Utility distribution system for furniture
First Claim
1. A collapsible duct for open office partition panel systems, of the type having channel-shaped supports, said duct comprising:
- an elongate duct body having a closed interior defined by a sidewall constructed from a thin, substantially imperforate, flexible film material, and configured to conduct ventilation air therealong;
said duct body having a first opening shaped to communicate with a source of pressurized ventilation air, and a laterally facing second opening in said sidewall shaped to communicate with at least one diffuser to disperse ventilation air into an associated workspace;
said duct body having a nonrigid and nonreinforced construction which permits said duct body to be laterally collapsed and locally deformed to facilitate threading said duct body through associated partition panels; and
a bracket for engaging the material defining said second opening to retain the shape of said second opening and for engaging one of the channel-shaped supports to retain the duct body in the one support, whereby during operation, pressurized ventilation air from the source inflates said duct body and automatically expands the same laterally to a configuration which maximizes ventilation air flow therethrough, while minimizing resistance to the flow.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ventilation system is provided for communicating ventilation air through a modular furniture arrangement, such as open office partition panel systems or the like. The ventilation system includes an air source, and a collapsible duct connected to the air source. The collapsible duct can be routed through interior spaces in partition panels in a collapsed state to facilitate routing and installation. After installation, the collapsible duct can be inflated for use, at which time the collapsible duct inflates to a maximum size to minimize resistance to air flow. Multiple secondary openings distribute the ventilation air in the collapsible duct to various worksurfaces as desired. A pressure relief valve is attached to the collapsible duct to prevent over-pressurization of the collapsible duct.
71 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A collapsible duct for open office partition panel systems, of the type having channel-shaped supports, said duct comprising:
an elongate duct body having a closed interior defined by a sidewall constructed from a thin, substantially imperforate, flexible film material, and configured to conduct ventilation air therealong;
said duct body having a first opening shaped to communicate with a source of pressurized ventilation air, and a laterally facing second opening in said sidewall shaped to communicate with at least one diffuser to disperse ventilation air into an associated workspace;
said duct body having a nonrigid and nonreinforced construction which permits said duct body to be laterally collapsed and locally deformed to facilitate threading said duct body through associated partition panels; and
a bracket for engaging the material defining said second opening to retain the shape of said second opening and for engaging one of the channel-shaped supports to retain the duct body in the one support, whereby during operation, pressurized ventilation air from the source inflates said duct body and automatically expands the same laterally to a configuration which maximizes ventilation air flow therethrough, while minimizing resistance to the flow.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
9. A duct assembly for open office partition panel systems and the like, comprising:
an elongate duct having a closed interior defined by a sidewall constructed from a thin, substantially imperforate, flexible film material, and configured to conduct ventilation air therealong;
said duct having a first opening shaped to communicate with a source of pressurized ventilation air, and at least one second opening shaped to communicate with at least one diffuser to disperse ventilation air into an associated workspace;
said duct having a nonrigid and nonreinforced construction which permits said duct to be laterally collapsed and locally deformed to facilitate threading said duct through associated partition panels;
a flexible tube for communicating ventilation air from said second opening to a diffuser positioned remotely from said second opening, said flexible tube including one end operably connected to said second opening by a connecting means and including another end positioned in a desired location in the associated workspace;
said connecting means including an inner member and an outer member that clamp together in a sandwich-like arrangement on the material forming said second opening, said outer member including means for securing said outer member in a channel-shaped support, whereby during operation, pressurized ventilation air from the source inflates said duct and automatically expands the same laterally to a configuration which maximizes ventilation air flow therethrough, while minimizing resistance to the flow.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
12. A partition system for open office spaces, comprising:
-
a plurality of freestanding portable partition panels detachably interconnected to form at least one workstation;
said partition panels each including a rigid panel frame with opposite sides and a hollow interior portion to facilitate routing electrical and non-electrical utility lines therethrough for use in said at least one workstation, and at least one cover panel shaped to cover at least a portion of one of the opposite sides of said panel frame, and being detachably connected therewith to provide ready access to the interior portion of the associated one of said partition panels, said partition panels each further including at least one laterally extending channel attached to said rigid panel frame in said hollow interior portion; anda collapsible duct having a closed interior defined by a sidewall constructed from a thin, substantially imperforate, flexible film, and configured to rest in said at least one channel and to conduct ventilation air therealong;
said duct having a first opening shaped to communicate with a source of pressurized ventilation air, and a second opening intermediate the length of the collapsible duct shaped to communicate with at least one diffuser to disperse ventilation air into said workstation;
said duct having a nonrigid and nonreinforced construction which permits said duct to be laterally collapsed and locally deformed to facilitate threading said duct through the interior portions of said partition panels, whereby during operation, pressurized ventilation air from the source inflates said duct and automatically expands the same laterally to a configuration which maximizes ventilation air flow therethrough, while minimizing resistance to the flow. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A workstation ventilation system, comprising:
-
a source of pressurized ventilation air; a plurality of modular furniture units arranged in a plan configuration defining workstations, said plurality of modular furniture units including means defining a laterally extending space that extends from one side to another side of each workstation and which join to form a continuous elongated space and further including at least one laterally extending channel attached to said means and located in said laterally extending space; an air diffuser located at at least one workstation; and an elongate collapsible duct having a closed interior defined by an imperforate flexible sidewall material, said duct being configured to mateably rest in said at least one channel and to extend along said continuous elongated space to conduct ventilation air from said source to said at least one workstation;
said duct having a first opening shaped to communicate with the source of pressurized ventilation air and engaged therewith, and a laterally facing second opening shaped to communicate with said diffuser to disperse ventilation air into said at least one workstation;
said duct being laterally collapsible and locally deformable to facilitate threading said duct through the laterally extending spaces in said plurality of modular furniture units and including rigidifying members for engaging the marginal material defining said second opening whereby during operation, pressurized ventilation air from the source inflates said duct and automatically expands the same laterally to a configuration which maximizes ventilation air flow therethrough, while minimizing resistance to the flow. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method comprising:
-
providing a plurality of freestanding partition panels each having an interior space extending from one side to another side and including a channel-shaped support attached to the partition panel and located in the interior space for carrying electrical and non-electrical utility lines for workstations, the interior spaces joining to form a continuous elongate space; providing a collapsible duct having a closed interior defined by a sidewall constructed by a thin, substantially imperforate, flexible film and configured to conduct ventilation air therethrough; extending the collapsible duct in a collapsed state through the continuous elongate space and resting the collapsible duct on the channel-shaped supports; and inflating the collapsible duct so as to expand the collapsible duct to the maximum allowable shape to communicate ventilation air therethrough.
-
Specification