Modular powerway for office furniture and the like

• US 5,158,472 A
• Filed: 06/05/1991
• Issued: 10/27/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Juhlin, Gary S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US07/711,363
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 439/207-216
• US Class Current: 439/215
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/164 Connecting locations formed by flush mounted apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

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.

Claims

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.

2. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein;

said powerway includes a second flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a second flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said second flag connector, and movable relative to said housing;

said second flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the one 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 branching.

3. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said powerway includes a parking member positioned adjacent the first end of said housing, and adapted to detachably mount thereon for storage one of said flag terminals.

4. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said first and second-named flag connectors on said powerway are coded with different indicia to facilitate properly orienting adjacent powerways for electrical interconnection.

5. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said powerway includes a receptacle-only terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and having a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors electrically connected with said electrical conducting means.

6. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said power tap on said powerway includes a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors which mate with the quick-disconnect receptacle connectors on said receptacle-only terminal to separably electrically interconnect the same.

7. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said powerway power terminal includes a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and shaped to mate with the quick-disconnect receptacle connectors on said power tap to separably electrically interconnect the same.

8. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said powerway power terminal includes a set of quick-disconnect power-in connectors electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, which in conjunction with said quick-disconnect receptacle connectors define a power-in connector; and

including

a power-in module including a set of quick-disconnect connectors which mate with the power-in connector on said power terminal to supply electrical power to said passageway.

9. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said quick-disconnect power-in connectors on said powerway are offset inwardly from the quick-disconnect receptacles connectors on said power terminal to accept either said power tap or said power-in module without increasing the overall thickness of said panel.

10. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said powerway receptacle-only terminal includes a keyed lock-out which prevents connecting said power-in module therewith.

11. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said powerway includes a parking member positioned adjacent the second end of said housing, and adapted to detachably mount thereon for storage one of said flag terminals.

12. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said power terminal and said flag connector on said powerway are coded with different indicia to facilitate properly orienting adjacent powerways for electrical interconnection.

13. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said powerway includes a receptacle-only terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and having a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors electrically connected with said electrical conducting means.

14. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said power tap on said powerway includes a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors which mate with the quick-disconnect receptacle connectors on said receptacle-only terminal to separably electrically interconnect the same.

15. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said flag connector includes means for longitudinally extending and retracting the same to facilitate interconnecting adjacent powerways disposed in either in-line or angular relationships.

16. An office furniture system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said longitudinally extending means comprises a Z-shaped portion of said flag connector.

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:

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.

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:

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.