The present invention relates to solid-lidless cable guide apparatus, to a cable containment system utilising such apparatus, and to a method of surface mounting electrical cabling using the apparatus. Trunking and other cable guides are well known, but all require a uniformly solid lid to close off the interior channel and thereby retain the cables inside. This increases materials and installation costs. Furthermore, elbow connectors are required to neatly guide the cables around corners. To draw a cable end out of the channel, an access opening has to be cut into the channel wall by the installer, leading to increased installation time and in many cases a rough-looking and unprofessional finish.

Furthermore, trunking is typically plastics and thus cannot be utilised at some installation sites. Notably, a fire-alarm cabling installation which may be exposed to severe heat or other environmental conditions must meet British Standard requirement BS5839. This requires that all fire-alarm cabling is mounted using metal brackets and fastenings to prevent or limit the possibility of drooping or dropping. As such, it is often the case that separate mounting brackets with suitable fasteners are used spaced apart along the mounting surface, such as a wall or ceiling. The fire-alarm cable or bundle of cables is then strung between the brackets. This installation procedure is inevitably excessively time consuming. The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided cable guide apparatus comprising an elongate strip-like backplate having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures therealong, and a coverless framework mounted to the backplate, the framework comprising a plurality of hooped support elements extending laterally across the backplate and spaced apart longitudinally along the backplate, and a plurality of elongate struts interconnecting the hooped support elements, the elongate struts being spaced apart along a longitudinal extent of the hooped support elements and a longitudinal extent of the elongate struts matching or substantially matching a longitudinal extent of the backplate, the said apertures being offset relative to the hooped support elements and the elongate struts.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 14, inclusive. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a cable containment system for the guiding of electrical cabling requiring metal fastenings, the system comprising one or more lengths of cable guide apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and a plurality of metal fastenings for receipt in two or more said apertures of the apparatus. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of surface mounting electrical cabling using cable guide apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: a] engaging a plurality of fasteners in two or more of said apertures of the cable guide apparatus in a mounting surface; b] feeding an electrical cable through the hooped support elements; c] drawing an end of the electrical cable out of the framework at a required position.

Preferable and/or optional features of the third aspect of the invention are set forth in claim 18 and claim 19.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a first embodiment of cable guide apparatus, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a lateral side view from one end of the cable guide apparatus, taken along line A- A in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal side view of the cable guide apparatus, taken along line B-B in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a bottom plan view of the cable guide apparatus; Figure 5 shows a lateral side view of a second embodiment of cable guide apparatus, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 6 shows a longitudinal side view of part of the cable guide apparatus of Figure 5, in a first lateral direction; Figure 7 shows a longitudinal side view of part of the cable guide apparatus of

Figure 5, in a second lateral direction which is opposite the first lateral direction.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown lidless cable guide apparatus 10 which comprises a backplate 12 and a coverless unitary open framework 14. The backplate 12 is preferably formed of metal, and is an elongate strip-like planar or substantially planar element providing a mounting base for the framework 14. The backplate 12 is also uniformly continuous or unbroken along its longitudinal extent except for a plurality of equi-spaced apertures 16 extending along or substantially along the longitudinal centre line or axis of symmetry of the backplate 12.

Each aperture 16 is preferably slightly elongate, allowing a fixing or fastener to be received therethrough with some tolerance allowing longitudinal adjustment of the apparatus 10 when mounted. In this case, the apparatus 10 is preferably 3 metres long, and ten apertures 16 are equally spaced apart along the backplate 12. Other lengths can be envisaged as necessity dictates, and fewer or more apertures 16 may be provided, as required. Lengths of the apparatus 10 may be cut to length by an installer as required. The coverless framework 14 is adapted to not receive an engagable lid or cover, and comprises a plurality of spaced apart hooped support elements 18 and a plurality of elongate struts 20 which interconnect the hooped support elements 18. Each hooped support element 18 is mounted laterally across the backplate 12. A hooped support element 18 is preferably provided at each lateral end of the backplate 12 to prevent or limit the chance of an installer catching himself or herself on an irregular protruding portion of the apparatus 10, and the remaining hooped support elements 18 are equi- spaced apart therebetween. In this embodiment, and beneficially, each hooped support element 18 is positioned partway and preferably midway between consecutive apertures 16. Each hooped support element 18 is preferably continuous or endless, and includes a straight or substantially straight back portion 22, parallel or substantially parallel side wall portions 24, and a convexly arcuate or curved upper portion 26 which interconnects the two side wall portions 24. In this way, each hooped support element 18 is substantially D-shaped. Corners between the back portion 22 and the side wall portions 24 are preferably rounded to limit the possibility of injuring an installer. Although other shapes can be considered, the convexly arcuate upper portion 26 is beneficial in enabling access for an installer's hands and in particular digits. A square shape of hooped support element 18 is feasible, but inherently a central point of the interior becomes further away as the corners are neared, and this may cause difficulties, especially in awkward positions, for an installer to securely grasp a cable therewithin. An installer is also more likely to catch themselves on edges of a square-shaped hooped support element, leading to an increased likelihood of injury.

The hooped support elements 18 may be attached to the backplate 12 via welding or any other suitable fastening means.

Preferably, the hooped support elements 18 are connected to a front surface 28 of the backplate 12. However, it is feasible that the hooped support elements 18 can be connected to the rear surface 30 of the backplate 12. In either case, the back portion 22 of each hooped support element 18 overlaps the longitudinal edges 32 of the backplate 12, thereby allowing a greater interior volume for feeding cable therealong.

The elongate struts 20 are preferably formed of a similar material to that of the hooped support elements 18, and in this case it is convenient to use metal rod or heavy gauge wire. However, in certain situations, plastics can be considered.

The elongate struts 20 extend in parallel or substantially parallel with each along the longitudinal extent of the apparatus 10, terminating at the hooped support elements 18a at the ends of the backplate 12. The elongate struts 20 are also laterally spaced apart from each other, preferably being equally or substantially equally spaced apart around the side wall portions 24 and the upper portion 26 of the hooped support elements 18. Preferably, the elongate struts 20 are spaced away from an apex 34 of each hooped support element 18, and more preferably being spaced apart by the or substantially the lateral extent of the backplate 12. This therefore provides unhindered or substantially unhindered perpendicular access to the backplate 12 and thus the apertures 16 therein. To assist with rigidity, in this embodiment at least two further elongate struts 36 are provided at or adjacent to longitudinal edges 32 of the rear surface 30 of the backplate 12. The further elongate struts 20 are also beneficial in spacing the backplate 12 slightly away from a mounting surface, thereby enabling fastener holes in the mounting surface to be more easily observed and located and also allowing improved ventilation to prevent or limit moisture retention between the surfaces.

Due to the D-shaped hooped support elements 18 and the open framework 14, a uniformly solid cover or lid is not engagable therewith and as such is not required.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 7, a second embodiment of cable guide apparatus 40 is shown. In this case, the cable guide apparatus 40 comprises a backplate 42, similar to that of the first embodiment, and a coverless open rigid or substantially rigid framework 44. The framework 44 forms a two part housing 46 having a base frame element 48 and a closure frame element 50 with matching or substantially matching lateral and longitudinal extents.

The base frame element 48 is formed of a plurality of spaced-apart lateral support elements 52 in the form of inverted hoops 54, and a plurality of first elongate struts 56 which interconnect the inverted hoops 54.

The closure frame element is also formed of a plurality of spaced-apart lateral support elements 58 in this case in the form of arcuate hoops 60, and a plurality of second elongate struts 62 which interconnect the arcuate hoops 60. Each inverted hoop 54 is fixedly mounted laterally across the backplate 42 to support the first elongate struts 56.

As in the first embodiment, a plurality of equi-spaced apertures is provided which extend along or substantially along the longitudinal centre line or axis of symmetry of the backplate 42. Each aperture is preferably slightly elongate, allowing a fixing or fastener to be received therethrough with some tolerance allowing longitudinal adjustment of the apparatus 40 when mounted.

Each inverted hoop 54 is preferably positioned partway and preferably midway between consecutive backplate apertures.

The closure frame element 50 is pivotably fastened to the base frame element 48, in this case via hinges 66. The hinges 66 may be sprung to bias the closure frame element 50 either to a closed position or an open position. The benefit with the former is that, should the closure frame element 50 unintentionally open, it is likely to remain in a substantially closed condition thereby preventing or limiting cables therein from falling out. In the latter case, having the closure frame element 50 biased to an open condition allows an installer to utilise both hands whilst installing cabling without having to hold the closure frame element 50 open.

The hinges 66 are provided in spaced apart relationship along one longitudinal side of the apparatus 40. Conveniently, the hinges 66 interconnect neighbouring first and second elongate struts 56, 62 of the base frame element 48 and the closure frame element 50.

To releasably fasten the closure frame element 50 in its closed condition, one or more retaining clips 68 are provided along a longitudinal side of the apparatus 40 which is opposite the hinges 66. To impart a positive engagement, the retaining clips 68 are preferably spring-biased.

Although the lateral extent of the closure frame element 50 is preferably part-circular and in this case semi-circular, other non-circular shapes can be envisaged. However, a benefit with an arcuate lateral extent is that corners are substantially dispensed with, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury to an installer.

The lateral extent of the base frame element 48 is preferably substantially U-shaped. However, again, other shapes may be envisaged as being more convenient. For example, the base frame element could be part-circular or semi-circular. A further benefit of including a hingable closure frame element is that the closure frame element can be more easily sectioned and removed by an installer to allow passage through a narrow gap.

When provided with suitable surface-engagement fastening devices, such as masonry or plasterboard screws or bolts and rawl plugs, the solid-lidless cable guide apparatus 10, 40 forms at least part of a solid-coverless cable containment system. To use the system, the mounting surface is suitably prepared and the backplate 12, 42 of the apparatus 10, 40 is offered up to the pre-drilled holes in the mounting surface. Connection of the backplate 12, 42 to the mounting surface is made via the appropriate fasteners being inserted into two or more of the apertures 16, and received in their respective holes in the mounting surface. In the case of fire-alarm cabling, all components including the fasteners are metal in order to meet BS5839.

With the backplate 12, 42 fixed in place, the framework 14, 44 projects from the mounting surface. The required electrical cable or cables can thus be fed either through a hooped support element 18a at one end of the apparatus 10 or through an opening 38 defined by the longitudinal elongate struts 20 and neighbouring hooped support elements 18 partway along the longitudinal extent of the framework 14. The cable or cables is/are then drawn through the interior of the framework 14 until a required exit point is reached, either being the hooped support element 18 at the other end of the apparatus 10 or another opening 38 in the framework 14 partway therealong. In the case of the apparatus 40, the hingable closure frame element 50 can be opened to allow insertion either from one end of the apparatus 40 or via an opening in the base frame element or the closure frame element.

The framework is sufficiently open to enable an installer to easily reach in with at least their fingers to draw the cable or cables along.

The lateral support elements prevent or limit the or each cable from drooping or dropping, and also prevent or limit the requirement for cable-tying or bundling groups of electric cables together. Although a longitudinal extent of the cable guide apparatus is preferably straight or rectilinear, curved longitudinal extents can be provided.

Although the closure frame element of the second embodiment of the apparatus is preferably hinged, it may alternatively or additionally be removable to simplify cable insertion in certain circumstances.

The solid-lidless cable guide apparatus therefore provides a significantly more cost- effective solution to the problem of running electrical cabling on interior surfaces when full out-of-sight covering is not required. The cable guide apparatus can also be conveniently utilised within wall cavities, especially when embedding cabling in insulation, thereby allowing simple and effective guiding of the cabling in horizontal and/or vertical directions as required without being impeded or hindered by the insulation or other in-cavity items. The cable guide apparatus and associated cable containment system also meets the requirements for fire-alarm cabling by providing metal support and fixings whilst also reducing cost and installation time. Corner connectors can also be dispensed with, since the open framework provides convenient access openings allowing the or each cable to transition between two frameworks at right angles or other angles to each other.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.