Adjustable mid-panel spillover fitting

• US 6,756,539 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: VanderVelde, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, ANTON B
• Application Number:
  US10/393,241
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/68.1, 174/49, 174/72.A, 174/72.R, 174/97, 174/96, 174/DIG.7, 174/68.3, 174/99.R, 138/162, 52/361, 52/36, 522/41, 522/20, 522/21, 522/207, 522/203, 52/362, 522/39, 52/364, 52/365, 248/68.1, 385/136
• US Class Current: 174/496
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/045 provided with perforations or slots permitting introduction or exit of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0608 Joints for connecting non cylindrical conduits, e.g. channels
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/388 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/07 Sodium conductors, connectors

Abstract

An adjustable mid-panel spillover fitting is disclosed. The fitting includes a base, a cover securable to the base, and a cover cap securable to the base and the cover. The base has a spillover side, and the cover has an opening on a side wall thereof for receiving the spillover side. The cover has a shelf extending toward the side wall, and the cover cap has a groove for receiving the shelf therein. The cover cap includes at least one latch on an inside surface thereof for securing the cover cap to the base in a plurality of predetermined positions, and the cover cap is adjustable between the plurality of predetermined positions.

Claims

1. An adjustable mid-panel spillover fitting comprising:

a base having a spillover side;

a cover securable to the base, the cover having an opening on a side wall thereof for receiving the spillover side and a shelf extending toward the side wall; and

a cover cap securable to the base and the cover, the cover cap having a groove for receiving the shelf therein and at least one latch on an inside surface thereof for securing the cover cap to the base in a plurality of predetermined positions, the cover cap being adjustable between the plurality of predetermined positions.

2. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the base is mounted to a top surface of an office furniture panel.

3. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the base has a plurality of flanges for engaging inside walls of two horizontal raceway sections.

4. The fitting according to claim 3 wherein the base has four flanges.

5. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the base has a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of latches to secure the cover therein.

6. The fitting according to claim 5 wherein the base has four slots.

7. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the spillover side has two vertical walls for guiding cable into a vertical raceway section.

8. The fitting according to claim 7 wherein the spillover side has two tapered sections adjacent the vertical walls and two side walls adjacent the tapered sections, the side walls forming a channel having a width substantially equal to a width of the vertical raceway section.

9. The fitting according to claim 7 wherein each vertical wall has a plurality of grooves on an outside surface thereof for securing the at least one latch at the plurality of predetermined positions.

10. The fitting according to claim 8 wherein each side wall has a rib on an inside surface thereof for engaging an end of the vertical raceway section.

11. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the cover is U-shaped.

12. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the cover has a plurality of ribs on an inside surface thereof for engaging a top surface of the base.

13. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the cover has a length greater than a length of the base.

14. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the cover cap has two latches for retaining a vertical raceway section therein.

15. The fitting according to claim 1 wherein the cover cap is adjustable between any one of four predetermined positions.

16. An adjustable mid-panel spillover fitting comprising:

a base having a first spillover side and a second spillover side;

a cover securable to the base, the cover having a first opening on a first side wall thereof for receiving the first spillover side and a second opening on a second side wall thereof for receiving the second spillover side, the cover including a first shelf extending toward the first side wall and a second shelf extending toward the second side wall;

a first cover cap securable to the base and the cover, the first cover cap having a first groove for receiving the first shelf therein and at least one latch on an inside surface thereof for securing the first cover cap to the base in a first plurality of predetermined positions, the first cover cap being adjustable between the first plurality of predetermined positions; and

a second cover cap securable to the base and the cover, the second cover cap having a second groove for receiving the second shelf therein and at least one latch on an inside surface thereof for securing the second cover cap to the base in a second plurality of predetermined positions, the second cover cap being adjustable between the second plurality of predetermined positions.

17. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the base is mounted to a top surface of an office furniture panel.

18. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the base has a plurality of flanges for engaging inside walls of two horizontal raceway sections.

19. The fitting according to claim 18 wherein the base has four flanges.

20. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the base has a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of latches to secure the cover therein.

21. The fitting according to claim 20 wherein the base has four slots.

22. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the first spillover side has two vertical walls for guiding cable into a first vertical raceway section.

23. The fitting according to claim 22 wherein the first spillover side has two tapered sections adjacent the vertical walls and two side walls adjacent the tapered sections, the side walls forming a channel having a width substantially equal to a width of the first vertical raceway section.

24. The fitting according to claim 22 wherein each vertical wall has a plurality of grooves on an outside surface thereof for securing the at least one latch at the first plurality of predetermined positions.

25. The fitting according to claim 23 wherein each side wall has a rib on an inside surface thereof for engaging an end of the first vertical raceway section.

26. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the second spillover side has two vertical walls for guiding cable into a second vertical raceway section.

27. The fitting according to claim 26 wherein the second spillover side has two tapered sections adjacent the vertical walls and two side walls adjacent the tapered sections, the side walls forming a channel having a width substantially equal to a width of the second vertical raceway section.

28. The fitting according to claim 26 wherein each vertical wall has a plurality of grooves on an outside surface thereof for securing the at least one latch at the second plurality of predetermined positions.

29. The fitting according to claim 27 wherein each side wall has a rib on an inside surface thereof for engaging an end of the second vertical raceway section.

30. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the cover is U-shaped.

31. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the cover has a plurality of ribs on an inside surface thereof for engaging a top surface of the base.

32. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the cover has a length greater than a length of the base.

33. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the first cover cap has two latches for retaining a first vertical raceway section therein.

34. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the first cover cap is adjustable between any one of four predetermined positions.

35. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the second cover cap has two latches for retaining a second vertical raceway section therein.

36. The fitting according to claim 16 wherein the second cover cap is adjustable between any one of four predetermined positions.