Utility distribution system for modular furniture and the like
First Claim
1. In a furniture unit for modular furniture arrangements of the type in which a plurality of individual furniture units are positioned in a preselected configuration to form at least one workstation, the improvement of a utility distribution system therefore, comprising:
- at least one signal conductor positioned in said furniture unit, and extending along at least a portion thereof;
first and second quick-disconnect connectors connected with opposite ends of said signal conductor, and configured to mate with like quick-disconnect connectors associated with other similarly equipped furniture units to define a communications network for the workstation;
a coupler positioned in said furniture unit, and connected with said signal conductor at a location operably intermediate said first and second quick-disconnect connectors;
a signaler physically associated with said furniture unit, and connected with said signal conductor at said coupler, and communicating through said signal conductor and the communications network to facilitate the controlled distribution of utilities to the workstation and to assist in identification of at least a portion of said furniture unit;
at least one utility appliance for distributing utilities to the at least one workstation, said at least one utility appliance coupled to said signal conductor through said signaler; and
a network controller operably coupled to said signal conductor through said communications network, and transmitting control signals to said signaler through said communications network and receiving control signals from said signaler through said communications network to evaluate said communications network and said furniture unit to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the utility appliances in the workstation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A utility distribution system is provided for modular furniture of the type comprising individual furniture units which are juxtaposed to form one or more workstations. A signal conductor is positioned in each furniture unit, and extends generally between opposite sides thereof. Quick-disconnect connectors are provided at the opposite ends of each of the signal conductors, and mate with like quick-disconnect connectors in adjacent furniture units to create a communications network through the workstations. Each furniture unit has a signaler physically associated therewith, which is connected with an associated signal conductor at a coupler. A network controller is operably connected to the network to evaluate the network and/or the associated furniture units. The furniture units may be equipped with one or more utility ports, which are connected with the coupler, and service utility appliances, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, switches, power outlets, data receptacles, and the like. The utility appliances preferably have memory capability to internally store operating instructions for the same, which are transmitted to the network controller when the utility appliance is initialized.
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Citations
87 Claims
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1. In a furniture unit for modular furniture arrangements of the type in which a plurality of individual furniture units are positioned in a preselected configuration to form at least one workstation, the improvement of a utility distribution system therefore, comprising:
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at least one signal conductor positioned in said furniture unit, and extending along at least a portion thereof; first and second quick-disconnect connectors connected with opposite ends of said signal conductor, and configured to mate with like quick-disconnect connectors associated with other similarly equipped furniture units to define a communications network for the workstation; a coupler positioned in said furniture unit, and connected with said signal conductor at a location operably intermediate said first and second quick-disconnect connectors; a signaler physically associated with said furniture unit, and connected with said signal conductor at said coupler, and communicating through said signal conductor and the communications network to facilitate the controlled distribution of utilities to the workstation and to assist in identification of at least a portion of said furniture unit; at least one utility appliance for distributing utilities to the at least one workstation, said at least one utility appliance coupled to said signal conductor through said signaler; and a network controller operably coupled to said signal conductor through said communications network, and transmitting control signals to said signaler through said communications network and receiving control signals from said signaler through said communications network to evaluate said communications network and said furniture unit to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the utility appliances in the workstation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A utility distribution system for a modular furniture unit of the type having at least two portions thereof associated with different workstations, comprising:
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a first communication module physically associated with one of said furniture portions, and including a first signal conductor extending at least partially along said one furniture portion;
a first pair of quick-disconnect connectors connected with opposite ends of said first signal conductor, and configured to mate with like quick-disconnect connectors associated with other similarly equipped furniture portions;
a first coupler positioned adjacent said one furniture portion and connected with said first signal conductor at a location operably intermediate said first pair of quick-disconnect connectors; and
an identification mechanism used to associate said one furniture portion with a workstation;a second communication module physically associated with the other of said furniture portions, and including a second signal conductor extending at least partially along said other furniture portion;
a second pair of quick-disconnect connectors connected with opposite ends of said second signal conductor, and configured to mate with like quick-disconnect connectors associated with other similarly equipped furniture portions; and
a second coupler positioned adjacent said other furniture portion and electrically connected with said second signal conductor at a location operably intermediate said second pair of quick-disconnect connectors, whereby said first and second communication modules each provide a respective communication path through both portions of said furniture unit to individually control the distribution of utilities to both of the different workstations;a pair of utility appliance networks, respectively, coupled to said first and second couplers, and a plurality of ports on said furniture unit providing access to said utility appliance networks, whereby said ports are coupled to said signal conductors through one of said utility appliance networks; and a network controller operatively connected to said first and second communication modules in a communication network for associating said furniture portions with related workstations.
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50. A utility distribution system for a modular furniture arrangement having a plurality of individual furniture units configured to form at least one workstation, comprising:
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at least one conductor extending along at least a portion of the furniture arrangement to define a communications network; a plurality of signalers connected to said conductor, each signaler physically associated with a selected furniture unit and capable of being distinguishable from other of said signalers when connected to said conductor; and a network controller coupled to said conductor for transmitting control signals to said signalers through said conductor and receiving control signals from said signalers through said conductor, whereby said network controller evaluates the furniture arrangement with respect to the communication network by identifying specific signalers and utilizing the physical association of said specific signalers with a selected furniture unit to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the workstation and to associate furniture units with related workstations. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A communications network for a plurality of furniture units, comprising:
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at least one signal conductor configured to extend along the furniture units; at least one signaler associated with at least one of the furniture units, and being operably coupled to said signal conductor, wherein said signaler is a portion-of-workstation identification mechanism used to associate furniture portions with workstations; and a network controller operably coupled to said signal conductor for communicating with said signaler, whereby said network controller and said signaler communicate information associated with the furniture units through said signal conductor. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 63)
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62. A communications network for a plurality of furniture units, comprising:
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at least one signal conductor configured to extend along the furniture units; at least one signaler associated with at least one of the furniture units, and being operably coupled to said signal conductor; a network controller operably coupled to said signal conductor for communicating with said signaler, whereby said network controller and said signaler communicate information associated with the furniture units through said signal conductor; and at least one identification unit physically associated with said at least one furniture unit to assist in identification of said at least one furniture unit. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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66. A network for a furniture arrangement having a plurality of individual furniture units, comprising:
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at least one signal conductor extending between the furniture units; a network controller connected to said signal conductor and including control circuitry; and a plurality of utility appliances coupled to said signal conductor for communicating with said network controller, each utility appliance including a memory unit storing it'"'"'s own operating instructions, which are transmitted from said utility appliance to said control circuitry of said network controller when said utility appliance is initialized, whereby said network controller controls said utility appliances according to the operating instructions received therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. In a modular furniture arrangement of the type in which a plurality of individual furniture units are positioned in a preselected configuration to form at least one workstation, the improvement of a utility distribution system therefore, comprising:
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at least one signal conductor extending between particular furniture units; a coupler positioned in each of said furniture units, and connected with said signal conductor at a location within said furniture unit; a utility appliance network positioned within each of said furniture units and coupled to said signal conductor through said coupler; a plurality of ports physically positioned on each of said furniture units and operably connected with said utility appliance network, whereby said ports are coupled to said signal conductor through said utility appliance network to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the workstation; and an identification module physically associated with at least one furniture unit and coupled to said signal conductor for assisting in identification of said furniture unit. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A furniture arrangement of the type having a plurality of individual furniture units positioned in a preselected configuration to form multiple workstations, in combination with a utility distribution system therefore, wherein:
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each of said furniture units includes a signal conductor extending generally between opposite sides thereof, and quick-disconnect connectors positioned at opposite ends of said signal conductor which connect with like quick-disconnect connectors associated with other of said furniture units to define a furniture arrangement network through said workstations; a plurality of utility appliances for supporting said workstations; at least one of said furniture units is a ported furniture unit including a plurality of ports positioned thereon configured for connection with said utility appliances, a utility appliance network interconnecting each of said ports, and a communication bridge connecting said utility appliance network with said furniture arrangement network, for generating and transmitting control signals to said utility appliances through said utility appliance network and said ports and for receiving control signals from said utility appliances through said utility appliance network and said ports; and a network controller operably connected with said furniture arrangement network for transmitting control signals to said communication bridge, and for receiving control signals therefrom, whereby said network controller and said utility appliances communicate through said communication bridge, said furniture arrangement network and said utility appliance network to facilitate the controlled distribution of utilities to each of said utility appliances. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78)
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79. A system for distributing utilities at furniture units in a furniture arrangement, comprising:
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a network controller; a communication network communicatively connected with said network controller; a switch associated with said furniture unit, said switch being communicatively connected with said network; and at least one utility appliance associated with said furniture unit, said at least one utility appliance being communicatively connected with said network at a particular physical position on said network, said at least one utility appliance further being communicatively connected with said network controller through said network, wherein said at least one utility appliance changes operative states in response to signals received from said network controller; wherein said network controller sends a signal to said at least one utility appliance to change the operative state of said at least one utility appliance in response to signals received from said switch over said network regardless of the position of said at least one utility appliance along said network. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
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Specification