Cable management system

• US 7,417,188 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Conlan, Joseph Patrick, McNutt, Patrick Stephen, Solis, Edwardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R
• Application Number:
  US10/940,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 174/68.1, 174/68.3, 174/101, 174/97, 174/72.A, 248/49, 248/65, 439/719, 385/134, 385/135, 211/26, 361/685, 361/826, 361/829, 361/825, 312/223.1, 522/207
• US Class Current: 174/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/045 provided with perforations or slots permitting introduction or exit of wires

Abstract

A raceway assembly according to the present invention is used in conjunction with a conventional equipment rack to route cables between and otherwise to or from equipment stored in the rack. Guide members project from a trough portion of the raceway and position cables routed through spaces between the guide members. Versions of the guide members have elastic edging providing soft surfaces to reduce cable wear and otherwise protect cables from potential damage and lessening of life span. Some of the edging is formed as a substantial portion of the thickness of the guide member to provide enhanced cushioning of the cables. Versions of the guide members can include a core portion of a rigid or pliable material. Those guide members with a pliable core can be readily bent to provide enhanced support and positioning of cables being held by the guide members.

Claims

1. A raceway assembly positionable adjacent to an equipment rack, comprising:

a trough with a rear wall, a first trough side wall having a first edge portion and a second trough side wall having a second edge portion; and

a first guide assembly having a first base support coupled to the first edge portion of the first trough side wall and a second guide assembly having a second base support coupled to the second edge portion of the second trough side wall, the first guide assembly having a first plurality of elongated guide members extending from the first base support, the first plurality of elongated guide members interspaced to form a plurality of first guide slots therebetween, the second guide assembly having a second plurality of elongated guide members extending from the second base support, the second plurality of elongated guide members interspaced to form a plurality of second guide slots therebetween, each of the first and second plurality of elongated guide members having a longitudinal core and an elastic material layer covering at least a portion of the longitudinal core.

2. The raceway assembly of claim 1 wherein a first dimension for thickness of the longitudinal core approximates a second dimension for thickness of the elastic material layer.

3. The raceway assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second plurality of elongated guide members each have a head end portion with projecting end members that are at least partially covered by the elastic material layer.

4. The raceway assembly of claim 1 wherein the elastic material is made at least in part from a foam.

5. The raceway assembly of claim 1 wherein the elastic material is made at least in part from a plastic.

6. The raceway assembly of claim 1 wherein the cores of the first and second plurality of the elongated guide members are made of a rigid material.

7. The raceway assembly of claim 6 wherein the longitudinal cores of the first and second plurality of the elongated guide members have an I-beam cross-sectional shape.

8. The raceway assembly of claim 1 wherein the elastic material layer covers portions of the cores of the first plurality of elongated guide members to provide surfaces of the first plurality of elongated guide members defining the first guide slots, and the elastic material layer covers portions of the cores of the second plurality of elongated guide members to provide surfaces of the second plurality of elongated guide members defining the second guide slots.

9. A guide assembly for a raceway comprising:

a base support; and

a plurality of elongated guide members coupled to the base support, each of the plurality of elongated guide members having at least a surface portion made from a cushioning material covering at least a second portion of the elongated guide member, the second portion being of a material other than the cushioning material.

10. A raceway assembly for an equipment rack, the raceway comprising:

a trough with a rear wall, and first and second side walls; and

first and second guide assemblies, each of the first and second guide assemblies coupled to a different one of the first and second side walls, each of the first and second guide assemblies having elongated projections extending from the respective one of the first and second side walls to which coupled, each of the elongated projections having a soft material and a second material less soft than the soft material, the soft material covering the second material, the soft material providing at least a soft surface portion of the elongated projection.

11. A raceway assembly positionable adjacent to an equipment rack, comprising:

a trough with a rear wall and at least one trough side wall having an edge portion; and

at least one guide assembly having a base support coupled to the edge portion of the trough side wall, the guide assembly having a plurality of elongated guide members extending from the base support, the plurality of elongated guide members interspaced to form a plurality of guide slots therebetween, each of the plurality of elongated guide members having a longitudinal core and an elastic material layer covering at least a portion of the longitudinal core.

12. A raceway assembly for an equipment rack, the raceway comprising:

a trough with a rear wall, and at least one side wall; and

at least one guide assembly, the guide assembly coupled to the side wall, the guide assembly having elongated projections extending from the side wall, each of the elongated projections having a soft material and a second material less soft than the soft material, the soft material covering the second material, the soft material providing at least a soft surface portion of the elongated projection.