Electrical housing assembly for removable placement on a table top

• US 4,828,513 A
• Filed: 06/09/1986
• Issued: 05/09/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Knoll Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Knoll International, Inc. (Dixie Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reuter, Robert, Rozier, Charles, Morrison, Andrew I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desmond, Eugene F.
• Application Number:
  US06/872,249
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 339/119, 339/125, 339/126, 339/122, 312/194, 312/195, 312/223, 312/239, 174/48.53, 108/25, 108/50, 108/26, 108/150, 639/527, 639/535, 639/544, 639/559, 639/571, 248/56
• US Class Current: 439/527
• 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: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged

Abstract

A furniture work surface such as a table top or desk top has a through hole in which is mounted a grommet. An electrical outlet box is insertable into the grommet without blocking the passage of the other wires that pass through the grommet to the work surface. The electrical housing has a recess which removably receives one of various receptacle modules, each receptacle module being configured to receive different circuits when fed by a multi-wire branch circuit.

Claims

1. An electrical fixture assembly for installation in a grommet or hole in a table having a top surface, the fixture comprising:

an electrical housing adapted to partially fit in said grommet and to protrude therefrom above said table top, said electrical housing having a thin flat elongated portion whose opposite sides are adapted to removably slide on channels within said grommet or hole and be removably retained therein,

a first connector block at the bottom of said electrical housing and within the thin flat elongated portion and having a plurality of electrical connectors separated by insulation and adapted to be removably connected to a connector at the end of an electrical power cable,

a connector module above said thin portion which is formed by a top wall and a bottom wall and a back wall and two opposite side walls;

a second elongated connector block having a plurality of spaced apart electrical connectors, the long axis of said second connector block being parallel to said axis, said second connector block being fastened to said connector module back wall, wire connection means within said electrical housing connecting the contacts of the first connector block to the contacts of the second connector block;

a removable receptacle module adapted to fit in said connector module and having a rear connector block with electrical contacts which removably fit in said connectors of said second connector block, said receptacle module having on its face a plurality of female connector openings having connectors therein, and means to connect said female connectors to said rear connector block connectors.

2. An electrical fixture assembly for installation in a grommet or hole in a furniture or work surface the fixture including:

an electrical housing for providing electrical power adapted to fit partially in a hole or grommet in a furniture work surface,

said electrical housing being adapted to be removably slidable within said hole or grommet and removably retained therein,

said electrical housing having a connector block having a plurality of spaced apart electrical connectors at the base of said electrical housing and said connector block being adapted to be removably connected to a connector at the end of an electrical power cable,

said electrical housing permitting passage of wires through the remainder of the grommet or hole when said electrical fixture assembly is attached to said grommet or hole.

3. An electrical fixture assembly according to claim 2 wherein said electrical housing has a second connector block which is adapted to removably receive a receptacle module having a connector block with electrical contacts which removably fit in said connectors of said second connector block.

4. An electrical fixture assembly for installation in a grommet or hole in a furniture work surface the fixture comprising:

an electrical housing adapted to partially fit in said grommet or hole and said electrical housing being removably retained therein,

a connector module within said electrical housing,

a connector block having a plurality of spaced apart electrical connectors within said connector module,

a removable receptacle module adapted to fit in said connector module and having a connector block with electrical contacts which removably fit in said connectors of said connector module.

5. An electrical fixture assembly according to claim 4 wherein said connector block is at the bottom of said electrical housing, and said connector block is adapted to be removably connected to a connector at the end of an electrical power cable.

6. An electrical fixture assembly according to claim 5 wherein said receptacle module has a plurality of female connector openings having connectors therein, and means to connect said female connectors to said connector block of the receptacle module.

7. An electrical fixture assembly for installation in a grommet or hole in a furniture work surface, the fixture comprising:

an electrical housing adapted to partially fit in said grommet or hole, said electrical housing being adapted to removably slide within said grommet or hole and being removably retained therein,

a first connector block having a plurality of electrical connectors separated by insulation and adapted to be connected to an electrical power cable,

a connector module within said electrical housing,

a second connector block having a plurality of spaced apart electrical connectors, a wire connection means within said electrical housing connecting the contacts of the first connector block to the contacts of the second connector block;

a removable receptacle module adapted to fit in said connector module and having a connector block with electrical contacts which removably fit in said connectors of said second connector block.

8. An electrical fixture assembly for installation in a grommet or hole in a furniture work surface, the fixture comprising:

an electrical housing adapted to partially fit in a grommet or hole in a furniture work surface,

a connector module within said electrical housing,

a connector block having a plurality of spaced apart electrical connectors within said connector module, said connector block being at the bottom of said electrical housing and being adapted to removably connected to a connector at the end of an electrical power cable,

a removable receptacle module adapted to fit in said connector module and having a connector block with electrical contacts which removably fit in said connectors of said connector module and wherein said receptacle module has a plurality of female connector openings having connectors therein and means to connect said female connectors to said connector block of the receptacle module,

said electrical housing having a thin flat elongated portion whose opposite sides are adapted to removably slide on channels in a grommet or hole on the work surface and be removably retained therein.

9. An electrical fixture assembly according to claim 8 wherein said connector module is formed by a top wall and a bottom wall substantially horizontal and a back wall and two opposite side walls, said back and side walls being substantially vertical.

10. An electrical fixture assembly for installation in a grommet or hole in a furniture or work surface the fixture including:

an electrical housing for providing electrical power adapted to fit partially in to a hole or grommet in a furniture work surface,

said electrical housing being adapted to be removably slidable within said hole or grommet and removably retained therein,

said electrical housing having a connector block having a plurality of spaced apart electrical connectors within said housing,

a removable receptacle module adapted to fit in said electrical housing and having a connector block with electrical contacts which removably fit in said connectors of said connector block, said electrical housing permitting passage of wires through the remainder of the grommet or hole when said electrical fixture assembly is attached to said grommet or hole.