cable duct

Abstract

Cable duct (1) for furniture, comprising a bracket (2) and a cable rail (3) pivotable to the bracket (2), wherein at least two guide elements are formed between the bracket (2) and the cable rail (3) and the cable rail (3) has at least four end positions through the guide element, namely a horizontal upper position, a horizontal lower position, a first inclined position and a second inclined position, characterized in that the guide elements each have at least two cam guides and at least two guide pins (6) that are slidable in slots (5) of the cam guides and that the guide pins (6) are arranged in detent areas (12) of the cam guide in all end positions.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cable duct for furniture, comprising a bracket and a cable rail that can be pivoted to the bracket, wherein at least two guide elements are formed between the bracket and the cable rail and the cable rail has at least four end positions through the guide element, namely a horizontal upper position, a horizontal lower position, a first inclined position and a second inclined position.

[0002] Cable channels are commonly used for managing cables in office furniture. These channels are used, for example, for electrical wiring, power strips, or connecting devices. They prevent cable tangling and overall clutter, making it easy to keep things tidy around desks and office furniture.

[0003] Currently, only cable channels are known that can be positioned using two snap-fit ​​connections in the plastic holder. The cable channel remains in one snap-fit ​​connection. It is removed from the other for pivoting and then rotates around the first snap-fit ​​connection.

[0004] DE 10 2011 011 645 A1 describes a piece of work furniture with a worktop and a cable duct, which has a cable duct cover flap that can be switched from a closed position covering the cable duct at least partially to an open position releasing access to the cable duct.

[0005] These cable channels typically have three positions: a horizontal position, a first inclined position, and a second inclined position. These snap connections usually also allow the cable channel to be removed from the bracket.

[0006] The disadvantage is that the cable tray, when swiveled, is freely movable around a pivot axis. When attempting to arrange cables in the tray, the user must hold them in place or secure them separately, otherwise they will slip out. Additionally, the tray itself must be held in position to prevent further swiveling (and emptying). This makes arranging cables in the cable channel complicated and cumbersome.

[0007] German patent DE 10 2010 048 002 A1 describes a junction box with at least one socket and / or a switch for installation in a tabletop or floor, wherein a container is provided which is accessible via a container opening. This container opening can be closed with a lid.

[0008] Furthermore, snap connections formed by plastic components are prone to breakage. This is primarily exacerbated by the aging of the plastic.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a cable duct which facilitates the arrangement of cables.

[0010] This problem is solved according to the invention by the cable channel described above, in that the guide elements each have at least two cam guides and at least two guide pins that are slidable in slots of the cam guides, and that the guide pins are arranged in detent areas of the cam guide in all end positions. This makes it easy for a single user to install cables in the cable channel. No additional person or fixings are required, as the cable channel remains stable in its end positions solely due to its own weight.

[0011] Because the guide elements each have at least two cam guides and at least two guide pins that can be moved in slots in the cam guides, a particularly durable and robust cable duct is obtained. The cam guides and the guide pins can be made of any durable material, for example, wood, metal, or plastic, and can therefore withstand even greater loads, such as the pressure exerted when plugs are inserted into the connector strip. Unlike conventional cable ducts, this load is not a problem for the cable duct according to the invention. This is advantageous in terms of safety and robustness.

[0012] In a well-designed desktop, the cable channel beneath which is located has a cover. When the cover is removed—either by taking it off, sliding it, or pivoting it—the cable channel is freely accessible from above. Because the cable channel is more securely attached to the desktop, plugs can be easily inserted into power strips without the risk of the cable channel breaking.

[0013] A particularly simple shape and smooth movement to and from the end positions result when the slots of the cam guides are essentially L-shaped. It is especially advantageous if the two elongated extensions of the L-shape are curved.

[0014] The bracket and cable rail are particularly easy to connect during assembly if the slots of the guide rails are arranged in the cable rail and if the guide pins are arranged on the bracket.

[0015] A possible alternative arises when the slots of the guide rails are arranged in the bracket and when the guide pins are arranged on the cable rail.

[0016] To fix the end positions in a particularly simple way and to further increase stability, it is advantageous if the slots of the cam guides each have a detent area in their end area to receive the guide pin.

[0017] This advantage also arises for another end position if the slots of the cam guides have a detent area in a central section to receive the guide pin. In the case of an L-shaped slot, the central section corresponds to its angle.

[0018] To facilitate rotation into the inclined end positions and to largely prevent tilting, it is advantageous if each slot has at least one arc-shaped area corresponding to the second slot of the cam guide, the center of which essentially corresponds to a detent area of ​​the other slot.

[0019] It is particularly advantageous if the slots of the guide rails are closed. This largely prevents the cable rail from falling due to unintentionally leaving its mounting.

[0020] To simplify the manufacturing and handling of the cable duct, it is advantageously provided that the slots of the guide rails are identical in pairs.

[0021] A particularly practical design of the cable duct is one in which the cable rail has at least one hole at each end for routing cables, and the bracket has corresponding recesses.

[0022] If this hole is arranged between the guide elements for the passage of cables, preferably between the slots of the cam guides, the simplicity of the construction can be increased.

[0023] Directional terms such as top and bottom, as well as left and right, refer to a typical installation position in which the cable tray is fixed to the underside of the desktop and runs horizontally along it. "Top" indicates the direction oriented towards the desktop. "Left" and "right" refer only to the arrangement shown in the figures for clarity. These directional terms in no way restrict the invention.

[0024] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the non-restrictive figures. These show: Fig. 1 a cable duct according to the invention in an oblique view; Fig. 2a to Fig. 2d the cable duct in a schematic representation in a side view in four end positions; and Fig. 3 A side view of the cable duct located under a desktop.

[0025] Fig. Figure 1 shows a cable duct 1 in a first embodiment. The cable duct 1 has a bracket 2 and a cable rail 3, which is intended for receiving cables.

[0026] The cable rail 3 is essentially a U-shaped elongated profile with a cover plate 4 at each end. In the first embodiment, the two cover plates 4 of the cable rail 3 each have two guide slots, each formed by a slot 5. A guide pin 6 is guided in each of these slots 5 and is rigidly connected to the bracket 2.

[0027] In a second embodiment, not shown, the guide rails are arranged on the bracket 2 and the guide pins 6 are rigidly connected to the cover plates 4 of the cable tray 3. Due to the similarity and interchangeability of these two embodiments, only the first embodiment is shown in the figures. The elements are only reversed in their arrangement on the cable duct 1. All other functionalities and features correspond to those of the first embodiment.

[0028] In Fig. Cable rail 3 also contains connector strips 7 and terminals 8 for cables. The configuration of the contents of cable rail 3 may differ from the version shown, depending on requirements.

[0029] The bracket 2 can be attached to a desktop 11 using screws 10 ( Fig. 2) or in an alternative design, connected to the frame of the desk and the cable channel 1 is fixed in this way.

[0030] Each slot 5 is essentially L-shaped and has several detent areas 12, as shown in Fig. 2a is recognizable.

[0031] In the Fig. 2a to Fig. Figure 2d shows the position of the guide pins 6 in the slots 5 to achieve different end positions. Fig. In Figure 2a, the cable rail 3 is in an upper horizontal end position. The two guide pins 6 are positioned in the slots 5 shown, within a locking area 12 at the bottom. This locking area 12 is essentially U-shaped. The cable rail 3 is thus locked against rotation and displacement in these locking areas 12 via the guide pins 6 on the bracket 2. The weight G of the cable rail 3 holds it stably in this upper horizontal end position, and it can only be moved from this position by the user applying force. The user must move the cable rail 3 so that it is lifted by the guide pins 6 in the locking area 12.

[0032] In Fig. Figure 2b shows the cable rail 3 in its lower horizontal position. For this purpose, the guide pins 6 were moved relative to the slots 5 along a first elongated area 13 into a detent area 12 in the angle – a middle area – of the L-shape of the slots 5.

[0033] This detent area 12 in the angle of the slot 5 is arranged approximately vertically directly above the lower detent area 12 at the end of the first elongated area 13.

[0034] The cable rail 3 is also locked against rotation and displacement in the lower horizontal end position in the locking areas 12 via the guide pins 6 on the bracket 2. The weight G of the cable rail 3 holds it stably in the lower horizontal end position, and it can only be moved from this position by the user applying force. The user must move the cable rail 3 so that the guide pins 6 are pushed out of the locking area 12, or the cable rail 3 must be rotated.

[0035] From the lower horizontal end position, the cable rail 3 can be moved into the first inclined end position and into the second inclined end position. To do this, the cable rail 3 simply needs to be rotated.

[0036] In Fig. In position 2c, the cable rail 3 is in its first inclined position. For this purpose, a guide pin 6, in this case the guide pin 6 in the left slot 5, is moved along a second elongated section 14 into a detent area 12 at the end of the second elongated section 14.

[0037] The guide pin 6 in the right slot is positioned in the lower locking area 12 at the end of the first elongated section 13. This causes the cable rail 3 to be inclined relative to the desktop 11 and the bracket 2 by a certain first angle α.

[0038] The guide pins 6 are located in the first inclined end position in the locking area 12 at the end of the second elongated section 14 and in the locking area 12 at the end of the first elongated section 14, which is U-shaped. The weight force G of the cable rail 3 also holds it stably in this first inclined end position, and the end position is released by the user applying force. To do this, the cable rail 3 is rotated back, and the guide pins 6 leave their respective locking areas 12.

[0039] In Fig. In section 2d, the cable rail 3 is in its second inclined end position. The procedure and function for reaching this end position correspond to the procedure for obtaining the first inclined end position. The cable rail 3 is rotated from the lower horizontal end position in the opposite direction to the previous position. In the second inclined end position, the guide pins 6 are located in the opposite detent area 12 of the L-shaped slots 5 compared to the first inclined end position. The cable rail 3 is inclined relative to the desktop 11 and the bracket 2 by a specific second angle β. In the illustrated embodiment, the second angle β and the first angle α are different from each other. In an alternative embodiment, these angles can also be the same.

[0040] The first elongated section 13 on the left has an arc-shaped area B in a section near the bend, the center of which is essentially located in the detent area 12 at the bend of the right slot 5. This results in a necessary movement to bring the cable rail 3 into the second inclined end position. In the first part of the movement into the second inclined position, mainly a rotation takes place, followed by a displacement of the guide pins 6 on the left and right.

[0041] From the Fig. 2a to Fig.Figure 2d shows that a hole 15 is provided in the cable tray 3, through which the cables can be guided into the cable tray 3. Accordingly, a recess 16 is provided in the bracket 2, through which the cables can be guided. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess 16 is larger than the hole 15. This reduces the movement of the cables when the cable tray 3 is moved and rotated, allowing them to remain in their position in the cable channel 1 for as long as possible. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess 16 is open downwards.

[0042] The shape of the two slots 5 on each cover plate 4 and their corresponding shape to each other allows for shifting into a second plane without having to fold down the cable rail 3. Furthermore, pivoting in two directions is possible.

[0043] Because the cable rail 3 is always supported at four points, free swinging of the cable rail 3 is prevented. An undesired position is also prevented because the slots 5 allow for closed guidance on both sides.

Claims

[1] Cable duct (1) for furniture, comprising a bracket (2) and a cable rail (3) pivotable to the bracket (2), wherein at least two guide elements are formed between the bracket (2) and the cable rail (3) and the cable rail (3) has at least four end positions through the guide element, namely a horizontal upper position, a horizontal lower position, a first inclined position and a second inclined position, characterized by , that the guide elements each have at least two cam guides and at least two guide pins (6) that can be moved in slots (5) of the cam guides and that the guide pins (6) are arranged in detent areas (12) of the cam guide in all end positions. [2] Cable duct (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the slots (5) of the cam guides are each L-shaped. [3] Cable duct (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the slots (5) of the cam guides are arranged in the cable rail (3) and that the guide pins (6) are arranged on the bracket (2). [4] Cable duct (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the slots (5) of the cam guides are arranged in the holder (2) and that the guide pins (6) are arranged on the cable rail (3). [5] Cable duct (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the slots (5) of the cam guides each have a rest area (12) in their end area for receiving the guide pin (6). [6] Cable duct (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the slots (5) of the cam guides have a resting area (12) in a central area for receiving the guide pin (6). [7] Cable duct (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by, that each slot (5) to the second slot (5) of the cam guide has at least one arc-shaped area (B) whose center point corresponds to a detent area (12) of the other slot (5). [8] Cable duct (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the slots (5) of the scenery guides are closed. [9] Cable duct (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the slots (5) of the scenery guides are each identical in pairs. [10] Cable duct (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that the cable rail (3) has at least one hole (15) at each end for the passage of cables and the bracket (2) has corresponding recesses (16) for this purpose. [11] Cable duct (1) according to claim 10, characterized by , that this hole (15) is arranged for the passage of cables between the guide elements. [12] Cable duct (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by, that this hole (15) is arranged for the passage of cables between the slots (5) of the cam guides.

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