Partition wiring system

• US 6,575,777 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Keith A., Hibler, Jennifer L., Henriott, Jay M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US10/000,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 431/215, 431/440, 431/49, 431/211, 431/92, 431/170, 431/222, 431/640, 431/535, 431/557, 431/717, 431/573, 431/209, 439/654, 439/105, 439/107, 174/53, 174/50.52, 174/59
• US Class Current: 439/215
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64

Abstract

An electrified partition system having a plurality of panels interconnected with each other to form a plurality of work spaces. A plurality of receptacles are mounted in raceways located in the panels with each receptacle including a housing and a plurality of conductors extending from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing. The conductors terminate in respective terminals and define individual circuits. At least one electrical socket is disposed in a face of each of the receptacle housings and include a plurality of connectors positioned behind respective apertures in the housing face to receive a standard multi-pronged electrical plug. The connectors are connected to respective conductors which are fewer in number than the plurality of conductors so that some of the conductors pass through the housing electrically isolated from the connectors. Multi-circuit cables connect the terminals of the receptacles to form an electrical network.

Claims

1. An electrified partition system comprising:

a plurality of panels interconnected with each other to form a plurality of work spaces;

a plurality of receptacles mounted in raceways in said panels, each said receptacle comprising a housing and a plurality of conductors extending from one end of said housing to the other end of said housing and terminating in respective terminals, said conductors defining individual circuits;

at least one electrical plug socket in a face of each of said receptacle housings, each said plug socket comprising a plurality of connectors aligned with respective apertures in said housing face to thereby receive a standard multi-pronged electrical plug, said connectors connected to respective said conductors fewer in number than said plurality of conductors extending through said housing so that some of said conductors pass through said housing electrically isolated from said connectors;

multi-circuit cables removably electrically connected to said receptacles to form an electrical network; and

a connector module having a first socket removably connected to one of said multi-circuit cables and a pair of second sockets removably and directly electrically connected to a pair of respective said receptacles with their respective plug sockets facing in opposite directions.

2. The partition system of claim 1 including ten said conductors extending through said housing.

3. The partition system of claim 1 including eight said conductors extending through said housing.

4. The partition system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said receptacles is a duplex receptacle having two of said sockets therein, wherein one of said sockets is connected to a conductor of one circuit and the other of said sockets is connected to a conductor of a different circuit.

5. The partition system of claim 4, wherein said second pair of sockets extend generally parallel to each other in a common direction, and said pair of receptacles are disposed in a back to back arrangement relative to each other.

6. The partition system of claim 1, wherein said second pair of sockets extend generally parallel to each other in a common direction, and said pair of receptacles are disposed in a back to back arrangement relative to each other.

7. The partition system of claim 6 wherein said connector module is generally H-shaped.

8. The partition system of claim 1 wherein:

two of said panels are connected perpendicularly to each other;

said pair of receptacles are mounted in one of said two panels; and

said connector module includes a further socket removably connected to a said multi-circuit cable that extends into the other of said two perpendicularly connected panels.

9. The partition system of claim 8, wherein said second pair of sockets extend generally parallel to each other in a common direction, and said pair of receptacles are disposed in a back to back arrangement relative to each other.

10. The partition system of claim 8 wherein said further socket extends generally parallel to said first socket and faces in a common direction therewith.

11. An electrified partition system comprising:

a plurality of panels interconnected with each other to form a plurality of work spaces wherein two of said panels are connected perpendicularly to each other;

a plurality of receptacles mounted in raceways in said panels, each said receptacle comprising a housing and a plurality of conductors extending from one end of said housing to the other end of said housing and terminating in respective terminals, said conductors defining individual circuits;

at least one electrical plug socket in a face of each of said receptacle housings, each said plug socket comprising a plurality of connectors aligned with respective apertures in said housing face to thereby receive a standard multi-pronged electrical plug, said connectors connected to respective said conductors fewer in number than said plurality of conductors extending through said housing so that some of said conductors pass through said housing electrically isolated from said connectors;

multi-circuit cables electrically connected to said receptacles to form an electrical network; and

a connector module having a first socket removably connected to one of said multi-circuit cables and a further socket removably connected to another said multi-circuit cable that extends into one of said two perpendicularly connected panels;

said connector module having a further socket removably connected to a said receptacle mounted in the other of said perpendicularly connected panels.

12. An electrified partition system comprising:

a plurality of panels interconnected with each other to form a plurality of work spaces;

a plurality of receptacles mounted in raceways in said panels, each said receptacle comprising a housing and a plurality of conductors extending from one end of said housing to the other end of said housing and terminating in respective terminals, said conductors defining individual circuits; and

at least one electrical plug socket in a face of each of said receptacle housings, each said plug socket comprising a plurality of connectors aligned with respective apertures in said housing face to thereby receive a standard multi-pronged electrical plug, said connectors connected to respective said conductors fewer in number than said plurality of conductors extending through said housing so that some of said conductors pass through said housing electrically isolated from said connectors;

multi-circuit cables electrically connected to said receptacles to form an electrical network;

wherein at least one of said receptacles is a duplex receptacle having two said plug sockets therein, wherein one of said plug sockets is connected to a conductor of one circuit and the other of said plug sockets is connected to a conductor of a different circuit.