Electrical housing for modular office furniture

• US 6,481,678 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1999
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LaSalle Bank National Association (Bank of America Corp.)
• Original Assignee: The Marvel Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Chong, Jonathan Chee Yeen
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US09/398,220
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.42, 248/220.43, 248/220.22, 248/221.11, 248/225.51, 248/223.41, 248/224--22, 248/225.11, 248/225.21, 248/241-243, 248/297.21, 248/220.31, 211/191-192, 211/94.01
• US Class Current: 248/220.42
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

Abstract

A modular office system incorporating a housing bracket for retaining wiring running through the office system. The bracket includes a pair of cooperating housing members adapted to be secured to a support member of the furniture. The housing members are joined to form a passageway through which the wires are run. The housing bracket is detachably connected to the support for simple relocation. Hooks on each of the housing members are received in corresponding slots of the support member. The housing members are joined by a fastener to form the wire passageway. A mounting plate secured to the bracket can be used to mount accessories such as power strips within the modular furniture assembly.

Claims

1. A retaining bracket adapted to be removably mounted to a frame member of an office system, said retaining bracket comprising:

a first bracket having a housing adapted to cooperate with the frame member to form a first passageway, said first bracket including a pair of legs oriented in a first direction adapted to be received in corresponding slots of the frame member, whereby said first passageway extends substantially between said pair of legs of said first bracket;

a second bracket having a housing adapted to cooperate with the frame member to form a second passageway, said second bracket including an extension matingly received within said first bracket and a pair of legs oriented in a second direction adapted to be received in corresponding slots of the frame member, whereby said second passageway extends substantially between said pair of legs of said second bracket;

means for fastening said first and second brackets such that said extension is matingly disposed within said first bracket and said legs of said first and second brackets are opposingly oriented to prevent separation and maintain said bracket on the frame member; and

said first and second passageways of said brackets align forming a passageway through said retaining brackets for retaining components of the office system.

2. The retaining bracket as defined in claim 1 wherein said first bracket and said extension of said second bracket include openings for receiving said fastening means.

3. The retaining bracket as defined in claim 2 wherein said opening in said first bracket is an elongated slot to facilitate sliding adjustment of said first bracket relative to said second bracket.

4. The retaining bracket as defined in claim 1 and further comprising a mounting plate detachably secured to said first and second brackets.

5. The retaining bracket as defined in claim 4 wherein said mounting plate is mounted to said first and second brackets by said fastening means.

6. The retaining bracket as defined in claim 4 wherein said mounting plate secures a switch housing to said first and second brackets, said switch housing positionally captured between said mounting plate and said first and second brackets.

7. The retaining bracket as defined in claim 4 wherein said mounting plate includes a pair of parallel lateral flanges.

8. A retaining bracket adapted to be removably mounted to a frame member of an office system, the frame member having a plurality of parallel slots and the office system having at least one utility wire, said retaining bracket comprising:

a first bracket having a housing adapted to cooperate with the frame member to form a first passageway, said first bracket including a pair of parallel legs having hooks oriented in a first direction adapted to be received in a pair of slots of the frame member whereby said first passageway extends substantially between said parallel legs of said first bracket;

a second bracket having a housing adapted to cooperate with the frame member to form a second passageway, said second bracket including an extension matingly received within said first bracket and a pair of parallel legs having hooks oriented in a second direction opposing said first hooks and adapted to be received in a pair of slots of the frame member whereby said second passageway extends substantially between said parallel legs of said second bracket; and

means for fastening said first and second brackets such that said extension is matingly disposed within said first bracket and said hooks of said first and second brackets are opposingly oriented to prevent separation and maintaining said bracket on the frame member, said first and second passageways of said brackets forming a continuous passageway adapted to receive the at least one utility wire extending therethrough, said fastening means securing a switch housing to said first and second bracket and the frame member.