Electric equipment channel

Claim 1

An electrical equipment channel system comprising the combination of a vertical main channel fixed to an interior wall surface of a room, extending from the ceiling to the floor of the room, and providing the appearance of a pillar-shaped construction member, said main channel having a substantially Ushaped cross section with the open end of the U on the front surface thereof, the longitudinal edges of said channel forming a pair of opposed lateral flanges recessed from the front surface of said channel by a pair of shallow interior side walls and extending continuously along the opposite side edges of the channel opening; a plurality of horizontal subordinate channels communicating with the vertical main channel for receiving a plurality of electric distribution lines from the main channel and for mounting terminal devices connected to said distribution lines, said subordinate channels being fixed to interior wall surfaces of at least one room and providing the appearance of edge construction members; a plurality of fitting bands secured to said lateral flanges at vertically spaced locations and extending across the open end of the U on the front surface of said channel so that the rear portion of the channel remains open to form a continuous vertical passage, box means mounted within the vertical main channel near the upper end thereof for receiving an electric power source line; distribution board also mounted on at least one of said fitting bands below said pull box for receiving the electrical power source line and connecting said line to a plurality of said electric distribution lines branching into the horizontal subordinate channels for connection to said terminal devices, said distribution board including a front portion which fits between the shallow interior side walls of said channel and overlaps said lateral flanges; a plurality of additional electrical units mounted on said fitting bands with each of the units including a front portion which fits between the shallow interior side walls of said channel and overlaps said lateral flanges, each of said electrical units being connected to at least a portion of said distribution lines; and a plurality of cover plates mounted on said fitting bands in the vertical spaces between said distribution board and the additional electrical units, each of said cover plates fitting between the shallow interior side walls and overlapping said lateral flanges.