Modular electrical distribution system for a building

• US 7,826,202 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• 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): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US12/228,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 361600-605, 361621-627, 361640-647, 361/652, 361/664, 361/665, 361/668, 174/53, 174 57- 60, 174/66, 174/72.A, 174/84.R, 174/484, 174/486, 174/491, 174/84.C, 174/480, 174/481, 174/84, 439/34, 439/106, 439/108, 439/115, 439119-121, 439/188, 439/207, 439/208, 439/209, 439/214, 439/215, 439/505, 439/535, 439/540.1, 439/552, 439/653, 439/357, 439/470, 439/211, 439/925, 439/488, 439/655, 439/533, 439/687, 439/786, 439/502, 307/11, 307/82, 307/126, 307/147, 307/23, 307/39, 307/154, 307/157, 370/463, 370/465, 370/485, D13/171, D13/137.1, D13/151, D13/160, D13/177
• US Class Current: 361/641
• 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 modular power distribution system for distributing power to a building structure comprising a plurality of removably engagable system components which carry electrical power through each said system component for supplying power throughout said building structure, each of said system components being provided with at least one end connector defined as one of a first connector of a first connector type and a second connector of a second connector type which differs from said first connector type, said first and second connectors being connectable with other of said first and second connectors only when said connector types do not match and not being connectable when said connector types match;

said first and second connectors each having a common plug section with common electrical contacts therein for completing an electrical connection between two mated plug sections by mating engagement of said plug sections and said respective electrical contacts together, wherein said first and second connector types further include respective, differently-formed, first and second connector formations that define said different first and second connector types of said first and second connectors, said first and second connector formations being disposed proximate said plug sections so as to come into cooperating engagement with each other upon mating engagement of said plug sections wherein each of said first connector formations only mates with said second connector formations and not said first connector formations;

said system components of said power distribution system comprising;

elongate wiring units which each have said end connectors at respective opposite ends thereof and which extend longitudinally in end-to-end engagement through building cavities from a power source, said wiring units including a single end arrangement of one said first connector on one of said opposite ends and a double end arrangement of said second connectors on the other of said opposite ends wherein said second connectors are disposed sidewardly adjacent to each other, wherein said first connector of said single end arrangement of one said wiring unit is connectable to one said second connector of said double end arrangement of one other said wiring unit;

the other of said second connectors of said double end arrangement being offset from said one second connector and remaining accessible sidewardly of said wiring unit connected thereto for connection of another one of said system components thereto;

light components connected to said wiring units for connection to lighting fixtures;

switch components for controlling said light components; and

receptacles connectable to said wiring units for supplying power outlets within said building structure wherein said system components are joined together by engagement of a said first connector of one said system component with a said second connector of another said system component.

2. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said system components further comprise power distribution assemblies mountable in office furniture components installed within an interior of said building structure, and said power distribution assemblies having respective said first connectors at opposite ends thereof for engagement with at least one said second connector of one said wiring unit supplying power thereto.

3. The power distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said system components further comprise an intermediate unit having each opposite end provided with a said second connector, said power distribution assemblies having said opposite ends each being provided with said first connectors wherein adjacent said power distribution assemblies are joined together by a said intermediate unit disposed serially between said power distribution assemblies with said second connectors of said intermediate unit connected to said first connectors of said power distribution assemblies.

4. The power distribution system according to claim 3, wherein said receptacles are provided with said first connectors and said power distribution assemblies have third connectors thereon of said second type to which said receptacles are engagable.

5. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said downstream system component is another said wiring unit which is connected to a lighting fixture.

6. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said downstream system component is another said wiring unit which is connected to a said receptacle having a respective said first connector connected to one of said second connectors of said double end configuration.

7. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein one of said system components is a junction box having a respective said first connector connectable to an upstream one of said wiring units for receiving power therefrom, and having a plurality of said second connectors for connection to a plurality of said downstream wiring units continuing electrical power downstream therefrom.

8. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein one of said downstream wiring units is connected to a switch which controls power downstream of at least one of said second connectors of said junction box.

9. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said system components define a plurality of electrical circuits defined by ground and neutral conductors and a plurality of hot conductors each associated with one said circuit.

10. A modular power distribution system for distributing power to a building structure wherein said system includes a plurality of system components, said system components comprising a plurality of removably engagable wiring units which carry electrical power for supplying power throughout said building structure, each of said wiring units being provided with a first connector at one end in a single end configuration, and with a plurality of second connectors at an opposite end in a double end configuration, said first connector being of a first connector type and said second connector being of a second connector type which differs from said first connector type, said first and second connectors each having a plug section and electrical contacts therein, wherein said plug section and said respective contacts of said first connector are oppositely oriented relative to said plug section and said respective contacts of said second connector for completing an electrical connection between two mated plug sections by mating engagement of said plug sections and said respective electrical contacts to serially join adjacent wiring units together to carry said circuits therebetween, wherein said first and second connector types further include respective, differently-formed, first and second connector formations which define said different first and second connector types so that said first and second connectors are connectable only when said connector types do not match and are not connectable when said connector types match, said first and second connector formations being disposed proximate said plug sections so as to come into cooperating engagement with each other upon mating engagement of said plug sections wherein each of said first connector formations only mate with said second connector formations and not said first connector formations, said elongate wiring units extending longitudinally in end-to-end engagement through building cavities from a power source by connection of said first connector of one said wiring unit to one of said second connectors of one other said wiring unit with the other of said second connectors of said other wiring unit remaining open and accessible for the connection of other said system components including another said wiring unit;

said wiring units extending longitudinally in end-to-end engagement through building cavities from a power source, wherein said single end arrangement is connected to one said second connector of said double end configuration with the other said second connector being accessible for connection to a further downstream system component;

said system further comprises;

light components each having a said first connector of said first connector type which are connectable to any open one of said second connectors of said wiring units for supplying power to lighting fixtures, each said light component having said first connector connectable to an upstream one of said wiring units supplying power thereto;

receptacles having a said first connector of said first connector type which are connectable to said wiring units for supplying power outlets within said building structure;

switch components for controlling said light components, said switch components comprising a switch having one said second connector for connection to one said first connector of an upstream one of said wiring units supplying power thereto; and

a switch junction box having a first junction connector of said first connector type for connection to an upstream one of said wiring units which supplies power thereto, a second junction connector of said first connector type which is connectable to said double end of one other said wiring unit to define a switch leg wherein said switch is connected to said single end of said switch leg wiring unit to receive power therefrom and control power returning to said switch junction box, said switch junction box including a third junction connector of said second connector type wherein said third junction connector is connected to said second junction connector to pass controlled power through said switch junction box to another said wiring unit connected to said third junction connector that in turn is connected to one of said light components.

11. The power distribution system according to claim 10, wherein said switch junction box includes a fourth junction connector of said second connector type which receives power from said first junction connector to pass uninterrupted power to another said wiring unit connected to said fourth junction connector.

12. The power distribution system according to claim 10, wherein said system components further comprise:

power distribution assemblies mountable in office furniture components installed within an interior of said building structure, said power distribution assemblies having respective said first connectors for connection with a said second connector of an upstream one of said wiring units supplying power thereto.

13. The power distribution system according to claim 12, wherein said system components further comprise:

an intermediate unit having each opposite end provided with a said first connector, said power distribution assemblies having said opposite ends each being provided with said second connectors wherein adjacent said power distribution assemblies are joined together by a said intermediate unit disposed serially between said power distribution assemblies with said first connectors of said intermediate unit connected to said second connectors of said power distribution assemblies.

14. The power distribution system according to claim 13, wherein said wiring units, power distribution assemblies and intermediate connectors each define a plurality of electrical circuits defined by ground and neutral conductors and one or more hot conductors each associated with one said circuit for distribution of multiple circuits throughout said building structure.

15. A modular power distribution system for distributing power to a building structure comprising:

a plurality of removably engagable wiring units which carry electrical power for supplying power throughout said building structure, each of said wiring units being provided with a first connector at one end in a single end configuration, and with a plurality of second connectors at an opposite end in a double end configuration, said first connector being of a first connector type and said second connector being of a second connector type which differs from said first connector type, said first and second connectors each having a plug section and electrical contacts therein, wherein said plug section and said respective contacts of said first connector are oppositely oriented relative to said plug section and said respective contacts of said second connector for completing an electrical connection between two mated plug sections by mating engagement of said plug sections and said respective electrical contacts to serially join adjacent wiring units together to carry said circuits therebetween;

said first and second connector types further include respective, differently-formed, first and second connector formations which define said different first and second connector types so that said first and second connectors are connectable only when said connector types do not match and are not connectable when said connector types match, said first and second connector formations being disposed proximate said plug sections so as to come into cooperating engagement with each other upon mating engagement of said plug sections wherein each of said first connector formations only mate with said second connector formations and not said first connector formations;

said plug sections having slotted ends defined by longitudinally projecting portions separating alignment slots which said projecting portions and alignment slots in said first connector are the same as but oriented oppositely to said respective projecting portions and alignment slots of said second connector so as to be engagable together in plugging engagement.

16. The power distribution system according to claim 15, wherein said contacts are accessible through the mating engagement of said projecting portions and alignment slots.

17. The power distribution system according to claim 16, wherein said plug sections include contact receiving slots which each receive a said contact therein wherein said contacts are disposed in said projecting portions but partially project into said alignment slots so as to contact said contacts of a said wiring unit being mated therewith.

18. The power distribution system according to claim 17, wherein said contact-receiving slots are oriented transverse to said alignment slots.

19. The power distribution system according to claim 18, wherein said contacts are formed planar substantially within the thickness of a sheet of contact material and are received in tight fitting engagement with a respective one of said contact-receiving slots.

20. The power distribution system according to claim 19, wherein each adjacent pair of said contact-receiving slots are separated by a thin wall of insulative material wherein opposite sides of said wall define respective interior faces of said contact-receiving slots.

21. The power distribution system according to claim 15, wherein said plug sections are defined by contact blocks which have slotted ends defined by longitudinally projecting portions separating alignment slots which said projecting portions and alignment slots in said first connector are the same as but oriented oppositely to said respective projecting portions and alignment slots of said second connector so as to be engagable together in plugging engagement said contacts being accessible through the mating engagement of said projecting portions and alignment slots, and said plug sections including contact receiving slots which each receive a said contact therein wherein said contacts are disposed in said projecting portions but partially project into said alignment slots so as to contact said contacts of a said wiring unit being mated therewith.

22. The power distribution system according to claim 21, wherein each adjacent pair of said contact-receiving slots are separated by a thin wall of insulative material wherein opposite sides of said wall define respective interior faces of said contact-receiving slots.

23. A modular power distribution system for distributing power to a building structure comprising:

a plurality of removably engagable system components which carry electrical power for supplying power throughout said building structure, said system components being provided with either a first connector or a second connector which differs from said first connector, said first and second connectors each having a plug section and electrical contacts therein, wherein said plug section and said respective contacts of said first connector are engagable for completing an electrical connection between two mated plug sections by mating engagement of said plug sections and said respective electrical contacts together to serially join adjacent wiring units together to carry said circuits therebetween, wherein said first and second connectors further include respective, differently-formed, first and second keying formations wherein said first and second connectors are connectable only when said keying formations cooperatively match and are not connectable when said keying formations are cooperatively unmatched, said first and second keying formations being disposed proximate said plug sections so as to come into cooperating engagement with each other upon mating engagement of said plug sections wherein each of said first connector formations only mate with said second connector formations and not said first connector formations, said first and second keying formations being configurable in a plurality of configurations corresponding to a plurality of voltage levels at which said system components are to be restricted during use.

24. The power distribution system according to claim 23, wherein said keying formations on at least some of said system components are adjustable to vary said configuration and settable in a fixed configuration to define said voltage level to which said system components are restricted.

25. The power distribution system according to claim 24, wherein said keying formations are rotatable between said configurations and axially movable to a locked position associated with said set voltage level.

26. The power distribution system according to claim 23, wherein each of said keying formation being mounted in said plug section so as to project longitudinally therefrom for cooperating engagement with the other of said keying formations.

27. The power distribution system according to claim 24, wherein said keying formations on at least some of said system components are non-adjustably fixed in a fixed configuration to preset said voltage level to which said system components are restricted.

28. The power distribution system according to claim 23, wherein said keying formations on at least some of said system components are non-adjustably fixed in a fixed configuration to preset said voltage level to which said system components are restricted.

29. A modular power distribution system for distributing power to a building structure comprising a plurality of removably engagable system components which carry electrical power through each said system component for supplying power throughout said building structure, each of said system components being provided with at least one end connector defined as one of a first connector of a first connector type and a second connector of a second connector type which differs from said first connector type, said first and second connectors being connectable with other of said first and second connectors only when said connector types do not match and not being connectable when said connector types match;

said first and second connectors each having a common plug section with common electrical contacts therein for completing an electrical connection between two mated plug sections by mating engagement of said plug sections and said respective electrical contacts together, wherein said first and second connector types further include respective, differently-formed, first and second connector formations that define said different first and second connector types of said first and second connectors, said first and second connector formations being disposed proximate said plug sections so as to come into cooperating engagement with each other upon mating engagement of said plug sections wherein each of said first connector formations only mates with said second connector formations and not said first connector formations;

said system components of said power distribution system comprising;

elongate wiring units which have said end connectors at opposite ends thereof and which extend longitudinally in end-to-end engagement through building cavities from a power source, said wiring units having said first and second connectors on respective opposite ends thereof which permit engagement of said wiring units in end-to-end engagement;

power distribution assemblies mountable in raceways of office furniture components installed within an interior of said building structure, said power distribution assemblies having a double end configuration at each opposite end thereof comprising at least two of said first connectors at said opposite ends which are selectively engagable with at least one said second connector of one said wiring unit connected thereto;

receptacles connectable to said wiring units for supplying power outlets within said building structure wherein said system components are joined together by engagement of a said first connector of one said system component with a said second connector of another said system component.

30. The power distribution system according to claim 29, wherein said system components further comprise an intermediate unit having each opposite end provided with a said second connector, said power distribution assemblies having said opposite ends each being provided with said first connectors wherein serially adjacent said power distribution assemblies are joined together by a said intermediate unit disposed serially between said power distribution assemblies with said second connectors of said intermediate unit connected to said first connectors of said power distribution assemblies.

31. The power distribution system according to claim 29, wherein said receptacles are provided said first connectors and said power distribution assemblies have third connectors thereon of said first connector type to which said receptacles are engagable.

32. The power distribution system according to claim 31, wherein said third connectors are mounted on side surfaces of said power distribution assemblies intermediately between said opposite ends.

33. The power distribution system according to claim 29, wherein said wiring units include a single end arrangement of one said first connector on one end and a double end arrangement of said second connectors on an opposite end wherein said second connectors are disposed sidewardly adjacent to each other, wherein said first connector of said single end arrangement of one said wiring unit is connectable to one said second connector of said double end arrangement of one other said wiring unit.

34. The power distribution system according to claim 33, wherein the other of said second connectors of said double end arrangement is offset from said one second connector and remains accessible sidewardly of said wiring unit connected thereto for connection of a downstream one of said system components thereto.

35. A modular power distribution system for distributing power to a building structure comprising a plurality of removably engagable system components which carry electrical power through each said system component for supplying power throughout said building structure, each of said system components being provided with at least one end connector defined as one of a first connector of a first connector type and a second connector of a second connector type which differs from said first connector type, said first and second connectors being connectable with other of said first and second connectors only when said connector types do not match and not being connectable when said connector types match;

said first and second connectors each having a common plug section with common electrical contacts therein for completing an electrical connection between two mated plug sections by mating engagement of said plug sections and said respective electrical contacts together, wherein said first and second connector types further include respective, differently-formed, first and second connector formations that define said different first and second connector types of said first and second connectors, said first and second connector formations being disposed proximate said plug sections so as to come into cooperating engagement with each other upon mating engagement of said plug sections wherein each of said first connector formations only mates with said second connector formations and not said first connector formations, said system components being joined together by engagement of a said first connector of one said system component with a said second connector of another said system component;

said system components of said power distribution system comprising;

elongate wiring units which each have said end connectors at respective opposite ends thereof and which extend longitudinally in end-to-end engagement through building cavities from a power source, said wiring units including a single end arrangement of one said first connector on one of said opposite ends and a double end arrangement of said second connectors on the other of said opposite ends wherein said second connectors are disposed sidewardly adjacent to each other, wherein said first connector of said single end arrangement of one said wiring unit is connectable to one said second connector of said double end arrangement of one other said wiring unit;

the other of said second connectors of said double end arrangement being offset from said one second connector and remaining accessible sidewardly of said wiring unit connected thereto for connection of another one of said system components thereto;

light components connected to said wiring units for connection to lighting fixtures;

switch components for controlling said light components;

receptacles connectable to said wiring units for supplying power outlets within said building structure, said receptacles being provided with said first connectors;

power distribution assemblies mountable in office furniture components installed within an interior of said building structure, said power distribution assemblies having respective said first connectors at opposite ends thereof for engagement with at least one said second connector of one said wiring unit supplying power thereto, said power distribution assemblies having third connectors thereon of said second type to which said first connectors of said receptacles are engageable; and

an intermediate unit having each opposite end provided with a said second connector, said power distribution assemblies having said opposite ends each being provided with said first connectors wherein adjacent said power distribution assemblies are joined together by a said intermediate unit disposed serially between said power distribution assemblies with said second connectors of said intermediate unit connected to said first connectors of said power distribution assemblies.