Patent US5907285A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5907285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Furniture unit having a modular communication network
Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc
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Filing: 1997-08-14
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Granted: 1999-05-25
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Expires: 2017-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A utility distribution system is provided for modular furniture of the type comprising individual furniture units which are juxtaposed to form one or more workstations. A signal conductor is positioned in each furniture unit, and extends generally between opposite sides thereof. Quick-disconnect connectors are provided at the opposite ends of each of the signal conductors, and mate with like quick-disconnect connectors in adjacent furniture units to create a communications network through the workstations. Each furniture unit has a signaler physically associated therewith, which is connected with an associated signal conductor at a coupler. A network controller is operably connected to the network to evaluate the network and/or the associated furniture units. The furniture units may be equipped with one or more utility ports, which are connected with the coupler, and service utility appliances, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, switches, power outlets, data receptacles, and the like. The utility appliances preferably have memory capability to internally store operating instructions for the same, which are transmitted to the network controller when the utility appliance is initialized.
Inventors
- 👤 John Shackelford Toms
- 👤 Steven M. Brown
- 👤 William L. Miller
- 👤 George V. Weller
- 👤 Scott H. Russell
- 👤 Joseph R. Branc
- 👤 David C. Sweeton
- 👤 Matthew M. Mikolajczak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:53
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B83/00; A47B83/001; H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02J; H02J13/00; H02J13/12; H02J13/13; H02J13/1321; H02J13/1337; H02J13/18; H02J13/34; H02J13/38; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H02G3/02; H02G3/04; H02G3/0462; H02G3/0487; H02G3/28; H02G3/286; H02G3/288; H02J13/1323; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S40/00; Y04S40/12; Y04S40/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
In a furniture unit for modular furniture arrangements of the type in which a plurality of individual furniture units are positioned in a preselected configuration to form at least one workstation, the improvement of a utility distribution system therefore, comprising: at least one signal conductor positioned in said furniture unit, and extending along at least a portion thereof; first and second quick-disconnect connectors connected with opposite ends of said signal conductor, and configured to mate with like quick-disconnect connectors associated with other similarly equipped furniture units to define a communications network for the workstation; a coupler positioned in said furniture unit, and connected with said signal conductor at a location operably intermediate said first and second quick-disconnect connectors; and a signaler physically associated with said furniture unit to assist in identification of at least a portion of the furniture unit, and connected with said signal conductor at said coupler, and communicating through said signal conductor and the communications network to facilitate the controlled distribution of utilities to the workstation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a furniture unit for modular furniture arrangements of the type in which a plurality of individual furniture units are positioned in a preselected configuration to form at least one workstation, the improvement of a utility distribution system therefore, comprising: at least one signal conductor positioned in said furniture unit, and extending along at least a portion thereof; first and second quick-disconnect connectors connected with opposite ends of said signal conductor, and configured to mate with like quick-disconnect connectors associated with other similarly equipped furniture units to define a communications network for the workstation; a coupler positioned in said furniture unit, and connected with said signal conductor at a location operably intermediate said first and second quick-disconnect connectors; and a signaler physically associated with said furniture unit to assist in identification of at least a portion of the furniture unit, and connected with said signal conductor at said coupler, and communicating through said signal conductor and the communications network to facilitate the controlled distribution of utilities to the workstation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 1, including: a network controller operably coupled to said signal conductor through said communications network, and transmitting control signals to said signaler through said communications network and receiving control signals from said signaler through said communications network to evaluate at least one of said communications network and said furniture unit to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the workstation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said signal conductor, said coupler, and said signaler are integrally interconnected to define a communication module shaped to be received along an associated raceway portion of said furniture unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said signal conductor has a length which is substantially equal to the width of its associated furniture unit, whereby said quick-disconnect connectors associated with adjacent furniture units are directly interconnected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said furniture unit includes at least one port, which is physically mounted thereon, and is operably connected with said coupler for distributing utilities therethrough to the workstation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The utility distribution system as set forth in claim 5 and further including: at least one utility appliance coupled to said utility appliance network through said port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The utility distribution system as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said utility appliance network includes address information at each said port, which address information is identified by each utility appliance connected to each said port, whereby the address information identifies the location of each utility appliance on said furniture unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The utility distribution system as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said signaler includes a first-portion-of-workstation identification mechanism which is used to associate furniture portions with workstations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 1, wherein said furniture unit includes a furniture structure, said signal conductor being dedicated to the transmission of information bearing signals, and wherein said utility distribution system further includes: a data conductor for electronically communicating with said coupler; and at least one data port for electronically communicating with said data conductor and thereby electronically communicating with said signal conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said furniture structure has a pair of side edges adapted for coupling to side edges of adjacent furniture units, and said signal conductor is positioned within said furniture structure such that said quick-disconnect connectors are proximate said side edges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said signal conductor includes at least one communication cable and a communication module for housing said coupler.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said coupler is rigidly wired intermediate the ends of said signal conductor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said data conductor is embedded in said furniture structure and said data port is mounted on said furniture structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9 and further including a unit network having a plurality of said data ports carried on said furniture structure, and a plurality of said data conductors for connecting said data ports to said coupler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said furniture structure is a modular panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9 and further including: a power conductor adapted to be positioned within said furniture structure and having quick disconnects attached to the ends thereof; and a power supply outlet carried by said furniture structure for receiving power from said power conductor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said data conductor is positioned within said furniture structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said at least one data port is carried by said furniture structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said coupler is positioned within said furniture structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said signal conductor includes a plurality of communication lines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said information bearing signals include voice signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said information bearing signals include data signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said information bearing signals include voice and data signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said furniture structure includes a plurality of connected modular panels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said signal conductor has a length related to the length of said furniture structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 9, wherein said signal conductor has a length substantially equal to that of said future structure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a panel frame structure; a power conductor adapted to be positioned within said panel frame structure and having quick disconnects attached to the ends thereof; a data conductor for electronically communicating with said coupler; and a data port for electronically communicating with said data conductor to thereby electronically communicate with said signal conductor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27 and further including a power supply outlet carried by said panel frame structure for receiving power from said power conductor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27 and further including a plurality of data ports carried by said panel frame structure and communicatively coupled to said coupler by said data conductor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 29, wherein at least one of said data ports receives power from said power conductor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27, wherein said signal conductor includes a plurality of communication lines at least one of which being coupled to said data port through said coupler and said data conductor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27, wherein said signal conductor is generally co-extensive with said panel frame structure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27, wherein said power conductor is generally co-extensive with said panel frame structure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27, wherein said signal conductor includes at least one communication cable and a communication module for housing said coupler.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27, wherein said coupler is rigidly wired intermediate the ends of said signal conductor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27, wherein said data conductor is embedded in said panel frame structure and said data port is mounted on said panel frame structure.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27 and further including a unit network having a plurality of said data ports carried on said panel frame structure, and a plurality of said data conductors for connecting said data ports to said coupler.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 27 and further including a signaler associated with said panel frame structure and being operably coupled to said signal conductor.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
111 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal conductor has a plurality of communication lines and quick disconnects attached to the ends thereof for coupling said communication lines to communication lines of a signal conductor in an adjacent furniture unit, said signal conductor being dedicated to the transmission of data and control signals, and wherein said utility distribution system further includes: a data conductor adapted to be positioned within the furniture unit for electronically communicating with said coupler; and at least one data port adapted to be carried by the furniture unit for electronically communicating with said data conductor and thereby electronically communicating with said signal conductor.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 39, wherein said signal conductor is generally co-extensive with the furniture unit.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 39, wherein said signal conductor includes at least one communication cable and a communication module for housing said coupler.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 39, wherein said coupler is rigidly wired intermediate the ends of said signal conductor.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 39, wherein said data conductor is embedded in the furniture unit and said data port is mounted on the furniture unit.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
45 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 39 and further including a unit network having a plurality of said data ports adapted to be carried on the furniture unit, and a plurality of said data conductors for connecting said data ports to said coupler.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
76 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal conductor extends along at least a portion of the length of a workstation, said signal conductor being dedicated to the transmission of information bearing signals, and wherein said utility distribution system further includes: a data conductor for electronically communicating with a signal conductor; and at least one data port for electronically communicating with said data conductor and thereby electronically communicating with said signal conductor.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
55 words
The utility distribution system as defined in claim 45 and further including: at least one power conductor adapted to be positioned within said furniture units and having quick disconnects attached to the ends thereof; and at least one power supply outlet carried by one of said furniture units for receiving power from said power conductor.
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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) | 2002-05-24 | 2002-11-23 | 2003-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-24 | 2006-11-23 | 2007-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-24 | 2010-11-23 | 2011-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |