Patent Application
20110171852
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of cable protectors. More specifically, the present invention discloses a modular cover for use between modular cable protectors that provides a visual indicator to passersby, provides a storage area for excess cables, cable connectors, plugs or power distribution boxes, and also allows for connection of cable protectors with different connector shapes.
2. Statement of the Problem
Hose and cable bridging protective devices have been used in the past to prevent damage for hoses, cables, wiring and the like by vehicles and pedestrians. These cable protectors also help to minimize the risk of pedestrians tripping over cables. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “cable” should be broadly interpreted to include cables, hoses, electrical wiring, conduits, optical fibers, pneumatic tubing, plumbing, and the like.
Many conventional cable protectors include one or more channels extending in parallel between the ends of the cable protector to receive the cables. A hinged lid can be used to cover the channels and serve as the top surface of the cable protector. Side ramps or beveled edges extend laterally outward from both sides of the cable protector to allow vehicles to roll over the top of the cable protector. Each cable protector typically includes a set of end connectors that enable a series of cable protectors to be attached together in a modular end-to-end fashion to any desired length.
Other cable protectors have channels that facilitate cables carried in other patterns, such as Y, X or T-shaped configurations, or 45° or 90° turns. However, these often require extra space within the cable protector to accommodate connection plugs, electrical junctions, extra cable and the like. In addition, it is often advantageous to be able to prominently mark such junctions for the benefit of workers and to warn passersby.
Traditionally, cable protectors have been designed to maintain as low a profile as possible to minimize the risk that pedestrians might trip or stumble over the cable protector. A low-profile cable protector is also beneficial in reducing the degree of obstruction presented to vehicles, and in particular wheel chairs, crossing over the cable protector. Thus, maintaining a minimal height has traditionally been one of the major goals in designing cable protectors. Creating a cable protector with components that intentionally extend upward to a significant height would be counter to the conventional wisdom in this field.
The applicant's U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,332,672 and 7,531,746 (Henry) disclose modular cable protectors with a raised barrier lid. The lid can include a recess to hold cables and cable connectors. However, these cable protectors still require a base with end connectors to engage neighboring cable protectors, which adds cost, weight and complexity.
Thus, there continues to be a need for a cost-effective cable connector cover for protect cables and cable connectors that can join conventional modular cable protectors and also provides a visual indicator to passersby.
3. Solution to the Problem
The present invention addresses these shortcomings of the prior art by providing a cable connector cover suitable for use with modular cable protectors in which excess cables, cable connectors, plugs and electrical distribution boxes can be stored in a recess in the bottom of the cable connector cover. In addition, the cable connector cover is equipped with connectors suitable for engaging the end connectors of adjacent modular cable protectors to facilitate assembly of these components in any desired configuration. Also, the upper portion of the cable connector cover serves as a visual indicator to passersby. For example, the upper portion of the cable connector cover can be decorated with graphics to direct or warn pedestrians.
In addition, the cable connector cover can be molded from plastic with a thin shell construction. This allows the cable connector cover to be light weight and stackable to simplify transportation and storage between use.
This invention provides a cable connector cover for use with modular cable protectors that includes a recess under the cable connector cover for housing cables and cable connectors, and has connectors for removably engaging end connectors of adjacent cable protectors. Openings extend through the cable protector cover into the recess adjacent to the connectors and are aligned with the channels of the cable protectors to allow cables to run from the cable protectors into the recess. The upper portion of the cable connector cover can extend upward to a sufficient height to provide a visual indicator to passersby.
These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed description and the drawings.
The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
a is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a cable connector cover 10 without end connectors that is designed to seat over the ends of two modular cable protectors 70 and 71.
Turning to
The lower portion of the cable connector cover 10 is designed to sit directly on the ground and occupy the space at the juncture of two or more modular cable protectors. The lower portion of the cable protector can be equipped with connectors 12 to removably engage corresponding end connectors 75 on the adjacent modular cable protectors. For example, these connectors 12 can be T-shaped or have a dog-bone shape for compatibility with the end connectors on modular cable protectors that are widely used in the industry. Different combinations of connectors 12 could also be used to connect unlike modular cable protectors with different end connectors 75.
Alternatively, the connectors 12 shown in
The upper portion 21 of the cable connector cover 10 can be molded as a thin shell (e.g., plastic). The upper portion 21 extends upward to a sufficient height to provide a visual indicator to passersby. For example, the interior of the upper portion 21 of the cable connector cover 10 can be a continuation of the bottom recess 16 as illustrated in
The lower portion of the cable connector cover 10 may require a sturdier construction than the upper portion 21 to withstand the stresses associated with the connectors 12. Therefore, heavier foot assemblies 11 that incorporate the connectors 12 can be manufactured separately and then secured to the bottom of the cable connector cover 10 as shown in
Several embodiments of the upper portion 21 of the cable connector cover 10 are shown in drawings. In the embodiment depicted in
Another embodiment is shown in
The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention described in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that various changes, modifications, other structural arrangements, and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.
