# US 5,341,614 A · Floor system for laying cables and pipes underneath the floor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,341,614 A - Document ID: US5341614A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/997,905 - Filed: 1992-12-29 - Granted: 1994-08-30 - Earliest claimed: 1992-12-29 - Assignees: Mirai Industries Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shohachi Shimizu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5341614A ## CPC - H02G 1/08: through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling {(inserting electrical cables into tubes using wallbores E21B17/206; for optical cables G02B6/4401)} - E04B 5/48: Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ducts, e.g. for heating or ventilating (in block-shaped elements E04C1/39; in slab- or sheet-shaped elements E04C2/52) - G02B 6/502: {Installation methods in fluid conducts, e.g. pipelines} - H02G 1/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A floor system for laying cables and/or pipes underneath a floor comprising at least one flooring board, at least one housing space provided beneath said at least one flooring board for housing cables and/or pipes and at least one guide means provided within each said at least one housing space. Cables and/or pipes are to be laid in the housing space by means of said guide means and a cable/pipe distributer means comprising a head member, a connecting means and a rope member, wherein said connecting means is to connect with a cable or a pipe and to drag the cable or the pipe through said housing space as said distributer means travels through said guide means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A floor system for laying cables and/or pipes underneath a floor without opening the floor except at entry and exit comprising: at least one housing space provided underneath a floor for housing said cables and/or pipes; and at least one elongated guide means disposed within said at least one housing space for guiding a cable/pipe distributer means along said at least one housing space from entry to exit; whereby said cables and/or pipes to be laid underneath said floor is accomplished without need of removing the entire floor or any office equipment thereon. ### Claim 2 A floor system for laying cables and/or pipes underneath a floor without opening the floor except at entry and exit comprising: a housing space opening upward for housing said cables and/or pipes; a floor board covering said housing space; an elongated guide means provided on the bottom side of said floor board for guiding a cable/pipe distributer means along said housing space from entry to exit; whereby said cables and/or pipes to be laid underneath said floor is accomplished without need of removing the entire floor or any office equipment thereon. ### Claim 3 A floor system for laying cables and/or pipes underneath a floor without opening the floor except at entry and exit comprising: a housing space provided in a base floor material for housing said cables and/or pipes; a floor cover covering said housing space; and an elongated guide means provided on the bottom side of said floor cover for guiding a cable/pipe distributer means along said housing space from entry to exit; whereby said cables and/or pipes to be laid underneath said floor is accomplished without need of removing the entire floor or any office equipment thereon. ### Claim 4 A floor system for laying cables and/or pipes underneath a floor without opening the floor except at entry and exit comprising: a plurality of housing spaces provided in parallel with one another in a base floor for housing said cables and/or pipes; at least one cover board covering said plurality of housing spaces; and an elongated guide means provided at each said housing space on the bottom side of said at least one cover board for guiding a cable/pipe distributer means along said housing spaces from entry to exit; whereby said cables and/or pipes to be laid underneath said floor is accomplished without need of removing the entire floor or any office equipment thereon. ### Claim 5 A floor system for laying cables and/or pipes underneath a floor without opening the floor except at entry and exit comprising: a floor block having a flooring board, a plurality of connecting leg members and a housing space for housing said cables and/or pipes; and an elongated guide means provided on the bottom side of said flooring board for guiding a cable/pipe distributer means along said housing space from entry to exit; whereby said cables and/or pipes to be laid underneath said floor is accomplished without need of removing the entire floor or any office equipment thereon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The floor system of claim 5, wherein said bottom side of said flooring board forming said guide means is discontinuous, and opposite ends of said discontinuous guide means are rounded, so as to facilitate smooth passage through said guide means. ### Claim 7 A distributor for laying cables and/or pipes underneath a floor having elongated guide means comprising: a head member having a shape such that said head member travels smoothly through said guide means without becoming dislodged therefrom; a connecting means forming part of said head member for attachment to a cable or a pipe to be laid underneath said floor; and a stiff rope member attached to said distributor for moving said head member forward or backward through said guide means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The distributor of claim 7, wherein said guide means and said head member are round in shape, and said head member is provided with a rounded end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The distributor of claim 7, wherein said guide means and said head member are substantially T-shaped. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The distributor of claim 9, wherein said guide means is an elongated T-shaped slot, and said head member is of compatible shape so as to be held and guided by, as well as slidable in said T-shaped slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The distributor of claim 9, wherein said head member is provided with an elongated T-shaped slot, and said guide means is of compatible shape so that said head member is held and guided by, as well as slidable along said T-shaped slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The floor system of claim 1, wherein said guide means in said housing space forms part of said floor disposed over said housing space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The floor system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of guide means are aligned with one another by pin like prong members and mating pin receiving means, thereby ensuring a smooth transition between abutting guide means place in a simple line. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The floor system of claim 13, further including a window in said floor for each prong member so that said prong member may be placed into said mating pin receiving means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The floor system of claim 12, wherein said guide means and part of said floor disposed over said housing space form a separate independent cover board panel for closing said housing space. ### Claim 16 (depends on 16) The floor system of claim 16, wherein said separate independent cover board panel is attached to said floor on a side thereof facing said housing space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The floor system of claim 16, wherein said cover board panel is made of a hard material and said floor is made of a flexible material so that the combined cover board panel and floor can be rolled up when not in use. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The floor system of claim 12, wherein said guide means are a plurality of guide means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The floor system of claim 18, wherein said plurality of guide means are two and cross each other orthogonally. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The floor system of claim 18, wherein said plurality of guide means are parallel to each other, and each is disposed substantially centrally in a housing space.