Utility hub for post and beam furniture systems

• US 6,553,730 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pelman, Todd A., Atkins, Steve L., Zeh, Mark A., Yurchenco, James R., Mueller, Karl H., Eich, Thomas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US10/094,118
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 522/207, 522/205, 52/361, 522/39, 522/42, 524/81, 522/201, 160/351, 359/118, 439/654
• US Class Current: 52/220.5
• 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 utility hub for post and beam furniture systems includes a housing defining an interior space, having a radially disposed notch adapted to laterally receive a vertically extending post therein, and including at least first aperture adapted to allow access to an electrical power receptacle and at least one second aperture adapted to allow access to a communication receptacle. The utility hub also includes a divider member located within the interior space of the housing and substantially dividing the interior space into a first section that includes the first aperture, and a second section that includes the second aperture, and a housing insert located within the notch of the housing, operably connected to the housing, and cooperating with the housing to define a central aperture adapted to receive the post therein.

Claims

1. A utility hub for use in a post and beam furniture system, comprising:

a housing defining an interior space, having a radially disposed notch adapted to laterally receive a vertically extending post therein, and including at least one first aperture adapted to allow access to an electrical power receptacle and at least one second aperture adapted to allow access to a communication receptacle;

a divider member located within the interior space of the housing and substantially dividing the interior space into a first section that includes the first aperture, and a second section that includes the second aperture; and

a housing insert located within the notch of the housing, operably connected to the housing, and cooperating with the housing to define a central aperture adapted to receive the post therein.

2. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein the housing insert partially defines the interior space of the housing.

3. The utility hub of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a base and a cover operably connected to the base, and wherein the base and the cover cooperate to define the interior space.

4. The utility hub of claim 3, wherein housing and the housing insert cooperate to form a disk-shape.

5. The utility hub of claim 4, wherein the at least one first aperture includes a plurality of first apertures spaced circumferentially about the base of the housing.

6. The utility hub of claim 5, wherein the at least one second aperture includes a plurality of second apertures space circumferentially about the cover of the housing.

7. The utility hub of claim 6, wherein each of the first apertures are defined a plurality of corresponding sleeves that extend downwardly from an outer surface of the housing.

8. The utility hub of claim 7, wherein the central aperture includes a plurality of planar walls that cooperate to form a substantially octagon shape.

9. The utility hub of claim 8, wherein the housing insert includes an aperture adapted to receive wiring therethrough.

10. The utility hub of claim 9, wherein the housing inserting includes an upper portion and a lower portion that operably connects to the upper portion.

11. The utility hub of claim 10, wherein the lower portion of the housing insert includes the aperture adapted to receive wiring therethrough.

12. The utility hub of claim 9, wherein the housing insert includes an outwardly extending collar extending about the aperture and adapted to receive a utility tube therein.

13. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a base and a cover operably connected to the base, and wherein the base and the cover cooperate to define the interior space.

14. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein housing and the housing insert cooperate to form a disk-shape.

15. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein the at least one first aperture includes a plurality of first apertures spaced circumferentially about the housing.

16. The utility hub of claim 15, wherein each of the first apertures are defined a plurality of corresponding sleeves that extend downwardly from an outer surface of the housing.

17. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein the at least one second aperture includes a plurality of second apertures space circumferentially about the housing.

18. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein the central aperture includes a plurality of vertically oriented planar walls that cooperate to form a substantially octagon shape.

19. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein the housing insert includes an aperture adapted to receive wiring therethrough.

20. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein the housing inserting includes an upper portion and a lower portion that operably connects to the upper portion.

21. The utility hub of claim 1, wherein the housing insert includes the aperture adapted to receive wiring therethrough.

22. The utility hub of claim 21, wherein the housing insert includes an outwardly extending collar extending about the aperture and adapted to receive a utility tube therein.

24. The utility hub of claim 22, wherein the housing insert partially defines the interior space of the housing.

25. The utility hub of claim 24, wherein the housing insert includes an aperture in communication with the passage of the utility tube.

26. The utility hub of claim 25, wherein the housing insert includes a first collar that receives a first end of the utility tube therein.

27. The utility hub of claim 26, wherein the first collar extends upwardly from the housing insert.

28. The utility hub of claim 27, further including:

a retainer operably connected to a second end of the utility tube.

29. The utility hub of claim 28, wherein the retainer includes a second collar the receives a second end of the utility tube.

30. The utility hub of claim 29, further including:

a plurality of connectors adapted to connected the utility tube to the post.

31. The utility hub of claim 30, wherein the central aperture includes a plurality of planar walls that cooperate to form a substantially octagon shape.

23. A utility hub assembly for use in a post and beam furniture system, comprising:

a housing defining an interior space, having a radially disposed notch adapted to laterally receive a vertically extending post therein, and including at least one first aperture adapted to allow access to an electrical power receptacle and at least one second aperture adapted to allow access to a communication receptacle;

a divider member located within the interior space of the housing and substantially dividing the interior space into a first section that includes the first aperture, and a second section that includes the second aperture;

a housing insert located within the notch of the housing, operably connected to the housing, and cooperating with the housing to define a central aperture adapted to receive the post therein; and

a utility tube defining a central passage and operably connected with a select one of the housing and the housing insert such that the central passage of the utility tube is in communication with the interior space of the housing.

32. The utility hub of claim 23, wherein the housing insert includes an aperture in communication with the passage of the utility tube.

33. The utility hub of claim 23, wherein the housing insert includes a first collar that receives a first end of the utility tube therein.

34. The utility hub of claim 33, wherein the first collar extends upwardly from the housing insert.

35. The utility hub of claim 23, further including:

a retainer operably connected to a second end of the utility tube.

36. The utility hub of claim 35, wherein the retainer includes a second collar the receives a second end of the utility tube.

37. The utility hub of claim 23, further including:

a plurality of connectors adapted to connected the utility tube to the post.

38. The utility hub of claim 23, wherein the central aperture includes a plurality of planar walls that cooperate to form a substantially octagon shape.