ELASCO EX. 1014
`Elasco v. Checkers
`U.S. Patent No. 7,943,851
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 19,2008
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`Sheet 1 M6
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`US 7,332,672 B2
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 19,2003
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`US 7,332,672 B2
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 19,2003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 19,2003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 19,2003
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`US 7,332,672 B2
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`1
`CABLE PROTECTOR WITH RAISED
`BARRIER LII)
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`l. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to the field of
`cable protectors. More specifically. the present invention
`discloses a cable protector with a raised barrier lid to provide
`a visual indicator or wanting to passersby and to provide a
`storage area for excess cable or cable connectors or plugs.
`2. Statement of the Problem
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`ll]
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`I-lose and cable bridging protective devices have been
`used in the past to prevent damage for hoses, cables. wiring
`and the like by vehicles and pedestrians. These cable pro-
`tectors also help to minimize the risk of pedestrians tripping
`over cables. For the purposes of this disclosure. the term
`“cable" should be broadly interpreted to include cables.
`hoses, electrical wiring. conduits. optical Iibers. pneumatic
`tubing, plumbing, and the like.
`Many conventional cable protectors include one or more
`chamtels extending in parallel between the ends ofthe cable
`protector to receive the cables. Side ramps or beveled edges
`extend laterally outward from both sides of the cable pro-
`tector to allow vehicles to roll over the top of the cable
`protector. Each cable protector typically includes a set ofend
`connectors that enable a series of cable protectors to be
`attached together in a modular end—toend fashion to any
`desired length.
`Other cable protectors have channels that facilitate cables
`carried in other patterns. such as Y. X or T-shaped configu-
`rations. or 45° or 90° turns. These often require extra space
`within the cable protector to accommodate connection
`plugs. electrical junctions. extra cable and the like.
`In
`addition, it is oiten advantageous to be able to prominently
`mark such junctions for the benefit of workers. and to warn
`passersby.
`Traditionally, cable protectors have been designed to
`maintain as low a profile as possible to minimize the risk that
`pedestrians might trip or stumble over the cable protector. A
`low-profile cable protector is also beneficial in reducing the
`degree ofobstruction presented to vehicles. and in particular
`wheel chairs. crossing over the cable protector. Thus. main-
`taining a minimal height has traditionally been one of the
`major goals in designing cable protectors. Creating a cable
`protector with components that intentionally extend upward
`to a significant height would be counter to the conventional
`wisdom in this lield.
`Notwithstanding the previous discussion. short side rails
`have occasionally been attached to the side ramps ofa cable
`protector to help prevent a wheeled vehicle [e.g.. a wheel
`chair) ti-om accidentally rolling oh" the edges of the side
`ramp. One example of this is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
`6.481.036 (Duvall).
`U.S. Pat. No. 2.166.516 (Bainbridge) discloses a ramp for
`protecting hoses that includes two triangular signs mounted
`on vertical rods to mark the lateral edges of the ramp and to
`serve as warning signals for vehicles crossing the ramp.
`Nevertheless. there continues to be a need for a modular
`cable protector that can be used for protecting cables and
`cable connectors. and for providing visual
`indicators to
`passersby and storage of extra cable.
`3. Solution to the Problem
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`The present invention addresses these shortcomings of the
`prior art by providing a modular cable protector in which the
`lid serves as a raised visual barrier. This barrier lid both
`covers the channels for the cables in the base of the cable
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`protector and serves as a visual indicator to passersby. For
`example. the barrier lid can be decorated with graphics to
`direct or warn pedestrians.
`In addition, the bottom of the
`barrier lid can include a recess above the cable channels to
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`accommodate electrical plugs or connectors. or storage of
`extra cable.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention provides a cable protector that includes a
`base with a number of channels for carrying cables extend-
`ing along its upper surface. and a raised barrier lid remov-
`ably covering the channels and extending above the base to
`a sufiicient height to provide a visual indicator to passersby.
`These and other advantages, features, and objects of the
`present invention will be more readily understood in view of
`the following detailed description and the drawings.
`
`BRIITJ’ DESCRIPTION OF 'l"I-IE. DRAWINGS
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`The present invention can be more readily understood in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings. in which:
`I-'I('i.
`I
`is an exploded perspective view of the present
`invention connected to two modular cable protectors.
`FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view ofthe base 10 with
`an optional lid I9.
`FIG.
`3 is an exploded perspective view of another
`embodiment of the base 10 and barrier lid 20 for three—way
`connection of cable protectors in a Y—shaped configuration.
`FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another
`embodiment with interchangeable attachments 31. 32. 33
`that can be connected to the top of the barrier lid 20.
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view ofanotlier embodiment with
`a wall barrier lid in an upright or closed position.
`FIG. 6 is a perspective view ofthe embodiment shown in
`FIG. 5 with the wall barrier lid in an open position.
`FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two cable protectors with
`raised barrier lids connected on either side of a wheel chair
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`ramp assembly 60.
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`DE'I”AIl..ED Dl3S(‘RIPTlON OF THE
`INVENTION
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`Tnniing to FIG. 1. an exploded perspective view is shown
`of the present invention connected to two modular cable
`protectors '.-'0 and 71. The major components of the present
`invention are the base Ill and visual barrier lid 2!}. The base
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`10 has a bottom surface designed to lay on the ground and
`has an upper surface with a number of channels 11 for
`holding cables 50. The embodiment of the base shown in
`FIGS. 1 and 2 has a generally X-shaped pattem ofcliannels
`11. FIG. 2 shows another exploded view of the base 10 with
`an alternative fiat lid 40 that can be used in place of the
`visual barrier lid 20.
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`Other embodiments of the base 10 can provide Y or
`Twshaped patterns. 45° or 90° turns. or other patterns for the
`channels 11. FIG. 3 shows an example ofa Y—shaped pattern
`for connecting up to three adjacent cable protectors.
`In
`contrast. the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has at least
`one channel extending along the longitudinal axis of the
`base 10. A plurality of chatmels could extend in parallel
`along the base 10. This configuration allows any desired
`number of cable protectors to fastened together in series
`with their channels aligned to provide a continuous straight
`run for the cables 50. The base 10 can also be equipped with
`cable protector connectors 12 to allow the base 10 to be
`removably secured to adjacent cable protectors 70, 71. as
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`shown for example in FIG. I. Here again. any of a wide
`variety of cable protector connectors can be selected.
`Several embodiments of the visual barrier lid 20 are
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`shown in the drawings. In the embodiment depicted in FIG.
`I. the barrier lid 20 rcmovably covers the channels 11 of the
`base 10 a11d has a cone—sl1apcd upper portion 21 that extends
`above the base 10 to a sufiicient height to provide a visual
`indicator to passersby. The cone-shaped upper portion 21
`itself can serve as the visual indicator. or it can be decorated
`with graphics 22 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 [e.g.. a sign or
`directional arrow) to warn passersby or direct Lraflic. in this
`embodiment. the base 10 and barrier lid 20 preferably have
`a total height suflricient to accommodate connectors and
`plugs beneath the barrier lid 20. and to help ensure visibility
`and minimize the risk of being a trip hazard. A recess or void
`2’? can also be formed in the bottom of the barrier lid 20. as
`illustrated in FIG. 6, to provide extra space for the cables 50.
`connectors and plugs 52.
`A number of tabs 24 on the bottom of the barrier lid 20
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`insert into corresponding slots 14 in the base 19 to hold the
`barrier lid 20 in place atop the base 10. These allow the
`barrier lid 20 to be removably secured to the base 10. so that
`the barrier lid 20 covers the channels ]] in the base 10 when
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`the barrier 20 is attached. Other types of base connectors
`could be readily substituted for this purpose. For example.
`FIGS. I and 3 also show pin-and-socket connectors 15, 45
`that rcmovably secure the barrier lid 20 to the base 10.
`Another embodiment of the barrier lid 20 is shown in FIG.
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`4. in which the upper portion 21 of the barrier lid 20 has a
`generally square cross-section with fottr relatively flat stir-
`faces for displaying graphics 22 to provide information to
`passersby. This embodiment also includes an attachment
`connector 25 on the top ol'thc barrier lid 20 to accommodate
`a variety of interchangeable attachments. such as a light 3] .
`sign 32. retractable ribbon 33, or a proximity-triggered audio
`alamt. For example.
`the retractable ribbon 33 can be
`extended to serve as a flexible member marking a traflic
`pathway. The barrier lid 20 can also be equipped with
`electrical outlets 23 powered by one or more of the electrical
`cables 50 in the channels 11 ofthe base 10.
`
`FIGS. 5 and 6 show yet another embodiment of the
`present invention in which the upper portion of the barrier
`lid 20 is elongated to form a wall 26 extending along the axis
`ofthe channels 11. The top edge ofthe wall 26 can be shaped
`to serve as a hand rail. A hinge 29 allows the barrier lid 20
`to be to rotated between an upright position covering the
`channels I] of the base 10, as shown in FIG. 5. and a
`lowered position in which the channels 11 ol'the base 10 are
`ttncovered. as depicted in FIG. 6. Alternatively. the wall
`barrier lid 20 could be designed to be completely removable
`from the base 10. as shown in the previous embodiments.
`Bolts 48 can be fastened through sets of bolt holes 18 and
`28 in the bottom rim of the barrier lid 20 and the base 10 to
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`secure the barrier lid 20 in its upright or closed position
`shown in FIG. 5. Optionally. nuts can be molded into the
`plastic surrounding the holes 18 in the base 10 to engage the
`bolts 48. This also helps to reduce the risk of tampering or
`vandalism with regard to the cables 50 and their plugs 52
`within the channels 11. It should be understood that other
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`means of attaching the barrier lid 20 to the base 1!} could be
`readily substituted. For example. the barrier lid 20 could
`snap fit to the base ll]. or merely be set in place on the base
`10.
`
`invention is
`the present
`It should be understood that
`intended to be modular and to allow intercomiection with
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`other cable protectors in virtually any desired anangement.
`For example. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two cable
`protectors with raised barrier lids connected on either side of
`a wheel chair ramp assembly 60.
`The above disclosure sets forth a number of ernbodiments
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`Ill
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`of the present invention described in detail with respect to
`the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will
`appreciate that various changes. modifications. other struc-
`tural arrangements, and other embodiments could be prac-
`ticed under the teachings of the present invention without
`departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the
`following claims.
`
`I claim:
`
`1. A cable protector comprising:
`a base having an upper surface with at least one channel
`for carrying cables extending along the upper surface:
`and
`
`a raised barrier lid removably covering at least a portion
`of the channels of the base with:
`
`(a) a substantially cone-shaped upper portion extending
`above the base to a suliicient height to provide a visual
`indicator; and
`(b) a recess in the bottom of the barrier lid above the
`channels of the base and beneath the cone-shaped upper
`portion.
`said cable protector having an open state in which the
`channels are not covered by the barrier lid and a closed
`state in which the barrier lid is upright above the base
`to provide a visual indicator and cover the cliannels:
`wherein the raised barrier lid is configured to attach to the
`base to fomi a tight lid over the channels of the base.
`2. The cable protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier lid
`is retnovably aft ached over the chatmels of the base by a
`base connector.
`
`3. The cable protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier lid
`further comprises visual graphics providing infonnation to
`passersby.
`4. The cable protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier lid
`further comprises an electrical outlet.
`5. The cable protector ofclaim 1 wherein the barrier lid
`further comprises a light.
`6. The cable protector of claim 1 wlic-rein the upper
`portion of the barrier lid further comprises a connector for
`reinovably securing an attachment to the barrier lid.
`7. The cable protector of claim 6 wherein the attachment
`comprises a light.
`8. The cable protector of claim 6 wherein the attachment
`comprises a sign.
`9. The cable protector of claim 6 wherein the attachment
`comprises an alarm.
`II). The cable protector of claim 6 wherein the attachment
`comprises a flexible member for marking a traflzic pathway.
`11 . The cable protector of claim 1 wherein the base further
`comprises cable protector comiectors for removable attach-
`ment to an adjacent cable protector with the channels of the
`base aligned with channels in the adjacent cable protector.
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