Utility panel system

• US 5,341,615 A
• Filed: 03/23/1993
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Weller, George V., Hodges, Ronald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, LANNA
• Application Number:
  US08/036,067
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 52/220.2, 52/220.3, 52/220.7, 52/239, 52/36.5, 52/36.1, 52/36.4
• US Class Current: 52/220.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7433 with panels and support posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 454/903 Flexible ducts used for carrying air

Abstract

A utility panel system is provided for open office spaces, and the like. Each utility panel has a relatively thick, skeleton-like frame, with a foot and opposite sides shaped for interconnection with like panel frames to create a substantially freestanding utility panel system. Cover panels are detachably connected to the opposite faces of each panel frame to enclose the same, and provide ready access to the panel interior. Horizontal utility troughs extend continuously between the opposite sides of each panel frame in a vertically stacked relationship. The utility troughs have open ends located at the opposite panel sides, and are positioned such that widen adjacent utility panels are interconnected in a side-by-side relationship, the utility troughs are aligned to form multiple raceways. Panel connectors are provided to connect the utility panels with one or more of a variety of existing partition panels, such that the utility panels act as a spine which supplies utilities to the existing partition panels.

Claims

1. A freestanding, portable utility panel for open office spaces and the like, comprising:

a panel frame, including a foot portion adapted to abuttingly support said panel on a floor surface;

first and second uprights positioned adjacent opposite sides of said frame, having lower ends thereof connected with said foot portion, and extending upwardly therefrom in a generally vertical orientation;

said uprights being channel-shaped, and including a rear portion oriented toward an interior area of said frame, and a front portion oriented toward an exterior area of said frame;

a trough having upstanding sidewalls, and extending between the opposite sides of said frame in a substantially horizontal orientation to define a horizontal raceway between interior sides of said trough, which horizontal raceway is configured to receive and retain utilities therein;

said uprights having the rear portions thereof positioned along an exterior side of one of said trough sidewalls, and extending outwardly thereof to avoid encroachment into said horizontal raceway;

at least one cover panel shaped to enclose at least a portion of one side of said frame, and extending between the front portions of said uprights to define a vertical raceway between an interior side of said cover panel and the exterior side of said trough sidewall, which vertical raceway is configured to receive and retain utilities therein;

a fastener detachably connecting said cover panel to said frame to provide ready access to both said horizontal raceway and said vertical raceway.

2. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, including:

third and fourth uprights positioned adjacent opposite sides of said frame,having lower ends thereof connected with said toot portion, and extending upwardly therefrom in a generally vertical orientation;

said uprights being channel-shaped and including a rear portion oriented toward the interior area of said frame, and a front portion oriented toward the exterior area of said frame;

said third and fourth uprights having the rear portions thereof positioned along an exterior side of the other one of said trough sidewalls, generally opposite said first and second uprights, and extending outwardly thereof to avoid encroachment into said horizontal raceway;

a second cover panel shaped to enclose at least a portion of the other side of said frame, and extending between the front portions of said third and fourth uprights to define a second vertical raceway which is configured to receive and retain utilities therein.

3. A utility panel as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said uprights include lower ends with glides thereon to define said foot portion of said frame.

4. A utility panel as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said trough has a generally U-shaped end elevational configuration.

5. A utility panel as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said trough has an open top portion to permit lay-in wiring.

6. A utility panel as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

at least one of said trough sidewalls includes a notch through an upper edge thereof to facilitate routing utilities between said horizontal raceway and said vertical raceway.

7. A utility panel as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said trough defines a first trough; and

including

a second trough having opposite upstanding sidewalls, and extending between the opposite sides of said frame in a substantially horizontal orientation to define a second horizontal raceway configured to receive and retain utilities therein;

said second trough being spaced vertically from said first trough, and having the sidewalls thereof positioned along the rear portions of said uprights.

8. A utility panel as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said uprights are rigidly connected to said troughs to form an open, skeleton-like, self-supporting structure which defines said frame.

9. A utility panel as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said frame includes a third trough having opposite upstanding sidewalls, and extending between the opposite sides of said frame in a substantially horizontal orientation to define a third horizontal raceway configured to receive and retain utilities therein;

said third trough being spaced vertically inbetween said first trough and said second trough, and being rigidly connected with said uprights.

10. A utility panel as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said horizontal raceways are each configured to communicate with both of said vertical raceways to facilitate routing utilities within the interior area of said panel.

11. A utility panel as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said troughs each have generally open ends.

12. A utility panel as set forth in claim 11, including:

a panel connector having a first portion thereof connected with one side of said panel frame, and a second portion thereof supporting a fastener mechanism shaped for detachable connection with an existing partition panel;

said panel connector being configured so as to permit utilities in said utility panel to be fed into the existing partition panel, whereby said utility panel functions as a spine which supplies utilities to existing partition panels.

13. A utility panel as set forth in claim 12, including:

a plurality of said panel connectors, each having a different style fastener mechanism for detachable connection with different types of existing partition panels, whereby said utility panel is universally adaptable for use with each.

14. A utility panel as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said cover panels are shaped to fully enclose both sides of said panel frame.

15. A utility panel as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said uprights each include thereon means for detachably connecting the same with an associated vertical upright of an adjacent utility panel.

16. A utility panel as set forth in claim 15, including:

first and second hanger strips adapted to detachably mount furniture articles thereon; and

means for detachably connecting said hanger strips with said uprights, such that different style hanger strips and associated furniture articles can be supported on said utility panel.

17. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said uprights include lower ends with glides thereon to define said foot portion of said frame.

18. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said trough has a generally U-shaped end elevational configuration.

19. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said trough has an open top portion to permit lay-in wiring.

20. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said trough sidewalls includes a notch through an upper edge thereof to facilitate routing utilities between said horizontal raceway and said vertical raceway.

21. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said trough defines a first trough; and

including

a second trough having opposite upstanding sidewalls, and extending between the opposite sides of said frame in a substantially horizontal orientation to define a second horizontal raceway configured to receive and retain utilities therein;

said second trough being spaced vertically from said first trough, and having the sidewalls thereof positioned along the rear portions of said uprights.

22. A utility panel as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

said frame includes a third trough having opposite upstanding sidewalls, and extending between the opposite sides of said frame in a substantially horizontal orientation to define a third horizontal raceway configured to receive and retain utilities therein;

said third trough being spaced vertically inbetween said first trough and said second trough.

23. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said uprights are rigidly connected to said trough to form an open, skeleton-like, self-supporting structure which defines said frame.

24. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said horizontal raceway is configured to communicate with said vertical raceway to facilitate routing utilities within the interior area of said panel.

25. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said trough has generally open ends.

26. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, including:

a panel connector having a first portion thereof connected with one side of said panel frame, and a second portion thereof supporting a fastener mechanism shaped for detachable connection with an existing partition panel, said panel connector being configured so as to permit utilities in said utility panel to be fed into the existing partition panel, whereby said utility panel functions as a spine which supplies utilities to existing partition panels.

27. A utility panel as set forth in claim 26, including:

a plurality of said panel connectors, each having a different style fastener mechanism for detachable connection with different types of existing partition panels, whereby said utility panel is universally adaptable for use with each.

28. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said cover panel is shaped to fully enclose the one side of said frame.

29. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said uprights each include thereon means for detachably connecting the same with an associated vertical upright of an adjacent utility panel.

30. A utility panel as set forth in claim 1, including:

first and second hanger strips adapted to detachably mount furniture articles thereon; and

means for detachably connecting said hanger strips with said uprights, such that different style hanger strips and associated furniture articles can be supported on said utility panel.