Snap-fit raceway arrangement

• US 4,596,098 A
• Filed: 05/09/1985
• Issued: 06/24/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Finkbeiner, James, Reuschel, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry E.
• Application Number:
  US06/732,481
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 339/22 R, 339/24, 339/44 R, 339/23, 52/241, 52/242, 52/221, 52/220, 52/239
• US Class Current: 52/220.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7427 with adjustable angular connection of panels
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0437 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

Abstract

A raceway structure for a prewired wall panel, which structure provides a raceway formed by a single upwardly opening channel-shaped member which releasably attaches to the lower edge of the panel frame. Each leg of this channel member forms an openable side cover. At the end of a series of panels, a one-piece end cover snappingly engages the end of the channel member to close off the channel member and to provide a sturdy structure having a highly desirable appearance. When two such panels are joined to define a 90° corner, then similar end covers can again be utilized, which end covers can be cut along predetermined score lines to define either windows or doors which readily accommodate either a flexible electrical connector joining the two panels, or communication cables which extend between adjacent panels.

Claims

1. In an upright space-dividing wall structure formed from a plurality of prefabricated upright panels which are serially connected together, and a raceway structure associated with the lower edge of each said panel and extending longitudinally thereof, said raceway structure defining therein an interior channel extending longitudinally of the panel, the improvement wherein said raceway structure comprises a horizontally elongated one-piece channel member which opens upwardly and includes a bottom wall and a pair of upwardly projecting side covers which adjacent their upper edges are provided with means for releasably securing said channel member to said panel adjacent the lower edge thereof, each said side cover being joined to said bottom wall by an integral hinge to permit the side cover to be swingably moved between an upright closed position and a lowered open position providing access into the interior of said channel member, said channel member at each end thereof having a pair of end flanges which project transversely inwardly from a respective one of said side covers in opposed relationship to one another, said end flanges defining a substantially vertical plane which extends substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal direction of said channel member, said end flanges each projecting transversely inwardly through an extent which is less than one-half the horizontal width of said channel so that the end flanges have opposed free edges which extend substantially vertically and are horizontally separated by a slotlike space which is defined therebetween and communicates with the end of said channel, first and second vertically spaced opening means formed in each of said end flanges, and a one-piece end cover releasably attached to said pair of end flanges for closing off the end of said channel member, said one-piece end cover including a substantially planar part of substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the cross section of said channel member, a pair of horizontally spaced first pin means fixed to and projecting outwardly from the inner side of said planar part for respective engagement with the first opening means, a pair of horizontally spaced second pin means projecting outwardly from the inner side of said planar part, the second pin means being positioned vertically above the first pin means and respectively engaged with the second opening means, said first and second pin means when engaged within the first and second opening means maintaining the side covers in their upright closed positions for preventing either inward or outward movement of the side covers.

2. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein said end cover includes a pair of latching elements fixed to and projecting from the inner side of said planar part for creating a releasable latching engagement with said end flanges in the vicinity of the free vertical edges thereof, said latching elements being horizontally spaced apart by a distance which approximately corresponds to the horizontal spacing between the vertical free edges of the opposed end flanges, said latching elements being hook-shaped so as to resiliently engage the rear side of the respective end flange adjacent the vertical free edge thereof, each said latching element being of substantial vertical extent so as to supportingly engage the vertical free edge of the respective end flange over a substantial vertical extent so as to provide substantial support to withstand external horizontally-directed impact forces as imposed on said side covers.

3. A wall structure according to claim 2, including undercut groove means formed in said planar part on the inner side thereof for permitting selective severing of said planar part to form a windowlike opening therethrough for communication with said channel, said groove means including a first groove which extends vertically downwardly from the upper edge of said planar part through a substantial extent of the height thereof, said first groove being disposed substantially centrally between the vertical side edges of the planar part, and said groove means also including a horizontal groove which is spaced downwardly from the upper edge of said planar part and extends across a majority of the width thereof.

4. A wall structure according to claim 2, wherein said end cover includes a plurality of substantially horizontal platelike stiffening members integrally fixed to and projecting inwardly from said planar part, said stiffening members being vertically spaced apart.

5. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein each said side cover has a substantially rectangular windowlike opening formed therethrough, and movable closure means cooperating with said side cover for closing said windowlike opening, said closure means including a substantially rectangular platelike member sized so as to snugly fit within said windowlike opening in substantially flush relationship with said side cover for closing said windowlike opening, and connecting means for joining said platelike member to said side cover to enable the platelike member to be moved from the closed position inwardly of said channel into an open position wherein the platelike member is stored within the interior of said channel, said connecting means being defined by a separable snap-type connection for joining said platelike member to said side cover.

6. A wall structure according to claim 5, wherein said connecting means includes a first part formed substantially as an elongated rail and a second part formed substantially as an elongated channel-like element, the rail having an enlargement adjacent the free end thereof, said channel-like element being telescoped over said rail so as to create a connection therebetween which enables said platelike member to be moved between open and closed positions relative to said side cover, one of said parts being fixedly secured to and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said side cover, and the other of said parts being fixedly secured to said platelike member.

7. A wall structure according to claim 6, wherein said one part is fixed to said side cover adjacent one of the edges of said windowlike opening and extends horizontally therealong through an extent which substantially exceeds the horizontal width of said windowlike opening, said platelike member when in an open position being disposed just inwardly of said side cover so as to be substantially vertically oriented so that the platelike member can be horizontally slidably displaced along said other part into a position wherein the platelike member is spaced laterally from said windowlike opening.

8. In an upright space-dividing wall structure formed from a plurality of prefabricated upright panels which are serially connected together, and a raceway structure associated with the lower edge of each said panel and extending longitudinally thereof, said raceway structure defining therein an interior channel extending longitudinally of the panel, the improvement wherein said raceway structure comprises a horizontally elongated one-piece channel member which opens upwardly and includes a bottom wall and a pair of upwardly projecting side covers.which adjacent their upper edges are provided with means for releasably securing said channel member to said panel adjacent the lower edge thereof, each said side cover being joined to said bottom wall by an integral hinge to permit the side cover to be swingably moved between an upright closed position and a lowered open position providing access into the interior of said channel, said channel member at each end thereof having a pair of end flanges which project transversely inwardly from a respective one of said side covers in opposed relationship to one another, said end flanges defining a substantially vertical plane which extends substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal direction of said channel member, said end flanges each projecting transversely inwardly through an extent which is less than one-half the horizontal width of said channel so that the end flanges have opposed free edges which extend substantially vertically and are horizontally separated by a slotlike space which is defined therebetween and communicates with the end of said channel, opening means formed in each of said end flanges, and a one-piece end cover releasably attached to said pair of end flanges for closing off the end of said channel, said one-piece end cover including a substantially planar part of substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the cross section of said channel member, a pair of horizontally spaced pin means fixed to and projecting outwardly from the inner side of said planar part for respective engagement with said opening means for maintaining the side covers in their upright closed positions for preventing either inward or outward movement of the side covers, said end cover also including a pair of latching elements fixed to and projecting from the inner side of said planar part for creating a releasable latching engagement with said end flanges in the vicinity of the free vertical edges thereof, said latching elements being horizontally spaced apart by a distance which approximately corresponds to the horizontal spacing between the vertical free edges of the opposed end flanges, said latching elements being hook-shaped so as to resiliently engage the rear side of the respective end flange adjacent the vertical free edge thereof, each said latching element being of substantial vertical extent so as to supportingly engage the vertical free edge of the respective end flange over a substantial vertical extent so as to provide substantial support to withstand external horizontally-directed impact forces as imposed on said side covers.

9. In an upright space-dividing wall structure having at least three prefabricated upright panels serially connected together to form a T-shaped configuration, first and second of said panels having adjacent edges joined together, and the second panel having the edge thereof joined to an edge of the third panel, the first and third panels being disposed substantially in alignment with one another but having their opposed edges spaced apart by a distance which approximately equals the width of said second panel, and a raceway structure associated with the lower edge of each said panel and extending longitudinally therealong, said raceway structure defining therein an interior channel extending longitudinally of the respective panel, the improvement wherein the said raceway structure comprises a horizontally elongated one-piece channel member which opens upwardly and includes a bottom wall and a pair of upwardly projecting side covers which adjacent their upper edges are provided with means for releasably securing said channel member to said panel adjacent the lower edge thereof, each said side cover being joined to the respective bottom wall by a hinge to permit the side cover to be swingably moved between an upright closed position and a lowered open position providing access into the interior of said channel member, said channel member at each end thereof having a pair of end flanges which project transversely inwardly from a respective one of said side covers in opposed relationship to one another, said end flanges defining a substantially vertical plane which extends substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal direction of said channel member, said end flanges projecting transversely inwardly through an extent which is less than one-half the horizontal width of said channel so that the end flanges have opposed free edges which extend substantially vertically and are horizontally separated by a slotlike space which is defined therebetween and communicates with the end of said channel, and a one-piece finishing cover releasably attached to one of the end flanges associated with the channel member of said first and third panels for permitting said finishing cover to span the space between said first and second panels and be positioned substantially flush with the side covers of the channel members which are on the side of the first and second panels which is remote from said second panel, said end cover including a pair of pins which are fixed to and project outwardly from opposite sides of said finishing cover and project through holes formed in the end flanges of the channel members, said finishing cover also having a pair of sidewardly projecting latching elements which project outwardly from opposite sides of the finishing cover and create a releasable latching engagement with the end flanges on the channels of the first and third panels.

10. A wall structure according to claim 9, wherein each end flange has a pair of vertically spaced holes projecting therethrough, said finishing cover having first and second pairs of said pins projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof, the pins of the first pair projecting sidewardly for engagement with the uppermost holes formed in the end flanges, the pins of the second pair projecting sidewardly in opposite directions for engagement with the lowermost holes in the end flanges, said pins and said latching elements engaging solely the end flange associated with the channel member of the first and third panels which is on that side of the respective panel which is remote from said second panel.