Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 WIRING ARRANGE~IENT FOR MOV~BLE
ROO~ DIVLDER PANEI, SYST~MS
BACICGROUND OF _ilF INV~NTION
The present invention relates to movable room
divider panel systems, ancl in particular to a wiring system
therefor.
Modern offices typically include a panel system,
comprising a plurality o-f partitions selectively interconnected
to divide a large, open area into separate work stations. The
partitions are detachably interconnected, and can be dis-
assembled an~ rearranged to accommodate new conditions and
requirements.
It is well known that modern offices also employ a
plurality of electrically powered machines, such as CRT's,
calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, and the like,
and that it is necessary to connect these machines to appro-
priate power outlets. In movable panel systems, the partitions
are typically provided with electrical outlets and power lines
which extend through the panels to provide electrical power
to the various pieces of office equipment at convenient lo-
cations. Since office arrangements and layouts are subject
to change in accordance with the needs of the user, it is quite
desirable to provide a wiring arrangement for movable panel
systems which can be easily disconnected and rewired.
SUMM~RY OF IH~ INV~NTION
rlhe present inventlon provicles a wirc~ arr.lllgQmallt~
which neatly conceals the wires, and is easily assembled ancl
disassembled. The wiring arrangement comprises removable
mounting plates, with multiple termina:L connectors attaclled
at each end, thereo~, ancl :~1QX:iblQ COI1dU:itS COnTIeC t:iTIg
acljacent conllc~c~ors and providing -internal wiring I~or uplightillg.
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1 Preferably, the connectors are comprised o-f at
least -four assemblies of prongs, which are interconnected in
pairs to form clifferent electrical circuits. According to
European standards, it is necessary to provide two circuits,
one for lighting and the other for electrical devices which
consume more power. The circuits must be independent to
meet safety requirements.
Another feature o:E the present invention is to
provide a flexible junction to join the connectors at the
ends of adjacent panels. Since the junction is flexible, it
is possible to pivot the adjacent divider panels~ while
maintaining the electrical connection between.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following written
description.
BRIEF D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wiring arrange-
ment for movable room divider panel systems embodying the
present invention, shown in a partially disassembled condi-
tion.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a multiple terminal
connector for the wiring arrangement.
Fig. 3 is a -vertical cross sectional view of the
connector, taken along the line III-III, Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the
connector.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view oE a movable partition,
with the wireway removed.
Fig. 6 is a ~ra~ olltary pors~pectiv~ view oE an
oL~ctriGaL ~onclllit, havingr an el-lcl plu~ shaped Eor insertio
illtO tho COIIIleCtOr,
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l Fig. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view of the
end plug.
~ig. 8 is a perspective view of a panel-to-panel
connector.
DETAIL~D DESCRIPTION OF TIIE PRE~ERRED EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of description herein, the terms
"upper", "lower", "right", "left", "rear", "front", "ver-
tical", "horizontal", and derivatives thereof shall relate
to the invention as oriented in Figs. 1 and 4. However, it
is to be understood that the invention may assume various
alternative orientations, except where expressly specified
to the contrary.
The reference numeral 1 (Fig. 1) generally desig-
nates a wiring arrangement for movable room divider panel
systems 2, and the like. Wiring arrangement 1 comprises a
removable mounting plate 3 for each panel 4, with a pair of
multiple terminal connectors 5 attached to opposite ends
thereof. Each connector 5 has at least one set of through
terminals 6, and one set of auxiliary terminals 7. A ~irst
set o -flexible conduit segments 8 is provided with p]ugs 9
at each end, and electrically interconnect the through
terminals 6 of each pair of connectors 5. The connectors 5
at the ends of adjacent panels ~ are interconnected by a
suitable device, such as junction 70. A second set of fl~x-
ible conduit segments 10 are provided within plugs 11 for
detachable connection with the auxiliary terminals 7 of con-
nectors 5 to provide internally wired uplighting and other
power outlets for the panel system.
As best illustrAtecl in Fig. 5, clivi~ler pan~ls ~
I-avo n generally ~onvelltlollal constrllction, complisirlg wall
panoLs lS, with ~-riln melnl)ars 16 oxt~rlding along bath si~l~
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1 edges thereof. F.ach wall panel LS includes a base 17, rom
which a pair oE L-shaped support brackets 18 depencl. Ad-
justable feet 19 are threadedly mounted in brackets 18, and
support panel 4 on the -floor o-f the building. An elongate
tray 20 is positioned beneath the base 17 of wall panel 15,
and is suspcnded from the horizontally extending leg 21 of
bracket 18 by fasteners 22. The aperture or space 23 formed
between panel base 17 and tray 20 defines a wireway in which
power cables, casual wiring, and the like can be stored, as
described in greater detail hereinafter.
Removable mounting plate 3 (Fig. 5~ comprises a
rigid, elongate structure, having a width substantially com-
mensurate with the width of wireway 23. The illustrated
mounting plate 3 comprises a base 2~ with upwardly turned
flanges 29 along the side edges thereo-f, and a pair of
longitudinally extending tabs 30 which project from the center-
line of each end of base 28. Each tab 30 has a vertically
oriented aperture 31 disposed therethrough adjacent the free
end of the tab. ~ounting plate 3 is shaped to be positioned
in wire~ay 23 and is removably supported from panel 4. In this
example, mounting plate tabs 30 are positioned over bracket
legs 21, and the upper ends of fasteners 23 are received
through tab apertures 31. A nut 32 or other suitable detachable
fastener is attached to the free end of fastener 32 and se-
curely interconnects mounting plate tabs 30 with support
brackets 18, such that base 28 of mounting pla-te 3 spans the
open wireway 23, and extends between legs 19. Nuts 32 re-
movably connect mounting pLate 3 in thc panel wireway 23,
such that it can bO reaclily clisasseml~lcd aTI(I rCaSSemt)1CCl WhCII
; ~lesircd.
I~ACI1 mOUnt11lg PIQtC 3 inC LlldeS a Pa:ir 0~ C~n11~C~.OrS
1 5 fi~edly a~ached to opposite ends of the mounting plate by
suitable fastening means. Connectors 5 form the -female
portion of the junction with conduits 8 ~nd 10, as well as
fle~:ible connectors 70. ~s best illustrated in Fig. Z and 3,
S the illustrated connectors 5 are in the shape of a block,
comprising a plurality o-f sockets 39 arranged into six verti-
cal columns 40 comprising five sockets in each column. As
described in greater detail hereinafter, the five horizontal
rows of sockets 9 in each of the six columns 40 are preferably
electrically interconnected, with the center row ~1 of sockets
adapted for forming the neutral or ground conduit. The lower
rows of sockets 42 and ~3, and the upper rows of sockets
44 and 45 respectively, are designed to form two separate
circuits with the common ground at socket 41. In this manner,
upper sockets 44 and 45 can be used as a circuit for lighting
while lower sockets 42 and 43 form a separate power circuit.
With reference to Fig. 4, connector 5 includes a
two part housing 50 constructed of a non-conductive material,
such as plastic or the like. The two halves 50a and 50b of
housing 50 are preferably symmetrical and identical, such
that they can be constructed from a single mold. Each housing
half includes a plurality of horizontal slots 51, which are
adapted to receive conductive plates 52 therein. Each plate
52 includes a central strap 53 with three pairs of oppositely
oriented studs or prongs 54 projecting therefrom. Studs
54 are spaced equally along their respective strap 53, and
are adapted to be inserted longitudinally into their asso-
ciated socket 39 of connector housing 50. ~ach housing half
50a and 50b includes two snap locks 55, comprising barb-like
projcctiolls 56 and mating aper-tures 57. I~ach llo~lsing halE
also incLlldos a side ~Lallge 5~.1 projctLn~ Eor~ardly thereFrom
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1 to align the two housing halves.
~ith reference to F~g. 2, the sockets 39 in con-
nector block 5 are arranged asymmetricall~ to insure that
the electrical circults are properly interconnected. ~he
lower row 43 of sockets 3~ includes a channel 61 in which
a mating tab portion of end plug 'l is received. '~abs 62
project upwardly -from each socket housing in the upper ro~
of sockets, and serve to prevent inadvertent re~ersal of
the circuits.
~ith reference to Figs. 6 and 7, the end plugs
11 oE flexihle conduits 10 each comprise three, regularly
spaced prongs 64 which are shaped to mate with three ver-
tically aligned sockets 39. One of the e~terlor prongs G4
of plug 11 includes an upstanding ke~ G5 which is shaped
to mate in socket channel 61. An electrical conductor 66
is mounted in the interior of each prong 64, and includes
a clip 67 attached to the terminal end tllereof. ~hen plug
11 is inserted into connector block 5, the clips 67 pinch
the tongues or studs 54 of plate$ 53 to establish good
electrical contact therebet~een. The key ~5 and channel
61 on the plugs and associated sockets prevent the plugs
~rom being improperl~ installed.
As best illus~rated in Fig. 8, a fle~ible connector
7Q is provided to interconnect the connectors 5 of adjacent
panels 4, and permits pivotal motion ~herebetween to move
the panels into a selected arrangement. Flexible connector
7Q comprises a pair of arms 71 having end plugs 72 thereon
with five prongs 73 shapcd to ;Eorm the male co~lnterl~art of
the junction with connector b'lock 5. rrhe cc~nter prong 7~
is pre~eral~ly ~roullcl, w-ith the lower iro~ 75 an(l 7G~ ancl
upl)er l)rongs 7G and 77 ar-r~lnged in pairs Eormecl to separate
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1 circuits with the common ground 74. End plugs 72 are sub-
stantially identical with end plugs 11, excçpt that they
have five prongs instead o-f three.
Flexible connector 70 is made up of a group of
wires (not shown) which are molded into a -flexible plastic
body 77. The -five wires interconnect the plugs 72 on
opposite ends of the flexible connector. Flexible connector
70 also includes a U-shaped cover 78 which reinforces arms
71 and resists flexing.
T]le first conduit segments 8 comprise a connecting
cable 81 with five wires 82, consisting of one ground, two
common, and two live. The wires 82 are joined to end plugs
9, which have a multiple prong arrangement substantially
identical to end plug 72 to accommodate each of the five
wires. The wires in conduits 8 and 10 are joined to cor-
responding prongs of the respective left and right hand end
plugs. The plug rib 65 and socket channel 61 prevent con-
duits 8 and 1~, as well as flexible connectors 70 from
being inadvertently installed upside down and reversing
the polarity.
In operation, a pair of connector blocks 5 are
mounted on the base 28 of each mounting plate 3. One column
40 of the sockets 3~ on each connector pair mounted on plate
3 are interconnected by conduit segment 8. Mounting plate
3, with connectors 5 and conduit 8 assembled are attachecl
to wireway brackets 18, and nuts 32 secured in place.
Mounting plate 3 can then be covered by a plinth, or other
similar cover panel ~not shown). If :it is necessary to challge
the configuration of the panel sys-~em, it is ~ simple ~at.ter
to rcmove the plinth, ~Incl accc~ss conn~ctor5 5 ~o disconn~ct
concluits 8 allcl L(), ancL cl-isassemblc3 ~Iexi~le connectors 7(~.
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1 Fig. 1 illus~rates a pair of pa~els 4 which can
be rotated with respect to each other. The end plugs 72 of
flexible junction 70 are inserted into the sockets of
adjacent disposed connectors 5 so as to pass or transmit
current from one panel to the next without loss of continuity.
The connector blocks 5 provide six columns of sockets which
are accessible, and can be utilized to interconnect adjacent
panels, as with flexible junction 70 and conduits lQ des-
cribed above, and the plug 11 of other electrical conduits
10 can be plugged into the open positions for o-ffice mach-
inery, uplighting, and the like.
It is to be understood that modifications can be
made to the present invention b~ substituting equivalent
techniques, without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
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