IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0677181
(2007-02-21)
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등록번호 |
US-7481597
(2009-01-27)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
52 |
초록
▼
Elements, couplers, systems, and methods for joining two or more trough members. A locking element for coupling a coupler to a trough member can include a main body, a clip member configured to couple the main body to the coupler, a first arm extending from the main body, the first arm being configu
Elements, couplers, systems, and methods for joining two or more trough members. A locking element for coupling a coupler to a trough member can include a main body, a clip member configured to couple the main body to the coupler, a first arm extending from the main body, the first arm being configured to flex relative to the main body, and a first barb coupled to the first arm, wherein the first barb extends to a first point configured to engage an exterior surface of a first trough member.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A locking element for coupling a coupler to a trough member, the locking element comprising: a main body; a clip member configured to couple the main body to the coupler; a first arm extending from the main body, the first arm being configured to flex relative to the main bod
What is claimed is: 1. A locking element for coupling a coupler to a trough member, the locking element comprising: a main body; a clip member configured to couple the main body to the coupler; a first arm extending from the main body, the first arm being configured to flex relative to the main body; a first barb coupled to the first arm, wherein the first barb is made of metal and extends to a first point configured to engage an exterior surface of a first trough member; and a first end extending from the first arm in a direction away from that of the first barb and configured to allow a user to grasp the first end and move the first arm independently and relative to the main body away from the exterior surface of the first trough member to disengage the first barb from the exterior surface of the first trough member. 2. The locking element of claim 1, further comprising: a second arm extending in opposition to the first arm from the main body, the second arm being configured to flex relative to the main body; a second barb coupled to the second arm, wherein the second barb extends to a second point configured to engage an exterior surface of a second trough member; and a second end extending from the second arm in a direction away from that of the second barb and configured to allow a user to grasp the second end and move the first arm independently and relative to the main body away from the exterior surface of the second trough member to disengage the second barb from the exterior surface of the second trough member. 3. The locking element of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second points of the first and second barbs extends toward an opposite one of the first or second barbs. 4. The locking element of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second barbs are coupled to the first and second arms at an angle with respect to the exterior surfaces of the first and second trough members. 5. A coupler for a cable trough system, the coupler comprising: a body including a bottom wall and two side walls defining a trough, the body having a body terminal end defining an overlap region, the overlap region being sized to slideably receive a terminal end of a trough member along a longitudinal direction of the body; and a locking element including a main body, a clip member configured to couple the main body to the coupler, a first arm extending from the main body, the first arm being configured to flex relative to the main body, a first barb coupled to the first arm, the first barb being made of metal and extending to a first point configured to engage an exterior surface of the trough member, and a first end extending from the first arm in a direction away from that of the first barb and configured to allow a user to grasp the first end and move the first arm independently and relative to the main body away from the exterior surface of the trough member to disengage the first barb from the exterior surface of the trough member. 6. A cable trough system, the system including a coupler comprising: a body including a bottom wall and two side walls defining a trough, the body having a body terminal end defining an overlap region, the overlap region being sized to slideably receive a terminal end of a first trough member along a longitudinal direction of the body; and a locking element including a main body, a clip member extending from the main body, the clip member comprising first and second member arms with wedges positioned at ends thereof, the first and second member arms of the clip member being positioned to extend through a frame member on the body of the coupler so that the wedges are positioned to engage an end of the frame member to couple the locking element to the coupler, a first arm extending from the main body, the first arm being configured to flex relative to the main body, a first barb coupled to the first arm, the first barb extending to a first point configured to engage an exterior surface of the first trough member, and a first end curving from the first arm in a direction away from that of the first barb and configured to allow a user to grasp the first end and move the first arm independently and relative to the main body away from the exterior surface of the first trough member to disengage the first barb from the exterior surface of the first trough member. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the locking element further comprises: a second arm extending in opposition to the first arm from the main body, the second arm being configured to flex relative to the main body; a second barb coupled to the second arm, wherein the second barb extends to a second point configured to engage an exterior surface of a second trough member; and a second end curving from the second arm in a direction away from that of the second barb and configured to allow a user to grasp the second end and move the first arm independently and relative to the main body away from the exterior surface of the second trough member to disengage the second barb from the exterior surface of the second trough member. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second points of the first and second barbs extends toward an opposite one of the first or second barbs. 9. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second barbs are coupled to the first and second arms at an angle with respect to the exterior surfaces of the first and second trough members. 10. The system of claim 6, further comprising the first trough member defining a slot, wherein the first arm is received in the slot, and the first barb engages the exterior surface of the first trough member in the slot. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the slot is defined by the exterior surface of the first trough member and extends in the longitudinal direction along the exterior surface of the first trough member from a terminal end of the first trough member to an opposing terminal end of the first trough member. 12. A method for coupling a coupler to a trough member, the method comprising: positioning a locking element on the coupler, the locking element including a main body, an arm extending from the main body, the arm being configured to flex relative to the main body, a barb coupled to the arm, wherein the barb is angled and extends to a point configured to engage an exterior surface of the trough member, and an end extends from the arm in a direction away from that of the barb; sliding the trough member into the coupler so that the exterior surface of the trough member slides along the barb until the trough member is inserted into the coupler; allowing the point of the locking element to engage the exterior surface of the trough member to resist movement of the trough member out of the coupler; flexing the end extending from the arm of the locking element away from the exterior surface of the trough member until the barb clears the exterior surface; and removing the trough member from the coupler.
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