Wiring of a modular furniture system

• US 6,830,468 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Usm Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Usm Holding AG
• Inventors: Schaerer, Alexander, Gerber, André, Cassani, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung-Trans, Xuong
• Application Number:
  US10/276,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 439/215, 439/210, 439/211, 174/48, 174/49
• US Class Current: 439/215
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0437 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/38 the cables or lines being installed in preestablished conduits or ducts

Abstract

Electrification of a furniture system which has a plurality of structural elements, formed for receiving functional furniture units, comprises multiple plugs (21 or 31) which can be fastened to a part of the structural element and cables (22 or 32) which are carried on a part of the structural element. The cables (22 or 32) have a predetermined length and serve as an electrical connection between multiple plugs (21 or 31) of two neighboring structural elements. The structural elements are preferably closed frames (1, 2 or 19), which are formed from at least two vertical longitudinal struts (5 or 6) and at least two horizontally connecting stays (3 or 4). The multiple plugs (21 or 31) are clipped on the longitudinal struts (5 or 6), in longitudinal slots (7) arranged therein, in such a way that they can be displaced along the longitudinal slots (7). A set incrementation or a fastening means protruding from the longitudinal struts (5 or 6) may also be provided.

Claims

1. A modular furniture system with electrification, comprising:

a plurality of structural elements formed for receiving functional furniture units, each of the structural elements forming a closed, vertical rectangular frame comprising two vertical longitudinal struts and two stays horizontally connecting them, where the electrification has at least one multiple plug which can be fastened to one of the vertical longitudinal struts and cables of a predetermined length which are held on one of the stays as an electrical connection between multiple plugs of two neighboring structural elements.

2. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of structural elements the electrification takes place from a first side and the at least one multiple plug is fastened to the vertical longitudinal strut on a second side, opposite to the first side, where an orientation of the first side and of the second side is the same for every structural element.

3. The modular furniture system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrification additionally has at least one button or switch or sensor which can be fastened to a part of the structural element.

4. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein the multiple plug and the button or switch can be displaceably fastened to a part of the structural element.

5. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal struts have on sides which are aligned parallel to a plane formed by the rectangular frame fastening means for the multiple plug and/or the button or switch.

6. The modular furniture system according to claim 5, wherein the fastening means are slots running in the longitudinal direction.

7. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein the cables electrically connecting the multiple plugs of two neighboring structural elements are held in a cable carrier arranged on the stay.

8. The modular furniture system according to claim 7, wherein the cable carrier is designed in such a way that it can be clipped onto the stay by means of a snap mechanism.

9. The modular furniture system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the cable carrier is a dish in the form of a duct having at least on one side an edge leaving a free space between the stay and the edge.

10. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein the cables have a length which corresponds to a length of a stay plus one fifth to a complete length of a longitudinal strut.

11. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein a holder which can be detachably fastened on the at least one multiple plug for acting as control elements.

12. The modular furniture system according to claim 11, wherein the control elements are provided for cabling on the basis of European Installation Bus (EIB), Digital Addressable Lightning Interface (DALI), or Local Area Network (LAN).

13. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein the multiple plug has a housing and an exchangeable multiple coupling insert.

14. The modular furniture system according to claim 13, wherein the housing has, on at least one outer side, a clip-in mechanism for fastening to a part of the structural element.

15. The modular furniture system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the housing has on the inside at least one clip-in mechanism for fastening the multiple coupling insert in the housing.

16. The modular furniture system according to one of claim 13 or 14, wherein the housing has on at least one side at least one recess for fastening another multiple plug.

17. The modular furniture system according to one of claim 13 or 14, wherein the housing has a tubular form, in particular that of a prism, without any termination underneath and on top.

18. The modular furniture system according to one of claim 13 or 14, wherein the multiple coupling insert has at least one incoming feed and at least two taps.

19. The modular furniture system according to one of claim 13 or 14, wherein the multiple coupling insert has a clip-in mechanism for fastening in the housing.