Floor-wiring structure and floor members for storing cable in such structure

• US 6,076,315 A
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Kondo, Naohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Application Number:
  US08/921,058
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 52/220.1, 52/220.5, 52/220.3, 52/220.7, 24/306, 24/442
• US Class Current: 52/220.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2097/003 Cable holders; cable organisers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/285 in modular floors, e.g. access floors

Abstract

In the floor-wiring structure for wiring a cable, a space is secured for storing a surplus part of the cable. Cable-cutting work and end portion conditioning on the working site are thus dispensed with and the surplus part of the cable is easily stored. The structure comprises unitary floor members having a pathway channel. Some of the unitary floor members are replaced by a floor member for storing part of the cable. The latter floor member comprises an upwardly opened space for storing part of the cable, entrance-and-exit ports thereto or therefrom, a guide provided in the space for storing cable for maintaining the cable in a looped state and a cable-fixing band provided in the same space for fixing the cable in a freely removable way.

Claims

1. A floor wiring structure for routing wiring material and storing wiring material having a surplus cable portion, said floor wiring structure comprising:

a base member;

a plurality of first unitary floor members having a pathway channel and being constructed and arranged on said base member in a generally checkered pattern so as to form at least one wiring pathway to receive said wiring material;

a second floor member for storing a portion of said at least one cable, said second floor member replacing at least one of said unitary floor members and comprising an upwardly-opening space defined by a bottom part and four side walls for storing said surplus portion of said at least one cable, said space comprising at least one guide formed in a cylindrical shape and projecting from said bottom part of said space and being constructed and arranged so that said wiring material may be wound and kept therearound, said space comprising a cover guide, and said space comprising at least one cable entrance and at least one cable exit; and

a fixing system;

said guide having an upper surface and having a radially extending flange and said cover guide having an upper surface, constructed and arranged to support a cover;

said floor wiring structure being constructed and arranged so that, when said wiring material is provided in said wiring pathways, said surplus cable part may be led into and looped around said guide within said space for storing said surplus cable portion of said at least one cable, and fixed to said floor member by said fixing system.

2. A floor wiring structure according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of first unitary floor members are constructed and arranged in a generally checkered pattern so as to form at least two intersecting wiring pathways to be occupied by said wiring material.

3. A floor-wiring structure according to claim 1, wherein said first unitary floor member and said second floor member for storing a portion of said at least one cable have the same general shape and dimension.

4. A floor member for use in the floor-wiring structure according to claim 1, wherein said space for storing said surplus portion of said at least one cable comprises a cable entrance and a cable exit in said side walls and a fixing system provided in said space for fixing said wiring material in a freely removable way.

8. A floor member according to claim 4, wherein said fixing system comprises a clamping element.

9. A floor member according to claim 4, wherein said fixing system comprises a plurality of stopper-pins projecting from said bottom part of said space and arranged in a predetermined pattern.

10. A floor member according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of guides.

11. A floor member according to claim 10, comprising four guides.

5. A floor member according to claimed 4, wherein said fixing system comprises a tape having two end portions, each of said end portions being provided with a corresponding securing portion.

6. A floor member according to claim 5, wherein each of said end portions is provided with a corresponding adhesive portion.

7. A floor member according to claim 5, wherein each of said end portions is provided with a corresponding hook-and-loop fastening portion.

12. A floor wiring structure for routing wiring material and storing wiring material having a surplus cable portion, said floor wiring structure comprising:

a base member;

a plurality of first unitary floor members having a pathway channel and being constructed and arranged on said base member in a generally checkered pattern so as to form at least one wiring pathway to receive said wiring material;

a second floor member for storing a portion of said at least one cable, said second floor member replacing at least one of said unitary floor members and comprising an upwardly-opening space defined by a bottom part and four side walls for storing said surplus portion of said at least one cable, said space comprising at least one guide formed in a cylindrical shape and projecting from said bottom part of said space and being constructed and arranged so that said wiring material may be wound and kept therearound, said space comprising a cover guide, and said space comprising at least one cable entrance and at least one cable exit; and

a fixing system;

said guide having an upper surface and having a radially extending flange and said cover guide having an upper surface, constructed and arranged to support a cover, each of said upper surface of said guide having a cylindrical shape and said upper surface of said cover guide being substantially the same distance from said bottom portion of said space and;

said floor wiring structure being constructed and arranged so that, when said wiring material is provided in said wiring pathways, said surplus cable part may be led into and looped around said glide within said space for storing said surplus cable portion of said at least one cable, and fixed to said floor member by said fixing system.

13. In combination, a floor wiring system of claim 12 and a transparent cover, supported by said upper surface of said guide having a cylindrical shape and said upper surface of said cover guide.