초록 ▼

Raceway modules of predetermined length are joined by couplers designed to allow optional gaps between the T-shaped raceway base plate portions. Upper and lower L-shaped raceway covers are separately snapped out the base, allowing electrical and data/communication devices to be provided in staggered

Raceway modules of predetermined length are joined by couplers designed to allow optional gaps between the T-shaped raceway base plate portions. Upper and lower L-shaped raceway covers are separately snapped out the base, allowing electrical and data/communication devices to be provided in staggered relationship, and anywhere along the raceway. The lower L-shaped raceway cover configuration allows outlet devices to be provided in the lower side of the raceway. The T-shaped base plate has prepunched knock-out openings and mounting holes provided in a predetermined pattern, and prepunched lines of weakening, that simplify the installation process. The couplers come in several lengths and configurations, to bridge crossing raceway or other obstructions, and to provide continuity in the gaps between the raceway modules. Prewired cover components are fitted with spaced outlet devices for installation in areas of a room that require such service.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A modular raceway system comprising elongated raceway subassemblies, each of said raceway subassemblies including an elongated base having upper and lower plate portions for abutting a wall, said plate portions having upper and lower marginal edges respectively, couplin

The invention claimed is: 1. A modular raceway system comprising elongated raceway subassemblies, each of said raceway subassemblies including an elongated base having upper and lower plate portions for abutting a wall, said plate portions having upper and lower marginal edges respectively, coupling means for supporting said bases in longitudinal spaced alignment with one another to provide a range of gaps, between first and second raceway bases, said first raceway base having a length such that an adjacent second elongated base associated with an adjacent raceway subassembly can be aligned therewith, and be spaced therefrom, so as to provide a range of gap spaces between said first and second raceway bases, said first and second elongated bases each having a projecting web joined to said base plate portion intermediate said marginal edges to form a T-shaped cross section without sidewalls so as to define upwardly and downwardly open elongated wireways, said base web having a free marginal edge with oppositely projecting elongated lips, and upper and lower elongated raceway cover components of L-shape cross-section and having elongated marginal edge portions defining sockets for receiving said projecting lips on said base, and said cover components having opposite edge portions that mate with said upper and lower base marginal edges of said base respectively cooperating with said base to further define said upper and lower wireways respectively. 2. A modular raceway system comprising elongated raceway subassemblies, each of said raceway subassemblies including an elongated base having upper and lower marginal edges, coupling means for supporting said bases in longitudinal spaced alignment with one another to provide a range of gaps, between said bases, a first raceway base having a length such that an adjacent elongated base associated with an adjacent raceway subassembly can be coupled thereto, and be spaced therefrom, and in longitudinal alignment therewith, so as to provide a gap or space between said first and second raceway bases, said first and second elongated bases each having upper and lower marginal edges, and a projecting web joined to said base intermediate said marginal edges to form a T-shaped cross section, said base web having a free marginal edge with oppositely projecting elongated lips, upper and lower elongated raceway cover components having elongated marginal edge portions defining sockets for receiving said projecting lips on said base, and said cover components having opposite edge portions that mate with said upper and lower base marginal edges of said base respectively to define upper and lower wireways respectively, and individual device brackets for said upper and lower wireways, each individual device bracket having a frame with flanges received by one of said projecting lips of said base plate web, and each individual device bracket frame also having a rearwardly offset portion defining at least one rearwardly projecting leg portion with a free end defining a socket that mates with one of said upper and lower elongated marginal edges of said T-shaped base. 3. The modular raceway system according to claim 2 further including a device cover having a length in the longitudinal direction greater than that of said individual device bracket, said device cover having segments in the marginal edges thereof defining flanges received by said T-shaped base web lips, and said device covers having segments defining sockets received by one said T-shaped base upper and lower marginal edges. 4. The modular raceway system according to claim 2 wherein said elongated T-shaped raceway base has lateral lines of weakening at intervals along its length, and prepunched wall fastener openings provided between said lines of weakening. 5. The modular raceway system according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprising upper and lower L-shaped coupling elements slidably received in said upper and lower wireways, said coupling elements having end portions also of L-shape to conform to said T-shaped base cross section and cooperating with said L-shape cover components to form wireways in said range of gap spaces that have continuations of said T-shaped bases and define upwardly open and downwardly open wireways in said gap spaces. 6. A modular raceway system comprising: a plurality of elongated raceway base plates, at least some of said base plates having lateral lines of weakening provided at predetermined intervals along said elongated raceway base plate to facilitate separating at a said line of weakening, and coupling means for securing one of said at least some base plates to another base plate so that said base plates are aligned with one another, said coupling means overlying said aligned base plates to provide electrical continuity therebetween when said base plates are spaced apart longitudinally by a gap, said coupling means including end portions conforming in shape to said base plate shape and slidably received thereby, and intermediate portions between said end portions of said coupling means for spanning said gap between said bases, said coupling means end portions and said intermediate portions having the same cross section throughout the length so that a range of gaps can be accommodated and raceway cover components mounted to said base plates for spanning said gap and cooperating with said coupling means intermediate portion to define wireways that are enclosed, particularly at said gap. 7. The modular raceway system of claim 6 wherein said raceway base plates are T-shaped and said raceway cover components are L-shaped to define at least two enclosed wireways that are separated by a forwardly projecting web of said T-shaped base, the web and the base defining upwardly and downwardly open elongated wireways that are enclosed by said cover components. 8. The modular raceway system according to claim 7 wherein said coupling means comprise individual coupling elements provided in said wireways defined by said base and cover components, said coupling elements also having an L-shape cooperating with said cover components to define the said wireways at said gaps. 9. The modular raceway system according to claim 8 wherein at least some of said coupling elements include knock-out openings for receiving smaller raceways oriented perpendicular said modular raceway system. 10. The modular raceway system according to claim 9 further characterized by cable guide elements provided in said knockout defining openings to allow cables in the wireway defined by said modular raceway assembly to be drawn through the wireway without interference from said perpendicular raceway. 11. The modular raceway system according to claim 6 further characterized by at least one raceway slip cover for overlying the spaced end portion of said cover components of said aligned raceway assemblies. 12. A modular raceway system comprising a plurality of elongated raceway base plates, at least some of said base plates having lateral lines of weakening provided at predetermined intervals along said elongated raceway base plate to facilitate severing at a selected one of said lines of weakening, and raceway cover components for the raceway base plates, said base plates having upper and lower plate portions defining upper and lower marginal edges and having a spine portion projecting forwardly of said marginal edges to provide a T-shaped cross section for said base plate, and covers cooperating to define side by side upper and lower wireways separated by said elongated spine, and coupling means for securing aligned raceway base plates to one another and to provide electrical continuity therebetween, said coupling means comprising upper and lower coupling elements having end portions conforming to said T-shaped base cross section, said coupling elements being of L-shape cross section at said end portions to be slidably received by said T-shaped base so that said end portions reside adjacent to said upper and lower plate portions of said base, and more particularly reside adjacent to said forwardly projecting spine portions of said T-shaped base. 13. The modular raceway system according to claim 12 wherein said upper and lower raceway cover components are of L-shape, and said covers including front walls, and a top or bottom wall to define said upper and lower wireways. 14. The modular raceway system according to claim 13 wherein said raceway covers are spaced from one another to provide a space therebetween, and a device bracket secured to said raceway base in said space. 15. The modular raceway assembly according to claim 14 wherein said device bracket is of generally U-shape such that the base of the U lies adjacent to the base plate of the raceway assembly, and the lower leg of the U defines an opening for receiving an outlet device. 16. The modular raceway system according to claim 13 wherein some of the raceway covers associated with the lower wireway are spaced from one another to define a space therebetween, and a device bracket provided in said space, said device bracket having a generally U-shape with the base of the U adjacent the base plate in the raceway assembly, and with a leg defining an opening for receiving an outlet device whereby to present the outlet in the lower wall of the L-shaped raceway cover. 17. The modular raceway system according to claim 16 further characterized by a device bracket cover for overlying the space between the adjacent raceway cover components and said device bracket, said device bracket cover selected from a variety of differently configured covers associated with a variety of different devices. 18. A modular raceway system comprising a plurality of elongated raceway base plates, at least some of said base plates having lateral lines of weakening provided at predetermined intervals along said elongated raceway base plate to facilitate severing at a selected one of said lines of weakening, and raceway cover components for the raceway base plates, said base plates and covers cooperating to define side by side wireways separated by an elongated spine, and coupling means for securing aligned raceway base plates to one another and to provide electrical continuity therebetween, said raceway cover components are of L-shape, and said raceway base plate is of T-shape, said covers including front walls, and a top or bottom wall to provide top and bottom wireways, some of the raceway covers associated with the lower wireway are spaced from one another to define a space therebetween, and a device bracket provided in said space, said device bracket having a generally U-shape with the base of the U adjacent the base plate in the raceway assembly, and with a leg defining an opening for receiving an outlet device whereby to present the outlet in the lower wall of the l-shaped raceway cover, a device bracket cover for overlying the space between the adjacent raceway cover components and said device bracket, said device bracket cover selected from a variety of differently configured covers associated with a variety of different devices, an outlet box defining element held in said device bracket, and provided between said device bracket and said device bracket cover to surround and protect electrical connections made to the device installed in the device bracket. 19. A modular raceway system comprising a plurality of elongated raceway base members, and raceway cover components for the raceway base members, said base members having upper and lower marginal edges for receiving said cover components, and coupling means for spanning a gap between aligned raceway base members and to provide electrical continuity therebetween, said coupling means comprising coupling elements having end portions slidably received between said base marginal edges and residing adjacent to said base members, said coupling elements having intermediate portions residing in the gap between said aligned raceway base members, some of said raceway cover components spanning said gap between said spaced and aligned raceway base members, said some raceway cover components arranged in alignment with said raceway cover components so received on said gap defining raceway base members, said coupling elements cooperating with said some raceway cover components to form enclosed wireways in said gaps between said aligned raceway base members. 20. The modular raceway system according to claim 19 wherein said raceway base members include a web projecting forwardly to abut said raceway cover components and define separated wireways, and said coupling elements including upper and lower coupling elements conforming in cross-section to the cross-sectional shape of said base members whereby to span said gap and form continuations of said upper and lower wireways in cooperation with said some raceway cover components. 21. The modular raceway system according to claim 19, wherein said base members have upper and lower marginal edges for receiving said raceway cover components, said raceway base members further including plate portions intermediate said marginal edges, and a web portion intermediate said marginal edges to form a T-shaped cross-section without side walls so as to define upwardly and downwardly open elongated wireways enclosed at the front by said raceway cover components. 22. The modular raceway system according to claim 21, wherein said raceway cover components are of L-shaped cross-section, and wherein upper and lower raceway cover components enclose said upper and lower wireways respectively. 23. The modular raceway system according to claim 22 wherein, said raceway base web has a free marginal edge with oppositely projecting elongated lips, said upper and lower raceway cover components having elongated edge portions that mate with said elongated lips. 24. A modular raceway system comprising a plurality of elongated raceway base members, and raceway cover components for the raceway base members, said base members having upper and lower marginal edges for receiving said cover components and coupling means for spanning a gap between aligned raceway base members and to provide electrical continuity therebetween, said coupling means comprising coupling elements having end portions slidably received between said base marginal edges and residing adjacent to said base members, said coupling elements having intermediate portions residing in the gap between said aligned raceway base members some of said raceway cover components spanning said gap between said spaced and aligned raceway base members, said some raceway cover components arranged in alignment with said raceway cover components so received on said gap defining raceway base members, said coupling elements cooperating with said some raceway cover components to form enclosed wireways in said gaps between said aligned raceway base members at least some raceway covers are spaced from one another to provide a space therebetween, and a device bracket secured to said raceway base members in said space. 25. The modular raceway assembly according to claim 24 wherein said device bracket is of generally U-shape such that the base of the U lies adjacent to the base member, and the lower leg of the U defines an opening for receiving an outlet device. 26. The modular raceway system according to claim 25 wherein some of said raceway cover components are spaced from one another to define a space therebetween, and a device bracket provided in said space, said device bracket having a generally U-shape with the base of the U adjacent one base member marginal edge, said U-shape also with a leg defining an opening for receiving an outlet device. 27. The modular raceway system according to claim 26 further characterized by a device bracket cover for overlying the space between the adjacent raceway cover components and said device bracket, said device bracket cover selected from a variety of differently configured covers associated with a variety of different devices.