In-floor utility outlet

Claim 2

In a raised floor construction of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, the improvement of an in-floor utility outlet therefor, comprising: a base positioned in said raised floor construction generally below the floor surface; said base having a sidewall with an open top and generally closed plan shape, and at least one port shaped to mount an associated utility outlet therein; a cover plate mounted on said raised floor construction, and forming a portion of the floor surface; said cover plate including a central aperture therethrough, and extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including at least one aperture through which utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet; and at least one irregularly shaped floor pan having a central portion and at least one leg extending therefrom for abutting to another like floor pan and supported on a building support surface below said raised floor surface, said floor pan further having a central plate receiving said base thereon, and upstanding pedestals supporting said cover plate thereon.

Claim 3

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said base includes a plurality of said ports arranged in an oppositely facing orientation to mount multiple utility outlets therein.

Claim 4

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said access cover includes a plurality of said apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover through which multiple utility tap-in lines can be routed.

Claim 5

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said base includes outwardly extending spacers which position said base centrally on said floor pan.

Claim 6

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said access cover includes a vertical support having an upper end thereof attached to a central portion of said access cover, and a lower end thereof abutting the central plate of said floor pan.

Claim 7

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said base includes outwardly extending spacers which position said base centrally in said floor pan.

Claim 8

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said spacers have outer ends thereof abutting said pedestals to positively position said base centrally on said floor pan.

Claim 9

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said cover plate has a generally square top plan shape.

Claim 10

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said central aperture in said cover plate has a generally square top plan shape.

Claim 11

In a raised floor construction of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, the improvement of an in-floor utility outlet therefor, comprising: a base positioned in said raised floor construction generally below the floor surface; said base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape and a plurality of ports arranged in an oppositely facing orientation to mount multiple utility outlets therein, and further including outwardly extending spacers which position said base centrally on said floor pan; a cover plate mounted on said raised floor construction, and forming a portion of the floor surface; said cover plate including a central aperture therethrough, and extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including a plurality of said apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover through which multiple utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet; at least one floor pan supported on a building support surface below said raised floor surface, and having a central plate receiving said base thereon, and upstanding pedestals supporting said cover plate thereon; and wherein: said spacers have outer ends thereof abutting said pedestals to positively position said base centrally on said floor pan.

Claim 12

In a raised floor construction of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, the improvement of an in-floor utility outlet therefor, comprising: a base positioned in said raised floor construction generally below the floor surface; said base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape and a plurality of ports arranged in an oppositely facing orientation to mount multiple utility outlets therein, and further including outwardly extending spacers which position said base centrally on said floor pan; a cover plate mounted on said raised floor construction, and forming a portion of the floor surface; said cover plate including a central aperture therethrough, and extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including a plurality of said apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover through which multiple utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet; at least one floor pan supported on a building support surface below said raised floor surface, and having a central plate receiving said base thereon, and upstanding pedestals supporting said cover plate thereon; and wherein: said spacers have outer ends thereof abutting said pedestals to positively position said base centrally on said floor pan.

Claim 13

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said access cover includes a vertical support having an upper end thereof attached to a central portion of said access cover, and a lower end thereof abutting the central plate of said floor pan.

Claim 14

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said cover plate has a generally square top plan shape.

Claim 15

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said central aperture in said cover plate has a generally square top plan shape.

Claim 16

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said base sidewall has a generally cruciform top plan configuration, with four oppositely facing sidewall portions.

Claim 17

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said base sidewall has one of said ports in each of said sidewall portions.

Claim 18

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said base has a modular construction.

Claim 19

In a raised floor construction of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, the improvement of an in-floor utility outlet therefor, comprising: a base positioned in said raised floor construction generally below the floor surface; said base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape and a generally cruciform top plan configuration, with four oppositely facing sidewall portions, and at least one port shaped to mount an associated utility outlet therein; a cover plate mounted on said raised floor construction, and forming a portion of the floor surface; said cover plate including a central aperture therethrough, and extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including at least one aperture through which utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet; and at least one floor pan supported on a building support surface below said raised floor surface, and having a central plate receiving said base thereon, and upstanding pedestals supporting said cover plate thereon.

Claim 20

In a raised floor construction of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, the improvement of an in-floor utility outlet therefor, comprising: a base positioned in said raised floor construction generally below the floor surface; said base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape and a generally cruciform top plan configuration, with four oppositely facing sidewall portions, and at least one port shaped to mount an associated utility outlet therein; a cover plate mounted on said raised floor construction, and forming a portion of the floor surface; said cover plate including a central aperture therethrough, and extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including at least one aperture through which utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet; and at least one floor pan supported on a building support surface below said raised floor surface, and having a central plate receiving said base thereon, and upstanding pedestals supporting said cover plate thereon.

Claim 21

A raised floor construction as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said base sidewall has one said port in each of said sidewall portions.

Claim 22

An in-floor utility outlet for raised floor constructions of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, comprising: a base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape, and at least one port shaped to mount an associated utility outlet therein, said base sidewall having a generally cruciform top plan configuration, with four oppositely facing sidewall portions; a cover plate having a closed marginal portion with a central aperture therethrough, and a marginal portion extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; and an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including at least one aperture through which utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlets.

Claim 23

An in-floor utility outlet for raised floor constructions of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, comprising: a base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape, and at least one port shaped to mount an associated utility outlet therein, said base sidewall having a generally cruciform top plan configuration, with four oppositely facing sidewall portions; a cover plate having a closed marginal portion with a central aperture therethrough, and a marginal portion extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; and an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including at least one aperture through which utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlets.

Claim 24

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said base includes a plurality of said ports arranged in an oppositely facing orientation to mount multiple utility outlets therein.

Claim 25

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 20, wherein: said access cover includes a plurality of said apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover through which multiple utility tap-in lines can be routed.

Claim 26

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said base includes outwardly extending spacers which position said base relative to an associated raised floor construction.

Claim 27

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 22, wherein: said cover plate has a generally square top plan shape.

Claim 28

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said central aperture in said cover plate has a generally square top plan shape.

Claim 29

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 24, wherein: said base sidewall has one said port in each of said sidewall portions.

Claim 30

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 25, wherein: said access cover includes a vertical support having an upper end thereof attached to a central portion of said access cover, and a lower end thereof adapted to abut a supporting surface.

Claim 31

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 19 wherein: said base is formed from a single sheet of formable material.

Claim 32

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 19 wherein: said base is formed from a plurality of pieces of formable material.

Claim 33

An in-floor utility outlet for raised floor constructions of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, comprising: a one-piece base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape, and at least one frame formed therefrom to mount an associated utility outlet therein; a cover plate having a closed marginal portion with a central aperture therethrough, and a marginal portion extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; and an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including at least one aperture through which utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet.

Claim 34

An in-floor utility outlet for raised floor constructions of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, comprising: a one-piece base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape, and at least one frame formed therefrom to mount an associated utility outlet therein; a cover plate having a closed marginal portion with a central aperture therethrough, and a marginal portion extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; and an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including at least one aperture through which utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet.

Claim 35

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 29, wherein: said one-piece base includes a plurality of said frames formed from said base and arranged in an oppositely facing orientation to mount multiple utility outlets therein.

Claim 36

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 30, wherein: said one-piece base includes outwardly extending spacers which position said base relative to an associated raised floor construction.

Claim 37

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 31, wherein: said access cover includes a plurality of said apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover through which multiple utility tap-in lines can be routed.

Claim 38

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 29, wherein: said base is formed from a single sheet of formable material.

Claim 39

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said sidewall portion of said base has a plurality of legs extending therefrom wherein at least a first portion of said legs forms said frame.

Claim 40

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 34, wherein: said first portion of said legs form a plurality of said frames.

Claim 41

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 35, wherein: each of said frames interconnects with an adjacent one of said frames within said closed plan shape to isolate utilities associated with said each of said frames from the utilities associated with said adjacent one of said frames.

Claim 42

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 36, wherein: a second portion of said legs form said outwardly extending spacers.

Claim 43

An in-floor utility outlet for raised floor constructions of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, comprising: a one-piece base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape and outwardly extending spacers which position said base relative to an associated raised floor construction, and further including a plurality of said frames formed from said base and arranged in an oppositely facing orientation to mount multiple utility outlets therein; a cover plate having a closed marginal portion with a central aperture therethrough, and a marginal portion extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; and an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including a plurality of apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover through which multiple utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet wherein each of said apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover is defined by a hood formed at a marginal edge of said cover, said hood extending above a surface of said access cover.

Claim 44

An in-floor utility outlet for raised floor constructions of the type having an elevated floor surface below which utilities can be routed, comprising: a one-piece base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape and outwardly extending spacers which position said base relative to an associated raised floor construction, and further including a plurality of said frames formed from said base and arranged in an oppositely facing orientation to mount multiple utility outlets therein; a cover plate having a closed marginal portion with a central aperture therethrough, and a marginal portion extending over said base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the utility outlet; and an access cover received in the central aperture of said cover plate, and retained in a generally flush orientation with said cover plate to form a portion of the floor surface; said access cover including a plurality of apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover through which multiple utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlet wherein each of said apertures positioned along a marginal edge of said access cover is defined by a hood formed at a marginal edge of said cover, said hood extending above a surface of said access cover.

Claim 45

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 38, wherein: said cover plate has a generally square top plan shape.

Claim 46

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 39, wherein: said central aperture in said cover plate has a generally square top plan shape.

Claim 47

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 40, wherein: said base sidewall has one said frame formed from each of said sidewall portions.

Claim 48

An in-floor utility outlet as set forth in claim 41, wherein: said access cover includes a vertical support having an upper end thereof attached to a central portion of said access cover, and a lower end thereof adapted to abut a supporting surface.