Modular cable protector assembly

• US 6,878,881 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Checkers Industrial Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Stephen K. Henry
• Inventors: Henry, Stephen K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nino, Adolfo
• Application Number:
  US10/935,853
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/70.C, 174/70.R, 174/72.C, 174/97, 174/101, 104/275, 138/103, 138/105, 138/106, 138/110, 404/3, D13/155, 14/695
• US Class Current: 174/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/02 laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/04 in surface ducts; Ducts or covers therefor

Abstract

A modular cable protector assembly has side ramps, tunnel members, and tunnel connectors that can be removably engaged to one another in a modular fashion to form a wide variety of configurations. Each tunnel member includes a tunnel extending along its length for passage of cables, and two sets of laterally-opposed connectors that removably engage corresponding connectors on the undersides of the side ramps. Each tunnel connector has two sets of connectors that removably engage the connectors on two tunnel members and thereby secure the tunnel members in a side-by-side relationship. The side ramps and the top surface of the tunnel connector combine to provide a relatively continuous surface over the cable protector assembly that is suitable for foot traffic or wheeled traffic.

Claims

1. A modular cable protector assembly comprising:

at least one side ramp, each side ramp having a bottom with a set of connectors;

a plurality of tunnel members, each tunnel member having;

(a) two sets of laterally-opposed complementary connectors for removably engaging the connectors on a side ramp aligned in a side-by-side relationship with the tunnel member; and

(b) at least one tunnel extending along the length of the tunnel member for passage of cables; and

at least one tunnel connector having;

(a) two sets of connectors for removably engaging the complementary connectors on two tunnel members and thereby removably securing two tunnel members in a side-by-side relationship; and

(b) a top surface extending between the tunnel members.

2. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 1 wherein the connectors on the tunnel connector and side ramps comprise indentations, and wherein the complementary connectors on the tunnel members comprise complementary protrusions.

3. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 1 wherein the connectors on the tunnel connector and side ramps comprise truncated conical indentations, and wherein the complementary connectors on the tunnel members comprise complementary truncated conical protrusions.

4. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 1 wherein the tunnel members further comprise lateral surfaces, and wherein the tunnel connector further comprises complementary lateral surfaces contoured to abut the lateral surfaces of the tunnel members.

5. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 1 wherein the tunnel members further comprise end connectors enabling a plurality of tunnel members to be connected together in series.

6. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 1 wherein the top surface of the tunnel connector and the top surfaces of the side ramps combine to form a substantially continuous surface over the cable protector assembly.

7. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 1 wherein the tunnel member further comprises base flanges extending laterally outward carrying the connectors.

8. A modular cable protector assembly comprising:

two side ramps, each side ramp having a set of connectors in the bottom of the side ramp;

a plurality of tunnel members, each tunnel member having;

(a) a tunnel extending along the length of the tunnel member for passage of cables;

(b) base flanges extending laterally outward from the tunnel for underlying the side ramps when aligned in a side-by-side relationship with the tunnel member; and

(c) two sets of complementary connectors on the base flanges for removably engaging the connectors on the side ramps when aligned in a side-by-side relationship with the tunnel member; and

at least one tunnel connector having;

(a) two sets of connectors on the bottom of the tunnel connector for removably engaging the complementary connectors on two tunnel members and thereby removably securing two tunnel members in a side-by-side relationship; and

(b) a top surface extending between the tunnel members.

9. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 8 wherein the connectors on the tunnel connector and side ramps comprise indentations, and wherein the complementary connectors on the tunnel members comprise complementary protrusions.

10. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 8 wherein the connectors on the tunnel connector and side ramps comprise truncated conical indentations, and wherein the complementary connectors on the tunnel members comprise complementary truncated conical protrusions.

11. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 8 wherein the tunnel members further comprise lateral surfaces, and wherein the tunnel connector further comprises complementary lateral surfaces contoured to abut the lateral surfaces of the tunnel members.

12. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 8 wherein the tunnel members further comprise end connectors enabling a plurality of tunnel members to be connected together in series.

13. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 8 wherein the top surface of the tunnel connector and the top surfaces of the side ramps combine to form a substantially continuous surface over the cable protector assembly.

14. A modular cable protector assembly comprising:

at least one side ramp, each side ramp having a bottom with a set of connectors;

a plurality of tunnel members, each tunnel member having;

(a) two sets of laterally-opposed complementary connectors for removably engaging the connectors on two side ramp aligned in a side-by-side relationship with the tunnel member;

(b) at least one tunnel extending along the length of the tunnel member for passage of cables; and

(c) lateral surfaces; and

at least one tunnel connector having;

(a) a, bottom with two sets of connectors for removably engaging the complementary connectors on two tunnel members and thereby removably securing two tunnel members in a side-by-side relationship

(b) opposing lateral surfaces contoured to abut the lateral surfaces of the tunnel members; and

(c) a top surface extending between the tunnel members to provide a portion of a substantially continuous surface across the tunnel members in conjunction with the side ramps.

15. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 14 wherein the tunnel member further comprises base flanges extending laterally outward carrying the connectors.

16. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 14 wherein the tunnel members further comprise end connectors enabling a plurality of tunnel members to be connected together in series.

17. A modular cable protector assembly comprising:

two side ramps, each side ramp having a set of indentations in the bottom of the side ramp;

a plurality of tunnel members, each tunnel member having;

(a) a tunnel extending along the length of the tunnel member for passage of cables;

(b) base flanges extending laterally outward from the tunnel for underlying the;

side ramps when aligned in a side-by-side relationship with the tunnel member; and

(c) two sets of protrusions extending upward from the base flanges for removably engaging the indentations in the side ramps when aligned in a side-by-side relationship with the tunnel member; and

at least one tunnel connector having;

(a) two sets of indentations in the bottom of the tunnel connector for removably engaging the protrusions on two tunnel members and thereby removably securing two tunnel members in a side-by-side relationship; and

(b) a stop surface extending between the tunnel members.

18. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 17 wherein the indentations in the tunnel connector and side ramps have a truncated conical shape, and wherein the protrusions on the tunnel members comprise a complementary truncated conical shape.

19. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 17 wherein the top surface of the tunnel connector and the top surfaces of the side ramps combine to form a substantially continuous surface over the cable protector assembly.

20. The modular cable protector assembly of claim 17 wherein the tunnel members further comprise end connectors enabling a plurality of tunnel members to be connected together in series.