Modular electrical distribution system for a building

• US 7,648,379 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Ross, Wilson, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phuong
• Application Number:
  US12/228,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20090053926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 439/215, 439/214, 439/505, 439/540.1, 174/72.A
• US Class Current: 439/215
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/16 Rails or bus-bars provided with a plurality of discrete connecting locations for counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/38 the cables or lines being installed in preestablished conduits or ducts

Abstract

A universal power distribution system is provided for routing electrical circuits within a building structure to comprehensively provide electrical power to the building in ceiling configurations, wall-mounted configurations, raised floor configurations and in office furniture configurations. The system components for all of these configurations have common plug connectors that are engagable with each other so as to be readily usable in a wide variety of applications. The system is readily adaptable to form virtually any conventional circuit configuration found within conventional hard-wired systems yet is formed simply through the routing of the cables through the building cavities and interconnection is accomplished merely by plugging components together rather than through labor-intensive manual wiring.

Claims

1. A building power wiring system comprising:

flexible, elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each said cable includes one or both of an A-end connector on said A-end of said cable and a multi-connector configuration of at least two B-end connectors on the opposite B-end thereof wherein the number of B-end connectors on said B-end is greater than the number of A-end connectors on said B-end, said cables having mating structures to allow any said A-end connector to connect to any said B-end connector but said mating structures do not allow said A-end connector to connect with any other said A-end connector or said B-end connector to connect to any other said B-end connector;

a box fixture having an A-end connector; and

one or more fixture boxes each provided with a plurality of connector mounts which allow for the interconnection of a plurality of said cables thereto, said connector mounts at least permitting said B-end connectors in said multi-connector configuration of a first said cable to be fixedly attached to said fixture box for routing of electrical power to said fixture box so that said B-end connectors are accessible in said fixture box for connection of said box fixture to a respective one of said B-end connectors, the other of said B-end connectors being accessible next to said box fixture for the connection of an additional said A-end connector thereto, a first one of said cables having said B-end connectors connected to a first one of said connector mounts to provide power to said junction box and defining a first mounting location for a said box fixture, at least a second one of said cables defining a looped bypass cable having said A-end connector thereof connected to said B-end connector of said first cable so as to exit said first fixture box and being looped with its B-end being connected to a second one of said connector mounts so that one of said B-end connectors defines a second mounting location for a said box fixture and the other said B-end connector is accessible for connection to a third said cable which exits said first junction box and is available for routing to other system components or for return to said first junction box to define a third mounting location for a said box fixture.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said box fixture comprises an outlet receptacle which includes a said A-end connector which defines an integral plug connection that is plug-connected to one of the B-end connectors supported on any said fixture box.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said third cable extends from said first fixture box to a third said connector mount of said first fixture box.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said box fixture comprises an outlet receptacle which includes a said A-end connector which defines an integral plug connection that is plug-connected to one of the B-end connectors supported on any said fixture box.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein a third said cable is connected to said second cable.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said third cable extends from said first fixture box to a second said fixture box so as to be accessible for connection of at least one of a said box fixture thereto and a further said cable.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein further said cables are connected to said second fixture box each in a looped bypass configuration.

8. A building power wiring system comprising:

elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends wherein each said cable includes an A-end connector on said A-end of said cable and B-end connectors on the opposite B-end thereof, said cables having mating structures to allow said A-end connectors to connect to any said B-end connector but said mating structures do not allow said A-end connector to connect with any other A-end connector or a B-end connector to connect to any other B-end connector, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of one said cable to a said B-end connector of the other said cable; and

one or more junction boxes each provided with box connectors which allow for the interconnection of a plurality of said cables thereto, said box connectors permitting said A-end connectors and said B-end connectors to be fixedly attached to said junction box for routing of electrical power through said junction box and between said junction box and each said cable attached thereto;

a first said box connector being formed as an A-end connector for connection to said B-end connector of an upstream first one of said cables wherein said first cable is in an A-to-B orientation as an infeed leg and supplies power to said junction box, a second said box connector being formed as an A-end connector for connection to said B-end connector of a downstream second one of said cables wherein said second box connector receives power from said first box connector and said second cable is oriented in a B-to-A orientation to define a switch leg connectable to a switch, and a third said box connector being formed as a B-end connector for connection to said A-end connector of a downstream third one of said cables which is oriented in an A-to-B orientation as an output cable, said third box connector configured to pass power downstream of said junction box to said third cable.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said third box connector is connected to said first box connector to pass uncontrolled power to said third cable.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said third box connector is connected to said second box connector to pass controlled power to said third cable which is controlled by a switch connected to said switch leg.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said cables are reorientable in the A-to-B orientation or the B-to-A orientation for connection to any said box connector.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein said system comprises:

a plurality of said cables which extend longitudinally in end-to-end engagement through building cavities from a power source with said first cable being connected to said junction box;

lighting fixtures receiving switched power from said switch leg, each said light component having one said A-end connector for connection to a B-end connector of an upstream one of said cables supplying power thereto; and

said switch which has a said B-end connector which connects to said A-end connector of said switch leg.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein said junction box includes a fourth said box connector being formed as a B-end connector for connection to said A-end connector of a downstream fourth one of said cables oriented in an A-to-B orientation as an output cable to pass power downstream of said junction box to said fourth cable, said third box connector being connected to said first box connector to pass uncontrolled power to said third cable, and said fourth box connector being connected to said second box connector to pass controlled power to said fourth cable which is controlled by a switch connected to said switch leg.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said fourth cable is connected to a light fixture.

15. A building power wiring system comprising:

elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends wherein each said cable includes an A-end connector on said A-end of said cable and a B-end connector on the opposite B-end thereof, said cables having mating structures to allow said A-end connectors to connect to any said B-end connector but said mating structures do not allow said A-end connector to connect with any other A-end connector or a B-end connector to connect to any other B-end connector, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of one said cable to a said B-end connector of the other said cable; and

one or more junction boxes each provided with box connectors which allow for the interconnection of a plurality of said cables thereto, said box connectors permitting said A-end connectors and said B-end connectors to be fixedly attached to said junction box for routing of electrical power through said junction box and between said junction box and each said cable attached thereto;

one said junction box being a multi-way junction box wherein a first said box connector being formed as an A-end connector for connection to said B-end connector of an upstream first one of said cables wherein said first cable is in an A-to-B orientation as an infeed leg and supplies power to said junction box, a plurality of second said box connectors being formed as A-end connectors for connection to said B-end connectors of downstream second ones of said cables wherein said second box connector receives power from said first box connector and said second cable is oriented in a B-to-A orientation to define one or more switch legs each connectable to a switch, and a third said box connector being formed as a B-end connector for connection to said A-end connector of a downstream third one of said cables which is oriented in an A-to-B orientation as an output cable, said third box connector configured to pass power downstream of said junction box to said third cable;

said second box connectors and two said second cables defining a 3-way switch configuration.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said system further comprises a removable jumper cap which connects to another of said second box connectors in combination with said two second cables to define said 3-way switch configuration.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said jumper cap is removable and replaceable with another said second cable wherein each of said second cables is connected to a respective switch in a 4-way switch configuration.