US5116235A — Power panel structure

Claim 1

Independent Claim 142 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; a frontal face cover and a rear face cover supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending in a generally vertical direction, said frame structure defining front and rear spatial areas between said web and said front and rear covers for accommodating forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing electrical outlet receptacles in said spatial areas; a pair of electrical outlet receptacles blocks mounted in at least one of said spatial areas, each of said electrical outlet blocks comprising a frontal wall and at least one electrical receptacle in said frontal wall; and at least one opening in one of said covers in register with said outlet receptacle blocks to provide access thereto.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 142 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; a frontal face cover and a rear face cover supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending in a generally vertical direction, said frame structure defining front and rear spatial areas between said web and said front and rear covers for accommodating forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing electrical outlet receptacles in said spatial areas; a pair of electrical outlet receptacles blocks mounted in at least one of said spatial areas, each of said electrical outlet blocks comprising a frontal wall and at least one electrical receptacle in said frontal wall; and at least one opening in one of said covers in register with said outlet receptacle blocks to provide access thereto.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web comprises an opening and said arrangement further comprises an electrical connector extending into said opening and having at least two sets of connector terminals, each set engaging one of said pair of receptacle blocks in said at least one of said spatial areas.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 55 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising a pair of said electrical outlet receptacle blocks mounted in another of said spatial areas and wherein said connector further comprises additional sets of terminals, each of said additional sets of terminals engaging one of said pair of receptacles mounted in said other spatial area.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 163 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; a frontal face cover and a rear face cover supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending in a generally vertical direction, said frame structure defining front and rear spatial areas between said web and said front and rear covers for accommodating forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing electrical outlet receptacles in said spatial areas; a pair of electrical outlet receptacles mounted in at least one of said spatial areas; and an electrical connector having at least two sets of connector terminals, each set engaging a receptacle of said pair of receptacles; said connector comprising a housing having an electrical terminal section including said at least two sets of terminals, two of said sets extending in opposite directions for engagement with a pair of receptacles disposed on opposite sides of said terminal section.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 163 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; a frontal face cover and a rear face cover supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending in a generally vertical direction, said frame structure defining front and rear spatial areas between said web and said front and rear covers for accommodating forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing electrical outlet receptacles in said spatial areas; a pair of electrical outlet receptacles mounted in at least one of said spatial areas; and an electrical connector having at least two sets of connector terminals, each set engaging a receptacle of said pair of receptacles; said connector comprising a housing having an electrical terminal section including said at least two sets of terminals, two of said sets extending in opposite directions for engagement with a pair of receptacles disposed on opposite sides of said terminal section.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 4 wherein said terminal section comprises sets of terminals directed in opposite directions in both said front and rear spatial areas.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 72 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 4 wherein said connector housing has an end edge and said electrical terminal section is positioned in the proximity of said end edge and wherein at least one receptacle extends beyond said one end edge when in engagement with one of said sets of terminals and wherein said web comprises a receptacle retaining latch for retaining a receptacle in engagement with said one set of terminals.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 85 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 6 wherein said latch comprises a first section mounted on said web and a second section hingedly attached to said first section along a line extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal centerline of said web, said second section assuming a flattened position when a receptacle is being inserted for engagement with said one set of terminals and assuming a raised position, preventing removal of said receptacle, when said receptacle is in complete engagement with said one set of terminals.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 39 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 4 and further comprising a cable attachment connector engaging one end of said housing and a substantially flat housing section extending between said one end and said connector section for retaining electrical wiring.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 8 wherein said housing section comprises substantially flat, oppositely facing outer walls for supporting oppositely facing receptacles on opposite sides of said housing section.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 9 wherein said housing section comprises a latch device on at least one of said flat outer walls to maintain a receptacle in a specified position relative to said connector section.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 8 wherein said opening has one edge having a flanged side area and said cable attachment connector has a flange for engagement with said flanged side area to maintain said connector housing in a predetermined position relative to said one edge.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 60 words

The arrangement in accordance with claim 11 wherein said opening has another end edge and said connector assembly has an extension member extending in a direction away from said one end of said housing, said extension being offset from a longitudinal centerline of said housing section for engaging said web in an area adjacent said other edge of said opening.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 189 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; a frontal face cover and a rear face cover supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates having inner surfaces and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending a generally vertical direction, said frame structure defining front and rear spatial areas between said web and said front and rear covers for accommodating forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing electrical outlet receptacles in said spatial areas; and a pair of electrical outlet receptacles mounted in at least one of said spatial areas; said frame structure further comprising vertically extending rib members extending from said web to said covers, said rib members having surfaces opposite said inner surfaces of said end plates, said inner surfaces and said rib members having protuberances for retaining electrical outlet receptacles between said inner surfaces and said rib members, said receptacles comprising positioning tabs external thereto and said protuberances comprising recessed openings for allowing entry of said tabs in spatial areas defined by said web, said rib members, said inner surfaces and said protuberances.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 189 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; a frontal face cover and a rear face cover supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates having inner surfaces and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending a generally vertical direction, said frame structure defining front and rear spatial areas between said web and said front and rear covers for accommodating forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing electrical outlet receptacles in said spatial areas; and a pair of electrical outlet receptacles mounted in at least one of said spatial areas; said frame structure further comprising vertically extending rib members extending from said web to said covers, said rib members having surfaces opposite said inner surfaces of said end plates, said inner surfaces and said rib members having protuberances for retaining electrical outlet receptacles between said inner surfaces and said rib members, said receptacles comprising positioning tabs external thereto and said protuberances comprising recessed openings for allowing entry of said tabs in spatial areas defined by said web, said rib members, said inner surfaces and said protuberances.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 157 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system comprising: an electrical cable extending from a main raceway in said power panel to an electrical receptacle positioned in said power panel and away from said raceway; a main raceway through-connect for connection to connectors of adjacent panels, said through-connect comprising an offset member having a first section at one end of said through-connect having a connector for connection to a first adjacent panel, and a second section offset from said first section; and an angle connector having a first section having one end connected to said cable and a second section extending in a direction at a prescribed angle to said first section of said angle connector and disposed substantially in parallel alignment with said first section of said through-connect; said second section of said through-connect and said second section of said angle connector each having a connector for connection to another adjacent panel.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 157 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system comprising: an electrical cable extending from a main raceway in said power panel to an electrical receptacle positioned in said power panel and away from said raceway; a main raceway through-connect for connection to connectors of adjacent panels, said through-connect comprising an offset member having a first section at one end of said through-connect having a connector for connection to a first adjacent panel, and a second section offset from said first section; and an angle connector having a first section having one end connected to said cable and a second section extending in a direction at a prescribed angle to said first section of said angle connector and disposed substantially in parallel alignment with said first section of said through-connect; said second section of said through-connect and said second section of said angle connector each having a connector for connection to another adjacent panel.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 160 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; a pair of oppositely facing panel covers supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending in a generally vertical direction to define separate inner spatial areas between said web and said panel covers; generally vertically extending rib members extending from said web toward said panel covers, thereby dividing each of said separate inner spatial areas into a pair of separate areas; an opening in a portion of said central web extending between said rib member san done of said end plates; and a connector assembly supported in said opening for supporting at least one electrical receptacle on each side of said web in the vicinity of said opening; said end plates having vertical centerlines and said portion of said web offset from a plane including said centerlines.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 160 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; a pair of oppositely facing panel covers supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending in a generally vertical direction to define separate inner spatial areas between said web and said panel covers; generally vertically extending rib members extending from said web toward said panel covers, thereby dividing each of said separate inner spatial areas into a pair of separate areas; an opening in a portion of said central web extending between said rib member san done of said end plates; and a connector assembly supported in said opening for supporting at least one electrical receptacle on each side of said web in the vicinity of said opening; said end plates having vertical centerlines and said portion of said web offset from a plane including said centerlines.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 137 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; oppositely facing panel covers supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending in a generally vertical direction, said frame structure defining inner spatial areas between said web and said covers for accommodating electrical outlet receptacles in said spatial areas; and said web comprising an enlarged section adjacent one surface of at least one of said end plates; said at least one of said end plates comprising a vertically extending groove in an other surface in register with said enlarged section, said groove adapted to receive threaded fasteners for securing attachment brackets to said other surface of said at least one of said end plates.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 137 words

A power panel arrangement for use in a space-divider wall panel system, comprising: a frame structure; oppositely facing panel covers supported on said frame structure; said frame structure comprising first and second vertically extending end plates and a web interconnecting said end plates and extending in a generally vertical direction, said frame structure defining inner spatial areas between said web and said covers for accommodating electrical outlet receptacles in said spatial areas; and said web comprising an enlarged section adjacent one surface of at least one of said end plates; said at least one of said end plates comprising a vertically extending groove in an other surface in register with said enlarged section, said groove adapted to receive threaded fasteners for securing attachment brackets to said other surface of said at least one of said end plates.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-05-26	1995-11-25	1996-05-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-05-26	1999-11-25	2000-05-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-05-26	2003-11-25	2004-05-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Power panel structure

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