US5158472A — Modular powerway for office furniture and the like

Claim 1

Independent Claim 258 words

In a freestanding office furniture system of the type having a plurality of individual furniture units interconnected side-by-side in a predetermined orientation, and wherein each of said furniture units includes a utility raceway therethrough accessible at opposite sides of said furniture unit, the improvement of a modular powerway comprising: an elongated housing received within the utility raceway of an associated one of said furniture units, and including first and second ends thereof positioned adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing; said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 258 words

In a freestanding office furniture system of the type having a plurality of individual furniture units interconnected side-by-side in a predetermined orientation, and wherein each of said furniture units includes a utility raceway therethrough accessible at opposite sides of said furniture unit, the improvement of a modular powerway comprising: an elongated housing received within the utility raceway of an associated one of said furniture units, and including first and second ends thereof positioned adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing; said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 95 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein; said powerway includes a second flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a second flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said second flag connector, and movable relative to said housing; said second flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the one side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal branching.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said powerway includes a parking member positioned adjacent the first end of said housing, and adapted to detachably mount thereon for storage one of said flag terminals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said first and second-named flag connectors on said powerway are coded with different indicia to facilitate properly orienting adjacent powerways for electrical interconnection.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said powerway includes a receptacle-only terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and having a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors electrically connected with said electrical conducting means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said power tap on said powerway includes a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors which mate with the quick-disconnect receptacle connectors on said receptacle-only terminal to separably electrically interconnect the same.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said powerway power terminal includes a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and shaped to mate with the quick-disconnect receptacle connectors on said power tap to separably electrically interconnect the same.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 69 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said powerway power terminal includes a set of quick-disconnect power-in connectors electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, which in conjunction with said quick-disconnect receptacle connectors define a power-in connector; and including a power-in module including a set of quick-disconnect connectors which mate with the power-in connector on said power terminal to supply electrical power to said passageway.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said quick-disconnect power-in connectors on said powerway are offset inwardly from the quick-disconnect receptacles connectors on said power terminal to accept either said power tap or said power-in module without increasing the overall thickness of said panel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said powerway receptacle-only terminal includes a keyed lock-out which prevents connecting said power-in module therewith.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said powerway includes a parking member positioned adjacent the second end of said housing, and adapted to detachably mount thereon for storage one of said flag terminals.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said power terminal and said flag connector on said powerway are coded with different indicia to facilitate properly orienting adjacent powerways for electrical interconnection.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said powerway includes a receptacle-only terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and having a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors electrically connected with said electrical conducting means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said power tap on said powerway includes a set of quick-disconnect receptacle connectors which mate with the quick-disconnect receptacle connectors on said receptacle-only terminal to separably electrically interconnect the same.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said flag connector includes means for longitudinally extending and retracting the same to facilitate interconnecting adjacent powerways disposed in either in-line or angular relationships.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

An office furniture system as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said longitudinally extending means comprises a Z-shaped portion of said flag connector.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 244 words

A modular powerway for office furniture units and the like of the type having a utility raceway therethrough accessible adjacent opposite sides of the office furniture unit, the improvement of a modular powerway, comprising: an elongated housing shaped for reception within the utility raceway of the office furniture unit, and including first and second ends thereof configured for positioning adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing; said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 244 words

A modular powerway for office furniture units and the like of the type having a utility raceway therethrough accessible adjacent opposite sides of the office furniture unit, the improvement of a modular powerway, comprising: an elongated housing shaped for reception within the utility raceway of the office furniture unit, and including first and second ends thereof configured for positioning adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing; said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 231 words

In an office furniture unit of the type having a utility raceway therethrough accessible at opposite sides thereof, the improvement of a modular powerway comprising: an elongated housing received within the utility raceway of said office furniture unit, and including first and second ends positioned in adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing; said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 231 words

In an office furniture unit of the type having a utility raceway therethrough accessible at opposite sides thereof, the improvement of a modular powerway comprising: an elongated housing received within the utility raceway of said office furniture unit, and including first and second ends positioned in adjacent opposite ends of said utility raceway; means mounted in said housing for conducting electrical power between opposite ends of said powerway; a power terminal mounted in said housing adjacent said first end thereof, and including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward one side of said powerway, and electrically connected with said electrical conducting means; a power tap electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to tap electrical power from said powerway; and a flexible flag connector having one end thereof fixedly mounted in said housing adjacent said second end thereof, and including a flag terminal mounted on the opposite end of said flag connector, and movable relative to said housing; said flag terminal including a set of quick-disconnect power connectors oriented toward the other side of said powerway, electrically connected with said electrical conducting means, and adapted to mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on said power terminal, whereby adjacent powerways are electrically interconnected horizontally and thereby connecting the quick-disconnect connectors on the flag terminal of one powerway with the quick-disconnect connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-10-27	1996-04-27	1996-10-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-10-27	2000-04-27	2000-10-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-10-27	2004-04-27	2004-10-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular powerway for office furniture and the like

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