LINE GUIDING DEVICE COMPRISING SINGLE-PART LONGITUDINAL PORTIONS, AND GUIDE PIECE THEREFOR

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A line guiding device for movably guiding at least one supply line between two connection points, at least one of which is movable relative to the other, comprising:

at least one longitudinal portion of the line guiding device comprises a plurality of segments and is manufactured in one piece;

wherein the plurality of segments are connected to each other in a longitudinal direction by a flexible connection, such that the plurality of segments are pivotable relative to one another in a pivoting plane for the purposes of forming a deflecting bend during movement of the line guiding device;

wherein the plurality of segments define at least one receiving space in which at least one supply line is placeable and held;

wherein the plurality of segments each have a central region having a main plane perpendicular to the pivoting plane, having on a first side of the main plane a first receiving space which is delimited by a first connecting piece transverse to the main plane and by a first side part held on the first connecting piece and by a first main surface of the central region, and having on an opposite, second side of the main plane a second receiving space which is delimited by a second connecting piece transverse to the main plane and by a second side part held on the second connecting piece and by a second main surface of the central region;

wherein the first and the second connecting piece and the first and the second side part are each manufactured in one piece with the central region;

wherein, opposite the first and the second connecting piece, there is in each case one insertion opening for the insertion and removal of supply lines;

wherein a flexible joint region is manufactured in one piece with the central regions of in each case two longitudinally successive segments in order to provide the flexible connection between the segments; and

wherein, on at least one of the side parts, a retaining region is provided for holding the line in the respected receiving space.

19 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein mutually averted end faces, which face in the longitudinal direction and/or extend transversely to the pivoting plane, of at least one of the first and second side parts interact as stops for limiting a pivot angle of two segments relative to one another.

20 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein corresponding first end faces of the first side parts limit the pivot angle in a straightened position, and/or corresponding second end faces of the second side parts limit the pivot angle in a maximally angled relative position when forming the deflecting bend, wherein, preferably, the first and second side parts have different lengths in the longitudinal direction.

21 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the retaining region is arranged opposite the connecting piece and so as to project toward the central region.

22 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the retaining region is manufactured as a single part with the side part, in particular as a single part with the side part, connecting piece and central region, and a demolding aperture is provided, correspondingly to the retaining region, in the connecting piece.

23 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the line guiding device is a multi-part line guiding device which is assembled from a plurality of guide pieces that are connected in the longitudinal direction, wherein the guide pieces each comprise a number of segments and are each manufactured in one piece, and each guide piece comprises a supporting band formed from connected in one piece successive central regions and joint regions, in particular a supporting band extending with a main plane perpendicular to the pivoting plane and/or extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein one of two interacting connectors is provided at each of the two longitudinal ends of the supporting band.

24 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 23 , wherein at least one connector is formed by the central region of an end segment of the guide piece, and/or one connector is formed at a free end of a joint region of the guide piece.

25 . The line guiding device as claimed in 23 , wherein the interacting connectors are configured for form-fittingly and/or force-fittingly connecting the supporting bands of two successive guide pieces, preferably such that the connection is establishable and/or releasable exclusively in a direction perpendicular to the pivoting plane, and in particular is establishable without the use of tools.

26 . The line guiding device as claimed in any one of claims 23 , wherein the interacting connectors have abutment surfaces which are perpendicular to the pivoting plane and which lie against one another in the connected state.

27 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein:

each longitudinal portion or each guide piece comprises a number of at least three one-piece segments, in particular of identical design; and/or

in each segment, the side parts are substantially parallel to the main plane and/or the connecting pieces are substantially perpendicular to the main plane of the central region; and/or

each segment has a cross section perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction which is substantially double-U-shaped or UU-shaped or -shaped, having three substantially parallel limbs formed by outer side parts and the central region in between; and/or

at least one longitudinal portion or guide piece is formed with joint regions that are pre-curved in a rest position, or segments that are pre-pivoted relative to one another, for the purposes of achieving a preload; and/or

each segment is configured to limit a movement of a line, which is received in a receiving space, in at least three directions perpendicular to the main plane.

28 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the joint regions are of plate-like design having a main plane perpendicular to the pivoting plane and having a reduced wall thickness in relation to the central regions, wherein the wall thickness is preferably several times smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the joint region in the longitudinal direction and several times smaller than the width dimension of the joint region perpendicular to the pivoting plane.

29 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the joint regions and central regions connected thereto in one-piece act as a supporting band and define the neutral axis of the line guiding device, wherein the line guiding device is preferably configured to be used in a lying configuration with a vertically oriented neutral axis.

30 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein each longitudinal portion or each guide piece is manufactured in one piece from plastics material, in particular by injection molding, preferably from a materially uniform plastics material.

31 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein at least some central regions have a fastening opening extending in the main plane.

32 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the insertion opening is configured for the insertion and removal of supply lines in a direction transverse to the pivoting plane.

33 . The line guiding device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the line guiding device is disposed with a server rack for at least one server, wherein the line guiding device serves to provide a supply to the at least one server.

34 . A one-piece guide piece for a line guiding device for movably guiding at least one supply line between two connection points, at least one of which is movable relative to the other, comprising:

wherein the guide piece comprises a plurality of segments and is manufactured in one piece;

wherein the plurality of segments are connected to each other in a longitudinal direction by a flexible connection, such that the plurality of segments are pivotable relative to one another in a pivoting plane for the purposes of forming a deflecting bend during movement of the line guiding device;

wherein the plurality of segments define at least one receiving space in which at least one supply line can be placed and held;

wherein the plurality of segments each have a central region having a main plane perpendicular to the pivoting plane, having on a first side of the main plane a first receiving space which is delimited by a first connecting piece transverse to the main plane and by a first side part held on the first connecting piece and by a first main surface of the central region, and having on an opposite, second side of the main plane a second receiving space which is delimited by a second connecting piece transverse to the main plane and by a second side part held on the second connecting piece and by a second main surface of the central region;

wherein the first and the second connecting piece and the first and the second side part are each manufactured in one piece with the central region;

wherein, opposite the first and the second connecting piece, there is in each case one insertion opening for the insertion and removal of supply lines;

wherein a flexible joint region is manufactured in one piece with the central regions of in each case two longitudinally successive segments in order to provide the flexible connection between the segments; and

wherein, on at least one of the side parts, a retaining region is provided for holding the line in the associated receiving space.

35 . The one-piece guide piece as claimed in 34 , wherein the insertion opening is configured for the insertion and removal of supply lines in a direction transverse to the pivoting plane.