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:
May. 30, 2001
Charles Vander Velde, Frankfort, IL (US);
Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, IL (US);
Abstract
A hinged duct system with a hinged cover is provided that includes a base member and a duct cover. The base member has a bottom wall and sidewalls defining a receiving channel. A distal end of at least one of the sidewalls includes a base hook having an inwardly directed flange portion and a convex portion extending outwardly from the receiving channel towards the at least one sidewall. A distal end of the convex portion is spaced from the flange portion to define a cavity therebetween. The duct cover is hingedly attached to the at least one sidewall. The duct cover includes at least one curved end portion forming a hinge end section. The hinge end section includes a cover hook having a distal end receivable in the base member cavity and a cover flange spaced inwardly from the cover hook. When the duct cover is mounted to the base member the cover flange abuts the convex portion of the base hook with a pre-load pressure that creates a point of contact pressure engagement point on the convex portion. The duct cover is pivotal about the hinge end section between open and closed positions and the cover flange maintains a substantially continuous point of contact force against the convex portion sufficient to retain the duct cover in any of various positions between the open and closed positions. A double hinged cover can also be provided.