Patent US5562469A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5562469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrified wall panel system
Assignee: MillerKnoll Inc
•
Filing: 1995-07-31
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Granted: 1996-10-08
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Expires: 2015-07-31
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. First and second harnesses are each electrically connected at first ends thereof to the power distribution server, extend to opposite ends of the wall panel unit, and include connector ports on the second ends thereof for providing electrical interconnection of adjacent wall panel units. 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
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:36
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: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
341 words
An electrified space dividing panel system including at least first and second vertically oriented panels each having first and second major opposed sides which define panel width and height dimensions, first and second vertically oriented edges which interconnect the first and second opposed sides and define a panel thickness dimension, and an elongated opening which extends between the first and second vertically oriented edges, with the first and second panels being disposed with a vertically oriented edge of one panel closely adjacent to a vertically oriented edge of another panel, the improvement comprising: an electrical power module disposed in the elongated opening of each of the first and second panels, with each power module having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and a length dimension between the first and second ends which is substantially equal to the width dimension of the associated panel, each electrical power module including a single terminal block having first and second axial ends, such electrical power module including a first and second flexible multi-conductor cables having first ends thereof connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block, and having second ends, said first and second cables being the only cables directly connected to the single terminal block, each electrical power module including first and second electrical connectors at the first and second ends thereof, respectively, integrally attached to the second ends of the first and second flexible cables, respectively, each of said first and second electrical connectors having first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts, with each set being surrounded by a hermaphroditic housing, at least one of the first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts of said electrical connector of the first panel directly engaging one of the first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of the second panel, with said direct engagement between the hermaphroditic contacts of the electrical connectors of the first and second panels beings at the adjacent vertical edges of the first and second panels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
341 words
An electrified space dividing panel system including at least first and second vertically oriented panels each having first and second major opposed sides which define panel width and height dimensions, first and second vertically oriented edges which interconnect the first and second opposed sides and define a panel thickness dimension, and an elongated opening which extends between the first and second vertically oriented edges, with the first and second panels being disposed with a vertically oriented edge of one panel closely adjacent to a vertically oriented edge of another panel, the improvement comprising: an electrical power module disposed in the elongated opening of each of the first and second panels, with each power module having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and a length dimension between the first and second ends which is substantially equal to the width dimension of the associated panel, each electrical power module including a single terminal block having first and second axial ends, such electrical power module including a first and second flexible multi-conductor cables having first ends thereof connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block, and having second ends, said first and second cables being the only cables directly connected to the single terminal block, each electrical power module including first and second electrical connectors at the first and second ends thereof, respectively, integrally attached to the second ends of the first and second flexible cables, respectively, each of said first and second electrical connectors having first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts, with each set being surrounded by a hermaphroditic housing, at least one of the first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts of said electrical connector of the first panel directly engaging one of the first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of the second panel, with said direct engagement between the hermaphroditic contacts of the electrical connectors of the first and second panels beings at the adjacent vertical edges of the first and second panels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 1 wherein the first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts of each electrical connector are disposed orthogonally to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 1 wherein the single terminal block of each power module includes terminals connected to the first and second flexible cables for receiving at least one plug-in electrical receptacle, and at least one plug-in electrical receptacle engaged with said terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 1 wherein the single terminal block of each power module includes terminals connected to the first and second flexible cables for receiving up to and including four plug-in electrical receptacles, with the terminals being arranged and accessible to receive up to two said plug-in receptacles on each side of the associated panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 1 wherein the single terminal block is located at substantially the midpoint of the electrical power module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 1 wherein each electrical power module includes means for adjusting the length dimensions between the first and second ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 1 wherein the adjacent vertically oriented edges of the first and second panels are supported by a post common to each, and each power module includes means for adjusting the length dimension between the first and second ends to enable the engagement between the electrical connectors of the first and second panels to be selectively located relative to the post.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 1 wherein the first ends of the first and second multi-conductor cables are fixedly connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
334 words
An electrified space dividing panel system including first, second and third oriented panels each having first and second major opposed sides which define panel width and height dimensions, first and second vertically oriented edges which interconnect the first and second opposed sides and define a panel thickness dimension, and an elongated opening which extends between the first and second vertically oriented edges, with the first, second and third panels being disposed with a vertically oriented edge of each panel closely adjacent to a vertically oriented edge of each of the other panels, the improvement comprising: an electrical power module disposed in the elongated opening of each of the first, second and third panels, with each power module having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and a length dimension between the first and second ends which is substantially equal to the width dimension of the associated panel, each electrical power module including a single terminal block having first and second axial ends, each electrical power module including first and second flexible multi-conductor cables having first ends thereof connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block, and having second ends, said first and second cables being the only cables directly connected to the single terminal block, each electrical power module including first and second electrical connectors at the first and second ends thereof, respectively, integrally attached to the second ends of the first and second flexible cables, respectively, each of said first and second electrical connectors having first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts, with each set being surrounded by a hermaphroditic housing, a set of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of each of the first and second panels directly engaging a different set of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of the third panel, with the engagements of the hermaphroditic contacts of the first, second and third panels being at the adjacent vertical edges of the first, second and third panels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
334 words
An electrified space dividing panel system including first, second and third oriented panels each having first and second major opposed sides which define panel width and height dimensions, first and second vertically oriented edges which interconnect the first and second opposed sides and define a panel thickness dimension, and an elongated opening which extends between the first and second vertically oriented edges, with the first, second and third panels being disposed with a vertically oriented edge of each panel closely adjacent to a vertically oriented edge of each of the other panels, the improvement comprising: an electrical power module disposed in the elongated opening of each of the first, second and third panels, with each power module having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and a length dimension between the first and second ends which is substantially equal to the width dimension of the associated panel, each electrical power module including a single terminal block having first and second axial ends, each electrical power module including first and second flexible multi-conductor cables having first ends thereof connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block, and having second ends, said first and second cables being the only cables directly connected to the single terminal block, each electrical power module including first and second electrical connectors at the first and second ends thereof, respectively, integrally attached to the second ends of the first and second flexible cables, respectively, each of said first and second electrical connectors having first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts, with each set being surrounded by a hermaphroditic housing, a set of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of each of the first and second panels directly engaging a different set of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of the third panel, with the engagements of the hermaphroditic contacts of the first, second and third panels being at the adjacent vertical edges of the first, second and third panels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 9 herein the first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts of each of the first and second electrical connectors are arranged at right angles to one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 9 wherein the single terminal block of each power module includes terminals connected to the first and second flexible cables for receiving at least one plug-in electrical receptacle, and at least one plug-in electrical receptacle engaged with said terminals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 9 wherein the single terminal block of each power module includes terminals connected to the first and second flexible cables for receiving up to and including four plug-in electrical receptacles, with the terminals being arranged and accessible to receive up to two said plug-in receptacles on each side of the associated panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 9 wherein the single terminal block is located at substantially the midpoint of the electrical power module.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 9 wherein each electrical power module includes means for adjusting the length dimensions between the first and second ends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 9 wherein the adjacent vertically oriented edges of the first and second panels are supported by a post common to each, and each power module includes means for adjusting the length dimension between the first and second ends to enable the engagements between the electrical connectors of the first, second and third panels to be selectively located relative to the post.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 9 wherein the first ends of the first and second multi-conductor cables are fixedly connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
341 words
An electrified space dividing panel system including first, second, third and fourth oriented panels each having first and second major opposed sides which define panel width and height dimensions, first and second vertically oriented edges which interconnect the first and second opposed sides and define a panel thickness dimension, and an elongated opening which extends between the first and second vertically oriented edges, with the first, second, third and fourth panels being disposed with a vertically oriented edge of each panel closely adjacent to a vertically oriented edge of each of the other panels, the improvement comprising: an electrical power module disposed in the elongated opening of each of the first, second, third and fourth panels, with each power module having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and a length dimension between the first and second ends which is substantially equal to the width dimension of the associated panel, each electrical power module including a single terminal block having first and second axial ends, each electrical power module including first and second flexible multi-conductor cables having first ends thereof connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block, and having second ends, said first and second cables being the only cables directly connected to the single terminal block, each electrical power module including first and second electrical connectors at the first and second ends thereof, respectively, integrally attached to the second ends of the first and second flexible cables, respectively, each of said first and second electrical connectors having first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts, with each set being surrounded by a hermaphroditic housing, both sets of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of each of the first, second, third and fourth panels directly engaging a different set of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of two of the remaining three panels, with said direct engagements of the hermaphroditic contacts of the electrical connectors being at the adjacent vertical edges of the first, second, third and fourth panels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
341 words
An electrified space dividing panel system including first, second, third and fourth oriented panels each having first and second major opposed sides which define panel width and height dimensions, first and second vertically oriented edges which interconnect the first and second opposed sides and define a panel thickness dimension, and an elongated opening which extends between the first and second vertically oriented edges, with the first, second, third and fourth panels being disposed with a vertically oriented edge of each panel closely adjacent to a vertically oriented edge of each of the other panels, the improvement comprising: an electrical power module disposed in the elongated opening of each of the first, second, third and fourth panels, with each power module having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and a length dimension between the first and second ends which is substantially equal to the width dimension of the associated panel, each electrical power module including a single terminal block having first and second axial ends, each electrical power module including first and second flexible multi-conductor cables having first ends thereof connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block, and having second ends, said first and second cables being the only cables directly connected to the single terminal block, each electrical power module including first and second electrical connectors at the first and second ends thereof, respectively, integrally attached to the second ends of the first and second flexible cables, respectively, each of said first and second electrical connectors having first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts, with each set being surrounded by a hermaphroditic housing, both sets of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of each of the first, second, third and fourth panels directly engaging a different set of hermaphroditic contacts of a said electrical connector of two of the remaining three panels, with said direct engagements of the hermaphroditic contacts of the electrical connectors being at the adjacent vertical edges of the first, second, third and fourth panels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 17 wherein the first and second sets of hermaphroditic contacts of each of the first and second electrical connectors are arranged at right angles to one another.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 17 wherein the single terminal block of each power module includes terminals connected to the first and second flexible cables for receiving at least one plug-in electrical receptacle, and at least one plug-in electrical receptacle engaged with said terminals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 17 wherein the single terminal block of each power module includes terminals connected to the first and second flexible cables for receiving up to and including four plug-in electrical receptacles, with the terminal as being arranged and accessible to receive up to two said plug-in receptacles on each side of the associated panel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 17 wherein the single terminal block is located at substantially the midpoint of the electrical power module.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 17 wherein each electrical power module includes means for adjusting the length dimension between the first and second ends.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
70 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 17 wherein the adjacent vertically oriented edges of the first and second panels are supported by a post common to each, and each power module includes means for adjusting the length dimension between the first and second ends to enable the engagement between the electrical connectors of the first, second, third and fourth panels to be selectively located relative to the post.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrified space dividing panel system of claim 17 wherein the first ends of the first and second multi-conductor cables are fixedly connected to the first and second axial ends of the terminal block.
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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) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-04-08 | 2000-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-08 | 2004-04-08 | 2004-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-08 | 2008-04-08 | 2008-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |