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US 5,203,713 AGranted
Power distribution system for modular furniture unit
AssigneeAMP Incorporated
InventorsJay L. French, John L. Himes, Jr., James S. Hower, Douglas J. Pirc, Ronald M. Weber, James H. Wise
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power distribution system includes a power outlet for connection to different power supply circuits in a power block when assembled thereto. The system includes a power block having arrays of openings on the front and back faces which are vertically staggered.
Claims23
A multicircuit electrical system for office furniture units and the like of the type having a utility raceway associated therewith, comprising:
- a plurality of electrical conductors extending between opposite ends of the utility raceway, and including at least a first conductor associated with a first power circuit, at least a second conductor associated with a second power circuit, and a common conductor associated with both of said first and second power circuits;
- a power block adapted for mounting in the utility raceway, and including a first power block contact electrically connected with said first conductor, a second power block contact electrically connected with said second connector, and third and fourth power block contacts electrically connected with said common conductor;
- said third and fourth power block contacts being horizontally aligned on said power block along a line disposed below said first power block contact and above said second power block contact in a spaced arrangement which minimizes the overall height of said power block;
- a removable power outlet adapted for selectively tapping power from said electrical system, and including means for detachably connecting the same with said power block in first and second orientations disposed generally 180 degrees apart;
- said power outlet including at least first and second outlet contacts arranged such that in said first orientation of said power outlet on said power block, said first and second outlet contacts electrically connect with said first and third power block contacts respectively to tap power from said first circuit, and in said second orientation of said power outlet on said power block, said first and second outlet contacts electrically connect with said second and fourth power block contacts to tap power from said second circuit.
2 more elements
A modular powerway for furniture units, and the like, comprising:
- a power block including a power block housing and conductors within said power block;
- a removable power outlet including a power outlet housing, said power outlet housing including a base adapted to receive and mount therein a plurality of contacts for connecting with selected conductors within said power block;
- a first pair of said contacts adapted to be carried within said base for connecting with a first or a second pair of said conductors in said power block when said first pair of contacts are assembled in said base and said removable power outlet is assembled to said power block at different, respective, orientations;
- and
- a second pair of contacts adapted to be carried within said base for connecting with a third or a fourth pair of conductors in said power block when said second pair of contacts are assembled in said base and said removable power outlet is assembled to said power block at different, respective, orientations;
- whereby said removable power outlet is adapted to connect with each one of said four different pairs of conductors using said two pairs of contacts and by assembling said removable power outlet to said base in said different, respective, orientations.
3 more elements
A modular powerway for furniture units, and the like, comprising:
- a power block housing having first and second faces arranged on opposite sides thereof for access from externally of the furniture unit;
- a plurality of conductors carried within the power block housing;
- a first array of openings positioned on the first face of the power block housing, and extending laterally therethrough to a location adjacent the second face of the power block housing, and shaped to provide access to the conductors within the power block housing;
- a second array of openings positioned on the second face of the power block housing, and extending laterally therethrough to a location adjacent the first face of the power block housing, and shaped to provide access to the conductors within the power block housing;
- and
- wherein the first and second arrays of openings on the first and second faces are arranged in a vertically staggered fashion on the power block housing, wherein the first array of openings in the first face of the power block housing are not aligned with the second array of openings in the second face of the power block housing to minimize the powerway width and provide a compact powerway construction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.