Duct with power and communications outlet

Claim 2

A service column for connection to services above a suspended ceiling to provide said services at a work area, said service column being adapted to be releasably connected to the suspended ceiling, and said ceiling being of a type having inverted Tsection girders, said column comprising: a. an elongated upright main member; b. a clamping bracket assembly adapted to be mounted on one of said girders for sliding movement longitudinally of said one girder, and including means for releasably locking said clamping bracket assembly to said girder in a position generally above said work area; c. means for fastening said clamping bracket assembly to the upper end of one main member; d. service outlets for providing said services at said work area; e. means removably attaching said service outlets to said main member; and f. conductor means coupled to said service outlets for providing said services at said work area.

Claim 3

A service column as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inverted T-section girder comprises a longitudinally extending upright web and first and second horizontal flanges extending horizontally from the bottom of said web to complete said inverted T-section, and wherein said clamping bracket assembly comprises: at least one hook portion for engaging about an outer edge of said first flange; a vertical portion for engaging an upper vertical side portion of said web on the same side of said web as said second flange; an inclined portion rigidly coupled to said hook portion and to said vertical portion and adapted to threadably receive at least one screw for locking said clamping bracket assembly to said girder, said screw being adapted to engage said girder generally at the junction of said web and said second flange whereby said hook portion and said upright portion are forced into engagement with said girder to lock said clamping bracket assembly in place on said girder.

Claim 4

A service column as claimed in claim 2 wherein said main member is substantially H-shaped in cross section and defines first and second back-to-back channels, and wherein said attaching means comprises: first and second lower covers adapted for snap-fit engagement with respective first and second channels to enclose said channels, said lower covers being adapted to house said service outlets; and lock means adapted to prevent accidental removal of said lower covers from said main member.

Claim 5

A service column as claimed in claim 3 wherein said covers are generally U-shaped in cross section and have spaced-apart longitudinally extending flanges, and wherein said channel includes inwardly extending longitudinal projections cooperating with said flanges and snaP fitting said cover over said channel by deflecting said flanges inwardly as outer ends of said flanges are pushed past said projections, and wherein said lock means comprises: a sleeve adapted to slide loosely over the lower end of said main member for enclosing lower ends of said lower covers; a locking plate; means mounting said locking plate on said main member for movement between an upper position out of contact with said lower covers, and a lower position wherein said locking plate engages said lower cover between said flanges to prevent deflection of said flanges thereby preventing removal of said cover from said main member.

Claim 6

A service column as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising: a foot attached to the bottom end of said main member; and means reciprocally mounting said foot on said main member for vertical adjustment to rest said foot on the floor when said clamping bracket assembly is attached to said girder, said sleeve being adapted to rest on said floor to hide said foot from view.

Claim 7

A service column as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ceiling includes two spaced-apart parallel girders and wherein said clamping bracket assembly comprises: an inverted generally U-shaped bracket adapted to rest on said girders and having outer downwardly extending portions for sliding engagement with outwardly facing sides of said girders; and wherein said locking means comprises screws threadably engaged in said downwardly extending portions for engagement with said faces of said girders to lock said U-shaped bracket on said girders.

Claim 8

A service column as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fastening means comprises an angle bracket having an upper horizontal portion for attachment to said U-shaped bracket and a vertical portion for attachment to said main member.

Claim 9

A service column as claimed in claim 7 wherein said main member is substantially H-shaped in cross section and defines first and second back-to-back channels, and wherein said attaching means comprises: first and second upper covers; and first and second lower covers, said first and second lower covers being adapted for snap-fit engagement with respective first and second channels to enclose said channels, said lower covers being adapted to receive service outlets; and lock means adapted to prevent accidental removal of said lower covers from said main member.

Claim 10

A service column as claimed in claim 8 wherein said covers are generally U-shaped in cross section and have spaced-apart longitudinally extending flanges, and wherein said channel includes inwardly extending longitudinal projections to cooperate with said flanges for snap fitting said cover over said channel by deflecting said flanges inwardly as outer ends of said flanges are pushed past said projections, and wherein said lock means comprises: a sleeve adapted to slide loosely over the lower end of said main member for enclosing lower ends of said lower covers; a locking plate; means mounting said locking plate on said main member for movement between an upper position out of contact with said lower covers, and a lower position wherein said locking plate engages said lower cover between said flanges to prevent deflection of said flanges thereby preventing removal of said cover from said main member.

Claim 11

A service column as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising: a foot for attachment to the bottom end of said main member; and means reciprocally mounting said foot on said main member for vertical adjustment to rest said foot on the floor when said clamping bracket assembly is attached to said girder, said sleeve being adapted to rest on said floor to hide said foot from view.