Wire management article

Abstract

A wire management article includes a base sheet and a plurality of wire management elements. The base sheet has a major surface from which the wire management elements project. The wire management elements define a plurality of channels. Each channel is configured to retain at least one wire. The wire management article may include a cover sheet releasably attached to the base sheet. The wire management article may be part of a wire management system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wire management article comprising:
 a base sheet having a major surface;   a plurality of first wire management elements projecting from the major surface, each first wire management element comprising a first stem portion attached to and generally upright from the base sheet and a first head portion spaced from the major surface extending generally laterally from the stem portion,   wherein the first wire management elements define a first plurality of channels, at least one of the first plurality of channels defined by the first stem portions of two of the first plurality of wire management elements, the first head portions of the two of the first plurality of wire management elements and the major surface of the base sheet,   wherein the at least one of the first plurality of channels is configured to retain at least one wire;   a cover sheet releasably attached to the base sheet and having a cover sheet bottom surface; and   a plurality of second wire management elements projecting from the cover sheet bottom surface, each second wire management element comprising a second stem portion attached to and projecting from the cover sheet bottom surface and a second head portion spaced from the cover sheet bottom surface extending generally laterally from the second stem portion,   wherein the second wire management elements define a second plurality of channels, at least one of the second plurality of channels defined by the second stem portions of two of the second plurality of wire management elements, the second head portions of the two of the second plurality of wire management elements and the cover sheet bottom surface,   wherein the at least one of the second plurality of channels is configured to retain at least one wire,   wherein at least one of the first wire management elements and at least one of the second wire management elements are configured to interlock to releasably attach the cover sheet to the base sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the first stem portion and the first head portion of each of the plurality of wire management elements define a plurality of generally parallel elongated ridges. 
     
     
         3 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the first stem portion and the first head portion define a generally curvilinear ridge or a generally T-shaped ridge. 
     
     
         4 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the first head portion has one of a generally curvilinear shape and a generally at least partially circular shape, and extends from the stem portion curving towards the base sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of channels have one of a generally rectilinear shape, a generally curvilinear shape, and a generally circular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein when the first wire management elements include posts, the first stem portion and the first head portion define a generally axisymmetric post or a generally mushroom-shaped post. 
     
     
         7 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein when the first wire management elements include posts, each of the first plurality of channels is configured to retain at least two wires in a stacked arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the first wire management elements further define a third plurality of channels, each of the third plurality of channels configured to retain at least one wire in a stacked arrangement with the at least one wire retained by the plurality of first channels. 
     
     
         9 . The management article of  claim 1 , wherein the first wire management elements comprise a spring portion positioned between the first head portion and the major surface of the base sheet, the spring portion extending generally laterally from the first stem portion and configured to position the wire within a channel. 
     
     
         10 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each of the first plurality of wire management elements is hollow. 
     
     
         11 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the base sheet is shaped such as to define a mounting surface that is smaller than the major surface. 
     
     
         12 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the wire management elements are first wire management elements, the stem portion is a first stem portion, the head portion is a first head portion, and the channels are first channels, the wire management article further comprising:
 a cover sheet releasably attached to the base sheet and having a cover sheet bottom surface; and   a plurality of second wire management elements projecting from the cover sheet bottom surface, each second wire management element comprising a second stem portion attached to and projecting from the cover sheet bottom surface and a second head portion spaced from the cover sheet bottom surface extending generally laterally from the second stem portion.   
     
     
         13 . The wire management article of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first wire management elements and at least one of the second wire management elements are configured to interlock to releasably attach the cover sheet to the base sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the cover sheet is a first cover sheet and the cover sheet bottom surface is a first cover sheet bottom surface, and further comprising:
 a second cover sheet releasably attached to the base sheet opposite from the first cover sheet and having a second cover sheet bottom surface; and   a plurality of third wire management elements projecting from the second cover sheet bottom surface, each third wire management element comprising a third stem portion attached to and generally upright from the second cover sheet and a third head portion spaced from the second cover sheet bottom surface extending generally laterally from the third stem portion,   wherein at least one of the first wire management elements and at least one of the second wire management elements are configured to interlock to releasably attach the first cover sheet to the base sheet,   wherein at least one of the first wire management elements and at least one of the third wire management elements are configured to interlock to releasably attach the second cover sheet to the base sheet,   wherein the first and second cover sheets are integrally formed with the base sheet, and   wherein the first cover sheet includes a first cover sheet hinge portion connecting the first cover sheet to the base sheet and the second cover sheet includes a second cover sheet hinge portion connecting the second cover sheet to the base sheet.   
     
     
         15 . The wire management article of  claim 1 , wherein the major surface is a top surface, and wherein the base sheet further includes a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the wire management article further comprising at least one connection element projecting from the bottom surface. 
     
     
         16 . A wire management system comprising:
 a support; and
 the wire management article according to  claim 1  mounted to the support, 
 optionally wherein the wire management system further comprises at least one of an adhesive layer disposed between the base sheet and the support and mechanical fasteners mounting the wire management article to the support. 
   
     
     
         17 . A wire management system comprising:
 a wiring duct including an elongate base member having a bottom wall and side walls defining a channel therebetween, at least one of the bottom wall and side walls comprising at least one groove extending along the length of the elongate base member; and   a wire management article configured to be releasably attached to the wiring duct and comprising:
 a base sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface; 
 a plurality of wire management elements projecting from the top surface, each wire management element comprising a stem portion attached to and generally upright from the base sheet and a head portion spaced from the top surface extending generally laterally from the stem portion; and 
 at least one connection element projecting from the bottom surface, 
 wherein the wire management elements define a plurality of channels, each channel configured to retain at least one wire, 
   wherein the connection element of the wire management article is configured to cooperate with a corresponding groove of the wiring duct to releasably attach the wire management article to the wiring duct.