Patent US5713168A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5713168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Junction box for low profile raised panel flooring
Assignee: Guilford Delaware Inc
•
Filing: 1994-03-25
•
Granted: 1998-02-03
•
Expires: 2014-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A junction box that organizes and provides access to electrical, data, telecommunications or other service lines routed through numerous channels formed between a false floor and an existing floor is disclosed. The housing of the junction box can be placed at virtually any point upon a false floor so that equipment disposed about the false floor can access outlets provided within the housing and connected to electrical, data, telecommunications cables or other service lines. Additionally, a hatch with a cable protector may be provided to cover the junction box while allowing cables to enter into the box for connection to the appropriate outlet.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan J. Schilham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:34
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E04F15/024; E04F15/02447; E04F15/02452; H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/18; H02G3/185; H02G3/28; H02G3/283; H02G3/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A flooring system in combination with means for organizing and providing access to service lines traveling through the flooring system, the combination comprising: (a) a flooring system comprising: (i) a floor plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a first interlocking element; (ii) a support comprising a base plate with a plurality of stand-offs having a height, each stand-off having a top surface and extending from the base plate to support the floor plate, wherein the top surface of at least one of the standoffs includes a second interlocking element for engaging the first interlocking element of the floor plate; and (iii) a plurality of channels defined by the base plate, the floor plate, and the stand-offs; (b) means for providing access through at least one floor plate to service lines traveling through the channels; and (c) means for organizing lines traveling through the channels comprising; (i) a housing substantially the same height as the stand-offs; and (ii) the top of the housing defining a flange that is shaped to contact the top surfaces of at least two stand-offs, the housing being placed between selected stand-offs and shaped to be fixed in place by contact with the stand-offs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A flooring system in combination with means for organizing and providing access to service lines traveling through the flooring system, the combination comprising: (a) a flooring system comprising: (i) a floor plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a first interlocking element; (ii) a support comprising a base plate with a plurality of stand-offs having a height, each stand-off having a top surface and extending from the base plate to support the floor plate, wherein the top surface of at least one of the standoffs includes a second interlocking element for engaging the first interlocking element of the floor plate; and (iii) a plurality of channels defined by the base plate, the floor plate, and the stand-offs; (b) means for providing access through at least one floor plate to service lines traveling through the channels; and (c) means for organizing lines traveling through the channels comprising; (i) a housing substantially the same height as the stand-offs; and (ii) the top of the housing defining a flange that is shaped to contact the top surfaces of at least two stand-offs, the housing being placed between selected stand-offs and shaped to be fixed in place by contact with the stand-offs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing is square.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flange further defines at least two apertures to which projections formed upon a hatch will fit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises (i) a base (ii) joined at each end by a projection so that a predetermined angle exists between the base and each projection sufficient to allow the projections and base to contact with the stand-offs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises means for attaching an outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for providing access is an aperture defined in the floor plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the means for providing access is at least partially under the aperture in the floor plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for covering the aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the means for covering the aperture comprises a hatch shaped substantially to fill the aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
177 words
A flooring system in combination with means for organizing and providing access to service lines traveling through the flooring system, the combination comprising: (a) a flooring system comprising: (i) a floor plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a first interlocking element; (ii) a support comprising a base plate with a plurality of stand-offs, each stand-off having a top surface and extending from the base plate to support the floor plate, wherein the top surface of at least one of the standoffs includes a second interlocking element for engaging the first interlocking element of the floor plate; and (iii) a plurality of channels defined by the base plate, the floor plate, and the stand-offs; (b) means for providing access through at least one floor plate to service lines traveling through the channels; and (c) means for organizing lines traveling through the channels wherein the organizing means comprises a housing placed between selected stand-offs and shaped to be fixed in place by contact with the stand-offs wherein the combination is formed from sheet metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
177 words
A flooring system in combination with means for organizing and providing access to service lines traveling through the flooring system, the combination comprising: (a) a flooring system comprising: (i) a floor plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a first interlocking element; (ii) a support comprising a base plate with a plurality of stand-offs, each stand-off having a top surface and extending from the base plate to support the floor plate, wherein the top surface of at least one of the standoffs includes a second interlocking element for engaging the first interlocking element of the floor plate; and (iii) a plurality of channels defined by the base plate, the floor plate, and the stand-offs; (b) means for providing access through at least one floor plate to service lines traveling through the channels; and (c) means for organizing lines traveling through the channels wherein the organizing means comprises a housing placed between selected stand-offs and shaped to be fixed in place by contact with the stand-offs wherein the combination is formed from sheet metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 10 further comprising means for electrically connecting the flooring system, the means for organizing and the means for providing access.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1861359A
Cited
US2089893A
Cited
US2680775A
Cited
FR1133496A
Cited
US2867301A
Cited
GB822738A
Cited
US2830332A
Cited
FR1307901A
Cited
US2956785A
Cited
GB876117A
Cited
US3025934A
Cited
US3218767A
Cited
US3110753A
Cited
DE1196345B
Cited
US3213980A
Cited
US3295272A
Cited
GB1104490A
Cited
GB1174562A
Cited
US3387422A
Cited
FR1547666A
Cited
DE1759372A1
Cited
FR1601001A
Cited
FR2041599A5
Cited
US3645054A
Cited
US3616584A
Cited
US3589660A
Cited
US3815304A
Cited
US3785110A
Cited
DE2102050A1
Cited
GB1425977A
Cited
US3894370A
Cited
US4035967A
Cited
DE2314463A1
Cited
US3852928A
Cited
DE2353865A1
Cited
US4074488A
Cited
US4016357A
Cited
US4026083A
Cited
US4085557A
Cited
DE2650160A1
Cited
US4124324A
Cited
FR2483990A1
Cited
GB2097836A
Cited
GB2127062A
Cited
US4558544A
Cited
US4546580A
Cited
US4593499A
Cited
DE3415581A1
Cited
WO1985005397A1
Cited
US4648592A
Cited
US4858401A
Cited
US4596095A
Cited
US4744194A
Cited
US4682453A
Cited
EP0197957B1
Cited
US4573302A
Cited
US4883503A
Cited
US4736555A
Cited
US4761926A
Cited
US4662140A
Cited
EP0218108B1
Cited
US5082712A
Cited
WO1987003324A1
Cited
GB2188955A
Cited
US4773196A
Cited
GB2190936A
Cited
US4780571A
Cited
US4993202A
Cited
US4996810A
Cited
WO1988003207A1
Cited
US5263289A
Cited
US5008491A
Cited
US4923773A
Cited
US4968855A
Cited
DE3801765A1
Cited
US4905437A
Cited
US5057647A
Cited
US4864078A
Cited
EP0352435A2
Cited
DE8807177U1
Cited
US5245805A
Cited
US5187907A
Cited
US5090169A
Cited
US5197244A
Cited
US5184438A
Cited
US5042569A
Cited
US5105595A
Cited
US5052157A
Cited
US5074085A
Cited
DE9106389U1
Cited
US5285009A
Cited
US5362922A
Cited
US5400554A
Cited
KR0145017B1
Cited
KR0145018B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-02 | 2001-08-04 | 2002-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-02 | 2005-08-04 | 2006-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-02 | 2009-08-04 | 2010-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |