US5214889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrified wall panel system
Assignee: MillerKnoll Inc
•
Filing: 1992-03-06
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Granted: 1993-06-01
•
Expires: 2012-03-06
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an electrified wall panel system having a power distribution server locatable within a wall panel unit. The power distribution server has four receptacle module ports oriented in an H-shaped configuration in which a first receptacle port on a first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a first end of the wall panel unit, a second receptacle port on the first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a second end of the wall panel unit, a third receptacle port on a second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the first end of the wall panel unit, and fourth receptacle port on the second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the second end of the wall panel unit. There is also disclosed an electrified wall panel system with wall panel connector interchangeably usable with the interconnection of two, three, and four wall panel units. The connector includes a hook member for connecting together adjacent vertical members of frames of adjacent wall panel units at a lower portion thereof and a draw nut for connecting together adjacent vertical members of frames of adjacent wall panel units at an upper portion thereof by vertical displacement thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 James H. Nienhuis
- 👤 Jeffrey L. Clark
- 👤 Michael L. De Pree
- 👤 Robert L. Beck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:53
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7422; E04B2/7425; E04B2/7433; E04B2/7438; E04C; E04C2/00; E04C2/44; E04C2/52; E04C2/521; H; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/16; H01R25/161; H01R25/162; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/28; H02G3/286; H02G3/288; E04B2002/7488; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/20; F16B2200/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a wall panel system comprised of wall panel units connectable together at the ends thereof to form continuous partitions, each wall panel unit having a frame comprised of one or more vertical members and one or more horizontal members and further in which the interconnection of two or more wall panel units is made by connecting together adjacent vertical members of the frames of adjacent wall panel units to be interconnected, an apparatus for connecting together the frames of two, three, or four wall panel units comprising, a draw nut having at least one upwardly extending side engagable in a first slot located at a first height in the vertical member of the frame of a wall panel unit: a fastening means connectable to said draw nut and capable of securing said draw nut to a vertical member of the frame of the wall panel unit by vertical displacement of said draw nut into engagement with the slot; and a hook member having an upwardly extending end engageable in a second slot located at a second height in the vertical member of the frame, the second slot vertically displaced from the first slot whereby frames of adjacent wall panels by can be interconnected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a wall panel system comprised of wall panel units connectable together at the ends thereof to form continuous partitions, each wall panel unit having a frame comprised of one or more vertical members and one or more horizontal members and further in which the interconnection of two or more wall panel units is made by connecting together adjacent vertical members of the frames of adjacent wall panel units to be interconnected, an apparatus for connecting together the frames of two, three, or four wall panel units comprising, a draw nut having at least one upwardly extending side engagable in a first slot located at a first height in the vertical member of the frame of a wall panel unit: a fastening means connectable to said draw nut and capable of securing said draw nut to a vertical member of the frame of the wall panel unit by vertical displacement of said draw nut into engagement with the slot; and a hook member having an upwardly extending end engageable in a second slot located at a second height in the vertical member of the frame, the second slot vertically displaced from the first slot whereby frames of adjacent wall panels by can be interconnected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising, a skeletal post locatable between the vertical members of frames of adjacent wall panel units; and a top plate connected to said skeletal post and also connectable to said draw nut:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising, a wedge shaped member connected to said top plate and engageable by said draw nut when said draw nut is vertically displaced into engagement with the slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which said draw nut comprises, first upwardly extending side engagable in a first slot located at a first height in the vertical member of the frame of a first wall panel unit; and a second upwardly extending side engagable in a first slot located at a first height in the vertical member of the frame of a second wall panel unit adjacent to and longitudinally aligned with the first wall panel unit: and further in which said fastening means is capable of interconnecting the first and the second wall panel units together by connection of adjacent vertical members of the frames thereof by vertical displacement of said draw nut into engagement with the first slot of the vertical member of the first wall panel unit and the first slot of the vertical member of the second wall panel unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
265 words
The wall panel system of claim 1 in which each of the wall panel units includes a first and second side and a first and second end, each of the wall panel units connectable at the first and second ends thereof to other wall panel units, the wall panel system further comprising: a power distribution server comprising four receptacle module ports oriented in an H-shaped combination in which a first receptacle module port on the first side of a wall panel unit opens toward the first end of said wall panel unit, a second receptacle module port on the first side of a wall panel unit opens toward the second end of said wall panel unit, a third receptacle module port on the second side of a wall panel unit opens toward the first end of said wall panel unit, and a fourth receptacle module port on the second side of a wall panel unit opens toward the second end of said wall panel unit; a first harness electrically connected at one end to said power distribution server, said first harness of a length to extend to the first end of said wall panel unit, said first harness including on the other end thereof a harness end connector port; and a second harness connected at one end to said power distribution server on the side of said power distribution server opposite said first harness, said second hardness of a length to extend to the second end of said wall panel unit, said second harness including on the other end thereof a harness end connector port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The wall panel system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the hardnesses includes a first and a second harness end connector port whereby said at least one harness can be connected to two harnesses from two adjacent wall panel units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The wall panel system of claim 5 further comprising: an inter-panel electrical connector with at least a first and second connector port matable with harness and connector ports for electrically connecting harnesses of wall panel units with adjacent ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The wall panel system of claim 7 in which adjacent wall panel units can be connected at the ends thereof with a vertical skeletal post therebetween and in which said inter-panel electrical connector further comprises attaching means for attaching said body to the skeletal post, whereby said inter-panel electrical connector can be attached at various heights along the skeletal post.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wall panel system of claim 7 in which the two connector ports of said inter-panel electrical connector are oriented so that the first connector port is oriented 180 degrees away from the second connector port to thereby enable electrical connection between wall panel units joined longitudinally.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The wall panel system of claim 7 in which the two connector ports of said inter-panel electrical connector are oriented so that the first port is oriented 90 degrees away from the second connector port to thereby enable electrical connection between wall panel units joined at a right angle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The wall panel system of claim 7 wherein the inter-panel electrical connector further comprises a third connector port and wherein the first connector port is oriented 180 degrees away from the second connector port and the third connector port is oriented 90 degrees away from the second connector port to thereby enable electrical connection between three wall panel units joined in a T configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
The wall panel system of claim 7 wherein the inter-panel electrical connector further comprises a third and fourth connector port and wherein the first connector port is oriented 180 degrees away from the second connector port, the third connector port is oriented 90 degrees away from the second connector port, and the fourth connector port is oriented 180 degrees away from the third connector port to thereby facilitate electrical connection between four wall panel units joined in an X configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The wall panel system of claim 5 further comprising at least one outlet module with at least one conventional outlet opening toward one side of said wall panel unit, said outlet module being electrically engaged in one of said outlet module ports.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The wall panel system of claim 2 further comprising: an inter-panel electrical connector with at least a first and second connector port matable with harness end connector ports for electrically connecting harnesses of wall panel units with adjacent ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The wall panel system of claim 14 in which adjacent wall panel units can be connected at the ends thereof with the skeletal post therebetween and in which said interpanel electrical connector further comprises attaching means for attaching said body to the skeletal post, whereby said inter-panel electrical connector can be attached at various heights along the skeletal post.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wall panel system of claim 14 in which the two connector ports of said inter-panel electrical connector are oriented so that the first connector port is oriented 180 degrees away from the second connector port to thereby enable electrical connection between wall panel units joined longitudinally.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The wall panel system of claim 14 in which the two connector ports of said inter-panel electrical connector are oriented so that the first port is oriented 90 degrees away from the second connector port to thereby enable electrical connection between wall panel units joined at a right angle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
The wall panel system of claim 14 wherein the inter-panel electrical connector further comprises a third connector port and wherein the first connection port is oriented 180 degrees away from the second connector port and the third connector port is oriented 90 degrees away from the second connector port to thereby enable electrical connection between three wall panel units joined in a T configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
The wall panel system of claim 14 wherein the inter-panel electrical connector further comprises a third and fourth connector port and wherein the first connector port is oriented 180 degrees away from the second connector port, the third connector port is oriented 90 degrees away from the second connector port, and the fourth connector port is oriented 180 degrees away from the third connector port to thereby facilitate electrical between four wall panel units joined in an X configuration.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-31 | 1996-11-30 | 1997-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-31 | 2000-11-30 | 2001-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-31 | 2004-11-30 | 2005-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |