Cover for Cable Trough

• US 20060191700A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Rapp, David E., Sjodin, Chad J., Herzog, Daniel M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0418 Covers or lids; Their fastenings

Abstract

Systems and methods for covering a trough member. A system can include a hinge clip coupled to a sidewall of the trough member and having arms creating a socket. The system can include a cover including a pivot member and a groove at one end. The pivot member can be received in the socket to allow the cover to pivot about the pivot member from open to closed positions, and one arm of the socket can be received in the groove in the open position. A capture clip including a ramp portion and a seat can be coupled to the other sidewall, and another pivot member at the other end of the cover can ride along the ramp and drop into the seat as the cover is pivoted from open to closed positions. The cover can also be two cover portions, each extending partially over the trough member and creating a slot therebetween.

Claims

1. A cover and hinge assembly for covering a trough member having a base and two sidewalls, the assembly comprising:

a hinge clip configured to be detachably coupled to a first of the two sidewalls of the trough member, the hinge clip defining a receiving member; and

a cover including a planar main body and having a first end extending at an angle with respect to the main body, the cover including a pivot member at the first end;

wherein the pivot member is received in the receiving member of the hinge clip to allow the cover to be pivoted about the pivot member from an open position to a closed position.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end extends at the angle towards one of the two sidewalls of the trough member.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a capture clip configured to be coupled to a second of the two sidewalls of the trough member, the capture clip including a ramp portion and defining a seat, wherein another pivot member at a second end of the cover rides along the ramp and is received in the seat of the capture clip when the cover is pivoted from the open position to the closed position.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the capture clip includes first and second members defining a channel configured to receive a portion of the second sidewall of the trough member to couple the capture clip to the second sidewall.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the second end of the cover extends at an angle with respect to the main body that is opposite to that of the angle at which the first end of the cover extends from the first end such that the first end, the main body, and the second end of the cover generally form an inverted U shape.

6. A cover and hinge assembly for covering a trough member having a base and two sidewalls, the assembly comprising:

a hinge clip configured to be coupled to a first sidewall of a trough member, the hinge clip defining a socket; and

a cover including a main body having a first end extending at an angle with respect to the main body, the cover including a pivot member at the first end;

wherein the pivot member is received in the socket of the hinge clip to allow the cover to be pivoted from an open position to a closed position; and

wherein the first arm of the socket is received in the groove of the cover when the cover is in the open position.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the first end extends at the angle towards the first sidewall of the trough member.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the hinge clip includes first and second members defining a channel configured to receive a portion of the first sidewall of the trough member to couple the hinge clip to the first sidewall.

9. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising a capture clip configured to be coupled to a second sidewall of the trough member, the capture clip including a ramp portion and defining a seat, wherein another pivot member at a second end of the main body of the cover rides along the ramp and is received in the seat of the capture clip when the cover is pivoted from the open position to the closed position.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the capture clip includes first and second members defining a channel configured to receive a portion of the second sidewall of the trough member to couple the capture clip to the second sidewall.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the second end of the cover extends at an angle with respect to the main body that is opposite to that of the angle at which the first end of the cover extends from the first end such that the first end, the main body, and the second end of the cover generally form an inverted U shape.

12. A cable trough system, comprising:

a trough member including first and second sidewalls coupled to a bottom wall generally forming a trough, the first sidewall including a first lip and the second sidewall including a second lip;

a cover including a main body having first and second ends, the cover including a pivot member at the first end;

a hinge clip defining a channel to couple the hinge clip to the first lip of the first sidewall, and the hinge clip defines a socket; and

a capture clip defining a channel to couple the capture clip to the second lip of the second sidewall, and the capture clip further including a ramp portion and defining a seat, wherein a pivot member at the second end of the cover rides along the ramp and is received in the seat of the capture clip when the cover is pivoted to the closed position.

wherein the pivot member at the first end of the cover is received in the socket of the hinge clip to allow the cover to be pivoted from an open position to a closed position.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein, as the cover is pivoted to the closed position and the pivot member at the second end of the cover rides along the ramp, the second sidewall is bowed inward to allow the pivot member at the second end of the cover to clear the ramp and drop into the seat.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the pivot member at the first end of the cover is configured to be snapped into the socket of the hinge clip.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second ends of the cover extend at angles with respect to the main body.