Wall system with split pole for lay-in wiring

• US 4,716,698 A
• Filed: 06/06/1986
• Issued: 01/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Harold, Gingrich, Brian, Lim, Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridgill, Jr., James L.
• Application Number:
  US06/871,658
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 52/239, 52/243, 52/243.1, 52/726, 52/403, 52/730, 52/732, 52/242, 52/221, 160/127, 160/135, 174/48, 174/49
• US Class Current: 52/239
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 17/08 for receiving utility lines, e.g. cables, pipes covers giving access to the ducts or channels, covers of inspection holes E04F19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

Abstract

A vertical pole arrangement which is keyed between and extends upwardly to the ceiling from between a pair of space divider panels. The pole arrangement has a vertically elongated removable side cover which provides access to the interior of the pole arrangement for laying in of cables. The post arrangement is split into upper and lower pole members, with the upper member projecting downwardly for slidable keyed engagement between the panels. The upper post member, at the lower free end, has upwardly extending slots in the end walls thereof for accommodating cables which extend along top channels in the panels.

Claims

1. In a space-dividing wall system supported on a floor and spaced downwardly a substantial distance from a ceiling, said wall system having at least first and second upright wall panels horizontally serially connected and supported in an upright position on the floor, said panels having a height less than floor-to-ceiling height so that the panels have horizontally-extending upper edges which are spaces downardly a substantial distance from the ceiling, each of said first and second panels having an interior cable-receiving top channel formed therein and extending horizontally longitudinally therealing adjacent the respective upper edge thereof, each of said first and second panels also having a horizontally elongated top rail which is removably associated with the panel and closes off said top channel, and a vertically-extending pole arrangement extending from the ceiling downwardly to a location adjacent the floor, said pole arrangement being positioned between adjacent and opposed end rails of said first and second panels, said pole arrangement defining a hollow channel within the interior thereof and projecting longitudinally therealong for permitting cables to extend vertically therein, at least one side wall of said pole arrangement having an elongated slotlike opening extending longitudinally thereof and closed by a removable cover for permitting cables to be laid into said hollow channel, and vertically elongated key means coupled between the end rail of each of said first and second panels and an opposed end wall of said pole arrangement for horizontally fixedly coupling the first and second panels to said pole arrangement, comprising the improvement wherein said pole arrangement includes upper and lower vertically-elongated pole members disposed in vertically aligned relationship, said upper and lower pole members being of substantially identical cross section, said lower pole member having a vertical height which is less than the height of said panels so that said lower pole member projects upwardly from a location adjacent the lower edges of said panels so as to terminate in a free upper end disposed at a location close to but spaced downwardly from the upper edges of said panels, said lower pole member being secured to the end rails of said panels by said vertically elongated key means, said key means projecting vertically upwardly through at least a limited extent beyond free upper end of said lower pole member, and said upper pole member having a free lower end disposed substantially in abutting engagement with said lower pole member when in a use position, said upper pole member when in said use position having a lower vertically-elongated part thereo disposed between the first and second panels and vertically slidabley engaged with upper portions of said key means for horizontally fixedly connecting said upper pole member between said first and second panels, said upper pole member projecting upwardly from said free lower end to a point at least equal to the height of said ceiling, said key means permitting said upper pole member to be freely slidably displaced upwardly relative to said panels so as to be moved out of engagement with said key means, said upper pole member having vertically elongated slots formed in the end walls thereof in aligned relationship with one another, said slots opening upwardly from the lower free end of said upper pole member and projecting upwardly so that he slots define upper closed ends which are approximately horizontally aligned with said top channels when the upper pole member is in said use position so as to permit cables to extend from the top channel of the first panel through the slots and directly into the top channel of the second panel, and the upper and lower pole members defining therein respective upper an lower channels which extend longitudinally therethrough in open communication with one another and define said hollow channel so that cables can extend from one of said top channels through one said slot and then be bent to extend downwardly through said lower channel or upwardly through said upper channel.

2. A wall system according to claim 1 wherein the upper free end of said lower pole member is disposed at an elevation a small distance below said top channels.

3. A wall system according to claim 1, wherein said slotlike opening extends continuously along a side wall of said upper and lower pole members for permitting transverse laying in of cables into said hollow channel, and said removable cover comprising an elongated one-piece member extending from the lower end of said lower pole member to said ceiling for removably closing off the open side of said upper and lower pole members when the latter are in said use position.