Support system having an interchangeable splice
AssigneeSigma-Aldrich Co.
InventorEric R. Rinderer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support system for data transmission lines and the like, including a rail formed as a plurality of separate sections, and splices for connecting the rail sections end to end. In one embodiment, a plurality of supports extend down from one or more rail sections at intervals spaced along the sections. Each support has a generally vertical column and a series of arms extending laterally outwardly from the column along the length of the column at different elevations. The arms of each support cooperate with the arms of the other supports for supporting a series of horizontal runs of data transmission lines and the like at the different elevations. Other embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.
Claims16
A support system for data transmission lines, comprising
- a plurality of first rail sections, each first rail section comprising a first hollow box beam having a first cross sectional configuration taken transversely with respect to the first hollow box beam,
- a series of supports extending down from one or more of said first rail sections at intervals spaced along the one or more rail sections,
- each of said supports comprises a generally vertical column and at least one arm extending laterally outwardly from said column,
- the at least one arm of each of said supports cooperates with the corresponding arms of the other supports for supporting horizontal runs of data transmission lines,
- a plurality of second rail sections, each second rail section comprising a second hollow box beam having a second cross sectional configuration taken transversely with respect to the second hollow box beam, said second cross sectional configuration being different from the first cross sectional configuration of the first rail sections,
- a series of rungs projecting laterally from one or more of said second rail sections for supporting runs of data transmission lines, and
- splices for connecting said first and/or second rail sections end to end, each of said splices having a cross sectional configuration of such size and shape that the splice is receivable in open ends of both of said first and second hollow box beams whereby splices of identical construction can be used to connect first rail sections end to end, and to connect second rail sections end to end, and to connect first and second rail sections end to end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.