Raceway outlet station

• US 5,998,732 A
• Filed: 01/13/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Caveney, Jack E., Woods, Randall T., VanderVelde, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/006,663
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/50, 174/58, 174/60, 174/67, 174/49, 220/3.2, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 220/242, 220/3.3, 220/3.92, 220/3.94, 52/220.3, 52/220.7
• US Class Current: 174/481
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/105 in association with a plinth, channel, raceway or similar

Abstract

A modular raceway outlet station for use with a trunking duct which has a divider wall and a top access opening, includes an offset power box having a projection extending lateral from a top wall of the box having a top portion and an abutment portion which depends from the furthest extent of the top portion and is adapted to be substantially aligned with an edge of the top access opening, wherein the abutment portion does not project into the top access opening; and an opening formed in the abutment portion of the projection which communicates with an aperture formed in a side wall of the box adjacent the duct. The outlet station further includes, an extension which is adapted to extend over the top access opening having an abutment surface which aligns flush against the abutment portion of the projection; a routing notch formed in the abutment surface corresponding in longitudinal extent to the opening formed in the abutment portion of the projection; and a guide wall depending from the extension, interiorly adjacent the routing notch, having a longitudinal extent greater than the routing notch, and adapted to be substantially vertically aligned with the divider wall. Wherein, the power conductors may be routed out of and over the duct, and into the offset power box before installation of the extension and the power conductors remain completely isolated from the communication conductors after the extension is installed.

Claims

1. A modular raceway outlet station for use with a trunking duct which has a divider wall and a top access opening comprising:

an offset power box having,

a projection extending laterally from a top wall of the offset power box having a top portion and an abutment portion depending from a furthest extent of the top portion adapted to be disposed substantially aligned with an adjacent edge of the top access opening; and

an opening formed in the abutment portion of the projection is in communication with an aperture formed in a side wall of the offset power box adjacent the duct; and

a communication extension adapted to be disposed over the duct top access opening having,

an abutment surface depending from a top surface of the extension adapted to be disposed flush against the abutment portion of the projection;

a routing notch formed in the abutment surface and

a guide wall depending from the extension interiorly adjacent the routing notch, adapted to be substantially vertically aligned with a divider wall,

wherein power conductors may be routed out of and over the duct, through the routing notch, and opening, and into the offset power box before installation of the extension, such that the power conductors are isolated from communication conductors when the extension is installed.

2. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 1, further having alignment bosses which extend and depend from the abutment portion and have disposed thereon means for latching which are adapted to be operatively associated with the duct, wherein the alignment bosses are further adapted to provide a positioning stop for a duct cover.

3. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 2 further having extension latching element which depend from the extension and are adapted to be operatively associated with the duct, and means for latching a faceplate to the top surface of the extension disposed spaced longitudinally exterior each extension latching element.

4. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 3, further having alignment notches formed in the abutment surface, disposed longitudinally exterior each means for latching said faceplate adjacent the offset power box, which are operatively associated with the alignment bosses to align box end walls and extension end surfaces.

5. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 3, wherein the means for latching said faceplate comprises cored-out latching elements disposed adjacent each corner of the extension.

6. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 3, wherein the means for latching said faceplate comprises apertures disposed on the top surface of the extension and depending mounting bosses disposed under each of said apertures.

7. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 1, further having means for latching a faceplate to the top wall of the offset power box.

8. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 1, wherein the offset power box and the extension are separate, non-integral elements.

9. An integrally formed raceway outlet station for use with a trunking duct which has a divider wall, comprising:

an offset power box having, a projection extending laterally from a top wall of the box;

a communication extension adapted to be disposed over the duct top access opening having, a guide wall depending from the extension adapted to be substantially vertically aligned with a divider wall; and

an abutment portion disposed between the offset box projection and the extension, depending in part from each, having a routing notch formed laterally therethrough in communication with an aperture formed in a sidewall of the box adjacent the trunking duct,

wherein the power conductors may be routed out of and over the duct, through the routing notch, and into the offset power box such that the power conductors are isolated from communication conductors.

10. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 9, further having aligned bosses which extend and depend from the abutment portion and have disposed thereon means for latching which are adapted to be operatively associated with the trunking duct, wherein the alignment bosses are further adapted to provide a positioning stop for a duct cover.

11. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 10 further having extension latching element which depend from the extension and are adapted to be operatively associated with the trunking duct, and means for latching a faceplate to a top surface of the extension disposed spaced longitudinally exterior each extension latching element.

12. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 11, further having alignment notches formed in the abutment surface, disposed longitudinally exterior each means for latching said faceplate adjacent the offset power box, which are operatively associated with the alignment bosses to align box end walls and extension end surfaces.

13. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 11, wherein the means for latching said faceplate comprises cored-out latching elements disposed adjacent each corner of the extension.

14. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 11, wherein the means for latching said faceplate comprises apertures disposed on the top surface of the extension and depending mounting bosses disposed under each of said apertures.

15. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 9, further having means for latching a faceplate to the top wall of the offset power box.

16. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 9, wherein the offset power box and the extension are separate, non-integral elements.

17. A modular raceway outlet station for use with a trunking duct which has a divider wall and a top access opening comprising:

an offset power box having,

a projection extending laterally from a top wall of the box having a top portion and an abutment portion depending from a furthest extent of the top portion adapted to be disposed substantially aligned with an adjacent edge of the top access opening; and

an opening formed in the abutment portion of the projection in communication with a aperture formed in a side wall of the box adjacent the trunking duct; and

a communication extension adapted to project over the duct top access opening having,

an abutment surface depending from a top surface of the extension adapted to be disposed flush against the abutment portion of the projection;

a routing notch formed in the abutment surface corresponding in longitudinal extent to the opening formed in the abutment portion of the projection; and

a guide wall depending from the extension interiorly adjacent the routing notch, adapted to be substantially vertically aligned with a divider wall and having a longitudinal extent greater than the routing notch,

wherein power conductors may be routed out of and over the duct, through the routing notch, and opening, and into the offset power box before installation of the extension, such that the power conductors are isolated from the communication conductors when the extension is installed.

18. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 17, further having alignment bosses which extend and depend from the abutment portion and have disposed thereon means for latching which are adapted to be operatively associated with the trunking duct, wherein the alignment bosses are further adapted to provide a positioning stop for a duct cover.

19. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 18 further having extension latching element which depend from the extension and are adapted to be operatively associated with the trunking duct, and means for latching a faceplate to the top surface of the extension disposed spaced longitudinally exterior each extension latching element.

20. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 19, further having alignment notches formed in the abutment surface, disposed longitudinally exterior each means for latching a faceplate adjacent the offset power box, which are operatively associated with the alignment bosses to align box end walls and extension end surfaces.

21. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 19, wherein the means for latching said faceplate comprises cored-out latching elements disposed adjacent each corner of the extension.

22. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 19, wherein the means for latching said faceplate comprises apertures disposed on the top surface of the extension and depending mounting bosses disposed under each aperture.

23. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 17, further having means for latching said faceplate to the top wall of the offset power box.

24. A modular raceway outlet station according to claim 17, wherein the offset power box and the extension are separate, non-integral elements.