Worksurface support system with power and communication capability and front and rear access covers

• US 7,066,097 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Scott J., Gayhart, Jon W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, José V.
• Application Number:
  US10/355,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.6, 312/223.3, 312/194, 108/50.02, 108/50.01, 174/48, 174/49
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0082 Cable inlet in worktop or desk, e.g. grommet

Abstract

A table or desk includes a worksurface and leg structure, and a wire management arrangement located below the worksurface. The wire management arrangement includes upper and lower wire management members that support wires or cables for providing power and/or communication capability to the worksurface, and front and rear access covers which are movable between open and closed positions for providing access to the wire management members. The rear access cover provides access to the lower wire management member, and engages the upper wire management member when in the closed position. A portion of the upper wire management member above the rear access cover is exposed, to mount power outlets that can be accessed from the rear of the worksurface. The front access cover is engaged with the worksurface when in the closed position, and provides access to both the upper and lower wire management members when in the open position.

Claims

1. A desk, comprising:

a worksurface supported by leg structure, wherein the worksurface defines a front, a rear, and a downwardly facing underside;

a wire management arrangement located below the worksurface, wherein the wire management arrangement comprises an upper wire management member below the underside of the worksurface and a lower wire management member spaced below the upper wire management member; and

front and rear access covers, each of which is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the front and rear access covers are configured to provide access to the wire management arrangement from either the front or the rear of the desk, wherein at least one of the front and rear access covers comprises a pivotable unitary cover member that spans between the lower wire management member and the underside of the worksurface, wherein the unitary cover member in the open position provides access to both the upper wire management member and the lower wire management member, and in the closed position prevents access to both the upper wire management member and the lower wire management member.

2. The desk of claim 1, wherein the front access cover is the pivotable unitary cover member.

3. The desk of claim 2, wherein the rear access cover is pivotably mounted to the lower wire management member and is selectively engageable with the upper wire management member for maintaining the rear access cover in the closed position.

4. The desk of claim 3, wherein the front access cover is engageable with a catch arrangement associated with the underside of the worksurface for selectively maintaining the front access cover in the closed position.

5. The desk of claim 3, wherein the lower wire management member comprises an upwardly facing channel member defining a lower wall and a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending walls, and wherein the front and rear access covers are interconnected together and are mounted to the lower wire management member wherein the front and rear access members are spaced outwardly of the upwardly extending walls of the channel member.

6. The desk of claim 3, wherein a portion of the upper wire management member is exposed below the underside of the worksurface and above the rear access cover when the rear access cover is in the closed position, and wherein the exposed portion of the upper wire management member includes one or more power distribution receptacles that are accessible from the rear of the desk.

7. The desk of claim 3, wherein the rear access cover includes a deflectable engagement member adapted to engage a surface defined by the upper wire management member for releasably maintaining the rear access cover in the closed position.

8. The desk of claim 2, wherein the upper wire management member is adapted to support a power distribution system, and wherein the lower wire management member is adapted to support communication cables or wires.

9. The desk of claim 1, wherein the leg structure comprises a pair of legs, wherein each leg includes a foot member and a worksurface support member, wherein at least one of the legs includes an upright support member that extends between the foot member and the worksurface support member, and a wire cover located exteriorly of the upright support member and engaged therewith, wherein the wire cover defines an interior adapted to receive wires and to provide a passage for wires between the foot member and the worksurface support member.

10. The desk of claim 9, wherein the wire cover is engaged with the upright support member via a clip member secured to the upright support member and having releasable engagement structure engageable with the wire cover for releasably engaging the wire cover with the upright support member.

11. A desk, comprising:

a worksurface defining a front and a rear;

leg structure engaged with and supporting the worksurface, wherein the leg structure includes a pair of laterally spaced apart legs;

a wire management arrangement located below the worksurface, wherein the wire management arrangement includes vertically spaced apart lower and upper wire management members, wherein the lower wire management member defines a lower wire support and wherein the upper wire management member is located above the lower wire management member and defines an upper wire support;

wherein the upper wire management member is engaged with and supported by the worksurface and wherein the lower wire management member is engaged with and supported by the legs; and

a cover arrangement including a first movable cover member and a second movable cover member, wherein one of the movable cover members provides access to the wire management arrangement from the rear of the worksurface and the other of the movable cover members provides access to the wire management arrangement from the front of the worksurface.

12. The desk of claim 11, wherein one of the first and second movable cover members comprises a pivotable unitary cover member that spans between the lower wire management member and an underside defined by the worksurface, wherein the unitary cover member in the open position provides access to both the upper wire management member and the lower wire management member, and in the closed position prevents access to both the upper wire management member and the lower wire management member.

13. The desk of claim 12, wherein the pivotable unitary cover member comprises a front one of the movable cover members, and wherein the upper wire management member and rear one of the movable cover members are configured to provide access to the lower wire management member when the rear movable cover member is in the open position and to prevent access to the lower wire management member when the rear movable cover member is in the closed position.

14. The desk of claim 13, wherein the rear movable cover member and the upper wire management member include releasable retainer structure for releasably maintaining the rear movable cover member in the closed position.

15. The desk of claim 13, wherein the upper wire management member includes an upstanding, rearwardly facing mounting wall, wherein one or more electrical power receptacles are adapted for engagement with the mounting wall, and wherein the rear movable cover member is configured to engage the upper wire management member below the mounting wall such that at least a portion of the mounting wall including the one or more electrical power receptacles is exposed between the first movable cover member and the worksurface when the first movable cover member is in the closed position.

16. The desk of claim 12, wherein the first and second movable cover members are mounted to the lower wire management member for movement between the open and closed positions.

17. The desk of claim 16, wherein the first movable cover member is engageable with the upper wire management member to maintain the first movable cover member in the closed position, and wherein the second movable cover member is engageable with the underside defined by the worksurface to maintain the second movable cover member in the closed position.

18. The desk of claim 11, wherein the lower wire management member defines an upwardly open channel for receiving wires in a lay-in manner.