Space divider wall structure with multiple circuit power system

• US 4,377,724 A
• Filed: 07/10/1979
• Issued: 03/22/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Harold R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, B. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONE, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/056,198
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/49, 339/22 R, 339/23, 160/127, 160/135, 160/351, 52/220, 52/221, 52/173, 52/239
• US Class Current: 174/497
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

Abstract

A space divider system which is substantially freestanding and is formed from a plurality of interconnected prefabricated panels. The panels are individually electrically prewired, and flexible electrical connectors are releasably connected to adjacent panels for transmitting electrical energy between said panels. The individual panels, and the power supply to at least one of the panels, involves a multiple-wire system which provides two or more electrical circuits. The individual panels possess power blocks having socketlike receptacles for permitting adjacent panels to be electrically connected by the flexible connectors. A second socketlike receptacle is associated with some power blocks for permitting connection to external electrical devices, and a third receptacle is associated with some power blocks for permitting connection to light fixtures mounted on the panels. The second and third receptacles are associated with different electrical wires which define different electrical circuits. Alternately, the internal wiring associated with some of the flexible connectors can be reversed to provide a first series of panels connected to a first electrical circuit, and a further series of panels connected to a different electrical circuit.

Claims

1. In a substantially freestanding space divider system formed from a plurality of series-connected upright prefabricated panels, some of said panels having a pair of electrical power blocks fixedly mounted thereon adjacent the opposite lower corners thereof and disposed substantially between the opposite sidewalls of the respective panel, cable means extending interiorly of the respective panel and electrically connecting together the pair of said power blocks as associated with said respective panel, some of said power blocks having a conventional electrical receptacle associated therewith and opening outwardly through the panel sidewall for permitting a conventional electrical plug to be inserted therein, flexible electrical connector means extending between the power blocks of adjacent series-connected panels for electrically connecting the power blocks together, said flexible connector means including connector parts disposed adjacent the opposite ends thereof and adapted for releasable electrical engagement with the connected power blocks, each connector part comprising one-half of a separable plug-type electrical connection, the other half of said plug-type electrical connection being integrally associated with the power block, and a power supply conduit releasably electrically connected to a selected one of said power blocks for supplying electrical energy to said series-connected panels, said power supply conduit having a connecting portion releasably engaged with said selected one power block, said power supply conduit having the other end thereof connectible to an electrical potential source, comprising the improvement wherein said power supply conduit includes five electrically conductive wires terminating in said connecting portion, each said power block having at least five electrical conductor members positioned therein and electrically insulated from one another, the five conductor members of said selected one power block being respectively and individually electrically connected to a selected one of said five wires, said flexible connector means including at least five internal conductive elements extending between and electrically connected to said connector parts, the receptacle associated with a first said series-connected panel being connected to a first pair of said conductor members as associated with the power block of the respective panel so that said receptacle as connected defines a first electrical circuit, the receptacle associated with a second said series-connected panel being connected to a second pair of said conductor members as associated with the power block of the respective panel so that said last-mentioned receptacle as connected defines a second electrical circuit which is different from said first electrical circuit, light fixture means mounted on at least one of said series-connected panels adjacent the upper edge thereof, an elongated electrical conductor connected to said light fixture means and extending downwardly through the interior of the respective panel and terminating in a pluglike connection means which is releasably engaged with the power block of said panel, said power block having connecting means associated therewith for releasable engagement with said pluglike connection means, said connecting means being connected to a third pair of said conductor members so as to define a third electrical circuit which is different from said first and second electrical circuits, whereby said lighting fixture means is connected to said third electrical circuit.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible connector means which electrically joins adjacent first and second said panels has at least two of the internal conductive elements switched for reversing the first and second circuits as they extend from the first panel across to the second panel, whereby the receptacle associated with each of the first and second panels is identically connected to the same pair of said conductor members but the receptacles on said first and second panels are nevertheless connected to different electrical circuits due to the switching within said flexible electrical connector means.

3. In a substantially freestanding space divider system formed from a plurality of series-connected upright prefabricated panels, some of said panels having an electrical power block fixedly mounted thereon and disposed substantially between the opposite sidewalls of the respective panel, some of said power blocks having a conventional electrical receptacle associated therewith and opening sidewardly of the panel for permitting a conventional electrical plug to be inserted therein, flexible electrical connector means extending between the power blocks of adjacent series-connected panels for electrically connecting the power blocks together, said flexible connector means including connector parts disposed adjacent the opposite ends thereof and adapted for releasable electrical engagement with the connected power blocks, each connector part comprising one-half of a separable plug-type electrical connection, the other half of said plug-type electrical connection being integrally associated with the power block, and a power supply conduit releasably electrically connected to a selected one of said power blocks for supplying electrical energy to said series-connected panels, said power supply conduit having a connecting portion releasably engaged with said selected one power block, said power supply conduit having the other end thereof connectible to an electrical potential source, comprising the improvement wherein said power supply conduit includes at least four electrically conductive wires terminating in said connecting portion, each said power block having at least four electrical conductor members positioned therein, the four conductor members of said selected one power block being respectively and individually connected to a selected one of said wires, said flexible connector means including at least four internal conductive elements extending between and electrically connected to said connector parts, the receptacle as associated with one said panel being connected to a first pair of said conductor members as associated with the power block of the respective panel, whereby said receptacle as connected defines a first electrical circuit, and a second pair of said conductor members as associated with the power block of the respective panel defining a second electrical circuit, light fixture means mounted on said one panel adjacent the upper edge thereof, an elongated electrical conductor connected to said light fixture means and extending downwardly through the interior of the respective panel and terminating in pluglike connection means, the power block having receptacle means for releasable engagement with said plug-like connection means, said pluglike connection means when engaged with said receptacle means being connected across said second pair of conductor members so that the lighting fixture means is connected to said second electrical circuit.

4. A system according to claim 4, wherein said power block has a clearance space adjacent one side thereof for accommodating said connector part, said receptacle means being spaced inwardly of said power block so that said pluglike connection means is hidden and covered by said flexible connector means.

5. A substantially free-standing space divider system formed from a plurality of series-connected upright prefabricated panels, comprising in combination:

a first upright panel having first prewired electrical means extending longitudinally therealong for defining at least first and second electrical circuits, said electrical means including a pair of electrical power blocks fixedly mounted on said first panel adjacent the opposite lower corners thereof and at least four electrically conductive elements extending longitudinally of said panel for electrically connecting said pair of power blocks together, each said power block including a first multi-terminal connector means connected across a first pair of said conductive elements for defining said first circuit, said first connector means defining a receptacle for permitting a conventional electrical plug to be electrically connected to said first circuit, each said power block also having a pair of second multi-terminal connector means disposed in sidewardly spaced relationship relative to the width of the panel, each said second connector means being electrically connected to said four conductive elements, and each said power block further having a third multi-terminal connector means which is also connected to said four conductive elements for permitting electrical connection to both of said first and second circuits;

a second upright panel serially interconnected to said first panel, said second panel having second prewired electrical means mounted thereon and extending longitudinally therealong, said second prewired electrical means being identical to said first prewired electrical means;

flexible electrical connector means extending between the power blocks of adjacent series-connected panels for electrically connecting the power blocks together so that said first and second circuits extend through said series-connected panels, said flexible connector means including a pair of fourth multi-terminal connector means which are electrically joined together by at least four electrically conductive members for transmitting said first and second circuits therethrough, each of said fourth connector means being releasably engageable with one of said second connector means for creating a pluglike electrical connection therewith;

power supply conduit means releasably electrically connected to a selected one of the power blocks on one of said first and second panels for supplying electrical energy to said series-connected panels, said conduit means having at least four electrically conductive wires extending therethrough, said conduit means terminating in a fifth multi-terminal connector means which forms a releasable pluglike connection with the first connector means on said selected one power block for supplying electrical energy thereto so that said first and second electrical circuits can extend longitudinally through said series-connected panels; and

light fixture means mounted on one of said first and second panels adjacent the top edge thereof, said light fixture means having electrical conduit means connected thereto and extending therefrom downwardly through the interior of the respective panel and terminating in a sixth multi-terminal connector means which forms a releasable pluglike connection with said first connector means associated with one of the remaining power blocks, said sixth connector means having means which when engaged with said first connector means is electrically coupled solely to said second electrical circuit.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said power conduit means, said prewired electrical means and said flexible electrical connector means define a third electrical circuit which extends longitudinally through said series-connected panels, and wherein one of said flexible electrical connector means as joined between an adjacent pair of said panels has two of the internal electrically conductive members switched for reversing the first and third circuits so that the first connector means associated with one panel are joined to the first circuit whereas the first connector means associated with the other panel are joined to the third circuit even though the prewired electrical means associated with said two panels are identical.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said power block includes an electrically nonconductive housing having at least four electrically conductive plates mounted therein and respectively connected to said four electrically conductive elements, said third connector means including an array of four slots formed in said housing for communication with the four conductive plates, said fifth connector means comprising a pluglike part having at least four projecting conductive prongs which are insertable through the four slots associated with said third connector means, and said sixth connector means comprising a pluglike part having two less conductive prongs than said fifth connector means so that when said sixth connector means is plugged into the slots associated with said first connector means it is electrically connected solely to said second circuit.