Electrical powerway for furniture panel
First Claim
1. In an interior space-dividing wall system including at least first, second and third upright panels respectively having first, second and third upright end edges disposed in close proximity to one another, and first, second and third electrical power blocks mounted respectively on said first, second and third panels, a first electrical connector joined between said first and second power blocks for transmitting electrical energy therebetween, and a second electrical connector joined between said first and third power blocks for transmitting electrical energy therebetween, each said electrical connector having connector portions adjacent opposite ends thereof which create a releasible plug-type engagement with connector ports on the respective power blocks, said first electrical connector having the connector portion at one end thereof engaged with a first said connector portion on said first power block, the connector port at the other end of said first electrical connector being engaged with a said connector port on said second power block, said second electrical connector having a connector portion at one end thereof engaged with a second said connector port on said first power block, and a connector portion on the other end of said second electrical connector being engaged with a said connector port on said third power block, comprising the improvement wherein:
- said first power block includes a plurality of electrical conductors therein for defining a plurality of electrical circuits, said first connector port associated with said first power block accessing only a first subset of said plurality of circuits, said second connector port associated with said first power block accessing only a second subset of said plurality of circuits, each of said first and second subsets including a number of circuits which is at least two but less than said plurality, and each said subset including at least one circuit which is distinct from all of the circuits of the other subset;
said first and second electrical connectors each containing thereon a plurality of electrical conductors which define a predetermined number of circuits equal to the respective subset, said first electrical connector connecting only said first subset of said plurality of circuits to said second power block, said second electrical connector connecting only said second subset of said plurality of circuits to said third power block.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular electrical system for mounting on furniture components such as wall panels. The system includes modules which each include at least one power block provides increased electrical circuit capacity, which capacity in the preferred embodiment is at least six electrical circuits. The power block provides different groupings of circuits which are externally accessible, such as for connection to removable receptacle units, on opposite sides thereof. Flexible electrical connectors are provided for connection to and transmitting electrical power between power blocks of adjacent panels. Each connector transmits only one grouping of electrical circuits therethrough, whereby two such connectors are normally utilized for connection between adjacent power blocks of adjacent panels to transmit all electrical circuits therebetween. The individual flexible electrical connectors can be used for transmitting electrical energy into branching panels, which branching panels may be provided with only the selected grouping of circuits.
67 Citations
24 Claims
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1. In an interior space-dividing wall system including at least first, second and third upright panels respectively having first, second and third upright end edges disposed in close proximity to one another, and first, second and third electrical power blocks mounted respectively on said first, second and third panels, a first electrical connector joined between said first and second power blocks for transmitting electrical energy therebetween, and a second electrical connector joined between said first and third power blocks for transmitting electrical energy therebetween, each said electrical connector having connector portions adjacent opposite ends thereof which create a releasible plug-type engagement with connector ports on the respective power blocks, said first electrical connector having the connector portion at one end thereof engaged with a first said connector portion on said first power block, the connector port at the other end of said first electrical connector being engaged with a said connector port on said second power block, said second electrical connector having a connector portion at one end thereof engaged with a second said connector port on said first power block, and a connector portion on the other end of said second electrical connector being engaged with a said connector port on said third power block, comprising the improvement wherein:
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said first power block includes a plurality of electrical conductors therein for defining a plurality of electrical circuits, said first connector port associated with said first power block accessing only a first subset of said plurality of circuits, said second connector port associated with said first power block accessing only a second subset of said plurality of circuits, each of said first and second subsets including a number of circuits which is at least two but less than said plurality, and each said subset including at least one circuit which is distinct from all of the circuits of the other subset; said first and second electrical connectors each containing thereon a plurality of electrical conductors which define a predetermined number of circuits equal to the respective subset, said first electrical connector connecting only said first subset of said plurality of circuits to said second power block, said second electrical connector connecting only said second subset of said plurality of circuits to said third power block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An interior space-dividing wall system, comprising:
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first and second upright space-dividing wall panels horizontally serially joined together; first and second electrical power blocks respectively mounted on said first and second panels, said power blocks being disposed generally between vertical planes which define opposite side surfaces of the respective panels; first and second electrical connector units joined between said first and second power blocks for transmitting electrical energy therebetween, each said connector unit having a releasable pluglike electrical connection with each of said first and second power blocks; at least one electrical output unit for releasable pluglike engagement with one of said power blocks, said output unit defining at least one three-hole electrical socket for accommodating a two or three prong electrical plug; each said power block including a set of electrically conductive members which define a plurality of electrical circuits; said set of conductive members including first and second subsets of conductive members which respectively define first and second groupings of at least two electrical circuits each, at least one circuit of each grouping being distinct from the circuits of the other grouping; said set of conductive members also including at least one ground conductor; each said power block including a pair of substantially identical first electrical ports provided on an outer end of said power block and each adapted for pluglike engagement with one end of a said electrical connector unit; each said power block including a pair of substantially identical second electrical ports each adapted for pluglike engagement with one of said output units, said second electrical ports as defining said pair being provided on and accessible from opposite sides of said power block; one of said first ports and one of said second ports each including a plurality of electrical terminals which are respectively connected to the conductors of said first subset so that said one first port and said one second port each access only said first grouping of circuits; the other said first port and the other said second port each including a plurality of electrical terminals which are respectively connected to the conductors of said second subset so that said other first port and said other second port each access only said second grouping of circuits; said first electrical connector unit having one end thereof engaged with one of said first ports and said second electrical connector unit having one end thereof engaged with the other of said first ports, said first and second electrical connector units respectively connecting said first and second grouping of circuits between said first and second power blocks. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In an upright space-dividing interior wall panel having a raceway extending longitudinally thereof between opposite vertically-extending end edges of the panel, and a pair of electrical power blocks mounted on said panel within said raceway in longitudinally spaced relation, the pair of power block being joined by a multi-conductor conduit for transmitting electrical energy between said pair of power blocks, the improvement wherein each said power block comprises:
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a housing defining an interior chamber in which a plurality of electrically conductive members are supportingly positioned in spaced relation to one another, said plurality of conductive members defining first and second subsets of different conductors which respectively define first and second groupings of electrical circuits, each said grouping defining at least two electrical circuits, the two electrical circuits of one said grouping being distinct from the two electrical circuits of the other grouping; each said power block including a pair of substantially identical first electrical connector ports provided adjacent an outer end of said power block and each adapted for pluglike engagement with one end of an electrical connector unit, each said first port accessing only a respectively different one of said groupings of circuits; and each said power block including a pair of substantially identical second electrical connector ports each adapted for pluglike engagement with a separable output unit, said second electrical connector ports as defining said pair being provided on and accessible from opposite sides of said power block, each said second port accessing only a respectively different one of said groupings of circuits. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An interior space-dividing wall system, comprising;
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first and second upright space-dividing wall panels horizontally serially joined together; first and second electrical power blocks respectively mounted on said first and second panels, said power blocks being disposed generally between vertical planes which define opposite side surfaces of the panels; at least one electrical connector unit joined between said first and second power blocks for transmitting electrical energy therebetween, said connector unit having a releasable pluglike electrical connection with each of said first and second power blocks; each said power block including a set of electrically conductive members which define a plurality of electrical circuits; said set of conductive members including first and second subsets of conductive members which respectively define first and second groupings of at least two electrical circuits each, at least one circuit of each grouping being distinct from the circuits of the other grouping; said set of conductive members also including at least one ground conductor; each said power block including a first electrical port provided adjacent an outer end of said power block for pluglike engagement with one end of said electrical connector unit; each said power block including a pair of substantially identical second electrical ports each adapted for pluglike engagement with an output unit, said second electrical ports as defining said pair being provided on and accessible from opposite sides of said power block so that one of said second ports is accessible only from one side of said power block and the other said second port is accessible only from the other side of said power block; said one second port including a plurality of electrical terminals which are respectively connected to the conductors of only said first subset so that said one second port can access only said first grouping of circuits; said other second port including a plurality of electrical terminals which are respectively connected to the conductors of only said second subset so that said other second port can access only said second grouping of circuits; and at least one receptacle-type electrical output unit for releasable pluglike engagement with one of the second ports of one said power block, said output unit defining at least one three-hole electrical receptacle for accommodating a two or three prong electrical plug; whereby said first grouping of circuits is accessible for connection to a receptacle-type outlet unit only from said one side of said power block, and wherein said second grouping of circuits is accessible for connection to a receptacle-type outlet unit only from the other side of said power block. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification