Electrical wiring trunking with flexible hinge

• US 6,284,974 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Planet Wattohm
• Original Assignee: Planet Wattohm
• Inventors: Albert, Christophe, Popescu, Dragos
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nino, Adolfo
• Application Number:
  US09/575,812
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 174/68.1, 174/68.3, 174/72.C, 174/95, 174/96, 174/97, 174/101, 522/871
• US Class Current: 174/68.3
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0418 Covers or lids; Their fastenings

Abstract

Electrical wiring trunking has a lateral hinge which is reinforced in the closed position. The trunking has a back portion, a cover portion, a hinge defined by a strip, arrangements for stiffening the hinge, closure arrangements and a first internal rib projecting from the inside face of the cover portion on the same side as the closure arrangements.

Claims

1. Electrical wiring trunking including a back portion which preferably has a globally U-shaped profile and a cover portion shaped to nest forcibly with said back portion, said cover portion being attached laterally to said back portion by a longitudinal hinge defined by a flexible and relatively deformable strip, and said cover portion having an inside face, the trunking including stiffener means established in the vicinity of said flexible strip by the cooperation of structural members attached to said back portion and said cover portion when said cover portion is closed and closure means between the edges of said back portion and said cover portion opposite those adjoining said hinge, a first internal rib projecting from said inside face of said cover portion taking up a position near said closure means when said cover portion is closed.

2. The trunking claimed in claim 1 further including a second internal rib projecting from said inside face of said cover portion and taking up a position near said stiffener means when said cover portion is closed.

3. The trunking claimed in claim 2 wherein said stiffener means include a second internal longitudinal boss and said second internal rib extends substantially the entire height of said second boss.

4. The trunking claimed in claim 3 wherein said second internal rib has a curved edge engaging under said second boss.

5. The trunking claimed in claim 4 wherein said stiffener means include a rib and a groove defined in the vicinity of said hinge and extending in the longitudinal direction of said flexible strip, one of these two members being attached to said back portion and the other to said cover portion, and said rib is engaged in said groove when said cover portion is closed.

6. The trunking claimed in claim 5 wherein said rib of said stiffener means is part of said cover portion and said groove is part of said back portion.

7. The trunking claimed in claim 6 wherein said back portion has a side wall and said second longitudinal boss is formed by the groove forming part of said stiffener means on said side wall of said back portion.

8. The trunking claimed in claim 4 wherein said back portion has a side wall and said stiffener means include a second longitudinal shoulder at the edge of said side wall of said back portion and internally forming said second boss.

9. The trunking claimed in claim 8 wherein said cover portion has an upstanding lateral edge which bears on said second shoulder when said cover portion is closed.

10. The trunking claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure means include a first internal longitudinal boss and said first internal rib extends substantially the whole length of said first boss.

11. The trunking claimed in claim 10 wherein said first internal rib has a curved edge engaging under said first boss.

12. The trunking claimed in claim 10 wherein said back portion has a side wall and said first longitudinal boss is formed by a groove that is part of said closure means on said side wall of said back portion.

13. The trunking claimed in claim 1 wherein said first internal rib is part of said closure means.

14. The trunking claimed in claim 13 wherein said back portion has a side wall and said closure means include a first longitudinal shoulder at the edge of the corresponding side wall of said back portion and internally forming a first longitudinal boss.

15. The trunking claimed in claim 14 wherein said cover portion has an upstanding lateral edge which bears on said first shoulder when said cover portion is closed.