Wiring duct

Abstract

To provide a wiring duct for protecting a wire member applicable to bending and branching of the wire member and improving workability in arranging the wiring duct.SOLUTION: According to a wiring duct D constituted by a plurality of unit ducts 1 that are connected in a length direction so as to have a desired length, the unit ducts 1 each comprise: a bottom plate 10 having a required length dimension and width dimension; a pair of holding pieces 13 erected at both side edges of the bottom plate 10 in a width direction to hold a wire member W; a first connection part 11 provided at one end of the bottom plate 10 in a length direction; and a second connection part 12 provided at the other end of the bottom plate 10 in the length direction. The first connection part 11 is constituted as a male side connection part comprising a connection protrusion 112 protruded in a plate thickness direction of the bottom plate 10. The second connection part 12 is constituted as a female side connection part comprising a connection receiving part 122 to which the connection protrusion 112 is connected from the plate thickness direction of the bottom plate 10. The first connection part 11 and the second connection part 12 each are rotatable in a surface direction of the bottom plate 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiring duct for routing wire members such as electric wires and cables along a distribution board or an object to be routed on a wall or floor (hereinafter referred to as a distribution board or the like). [Background technology]

[0002] Wiring ducts are used to route and hold wires such as electric wires and cables along the surface of a switchboard or the like, and to protect them from external forces. Conventional wiring ducts are formed in the shape of a trough of a required length to accommodate wires, and are cut to the required length when installed, making the cutting process tedious. In order to eliminate the need for such cutting and simplify the installation process, wiring ducts have been proposed, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2. The wiring ducts in Patent Documents 1 and 2 configure a wiring duct of the desired length by connecting unit ducts of a relatively short required length at their longitudinal ends. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-177945 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-111720 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The wiring duct of Patent Document 1 has connecting portions at both longitudinal ends of the bottom plate of each unit duct, and a wiring duct of a desired length is formed by connecting multiple connected unit ducts at the connecting portions. The connected wiring duct can be bent horizontally (toward the surface of the bottom plate). The wiring duct of Patent Document 2 has connecting portions at both longitudinal ends of bottom plates erected on both sides of the bottom of each unit duct, and a wiring duct of a desired length is formed by connecting multiple connected unit ducts at the connecting portions. The connected wiring duct can be bent vertically (in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the bottom plate).

[0005] In both the wiring ducts of Patent Documents 1 and 2, when connecting unit ducts, a pair of unit ducts to be connected is configured to be moved relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the unit duct. Therefore, when a wiring duct is configured with multiple unit ducts connected, it is difficult to disconnect a unit duct located in the middle of the length. In particular, when the wiring duct is installed in a switchboard or the like, all or some of the unit ducts are fixed to the switchboard or the like with screws, making it difficult to move each unit duct independently in the longitudinal direction, and therefore difficult to disconnect or reconnect a unit duct located in the middle. Therefore, in such cases, it is necessary to temporarily remove at least a portion of the wiring duct from the switchboard or the like, which reduces workability.

[0006] Furthermore, the wiring ducts in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are configured such that multiple unit ducts are connected in a straight line, and it is possible to lay the wires in a bent state by bending them at the connecting portions. However, since they do not have a structure for maintaining the straight or bent state, the straight or bent state of the wiring duct may change when subjected to an external force, which is undesirable from the viewpoint of protecting the wires.

[0007] Furthermore, the wiring ducts of Patent Documents 1 and 2 have difficulty in branching and pulling out a portion of the wires they hold. Even if branching were possible, it is difficult for the wiring duct to hold and protect the branched wires. To hold the branched wires, a separate wiring duct must be installed, which is a complicated process. It is also difficult to connect the separate wiring duct to the main wiring duct and hold the wires at the branch point.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a wiring duct that improves workability when installing a wiring duct that holds wire members. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wiring duct that can protect wire members in response to bending and branching of the wire members. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention provides a wiring duct of a desired length constructed by connecting a plurality of unit ducts in the longitudinal direction, the unit duct comprising a bottom plate having the required length and width, a pair of holding pieces erected on both widthwise edges of the bottom plate for holding wire members extending on the bottom plate, a first connecting portion provided at one longitudinal end of the bottom plate, and a second connecting portion provided at the other longitudinal end of the bottom plate. The first connecting portion is configured as a male connecting portion including a first connecting piece extending from one end of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction and a connecting protrusion provided on the first connecting piece that protrudes in the thickness direction of the bottom plate. The second connecting portion is configured as a female connecting portion including a second connecting piece extending from the other end of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction and a connecting receptacle provided on the second connecting piece that is connected to the connecting protrusion from the thickness direction of the bottom plate.

[0010] In the present invention, for example, the connecting protrusion is formed of an elastically deformable snap, and the connecting receiving portion is formed of a fitting hole into which the snap is fitted from the thickness direction of the bottom plate. Alternatively, the connecting protrusion is formed of an elastically deformable snap, and the connecting receiving portion is formed of an elongated hole into which the snap is inserted from the thickness direction of the bottom plate and which is movable in the length direction, and the inner edge of the elongated hole is provided with an inner edge piece with which the snap is engaged so as to be movable in the length direction.

[0011] In the present invention, the connecting protrusion and the connecting receiving portion are configured to allow the unit duct to rotate in the surface direction of the bottom plate when connected. In this case, it is preferable to configure the unit duct to have an increased rotation angle by removing the holding piece of at least one of the connected unit ducts. The first connecting piece or the second connecting piece may have an extended locking piece positioned near the connecting portion of the other connected unit, and this locking piece may lock the rotation of the other unit duct. Furthermore, it is preferable that the unit duct has a third connecting portion at a midpoint in the length direction of the bottom plate to which a unit duct oriented in a direction intersecting the length direction is connected, the third connecting portion being configured as a widthwise groove provided on the underside of the bottom plate, and the second connecting portion of another connected duct is inserted into this groove to connect the other unit duct. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the connecting protrusion of the first connecting part and the connecting receiving part of the second connecting part are connected in the thickness direction of the bottom plate, so the connected unit ducts can be released from the thickness direction, improving workability when installing the wiring duct. Also, because the connecting protrusion and the connecting receiving part are rotatable in the surface direction of the bottom plate, the wire member can be protected in response to bending of the held wire member. Furthermore, by providing a third connecting part, it is possible to accommodate branching of the wire member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wiring duct of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view of the unit duct of the first embodiment as seen from above, and FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view of the unit duct as seen from below. [Figure 3] (a) is a perspective view of the two unit ducts before they are connected, and (b) is a perspective view of them after they are connected. [Figure 4] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the connecting part before connection, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the connecting part after connection. [Figure 5](a) is a plan view of the straight state, and (b) is a plan view of the rotated and bent state. [Figure 6] (a) is a perspective view of the state where the holding piece has been removed, and (b) is a plan view of the state where the bending angle has been increased. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B show a unit duct of a second embodiment, in which FIG. 10A is a perspective view and FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a wiring duct in which unit ducts are connected. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a unit duct according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] (a) is a plan view of the state in which the straight state is maintained, and (b) is a plan view of the state in which the bent state is maintained. [Figure 11] 10A is a perspective view of a unit duct according to a fourth embodiment, and FIGS. 10B and 10C are perspective views illustrating a bent state. [Figure 12] 10A is a perspective view of a unit duct of the fifth embodiment as seen from above, FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the unit duct as seen from below, and FIG. 10C is an enlarged plan view of a portion thereof. [Figure 13] 10A is a perspective view of the connected state seen from below, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the connected state changed from below. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the unit duct in a bent state. [Figure 15] 10(a) to 10(c) are bottom views showing the operation when bending a unit duct. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a unit duct according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the two components are connected in a branched T-shape. [Figure 18] (a) A perspective view from above of the T-shaped connection, and (b) a perspective view from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] (Embodiment 1) Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wiring duct D according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which three unit ducts 1 are connected in the longitudinal direction to form a wiring duct D of a desired length. In this wiring duct D, at least one unit duct 1 is fixed to a distribution board (not shown) or the like, and a wire member W to be held or protected is inserted inside. The unit ducts 1 are formed by integral molding of resin, and as will be described later, at least one of the longitudinal ends of each unit duct 1 is connected to another unit duct 1 of the same shape.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit duct 1, with (a) being a perspective view from above and (b) being a perspective view from below. The unit duct 1 has a rectangular, flat bottom plate 10 having the required length and width dimensions, with first and second connecting portions provided at both ends of the bottom plate 10 in the longitudinal direction. One of the first connecting portions 11 is configured as a male connecting portion, and the other, the second connecting portion 12, is configured as a female connecting portion. In the first connecting portion 11, one end of the bottom plate 10 extends in a tapered shape in the longitudinal direction and has a male connecting piece (first connecting piece) 110 whose tip is formed in an arc shape. In the other, the second connecting portion 12, the other end of the bottom plate 10 has a female connecting piece (second connecting piece) 120 that protrudes in an arc shape in the longitudinal direction.

[0016] The male connecting piece 110 and the female connecting piece 120 are each formed with a thickness dimension that is half that of the bottom plate 10, with the male connecting piece 110 extending so as to be flush with the upper surface of the bottom plate 10 and the female connecting piece 120 extending so as to be flush with the lower surface of the bottom plate 10. A connecting protrusion 112 protrudes downward from the bottom surface near the tip of the male connecting piece 110. This connecting protrusion 112 is configured as a protruding snap with multiple hooks 113 at the tip that can be elastically deformed to some extent in the radial direction. The female connecting piece 120 is provided with a connecting receptacle 122 into which the protruding snap 112 engages, and this connecting receptacle 122 is configured as a fitting hole 122 that opens in the thickness direction. The fitting hole 122 has a stepped portion 123 formed on the inner surface in the thickness direction. The protruding snap 112 is inserted into the mating hole 122 by elastically deforming in the direction of reducing the diameter, and after being inserted, the diameter expands so that the hook 113 engages with the step portion 123, and the two can be mutually engaged in the thickness direction of the plate.

[0017] Here, male tapered edge 111 of male connecting piece 110 is at an angle of 45° with respect to the longitudinal direction. As shown in the enlarged view of Figure 2(a), the end of bottom plate 10 is exposed on the upper surface side of female connecting piece 120, and this end has female tapered edges 121 on both sides in the width direction, tapered at an angle of 45° with respect to the longitudinal direction, and arc-shaped edge 124 in the center in the width direction.

[0018] Meanwhile, two pairs of retaining pieces 13 are erected upward on both longitudinal edges of bottom piece 10 at two locations spaced a required distance apart in the longitudinal direction, facing each other in the width direction. The upper ends of these retaining pieces 13 are bent inward and arranged close to each other. These retaining pieces 13 are formed in an area where the male connecting portion 11 and the female connecting portion 12 do not overlap in a plan view of unit duct 1. In particular, the retaining piece 13 (131) closer to the female connecting portion 11 has a longitudinal area that extends to an area including the semicircle of fitting hole 122, but its upper end is formed narrow and partially set back so as not to overlap fitting hole 122 in the plan view.

[0019] Of the two pairs of retaining pieces 13, the retaining piece 13 (131) on the female connecting portion 12 side has a slit 14 with a tapered cross section formed in the inner edge portion that forms the boundary with the bottom plate 10, as shown in Figure 2(a). By providing this slit 14, when an operator manually applies an external force to the retaining piece 13 (131), the retaining piece 13 (131) can be bent at the slit 14 and separated (cut off) from the bottom piece 10.

[0020] A mounting hole 15 is formed in the center of the bottom piece 10, through which a screw (machine screw, flat head screw) is inserted to attach and secure the unit duct 1 to a wiring board or the like. The inner edge of this mounting hole 15 is chamfered to accommodate the flat head screw, and it is configured as a long hole extending along the longitudinal direction. Note that instead of providing the mounting hole 15, a snap that fits into a hole provided in the distribution board or the like may be configured to protrude integrally from the underside of the bottom surface 10.

[0021] With the unit ducts configured as described above, as shown in the perspective views of Figures 3(a) and (b) and the cross-sectional views of Figures 4(a) and (b), respectively, before and after connection, when connecting two unit ducts 1, 1, the male connecting portion (first connecting portion 11) of one unit duct 1 on the left side of the figure is placed over the female connecting portion (second connecting portion) 12 of the other unit duct 1 on the right side of the figure, and then the protruding snap 112 is fitted into the fitting hole 122. That is, the protruding snap 112 is fitted into the fitting hole 122 from the thickness direction of the bottom plate 10. By fitting the protruding snap 112 into the fitting hole 122, the hook 113 of the protruding snap 112 is elastically deformed and engages with the step portion 123 on the inner circumferential surface of the fitting hole 122, as shown in Figure 4(b). Therefore, the male connector 11 and female connector 12 are connected, and the two unit ducts 1, 2 are connected in the length direction. In the same manner, as shown in Figure 1, the male connector 11 of a third unit duct is connected to the female connector 12 of one unit duct 1. Also, although not shown in Figure 1, the male connector 11 of the other unit duct 1 is connected to the female connector 12 of a fourth unit duct. In this way, a wiring duct D of a desired length is constructed by connecting the required number of unit ducts 1.

[0022] The constructed wiring duct D of Fig. 1 allows appropriate unit ducts 1 to be fixed to a distribution board or the like with machine screws using the mounting holes 15 in the bottom plate 10. In this case, since the unit ducts 1 are interconnected by the connecting portions 11, 12, if only an appropriately selected unit duct 1 is fixed with machine screws, the other unit ducts 1 will remain fixed to the distribution board or the like via the fixed unit duct 1. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, by inserting a wire member W into the wiring duct D through the gap at the upper ends of the pair of holding pieces 13 of the wiring duct 100, the wire member W can be held and protected.

[0023] In this way, in a wiring duct D in which a plurality of unit ducts 1 are connected, the male connecting portion 11 and second connecting portion 12 of each unit duct 1 are connected in the thickness direction of the bottom plate 10, so it is possible to selectively remove and replace any unit duct, for example, a unit duct 1 located at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the wiring duct D. That is, although not shown, by utilizing the elasticity of the unit duct 1 to slightly deform the male connecting portion 11 toward the upper surface of the bottom plate 10, it is possible to forcibly release the engagement with the female connecting portion 12 of the connected unit duct. In other words, the protruding snap 112 of the male connecting portion 11 can be forcibly pulled out of the fitting hole 122 of the female connecting portion 12.

[0024] Furthermore, the female connector 12 of the unit duct 1 can be released by similarly operating the male connector 12 of the connected unit duct 1. In this case, the upper end of the retaining piece 13 (131) near the female connector 12 is narrow, so it does not interfere with the upward movement of the male connector 12. Even if the upper end of the retaining piece 13 (131) is not narrow, the male connector 12 can still be moved upward due to elastic deformation. Therefore, to release the connection of multiple connected unit ducts 1, it is not necessary to temporarily remove the wiring duct D from the switchboard, etc., improving workability. Incidentally, in Patent Document 1, the connector has a plug-in structure, making it difficult to release the connection upward. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, the bottom plate interferes, making it difficult to release the connection upward.

[0025] Furthermore, in the wiring duct D of embodiment 1, the protruding snap 112 of the male coupling portion 11 can be rotated about the central axis of the snap inside the fitting hole 122 of the female coupling portion 12, so that the wiring duct D can be bent horizontally at the coupling portion, i.e., toward the surface of the bottom plate 10. In embodiment 1, from a state in which the unit ducts 1, 1 are connected in a linear state as shown in FIG. 5(a), the protruding snap 112 of the male coupling portion 11 is rotated about the central axis inside the fitting hole 122 of the female coupling portion 12 as shown in FIG. 5(b). This allows bending until one unit duct 1 abuts against the other unit duct 1 and rotation is prevented. Here, the wiring duct D can be bent to an angle of approximately 38° until the male tapered edge portion 111 of one unit duct 1 abuts against the retaining piece 13 of the other unit duct 1.

[0026] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when bending the wiring duct D, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the holding piece 13 (131) of one unit duct 1 that abuts against the male tapered edge portion 111 of the other unit duct 1 may be cut off using a slit 14. This increases the rotation angle of the unit duct 1 that was restrained by abutment with the holding piece 13, thereby increasing the bending angle of the wiring duct D. Here, the angle can be increased until the male tapered edge portion 111 provided on the male connecting portion 11 and the female tapered edge portion 121 provided on the female connecting portion 12 abut against each other. Since the male tapered edge portion 111 and the female tapered edge portion 121 are each formed at an angle of 45° with respect to the longitudinal direction, one unit duct 1 can be bent to an angle of 90° with respect to the other unit duct 1 until the tapered edges 111, 121 abut against each other, as shown in FIG. 6(b).

[0027] By bending the wiring duct D in this way, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the wire members W in a distribution board or the like is increased, and it becomes possible to apply it to distribution boards of various different shapes and dimensions. Furthermore, as described above, the wiring duct D can be held in a straight state or at a required angle (38°, 90°), so that when subjected to an external force, the wiring duct D and the wire members W inserted therein will not be bent beyond these angles, thereby providing a protective function for the wire members W.

[0028] (Embodiment 2) FIG. 7(a) is a perspective view of a unit duct 1A of embodiment 2, and FIG. 7(b) is its plan view. The basic configuration is the same as in embodiment 1, so equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals. This unit duct 1A of embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in that only a pair of wide retaining pieces 13 is provided on both sides of the bottom plate 10. The pair of retaining pieces 13 is formed over substantially the entire length of the bottom plate 10, but is formed so as not to extend into the areas of the male connecting piece 110 and the female connecting piece 120. In other words, the length by which the male connecting piece 110 and the female connecting piece 120 protrude longitudinally from both ends of the bottom plate 10 is set to a larger dimension compared to embodiment 1, ensuring a required amount of space around the entire periphery of the protruding snap 112 of the male connecting portion 11 and the mating hole 122 of the female connecting portion 12. In addition, at the tip ends of the pair of holding pieces 13 facing each other, a notch 13a is formed for inserting a jig (screwdriver) used to insert a small screw into the mounting hole 15 opened in the bottom plate 10.

[0029] In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, which is a perspective view of a number of connected unit ducts 1A, a wiring duct of a desired length can be constructed by connecting male connecting portions 11 and female connecting portions 12. Furthermore, similar to the first embodiment, the wiring duct D can be bent. In particular, in the second embodiment, the retaining pieces 13 extending along the longitudinal direction of the unit ducts 1A are continuously formed in the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 10, thereby enhancing the protection of the wire members. Furthermore, when the connected wiring duct D is bent, the retaining pieces 13 of one unit duct 1A do not come into contact with the retaining pieces 13 of the other unit duct 1A, so the wiring duct D can be bent to an angle of approximately 90° without the need to cut off the retaining pieces 13. This increases the degree of freedom when installing the wiring duct D in a distribution board or the like, while preventing the wiring duct D from being bent uncontrollably, thereby enhancing the retention and protection of the wire members. Furthermore, in a state where the wiring duct D formed by connecting a plurality of unit ducts 1A is fixed to a switchboard or the like, any unit duct 1A can be removed, as in the first embodiment.

[0030] (Embodiment 3) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a unit duct 1B of embodiment 3. The basic structure is the same as that of embodiment 1, so equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals. embodiment 3 has the function of locking the bends in the connected unit duct 1B and maintaining the connected wiring duct in a straight state. Specifically, male connecting portion 11 is provided with a pair of cantilevered locking pieces 16, each protruding lengthwise from either side of bottom plate 10 or from retaining pieces 13 on either side of male connecting piece 110 in the width direction. These locking pieces 16 extend to a position corresponding to the center of protruding snap 112 on both sides of male tapered edge 111. Each locking piece 16 is narrow at its base end, which connects to bottom plate 10 or retaining piece 13, but the width gradually increases toward its tip, with the tip surface oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of unit duct 1B.

[0031] In the third embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, a wiring duct of a desired length can be constructed by interconnecting the male connecting portions 11 and female connecting portions 12 of a plurality of unit ducts 1B. Furthermore, in the connected state, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 10(a), a pair of locking pieces 16 on both sides of the male connecting portion 12 of one unit duct 1B are arranged with their respective tip surfaces in close proximity to or in contact with a pair of holding pieces 13 that are close to the female connecting portion 12 of the other unit duct 1B. As a result, when one unit duct 1B is attempted to be rotated, one of the pair of locking pieces 16 abuts against the holding piece 13 of the other unit duct 1B, thereby preventing the rotation. Therefore, bending of both unit ducts 1B is prevented, the connected wiring duct is maintained in a straight state, and the protective function of the held wire members is enhanced.

[0032] On the other hand, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 10(b), one of the pair of locking pieces 16 can be bent at its narrow base end and manually cut off as needed. This allows the unit duct 1B to rotate until the male tapered edge 111 abuts against the retaining piece 13 of the other unit duct 1B, allowing it to be bent, for example, to an angle of 38°. By cutting off the desired locking piece 16, the connected wiring duct can be bent toward the cut locking piece 16. Although not shown, by cutting off the protective piece 13 with which the male tapered edge 111 abuts, the bending angle can be increased to 90° until the male tapered portion 111 abuts against the female tapered edge 121. As in the first embodiment, when a wiring duct formed by connecting multiple unit ducts 1B is fixed to a switchboard or the like, any unit duct can be removed.

[0033] (Embodiment 4) FIG. 11(a) is a perspective view of a unit duct 1C of embodiment 4, which can be considered a modification of embodiment 3. In embodiment 4, a pair of locking pieces 17 are provided to sandwich the female connecting portion 12 of the unit duct 1B in the width direction. This configuration differs from embodiment 3 in that the locking pieces 16 are provided in positions to sandwich the male connecting portion 11, but other configurations are the same as embodiment 3, so equivalent parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In embodiment 4, the pair of locking pieces 17 are provided in positions to sandwich the female connecting piece 120 in the width direction and are formed integrally with a pair of holding pieces 13 near the female connecting portion 12, and are configured as narrow locking pieces protruding longitudinally from the base of each holding piece 13. In addition, the tip of each locking piece 17 is provided with a small protrusion 17a that protrudes inward in the width direction.

[0034] In embodiment 4, as in embodiment 3, when unit ducts 1C are connected, a pair of locking pieces 17 on both sides of the female connecting portion 12 of one unit duct 1C are arranged in proximity to or in contact with a pair of holding pieces 13 near the male connecting portion 11 of the other unit duct 1C. As a result, although not shown, when one unit duct 1C is attempted to be rotated, one of the locking pieces 17 abuts against the holding piece of the other unit duct 1C, preventing the rotation. Therefore, bending of the unit duct 1C is prevented, the constructed wiring duct is maintained in a straight state, and the protective function of the held wire members is improved.

[0035] 11(b), when the unit ducts 1C are connected, one of the locking pieces 17 can be manually cut off together with the holding piece 13 as needed, thereby releasing the rotational lock between the locking piece 17 and the holding piece 13, as shown in FIG. 11(c), and allowing the unit ducts 1C to be bent in the same manner as in the third embodiment. In this case, in the fourth embodiment, instead of cutting off only the locking piece 17, the holding piece 13 formed integrally with the locking piece 17 is also cut off. As a result, the unit duct 1C rotates and bends at an angle of approximately 90° until the female tapered edge portion 111 and the male tapered edge portion 121 abut against each other. Since the holding piece 13 and the locking piece 17 are integral in this way, cutting off the holding piece 13 simultaneously breaks off the locking piece 17, simplifying the work required to bend the wiring duct compared to the third embodiment. As in the third embodiment, when a wiring duct formed by connecting a plurality of unit ducts is fixed to a switchboard or the like, any unit duct can be removed.

[0036] (Embodiment 5) 12(a) and 12(b) are perspective views of unit duct 1D of embodiment 5, seen from above and below, respectively. The basic structure is the same as that of unit duct 1D of embodiment 4, and equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Male connecting portion 11 of embodiment 5 has a configuration essentially the same as that of embodiment 4, with the connecting protrusion of male connecting portion 11 consisting of protruding snap 112 having hook 113. The end of bottom plate 10 on the underside of male connecting piece 110 has protruding portions 116 on both sides in the width direction, with recessed portion 117 recessed in an arc shape from both protruding portions 116 toward the center. Recessed portion 117 is formed in an arc shape with the same diameter as the arc-shaped end of female connecting piece 121.

[0037] The female connecting portion 12 of the unit duct 1D of embodiment 5 differs from that of embodiment 4. As shown in an enlarged view in Figure 12(c), the connection receiving portion of the female connecting portion 12 of this unit duct 1D is composed of an elongated hole 124 into which the protruding snap 112 of the male connecting portion 11 is inserted from the thickness direction of the bottom plate 10 and which is movable in the longitudinal direction. A flange-shaped inner edge piece 125 is provided on the inner edge of this elongated hole 124, and one longitudinal portion of this inner edge piece 125, here the portion facing opposite the tip of the female connecting piece 121, is formed with notched grooves 126 corresponding to the multiple hooks 113 of the protruding snap 112 of the male connecting portion 11. Furthermore, a pair of locking pieces 127 having small protrusions at their tips are provided on both widthwise sides of this female connecting piece 121, as in embodiment 4.

[0038] To connect unit ducts 1D of embodiment 5, as shown in FIG. 13(a), the protruding snaps 112 of the male connecting portion 11 of one unit duct 1D are inserted into the elongated holes 124 of the female connecting portion 12 of the other unit duct 1D from the thickness direction of the bottom plate 10. At this time, the multiple hooks 113 of the protruding snaps 112 are inserted through the grooves 126 of the elongated holes 124, and the hooks 113 are inserted all the way to the underside of the inner edge piece 125 and engage therewith. This connects the male connecting portion 11 of one unit duct 1D and the female connecting portion 12 of the other unit duct 1D. In this state, as shown in the same figure, the tips of the pair of locking pieces 127 abut against the outer surfaces of the protruding portions 116 on both sides of the recessed portion 117 of the male connecting portion 12, clamping them in the width direction. This prevents the unit duct 1D from rotating, and maintains the straight state of the wiring duct.

[0039] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 13(b), when one unit duct 1D is moved longitudinally relative to the other unit duct 1D, protruding snap 112 slides toward the other end of elongated hole 124 while maintaining the engaged state between hook 113 and inner edge piece 125. When protruding snap 112 slides to the other end of elongated hole 124 and the distance between them increases, the tips of the pair of locking pieces 127 are released from contact with the respective side surfaces of both side protrusions 116 of male coupling portion 11 and are separated. As a result, when unit duct 1D is rotated, locking pieces 127 no longer lock the rotation, and unit duct 1D can be rotated and bent. Figure 14 is a perspective view of unit duct 1D bent by 90 degrees.

[0040] When connected unit ducts 1D are stretched long in the longitudinal direction and rotated in this manner, as shown in the bottom views of Figures 15(a) to (c), both side protrusions 116 of male coupling part 11 abut against the tips of locking pieces 127 during rotation and then rotate while riding over them. As a result, both side protrusions 116 elastically deform the tips of locking pieces 127, providing a clicking sensation as they ride over them. Furthermore, when one unit duct 1D is rotated 90°, both side protrusions 116 that have ridden over locking pieces 127 abut against the outer surfaces of locking pieces 127. This maintains unit duct 1D bent at an angle of 90°, enhancing the protection of the wires held in the wiring duct.

[0041] In the fifth embodiment, when a plurality of unit ducts 1D are connected in a straight line, it is possible to release the connection of one unit duct 1D. In this case, the unit duct 1D is released from the switchboard or the like, and then slid along the longitudinal direction so that the connected state of the unit duct 1D becomes shorter, and the hook 113 of the protruding snap 112 is pulled out through the groove 126 of the elongated hole 124, thereby releasing the engagement between the protruding snap 112 and the elongated hole 124. Thereafter, the connection can be released by performing substantially the same operations as in the first embodiment. Therefore, even when a wiring duct formed by connecting a plurality of unit ducts is fixed to a switchboard or the like, any unit duct can be removed.

[0042] (Embodiment 6) Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a unit duct 1E of embodiment 6. This embodiment 6 is configured as a modification of embodiment 4, and in particular is capable of holding a wire member branched in a T-shape. In the unit duct 1E of embodiment 6, a branched connecting portion 20 serving as a third connecting portion is formed on the underside of the bottom plate 10 at a portion sandwiched in the longitudinal direction by two pairs of holding pieces 13. This branched connecting portion 20 is processed by cutting out a corresponding portion of the bottom plate 10 shown by imaginary lines in the figure, and a recessed groove 21 extending in the width direction is formed in this cut-out portion. The width dimension of this recessed groove 21 is approximately the same as the width dimension of the bottom plate 10 of the unit duct 1E, in other words, the width dimension of the female connecting piece 120 of the female connecting portion 12 serving as the second connecting portion.

[0043] In the sixth embodiment, when constructing a branched wiring duct, as shown in FIG. 17, both of the pair of retaining pieces 13 (131) near the female connecting portion 12 of the unit duct 1E to be branched and connected are cut off. By cutting them off, convex streaks 128 extending along both side surfaces of the bottom plate 10 remain on the female connecting piece 120. Then, the female connecting portion 12 of the unit duct 1E is inserted into the groove 21 of the unit duct 1E to be branched off. This insertion can be done from the underside of the bottom plate 10, i.e., from either the bottom of the groove 21 or the side of the groove 21. The inserted unit duct 1E is supported in the groove 21 as the convex streaks 128 are slightly deformed and press-fitted into the interior of the groove 21.

[0044] 18(a) and 18(b), which are perspective views seen from above and below, the unit ducts 1E are connected in a T-shape. Therefore, at the branching connection portion 20 of this unit duct 1E, the wire members held in the wiring duct can be branched.

[0045] In the sixth embodiment, when disconnecting a unit duct branched from a wiring duct connected in a branched state, the connection state can be released by releasing the connection state at the male connecting portion 11 of the branched and connected unit duct 1E and removing the unit duct 1E from the recessed groove 21 of the unit duct 1E to the underside of the bottom plate 10. Therefore, the unit duct 1E can be removed in the thickness direction of the bottom plate 10, and the branched unit duct can be removed even when the wiring duct is fixed to a switchboard or the like.

[0046] The branching structure of embodiment 6 can also be applied to each of the unit ducts of embodiments 1, 2, 3, and 5. When applying the branching structure to embodiment 2, if structural parts corresponding to the convex streak marks 128 of embodiment 6 are formed on both sides of the female side connecting pieces of the branching unit duct, it will be possible to connect to the branch connecting part 20 without particularly cutting out the holding pieces 13.

[0047] The wiring duct of the present invention is not limited to the above-described first to sixth embodiments. For example, it may be configured by appropriately combining the configurations characterized in each of the first to sixth embodiments. Furthermore, the length and width of the unit duct can be designed as appropriate, and the number and shape of the holding pieces provided on the unit duct can also be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the unit duct of the embodiment is structured to be fixed to a distribution board or the like with a machine screw, but as described above, by forming a snap integrally with the back surface of the bottom plate, the snap may be inserted into a hole provided in the distribution board or the like to fix the unit duct, or it may be structured to be fixed with an adhesive member. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] D Wiring duct W wire material 1, 1A~1E Unit duct 10 Bottom plate 11 Male side connection part (1st connection part) 12 Female side connection part (second connection part) 13 Holding piece 14 Slit 15 Mounting holes 16 Locking piece 17 Locking piece 20 Branch connection section (third connection section) 21 Groove 110 Male side connecting piece (first connecting piece) 112 Connecting protrusion (protruding snap) 120 Female side connecting piece (second connecting piece) 122 Connection receiving part (fitting hole)

Claims

1. a first connecting portion provided at one end of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction and a second connecting portion provided at the other end of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction, the first connecting portion being configured as a male connecting portion having a first connecting piece extending from one end of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction and a connecting protrusion provided on the first connecting piece and protruding in the thickness direction of the bottom plate; and a second connecting portion being configured as a female connecting portion having a second connecting piece extending from the other end of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction and a connecting receptacle provided on the second connecting piece, to which the connecting protrusion is connected from the thickness direction of the bottom plate.

2. 2. The wiring duct according to claim 1, wherein the connecting protrusion is formed of an elastically deformable snap, and the connecting receiving portion is formed of a fitting hole into which the snap is fitted from the thickness direction of the bottom plate.

3. The wiring duct of claim 1, wherein the connecting protrusion is composed of a snap that can be elastically deformed, the connecting receiving portion is composed of a long hole into which the snap is inserted from the thickness direction of the bottom plate and which can move in the longitudinal direction, and the inner edge of the long hole is provided with an inner edge piece with which the snap can be engaged so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction.

4. 2. The wiring duct according to claim 1, wherein the connecting projection and the connecting receiving portion are configured so that the unit duct can rotate in a surface direction of the bottom plate when connected to each other.

5. 5. The wiring duct according to claim 4, wherein the angle within which the unit ducts can be rotated is increased by cutting off a holding piece on at least one of the connected unit ducts.

6. A wiring duct as described in claim 4, wherein the first connecting piece or the second connecting piece has an extended locking piece positioned near the connecting portion of the other connecting piece, and this locking piece locks the rotation of the other unit duct.

7. The wiring duct of claim 1, wherein the unit duct has a third connecting portion at a midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate to which a unit duct oriented in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction is connected, the third connecting portion being formed by a widthwise groove provided on the underside of the bottom plate, and the second connecting portion of the other connecting duct is inserted into this groove to effect the connection.

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