Cable manager for table

• US 6,410,855 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Berco Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Berco Tableworks Limited
• Inventors: Baum, Elliott W., Berkowitz, Rick, Chirea, Lucian N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKENHORST, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US09/494,473
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 174/101, 174/48, 174/72.A, 174/70.R, 174/99.R, 174/68.1, 248/58, 248/49, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/223.6, 220/334, 220/335, 220/337, 361/826, 108/50.02
• US Class Current: 174/101
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

A cable manager for mounting to the front edge of a table to secure and organize electrical cables associated with electronic devices, such as computer equipment, resting on the table. One embodiment of the novel cable organizer includes a modesty panel which has an integral bead retention channel extending the length of the top edge and a bead retention channel extending the length of the bottom edge and mounting brackets engaged in the top bead retention. The modesty panel includes a slide lock assembly extending outwardly from the back side. A substantially U-shaped cable containment channel is slidingly engaged in the slide lock assembly and the bottom bead retention channel. Another embodiment includes a raceway having a bottom wall, a rear wall and opposed end walls, the end walls each have aligned and complementary openings for the introduction of electrical cables into the raceway. A torsion spring biased hinge along the front edge of the raceway bottom wall is attached to a modesty panel which serves as a door to allow access to the cables in the raceway.

Claims

1. A cable manager for the attachment to the edge of a table for the containment of electric power cables associated with electronic devices resting on the table, the cable manager comprising:

a modesty panel, said modesty panel including a first end, a second end, an upper edge, and a lower edge;

a first integral bead retention channel at the upper edge of said modesty panel, at least one mounting bracket slidingly engaged in said first bead retention channel,

a second integral bead retention channel at said lower edge of said modesty panel,

a integral slide lock assembly adjacent said lower edge and spaced apart from said second bead retention channel; and

a cable containment trough slidingly engaged in both said slide lock assembly and said second bead retention channel.

2. The cable manager of claim 1 wherein said modesty panel and said cable containment trough are formed from extruded metal.

3. The cable manager of claim 2 wherein said slide lock assembly further comprises a first outwardly disposed flange and a second opposed outwardly disposed flange.

4. The cable manager of claim 1 where in said modesty panel has a substantially arcuate profile and including a recurved overhang.

5. The cable manager of claim 1 wherein the modesty panel includes a first end cap removeably attached to said first end and a second end cap removeably attached to said second end.

6. A cable manager for the attachment to the edge of a table for the containment of electric power cables associated with electronic devices resting on the table, the cable manager comprising:

an electrical cable containment raceway, said raceway including a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a front edge and a rear edge, a rear wall extending upwardly from said rear edge of said bottom wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, said first and second end walls each having at least one aligned and complementary slot opening to an edge of said end walls formed therein for the introduction of electrical cables into said raceway;

a first mounting bracket on said first end wall and a second mounting bracket on said second end wall, said first and second mounting brackets disposed to allow removable attachment of said raceway to a table;

a torsion spring-actuated hinge at said front edge of said bottom wall; and

a modesty panel attached to said hinge and moveable from an open position which allows access into said raceway to a closed position which closes off access into said raceway.

7. The cable manager of claim 6 wherein said modesty panel further includes an overhang along an upper edge thereof, said overhang disposed to serve as a handle when said modesty panel is moved from said open to said closed position or vice versa.

8. The cable manager of claim 6 wherein said modesty panel is formed from extruded aluminum.

9. The cable manager of claim 6 wherein said modesty panel has a first end cap at a first end and a second end cap at a second end.

10. The cable manager of claim 6 wherein the raceway further includes a wire duct.

11. The cable manager of claim 6 wherein said slot extending angularly towards an edge of the said end walls.

12. A cable manager for attachment to the edge of a table for the containment of electric power cables associated with electronic devices resting on the table, the cable manager comprising:

an electrical cable containment raceway, said raceway including a bottom wall, a front wall, and a back wall, said front and back walls attaching to said bottom wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall;

said first and second end walls each having at least one aligned and complementary angled slot opening to an edge of said end walls formed therein for the introduction of electric cables into said raceway;

a first mounting bracket on said first end wall, and a second mounting bracket on said second end wall, said first and second mounting brackets disposed perpendicularly to their respective end walls, and capable of removable attachment of said raceway to the edge of a table; and

said cable manager including a cavity formed therein and into which the various cables may be arranged, for attachment to the electronic devices resting upon the table and to conduct electrical energy thereto.

13. The cable manager of claim 12 wherein said raceway extends horizontally from the edge of a table.

14. The cable manager of claim 12 wherein said raceway extends vertically downwardly from the proximate edge of the table.

15. The cable manager of claim 12 wherein said front, rear, and bottom walls are fluted for structural strength reinforcement purposes.