Lay in cable channel for modular office systems

• US 5,901,513 A
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Office Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Office Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Pleschourt, Brian A., Hennan, James, Mollenkopf, Lloyd C., Rein, Russell J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kang, Timothy B.
• Application Number:
  US08/868,779
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 52/36.1, 52/220.7, 52/239, 108/50.02, 108/182, 312/196, 312/223.6
• US Class Current: 52/220.7
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0027 Desks with I-shaped leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• 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

Abstract

A modular work station has spaced uprights that support a work surface, and a divider panel extending between the uprights. A communication cable channel extends between the uprights and has a passageway accessible for laying in a communication or other type of cable. At least one of the uprights has a recess that opens to an edge of the upright and aligns with the passageway in the communication cable channel such that a communication cable can extend through the recess to an adjacent modular work station. A cover member covers the opening in the upright channel to ensure that the cable is enclosed and yet can be laid in without threading it through openings in such uprights.

Claims

1. A cable channel structure for use in modular office systems comprising:

a work station having a pair of uprights upright having first and second sides and front and rear edges;

a divider panel coupled to the pair of upright upright and extending at substantially right angles to one of the first and second sides of the pair of upright;

a recess in both the first and second sides of at least one of the of upright extending inwardly from at least one edge of the at least one upright between the at least one edge edge and a plane of the divider panel to form an opening through the at least one upright;

a cable channel member extending along the divider panel and having a passageway aligning with said recess in the at least one upright, said cable channel member including a base section having a wall that inclines relative to the plane of the divider panel, and which is below the passageway relative to a work top supported by the at least one upright;

a receptacle for terminating a cable mounted on said inclined wall; and

a cover member for the recess in the at least one upright to cover cables extending through the passage and the recess, the cover member forming a continuation of the at least one edge.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said cable channel member is below the divider panel, said cable channel member having an interior channel divider substantially aligning with the divider panel and forming passageways on each side of the plane of the divider panel.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said cable channel member has a hinged cover on the exterior of each of the passageways, said covers being on opposite sides of the plane of the divider panel, and work tops supported by the pairs of upright on opposite sides of the plane of the divider panel.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein said channel divider has openings therethrough to provide for an opening between the passageways of the cable channel.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein there is a support post in at least one of the openings in said channel divider, said support post terminating at a position spaced from other elements of the cable channel member to permit a cable to be looped over the end of the support post.

6. The structure of claim 4, wherein said base section has a recess for receiving a portion of the divider panel.

7. In a modular work station comprising a pair of uprights that are spaced laterally apart and have a work top supported thereon, the improvement comprising a cable channel member for carrying cabling between adjacent modular work stations, said cable channel member having a base, a channel divider member on the interior of the channel member, the base having an inclined wall between the work top and the channel divider member that extends upwardly in a direction away from a plane of the channel divider member, a passageway cover member hingedly connected to the base about a hinge axis extending between the uprights, said cover member cooperating with said channel divider member to form a passageway extending between the uprights, a "C"-shaped opening in at least a first upright opening to an edge thereof facing in a direction of the work top supported by the pair of uprights and positioned above the work top, said "C"-shaped opening aligning with the passageway such that cable can be laid into the passageway by opening the cover and moving the cable laterally into the "C"-shaped opening to an exterior side of the first upright, and a cap forming a continuation of an edge of the first upright for covering the "C"-shaped opening.

8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said cover latches to portions of the cable channel member in a closed position, and hinges downwardly toward the work top to an open position.

9. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said channel divider member has an upright support post having a free end over which the cable can be looped.

10. The improvement of claim 7, and at least one receptacle for terminating a cable mounted on said inclined wall.

11. The improvement of claim 9, wherein said pair of uprights support back to back work tops extending in opposite directions from the plane of the channel divider member, said base having walls inclined away from the work tops in opposite directions from the plane of the channel divider panel, and a second cover mounted on an opposite side of the plane from the first cover, said second cover being latchable relative to portions of the cable channel member on an opposite side of the plane from the first cover.

12. The improvement of claim 11, wherein a plurality of receptacles are mounted on the inclined walls for terminating lines in at least one cable in the cable channel member.

13. The improvement of claim 11, wherein there are two work stations, at least one of the pair of uprights supporting a portion of a second work top with the "C" shaped opening providing a lay in opening for a cable extending to the second work station from the first mentioned work station.