Modular powerway for office furniture and the like
First Claim
1. In a freestanding office furniture system of the type having a plurality of individual furniture units interconnected side-by-side in a predetermined orientation, and wherein each of said furniture units includes a utility raceway therethrough accessible at opposite sides of said furniture unit, the improvement of a modular powerway comprising:
- an elongated housing received within the utility raceway of an associated one of said furniture units, and including first and second ends thereof positioned adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway;
means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway;
a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means;
a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and
a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing;
said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular powerway is provided for electrifying office furniture units and the like, such as freestanding partition panels, systems furniture elements, and modular furniture units of the type having a utility raceway associated therewith. The powerway includes a housing shaped for reception within the utility raceway of the office furniture unit and electrical conductors mounted in the housing. At least one power tap or receptacle supplies electrical power from the powerway to electrical appliances, such as computers, typewriters and other similar devices. A power terminal is mounted in one end of the housing, and includes a set of quick-disconnect power connectors. A flexible flag connector has one end mounted in the opposite end of the housing, and includes a flag terminal at its free end with a set of quick-disconnect power connectors that separably mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway to electrically interconnect the powerways.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a freestanding office furniture system of the type having a plurality of individual furniture units interconnected side-by-side in a predetermined orientation, and wherein each of said furniture units includes a utility raceway therethrough accessible at opposite sides of said furniture unit, the improvement of a modular powerway comprising:
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an elongated housing received within the utility raceway of an associated one of said furniture units, and including first and second ends thereof positioned adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing;
said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A modular powerway for office furniture units and the like of the type having a utility raceway therethrough accessible adjacent opposite sides of the office furniture unit, the improvement of a modular powerway, comprising:
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an elongated housing shaped for reception within the utility raceway of the office furniture unit, and including first and second ends thereof configured for positioning adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing;
said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.
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18. In an office furniture unit of the type having a utility raceway therethrough accessible at opposite sides thereof, the improvement of a modular powerway comprising:
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an elongated housing received within the utility raceway of said office furniture unit, and including first and second ends positioned in adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing;
said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.
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Specification