# US 7,612,300 B2 · Hinge for cable trough cover

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- Number: US 7,612,300 B2
- Document ID: US7612300B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/183,195
- Filed: 2008-07-31
- Published: 2009-02-05
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2007-08-01
- Assignees: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
- Inventors: Ryan J. Owens; Jeffrey J. Norris; Thomas L. Barnes
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612300B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/4459: {Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres}
- H02G 3/0437: {Channels}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A cable trough system includes a trough member including a base wall and first and second sidewalls extending from the base wall to form a trough. The system also includes a cover including a main body with a first end and a second end, and first and second hinge portions coupled to the first and second ends of the main body. Each of the first and second hinge portions includes a first member that extends to an end positioned to contact an inner surface of the first sidewall, a second member that defines an arm that is positioned to at least partially contact the first sidewall, and an extension member that extends from the second member in a direction opposite to that of the arm. The first and second members have a space therebetween sized to receive a portion of the first sidewall.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cover for a cable trough system, the cover comprising:
a main body that defines a planar surface with a first end and a second end;
a first hinge portion coupled to the first end of the main body, and a second hinge portion coupled to the second end of the main body, wherein each of the first and second hinge portions includes:
a first member that extends to an end positioned to contact an inner surface of a wall of a trough member;
a second member that defines an arm that is positioned to at least partially contact the wall of the trough member; and
an extension member that extends from the second member in a direction opposite to that of the arm;
wherein the first and second members define a space therebetween sized to receive a portion of the trough member; and
wherein the first hinge portion is a mirror image of the second hinge portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is coupled to the trough member that extends in a vertical direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cover of claim 1, further comprising a member that extends perpendicularly from the extension member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The cover of claim 3, wherein a second space is defined between the member, the extension member, and the second member, the second space being sized to receive at least a portion of a user's finger.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The cover of claim 3, further comprising a curved member that extends from the main body to the second member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cover of claim 5, wherein the curved member includes a reduced thickness.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The cover of claim 1, further comprising a curved member that extends from the main body to the second member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The cover of claim 7, wherein the curved member includes a reduced thickness.

### Claim 9

A cover for a cable trough system, the cover comprising:
a main body that defines a planar surface with a first end and a second end;
a first hinge portion coupled to the first end of the main body, and a second hinge portion coupled to the second end of the main body, wherein each of the first and second hinge portions includes:
a first member that extends to an end positioned to contact an inner surface of a wall of a trough member;
a second member that defines an arm that is positioned to at least partially contact the wall of the trough member;
an extension member that extends from the second member in a direction opposite to that of the arm;
a curved member that extends from the main body to the second member, wherein the curved member includes a reduced thickness; and
a member that extends perpendicularly from the extension member;
wherein the first and second members define a space therebetween sized to receive a portion of the trough member; and
wherein a second space is defined between the member, the extension member, and the second member, the second space being sized to receive at least a portion of a user's finger; and
wherein the first hinge portion is a mirror image of the second hinge portion.

### Claim 10

A cable trough system, the system comprising:
a trough member including a base wall and first and second sidewalls extending from the base wall to form a trough; and
a cover including:
a main body that defines a planar surface with a first end and a second end;
a first hinge portion coupled to the first end of the main body, and a second hinge portion coupled to the second end of the main body, wherein each of the first and second hinge portions includes:
a first member that extends to an end positioned to contact an inner surface of the first sidewall of the trough member;
a second member that defines an arm that is positioned to at least partially contact the first sidewall of the trough member; and
an extension member that extends from the second member in a direction opposite to that of the arm;
wherein the first and second members define a space therebetween sized to receive a portion of the first sidewall of the trough member; and
wherein the first hinge portion is a mirror image of the second hinge portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the first sidewall of the trough member includes a trough hinge portion, the trough hinge portion having a hook member and a side extension member that extends from the first sidewall, the hook member and the side extension member defining a second space into which extends a portion of the second member of the cover.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the hook member and the side extension member extend from the first sidewall in a direction away from the second sidewall of the trough member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the end of the first member of the first hinge portion of the cover rides along an inner surface of the first sidewall as the cover is pivoted from a closed position to an open position about the first hinge portion of the cover and the trough hinge of the first sidewall of the trough member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the end of the first member rides along the hook member of the trough hinge portion as the cover is pivoted to the open position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the second sidewall includes a second trough hinge portion that is a mirror image of the first trough hinge portion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the trough member and the cover extend in a vertical direction.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising a member that extends perpendicularly from the extension member of each of the first and second hinge portions of the cover, wherein a second space is defined between the member, the extension member, and the second member, the second space being sized to receive at least a portion of a user's finger.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, further comprising a curved member that extends from the main body to the second member of each of the first and second hinge portions.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the curved member includes a reduced thickness.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising a curved member that extends from the main body to the second member of each of the first and second hinge portions, wherein the curved member includes a reduced thickness.
