Wall panel with prewired power system

In a wall structure formed from a plurality of portable partitions of substantially rectangular configuration, and securing means for joining said partitions together with vertical edges thereof adjacent one another, the improvement comprising:

• raceway means fixed to a horizontally extending edge of each partition and extending longitudinally therealong, said raceway means defining therein a longitudinally extending interior passageway;
• a pair of electrical power block means fixedly mounted on each of said partitions, said pair of power block means being disposed adjacent and aligned with the opposite ends of said raceway means and being disposed directly adjacent the opposite vertical edges of said partition;
• each said power block means having electrical socket means associated therewith;
• electrical cable means disposed within and extending through said interior passageway and connected to the power block means as disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said raceway means for transmitting electrical energy therebetween, said cable means being connected to the electrical socket means associated with each said power block means;
• and
• flexible electrical connector means for electrically connecting one of said power block means as disposed adjacent a first vertical edge of a first partition to a further said power block means as disposed adjacent a second vertical edge of a second partition when said first and second partitions are disposed closely adjacent one another and are connected together by said securing means, said electrical connector means including first electrical plug means adapted for reception within the socket means associated with said one power block means and second electrical plug means adapted for reception within the socket means associated with said further power block means.

A flexible plug-type electrical connector for electrically joining two electrical sockets, comprising:

• housing means including first and second housing parts constructed of an electrically insulative material, and connecting means joining said first and second housing parts for permitting relative swinging movement therebetween;
• first and second electrical plug means respectively associated with said first and second housing parts, each of said first and second plug means including a plurality of electrically conductive prongs projecting outwardly from the respective housing part;
• a plurality of flexible cablelike electrical connectors disposed within said housing means and extending from said first housing part through said connecting means into said second housing part, the opposite ends of said electrical connectors being electrically conducted to said first and second plug means;
• said first plug means including first means for normally maintaining at least one of said prongs electrically disconnected from the respective electrical connector when said first plug means is disengaged from an electrical socket;
• and
• said second plug means including second means for normally maintaining at least one of said prongs electrically disconnected from the respective electrical connector when said second plug means is disengaged from an electrical socket.

In a portable prefabricated wall panel having means defining an elongated passageway disposed interiorly of the panel adjacent a horizontal edge thereof, and electrical cable means disposed within said passageway and extending longitudinally therethrough, the improvement comprising:

• a pair of electrical power block means fixedly mounted on said panel adjacent the opposite vertical edges thereof, said power block means being mounted on said panel adjacent the opposite ends of said passageway, and said electrical cable means being connected to said power block means;
• said power block means comprising a boxlike housing constructed of an electrically insulative material and a plurality of electrically conductive elements mounted within said housing and insulated from one another;
• said housing having first opening means formed in an end wall thereof for permitting said electrical cable means to project through said housing for engagement with said electrically conductive elements;
• second opening means formed in a sidewall of said housing and cooperating with the electrically conductive elements for defining first electrical socket means, said first socket means defining a first plug receptacle;
• third opening means formed in said housing and cooperating with the electrically conductive elements for defining second electrical socket means, said second socket means defining a second plug receptacle having a geometrical configuration which is different from the geometrical configuration of said first plug receptacle so that the plug which mates with said first plug receptacle will not mate with said second plug receptacle and vice versa;
• and
• said housing as associated with at least one of said power block means having fourth opening means formed therein for permitting an electrical supply conduit to project into said housing for connection to said electrically conductive elements.

A flexible plug-type electrical connector for electrically joining two electrical sockets, comprising:

• housing means including first and second housing parts constructed of an electrically insulative material, and connecting means joining said first and second housing parts for permitting relative swinging movement therebetween;
• first and second electrical plug means respectively associated with said first and second housing parts, each of said first and second plug means including at least one electrically conductive prong projecting outwardly from the respective housing part;
• a plurality of electrical connectors disposed within said housing means and extending from said first housing part through said connecting means into said second housing part, the opposite ends of said electrical connectors being electrically associated with said first and second plug means;
• said first plug means having said one prong normally maintained electrically disconnected from its respective electrical connector when said first plug means is disengaged from an electrical socket;
• and
• said second plug means having said one prong normally maintained electrically disconnected from its respective electrical connector when said second plug means is disengaged from an electrical socket.

In an upright wall structure formed from a plurality of portable upright partitions which are joined together so that the vertical edges thereof are adjacent one another, the improvement comprising:

• raceway means fixed to a horizontally extending edge of each upright partition and extending longitudinally therealong, said raceway means defining therein a longitudinally extending interior passageway;
• a pair of electrical power block means fixedly mounted on each of said partitions, said pair of power block means being disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said raceway means in the vicinity of the opposite vertical edges of said partition;
• electrical cable means disposed within and extending through said interior passageway and connected to the power block means as disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said raceway means for transmitting electrical energy therebetween;
• an electrical connecting device for electrically connecting one of said power block means as disposed adjacent a first vertical edge of a first partition to a further said power block means as disposed adjacent a second vertical edge of a second partition when said first and second partitions are disposed with said first and second vertical edges closely adjacent one another, said electrical connecting device including means which permits it to angularly adjust to the desired horizontal angular orientation between the joined partitions;
• a first quick connect-disconnect electrical connector coacting between said electrical connecting device and said one power block means for electrically connecting same together, and a second quick connect-disconnect electrical connector coacting between said electrical connecting device and said further power block means for electrically connecting same together, each of said first and second quick connect-disconnect electrical connectors being formed by two separable parts, one of said parts being associated with the respective power block means and the other part being associated with said electrical connecting device.

In a wall structure formed from a plurality of portable prefabricated partitions, at least three of said partitions being disposed as that a vertical edge of one partition is disposed closely adjacent a vertical edge on the remaining two partitions, and securing means for joining said three partitions together so that the mentioned vertical edges of said three partitions are closely adjacent, the improvement comprising:

• raceway means fixed to a horizontally extending edge of each partition and extending longitudinally therealong, said raceway means defining therein a longitudinally extending interior passageway;
• an electrical power block means fixedly mounted on each of said partitions, said power block means being disposed adjacent said raceway means;
• a first electrical connector means for electrically connecting the power block means associated with a first one of said partitions to the power block means as associated with a second one of said partitions, and a second electrical connector means for electrically connecting said power block means as associated with the first one of said partitions to the power block means as associated with the third one of said partitions, each of said first and second electrical connector means being separable from said partitions;
• each said electrical connector means including an electrically insulative housing having first and second parts and electrically conductive means disposed within said housing and extending between said first and second parts, each said electrical connector means also including means which permits it to angularly adjust to the desired horizontal angular orientation between the respective joined pair of partitions;
• and
• cooperating means associated with each said power block means and said electrical connector means for releasably electrically connecting same together, said cooperating means including first means associated with each of said first and second parts and second means associated with each of said power block means, first and second means forming a releasable plug-and-socket connection between said electrical connector means and each of the respective power block means.

In combination, a portable upright wall panel, raceway means fixedly secured to an edge of said panel and extending longitudinally thereof, said raceway means cooperating with said panel to define therein first and second interior passageways each of which extend longitudinally of said raceway means in parallel relationship, said raceway means including interior wall means which divides said raceway means into said first and second interior passageways and isolates them from one another, first and second electrical power block means fixed to said panel and positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said raceway means, each of said power block means having electrical means associated therewith and defining half of a quick connect-disconnect electrical connector, electrical cable means disposed within and extending longitudinally of said first interior passageway, said electrical cable means having the opposite ends thereof electrically connected to the first and second power block means, each of said first and second power block means having a channel-like clearance space extending longitudinally thereof in a direction substantially parallel with the elongated direction of said raceway means, said channel-like space being at least partially aligned with the adjacent end of said second interior passageway, opposed side walls associated with each of said power block means which project along and enclose the opposite sides of said channel-like clearance space, whereby communication cables can extend continuously through said second interior passageway and through the clearance spaces defined adjacent the first and second power block means while being effectively hidden from view.

In an upright wall structure formed from at least two portable upright partitions which are joined together so that the vertical edges thereof are adjacent one another, the improvement comprising:

• means fixed to and extending longitudinally across each said partition and defining therein a longitudinally extending interior passageway;
• electrical terminal means fixedly mounted on each of said partitions, said terminal means being disposed adjacent the interior passageway so as to communicate therewith;
• separable means for electrically connecting a first said terminal means as mounted on a second partition when said first and second partitions are disposed with the opposed vertical edges thereof closely adjacent one another for transmitting electrical energy between said first and second terminal means, said separable means including plural separable portions, one of said portions being releasably connected with said first terminal means to form a quick connect-disconnect electrical connection therewith and a second of said portions being releasably connected with said second terminal means to form a quick connect-disconnect electrical connection therewith, said separable means being angularly flexible for permitting said first and second partitions to be relatively angularly adjusted to a desired horizontal angular orientation between the joined partitions while maintaining said first and second terminal means electrically connected together.

In an upright wall structure formed from at least two portable upright partitions which are joined together so that the vertical edges thereof are adjacent one another, the improvement comprising:

• raceway means fixed to and extending longitudinally across each said partition so that the opposite ends of said raceway means are disposed adjacent the opposite vertical edges of the respective partition, said raceway means defining therein a longitudinally extending interior passageway;
• a pair of terminal means fixedly mounted on each of said partitions, said pair of terminal means being disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said raceway means in the vicinity of the opposite vertical edges of said partition;
• elongated cable means disposed within and extending through said interior passageway and connected to the terminal means as disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said raceway means for transmitting electrical energy therebetween;
• separable means for connecting a first said terminal means as disposed adjacent a first vertical edge of a first partition to a second said terminal means as disposed adjacent a second vertical edge of a second partition when said first and second partitions are disposed with said first and second vertical edges closely adjacent one another for transmitting electrical energy between said first and second terminal means, said separable means including plural separable portions, one of said portions being associated with first terminal means and a second of said portions being associated with said second terminal means, said separable means being angularly flexible for permitting said first and second partitions to be relatively angularly adjusted to a desired horizontal angular orientation between the joined partitions while maintaining said first and second terminal means connected together.

In an upright space divider system having a plurality of interconnected substantially rectangular upright partitions, said system including at least three said partitions with a first of said partitions having one vertical edge thereof positioned adjacent a vertical edge of a second said partition, and the other vertical edge of said first partition being positioned adjacent a vertical edge of a third said partition, the improvement comprising electrical power block means fixedly mounted on each said partition and forming an integral part of the partition, electrical socket means associated with said partition and electrically connected to said power block means, said socket means opening outwardly through one of the side walls of the partition and defining a plug-type receptacle for receiving therein a conventional two-prong or three-prong plug, a first separable means for electrically connecting the power block means of said first partition to the power block means on said second partition, and a second separable means for electrically connecting the power block means of said first partition to the power block means of said second partition, whereby said partitions are electrically connected together, each of said first and second separable means being identical and including plural separable portions with one of said portions being releasably connected to one power block means to form a quick connect-disconnect electrical connection therewith and a second of said portions being releasably connected with the other power block means to form a quick connect-disconnect electrical connection therewith, and each of said first and second separable means including structure for permitting the respective first and second portions to be relatively angularly adjusted to the desired horizontal angular orientation between the joined partitions.