Modular electrical distribution system for a building
First Claim
1. A building power wiring system comprising:
- elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each of said cables includes a single A-end connector on said A-end of each of said cables and at least two 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 said A-end connector or said B-end connector to connect to any other said B-end connector of another one of said cables, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of one of said cables to said B-end connector of said another one of said cables;
a box fixture having one of said A-end connector and said B-end connector; and
at least one fixture box, each of said at least one fixture box being provided with connector mounts which allow for interconnection of one or more of said cables thereto, said connector mounts permitting at least one of said A-end connectors or said B-end connectors to be fixedly attached to said at least one fixture box for routing of electrical power to said at least one fixture box so that either of said A-end or B-end connectors are accessible in said at least one fixture box for connection of said box fixture thereto.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A building power wiring system comprising:
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elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each of said cables includes a single A-end connector on said A-end of each of said cables and at least two 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 said A-end connector or said B-end connector to connect to any other said B-end connector of another one of said cables, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of one of said cables to said B-end connector of said another one of said cables; a box fixture having one of said A-end connector and said B-end connector; and at least one fixture box, each of said at least one fixture box being provided with connector mounts which allow for interconnection of one or more of said cables thereto, said connector mounts permitting at least one of said A-end connectors or said B-end connectors to be fixedly attached to said at least one fixture box for routing of electrical power to said at least one fixture box so that either of said A-end or B-end connectors are accessible in said at least one fixture box for connection of said box fixture thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A building power wiring system comprising:
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elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each of said cables includes one or both of an A-end connector on said A-end of each of said cables and a multi-connector configuration of at least two B-end connectors on the opposite B-end thereof, 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 of another one of said cables; a box fixture having said A-end connector; and at least one fixture box, each of said at least one fixture box being provided with at least one connector mount which allows for interconnection of one or more of said cables thereto, said at least one connector mount at least permitting said B-end connectors in said multi-connector configuration of a first one of said cables to be fixedly attached to said at least one fixture box for routing of electrical power to said at least one fixture box so that said B-end connectors are accessible in said at least one fixture box for connection of said box fixture to a first one of said B-end connectors of said first one of said cables, a second one of said B-end connectors of said first one of said cables being accessible next to said box fixture for connection of an additional A-end connector thereto. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a system of plug connectors for interconnecting system components of a modular power distribution system for distributing power to a building structure wherein each of said plug connectors is engagable with another one of said plug connectors of other system components which carry electrical power throughout said building structure, comprising the improvement wherein said plug connectors of said system components have a common plug section with common electrical contacts respectively therein for completing an electrical connection between a mated pair of said plug sections by mating engagement of said plug sections and said electrical contacts together when said plug sections are in oppositely opposed orientations forming a mated pair of said plug connectors, said plug connectors and said contacts thereof being configured to carry a plurality of voltage levels of line power;
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said plug connectors including a settable keying structure which sets said mated pair of said plug connectors in one of a plurality of keying conditions to structurally limit connection of one of said plug connectors of said pair of said plug connectors to only a further one of said plug connectors which is set to a matable one of said keying conditions, said plurality of keying conditions corresponding to a respective plurality of said voltage levels wherein setting of said keying structure to a selected one of said one of said plurality of keying conditions limits the voltage level intended for use through said plug connector to the voltage level corresponding thereto; said keying structure comprising movable key segments which include first connector parts engaged with said plug section which permit relocation of said key segments while preventing removal of said key segments from said plug section and include alignment parts which prevent relocation of said key segments upon displacement of said key segments relative to said plug section from an adjustable position to a fixed position, said alignment parts defining a plurality of key segment positions which define said plurality of keying conditions corresponding to said voltage levels. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A building power wiring system comprising:
- elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each of said cables includes an A-end connector on said A-end thereof and a B-end connector on the opposite B-end thereof, said cables having plug sections that define mating plug structures to allow said A-end connectors to connect to any said B-end connector but said mating plug structures do not allow said A-end connector to connect with any other A-end connector or said B-end connector to connect to any other B-end connector of another one of said cables, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of a first one of said cables to said B-end connector of a second one of said cables; and
at least one junction box, each said at least one junction box being provided with A-end and/or B-end box connectors which allow for interconnection of a plurality of said cables thereto, said box connectors permitting said A-end connectors and/or said B-end connectors to be fixedly attached to said at least one junction box for routing of electrical power through said at least one junction box and between said at least one junction box and each of said cables attached thereto;each one of said A-end box connectors and/or said B-end box connectors including a settable keying feature which sets each one of said A-end box connectors and/or said B-end box connectors in one of a plurality of keying conditions to structurally limit connection of said each one of said A-end box connectors and/or said B-end box connectors to only a further one of said A-end box connectors or B-end box connectors which is keyed to a matable one of said keying conditions, said plurality of keying conditions corresponding to a respective plurality of voltage levels wherein setting of said keying feature to a selected one of said keying conditions limits the voltage level intended for use with said end connectors to the voltage level corresponding thereto; said keying feature comprising movable key segments which include first connector parts engaged to said plug sections to permit relocation of said key segments while preventing removal thereof from said plug sections, and alignment parts which prevent relocation of said key segments upon displacement of said key segments relative to said plug sections from an adjustable position to a fixed position, said alignment parts defining a plurality of key segment positions which define said plurality of keying conditions corresponding to said voltage levels. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
- elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each of said cables includes an A-end connector on said A-end thereof and a B-end connector on the opposite B-end thereof, said cables having plug sections that define mating plug structures to allow said A-end connectors to connect to any said B-end connector but said mating plug structures do not allow said A-end connector to connect with any other A-end connector or said B-end connector to connect to any other B-end connector of another one of said cables, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of a first one of said cables to said B-end connector of a second one of said cables; and
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32. A building power wiring system comprising:
- elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each of said cables includes a single A-end connector on said A-end of each of said cables and at least one B-end connector on the opposite B-end thereof, said cables having mating structures to allow said A-end connectors to connect to any of said B-end connectors at a mating connection 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 of another one of said cables, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of a first one of said cables to said B-end connector of a second one of said cables;
wherein said A-end and B-end connectors have housings with matingly telescoping end portions and wherein said telescoping end portion of said B-end connector overlaps said telescoping end portion of said A-end connector when one of said A-end connectors is mated with one of said B-end connectors, and wherein said mating connection includes a substantially “
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shaped spring retaining latch having opposed inwardly projecting portions that engage aligned openings in walls of both the housings of said B-end connectors and said A-end connectors thereby locking said matingly telescoping end portions together by penetration of said inwardly projecting portions into the aligned openings of the walls of the housings of the end connectors. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
- elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each of said cables includes a single A-end connector on said A-end of each of said cables and at least one B-end connector on the opposite B-end thereof, said cables having mating structures to allow said A-end connectors to connect to any of said B-end connectors at a mating connection 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 of another one of said cables, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of a first one of said cables to said B-end connector of a second one of said cables;
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45. A building power distribution system defined by a plurality of system components which are selectively connectable to define a comprehensive power supply system within partitions of a building, some of said partitions having substantially rigid outer wall coverings separated by and secured to internal frame structures, wherein some of said coverings have an outer substantially exposed surface, said system components comprising:
- a plurality of distribution cables having a first connector end and a second connector end with respective connector plugs thereon wherein said first connector end can mate with said second connector end but said first connector end cannot mate with another one of the first connector ends and said second connector ends cannot mate with another one of said second one connector ends of another one of said cables;
at least one metallic junction box configured to have said connector plugs connect thereto, said at least one junction box being fixedly mounted to be substantially hidden within one of said partitions and said at least one junction box having an interior space in which component connections are made;
wherein said connector plugs have metallic housings including telescopingly mating end portions for said first connector end to mate with said second connector end and wherein said housings have structures for attachment of one of said connector plugs to said at least one metallic junction box to which said connector plugs can be fixedly mounted;
a connector plug attachment of said at least one junction box includes at least one metallic structure that engages a mating metallic structure of the metallic housings of a connected one of said connector plugs and wherein engagement of said one of said at least one junction box with one of said connector plugs provides an electrical grounding path between said one of said at least one junction box and said one of said connector plugs. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
- a plurality of distribution cables having a first connector end and a second connector end with respective connector plugs thereon wherein said first connector end can mate with said second connector end but said first connector end cannot mate with another one of the first connector ends and said second connector ends cannot mate with another one of said second one connector ends of another one of said cables;
Specification