GB2628772A

GB2628772A - Elongate cable conduit

Info

Publication number: GB2628772A
Application number: GB2304928.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ruddick Paul; Bianchi Stephen
Original assignee: D Line Europe Ltd
Current assignee: D Line Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2023-04-03
Filing date: 2023-04-03
Publication date: 2024-10-09
Also published as: GB202304928D0

Abstract

An elongate cable conduit 1 is provided for installation in a channel in a pavement (see Figure 3b), the conduit has a longitudinal axis 24 (Figure 1b) defining a longitudinal direction and is configured to accommodate an electric vehicle (EV) charging cable (Figure 3f); the conduit comprises: a base portion 2 connected to a first sidewall 4a and a second sidewall 4b; the base portion and the sidewalls each extend in the longitudinal direction of the conduit thereby defining an interior cable containment channel configured to receive the cable; a first upper edge 6a of the first sidewall and a second upper edge 6b of the second sidewall are separated by an opening 10 extending in the longitudinal direction; the opening exposes the interior cable containment channel; the opening is deformable between a first configuration and a second configuration; in the first configuration the first upper edge is closer to the second upper edge, and in the second configuration the first upper edge is further from the second upper edge and the conduit is biased towards the first configuration. The upper edges of the conduit are intended to be flush with the pavement.

Description

Elongate Cable Conduit

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an elongate cable conduit for installation in a channel in a pavement and to a method of installing an elongate cable conduit in a channel in a pavement.

Background

People who own electric vehicles (EV) but do not have access to a private driveway or a garage may wish to charge their electric vehicle on a roadside outside of their residence. In this situation an EV charging cable may be laid across a public pavement or walkway to connect the vehicle to a charging station. In some cases, the EV charging cable may be fed from a charging post or similar whereby the EV-cable must be run along the length of a street or path.

In such cases, an EV charging cable lying upon the pavement is a trip hazard to pedestrians and can inconvenience wheelchair users who are using the pavement. Additionally, the EV charging cable may be damaged by vehicles, bicycles, or mobility scooters etc running over it.

Cable conduits for installation in pavements are generally known. Such conduits can be used to recess an EV charging cable below the surface of pavement to prevent people from tripping over the cable and to protect the cable. Such conduits may be referred to as "in-pavement" cable conduits, channels, or ducts.

Typically, known conduits are substantially rigid (i.e., along their width and height) thereby resulting in fixed and ostensibly consistent width-dimensions between opposing sides of the conduit. In some examples, these conduits may have an open-top form wherein the interior of the conduit is exposed from above. The opening between the opposing sides of such conduits typically varies between 25mm and 300mm which can present a significant safety hazard.

In some existing examples (e.g., as proposed by GreenMolel) the in-pavement cable conduit comprises a lid which extends along the length of conduit and is configured to close over the cable. Therefore, when the lid is closed, the EV cable enters the channel at one end of the channel and exits the channel at a second, opposite end. However, if the electric vehicle is parked partially over the pavement and the conduit, then the exit end of the conduit may be blocked by the vehicle thereby making it difficult to connect the cable to the vehicle. In this example, the cable may exit the conduit part way along the conduit between the two ends. However, the lid would need to be opened and would be unable to close while there is a protruding cable thus presenting a trip hazard and impeding wheelchair users. Alternatively, if the lid is removed during an EV charging period, the exposed opening of the in-pavement conduit would, itself, present a safety hazard to pedestrians and other users of the pavement.

Other examples, (e.g., as proposed by Kerbo ChargeTh42) propose a channel comprising a flexible lid attached at one side of the channel. In this example, the lid is configured to automatically close around the cable. However, if the cable exits the conduit part way along the conduit then the flexible lid must sit proud from the surface of the pavement, owing to the cable which holds the lid open in the area around where the cable exits the conduit. Therefore, the flexible lid can still present a trip hazard as it is angled upright by the presence of the cable. Additionally, conduits with automatically closing lids are difficult to clean. Debris and mud may build up over time which is difficult to remove and may block the conduit.

Additionally, conduits with attached lids require the lid to be opened for access to the cable cavity, usually requiring the user to bend or crouch down physically to reach ground-level, or by inserting an accessory to lift the lid which may be lost or misplaced. This need to manually open a lid can be undesirable for users with restricted mobility, or users who wish to install or remove a cable quickly (for example in bad weather).

In other examples, (e.g., as proposed by StormguardlM 3 and Gul-e4) a rigid-width conduit may comprise flexible bristles which cover the top of the channel. With no lid feature, the cable may exit the conduit part way along the length of the channel. However, the presence of bristles makes the interior of the conduit difficult to clean if the conduit has collected debris and mud which can block the conduit over time. Additionally, the conduits in these examples typically have a width of at least 25mm and the use of flexible bristles to close the conduit can be hazardous since they do not provide protection against objects being inserted into the channel. For example, the heels of high-heeled shoes or the slim tyres of a road bike or a wheelchair could penetrate the conduit potentially causing injury or damaging the cable inside.

Moreover, the need to fit bristles to the conduit in these examples increases the overall manufacturing complexity of the conduit.

The present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations. 25 Summary of the Invention Broadly speaking the present invention aims to address the problems of existing in-pavement cable conduits with the provision of a narrow width (and shallow) conduit for housing cables which does not include a lid but instead includes an upper opening and a biasing arrangement which enables the upper opening to partially close when no cable is inserted.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides an elongate cable conduit for installation in a channel in a pavement, the conduit having a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction, and configured to accommodate an electric vehicle charging cable, wherein the conduit comprises: a base portion connected to a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall and second sidewall being connected to opposite edges of the base portion, wherein the base portion and the sidewalls each extend in the longitudinal direction of the conduit thereby defining an interior cable containment channel configured to receive the cable; and wherein a first upper edge of the first sidewall and a second upper edge of the second sidewall are separated by an opening extending in the longitudinal direction, the opening exposing the interior cable containment channel; wherein the conduit is deformable between a first configuration in which the first upper edge is closer to the second upper edge, and a second configuration wherein the first upper edge is further from the second upper edge, such that the opening has a first width in the first configuration, and a second width in the second configuration, the first width being narrower than the second width, and wherein the conduit is biased towards the first configuration.

Conduits according to the first aspect of the invention therefore enable quick and convenient access to the cable containment channel inside by virtue of the opening between the upper edge portions. Accordingly, installation and inspection of the conduit and insertion and removal of cables in the conduit is quick and efficient. The conduit can open, hold and protect an EV-charging cable that is inserted, before partially closing over the interior channel when the cable is removed. Moreover it is easier for users to access the interior channel for cleaning in order to remove mud and debris.

By virtue of the opening between the upper edge portions, it is also possible for the EV cable to exit the conduit partway to left-side or right-side along the conduit without a trip hazard being created by any raised lid section. The conduit may also be suitable for other cable types or hose pipes.

In addition, conduits (or channels or ducts) according to the first aspect also avoid the disadvantages associated with having bristles as described in 'Background' owing to the conduit being biased towards the first configuration. Therefore, the conduit may partially close over the interior channel thus narrowing the opening and reducing the likelihood of objects such as shoe heels or bicycle wheels from penetrating the channel which could damage the cable or cause injury.

The invention includes the combination of the aspects and preferred features described herein except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.

The pavement may be a sidewalk, a footpath, a private or public car park, garage forecourt, transport yard or a walkway for pedestrians which is located adjacent to a road or a street. The pavement may be located between a charging station and charging point for charging an electric vehicle. The charging point may be located in a road where the electric vehicle is parked. However, the elongate conduit may be installed in any suitable surface between a charging station and a charging point. For example, the elongate conduit may be installed in the surface of a road or a private driveway or a public EV-charging station.

The base portion of the conduit may be a lowermost section of the conduit which is configured to rest on a bottom surface of the channel in the pavement. The base portion may be a planar surface extending in the longitudinal direction. The base portion may be rectangular, the long edges of the rectangle being parallel to the longitudinal axis. In some examples, as discussed below, the base portion may include grooves, folds, and/or screw holes.

The first and second upper edges of the first and second sidewalls may be edges of the first and second sidewalls respectively which are furthest from the base portion of the conduit. In some examples, as described below, when the first and/or second sidewalls comprise inwardly extending lips, the first and/or second upper edges may be the inner edges of the inwardly extending lips.

The opening between the first and second upper edges may extend along the entire length of the elongate conduit in the longitudinal direction. As such the opening may also be referred to herein as a "longitudinal opening" or an "upper opening".

The opening may be considered as a gap or space between the upper edges of the first and second sidewalls. Therefore the opening may also be referred to as a separation distance between the first upper edge and the second upper edge. Accordingly, the skilled person would understand that the first width of the opening may have a distance which is non-zero. In other words, when the conduit is in the first configuration, the first upper edge and the second upper edge do not touch and are separated by the opening.

Advantageously, providing an opening between the first and second upper edges which is non-zero can reduce stresses which are applied to the first and second upper edges when cables are inserted into and removed from the conduit. For example, if the first and second upper edges of the sidewalls (or inner lips of the first and second sidewalls as described below) were configured to close completely over the inner channel, then a cable being inserted into the conduit could drag the first and second upper edges inside the conduit thereby distorting the conduit. Over time the conduit could be permanently distorted.

Therefore, by providing an opening between the first and second upper edges when the conduit is in the first configuration, the likelihood of the conduit being permanently distorted is reduced.

The opening may extend along the entirety of the length of the conduit. However, in some examples, the opening may extend partially along the length of the elongate conduit in the longitudinal direction. For example, the opening may be interrupted by supporting structures which connect the first and second upper edge portions. Therefore, the upper opening may be considered as partially interrupted where the conduit extends underneath the wall or barrier.

The first configuration may be a default configuration of the conduit in the absence of external forces being applied to the conduit. For example, when the conduit is not installed in a channel in a pavement and there is no cable installed or being installed in the conduit, then the conduit may be configured to rest in the first configuration. Alternatively, when the conduit is installed in a channel in a pavement and there is no cable installed or being installed in the conduit, then the first configuration may be considered as the resting configuration of the conduit. The resting configuration of the conduit when the conduit is installed in a channel may be the same as the resting configuration of the conduit when it is not installed in a channel. However, in some examples, the first width of the opening may be narrower when the conduit is installed in a channel and may depend on a width of the channel.

Nevertheless, in each of the above definitions, irrespective of whether the conduit is installed in a channel in a pavement, the first configuration may be considered as the default configuration of the conduit in the absence of external forces. Moreover, when the conduit is in the first configuration the width of the opening is narrower (i.e., the first width) and in the second configuration of the conduit the width of the opening is wider (i.e., the second width).

Accordingly, the first configuration may be referred to as the "resting configuration" or an "equilibrium configuration".

The width of the opening, in the first and/or second configurations, may be a distance between the upper edges of the first and second sidewalls measured in a direction perpendicular, or transverse to the longitudinal direction. The first and second sidewalls may be uniform along the longitudinal direction such that the width of the upper opening is constant along the length of the conduit in the longitudinal direction.

However, in some examples the first and/or second sidewalls may be non-uniform in the longitudinal direction such that the width of the upper opening varies along the length of the conduit in the longitudinal direction. Therefore in this example, the first width of the opening as measured at a first location along the longitudinal axis may be narrower than the second width of the opening as measured at the same location along the longitudinal axis.

The conduit may be an elongate member extending from a first end opening at one end to a second end opening at an opposite end. The longitudinal axis may dissect the conduit from the first end opening to the second end opening. In other words the longitudinal axis may be parallel to the direction from the first opening to the second opening (or vice versa).

The first end opening, which may be referred to as the cable entrance, may be positioned closer to a charging station and the end opening, which may be referred to as the cable exit, may be located closer to a kerbside or to a charging point for charging an electric vehicle. However, in some examples, the EV charging cable may enter and/or exit the conduit part-way along the length of the conduit via the upper opening between the first and second upper edges. Of course, when the conduit is not installed in a channel in a pavement, both of the first or second end openings may be considered as the cable entrance or exit. In some examples, the first and/or second ends of the conduit may be closed. In this case, the EV charging cable may enter and/or exit the conduit via the upper opening.

The conduit may be configured to receive an EV charging cable having a diameter between 8mm - 20mm, more preferably between 12mm -16mm. The conduit may also be suitable also for cables that are not associated with EV's, and for hose pipes.

The first width of the opening may be smaller than a diameter of the EV charging cable. By providing a narrower opening, it is possible to reduce the risk of damage to the EV charging cable and the risk of heeled shoes or other objects from penetrating the conduit.

The first width of the opening, when the conduit is in the first confirmation, may be at least 5mm, more preferably at least 8mm, more preferably at least 10mm, when the conduit is in the first configuration. In this way, the conduit is easier to clean than conduits which close entirely. Moreover, a cable may be pulled out of the opening, part way along the conduit without requiring a lid to be opened and causing a trip hazard.

The first width of the opening, when the conduit is in the first configuration, may be no more than 20mm, more preferably no more than 15mm, more preferably no more than 12mm. Accordingly, the risk of heels, wheels or other objects from penetrating the conduit is reduced.

The first width of the opening, when the conduit is in the first configuration may be, between 5mm - 20mm, more preferably, 8mm -15mm, more preferably, lOmm -12mm, more preferably 11 mm +/-0.3mm.

The conduit may be configured to deform to the second configuration when an EV cable is being installed in the conduit. In other words, when the conduit is in the second configuration, the opening may be configured to receive an EV charging cable therethrough. Therefore, the second width may be at least as wide as the diameter of the EV charging cable.

Accordingly, the second configuration may be referred to as an "installation configuration" or a "cable insertion configuration".

The conduit may be deformable to a compressed configuration (which may be referred to as a third configuration), wherein the opening between the first and second sidewalls is narrower than the first configuration. The first opening may have a third width in the compressed configuration which is narrower than the first width. In some examples, the third width may be zero such that the first and second upper edges contact each other when the conduit is in the compressed configuration, thus closing the opening.

The conduit may be configured to deform to the compressed configuration in response to an external compression force being applied to the conduit. The external compression force may be configured to push the first and second sidewalls towards each other thereby narrowing the conduit. For example, the conduit may be moved to the compressed configuration when the conduit is being installed in the channel in the pavement.

The conduit may be biased to return to the first configuration from the compressed (third configuration). For example, the conduit may be configured to automatically return to the first configuration in response to the external compression force being removed.

Therefore, the biasing of the conduit towards the first configuration may include the expansion of the conduit from a compressed configuration to the first configuration. The conduit may be configured to automatically expand to the first (resting) configuration after being inserted into a pavement channel.

In some examples, a width of the base portion may be narrower in the compressed configuration. The narrowing of the base portion may be facilitated by the provision of grooves or folds in the base portion as discussed below.

Enabling the conduit to be narrowed to a compressed configuration can improve the ease and speed of installing the conduit in channels. Additionally, the conduit may be more adaptable since the conduit may be installed in channels in pavements which are narrower or have variable widths.

The elongate conduit may have a uniform cross-section, wherein the cross-section is taken along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In other words, the elongate conduit may have a homogeneous profile which is extruded from the first end opening of the conduit to the second end opening of the conduit. This enables the conduit to be easily and conveniently cut to a desired length for fitting to a channel in a pavement.

The elongate conduit may be an integral conduit (i.e., the conduit may be integrally formed from one part). Thus the manufacturing complexity of the conduit may be reduced compared to existing conduits having multiple parts. For example, the conduit may be manufactured using injection moulding, extrusion, casting, additive manufacturing (printing), vacuum forming, or rotational moulding. Accordingly, the elongate cable conduit of the first aspect may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, thereby enabling affordable installations, and encouraging wider EV-adoption among owners of terraced houses.

The conduit may comprise a flexible material. The sidewalls of the conduit may comprise the flexible material such that the conduit may deform between the first and second configurations. Therefore, an EV cable may be installed in the conduit by pushing it between the first and second sidewalls.

In some examples the entirety of the conduit may be formed from a flexible material.

In some examples the conduit may be flexible and configured to bend vertically or horizontally along its length between the first and second ends. Enabling the conduit to bend along its length makes the installation of the cable in a channel in the pavement easier. For example, the conduit may be bent to conform with the shape of channels in pavements which are not straight. For example, the conduit may be installed in a channel which has a bend or corner. In other examples, the flexible conduit may be installed in a pavement which comprises a mound or a slope. Therefore, flexible conduit may be configured to follow the profile of the pavement surface without protruding too far above or below a surface of the pavement and presenting a trip hazard.

The conduit may comprise a resiliently deformable material such that the conduit is biased towards the first configuration. The resiliently deformable material may be a flexible material which is capable of bending or deforming under an external force, and then returning to its original shape in the absence of the external force. For example, the first and second sidewalls may include a resiliently deformable material such that the first and second sidewalls are deformable between the first and second configurations and are biased towards the first configuration. In some examples, the conduit may be entirely formed from the resiliently deformable material.

The conduit may comprise Polycarbonate and SEBS. In other examples, the conduit may comprise one or more of: rigid PVC and SEBS, flexible PVC and SEBS, rigid PVC and Flexible PVC, polycarbonate and flexible PVC. In some examples, the conduit may be made entirely from any of the above materials. Polycarbonate and SEBS, in particular, are UV resistant and more flexible than other variations.

Therefore, the biasing of the conduit towards the first configuration may result from the material properties of the conduit. In other examples, discussed below, the conduit may comprise a biasing arrangement comprising additional elements which are configured to bias the conduit towards the first configuration.

The first and second sidewalls may be inclined towards each other such that the first width is narrower than a width of the base portion. That is, when the conduit is in the first configuration, the upper opening may be narrower than the base portion. The width of the base portion may be the measured between the opposite edges of the base portion. By inclining the first and second walls towards each other in the first configuration, the conduit may partially close over the interior cable containment channel thus reducing the likelihood of objects, other than an EV cable, from penetrating the conduit through the opening.

Moreover, by inclining the sidewalls towards each other, the biasing of the conduit towards the first configuration may be supported and the likelihood of the conduit being permanently deformed (i.e., to the second configuration) is reduced thus increasing the wearability and lifetime performance of the conduit.

A first angle between the first sidewall and the base portion may be between 45 degrees and 90 degrees, more preferably between 60 degrees and 85 degrees, more preferably between 75 degrees and 85 degrees, more preferably 80 degrees when the conduit is in the first configuration.

A second angle between the second sidewall and the base portion may be between 45 degrees and 90 degrees, more preferably between 60 degrees and 85 degrees, more preferably between 75 degrees and 85 degrees, more preferably 80 degrees when the conduit is in the first configuration.

The first and second angles between the base portion and the first and second sidewalls respectively may be the same when the conduit is in the first configuration. Specifically, the conduit may be symmetrical about a vertical axis, the vertical axis extending from the upper opening towards the base portion.

As mentioned above, the conduit may comprise a biasing arrangement configured to bias the conduit towards the first configuration. The biasing arrangement may be configured to maintain the first and/or second angles between the first and/or second sidewall(s) and the base portion at the angles specified above. For example, the biasing arrangement may be configured to provide a restoring force in response to the first and/or second sidewall being displaced, the restoring force being configured to return the first and/or second sidewall to a resting configuration wherein the angle between the first and/or second sidewall and the base portion is the specified angle.

The biasing arrangement may comprise one or more biasing elements. A biasing element may be a component configured to apply to a restoring force to the conduit, the restoring force acting to return the conduit to the first configuration when the conduit is deformed to a different configuration. For example, the biasing element may be any resiliently deformable component which is configured to store energy. When the element is subject to tension or compression, the stored energy may act to return the biasing element to its original shape in response to the tension or compression being released. For example, the biasing element may comprise a spring, an elastomer, or any other suitable resiliently biased component.

The first sidewall may comprise an outwardly extending biasing element. The biasing element may be connected to an outer surface of the remainder of the first sidewall.

The biasing element may be configured to press against a first inner surface of the channel in the pavement thereby biasing the conduit towards the first configuration when the conduit is installed in the channel. Specifically the biasing element may be configured to provide a restoring force when it is compressed. Therefore, the biasing element may act to return the first sidewall to the first configuration when first sidewall and hence the biasing element is compressed against the wall of the channel in the pavement. In this way, when the conduit is deformed to the second configuration, for example by a cable passing through the opening between the first and second sidewalls, the conduit can automatically return to the first configuration. Accordingly, when an EV cable is being installed in the conduit, the opening may widen to accommodate the EV cable. After the EV cable is installed, the conduit may automatically narrow the opening over the top of the cable, and when the EV cable is removed from the interior cable containment channel the conduit may automatically narrow the opening over the interior containment channel thus reducing the likelihood of the conduit being a hazard. Note that in some examples, after a cable is installed in the conduit, the cable may hold the first and second sidewalls apart so that the opening is wider than the first width. Therefore, the width of the opening when a cable is installed in the conduit may depend on the size of the cable installed.

The outwardly extending biasing element may be connected to an upper edge of the first sidewall such that the outwardly extending biasing element forms an upper surface of the first sidewall. Alternatively, the outwardly extending biasing element may be connected to the first sidewall at a location between the upper edge and the base portion.

The outwardly extending biasing element may be an outwardly extending lip. The lip may be a continuous protrusion or ledge extending from the first sidewall to a distal edge of the lip. The lip may extend continuously along the entire length of the conduit in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the lip may comprise gaps or openings along the longitudinal direction.

The outwardly extending lip may have an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being a surface of the lip which is closest to a plane comprising the base portion of the conduit. A thickness of the lip may be at least 1mm, more preferably at least 1.2mm, more preferably 1.5mm. The thickness of the lip may be measured from the upper surface to the lower surface of the lip.

The outwardly extending lip may be configured to deform or bend when an external force is applied to the upper surface and/or to the distal edge of the lip. For example, when the first sidewall is pressed against an opposing surface the distal edge of the outwardly extending lip may be pressed against the opposing surface thereby causing the lip to be compressed.

The outwardly extending lip may be deformable between an equilibrium state and a compressed state, wherein the lip is configured to return to the equilibrium state in the absence of additional external forces.

The distal edge of the lip may be closer to the remainder of the first sidewall in the compressed state than in the equilibrium state. For example, when the first sidewall is pressed towards an opposing surface (e.g., the inner wall of a pavement channel), the outwardly extending lip may bend or pivot towards the remainder of the first sidewall.

The outwardly extending lip may be resiliently biased such that, when the first sidewall is pressed against an opposing surface, the outwardly extending lip provides a restoring force which acts to push the first sidewall away from the opposing surface. Therefore, when the conduit is installed in a channel in a pavement the outwardly extending lip may be configured to deform (e.g., by pivoting towards the sidewall or by compressing) in response to the conduit being pushed towards the second configuration. Thus, the outwardly extending lip may facilitate the biasing of the conduit towards the first configuration by pressing against the opposing surface.

The outwardly extending lip may be integral with the first sidewall. That is, the outwardly extending lip and the first sidewall may be a single component made from a same material. However, in some examples, the outwardly extending lip and the remainder of the first sidewall may be formed form separate components which are connected to each other.

The outwardly extending lip may be straight such that the lip extends linearly away from the first sidewall and the upper and lower surfaces of the lip are flat. In other examples the outwardly extending lip may be curved. The outwardly extending lip may curve in a downwards direction from the upper edge of the sidewall (the downwards direction being towards a lower plane which comprises the base portion of the conduit).

The outwardly extending lip may extend from the first upper edge in a substantially horizontally direction (i.e., in parallel with the lower plane comprising the base portion) before curving in the downwards direction. Therefore, when the conduit is installed in a channel in a pavement, the upper surface of the outwardly extending lip provides a substantially horizontal upper surface between the first upper edge and an upper surface of the pavement. Thus, the conduit presents an overall flatter upper surface, owing to the curved shape of the outwardly extending lip, thereby enabling the upper surface of the conduit to conform with the upper surface of the pavement making the conduit smoother, safer, and less visibly jarring.

The biasing arrangement may comprise a second outwardly extending biasing element connected to the second sidewall. The second outwardly extending biasing element may be integrally formed with the second sidewall. Like the first biasing element, the second biasing element may be configured to press against a second inner surface of the channel in the pavement thereby biasing the conduit towards the first configuration when the conduit is installed in the channel.

The second outwardly extending biasing element may be an outwardly extending lip. The outwardly extending lip may protrude from an upper edge of the second sidewall. The outwardly extending biasing element may comprise or exhibit any of the optional features disclosed above in relation to the first outwardly extending biasing element.

Accordingly, the first and second outwardly extending biasing elements may be configured to press against opposing inner surfaces of a pavement channel thereby exerting a biasing force on the first and second sidewalls. The biasing force may bias the first and second sidewalls towards each other, thereby narrowing the upper opening, until the first and second outwardly extending biasing elements reach an equilibrium configuration when the conduit is in the first configuration.

The first sidewall may comprise an inwardly extending lip. The inwardly extending lip may protrude from an upper edge portion of the first sidewall such that the inwardly extending lip forms an upper surface of the first sidewall. The inwardly extending lip may help to guide an EV cable into the inner cable containment channel thus making the conduit easier and more convenient to use. Additionally, the inwardly extending lip may help to protect the inner cable containment channel and act as a barrier for preventing objects such as heels, wheels, or debris from penetrating the channel.

The inwardly extending lip (which may be referred to as a ledge or a protrusion) may comprise a proximal connection edge connected to the remainder of the first sidewall and a distal edge, the proximal and distal edges extending in the longitudinal direction. The inwardly extending lip may extend continuously along the entire length of the conduit in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the inwardly extending lip may comprise gaps or openings along the longitudinal direction.

The inwardly extending lip may comprise a flexible material such that the inwardly extending lip is deformable for receiving a cable through the opening. In this way, the interior containment channel is more easily accessed, enabling more convenient installation and removal of cables. In other examples, the inwardly extending lip may be rigid. Therefore, the inwardly extending lip may help to deform the conduit towards the second configuration, thereby widening the opening to receive a cable therethrough. In some examples, the conduit may comprise a flexible material having an associated stiffness, wherein the associated stiffness is configured to enable the inwardly extending lip to deform and to push the conduit towards the second configuration when a cable is being pushed into or pulled out of the conduit via the opening.

The inwardly extending lip may be integrally formed with the remainder of the first sidewall. That is, the inwardly extending lip and the remainder of the first sidewall may be a single component made from a same material. Alternatively, the inwardly extending lip and the remainder of the first sidewall may be separate components connected to each other.

The inwardly extending lip may be a ledge extending horizontally from the first sidewall when the conduit is in the first configuration. In this context, components extending horizontally may be considered as extending in a horizontal plane, the horizontal plane being a plane parallel to the base portion of the conduit.

In some examples, the inwardly extending lip may extend partially downward from the upper edge portion of the first sidewall towards the base portion when the conduit is in the first configuration thus helping to guide the EV cable towards the opening making it easier for users to install cables in the conduit.

The inwardly extending lip may be a first inwardly extending lip and the conduit may comprise a second inwardly extending lip connected to the second upper edge. The second inwardly extending lip may comprise any of the optional features disclosed above in relation to the first inwardly extending lip.

When the first sidewall comprises inwardly extending lips, the first and second upper edges may be the distal edges of the first and second inwardly extending lips respectively. Therefore, the width of the opening of the conduit may be defined as the distance between the inner (distal) edges of the inwardly extending lips. Therefore, when the conduit is in the first configuration, the distance between the inner edges of the first and second lips is the first width, the first width being non-zero.

When the conduit comprises outwardly extending lips, the first and second inwardly extending lips may be integrally formed with the first and second outwardly extending lips respectively.

The base portion may comprise grooves. The grooves may extend along the longitudinal axis. Avantageously, the grooves may facilitate flexion of the conduit (e.g., between the first configuration and the second configuration, and/or between the first configuration and the third configuration). Therefore, the provision of grooves in the base portion means the conduit may be quicker and easier to install in the pavement channel.

The grooves may be longitudinally extending folds in the base portion of the conduit. The folds may be deformable between wider and narrower configurations. Therefore the folds may enable the base portion to be temporarily narrowed or compressed when the conduit is being installed in a pavement channel.

The grooves may be configured to bias the conduit towards the first configuration. That is, the biasing arrangement may comprise grooves or folds located in the base portion.

The grooves may be located on an inner surface of the base portion. Therefore, the grooves may also provide a seat for an EV cable.

The grooves in the base portion may comprise a first longitudinally extending ridge and a second longitudinally extending ridge, the first and second longitudinally extending ridges protruding from the base portion towards the interior cable containment channel. The first and second longitudinally extending ridges may be separated by a longitudinally extending trough. Accordingly, the first and second ridges and the trough may form an "M" shape as viewed in a cross-section taken through the base portion.

The provision of longitudinally extending grooves in the base portion (i.e., the "M" shape) can act as a guide for centralising fixings (e.g., screws) which are not fitted through pre-punched holes. Additionally, the longitudinally extending grooves (i.e., the "M" shape) facilitates the dissipation of water along the length of the conduit.

The base portion may comprise screw holes configured to receive screws therethrough. Therefore, the conduit may be secured to a channel in a pavement to prevent it from moving or causing a trip hazard.

Moreover, the screw holes can act as drainage holes for water to exit the conduit.

The screw holes may have a length in the longitudinal direction and a width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the length of the screw holes is longer than the width of the screw holes. The length of the screw holes may be at least twice as long as the width of the screw holes.

Therefore, it is easier to install the conduit in a pavement channel since the screw holes can accommodate a larger error margin in the locations of corresponding screw holes in the pavement channel.

The elongate conduit may be installed in a channel in a pavement. When installed, the first and second upper edges may be level with or receded below an upper surface of the pavement. When the elongate conduit comprises inwardly and/or outwardly extending lips at least part of the upper surface(s) of the inwardly and/or outwardly extending lips may be level with or receded below the upper surface of the pavement.

The conduit may have a uniform cross-section from a first end of the conduit to a second end of the conduit along the longitudinal axis. The conduit may extend in a straight line from the first end to the second end. However, in some examples the conduit may comprise bends or corners.

The conduit may have a length from a first end to a second end along the longitudinal axis of 30mm -to 2000mm. However, longer and shorter conduits may be possible. The conduit may be joined to a second conduit to form a longer conduit or the conduit may be cut to a shorter size in order accommodate different EV cable lengths, pavement widths, and/or a distance between the charging station and the charging point.

The conduit may have a maximal width in the first configuration of 15-40mm, more preferably 20-30mm, more preferably 24mm +/-0.4mm. The maximal may be a width of the base portion between the opposing edges of the base portion.

A height of the conduit between a lower surface of the base portion and the first and second upper edges, when the conduit is in the first configuration, may be between 18mm -30mm, more preferably 20mm - 28mm, more preferably 23mm +/-0.4mm. However, other dimensions of conduit may be available to accommodate different sizes of cables.

The first and second sidewalls may have a wall thickness of 1 -2mm, or more preferably 1.4mm +/0.4mm.

When the conduit comprises an inwardly extending lip and an outwardly extending lip, a total width of the inwardly extending lip and the outwardly extending lip may be 5mm -15mm, more preferably 8mm -12 mm, more preferably 9.9mm +/-0.5mm.

A second aspect of the invention may provide an elongate conduit according to the first aspect installed in a channel in a pavement.

The channel may have a depth of 18mm -30mm, more preferably 12mm -28mm, more preferably 23mm +/-0.4mm. The present inventors understand that having a channel of the stated depth reduces the amount of stress on the pavement compared to deeper channels which may cause the pavement to crack, whilst being deep enough to accommodate typical EV charging cables below an upper surface of the pavement.

The channel may have a width of 15-40mm, more preferably 20-30mm, more preferably 24mm +/-0.4mm.

As described above, having an opening that is biased to close to the stated widths is beneficial to pedestrian health and safety (e.g., by preventing stiletto heels from penetrating the channel whilst also preventing excess debris ingress). Additionally, the opening can make it simpler for users to locate and remove EV Cable (or other cable, or hose), while facilitating easy cleaning of any debris that does collect in the channel. Moreover, providing an opening instead of a lid enables cost-effective and less complex production of the conduit. Additionally, when a cable is pulled out of the channel part way along the conduit, the opening can flex around the cable as opposed to sitting proud, on top of the cable causing an additional trip hazard A third aspect of the invention may provide a method of installing an elongate conduit according to the first aspect in a channel in a pavement, the method comprising: creating a channel in the pavement; inserting the conduit in the channel.

Inserting the conduit may comprise applying a compression force to the conduit, thereby deforming the conduit to a compressed configuration wherein the first and second sidewalls are displaced towards each other. The conduit may be inserted in the channel in the compressed configuration. When the conduit is inserted in the channel the compression force may be removed from the conduit. The conduit may return into the first (resting) configuration of the conduit in response to being released from the compressed state.

The method may further comprise cutting the conduit to a length corresponding to the length of the channel.

The method may further comprise using a concrete slotting machine to create the channel in the pavement. The channel may be a U-shaped slot which is 30mm wide and 25mm deep.

When the channel is created, debris may be cleaned out of the channel. The walls and base of the channel may be inspected and/or adjusted to ensure the surfaces are solid and/or smooth.

Inserting the conduit in the channel may comprise placing the conduit in position in the channel and marking the desired locations of fixings through pre-punched holes located in the base portion of the conduit.

The method may further comprise installing concrete fixings to secure the conduit to the channel. The concrete fixings may be drilled through pre-punched holes provided in the conduit. The concrete fixings may comprise a first concrete fixing located at a first end of the conduit, and a second concrete fixing located at a second end of the conduit. The first and second concrete fixings may be located approximately 100mm from the first and second ends of the conduit, respectively. One or more additional concrete fixings may be located between the first and second ends of the conduit.

The conduit may be positioned such that the upper edges of the conduit are level with or recessed below the surface of the pavement.

The method may further comprise installing an EV cable in the conduit wherein the EV cable is inserted in the conduit through the opening between the first and second upper edges.

Summary of the Figures

Embodiments and experiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Fig. la shows a front view of a conduit for installation in a pavement; Fig. lb shows a right-side view of the conduit of Fig. la; Fig. lc shows a left-side view of the conduit of Fig. la; Fig. ld shows a top view of the conduit of Fig. la; Fig. le shows a bottom view of the conduit of Fig. la; Fig. if shows a perspective view of the conduit of Fig. 1 a; Fig. lg shows another perspective view of the conduit of Fig. 1a; Fig. 2a shows a front view of a conduit for installation in a pavement; Fig. 2b shows a top view of the conduit of Fig. 2a; and Figs. 3a -3f show the conduit of Figs. 1 a-g being installed in a pavement and an EV cable being installed in the conduit.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.

Fig. la shows a front view of an elongate cable conduit 1 for installation in a channel in a pavement according to the present invention.

Figs. 1 b-g show left and right sides views, a bottom view, a top view, a perspective view and a second perspective view of the conduit 1 respectively.

The conduit 1 is configured to accommodate, for example, an electric vehicle (EV) charging cable. For example, the conduit 1 may be configured to receive a cable having with a diameter between 11mm and 20mm.

A longitudinal axis extends from a first end 20 of the conduit 1 to a second end 22 of the conduit 1 thus defining a longitudinal direction. The conduit 1 comprises a base portion 2 connected to a first sidewall 4a and a second sidewall 4b. The first sidewall 4a and the second sidewall 4b are connected to opposite edges of the base portion 2. The base portion 2 and the sidewalls each extend in the longitudinal direction of the conduit 1 thereby defining an interior cable containment channel inside the conduit 1 for receiving cables.

A first upper edge 6a of the first sidewall 4a and a second upper edge 6b of the second sidewall 4b are separated by an upper opening 10 extending in the longitudinal direction thus exposing the interior cable containment channel.

The conduit 1 comprises a flexible material and is deformable between a first configuration in which the first upper edge 6a is closer to the second upper edge 6b, and a second configuration wherein the first upper edge 6a is further from the second upper edge 6b. Therefore the upper opening 10 has a first width in the first configuration, and a second width in the second configuration, the first width being narrower than the second width.

The conduit 1 is biased towards the first configuration. In other words, in the absence of external forces the conduit 1 will come to rest in the first configuration wherein the upper opening 10 has the first width.

The conduit 1 shown in Figs. la-1g is in the first configuration and the description herein is in relation to the conduit 1 being in the first (resting) configuration except where specifically stated otherwise.

An EV cable may be inserted into the cable conduit 1 through the upper opening 10. In order to fit the cable through the upper opening 10 the conduit 1 can deform. Specifically, the first 4a and second 4b sidewalls can flex outwards, for example under the pressure of a cable being pushed through the opening. The upper opening 10 is thus widened to the second width enabling a cable to be installed in the interior cable containment channel.

The biasing of the conduit 1 towards the first configuration causes the conduit 1 to return towards the first configuration after installation of the cable. Therefore, the opening will partially close over the cable when the first and sidewalls are released.

The cable may also be pulled out of the conduit 1 via the upper opening 10. The first and second sidewalls may deform towards the second configuration to allow the cable to pass therethrough. The biasing of the conduit 1 causes the opening to automatically return to the first, narrower, width after the cable has been removed.

In some examples, a cable may be pulled partially out of the conduit 1 such that the cable protrudes from the upper opening 10. This is useful in cases where a vehicle for charging is parked partially over the conduit 1. In this example, the biasing of the conduit 1 towards the first configuration causes the upper edges of the sidewall to usefully grip the cable passing through the upper opening 10.

The conduit 1 may also be deformable to a third configuration wherein the first upper edge 6a is closer to the second upper edge 6b such that the opening has a third width in the third configuration, the third width being narrower than the first width. In other words, the first 4a and second 4b sidewalls may be pushed towards each other to narrow the upper opening 10. This is useful for installing the conduit 1 in the channel in the pavement. Therefore, the third configuration may be referred to as an installation configuration or a compressed configuration. In this example, the biasing of the conduit 1 towards the first configuration acts to push the first 4a and second 4b sidewalls away from each other thus widening the upper opening 10 towards the first width.

Accordingly, if the first and second walls are pushed away from each other by an external force (e.g., to install a cable in the conduit 1), they will automatically move back towards each other when the external force is removed. Additionally, if the first and second walls are pushed towards each other by an external force (e.g., to install the conduit 1 in a channel), they will automatically move away from each other when the external force is removed.

In this example, the first and second sidewalls are inclined towards each other in the first configuration as shown in Fig. 1 a, such that the first width is narrower than a width of the base portion 2. In this example, the conduit 1 is symmetrical such that the angle between the first sidewall 4a and the angle between the second sidewall are the same. This angle may be between 45 degrees and 80 degrees when the conduit 1 is in the first configuration.

In the example shown, the first 4a and second 4b sidewalls comprise outwardly extending biasing elements connected to upper edge portions of the sidewalls. The biasing elements are configured to provide a restoring force which is configured to push the sidewalls towards each other and therefore return the conduit 1 towards the first configuration. In this example, the outwardly extending biasing elements are an outwardly extending lips which curve downwards from the upper edges portions of the sidewalls.

When the cable conduit 1 is installed in a channel in a pavement the outwardly extending lips are configured to press against the inner walls of the channel. Therefore, when a user installs a cable in the conduit 1 through the upper opening 10, the sidewalls may be pushed outwards thereby compressing the outwardly extending lips against the inner walls of the channel. When the sidewalls are released, the outwardly extending lips are configured to push against the inner walls of the channel thereby proving a restoring force which acts to push the sidewalls inwards and thus return the conduit 1 to the first configuration.

In the example shown, the first 4a and second 4b sidewalls of the conduit 1 comprise first and second inwardly extending lips respectively. The inwardly extending lips are horizontal ledges extending along the longitudinal axis 24 which form upper surfaces of the first and second sidewalls. The inwardly extending lips provide a partial cover over the cable containment channel, thus narrowing the upper opening 10, to prevent debris or other objects from penetrating the conduit 1. When the sidewalls comprise inwardly extending lips the upper opening 10 may be measured between the inner edges of the first and second inwardly extending lips.

The inwardly extending lips form a barrier over the interior cable containment channel which helps to prevent dust, debris and objects such as heels and tyres from penetrating the conduit 1. Therefore, the conduit 1 is safer for people moving over the pavement and cables installed in the conduit 1 may be less likely to be damaged.

In this example, the base portion 2 comprises longitudinally extending grooves 14. The longitudinally extending grooves 14 comprise folds which are configured to deform between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration. Therefore, when the conduit 1 is in the third, compressed configuration described above, the width of base portion 2 may also be narrowed, thus enabling the conduit 1 to be more easily inserted into a pavement channel. In this example, the folds in the base portion 2 form a first and second longitudinally extending ridges separated by a longitudinally extending trough, thus forming an "M" shape as shown in Fig. 1a.

Additionally, the base portion in this example comprises screw holes 18 for securing the conduit 1 to the base of a channel in the pavement.

In this example, the conduit 1 is integrally formed from a single material. The material may be a resiliently deformable material. For example, the conduit 1 may be made from Polycarbonate and SEBS.

Figs. 2a -2b show a front view and a plan view respectively of the cable conduit 1 from Figs. la to 1g with example dimensions.

In Fig. 2a, the width w1 of the opening between the inner edges of the inwardly extending lips is 11 mm +/-0.3mm. The width of the base portion w2 is 24mm +/-0.4mm. The distance between the inner edge of the inwardly extending lips and the outer edge of the outwardly extending lips w3 is 23mm +/-0.5mm. The nominal wall thickness of the base portion 2 is 2mm +/-0.3mm and the thickness t1 of the first and second sidewalls is 1.4mm +/-0.3mm.

In Fig. 2b the separation between the screw holes xl is 234 mm +/-2mm, the spacing of the screw holes x2 is 250mm, and the length x3 of each screw hole is 16mm +1-0.4mm. As shown in Fig. 2b, the screw holes are not circular but instead have a width y1 which is smaller than the length x3 of the screw holes. The width y1 of the screw holes in this example is 6mm +/-0.4mm.

Fig. 3a -3f show an example of a cable conduit 1 being installed in a channel in a pavement and a cable being installed in the cable conduit 1.

In Fig. 3a an EV cable for charging an electric vehicle is lying across the surface of a pavement between a charging station and a charging point. In this situation the cable may be damaged by wheels running over it and is also a significant trip hazard for pedestrians walking on the pavement.

To install the cable conduit 1 in the pavement, a channel is created in the pavement. The channel is a shallow trench configured to accommodate the cable conduit 1. For example, the trench may have a depth of 25mm and a width of 30mm.

The channel may be created using any suitable method. For example, a concrete slotting machine may be used to cut the channel out of the pavement. In another example, a separable block may be removed from block paving to create a trough which is wider than the conduit. The extra space in the trough may be filled with concrete (or smaller blocks) to create a channel of the desired size.

Fig. 3b shows the cable conduit 1 being inserted in the channel in the pavement. The cable conduit 1 may be flexible along its length as shown in Fig. 3b which enables the conduit 1 to conform to the shape of the channel if the channel is uneven.

Inserting the conduit 1 in the channel may comprise applying a compression force to the conduit 1 by pushing the first 4a and second 4b sidewalls towards each other. This causes the conduit 1 to narrow to the compressed configuration described above wherein the width of the opening is narrower than the first width and the base portion 2 is compressed. After inserting the conduit 1 in the channel the compression force may be released thereby causing the first and second sidewalls to move apart and the conduit 1 may come to rest in the first configuration.

Fig. 3c shows the cable conduit 1 installed in the channel. Screws are inserted through the screw holes in the base portion 2 to secure the conduit 1 to the bottom of the channel.

Fig. 3d shows an EV cable being installed in the cable conduit 1. The EV cable is pushed through the upper opening 10 between the first and second sidewalls. The cable causes the sidewalls to be pushed apart thus deforming the conduit 1 to the second configuration wherein the opening is wider thus allowing the cable to pass through.

Figs. 3e and 3f shows the EV cable fully installed in the cable conduit 1. The biasing of the conduit 1 towards the first configuration causes the opening to automatically narrow over the top of the cable. The width of the upper opening 10 is thus narrower than the diameter of the cable to help protect the cable and reduce the risk of heeled shoes or other objects from penetrating the conduit 1.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and "include", and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", and "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term "about" in relation to a numerical value is optional and means for example +/-10%.

References A number of publications are cited above in order to more fully describe and disclose the invention and the state of the art to which the invention pertains. Full citations for these references are provided below. The entirety of each of these references is incorporated herein.

1. https://green-mole.co.uk/ev-charging-for-terraced-households/ 2. https://www.kerbocharge.com/ 3. https://www.stormguard.co. uk/stormguard-products/heavy-duty-ev-cable-channel/ 4. https://gul-e.co.uk/

Claims

Claims: 1. An elongate cable conduit for installation in a channel in a pavement, the conduit having a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction, and configured to accommodate an electric vehicle charging cable, wherein the conduit comprises: a base portion connected to a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall and second sidewall being connected to opposite edges of the base portion, wherein the base portion and the sidewalls each extend in the longitudinal direction of the conduit thereby defining an interior cable containment channel configured to receive the cable; and wherein: a first upper edge of the first sidewall and a second upper edge of the second sidewall are separated by an opening extending in the longitudinal direction, the opening exposing the interior cable containment channel; the conduit is deformable between a first configuration in which the first upper edge is closer to the second upper edge, and a second configuration wherein the first upper edge is further from the second upper edge, such that the opening has a first width in the first configuration, and a second width in the second configuration, the first width being narrower than the second width, and the conduit is biased towards the first configuration.
2. The conduit of claim 1 wherein the first and second sidewalls are inclined towards each other when the conduit is in the first configuration such that the first width is narrower than a width of the base portion.
3. The conduit of claim 2 wherein a first angle between the first sidewall and the base portion is between 45 degrees and 80 degrees when the conduit is in the first configuration.
4. The conduit of claim 3 wherein a second angle between the second sidewall and the base portion is the same as the first angle when the conduit is in the first configuration.
5. The conduit of any preceding claim further wherein the first sidewall comprises an outwardly extending biasing element, the outwardly extending biasing element being configured to bias the conduit towards the first configuration.
6. The conduit of claim 5 wherein the outwardly extending biasing element is configured to press against an inner surface of the channel in the pavement and thereby bias the conduit towards the first configuration when the conduit is installed in a channel.
7. The conduit of claims 5 or 6 wherein the outwardly extending biasing element is an outwardly extending lip protruding from an upper portion of the first sidewall, wherein outwardly extending lip comprises a resiliently biased material.
8. The conduit of claim 7 wherein the outwardly extending lip is curved.
9. The conduit of any of claims 5 to 8 wherein the second sidewall comprises a second outwardly extending biasing element.
10. The conduit of any preceding claim wherein the first sidewall comprises a first inwardly extending lip, the first inwardly extending lip protruding from an upper portion of the first sidewall and being an elongate member extending along the longitudinal axis.
11. The conduit of claim 10 wherein the second sidewall comprises a second inwardly extending lip, the second inwardly extending lip protruding from an upper portion of the second sidewall and being an elongate member extending along the longitudinal axis.
12. The conduit of claims 10 or 11 wherein the first and/or second inwardly extending lips are deformable.
13. The conduit of any of any preceding claim wherein the base portion comprises longitudinally extending grooves.
14. The conduit of claim 13 wherein the longitudinally extending grooves are folds configured to deform between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration.
15. The conduit of any of any preceding claim wherein the conduit is integrally formed from a single part.
16. The conduit of claim 15 wherein the conduit is formed from a resiliently biased material.
17. The conduit of claim 16 wherein the resiliently biased material is Polycarbonate and SEBS.
18. The conduit of any preceding claim wherein the first width is between 5mm and 16mm, when the conduit is in the first configuration and there is no cable installed in the interior cable containment channel.
19. The conduit of any preceding claim wherein the conduit is configured to receive a cable having a diameter between 8mm and 20mm.
20. The conduit of any preceding claim installed in a channel of a pavement such that the first and second upper edges are level with or receded below an upper surface of the pavement.
21. A method of installing a conduit in a channel in a pavement, the conduit being the elongate cable conduit of any preceding claim, the method comprising: creating a channel in the pavement; and inserting the conduit in the channel.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein inserting the conduit in the channel comprises: applying a compression force to the conduit, the compression force being configured to deform the conduit to a compressed configuration wherein the first upper edge is closer to the second upper edge such that the opening has a third width, the third width being narrower than the first width.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising: releasing the compression force, and the conduit expanding to the first configuration inside the channel in the pavement.
24. The method of any of claims 21 to 23 further comprising: cutting the conduit to a length corresponding to the length of the channel.
25. The method of any of claims 21 to 24 wherein the channel is created using a concrete slotting machine.