Work surface with channel for power communication cabling

A work surface structure having a horizontally extending platelike top member with a substantially planar upper working surface, the top member being of substantially rectangular configuration and including front and rear edges and a pair of end edges extending therebetween, comprising:

• a power module means secured to said top member adjacent to and extending longitudinally along said rear edge for providing electrical power for electrical equipment adapted to be supported on said top member;
• an upwardly-oriented access opening associated with said power module means, said access opening being adjacent said rear edge and horizontally elongated generally parallel therewith;
• said module means including a housing which is secured to and projects downwardly from said top member and defines therein a main compartment which is disposed below and accessible through said access opening, said housing being horizontally elongated generally parallel with said rear edge;
• a rear flange extending longitudinally along the rear edge of said access opening and being fixedly related relative to the top member;
• cover means pivotally supported by a hinge for movement relative to said top member between (1) a closed position wherein it closes off said access opening and is substantially flush with said upper working surface and (2) an open position wherein said access opening is exposed;
• said cover means being hinged relative to the top member along a longitudinally extending front edge of the cover means so that the cover means swings upwardly and forwardly about the hinge when being moved into the open position, said cover means when in the open position overlapping a part of the upper working surface, said cover means having a longitudinally extending free edge which is disposed adjacent but spaced slightly forwardly from said rear flange when said cover means is closed so as to define between said free edge and said rear flange a narrow longitudinally extending slot which communicates with said main compartment for permitting cables to pass therethrough;
• said module means including an electrical power unit removably secured to said housing and having a wall which mounts thereon a plurality of electrical receptacles, said wall and the electrical receptacles thereon being accessible solely from said main compartment, said wall being spaced downwardly from said cover means and being sloped upwardly as it projects rearwardly so as to face both upwardly and forwardly for increased accessibilty and visibility of the receptacles mounted thereon when the cover means is in its open position;
• and
• said main compartment as defined within said housing defining an open space in front of said wall and extending downwardly below said receptacles for storing cables therein.

A work surface structure having longitudinally extending front and rear edges joined together by side edges, said structure including a top member which defines thereon a substantially planar upper working surface, comprising:

• a power module means secured to said top member and extending longitudinally along said rear edge for providing electrical power for electrical equipment adapted to be supported on said top member;
• said power module means including an elongated channel-like housing which is fixed relative to said top member and extends longitudinally along and directly adjacent said rear edge, said channel-like housing opening downwardly from said upper working surface and defining therein an interior compartment, said channel-like housing also having in the upper extremity thereof an upwardly-oriented access opening disposed substantially within the plane of said upper working surface;
• manually movable cover means pivotally supported relative to said top member for movement between (1) a closed position wherein it substantially closes off said access opening and is substantially flush with said upper working surface and (2) an open position wherein the access opening is exposed, said cover means being connected by a hinge along its longitudinally extending front edge relative to said top member so that the cover means is swung upwardly and forwardly to overlap the upper working surface when the cover means is moved into its open position, said cover means when in said closed position being disposed with its free edge disposed rearwardly from said hinge in close proximity to said rear edge, the free edge of said cover means when in said closed position cooperating with said access opening to define a narrow longitudinally extending slot which is disposed closely adjacent said rear edge and permits cables to project through said slot into said compartment;
• said module means including an electrical power unit removably secured to said housing and having a wall which mounts thereon a plurality of electrical receptacles, said wall and the electrical receptacles thereon being accessible solely from said compartment, said wall being spaced downwardly from said cover means, said compartment including a space therein disposed below said cover means for permitting storage of cable.