Modular system of power and data delivery components and method of setting up and utilizing the components in a work space environment

• US 7,357,086 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Gennrich, David James, Lindeman, William Charles, Nelipovich, Richard A., Petrick, Chris, Chase, Kent Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US10/619,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20040082334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/64, 312/223.6, 312/196, 312/195, 312/223.3, 52/361, 522/207, 522/208
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0493 Service poles

Abstract

A modular system of power and data components comprising a substation having power and data ports is provided. The system includes channels releasably connectable to the substation and supports. The substation, channels and supports are releasably and rotatably connected to permit the system to be formed in almost infinite combinations to accommodate numerous office or work space configurations. The system is used in conjunction with tables, screens and other furniture to form a fully and easily adjustable office or work space set-up to accommodate any office or work space situation and to allow quick change to accommodate changes in the initial office or work space set-up.

Claims

1. A modular system of power and/or data and/or communications components comprising:

a first structure into which at least one of data, power or communications means is brought into the modular system and distributed;

at least one work station;

at least one second structure, having a first end and a second end, the second structure spanning between a first structure and a work station with the first end being located proximate the first structure and the second end being located proximate the at least one work station, for accepting the at least one data, power or communications means and making at least one of data, power or communications means available to the at least one work station; and

at least one connection means on the second structure at the first end and/or the second end, pivotally connected to either the first structure or the at least one work station or both, allowing the first structure and the at least one work station to be spaced apart by the length of the at least one second structure, along a rotational arc generally parallel to the surface that the first structure and the at least one work station are on, having a locus at the point of connection to the first structure and/or the at least one work station, the work station being movable to a plurality of locations apart from the first structure by the length of the second structure, while in connection therewith, whereby the first structure and the at least one work station can remain in data, power or communications connection, throughout a configuration and a subsequent reconfiguration of the modular system of the first and second structure, through the second structure.

2. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the first structure is one of a group comprising a substation and a support.

3. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the at least one second structure is one of a group comprising a substation, a support, an umbilical, a parrot, a channel or a support.

4. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the data, power and communications means are all brought into the first structure and are all distributed to the second structure.

5. A modular system of power, data and communications components comprising:

a substation having power and data ports, for connection respectively to power and data carrier means, and means to connect said ports to, respectively, a source of power and at least one communication data source;

at least one work station;

at least one channel releasably connectable to said substation, said channel comprising a proximal end and a distal end and means to carry power and data from said substation therethrough;

at least one connection means on the at least one channel, at the proximal end and/or the distal end, pivotally connected to either the substation or the at least one work station or both, allowing the substation and the at least one work station to be spaced apart by the length of the at least one channel, along a rotational arc generally parallel to the surface that the substation and the at least one work station are on, having a locus at the point of connection to the substation and/or the at least one work station, the work station being movable to a plurality of locations apart from the substation by the length of the channel, while in connection therewith, whereby the substation and the at least one work station can remain in data, power or communications connection, throughout a configuration and a subsequent reconfiguration of the modular system through the channel.

6. The modular system of claim 5, wherein said channel and substation are connected such that said channel can rotate in relation to said substation.

7. The modular system of claim 5, wherein said channel and support are connected such that said channel can rotate in relation to said support.

8. The modular system of claim 5, wherein said channel and substation are connected such that said channel can rotate in relation to said substation and said channel and support are connected such that said channel can rotate in relation to said support.

9. A method of providing a configurable and easily reconfigurable work space, having power or data or communication means, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one first structure for receiving at least one of data, power and communications means;

providing at least one work station;

providing at least one second structure, having a first end and a second end, the second structure spanning between a first structure and the at least one work station with the first end being located proximate the first structure and the second end being located proximate the at least one work station, for accepting the at least one of data, power or communications means and making at least one of data, power or communications means available to the at least one work station; and

providing at least one connection means on the second structure at the first end and/or the second end, pivotally connected to either the first structure or the at least one work station or both, allowing the first structure and the at least one work station to be spaced apart by the length of the at least one second structure along a rotational arc generally parallel to the surface that the first structure and the at least one work station are on, having a locus at the point of connection to the first structure and/or the at least one work station, the work station being movable to a plurality of locations apart from the first structure by the length of the second structure, while in connection therewith, whereby the first structure and the at least one work station can remain in data, power or communications connection, throughout a configuration and a subsequent reconfiguration of the work space through the second structure.

10. The method of claim 9, including the steps of providing at least one third structure for receiving the at least one of data, power and communications means and providing access to the means to the work space.

11. The method of claim 9 including providing at least one table for use in the work space.

12. The method of claim 9 including providing at least one screen.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one structure is one of the group comprising at least one substation, at least one channel and at least one support.

14. The method of claim 13 including the step of providing at least one table and the at least one screen as desired about the system;

and

laying power cables and data cables within the system such that data and power are available where desired within the office or work space system.

15. The method of providing an office or work space environment of claim 13, including providing a coverable opening along the length of the at least one channel, the channel comprising a first end and a second end, the opening being disposed to have power and data cables operably placed within the channel by being simply laid in the opening from the first end of the channel to the second end of the channel.

16. The method of providing an office or work space environment of claim 13, including providing attachment means to the substation and support, the attachment means including rotating means, such that the support may be spaced apart from the substation at any point away from the substation and a channel may span from the substation to the support.

17. The method of providing an office or work space environment of claim 13, including providing a single substation and a plurality of supports and channels, such that a large office or work space environment is created.

18. The method of claim 9 including the step of providing means to drop power and communication means from the ceiling of the work environment to the at least one structure.