Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Thi.s appllcatlon ls a dlvlslonal of o-pendlng
Canadian patent appllcation serlal No. 2,020,613 flled July 6,
1 990 . ," .,,, ",
The lnvention ls dlrected to an access flooring module
ln whlch electrlcal power and slgnal cables are made available
to the user. In partlcular, the access floorln~ module ls
~; conflgured to be easlly adaptable and easy to operate.
As the use of modular offlces lncreases, lt is
essentlal that power and signal cables be dellvered to these ~ -
offlces ln a manner whlch wlll not lnterfere wlth the dally :~
operations o~f the personnel whlch occupy the offlce~
~p ~ Consequently, the use of access floorlng ls becomlng wldespread.
~ ,, .," ~
~ Access floorlng allows the power and slgnal cables to ~:
~: : , ,.-,:.
be placed beneath ~he floor ln a posltlon whlch wlll not
lnterferë wlth the placement of walls or furnlture. The use of
access floorlng also allows the power and slgnal cables to be
moved as the modular offlces are moved.
In order for the power and slgnal cables to be
utlllzed, the cables are currently termlnated ln access floorlng
modules. These access floorlng rnodules provlded the end user or ;~
operator wlth the means to connect hls offlce equlpment to the
power and slgnal cabiles requlred for the proper operatlon
thereof.
There are many access floorlng modules currently
- .:
; ~ avallable ln the market. Howeverl the access floorlng ;~
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modules available have problems associated therewith,
which make them difficult to use and service~
A typical access flooring module has a cover which
,~
is pivoted to an open position to reveal the various
power and signal components which are terminated
therein. The power and signal components remain in a
constant position. This type of configuration is
difficult for a typical office worker to use, as the -~
plugs are positioned below the level of the floor. The
10 configuration is also difficult for an ~-
-~ ,
installer/repairman. As the plugs need to be repaired ~;-
or replaced, the positioning of the plugs in the floor
; is not a preferred po~ition. Consequently, the office
worker must assume an awkward position if a plug is to
be inserted or removed from the access flooring module.
:,
A further difficulty associated with this type of
flooring module resides in the fact that the of~ice ~
worker will be unable to properly view the termination - ;
of the plug to the socket. This is of particular
concern if the access flooring module has many
termination provided therein. Consequently, the plug
may be improperly inserted into the socket, resulting in
an inefifective electrical connection between thé plug
and the socket. -
:,
One solution to this type of problem is shown in
U.S. Patent Number 3,972,579. The electrical insert ~;
device shown in the patent has pivot means which cause ~ ;
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the electrical receptacle to be positioned in the same ~ ;
plane as the floor when the cover is moved to the open ~;
position. This allows the operator to more easily
access the electrical receptacle, thereby reducing the
possibility of mis-insertion of the plug into the
receptacle.
While the above-referenced patent discloses an
electrical insert device which is more user friendly
than other modules, several problems are associated with
`10 the device. The device is dif~icult to access when it
is in the closed position, as no easily accessible latch
means are provided thereon. Consequently, there is no
easy means to pivot the cover from the closed position
to the open position. A second problem associated with
the device, is that no means is provided to control the
motion of the device when the device is moved between
the open posltion and the closed position. In other ;~;~
words, if the user or operator does not maintain control
.: :
of the cover as the device is closing, the uncontrolled
movement of the device may cause damage to the wire or
electrical componen~s provided in the device, resulting
in an ineffective electrical connection. This is
particularly true if signal cables are provided in the
device.
A third problem associated with the device
.":
disclosed in the patent relates to its inflexibility in
adapting to various configurations. It is important in --
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offlce settings that the access floorlng modules be able to
provlde the power and slgnal terminatlons requlred. Thls ~ ~ ~
lncludes the ablllty for the modules to accommodate the changlng . i-
needs of the office, l.e. the lncluslon or removal of elther
slgnal or power termlnatlons as requlred. However, the devlce --~
dlsclosed ln the above-referenced patent ls not conflgured to
provlde for the lncluslon or removal of power or slgnal ~;
termlnatlons. It is also worth noting that the problems
dlscussed ln relatlon to the patent are not exclusive to that :
devlce, but are present ln the ma~ority of access floorlng
modules currently avallable.
An ob~ect of the lnventlon is to provlde an electrlcal ;
connector assembly for use ln an access floor or the llke.
More partlcularly, an ob~ect of the lnventlon ls to -~ ;
provlde an lmproved latch member for securlng such an electrlcal
assernbly ln a locked posltlon.
- - r~ccordlng to the lnventlon, there ls provlded a latch
;~ member for use ln securlng an electrlcal assembly ln a locked
posltlon, the latch mernber comprlslng, frame means havlng
openlngs provlded thereln, the openlngs havlng an oblong
conflguratlon7 plvot rneans whlch cooperate wlth the openlngs to ~-
allow the frame rneans bo plvot about bhe plvot~meansl, the plvot
means belng dlrnensloned to allow the frame means to move
, . . ....
relatlve to the plvot means ln a dlrectlon whlch ls essentlally
perpendlcular to the longltudlnal axls of the plvot means; -
reslllent means provlded ln engagement wlth the frame means, the
reslllent means provldlng the rneans to lnsure that the frame ~
': -
means ls plvoted about the plvot means; whereby as the frame
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means is moved ln a directlon whlch ls essentlally perpendlcular ~; :
to the longltudlnal axls of the plvot means, the resllient rneans
cooperates wlth the frame means to move the frarne meanq between . .
an open and closed posltion.
According to another aspect ofi the lnventlon, there is
provlded a latch member for use ln securlng an electrlcal
assembly ln a locked posltlon, the latch rnember cornprlslng,
plvot means provlded to allow the latch member to plvot between
a flrst and a second posltion relative to the electrlcal
assembly; hol~lng means provlded proxlmate a portlon of the
electrlcal assembly, the holdlng means cooperates wlth the ~ ~ -
portlon of the electrlcal assembly to malntain the latch member ~.
in the flrst posltlon; engagement means provided to allow the
latch member to be moved from the flrst positlon to an
lntermedlate posltlon, ln whlch the holdlng means ls dlsengaged ,," ,'` . ',',;~r"
from the portlon of the electrlcal assembly; and sprlng means
whlch cooperate wlth the latch member to move and malntain the
latch mémber ln the second posltlon when the holdlng means is
not provlded ln engagement with the portion of the electrlcal ~.
assembly.
The lnventlon will now be descrlbed ln greater detall
.. .....
: :~ wlth reference to the accompanylng drawlngs, ln whlch~
FIGURE 1 ls a perspectlve vlew of an access floorlng ~: .
. . .
module accordln~ to the present lnventlon, the module ls shown
posltloned ln the open posltlon.
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FIGURE 2 is a per~pectlve view of the module ~imilar ts
that ~ho~n ln Figure 1, the module ha~ the faae plate and the
electrical components removed to better 6how the lnslde structure
of the module.
FIGUR~ 3 ls a cross-se¢tlonal vlew of the module
provlded in the acce~s floor, the module 1B shown in the open
position. ~-
FI~URE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the module ~ -
provlded in the acce~s floor, the module i~ ~hown ln the alosed ;
positlon. ~ ~
BIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vlew of the latch assoclated ~ ;-
with the module, the latch is shown in the flrst or closed
position.
FIGUR~ 6 i~ a fragmentary vlew similar to that o~ Figure ;
5, the latch is positIoned in a partially open or lntermediate '~
po~ltion. ~
FIGURB 7 i6 a fragmentary view Bimllar to that of Flgure ,~-
6, the latoh and cover plate are provided in a second or open
position.
~20
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FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view similar to that o~
Figure 7, the latch is provided in the open position and ;
; the cover plate is provided in the closed position.
FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of an
alternative embodiment of the invention, the madule is
shown in the open position, which is similar ta Figure
3. ~ ~
As is best shown in Figures 1 through 4, access ~ -
floGring module 2 is configured to be disposed in an -
; 10 opening 4 which is provided in an access floor or the ' ,~
like. The module 2 is movable relative to the floor
between an open position, as shown in Figure 3, and a ,-''~
closed position, as shown in Figure 4. ~ `
Referring to Figure 4, module 2 has an inner ;~
assembly 6 which has end walls 10, a sidewall 12, a
cover plate 14, and a bottom wall 16 which cooperate to
form a box-like structure which has an opening 18
(Figure 2) into which the electrical components of the
access flooring modulo are received. ~ -
~ach sidewall 12, as shown in Figure 2, has a face
plat~ supporting pro~ection 20 which extends therefrom.
The face plate supporting projections 20 are positioned
adjacen* to the~ends;~of the sidewalls 121which are
opposite the bottom wall 16. The projections 20 extend
from the sidewalls 12 into opening 18 in a direction
which is essentially parallel to the plane o~ the bottom
wall 16. Each assembly 6 ha~ two identical projections ;
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20 which extend into opening 18 in opposed relationship
to each other. As is best shown ln Figure 2,
projections 20 have slots 22 and face plate receiving ~;
recesses 24 provided therein. Each respective slot 22
and recess 24 of the first pro~ection 20 is provided in
alignment with a corresponding slot 22 and recess 24 of
the second projection 20. A plurality of metal plates
25 are provided in projections 20. As best shown in
Figure 2, ths plates are separated from each other and ~ -
encased by dielectric material. -~
Dividing wall 26 is provided in respective slots 22
of projections 20. The side edges of the wall 26 are
positioned in the slots 22, thereby preventing wall 26
from movement relative to the endwalls lO of the
assembly. A leading edge 2~ of dividing wall 26 has at -~
least one securing projection 30 which extends
therefrom. When the dividing wall i5 properly inserted
into the assembly, the projection 30 is positioned ;
. .
adjacent to the bottom wall 16 and secured thereto. -
Thi~ insurss that the dividing wall 26 will be
maintained in the position required ~or operation. It
should be noted that tho plurality of slots 22 provided
in ~he,~projections 20~al11Ow the wall 26 to be positioned~
in various positions in the opening 18, as will be more
~ fully discussed.
;~ Recesses 24 are dimensioned to receive portions of
the electrical components therein. The electrical
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components, i.e. power sockets 34 or signal sockets 36
(Figure 1), are inserted into opening 18 such that
mounting projections (not shown) of the electrical
components are received in the recesses 24 of
projections 20 and placed in electrical engagement with
plates 25. The electrical components are then secured ~ ,
to the projections 20 by the use of screws or the like -
inserted into openings 38. The cooperation of the
components with respective isolated plates 25 provides
the insulation grounding required for the effective
operation of the components. After the components have `
:, ,, :,
~ been secured to the pl~tes 25 of projections 20, modular `~
-
face plates 40, as shown in Figure 1, are inserted over -~`
the electrical components. The face plates 40 are
~, - . . . .
`~ secured to the projections 20 by means of screws 42
~ which cooperate with openings 44 (Figure 2).
~ , ;.
~ ~ In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the access
,
flooring module 2 has five electrical components
provided therein, two o~ the components are power
sockets 34 and three are signal sockets 36. However, as
the requirements of the module will vary, the embodiment
,
- shown in the drawings is meant to be viewed as an
illustration of a!typ,iqal embodiment.
With the use of access flooring modules, it is
important that the power and signal transmissions be
delivered to the same location. This arrangement
- .~
minimizes the space required and simplifies the
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termination which the user must perfo~m. However, as
the current supplied by the power components 34 is
significant, the reliability of the signal components 36
can be effected due to the close proximity to the power
components. It is there~ore important that the power
and ~ignal components be separated in order to insure
for their effective operation. Consequently, the
dividing wall 26 separates the power and signal
, , ,
components 34, 36.
lo In order for module 2 to be useable in a variety of
situations, wall 26 must be movable between various ~-
slots. This allows any particular position in the
modular assembly to be used for power or signal
components as required. Therefore, the dividlng wall 26 ;~
can-be moved between any pair of electrical components
34, 36, in order to provide the shielding required. -~ -
This modular aspect of the assembly is extremely
beneficial. As the needs of an office are continually~ ;~
changing, it is vital for the modular assembly to meet
:
the changing needs of the office. Therefore, as wall 26
is movable, the assembly 2 of the present invention can
, ~ , ,
~- be modified as required. In other words, if an office
~;~ requires more sig~allsockets and less power sockets, the
wall 26 can be moved and the appropriate components
installed. This eliminates the need to replace the
entire assembly, resulting in a great cost cavings.
, ~;
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In order to facilitate the movement o~ the assembly
between the open and the closed positions (Figures 3 and
4), a pivot member 46 is provided. This pivot member
cooperate with the cover plate ~4 to insure that the
box-like structure will pivot as desired. In order to
facilitate this pivoting action, an arcuate surface 48
is provided on the covex plate 14, proximate pivot
member 46. As the cover plate is moved between the open
and the closed position, the arcuate surface 48 of the
lo cover plate 14 is caused to cooperate with a shoulder 50
of rim 52, as best shown in Fiyures 3 and 4. The
cooperation, or the sliding engagement, of surface 48
and shoulder 50 prevents the pivot member 40 from being
, . ..
damaged as a force is applied to the cover plate 14. In
other words, if a ~orce, which i5 directed downward in a
direction which is essentially perpendicular to the axis
of the pivot member 46, is applied to the cover plate 14
during the operation of the cover plate, the force will
be tranaferred from the cover plate to the rim 52, due
to the physical engagement o~ the surface 48 with the
:
shoulder 50. As the rim and shoulder are made from -
relatively strong material, this force will not damage
~` the assembly. ,Iflthe,surface and the shoulder were not
~`~ provided the force applied to the cover plate 14 would
be distributed to the relatively weak pivot member 46,
which could result in the failure of the assembly.
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In order to insure that the forces applied to the ~ .
cover plate are transferre~ to the rim and shoulder, the
pivot member is retained in slot 47. As shown in Figure --
4, slot 47 is configured to allow the pivot member 46 to -~
move or ~float~ in the slot, in a direction which is
essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
slot. Consequently, as the pivot member is not
contained in the vertical direction (as viewed in Figure ~-
4), the application of a force to the cover plate 14 -~-
~ "
will cause the surface 48 of plate 14 to move against
the shoulder 50 of rim 52. This provides the means
required to transfer the force from the cover plate to
j,
the rim, without damaging the pivot member.
As shown in Figures 1 through 4, a~sembly 6 is
positioned in a metal casing 54 which is positioned in
the opening 4 of the floor. The metal casing 54 has an
opening 56 ~or receipt of the assembly 6 therein. The
opening 56 extends from a top surface 58 to a bottom
surface 60 thereo~. Provided proximate the top sur~ace
,, ,~ ,
20 ~ 58 fs shoulder 62 which extends about ths perimeter of
the top surface 58. The shoulder 62 extends from
sidewall~ 64, 66 of the casing 54 in a direction which
i essentially paral,lel~to the top sur~ace 58. ThT
shoulder 62 cooperates with the floor to maintain the
casing 54 and assembly 6 in position relative to the
floor. A shroud is provided over the shoulder to
provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
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Sidewall 64 has an arcuate configuration, as will
be more fully discussed. End walls 68 of casing have -~
the slots 47 provided proximate top surface 58 thereof.
As was previously discussed, the openings cooperate with
pivot members 46 SQ that pivot members 46 allow assembly ~ ,
6 to move relative to casing 54.
As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, sidewall 64 of
assembly 6 has deformable member 78 attached thereto~
The member 78 is made from rubber or some other material
which is able to be deformed when a force is applied
thereto and which will return to its original shape
when the forces are retracted. As is shown in Figure 4,
- when the assembly 6 is provided in the closed position,
the deformable member 78 is not engaged. As the
assembly 6 is moved to the open position, the member 78
engages the inside surface of arcuate sidewall 54 of ~
casing 54, as is shown in phantom in Figure 3. The ~ -
engagement of member 78 with sidewall 64 provides a -
frictional ~orce therebetween. This force is not of
",,:
sufficient magnitude to prevent the movement of the
assembly 6 between the open and the closed position.
However, the engagement is sufficient to prevent the
assembly 6 from being moved in such a ma~ner so as tOI
damage the electrical components 34, 36 provided in the
assembly. As a force is applied to the assembly 6, to
either open or close the assembly 6 relative to the
casing 54, the member i8 will engage the sidewall 64 and
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provide a ~orce which re~ists the movement o~ the ;
assembly 2. The resistance force is not su~ficient to
prevent the movement, it is merely sufficient to insure -;
that the movement of the assembly 6 will be done in a ~ ;
controlled manner.
When the assembly 6 is placed in the open position,
as shown in Figure 3, the member 78 is moved into a
recess 80 provided on the inside 6ur~ace of the sidewall
64. The positioning of the member 78 in the recess 80
provides a positive means to retain the assembly 6 in
the open position. In this open position, the member 78
is provided in engag~nt with a shoulder 82 of the
recess 80. The engagement between the shoulder 82 and
member 78 prevents the assembly 6 from prematurely ~
returning to the closed position. Consequently, the ~ -
assembly 6 is maintained in the open position.
,
In order to return the assembly 6 from the open ~;-
position to the closed position, a ~orce is applied to
the assem~ly 6. The force must be sufficient to move
the member 78 beyond the shoulder 82 of the recess 80.
once the member 78 has been disengaged ~rom the shoulder
82, the force applied to the assembly 6 can be
decreased. In~fact,,af!ter member 78 has~been forced
past the shoulder 82, the weight of the assembly 6 is
sufficient to return the assembly 6 toward the closed
position. The arcuate configuration of the sidewall 64 ;~
approximates the path which the member 78 follows upon ; ,~
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67789-287D
return to the closed position~ Therefore, once the
assembly 6 is placed in motion, the weight of the
assembly 6 is sufficient to maintain the motion of the
assembly 6. It should be noted that the operator must
apply a final force to the cover plate 14 of the
assembly 6 to return the assembly 6 to the fully closed
position.
An alternate embodiment is shown in Figure 9. For
ease of understanding and explanation, the same
lo reference numerals will be used for identical parts in
each embodiment. As shown in the Figure, an arcuate
surface 70 is provided on the end walls 68. The arcuate
surface 70 can either replace the need for the member 78 ~ ;
or provide a redundant means to regulate the movement of
the assembly.
Arcuate surfaces 70 are provided on end walls 68,
. ~....
and extend from sidewall 66 toward sidewall 64. Sur~aces
70 cooperate with projections 72 which extend from end ~;`;
walls 10 o~ assembly 6. The projections 72 are rounded ;
and have smooth outer surfaces provided thereon. The
projections 72 are positioned on end walls 10 so that
the outside surfaces 74 engage the arcuate surfaces 70.
Con9equently, ~ as assembly 6 is pivoted bqtweenlthe open
and the closed positions, the projections 72 are slid -~
along arcuate surfaces 70. This cooperation of the
projections 72 with the arcuate surfaces 72 provides a
means to distribute the forces applied to the assembly 6
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when the assembly is moved between the first and second
posi~ions. As the projections and arcuate surfaces are
of significan~ strength, the distribution of forces to ~-
these members will not cause damage to the module 2.
This prevents the forces from being distributed to the
weak pivot members. Consequently, a more reliable
module is effected.
As shown in phantom in Figure 9, arcuate surfaces -
70 have embossments 76 which extend therefrom. These
10 embossments 76 are positioned proximate the ends of ~ ~-
surfaces 70 and act as a positioning means. In other
words,~when the assembly 6 is pivoted, projections 72 of
assembly 6 will be caused to engage with embossments 76
of arcuate surfaces 70. This provides a frictional
engagement between projections 72 and embossments 76,
thereby maintaining the assembly 6 in position relative
to casing 54 until a sufficient force is applied to the
assembly 6 in order to overcome the frictional
engagement. Once the frictional engagement is overcome, ~i
20 the projections 76 slidingly engage the arcuate surfaces ~
70. ~ ;
Referring back to Figure 4, and the first
embodiment, in,the closed position ~he edges of the!
cover plate 14 cooperate with recess 84 of casing 54.
~,.~,,
This cooperation insures that as downward forces are ;~ i
applied to the cover plate 14, i.e. someone stepping on
the cover plate, the forces will ~e transferred to the
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metal shoulders of the casing 54 and then to the floor
of the building. If additional support is required for
the cover pla~e 14, the cover plate can be provided with
a metal plate which would be integrally molded therein.
The metal plate would provide the additional support
required to insure that the cover plate 14 would not
fail.
A latch 86 is provided on the cover plate 14 at an
end thereof which is opposed to the pi~ot member 46. As ~ ~
10 best shown in Figure 1, latch 86 is provided in a recess i
88 which is provided in the cover plate 14. Referring-~;
to Figures 5 through 8, latch 86 is movable between a;~
first position and a second position. In the first ~ ;
position, as shown in Figure 5, the latch 86 is closed,
and in the second position, as shown in Figure 8, the ~
latch 86 is open. ~- .
Latch 86 has a top surface 90 and side surfaces 92
which extend from the top surface 90 in a direction
which is essentially perpendicular thereto. Extending -
from each side surface 92 is a pivot projection 94. The
axis of the pivot projections 94 extend in a plane which
is essentially parallel to the plane of the top surface ~
; 90. Also exte~ding ~rom the side surfaces, in the same ~ -
direction as pivot projections 94, are tabs 95 (as shown ~
in Figure 5). ~ ;
,.
~- As shown in Figures 5 through 8, pivot projections
94 are positioned in openings 96 tshown in phantom) of ~ -
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the cover plate 14. The openings 96 are of an elongate
configuration, such that one of the dimensions of the opening 96
is significantly larger than the corresponding dimension of the :
respective pivot projection 94. Springs 98 are placed in
engagement with the pivot projections 94, as will be more fully ~ ;
discussed.
In operation, latch 86 is originally provided in the - .
first or closed position. In this position, as ehown in Figure 5,
end surfaces loO of the top surface 90 and the side surfaces 92
are placed in engagement with a holding surface 102 of the rim 52.
The slight angle associated with these surfaces 100, 102 is~.;.
:"
: sufficient to insure that the latch 86 can not be moved from the :~
~ closed position until a force is applied thereto.
:~: In order to move the latch 86 from the closed positlon, .~: m
the operator must apply a substantially horizontal force to the
left hand edge of the top surface 90 to force the latch 86 to move
away from the holding surface 102. This movement is made possible
because the configuration of openings 96 allow the pivot :~
~ projections 94, and the latch 86, to move relative to the cover :
plate 14.
: When the pivot projections 94 are moved to the rear of
; openings 96, as showh! in Fii~ure 6, the spring ~8 causes the latch
,:
86 to pivot about pivot projections 94. ~ : ~
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19 677~9-Z87D
~his pivoting is continued until the end surfaces lOo of
the side surfaces 94 engage the holding surface 102.
The cooperation of the springs 98 and the surfaces 100,
102 maintains the latch 86 in this intermediate or
partially opened position until a force is applied to
the latch. Tabs 95 also engage the bottom surfaces of -
the side surfaces to help maintain the latch 86 in the
intermediate position.
With the latch 86 in a partially opened position, .
the operator can grasp the latch 86 and apply an upward
force thereto. This force is sufficient to cause the
end surfaces 100 to disengage from the holding surface
102. As tabs 95 are in engagement with the side
;surfaces 92, the cover plate 14 is forced to move upward ~-
as latch 86 is moved upward. As the upward motion
, ~:
occurs, end surfaces 100 are moved beyond holding
surface 102. This allows spring 9B to force the latch
86 to the open position shown in Figure 7. In this open
position, pivot projections 94 are forced to the front
. .:
of openings 96. With projections 94 in the front of
openings 96, tabs 95 are moved into recesses 97 provided ;-
in the side surfaces. The recesses 97 ~shown in phantom
in Figures 5 through 8~l allow the tabs 95 to be moved
upward, until tabs contact stop surfaces 99. With tabs
95 in engagement with the stop surfaces 99 and pivot
projections 94 positioned in the front portions of
openings 96, latch is provided in the open position.
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With latch 86 and assembly 6 in the open position,
the operator alectrically connects the plugs to the
electrical sockets 34, 36 located in the assembly 6.
The operator then manipulates the wire of tha plug into
a wire receiving portion 104 o~ the latch ~6. The
cooperation of the side ~urfaces 92, top surface 90,
holding surface 102, and wire stop surPaces 108 insure
that the wire will be maintained in the wire receiving
portion 104. ~ -
Once the plug has been installed, the a~sembly 6 is ;~
pivoted to the closed position. It is important that
the wires which extend from the as~embly 6 be protected -~
from damage. Therefore, as the assembly 6 is moved to
i , ~, :.
the closed position, the latch 86 must remain in the
open posikion. As shown in Figure 8, with the assembly
6 moved to the closed position, bottom surfaces 106 of
the side surfaces 96 engage the rim 52. Also, a portion
of the top surface 90 engages a portion o~ the cover
piate 14. This insures that the latch 86 will not move
as a downward force is applied thereto. Consequently,
the wires which extend from the assembly will be --
protected. - -~;
In order tolremove the wires from the latch 86, the
latch is lifted, causing the assembly 6 to be pivoted
toward the open position. The operator khen returns the
assembly 6 toward the closed position. In order for the
assembly 6 So reach the closed position, the operator
14494 CA
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21 67729-28~
must exert a forae on the latch 86, to move the latch further into
the recess 88. This allows the end surfaces 100 of the side
surfaces 92 to move past holding surface 102. Once the cover
.. ....
plate 14 is properly seated on shoulders, the latch 86 is allowed
to return to its original, first position, thereby insuring that
the assembly 6 will be maintained in the closed position until -~
required for opération, at which time the process is repeated.
The configuration of the access flooring nodule prov~des
several important advantages. Flrst, the flexibility of the ;~
module allows the module to be utilized wlth many dlfferent
-, :.,
configurations of signal and power components This reduces the ~-
cost associated with altering the module to conform to the
everchanging needs of the office environment. A second advantage
relates to the fact that a means is provided to insure for the
smooth movement of the assembly between the open and closed
positions. This controlled movement reduces the possibility of ~
..,
damaging the eIectrical components provided in the assembly. A
third advantage is found in the operation of the latch. The -
,
movement of the latch is designed to allow for easy access to the
2~0 module, while providlng the means required to protect the wirss
~ : ~ .. ',,,,:,
which extend from the module. The lsolation grounding ~eature is
a fourth advantage of the invention. ' ~ - ;
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..
~3~62
22 677~9-287
Changes in construction will occur to those skilled
in the art and various apparently dif~erenk
modifications and embodiments may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention. The matter
set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying .:~
drawings is offered by way of illustration only. ;;-:
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