Cable raceway

• US 6,037,538 A
• Filed: 01/25/1999
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Douglas Brooks
• Original Assignee: Gary Douglas Brooks
• Inventors: Brooks, Gary Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/237,155
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 52/238.1, 52/239, 52/220.2, 52/220.6, 52/220.7
• US Class Current: 174/498
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

Abstract

A system, method, and components for removably securing communication cables to the upper portion of work station divider panels is shown. Key to the installation is the telecommunication removable raceway which contains an upper inverted U-shaped cover, and a mating H-shaped panel grip channel. The H-shaped lower channel has a pair of lower legs depending from a central web, and upper legs extending upwardly from the web to matingly engage the inverted U-shaped member. The lower legs are proportioned to flexibly and clampingly engage the upper portion of the work station divider. A top feed tube is provided to lead the cabling downwardly from inside the drop ceiling or other ceiling portion, and coact with a top feed cap which is provided at preselected stations along the main raceway to interrupt the inverted U-shaped cover. Additionally, corner members, end cap members, wire trough managers, and station drop feeds are provided to the end so that the cable may be routed in accordance with the location of the work station, and more particularly the needs of each particular work station for coupling to the main communication source.

Claims

1. A system for channel mounting of cabling for use on top of portable wall panels, without penetrating the portable wall panels, each of which has an essentially continuous uninterrupted linear upper edge comprising, in combination,

a clamping member for placement atop said portable walls having a central continuous web perpendicular to resiliently secured opposed continuous depending legs and upstanding walls forming a cable guide channel atop said clamping member continuous web, and

a cover member for removable securement to said cable guide channel, whereby said clamping member, cable guide channel, and cover member can be removably secured to the top of a wall panel and cabling for communications to be installed without defacing the wall panel, guided for installation temporarily by the guide channel, and thereafter covered in use by the cover member.

2. A system for channel mounting of cabling for use on the top edge of portable wall panels comprising, in combination, H-shaped means having depending opposed flexing legs for removably and clampingly securing a mounting member to an upper portion of a wall panel top edge along the entire length of said top edge,

means for guiding cable temporarily atop said mounting member while said mounting member is secured to the upper portion of the wall panel, and

means for covering and securing the cable inside the means for guiding the cable and for securement of said cable to said means for clampingly securing, whereby the aforesaid means for guiding can be removably secured to said top of said portable wall panels and the cable for communications can be installed in said means for guiding, guided for installation temporarily by the means for guiding the cable, and thereafter covered for ultimate usage by said means for covering and securing.