The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1999
Charles F. VanderVelde, Frankfort, IL (US);
Donald C. Wiencek, Tinley Park, IL (US);
Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, IL (US);
Abstract
The reenterable wireway system of the present invention includes a channel-shaped slotted duct, an integrally co-extruded U-shaped cover assembly and discrete latches. The duct has an elongate base and two substantially parallel duct walls extending generally perpendicularly from the base with each of the walls disposed adjacent respective longitudinal edges thereof. The duct walls include at least a pair of adjacent duct fingers which define a slot permitting selective routing of wires of the bundle. The cover assembly has an elongate planar center element with a plurality of hinges and a plurality of corner elements, which have a first component co-planar with the central element, and a second component depending normal to the first component disposed. The orientation of the first and second components may be changed when the cover is molded to be biased in a “remain-open” position. A plurality of discrete latches are disposed at spaced locations on each respective second component having a locking mechanism which cooperates with the slot between adjacent duct fingers to secure the cover assembly to the duct. Each side of the cover assembly is removably secured to the duct, and the cover assembly may be pivoted in either direction to an open position by unlatching the locking mechanisms disposed on a longitudinal side of the cover assembly and pivoting the cover assembly about an opposite hinge.