Self-securing raceway end cap

• US 6,484,360 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: DeBartolo, Joseph Jr., Methot, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUTTON JR, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/559,276
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 16/95.R, 522/207, 522/42, 522/90, 522/871, 522/881, 526/568, 524/56, 248/217.3, 248/216.4, 174/48, 174/49, 174/68.3
• US Class Current: 16/95.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0487 with a non-circular cross-section H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/083 Inlets

Abstract

An end cap for engaging a raceway having an end wall portion and a gripping wall portion extending from the inner surface of the end wall portion at a first end of said gripping wall portion. A plurality of barbs extend from opposing surfaces of the gripping wall portion which engage the inner channel surface of the raceway to form a friction fit therewith. In a second embodiment, the plurality of barbs are progressively wider from the distal end of the gripping wall portion to its first end, allowing the end cap to be employed with various sized raceways.

Claims

1. An end cap for engaging a raceway, comprising:

an end wall portion extending in a first direction, said end wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface and first and second opposite sides extending between said inner and outer surfaces;

a gripping wall portion extending from said inner surface of said end wall portion in a second direction, said gripping wall portion being located proximate said first side and remote from said second side and having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface and said second surface facing in opposing directions;

a first securing member extending from said first surface of said gripping wall portion for engaging an inner perimeter surface of the raceway, said first securing member including a plurality of first securing elements;

a second securing member extending from said second surface of said gripping wall portion for engaging the inner perimeter surface of the raceway; and

a rib connected to each of said end wall portion and said gripping wall portion, respectively, for providing reinforcement to said gripping wall portion,

whereby said first securing member and said second securing member form a friction fit with the raceway.

2. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said second securing member includes a plurality of second securing elements.

3. An end cap according to claim 2, wherein

said first and second securing elements are barbs.

4. An end cap according to claim 2, wherein

each of said first securing elements include separate first engaging surfaces, respectively;

and

each of said second securing elements include separate second engaging surfaces, respectively.

5. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said gripping wall portion includes a third securing member.

6. An end cap according to claim 5, wherein

said third securing member is a fastener receiving aperture formed in said gripping wall portion.

7. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second securing members are substantially coplanar with said gripping wall portion.

8. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second securing members are removably coupled with the raceway.

9. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said gripping wall portion is a unitary member.

10. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said gripping wall portion includes a first end coupled to said end wall portion and a second end remote from said first end;

and

each of said first and second securing members extend from proximate said first end to proximate said second end.

11. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said gripping wall portion includes a third surface extending between said first and second surfaces;

and

said third surface being without a securing member extending therefrom.

12. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said gripping wall portion includes a third surface extending between said first and second surfaces;

and

said third surface being spaced from the inner perimeter surface of the raceway.

13. An end cap according to claim 1, wherein

said rib is substantially perpendicular to each of said end wall portion and said gripping wall portion.

14. An end cap for engaging a raceway, comprising:

an end wall portion extending in a first direction, said end wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a gripping wall portion extending from said inner surface of said end wall portion in a second direction, said gripping wall portion having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface and said second surface facing in opposing directions;

a first securing member extending from said first surface of said gripping wall portion for engaging an inner perimeter surface of the raceway, said first securing member including a plurality of first securing elements;

a second securing member extending from said second surface of said gripping wall portion for engaging the inner perimeter surface of the raceway,

whereby said first securing member and said second securing member form a friction fit with the raceway; and

said gripping wall portion includes opposing first and second ends, and a third surface with a support rib extending from said third surface, said support rib being tapered from said first end to said second end.

15. An end cap according to claim 14, wherein

said gripping wall portion includes a fourth surface and a positioning rib extending from said fourth surface.

16. An end cap for engaging a raceway, comprising:

an end wall portion extending in a first direction, said end wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a sidewall;

a unitary gripping wall portion having opposing first and second surfaces and opposing first and second ends, said gripping wall portion extending in a second direction from said inner surface of said end wall portion at said first end of said gripping wall portion;

a first securing member extending from said first surface of said gripping wall portion proximate said sidewall of said end wall portion, said first securing member tapering from said first end to said second end of said gripping wall portion for engaging an inner perimeter surface of the raceway; and

a second securing member extending from said second surface of said gripping wall portion, said second securing member tapering from said first end to said second end of said gripping wall portion for engaging the inner perimeter surface of the raceway,

whereby said first securing member and said second securing member form a friction fit with the raceway.

17. An end cap according to claim 16, wherein

each of said first and second securing members include a plurality of first and second securing elements, respectively.

18. An end cap according to claim 17, wherein

said first and second securing elements are barbs.

19. An end cap according to claim 16, wherein

said gripping wall portion includes a fastener receiving aperture formed in said gripping wall portion.

20. An end cap according to claim 16, wherein

said gripping wall portion is substantially flat.

21. An end cap according to claim 16, wherein

said end cap is a unitary one-piece member.

22. An end cap according to claim 16, wherein

said end cap is formed of a plastic material.

23. An end cap according to claim 16, wherein

said gripping wall portion includes a first end coupled to said end wall portion and a second end remote from said first end;

and

each of said first and second securing members extend from proximate said first end to proximate said second end.

24. A raceway assembly, comprising:

a raceway having a base for attaching to a support, a cover releasably attached to said base, and an inner perimeter surface defining an inner channel, said inner perimeter surface having a substantially flat and continuous inner portion, and said inner channel having a terminal end; and

an end cap releasably engaging said raceway at said terminal end, said end cap including,

an end wall portion extending in a first direction and having inner and outer surfaces,

a gripping wall portion received in said inner channel of said raceway, extending from said inner surface of said end wall portion in a second direction, and

opposing first and second securing members extending from said gripping wall portion, each of said first and second securing members including a plurality of first securing elements and second securing elements, respectively, each of said first securing elements and each of said second securing elements engages said inner portion of said raceway forming a friction fit therewith preventing said end cap from separating from said raceway.

25. A raceway assembly according to claim 24, wherein

said end wall portion includes a plurality of sidewalls, and

said raceway includes an outer perimeter surface, said sidewalls of said end wall portion being substantially flush with said outer perimeter surface of said raceway at said terminal end.

26. A raceway assembly according to claim 24, wherein

said gripping wall portion has opposing first and second ends and a support rib and that tapers from said first end to said second end, said support rib engaging said inner portion of said raceway.

27. A raceway assembly, comprising:

a raceway having a base for attaching to a support, a cover releasably attached to said base, and an inner perimeter surface defining an inner channel, said inner perimeter surface having a substantially flat and continuous inner portion, and said inner channel having a terminal end;

an end cap releasably engaging said raceway at said terminal end, said end cap including,

an end wall portion extending in a first direction and having inner and outer surfaces,

a gripping wall portion received in said inner channel of said raceway, extending from said inner surface of said end wall portion in a second direction, and

a first securing member extending from said gripping wall portion, engaging said inner portion of said raceway forming a friction fit therewith preventing said end cap from separating from said raceway;

a second securing member extending from said gripping wall portion, engaging said inner portion of said raceway forming a friction fit therewith;

each of said first and securing members include a plurality of first and second securing elements, respectively; and

said gripping wall portion includes opposing first and second ends, and

each of said first and second securing elements are barbs, said barbs taper from said first end to said second end.

28. A raceway assembly, comprising:

a raceway having a base with first and second opposing walls and a cover with a third wall extending between said first and second walls, said first, second and third walls having an inner perimeter surface defining an inner channel of said raceway; and

an end cap releasably engaging said raceway and including,

an end wall portion extending in a first direction, said end wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface and first and second opposite sides extending between said inner and outer surfaces,

a gripping wall portion extending from said inner surface of said end wall portion in a second direction, said gripping wall portion being located proximate said first side and remote from said second side and having a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface extending therebetween with said first surface and said second surface facing in opposing directions,

a first securing member extending from said first surface of said gripping wall portion engaging said inner perimeter surface of said raceway at said first wall, and

a second securing member extending from said second surface of said gripping wall portion engaging said inner perimeter surface of said raceway at said second wall with said third surface of said gripping wall portion being without a securing member and being spaced from said inner perimeter surface of said raceway at said third wall.

29. A raceway according to claim 28, wherein

a rib is connected to each of said end wall portion and said gripping wall portion, respectively, so that said rib is substantially perpendicular to each of said gripping wall portion and said end wall portion.