IP Library Granted Patent US 7,674,980
Granted Patent B2
US 7,674,980 · App. 11/379,442 · Granted Mar 9, 2010

Tapered transition ramp for cable protector

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,674,980
App. No.
11/379,442
Granted
Mar 9, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exemplary cable protection system is disclosed comprising a first cable protector structured to receive one or more cables, a first side ramp adjacent a side of the first cable protector, and a tapered structure adjacent an end of the first side ramp. The tapered structure may be tapered in both a first direction and a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The tapered structure may also comprise a substantially planar top surface and may be removably attached to, or integrally formed with, the first side ramp. The cable protection system may also comprise a second cable protector connected in series with the first cable protector and a second side ramp adjacent a side of the second cable protector. The tapered structure may be configured to overlap at least a portion of the second side ramp, which may have a steeper slope than the first side ramp.

Claims (59)

1. A cable protection system, comprising:

a first cable protector having a first side;

at least one channel extending between opposing ends of the first cable protector and structured to receive at least one cable;

a first side ramp adjacent the first side of the first cable protector;

a tapered structure adjacent at least one end of the first side ramp;

wherein the tapered structure comprises a planar top surface that is continuously tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.

2. The cable protection system of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.

3. The cable protection system of claim 1 , wherein the tapered structure comprises a substantially planar top surface.

4. The cable protection system of claim 1 , wherein the tapered structure is removably attachable to the first side ramp.

5. The cable protection system of claim 1 , wherein the tapered structure is integrally formed with the first side ramp.

6. The cable protection system of claim 1 , wherein the tapered structure is substantially triangular in shape.

7. The cable protection system of claim 1 , wherein the tapered structure comprises at least one rounded end.

8. The cable protection system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second cable protector connected in series with the first cable protector, the second cable protector comprising a first side;

a second side ramp adjacent the first side of the second cable protector, the second side ramp configured to have a slope that is steeper than a slope of the first side ramp;

wherein the tapered structure is configured to overlap at least a portion of the second side ramp.

9. The cable protection system of claim 8 , wherein the tapered structure provides a gradual transition between:

an end of the first side ramp and a surface beneath the cable protection system; and

the first side of the second cable protector and the surface beneath the cable protection system.

10. The cable protection system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first cable protector, the second cable protector, the first side ramp, the second side ramp, and the tapered structure comprises a substantially transparent material capable of being illuminated by a light source.

11. A tapered transition ramp for a cable protection system, comprising:

a top surface;

a bottom surface;

a first end;

at least one connector provided at the first end and configured to removably attach the tapered transition ramp to a first side ramp of the cable protection system;

wherein the top surface is a planar surface that is continuously tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.

12. The tapered transition ramp of claim 11 , wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.

13. The tapered transition ramp of claim 11 , wherein the top surface is substantially planar.

14. The tapered transition ramp of claim 11 , wherein the tapered transition ramp is substantially triangular in shape.

15. The tapered transition ramp of claim 11 , further comprising a rounded second end.

16. The tapered transition ramp of claim 11 , further comprising an overlapping side portion configured to overlap at least a portion of a second side ramp of the cable protection system.

17. The tapered transition ramp of claim 11 , further comprising a substantially transparent material capable of being illuminated by a light source.

18. A method of assembling a cable protection system, comprising:

providing a first cable protector having a first side;

providing a first side ramp adjacent the first side of the first cable protector;

providing a tapered structure adjacent at least one end of the first side ramp;

wherein the tapered structure comprises a planar top surface that is continuously tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein providing the first side ramp adjacent the first side of the first cable protector comprises removably attaching the first side ramp to the first side of the first cable protector.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein providing the tapered structure adjacent at least one end of the first side ramp comprises removably attaching the tapered structure to at least one end of the first side ramp.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein providing the tapered structure adjacent at least one end of the first side ramp comprises integrally forming the tapered structure with the first side ramp.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tapered structure comprises a substantially planar top surface.

24. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tapered structure is substantially triangular in shape.

25. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tapered structure comprises at least one rounded end.

26. A method of assembling a cable protection system, comprising:

providing a first cable protector having a first side;

providing a first side ramp adjacent the first side of the first cable protector;

providing a tapered structure adjacent at least one end of the first side ramp;

wherein the tapered structure is tapered in both a first direction and a second direction removably attaching a second cable protector in series with the first cable protector;

providing a second side ramp adjacent a first side of the second cable protector, the second side ramp configured to have a slope that is steeper than a slope of the first side ramp;

overlapping the tapered structure over at least a portion of the second side ramp.

27. A cable protection system, comprising:

a first cable protector having a first side;

at least one channel extending between opposing ends of the first cable protector and structured to receive at least one cable;

a first side ramp removably attached to the first side of the first cable protector;

a second cable protector connected in series with the first cable protector, the second cable protector comprising a first side;

a second side ramp adjacent the first side of the second cable protector, the second side ramp configured to have a slope that is steeper than a slope of the first side ramp;

a tapered structure removably attached to at least one end of the first side ramp and configured to overlap at least a portion of the second side ramp;

wherein the tapered structure comprises a substantially planar top surface and is tapered in both a first direction and a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 049673/0062 Recorded Oct 1, 2025
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: ACCUFORM MANUFACTURING, INC.; BASIC CONCEPTS, INCORPORATED; CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY; GROUND PROTECTION, LLC; JUSTRITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.L.C.; SAFETYCAL HOLDINGS, INC.; SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 073001/0671 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2025
From: ACCUFORM MANUFACTURING, INC.; BASIC CONCEPTS, INCORPORATED; CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC; JUSTRITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.L.C.; US CHEMICAL STORAGE, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 072988/0044 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2024
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: BASIC CONCEPTS, INCORPORATED; JUSTRITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.L.C; CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC; ACCUFORM MANUFACTURING, INC.; SAFETYCAL HOLDINGS, INC.; SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING GROUP, INC.; GROUND PROTECTION, LLC; EAGLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 068671/0899 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ACCUFORM MANUFACTURING, INC.; CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC; SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING GROUP, INC.; GROUND PROTECTION, LLC; BASIC CONCEPTS, INCORPORATED; JUSTRITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.L.C.; EAGLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY; SAFETYCAL HOLDINGS, INC.
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A., AS SECOND LIEN AGENT
Reel/Frame 049674/0742 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ACCUFORM MANUFACTURING, INC.; CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC; SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING GROUP, INC.; GROUND PROTECTION, LLC; BASIC CONCEPTS, INCORPORATED; JUSTRITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.L.C.; EAGLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY; SAFETYCAL HOLDINGS, INC.
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 049673/0062 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 1, 2019
From: ALLY BANK
To: CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC; PETERSON SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING GROUP, INC.; GROUND PROTECTION, LLC; JUSTRITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.L.C.; BASIC CONCEPTS, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 049637/0983 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 034271/0136 Recorded Feb 1, 2018
From: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC
To: CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045215/0969 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2018
From: CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC; PETERSON SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING GROUP, INC.; GROUND PROTECTION, LLC; JUSTRITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.L.C.; BASIC CONCEPTS, INCORPORATED
To: ALLY BANK
Reel/Frame 045208/0732 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2014
From: CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC
To: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 034271/0136 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2014
From: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC
To: PETERSON SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 034235/0682 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2012
From: PETERSON SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; YELLOW JACKET, INC.
To: CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 027533/0880 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 2, 2011
From: PETERSON SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 026683/0983 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2006
From: LUBANSKI, MR. THOMAS M.
To: PETERSON SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 017502/0831 →