Retaining clip for trunking, in particular trunking for electrical devices

• US 6,513,289 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Legrand France SA (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Legrand (Legrand SA), Legrand Snc (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Decore, Raphael, Decore, Bertrand
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): DORSEY, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US09/686,952
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 245/46, 245/47, 245/70, 244/62, 312/223.6, 174/135, 174/48, 174/49, 174/60, 174/68.3, 174/99.R, 174/66.R, 248/68.1, 248/69, 248/222.11, 248/222.52, 248/222.51, 522/42, 527/170.1, 527/165, 527/166, 527/170.5, 527/180.1, 527/180.4, 522/871, 522/881, 522/205, 522/201, 162/68, 162/25, 385/100, 385/134
• US Class Current: 52/288.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0406 Details thereof installation or suspension of conduit channels and other supports H02G3/263

Abstract

A retaining clip for trunking includes a fixing base attached locally to a longitudinal wall of a base section of the trunking, such as an internal partition thereof, and a retaining flap which is articulated to the fixing base and can move from a standby position, in which it allows unrestricted access to the underlying interior volume of the base section, to a service position, in which it closes that interior volume at least partly, extending substantially transversely relative to it. The retaining clip includes, independently of any member or component of the base section or of the trunking, a releasable locking system for locking the retaining flap in its service position. Applications include trunking for electrical devices.

Claims

1. A retaining clip for trunking including a clipping portion adapted to be attached locally to any longitudinal wall of a base section of such trunking, and a retaining flap which is articulated to said clipping portion and can therefore move from a standby position in which it allows unrestricted access to the underlying interior volume of said base section to a service position in which it closes that interior volume at least partly, said retaining clip including, independently of any member or component of said base section, releasable locking means for locking said retaining flap in said service position.

2. The retaining clip claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means are adapted to create a sticking point on the trajectory of said retaining flap on respective opposite sides of which said retaining flap is stable in its service and standby positions.

3. The retaining clip claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasable locking means associated with said retaining flap include at least one locking bead projecting from said fixing base and at least one locking tongue on said retaining flap and in corresponding relationship to the aforementioned locking bead, adapted to move from one side to the other on that locking bead, and thereby adapted to engage under said locking bead.

4. The retaining clip claimed in claim 3, wherein said locking bead is on a side of said fixing base facing towards said retaining flap.

5. The retaining clip claimed in claim 3, wherein an edge surface of said locking bead is at least partly oblique on the standby position side of said locking flap.

6. The retaining clip claimed in claim 5, wherein the entire edge surface of said locking bead is oblique from said service position of said retaining flap to its standby position.

7. The retaining clip claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking tongue is formed by the free end of a clip which is part of said retaining flap and elastically deformable relative to said retaining flap.

8. The retaining clip claimed in claim 7, wherein said clip is in the plane of said retaining flap and its sides are individually defined by two slots in said flap.

9. The retaining clip claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining flap is articulated to said fixing base by at least one integral hinge.

10. The retaining clip claimed in claim 9, wherein said hinge is formed by a thin web.

11. The retaining clip claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasable locking means associated with said retaining flap include at least two spaced locking beads on said fixing base and the same number of locking tongues in corresponding relationship to said locking beads on said retaining flap.

12. The retaining clip claimed in claim 9, wherein said releasable locking means associated with said retaining flap include at least two spaced locking beads on said fixing base and the same number of locking tongues in corresponding relationship to said locking beads on said retaining flap, said clip including a plurality of spaced hinges alternating with said locking beads.

13. The retaining clip claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing base has a U-shaped cross section with two flanges connected by a middle area and said locking bead or each locking bead projects from a back of said middle area.

14. The retaining clip claimed in claim 13, wherein one of said flanges of said fixing base is substantially plane and said locking bead or each locking bead is substantially continuous with said one flange.

15. The retaining clip claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasable locking means of said retaining flap include a bistable hinge providing a sticking point between two stable positions of said retaining flap to define respectively a service position and a standby position.

16. The retaining clip claimed in claim 15, wherein said bistable hinge forms return spring means for said retaining flap between said sticking point and an original stable position.

17. The retaining clip claimed in claim 15, wherein said bistable hinge is between two pivot hinges of said retaining flap.

18. The retaining clip claimed in claim 15, wherein said bistable hinge is a part of said retaining flap in the form of an angle bracket of which one hinged end is attached to said retaining flap and another hinged end renders said bistable hinge bistable and is attached to said fixing base, said two hinged ends being formed by a thin web.

19. The retaining clip claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing base includes at least one clip.

20. The retaining clip claimed in claim 19, wherein said clip projects from an inside surface of one of said flanges of said fixing base.

21. The retaining clip claimed in claim 20, wherein said fixing base includes at least two facing clips projecting from an inside surface of said flanges of said fixing base.

22. The retaining clip claimed in claim 14, wherein said clip projects from an inside surface of whichever of said flanges of said fixing base is opposite the flange with which said locking bead or each locking bead is continuous.

23. The retaining clip claimed in claim 20, wherein said fixing base includes a plurality of spaced clips, each of which corresponds to a respective hinge.

24. A trunking which comprises a base section including a longitudinal wall, and a retaining clip including a clipping portion attached locally to said longitudinal wall and a retaining flap articulated to said clipping portion, said retaining flap being able to move between a standby position and a service position, wherein said retaining clip includes releasable locking means for locking said retaining flap in a service position, said releasable locking means being independent of said base section.