Modular electrical distribution system for a building

• US 20100328853A1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Harold R., Johnson, Ross, Gingrich, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/641
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/16 Rails or bus-bars provided with a plurality of discrete connecting locations for counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/38 the cables or lines being installed in preestablished conduits or ducts

Abstract

A universal power distribution system is provided for routing electrical circuits within a building structure to comprehensively provide electrical power to the building in ceiling configurations, wall-mounted configurations, raised floor configurations and in office furniture configurations. The system components for all of these configurations have common plug connectors that are engagable with each other so as to be readily usable in a wide variety of applications. The system is readily adaptable to form virtually any conventional circuit configuration found within conventional hard-wired systems yet is formed simply through the routing of the cables through the building cavities and interconnection is accomplished merely by plugging components together rather than through labor-intensive manual wiring.

Claims

1. A building power distribution system defined by a plurality of system components which are selectively connectable to define a comprehensive power supply system within partitions of a building, some of said partitions having substantially rigid outer wall coverings separated by and secured to internal frame structures, wherein some of said coverings have an outer substantially exposed surface, said system components comprising:

a plurality of distribution cables having a first connector end and a second connector end with respective connector plugs thereon wherein said first connector end can mate with said second connector end but said first connector end cannot mate with a first connector end and a second connector end cannot mate with a second connector end of another identical cable;

one or more junction boxes configured to have said connector plugs connect thereto, some of said junction boxes fixedly mounted to be substantially hidden within a said partition and said junction boxes having interior spaces in which component connections are made;

one or more ring brackets which include at least one pair of outwardly extending flange segments and configured to have one or more wiring devices comprising one or more of receptacles and switching devices fixedly mounted thereto; and

a first wiring device fixedly mounted to a first said ring bracket to define a first bracket-wiring device assembly wherein said first wiring device has a plug connector for providing power to said first wiring device by plug connection to said first connector end plug of a first said distribution cable connected to a first said substantially hidden junction box;

one or more fasteners engaging said first bracket-wiring device assembly and said first said substantially hidden junction box so that a portion of said partition cover is clamped between said first junction box and the flange segments of said first bracket-wiring device assembly.

2. A system of claim 1 wherein the plug connector of said first bracket-wiring device assembly is flexibly secured to said first wiring device to allow for variation in the thickness of the portion of the partition cover being clamped between said first junction box and the flanges of said first bracket-wiring device assembly.

3. A system of claim 2 wherein portions of said ring bracket flange segments contact an outer surface of the partition covering which is substantially exposed.

4. A system of claim 3 wherein said junction box has structural wall portions that project into an opening in the wall covering, wherein said opening provides access to the interior portion of said junction box.

5. A system of claim 4 wherein said junction box has substantially hidden structures or rigidly secured mounting accessories that clampingly contact the inner face of the wall covering which contains the opening through which said junction box structural wall portions project.

6. A system of claim 5 wherein said first ring bracket has inwardly projecting flanges that telescopingly engage the projecting wall structural portions of said junction box.

7. A system of claim 6 wherein said first wiring device of said first bracket-wiring device assembly is a first switching device.

8. A system of claim 6 wherein said first wiring device of said first bracket-wiring device assembly is a first receptacle.

9. A system of claim 6 wherein said first substantially hidden junction box has a second said distribution cable having one of its respective connector plugs connected thereto.

10. A system of claim 9 wherein said first bracket-wiring device assembly includes both a first switching device and a first receptacle and wherein the plug connector associated with said first switching device is connected to a connector plug of said first cable and the plug connector associated with said first receptacle is connected to a connector plug of said second cable.

11. A system of claim 10 wherein said inwardly projecting flanges of said first ring bracket are located inwardly from the projecting wall structural portions of said junction box.

12. A system of claim 11 wherein said fasteners are screws.

13. A system of claim 10 wherein said first switching device and said first receptacle of said bracket-wiring device assembly are spaced apart side-by-side equal to standard industry spacing.

14. A system of claim 8 wherein said first bracket-wiring device assembly also includes a second receptacle, wherein the plug connector associated with said first receptacle is Y connected to said second receptacle so that both receptacles are plug connected to said first distribution cable by one plug connection.

15. A system of claim 9 wherein said first bracket-wiring device assembly also includes a second receptacle, wherein the plug connector associated with said second receptacle is plug connected to said second distribution cable.

16. A system of claim 8 wherein said first connector end of said first distribution cable has side by side first and second duplicate plug connectors.

17. A system of claim 16 wherein said first wiring device assembly also includes a second receptacle, wherein the plug connector associated with said first receptacle is plug connected to said first one of said duplicate plug connectors of said first distribution cable and said second receptacle is plug connected to said second one of said duplicate plug connectors.

18. A system of claim 16 wherein the plug connector associated with said first receptacle is plug connected to said first one of said duplicate plug connectors of said first end connectors of said first distribution cable.

19. A system of claim 18 wherein a second one of said distribution cables has its second connector end plug connected to said second one of said duplicate plug connectors of said first end connectors of said first distribution cable and wherein said second distribution cable exits therefrom to route power away from said junction box.

20. A system of claim 10 wherein the connector plug of said switching device is configured so it can not connect to the same plug connector end of said distribution cables that the connector plug of said receptacle can connect and the connector plug of said receptacle is configured so it can not connect to the same plug connector end of said distribution cables that the connector plug of said switching device can connect.

21. A system of claim 20 wherein the plug connector associated with said first switching device is connected to the connector plug of said second connector end of said second distribution cable and the plug connector associated with said first receptacle is connected to the connector plug of said first connector end of said first distribution cable.

22. A system of claim 7 wherein said switching device has first and second flexibly secured plug connecters, said first connector plug-connected to said first distribution cable for receiving power to the input pole of said switching device;

a second said distribution cable plug-connected to said second plug connector of said switching device for conducting switch controlled power away from said junction box.

23. A system of claim 22 wherein said switching device is a double pole double throw switch.

24. A system of claim 22 wherein said switching device is a ground fault interrupting receptacle.

25. A building power distribution system defined by a plurality of system components which are selectively connectable to define a comprehensive power supply system within partitions of a building, some of said partitions having substantially rigid outer wall coverings separated by and secured to internal frame structures, wherein some of said coverings have an outer substantially exposed surface, said system components comprising:

a plurality of distribution cables having a first connector end and a second connector end with respective connector plugs thereon wherein said first connector end can mate with said second connector end but said first connector end cannot mate with a first connector end and a second connector end cannot mate with a second connector end of another identical cable;

one or more junction boxes configured to have said connector plugs connect thereto, some of said junction boxes fixedly mounted to be substantially hidden within a said partition and said junction boxes having interior spaces in which component connections are made;

one or more ring brackets which include at least one pair of outwardly extending flange segments and configured to have one or more wiring devices such as receptacles and/or switching devices fixedly mounted thereto; and

one or more fasteners engaging one of said ring brackets and said first said substantially hidden junction box so that a portion of said partition cover is clamped between said first junction box and the flange segments of said ring bracket, wherein portions of said ring bracket flange segments contact the outer substantially exposed surface of the partition covering and wherein said junction box has structural wall portions that project into an opening in the wall covering, said opening providing access to the interior portion of said junction box wherein said junction box has substantially hidden structures or rigidly secured mounting accessories that clampingly contact the inner face of the wall covering which contains the opening through which said junction box structural wall portions project; and

said first ring bracket having inwardly projecting flanges that telescopingly engage the projecting wall structural portions of said junction box.

26. A system of claim 25 wherein a first said distribution cable has its first connector end connected to said first junction box and a second said cable having its second connector end connected to said junction box, wherein said respective cable connector ends are spaced apart and connected together via a pigtail connector assembly having a first connector end and a second connector end, wherein said second connector end is connected to said first connector end of said first cable and said first connector end is connected to said second connector end of said second cable.

27. A system of claim 26 wherein said opening in said wall covering is at least partially covered by a cover that is secured to said ring bracket.

28. An electrical power accessible wall partition assembly comprising:

substantially rigid outer wall coverings separated by and secured to internal frame structures, wherein some of said coverings have an outer substantially exposed surface;

one or more junction boxes configured to have at least one connector plug end of a distribution cable connected thereto, some of said junction boxes fixedly mounted to be substantially hidden within a said partition and said junction boxes having interior spaces in which component connections are made;

one or more ring brackets which include at least one pair of outwardly extending flange segments and configured to have one or more wiring devices such as receptacles and/or switching devices fixedly mounted thereto;

a first wiring device fixedly mounted to a first said ring bracket forming a first bracket-wiring device assembly wherein said first wiring device has a plug connector for providing power to said first wiring device by plug connection to a connector end plug of a first said distribution cable connected to a first said substantially hidden junction box; and

one or more fasteners engaging said first bracket-wiring device assembly and said first said substantially hidden junction box, so that a portion of said partition cover is clamped between a portion of said first junction box and the flange segments of said bracket-wiring device assembly.

29. An assembly of claim 28 wherein the plug connector of said first bracket-wiring device assembly is flexibly secured to said first wiring device to allow for variation in the thickness of the portion of the partition cover being clamped therebetween a portion of said first junction box and the flanges of said first bracket-wiring device assembly.

30. An assembly of claim 29 wherein portions of said ring bracket flange segments contact the outer substantially exposed surface of the partition covering.

31. An assembly of claim 30 wherein said junction box has structural wall portions that project into an opening in the wall covering, wherein said opening provides access to the interior portion of said junction box.

32. An assembly of claim 31 wherein said junction box has substantially hidden structural portions or rigidly secured mounting accessories that clampingly contact the inner face of the wall covering in which contains the opening through which said junction box structural wall portions project.

33. An assembly of claim 32 wherein said ring bracket has inwardly projecting flanges that telescopingly engage the projecting wall structural portions of said junction box.

34. An assembly of claim 33 wherein said first wiring device of said first bracket-wiring device assembly is a first switching device.

35. An assembly of claim 34 wherein said first wiring device of said first bracket-wiring device assembly is a first receptacle.

36. An assembly of claim 35 wherein said first substantially hidden junction box has a second said distribution cable having one of its respective connector plugs connected thereto.

37. An assembly of claim 36 wherein said first bracket-wiring device assembly includes both a first switching device and a first receptacle and wherein the plug connector associated with said first switching device is connected to a connector plug of said first cable and the plug connector associated with said first receptacle is connected to a connector plug of said second cable.

38. An assembly of claim 33 wherein said inwardly projecting flanges of said first ring bracket are located inwardly from the projecting wall structural portions of said junction box.

39. An assembly of claim 38 wherein said fasteners are screws.

40. An assembly of claim 37 wherein said first switching device and said first receptacle of said bracket-wiring device assembly are spaced apart side-by-side equal to standard industry spacing.

41. An assembly of claim 35 wherein said first bracket-wiring device assembly also includes a second receptacle, wherein the plug connector associated with said first receptacle is Y connected to said second receptacle so that both receptacles are plug connected to said first distribution cable by one plug connection.

42. An assembly of claim 36 wherein said first bracket-wiring device assembly also includes a second receptacle, wherein the plug connector associated with said second receptacle is plug connected to said second distribution cable.

43. An assembly of claim 33 wherein said distribution cables comprise a metal jacketed MC or armored flexible cable construction between said respective connector ends.

44. An assembly of claim 43 wherein said MC or Armored cable construction is secured directly to said junction box structure by securing means.

45. An assembly of claim 44 wherein said securing means is one of a plastic wire-tie, a screw attached U-bracket, and a U-clamp.

46. An assembly of claim 29 wherein said junction box includes a pair of sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a back wall forming a box with front opening facing outward through an opening in said wall covering and wherein said opening provides access to the interior portion of said box and wherein said side walls include attached sidewardly extending flanges that are substantially parallel to the exposed face of said wall covering and each contain openings for fixedly mounting said box to said internal frame structure so that when said flanges are used for mounting to said interior frame, said flanges are located between the outer face of said frame structure and the inner face of the adjacent said wall covering.

47. An assembly of claim 46 wherein said sidewardly extending flanges are offset rearward from the front edge of said box wall so that, when mounted, the front portion of said box walls project into said opening in said wall covering.

48. An assembly of claim 47 wherein said junction box side walls include aligned pairs of rearwardly extending parallel slots with the edge between said slots offset rearwardly to provide a substantially form-fitting mounting position for a U-shaped mounting channel to extend across said junction box through said pair of side walls, wherein said slots position said mounting channel so that the legs of the U-shape extend rearwardly and the bottom face of the U contacts the inner surface of said wall covering and wherein said U-shaped channel extends substantially horizontally from one said internal frame member to another internal frame with said junction box mounted to said U-channel suspended somewhere between said frame members with said front edges of said box projecting into said wall covering a distance substantially equal to the distance achieved when side flange mounting is employed.

49. An assembly of claim 48 wherein said bottom face of said U-channel includes a plurality of elongated slots thereby providing multiple mounting locations for said junction box on said U-channel and wherein said legs of said U-channel are interrupted near each end to form a tab for mounting to the face of said internal frame members so that said tabs are located between said frame members and the inner surface of said wall covering.

50. An assembly of claim 49 wherein said junction box is also mounted to a second said U-channel and wherein one said U-channel is mounted above said .box opening and the other said U-Channel is mounted below said box opening.

51. An assembly of claim 50 wherein a second said junction box is mounted to said U-channels and wherein said second junction box walls project into a second said opening in said wall covering.