal and vertical positions (e.g. left, center, right). Slots are used in the arrays so that two adjacent support trays 12 can be connected end-to-end at any single array of slots on the plate 60. This allows for a wide variety of configurations with one to four support trays 12 on the junction plate 60. Even more than four trays can be used when using small trays that cover less than an entire edge 80 (e.g. where the width of a support tray only covers half of edge 80).
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.
