Ceiling and wall structures and electrical energy distributing device for use in connection therewith

Claim 2

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures comprising an elongated hollow structure an inverted T-shaped member secured to and depending from the underside of said hollow structure, a plurality of electric outlet receptacles carried by said hollow structure and spaced along the length thereof, said receptacles having terminal portions disposed within said hollow structures, a plurality of electric wires within said hollow structure and interconnected with said receptacle terminals and means on at least one end of said hollow structure for coupling said wires to a power source.

Claim 3

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures according to claim 1 wherein said hollow structure includes at least two elongated isolated compartments for accommodating electric conductors carrying different types of electrical energy.

Claim 4

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures according to claim 1 including attaching means positioned along the length of said duct for removably securing a second elongated hollow structure in substantially parallel relationship to the first said elongated hollow structure.

Claim 5

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures according to claim 1 wherein said elongated hollow structure includes a bottom, a pair of upwardly extending side walls, said electric outlets being carried by the upper ends of said side walls and cover plates closing the areas between successive outlets and said inverted T-shaped member depends from said bottom wall.

Claim 6

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures according to claim 4 including attaching means positioned along the length of said duct for removably securing a second elongated hollow structure in substantially parallel relationship to the first said elongated hollow structure.

Claim 7

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures according to claim 1 wherein said inverted T-shaped member includes a plurality of openings to engage T-bars disposed transversely of said power supplying duct to form rectangular openings for receiving ceiling tile and lighting fixtures.

Claim 8

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures according to claim 6 wherein said ceiling structure includes a plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship to said power supplying structure, a plurality of T-bars positioned transversely of and interconnected with said power supplying structure and the first said T-bars to form a plurality of rectangular openings, ceiling tiles positioned in certain of said openings, lighting fixtures positioned in other of said openings and electric cables connected to said fixtures and having plugs for engaging said outlets to energize said fixtures.

Claim 9

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures comprising an elongated hollow structure for accommodating electrical conductors, and an inverted T-shaped member depending from the underside of said hollow structure, attaching means positioned along the length of said duct for removably securing a second elongated hollow structure in substantially parallel relationship to the first said elongated hollow structure, said attaching means being carried by said T-shaped member and extending outwardly therefrom.

Claim 10

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures comprising an elongated hollow structure for accommodating electrical conductors, and an inverted T-shaped member depending from the underside of said hollow structure, attaching means positioned along the length of said duct for removably securing a second elongated hollow structure in substantially parallel relationship to the first said elongated hollow structure, said attaching means being carried by said T-shaped member and extending outwardly therefrom.

Claim 11

A ceiling structure comprising at least one power supplying duct having an elongated hollow structure for accommodating electrical conductors, horizontally disposed flanges secured to and extending from the bottom of said hollow structure and elEctric outlet receptacles carried by said structure, a plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship to said power supplying duct, a second plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship and transversely of the first plurality of T-bars, said second plurality of T-bars being interlocked with said first plurality of T-bars and said power supplying duct to form a plurality of rectangular openings to support ceiling tile and electrical devices such as lighting fixtures, said electrical devices being interconnected with said outlets for the supply of energy to said fixtures.

Claim 12

A ceiling structure comprising at least one power supplying duct having an elongated hollow structure for accommodating electrical conductors, horizontally disposed flanges secured to and extending from the bottom of said hollow structure and elEctric outlet receptacles carried by said structure, a plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship to said power supplying duct, a second plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship and transversely of the first plurality of T-bars, said second plurality of T-bars being interlocked with said first plurality of T-bars and said power supplying duct to form a plurality of rectangular openings to support ceiling tile and electrical devices such as lighting fixtures, said electrical devices being interconnected with said outlets for the supply of energy to said fixtures.

Claim 13

A ceiling structure comprising at least one power supplying duct having an elongated hollow structure for accommodating electrical conductors, horizontally disposed flanges secured to and extending from the bottom of said hollow structure and electric outlet receptacles carried by said structure, a plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship to said power supplying duct, a second plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship and transversely of the first plurality of T-bars, said second plurality of T-bars being interlocked with said first plurality of T-bars and said power supplying duct to form a plurality of rectangular openings to support ceiling tile and electrical devices such as lighting fixtures, said electrical devices being interconnected with said outlets for the supply of energy to said fixtures, a vertically disposed tubular member, means on the upper end of the last said member securing it to one of said T-bars, means fixedly supporting the lower end of said tubular member, outlets carried by said member and electric conductors within said member and connecting the last said outlets with said outlets on said power supplying duct.

Claim 14

A ceiling structure comprising at least one power supplying duct having an elongated hollow structure for accommodating electrical conductors, horizontally disposed flanges secured to and extending from the bottom of said hollow structure and electric outlet receptacles carried by said structure, a plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship to said power supplying duct, a second plurality of T-bars positioned in spaced parallel relationship and transversely of the first plurality of T-bars, said second plurality of T-bars being interlocked with said first plurality of T-bars and said power supplying duct to form a plurality of rectangular openings to support ceiling tile and electrical devices such as lighting fixtures, said electrical devices being interconnected with said outlets for the supply of energy to said fixtures, a vertically disposed tubular member, means on the upper end of the last said member securing it to one of said T-bars, means fixedly supporting the lower end of said tubular member, outlets carried by said member and electric conductors within said member and connecting the last said outlets with said outlets on said power supplying duct.

Claim 15

A ceiling structure according to claim 10 wherein said vertical tubular member is compartmentized to accommodate conductors carrying different types of electric energy.

Claim 16

A ceiling structure according to claim 10 wherein said vertically disposed tubular member includes means extending along at least one side thereof for attachment to a wall.

Claim 17

A ceiling structure according to claim 10 wherein said tubular member includes a pair of spaced parallel outwardly extending members on at least one surface thereof and extending substantially throughout the length of said tubular member for receiving a vertical edge of a wall element therebetween.

Claim 18

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures comprising an elongated hollow structure for accommodating electrical conductors, electric outlets carried by said structure and connected to said conductors and means carried by said structure for supporting adjoining ceiling elements, outwardly extending longitudinally disposed flange means carried by said duct and an auxiliary prewired hollow member having means extending therefrom engaging said flange means to support the last said member.

Claim 19

A power supplying duct for ceiling structures comprising an elongated hollow structure for accommodating electrical conductors, electric outlets carried by said structure and connected to said conductors and means carried by said structure for supporting adjoining ceiling elements, outwardly extending longitudinally disposed flange means carried by said duct and an auxiliary prewired hollow member having means extending therefrom engaging said flange means to support the last said member.

Claim 20

The combination with a ceiling structural element for support of ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures of outwardly extending longitudinally disposed flange means and an electric conductor carrying member having means engaging said flange means to support the last said member.

Claim 21

The combination with a ceiling structural element for support of ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures of outwardly extending longitudinally disposed flange means and an electric conductor carrying member having means engaging said flange means to support the last said member.

Claim 22

The combination with a ceiling structural element for support of ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures of outwardly extending longitudinally disposed flange means and an electric conductor carrying member having means engaging said flange means to support the last said member, said flange means being formed integrally with said ceiling structural element.

Claim 23

The combination with a ceiling structural element for support of ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures of outwardly extending longitudinally disposed flange means and an electric conductor carrying member having means engaging said flange means to support the last said member, said flange means being formed integrally with said ceiling structural element.

Claim 24

The combination with a ceiling structural element for support of ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures of outwardly extending longitudinally disposed flange means and an electric conductor carrying member having means engaging said flange means to support the last said member, said flange means being carried by a clip removably engaging said ceiling structural member.

Claim 25

The combination with a ceiling structural element for support of ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures of outwardly extending longitudinally disposed flange means and an electric conductor carrying member having means engaging said flange means to support the last said member, said flange means being carried by a clip removably engaging said ceiling structural member.

Claim 26

A prewired vertical energY supplying column comprising an elongated tubular member, means at the upper end of said member for engagement with ceiling structural member, means on at least the other end of said column for fixing it in a vertical position, at least one electric outlet carried by said column and electrical conductors connected to said outlet means and terminating at the upper end thereof in a plug for attachment to a ceiling outlet.

Claim 27

A prewired vertical energY supplying column comprising an elongated tubular member, means at the upper end of said member for engagement with ceiling structural member, means on at least the other end of said column for fixing it in a vertical position, at least one electric outlet carried by said column and electrical conductors connected to said outlet means and terminating at the upper end thereof in a plug for attachment to a ceiling outlet.

Claim 28

A prewired vertical energy supplying column according to claim 18 wherein said tubular member includes means along at least one side thereof for engaging adjoining wall elements.

Claim 29

A prewired vertical energy supply column according to claim 18 wherein said elongated tubular member terminates at its lower end in a horizontal tubular member, said electrical conductors in the first said elongated tubular member extending into said horizontal tubular member and electrical outlet receptacles carried by said horizontal tubular member and interconnected with said conductors.