Combination wire enclosure and wire

• US 4,372,629 A
• Filed: 11/10/1980
• Issued: 02/08/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stow & Davis Furniture Company (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richardson, Donald A., Propst, Paul L., Hinrichs, Carl B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US06/205,684
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223, 312/194, 312/195, 312/196, 312/296, 49/489, 49/466, 248/51, 248/52
• US Class Current: 312/223.6
• 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 2200/0082 Cable inlet in worktop or desk, e.g. grommet
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/045 provided with perforations or slots permitting introduction or exit of wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/942 Comblike retainer for conductor

Abstract

A wire enclosure is disclosed having a wire raceway, a slot communicating with the raceway, and a cover for covering the slot. In one embodiment, the cover is hingedly mounted to one side of the slot and has a flexible seal to seal the cover against the other side of the slot when the cover is closed. Electrical outlets are mounted on the underside of the hinged cover so that the outlets are hidden when the cover is closed and easily accessible when the cover is open. In an alternative embodiment, the cover is a brush, mounted on one side of the slot, extending towards and engaging the other side of the slot.

Claims

1. A wire enclosure assembly for furniture comprising two panel portions spaced from each other and defining a longitudinally extending slot with an outer surface area adjacent said slot, said slot having first and second sides;

a wire raceway adjacent said slot, and said slot communicating with said raceway and the space outwardly of said surface area; and

means for flexibly sealing said slot;

wherein the improvement comprises said sealing means comprising;

a plurality of flexible bristles in a brush-like configuration extending between said first and second sides and confined inwardly of said surface area, each of said bristles having a mounting end and a free end, a substantial proportion of said free ends being located immediately adjacent said first side;

means retaining said bristles in said configuration, said mounting ends being secured in said retaining means and said retaining means being located at said second side; and

said bristles and said retaining means completely covering said slot and permitting a wire extending through said slot to be pulled longitudinally along said slot.

2. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises an elongated pinch plate generally U-shaped in cross section pinchingly securing said mounting ends of said bristles.

3. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises a bristle mounting channel running substantially the entire length of said first side of said slot and extending toward said second side, said pinch plate being located within said bristle mounting channel and said bristles extending outwardly therefrom.

4. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 1 or 3 wherein said panel portions of said assembly comprise a desk top and said slot is located in the surface of said desk top.

5. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 1 or 3 wherein said panel portions comprise a wall panel portion and a horizontally mounted panel portion and said slot is located along the exterior surface of said wall panel between said wall panel portion and said horizontally mounted panel portion.

6. A wire enclosure assembly including:

a furniture assembly having a surface with a slot extending through a portion thereof, said slot having first and second sides;

a wire raceway adjacent said slot, said slot communicating with said raceway; and

means for covering said slot;

wherein the improvement comprises said covering means comprising;

a generally rectangulary shaped, planar cover member having first and second edges, said cover member mounted in said slot with the distance between said first and second edges being less than the distance between said first and second sides thereby providing a space between said second edge and said second side of said slot through and along which an electrical wire can extend and be pulled;

said cover member being removable to provide access into said raceway; and

a flexible cover means flexibly covering the said space between said second edge and said second side of said slot whereby a wire can be pulled through and along said opening when the said cover is in closed position.

7. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 6 wherein said cover member is hingedly mounted by said first edge to said first side of said slot and can pivot outwardly from said slot and further comprising means preventing said cover member from pivoting beyond a closed position within said slot wherein said cover member is generally flush with said surface of said furniture assembly.

8. The wire enclosure assembly of claims 6 or 7 further comprising:

an electrical connecting means; and

first means mounting said electrical connecting means on an undersurface of said cover member, said undersurface facing into said slot when said cover member is in said closed position and facing outwardly for access when said cover is in open position.

9. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 8 wherein said first mounting means permits said electrical connecting means to slide lengthwise along said undersurface of said cover member.

10. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 9 wherein said first mounting means comprises:

a support member having a channel running substantially the full length of and extending laterally away from said undersurface of said cover member, said channel providing a track; and

a shaft mounted on said electrical connecting means and having a head mounted thereon, said head located and supported within said track for sliding movement in said channel.

11. The wire enclosure assembly of claims 6, 7, 9 or 10 wherein said flexible sealing means comprises:

a plurality of bristles in a brush-like configuration, each of said bristles having a mounting end and a free end, a substantial proportion of said free ends being located immediately adjacent said second side of said slot;

means retaining said bristles in said configuration, said mounting ends being secured in said retaining means and

said retaining means being located at said second edge of said cover.

12. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 11 wherein said retaining means comprises an elongated pinch plate generally U-shaped in cross section pinchingly securing said mounting ends of said bristles.

13. The wire enclosure assembly of claim 12 wherein said second mounting means comprises a bristle mounting channel running substantially the entire length of said second edge of said cover member and extending toward said second side of said slot when said cover is in said closed position, said pinch plate being located within said bristle mounting and said bristles extending outwardly therefrom.