Floor gland

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floor gland for covering an access hole provided in a raised floor structure to allow cabling to pass through the floor structure. A problem with this arrangement is that cooling air passing underneath the raised floor structure can escape through the access hole. A floor gland is provided to fit into the access hole, the floor gland having sealing means that are secured to a sealing member mounted across the open area of the floor gland at a distance from the edges of the access hole such that the sealing means extend out from the sealing member towards the edges, thereby effectively sealing the access hole to prevent the passage of cooling air.

1 . A floor gland for mounting in a raised floor structure, the floor gland comprising:
 a frame structure having a first end member, a second end member and two side members; and   a sealing member having flexible sealing means attached along its length in cantilever fashion and arranged to extend between the two end members, wherein the sealing member extends from a position distal from the ends of each end member and the sealing means extends away from the sealing member towards both side members such that the sealing means fill a gap created between the sealing member and the side members.   
     
     
         2 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means are arranged to extend from the sealing member in substantially opposite directions in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
         3 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means comprise a pair of brushes. 
     
     
         4 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means are formed of flexible foam plastic elements. 
     
     
         5 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means are formed of rubber elements. 
     
     
         6 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means are removably attachable to the sealing member. 
     
     
         7 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end member is detachable from the frame structure to allow the frame structure to be fitted around pre-installed cabling. 
     
     
         8 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein slots are provided in the side members of the frame structure for receiving and supporting the free ends of the sealing means. 
     
     
         9 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , further comprising a separation means for separating power cables and data cabling. 
     
     
         10 . A floor gland according to  claim 9 , wherein the separating means comprises a barrier that can be removably attached to the frame. 
     
     
         11 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein the side members comprise a substantially horizontal upper portion for resting over neighbouring floor panels in a raised access floor structure and a substantially vertical lower portion for abutting neighbouring floor panels, the lower portion extending down from an innermost end of the upper portion. 
     
     
         12 . A floor gland according to  claim 11 , wherein the upper portion of the side member comprises an overhanging portion which extends substantially vertically away from the outermost end of the upper portion and then curves inwardly towards the innermost end of the upper portion to form an overhanging portion. 
     
     
         13 . A floor gland according to  claim 11 , wherein the lower portion of the side member comprises a substantially U-shaped portion which is arranged to form a slotted flange within the frame structure along the length of the side member. 
     
     
         14 . A floor gland according to  claim 1 , wherein each side member is configured such that a surface of the side member that faces generally towards the attached sealing member is curved along at least a portion of its length in the direction that the cabling is inserted through the gland, the bend radius of the curved portion being greater than the critical bend radius limits of power cabling and data cabling. 
     
     
         15 . A floor gland according to  claim 2 , wherein the sealing means comprise a pair of brushes. 
     
     
         16 . A floor gland according to  claim 3 , wherein the sealing means are formed of flexible foam plastic elements. 
     
     
         17 . A floor gland according to  claim 2 , wherein the sealing means are formed of rubber elements. 
     
     
         18 . A floor gland according to  claim 12 , wherein the lower portion of the side member comprises a substantially U-shaped portion which is arranged to form a slotted flange within the frame structure along the length of the side member.