Modular furniture wall system and method for telecommunications equipment and wire management in an open office architecture
First Claim
1. A modular furniture wall system useful in providing active telecommunications equipment and wire management in an open office architecture, the wall system comprising:
- an upright oriented supporting frame including opposing horizontal and vertical frame members fixedly joined to form a rectangular opening sufficient for receiving an electronic circuit package therein, wherein each of the frame members include at least one pair of parallel surfaces;
first and second opposing U-shaped members fixedly attached to the opposing vertical frame members, respectively, wherein the at least one pair of parallel surfaces is received within a slot formed between opposing legs of the U-shaped member;
a first L-shaped member adjustable connected to a second L-shaped member for providing a channel between extending first and second legs thereof, the first and second L-shaped members adjustable secured to the opposing horizontal frame members and positioned between the first and second opposing U-shaped members;
an opposing pair of shelf elements mounted to opposing surfaces of the U-shaped member and the L-shaped member, respectively, each of the opposing pair of shelf elements having a horizontal surface for supporting an electronic circuit package thereon;
an electronic circuit package having opposing front and rear surfaces including electrical connectors thereon, the electronic circuit package mounted to the opposing pair of shelf elements for placing the front and rear surfaces within generally horizontal planes;
electric wire routed from the electronic circuit package through the channel and outward from the frame;
opposing first and second cover panels supported by the frame, the cover panels covering the opening thereof to enclose the electronic circuit package and wire therein.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular furniture wall system includes active telecommunications equipment and wire management in an open office architecture and effectively provides a telecommunications closet as part of the office furniture. Slip-fit styled U-shaped members are attached to vertical frame members which form a rectangular opening within the furniture frame. L-shaped members are adjustable connected to each other and between the U-shaped members for providing a channel for routing wire between extending legs of the L-shaped members and a spaced support for the mounting of standard electrical equipment. Opposing pairs of shelf elements are carried by opposing surfaces of the U-shaped member and the L-shaped member, respectively, with each of the opposing pair of shelf elements having a horizontal surface for supporting equipment such as active telecommunications switches, patch panels and cross-connects with their front surfaces facing upward. Wiring is routed from the electrical equipment through the channel, wire holders carried by the U-shaped members and through apertures within the L-shaped members. Thermally insulated cover panels having a recessed surface portion for providing a wire pathway between the cover panel and frame are supported by the frame, as is typical for such modular furniture, and enclose the wire, switch, panels, and other desired electronic equipment within the frame. Grounding wire is electrically connected between the frame, the U-shaped members, and the L-shaped members for providing a grounding connection therebetween, in addition to the grounding provided through the use of conductive elements used to construct the system.
62 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A modular furniture wall system useful in providing active telecommunications equipment and wire management in an open office architecture, the wall system comprising:
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an upright oriented supporting frame including opposing horizontal and vertical frame members fixedly joined to form a rectangular opening sufficient for receiving an electronic circuit package therein, wherein each of the frame members include at least one pair of parallel surfaces;
first and second opposing U-shaped members fixedly attached to the opposing vertical frame members, respectively, wherein the at least one pair of parallel surfaces is received within a slot formed between opposing legs of the U-shaped member;
a first L-shaped member adjustable connected to a second L-shaped member for providing a channel between extending first and second legs thereof, the first and second L-shaped members adjustable secured to the opposing horizontal frame members and positioned between the first and second opposing U-shaped members;
an opposing pair of shelf elements mounted to opposing surfaces of the U-shaped member and the L-shaped member, respectively, each of the opposing pair of shelf elements having a horizontal surface for supporting an electronic circuit package thereon;
an electronic circuit package having opposing front and rear surfaces including electrical connectors thereon, the electronic circuit package mounted to the opposing pair of shelf elements for placing the front and rear surfaces within generally horizontal planes;
electric wire routed from the electronic circuit package through the channel and outward from the frame;
opposing first and second cover panels supported by the frame, the cover panels covering the opening thereof to enclose the electronic circuit package and wire therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A modular furniture wall system useful in providing active telecommunications equipment and wire management in an open office architecture, the wall system comprising:
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an upright oriented supporting frame including opposing horizontal and vertical frame members fixedly joined to form a rectangular opening sufficient for receiving an electronic circuit package therein, wherein each of the frame members include at least one pair of parallel surfaces;
first and second opposing U-shaped members fixedly attached to the opposing vertical frame members, respectively, wherein the at least one pair of parallel surfaces is received within a slot formed between opposing legs of the U-shaped member;
a first L-shaped member adjustable connected to a second L-shaped member for providing a channel between extending first and second legs thereof, the first and second L-shaped members adjustable secured to the opposing horizontal frame members and positioned between the first and second opposing U-shaped members;
an opposing pair of shelf elements mounted to opposing surfaces of the U-shaped member and the L-shaped member, respectively, for supporting an electronic circuit package thereon; and
opposing first and second cover panels supported by the frame, the cover panels covering the opening thereof to enclose the electronic circuit package and wire therein. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A modular furniture wall system useful in providing active telecommunications equipment and wire management in an open office architecture, the wall system comprising:
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an upright oriented supporting frame including opposing horizontal and vertical frame members fixedly joined to form a rectangular opening sufficient for receiving an electronic circuit package therein, wherein each of the frame members include at least one pair of parallel surfaces;
first and second opposing bracket members fixedly attached to the opposing vertical frame members;
an opposing pair of shelf elements mounted to opposing surfaces of the bracket members, respectively, for supporting an electronic circuit package thereon; and
an electronic circuit package having opposing front and rear surfaces including electrical connectors thereon, the electronic circuit package mounted to the opposing pair of shelf elements for placing the front and rear surfaces within generally horizontal planes;
opposing first and second cover panels supported by the frame, the cover panels covering the opening thereof to enclose the electronic circuit package and wire therein. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for converting a modular furniture wall into an active telecommunications equipment and wire management system for an open office architecture, wherein the wall includes an upright supporting frame having opposing horizontal and vertical frame members defining a rectangular opening sufficient for receiving an electronic circuit package therein, and opposing cover panels enclosing the frame, the method comprising the steps of:
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removing the opposing cover panels from the frame;
providing first and second U-shaped members for fitting onto the vertical frame members;
fitting the first and second U-shaped members onto the opposing vertical frame members, wherein the vertical frame members are received within a slot formed between opposing legs of the U-shaped member;
fixedly attaching the first and second U-shaped members to the opposing vertical frame members, respectively;
placing first and second L-shaped members between the first and second opposing U-shaped members for providing a channel between extending first and second legs thereof;
adjustably securing the first L-shaped member and a second L-shaped member to the opposing horizontal frame members for providing a spaced relation to the opposing U-shaped members sufficient for receiving an electronic circuit package therebetween;
providing an electronic circuit package having opposing front and rear surfaces including electrical connectors thereon;
mounting the electronic circuit package between a selected U-shaped member and opposing L-shaped member for placing the front and rear surfaces within generally horizontal planes;
routing wire from the electronic circuit package through the channel and outward from the frame; and
removably attaching the cover panels to the frame. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification