Energy supply system including flat power cables for a space divider system

• US 4,235,495 A
• Filed: 05/14/1979
• Issued: 11/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wodka, Michael A., Propst, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US06/038,535
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 339/17 F, 339/22 R, 339/22 B, 339/23, 339/21 R, 174/48, 174/49, 174/101
• US Class Current: 439/215
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/821 Connections between two opposed surfaces (i.e. floor and ceiling) by means of a device offering a restraining force acting in the plane of the partition
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

Abstract

An energy supply system for transmitting electrical energy in a space divider system comprised of a plurality of upright wall panels arranged end-to-end on a floor. The energy supply system includes a compartment located adjacent to the lower edge of each wall panel and extending longitudinally between the upright ends of the wall panel. A flat cable unit comprised of a plurality of flat side-by-side conductors embedded in an insulating medium having a rectangular cross sectional configuration is disposed in the compartment and extends between the ends of the wall panel. The flat cable unit includes a pair of connector asemblies connected to the conductors at opposite ends of the flat cable unit and disposed adjacent the lower edge of the wall panel near its upright ends enabling the connection of the flat cable unit to a similar flat cable unit associated with an adjacent wall panel. Consequently, a plurality of interconnected flat cable units provide for the distribution of power throughout the space divider system.

Claims

1. In a portable space divider system comprised of a plurality of movable upright wall panels arranged end-to-end on a supporting surface, each of said panels having upright ends and a lower edge extending longitudinally between said ends, movable track means associated with each of said wall panels, said track means having top and bottom surfaces and being positioned on said supporting surface to support said associated wall panel in a position in which said lower edge of said panel is spaced above said supporting surface, means forming a longitudinal channel in the bottom surface of said track means, said channel defining a downwardly opening compartment defined by side and top wall portions on said track means, a generally flat cable unit comprised of a plurality of side-by-side conductors disposed in an insulating medium, said flat cable unit being positionable on said supporting surface so as to be disposed in said compartment to extend longitudinally of said wall panel between the ends thereof, said flat cable unit and said compartment having selected heights that are substantially equal so that said flat cable unit substantially spans the distance between said supporting surface and said top wall portion.

2. The energy supply system according to claim 1, wherein said track means has a length corresponding to the length of said associated panel and terminates at ends adjacent the upright ends of said associated panel, and further including a pair of connector assemblies connected to said conductors at opposite ends of said flat cable units and mounted adjacent said ends of said track means enabling the connection of said flat cable unit to a similar flat cable unit associated with another wall panel.

3. In a space divider system comprised of a plurality of upright wall panels arranged end-to-end on a supporting surface, each of said panels having upright ends and a lower edge extending longitudinally between said ends, track means associated with each of said wall panels, said track means having top and bottom surfaces and being positioned on said supporting surface to support said associated wall panel in a position in which said lower edge is spaced above said supporting surface, means forming a longitudinal channel in the bottom surface of said track means, said channel defining said compartment, a generally flat cable unit comprised of a plurality of side by side conductors disposed in an insulating medium, said flat cable unit being disposed in said compartment to extend longitudinally of said wall panel between the ends thereof, cover plate means engageable with said track means substantially to enclose said compartment in which said flat cable unit is disposed, said cover plate means comprising a plate member having an outer surface positioned in covering relationship with said channel to be substantially flush with said bottom surface of said track means when located in a closed position over said channel, a pair of connector assemblies connected to said conductors at opposite ends of said flat cable unit and located adjacent the upright ends of said panel at the lower edge thereof enabling the connection of said flat cable unit to a similar flat cable unit associated with another wall panel.

4. In a space divider system comprised of a plurality of upright wall panels arranged end-to-end on a supporting surface, each of said panels having upright ends and a lower edge extending longitudinally between said ends, means extending longitudinally of each of said panels forming a compartment adjacent the lower edge thereof, a generally flat cable unit comprised of a plurality of side by side conductors disposed in an insulating medium, said flat cable unit being disposed in said compartment to extend longitudinally of said wall panel between the ends thereof, track means associated with each of said upright wall panels, said track means being positioned on said supporting surface to support said associated wall panel in a position in which the lower edge thereof is spaced above said supporting surface, retaining means on said track means extending longitudinally thereof for supporting in said compartment said flat cable unit in an upright position in which said side-by-side conductors are located in generally vertically spaced positions, a pair of connector assemblies connected to said conductors at opposite ends of said flat cable unit and located adjacent the upright ends of said panel at the lower edge thereof enabling the connection of said flat cable unit to a similar flat cable unit associated with another wall panel.

5. The energy supply system according to claim 4, wherein said retaining means is positioned transversely of said associated upright wall panel enabling said flat cable unit to extend upwardly above the lower edge of said wall panel.

6. The energy supply system according to claim 4, and further including side cover means supported on said track means and extending upwardly therefrom into engagement with said upright panel to define said compartment in which said flat cable unit is disposed.

7. The energy supply system according to claim 5, wherein said retaining means comprises means forming an upwardly opening channel extending longitudinally of said track, said flat cable unit being disposed in said channel in said upright position.