System and method for a workstation power trough

• US 10,638,833 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bernard Brucha
• Original Assignee: Bernard Brucha
• Inventors: Brucha, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkens, Janet M
• Application Number:
  US16/101,236
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 108 5002, 108 5001, 108 25, 108 26, 3122233, 3122236, 312194-196
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/064 with power rail running along the back of the desk top and projecting upwards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/008 Tables or desks having means for applying electronic or electric devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers

Abstract

A system for workstation power trough including: a planar body; an access through the planar body, the access comprising a slot, an opening, and a plurality of first notches; a panel adapted to fit within the opening; and a power trough connected to a bottom surface of the planar body, the power trough configured to enclose a power unit; whereby a cable may be routed through the access and coupled to the power unit. A method of using a workstation power trough comprising the steps of rotating the panel to an open position, routing a first end of the cable through the access into the power trough, coupling the first end of the cable to the power unit, rotating the panel to a closed position, sliding the cable along the slot, and securing the cable into one of the plurality of first notches.

Claims

1. A system for a workstation power trough, the system comprising:

a planar body comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;

an access configured between the top surface and the bottom surface, the access comprising;

a slot disposed through the planar body, the slot having a rear wall;

an opening disposed through the planar body along the rear wall; and

a plurality of first notches disposed through the planar body along the rear wall;

a panel adapted to fit within the opening, the panel pivotally connected to the planar body; and

a power trough comprising a cover and a compartment, the cover having a first hole and the compartment having an upper section, a lower section, and a first slot, wherein the upper section is connected to the bottom surface along an upper peripheral edge of the upper section and the first slot extends from the upper peripheral edge to a first position below the cover, the power trough configured to enclose a power unit within the lower section;

whereby the power unit is accessible through the access and a power receptacle of the power unit is accessible through the first hole.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises a first peripheral edge having a second notch centrally disposed along the first peripheral edge.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cover further comprises:

a second peripheral edge perpendicular to the first peripheral edge;

a third peripheral edge opposite the second peripheral edge;

a third notch centrally disposed along the second peripheral edge, wherein the third notch is approximately positioned above a second hole in a bottom floor of the lower section; and

a fourth notch centrally disposed along the third peripheral edge, wherein the fourth notch is approximately positioned above a third hole in the bottom floor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the planar body further comprises:

a cavity in the top surface proximate the plurality of first notches;

the cavity extending along the rear wall; and

an insert connected to the planar body within the cavity;

the insert comprising;

a front insert edge parallel to the rear wall; and

a plurality of slits extending perpendicularly away from the front insert edge, the plurality of slits centrally aligned above the plurality of first notches.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the insert is approximately rectangular in shape.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the insert is constructed of felt.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the slot is approximately parallel to a rear edge of the planar body.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the panel is further configured to pivot away from the top surface, whereby the power through may be accessed through the opening.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the panel further comprises a hinge connected between the panel and planar body.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a support structure connected to the bottom surface of the planar body.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the support structure comprises a pair of lifts adapted to adjust a distance between the planar body and support structure.

12. A system for a workstation power trough, the system comprising:

a pair of planar bodies moveably connected to a support structure, each of the planar bodies comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, each of the planar bodies further comprising;

an access extending through the top surface and the bottom surface, the access comprising;

a linear slot having a rear wall, the linear slot approximately parallel to a rear edge of the planar body;

an opening disposed along the rear wall; and

a plurality of first notches disposed along the rear wall;

a panel adapted to fit within the opening, the panel pivotally connected to the planar body;

a cavity in the top surface proximate the plurality of first notches;

the cavity extending along the rear wall;

a rectangular insert connected to the planar body within the cavity;

the insert comprising;

a front insert edge parallel to the rear wall; and

a plurality of slits extending perpendicularly away from the front insert edge, the plurality of slits centrally aligned above the plurality of first notches;

a power trough, connected to bottom surface, configured to enclose a power unit, the power trough comprising;

a compartment having an upper section and a lower section;

wherein the upper section is connected to the bottom surface along an upper peripheral edge of the upper section;

a cover positioned between the upper section and the lower section, the cover configured to enclose the power unit within the lower section, the cover comprising;

a first slot extending from the upper peripheral edge to a first position below the cover;

a first peripheral edge having a second notch centrally disposed along the first peripheral edge;

a second peripheral edge perpendicular to the first peripheral edge;

a third peripheral edge opposite the second peripheral edge;

a first hole disposed through the cover, the first hole located approximately above a power receptacle of the power unit;

a third notch centrally disposed along the second peripheral edge, the third notch approximately positioned above a second hole in a bottom floor of the lower section; and

a fourth notch centrally disposed along the third peripheral edge, the fourth notch approximately positioned above a third hole in the bottom floor; and

a divider vertically connected to the support structure, the divider disposed between the pair of planar bodies.

13. A method of using a workstation power trough, the method comprising:

providing a system for a workstation power trough, the system comprising;

a planar body having a top surface and a bottom surface;

an access configured between the top surface and the bottom surface, the access comprising;

a slot disposed through the planar body between the top surface and the bottom surface;

an opening disposed through the planar body along the slot;

a plurality of first notches disposed through the planar body along the slot;

a panel adapted to fit within the opening, the panel pivotally connected to the planar body; and

a power trough comprising a cover having a first hole and a compartment having an upper section, a lower section, and a first slot, wherein the upper section is connected to the bottom surface along an upper peripheral edge of the upper section and the first slot extending from the upper peripheral edge to a first position below the cover, the power trough configured to enclose a power unit within the lower section;

whereby the power unit is accessible through the access and a power receptacle of the power unit is accessible through the first hole;

rotating the panel to an open position;

routing a first end of a cable through the access into the power trough; and

coupling the first end of the cable to the power unit.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising rotating the panel to a closed position.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising sliding the cable along the slot.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing the cable into one of the plurality of first notches.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising sliding the cable along the slot.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein securing the cable into one of the plurality of first notches comprises securing a data cable or a power cable into one of the plurality of first notches.