TWO PIECE METAL RACEWAY WITH RAISED COVER AND OFFSET DIVIDER
A two piece metal raceway has a cross sectional area to accommodate a given cable volume, and where an outlet device is to be mounted, a raised cover affords greater depth to avoid reduction in this cross sectional area. If the raceway includes adjacent raceways separated by a divider, the raised cover requires a divider as well. However, such a divider cannot interfere with the volume required for mounting the device in the raised cover in the associated raceway. The solution disclosed provides for a unique offset divider that accommodates the device in one raceway, yet leaves sufficient space for the wiring/cabling in the adjacent raceway.
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This invention relates generally to metal raceways of the type having a base and a cover, and defining at least one and preferably two side-by-side wireways separated by a divider so as to accommodate power cables in one wireway and data communication wiring in the other, or to instead serve as separated wireways for identical cabling, or wiring that must be isolated electrically one from the other. More particularly, this invention relates to a raised device box or cover for such a two piece metal raceway, the base having a C-shaped cross section with an open side defined by inturned marginal flanges that are angled inwardly with respect to the generally parallel sidewalls of the base. Elongated raceway cover segments have rearwardly formed flanges for assembly with these base flanges, as a result of deforming the base sidewalls. The cover segments are separated to provide an opening for the raised device box or cover of the present invention. The device box itself has the same overall width as the cover segments, and end portions of the device box are identical to the spaced cover segments. However, the device box defines a rearwardly open rectangular recess, the front wall of which recess defines an opening for receiving at least one electrical device. The device box further includes tapered end portions that are joined to the short cover matched components at each end of the device box. An offset divider has a center portion designed to enlarge the cross section width of one wireway defined by the base and the device box, and this raised device box further defines a continuous cross sectional area for the other wireway as a result of the raised center portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Turning now to the drawings in greater detail,
The raceway base 10 is U-shaped and fitted with a conventional divider 12a and 12b preferably mounted in the raceway base by clips such as the clips, indicated generally at 14 in
As so constructed and arranged the raceway base 10 defines side-by-side wireways of generally equal cross sectional area for carrying power lines in one of the raceways and telecommunication wires in the adjacent wireways. Preferably, and as shown, the top wireway is provided with communication wires for transmittal of data or telephone signals, and a conventional communications device 16 is adapted to be wired from such communication wiring and provided in the upper wireway defined between the dividers 12a, 12b and the top wall of the raceway base 10.
It will be apparent that the present invention can also be adapted to support a duplex outlet device in much the same manner, that is with the lower wireway in the raceway assembly carrying the power lines that are connected to such an outlet device in a conventional manner (not shown).
In accordance with the present invention, a raised device box or cover 18 is provided so as to fit between the raceway cover segments 20a and 20b conventionally secured to the raceway base 10 as described in detail in the above-mentioned '486 Patent. The raised device box/cover 18 includes end portions 18a and 18b formed similarly to the cross section or shape of the raceway cover segments 12a or 12b so as to abut these raceway cover segments in much the same manner as normally provided between adjacent raceway cover segments the two piece steel raceway of this general type.
Still with reference to the raised device box/cover 18, a rearwardly open rectangularly shaped box is integrally formed with the matching cover segments 18a and 18b as shown in
In light of the above disclosure the invention may be practiced otherwise than this specific disclosure, and the claims appended hereto shall determine the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. In a two piece metal raceway system having an elongated base formed from flat steel stock into a C-shaped cross section with an open side defined by inturned flanges that are angled with respect to the generally parallel sidewalls of the base, and longitudinally spaced raceway cover segments for assembly with the base, the cover segments having longitudinally extending inwardly formed flanges that are adapted to be assembled with the base so that these cover segments have the same width as the base, the improvement comprising a raised device box of approximately the same width as said cover segments for placement between the spaced raceway cover segments, said device box defining a rearwardly open rectangular recess, the front wall of which defines an opening for receiving at least one electrical device, said device box further including tapered end portions joined to short cover like components of the box that are adapted to mate with said cover segments, and a divider having an offset center portion to enlarge the cross sectional width of a first of two wireways defined by said box and said base, a second of said wireways having, a depth that affords substantially similar cross sectional size as said first wireway defined in the raceway base by dividers provided midway between said sidewalls of the base.
2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said offset divider has end portions that match the dividers in said base.
3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said offset divider has a raised center portion with an inner edge adjacent said base and an outer edge adjacent said front wall of said device box.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 5, 2004
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2005
Applicant: The Wiremold Company (West Hartford, CT)
Inventor: Marc Galasso (Beacon Fallls, CT)
Application Number: 10/794,171