Communications cable interconnection apparatus and associated method for an open office architecture

An apparatus useful with a building open office architecture having interconnection of communications cable routed within a chamber formed between a generally planar support structure and a generally planar partition vertically spaced from the support structure, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing adapted for recessed installation within a chamber formed between a support structure and a generally planar partition vertically spaced from the support structure, the planar partition separating the chamber from a work space and their respective environments, the housing having walls defining an enclosed interior space having fire resistant material for enclosing equipment and cable carried therein and isolating them from the environment within the chamber, and an opening within one wall for accessing the enclosed interior space therethrough, the housing further having an access door movably attached thereto, the access door moveable between an open position and a closed position relative to the opening within the one wall for accessing the equipment from the work space thus maintaining the equipment and the enclosed space only within the environment of the work space;
• means for mounting the housing in a recessed installation within the chamber, wherein the housing one wall is generally co-planar with the planar partition for accessing the housing enclosed interior space from outside the chamber formed by the support structure and the partition;
• means carried by the housing for supporting communications cable termination and switching equipment, the supporting means positioning the equipment within the housing enclosed interior space when the door is in the closed position, the supporting means permitting positioning of the equipment outside of the enclosed interior space when the door is in the open position for permitting servicing of the equipment;
• and
• means for penetrating a housing wall positioned within the chamber, the penetrating means adapted for entry and exit of a communications cable passing into and out of the housing interior space through an aperture and fire resistant insulation enclosing the aperture while receiving the cable passing therethrough.

An apparatus useful with a building open office architecture having interconnection of communications cable routed within a chamber formed between a support ceiling and a drop ceiling vertically spaced from the support ceiling for interconnection of communications cables useful with a building open office architecture, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing adapted for recessed installation within a chamber formed between a horizontally extending, generally planar support ceiling and a generally planar drop ceiling vertically spaced from the support ceiling, the planar drop ceiling separating the chamber from a work space and their respective environments, the housing having bottom, top and side walls defining an enclosed interior space having fire resistant material for enclosing equipment carried therein and isolating the equipment from the environment within the chamber, the housing having an opening within the bottom wall, the housing further having an access door hingedly attached thereto for movement between an open position and a closed position relative to the opening within the bottom wall for accessing the equipment from the work space, thus maintaining the equipment and the enclosed space only within the environment of the work space;
• means for mounting the housing in a recessed installation within the chamber, wherein the housing bottom wall is generally co-planar with the drop ceiling for accessing the housing enclosed interior space from below the drop ceiling;
• means carried by the housing for supporting communications cable termination and switching equipment, the supporting means positioning the equipment within the housing enclosed interior space when the door is in the closed position, the supporting means permitting positioning of the equipment outside of the enclosed interior space when the door is in the open position for permitting servicing of the equipment from below the drop ceiling;
• and
• means for penetrating a housing side wall positioned within the chamber, the penetrating means adapted for entry and exit of a communications cable through the side wall, to and from the equipment, the penetrating means including an aperture and fire resistant insulation enclosing the aperture while receiving the cable passing therethrough.

A method for routing communications cable and for providing cable interconnection for multiple work stations within a work space of a building having a support structure and a generally planar partition vertically spaced from the support structure for forming a chamber for horizontally routing the communications cable from building cable pathways to work stations in an open office architecture, the planar partition separating the chamber from the work space and separating their respective environments, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing adapted for recessed installation within a chamber formed between a structural support and a partition vertically spaced from the structural support, the housing having walls defining an enclosed interior space and fire resistant material for enclosing equipment carried therein and isolating the equipment from the environment within the chamber, the housing further having an opening within one wall and an access door hingedly attached thereto, the access door moveable between an open position and a closed position relative to the opening within the one wall;
• mounting the housing in a recessed installation within the chamber, wherein the housing one wall is generally co-planar with the planar partition for accessing the housing enclosed interior space from outside the chamber formed by the support structure and the partition;
• providing communications cable and switching equipment;
• supporting the equipment within the housing enclosed interior space;
• routing communications cable to the housing;
• penetrating the housing with the communications cable for entry and exit of the communications cable into and out of the housing interior space, to and from the equipment through an aperture within the housing wall, while enclosing the aperture with fire resistant insulation receiving the cable therethrough;
• and
• accessing the equipment from the work space while maintaining the equipment and the enclosed space within the environment of the work space.

A method for routing communications cable and for providing cable interconnection for multiple work stations within a work space of a building having a support ceiling and a drop ceiling vertically spaced from the support ceiling forming a chamber for routing the communications cable between the ceilings from building cable pathways to work stations, the drop ceiling separating the chamber from the work space and separating their respective environments, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of housings having an enclosed interior space and adapted for installation within the chamber between the support ceiling and the drop ceiling vertically spaced from the support ceiling, each housing having an opening within a bottom wall and an access door hingedly attached thereto for access into the housing through the opening with the door in an open position while maintaining the equipment and th eenclosed interior space within the environment of the work space;
• mounting communications cable and switching equipment within each of the plurality of housings for providing cable terminations within each housing;
• mounting each of the plurality of housings within the chamber between the support ceiling and the drop ceiling in a recessed installation from the drop ceiling, wherein the housing door for each of the plurality of housings is generally co-planar with the drop ceiling for accessing the enclosed interior space from below the drop ceiling for each of the plurality of housings;
• routing communications cable to each of the plurality of housings;
• penetrating each of the plurality of housings with the communications cable for entry and exit of the communications cable into and out their respective enclosed interior space, to and from the equipment through an aperture within the housing wall while enclosing the aperture with fire resistant insulation receiving the cable therethrough;
• and
• accessing the equipment from the work space while maintaining the equipment and the enclosed space within the environment of the work space.