Profile with two fittingly engageable parts, in particular a duct having a body and a cover

• US 5,086,195 A
• Filed: 05/10/1990
• Issued: 02/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Planet Wattohm
• Original Assignee: Planet Wattohm
• Inventors: Claisse, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): NIMMO, MORRIS
• Application Number:
  US07/521,385
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 174/68.3, 174/72 A, 174/97, 174/101, 138/157, 138/162, 138/163, 138/92, D13/155
• US Class Current: 174/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0418 Covers or lids; Their fastenings

Abstract

This profiled member is of the kind comprising two parts engageable with each other, for example a body part (10) and a cover part (11). There are provided on a baseplate (12) of the body part (10) snap-fastener members to enable the cover part (11) to be attached to the body part (10) in either of two separate positions, its normal service position and another position. The profiled member is particularly suitable for ducts or trunking of electrical wiring.

Claims

1. A profiled trunking member comprising a generally U-shaped body member and a cover part, said body member including a baseplate, two lateral flanges projecting from opposed sides of said baseplate, an opening defined between free ends of said lateral flanges remote from said baseplate, first and second snap-fastening means being provided proximate said baseplate and said free ends of the lateral flanges respectively, said first snap-fastening means being defined by extensions of said baseplate extending beyond junctions with the respective lateral flanges, the extensions and said baseplate lying in a common plane, said cover part having cooperable snap-fastening means selectively detentingly engageable with said first and second snap-fastening means, said cooperable snap-fastening means comprising two inwardly directed hook-shaped members projecting from an underside of said cover part, the distance between the extension on said baseplate and the hook-shaped members being equal, said cover part having a first or packing position in which said cooperable snap-fastening means are in engagement with said first snap-fastening means and said cover part at least partially overlies said baseplate while leaving the lateral flanges substantially entirely uncovered, said cover part having a second or service position in which said cooperable snap-fastening means are in engagement with said second snap-fastening means for closing off said opening, each of said lateral flanges comprising a planar central panel and marginal panels to each side thereof, the marginal panels of each lateral flange being inclined away from the plane of the respective central panel and towards the other lateral flange so as to define substantially bowed lateral flanges.

2. A profiled trunking member comprising a generally U-shaped body member and a cover part, said body member including a baseplate, two lateral flanges projecting from opposed sides of said baseplate, an opening defined between free ends of said lateral flanges remote from said baseplate, first and second snap-fastening means being provided proximate said baseplate and said free ends of the lateral flanges respectively, said first snap-fastening means being defined in recessed grooves opening onto an outer surface of said baseplate, said cover part having cooperable snap-fastening means selectively detentingly engageable with said first and second snap-fastening means, said cooperable snap-fastening means comprising two generally parallel hook-shaped ribs facing each other and projecting from an underside of said cover part, said grooves having contours complementary to those of said hook-shaped ribs, said grooves being spaced from each other a distance equal to the spacing of said hook-shaped ribs, said cover part having a first or packing position in which said cooperable snap-fastening means are in engagement with said first snap-fastening means and said cover part at least partially overlies said baseplate while leaving the lateral flanges substantially entirely uncovered, said cover part having a second or service position in which said cooperable snap-fastening means are in engagement with said second snap-fastening means for closing off said opening.

3. A profiled member according to claim 2, wherein the free ends of said lateral flanges are generally S-shaped and extend towards each other, said second snap-fastening means being defined by portions of the S-shaped free edges remote from said lateral flanges projecting away from said baseplate.

4. A profiled member according to claim 2, wherein said profiled member is an extrusion, said first or packing position being an immediate post-extrusion position.