Splice plate for cable tray fitting

Abstract

A fitting splice plate connects a cable tray fitting to a cable tray section. The fitting splice plate includes a guard extending in an outboard direction from a second longitudinal portion of a plate body adjacent a first longitudinal portion of the plate body. The guard is adjacent one of an upper side and a lower side of the second longitudinal portion. The fitting splice plate may include both upper and lower guards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fitting splice plate for connecting a cable tray fitting to a cable tray section, the fitting splice plate comprising:
 a plate body having a generally planar shape, the plate body having a first longitudinal portion configured to connect to the cable tray section, and a second longitudinal portion configured to connect to the cable tray fitting, wherein the first longitudinal portion has a width extending between upper and lower sides thereof; and   a guard extending in an outboard direction from the second longitudinal portion adjacent the first longitudinal portion, wherein the guard is adjacent one of an upper side and a lower side of the second longitudinal portion, wherein the guard comprises an inturned finger folded over an outboard face of the second longitudinal portion to define a generally round edge.   
     
     
         2 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the guard is adjacent the upper side of the second longitudinal portion, wherein at least a portion of the guard is disposed above the upper side of the first longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the guard is adjacent the lower side of the second longitudinal portion, wherein at least a portion of the guard is disposed below the lower side of the first longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         4 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising a second guard extending in an outboard direction from the second longitudinal portion adjacent the first longitudinal portion, wherein the guard is adjacent the upper side of the second longitudinal portion, wherein at least a portion of the second guard is disposed above an upper side of the first longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         5 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 4 , in combination with the cable tray section, wherein the cable tray section comprises a rail including vertical web and upper and lower flanges extending from the vertical web and having outboard portions, wherein the first longitudinal portion of the plate body is configured to connect to the web of the cable tray section, wherein the guards are configured to oppose the outboard portions of the respective upper and lower flanges when the fitting splice plate is connected to web of the cable tray section. 
     
     
         6 . The fitting splice plate in combination with the cable tray section as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the rail of the cable tray section has a generally I-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         7 . The fitting splice plate in combination with the cable tray section as set forth in  claim 5 , in further combination with the cable tray fitting, wherein the cable tray fitting comprises a rail including a vertical web and being free from upper and lower flanges extending in an outboard direction from the vertical web of the rail of the cable tray fitting, wherein the second longitudinal portion of the plate body is configured to connect to the web of the rail of the cable tray fitting. 
     
     
         8 . The fitting splice plate in combination with the cable tray section and the cable tray fitting as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the rail of the cable tray fitting includes upper and lower flanges extending in an inboard direction from the vertical web. 
     
     
         9 . The fitting splice plate in combination with the cable tray section and the cable tray fitting as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of first fasteners connect the first longitudinal portion of the fitting splice plate to the web of the rail of the cable tray section, wherein a plurality of second fasteners connect the second longitudinal portion of the fitting splice plate to the web of the rail of the cable tray fitting. 
     
     
         10 . The fitting splice plate in combination with the cable tray section and the cable tray fitting as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the cable tray section is straight, and the cable tray fitting is curved. 
     
     
         11 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second guard comprises an interned finger folded over an outboard face of the second longitudinal portion to define a generally round edge 
     
     
         12 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a width of the first longitudinal portion extending between the upper and lower sides of the first longitudinal portion is less than a width of the second longitudinal portion extending between the upper and lower sides of the second longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         13 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the guard is integrally formed with the plate body as a single, one-piece, monolithically formed component. 
     
     
         14 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a tab projecting from the plate body in an inboard direction. 
     
     
         15 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the tab comprises a finger received in a finger opening defined by the plate body, wherein the finger is bent along its length so that a bent portion of the finger defines the tab projecting from the plate body in the inboard direction. 
     
     
         16 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the plate body has an attached longitudinal end attached to the plate body, a free longitudinal end free from attachment to the plate body, and upper and lower sides free from attachment to the plate body so that the finger is cantilevered. 
     
     
         17 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the free longitudinal end of the finger is spaced apart from an opposing longitudinal end of the finger opening to define a fastener opening configured to receive a fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the fastener opening has a generally rectangular shape. 
     
     
         19 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the finger is integrally formed with the plate body as a single, one-piece, monolithically formed component. 
     
     
         20 . The fitting splice plate set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second longitudinal portions of the plate body define a plurality of fastener openings for receiving fasteners therein.