Utilities infeed panel

In a floor-to-ceiling partition wall of the type having a plurality of partition panels having panel frames interconnected along opposite side edges thereof and cover panels mounted on opposite side faces of the panel frames to form a partition wall having substantially planar side surfaces and horizontally-extending interior spaces with utility lines disposed therein and extending between adjacent partition panels, the improvement comprising:

• a utilities infeed panel including:
• an infeed panel frame having opposite vertical side edges interconnected with side edges of adjacent partition panel frames enabling installation of said utilities infeed panel between a pair of adjacent panels to form an integral part of a partition wall, said infeed panel frame defining first and second opposite side faces and a vertically-extending central space having a U-shape in plan view that is open along a first side of said infeed panel frame and adapted to connect to an opening in the ceiling, and extending downwardly to the height of said interior spaces and interconnecting therewith, with at least one utility line running downwardly from the ceiling through said central space of said infeed panel and horizontally across said side edge of said infeed panel frame and into said interior space of a selected one of said adjacent partition panels;
• a first cover panel connected to said first side face;
• and
• a second cover panel removably connected to said second side face and closing off said central space, said second cover panel permitting access to said central space for utilities management upon removal of said second cover panel;
• said second cover panel defining an outer surface that is substantially co-planar with the side surfaces of adjacent partition panels.

A floor-to-ceiling utilities infeed panel comprising:

• an infeed panel frame defining a vertical center plane, vertically extending side edges, and first and second opposite side faces, and including:
• a pair of horizontally spaced-apart vertical frame members;
• upper and lower horizontal frame members extending between said vertical frame members and interconnecting the same;
• said horizontal frame members being disposed in an offset position from said center plane towards said first side face to define a central space within said panel that is adapted to be connected with an opening in the ceiling for vertical routing of utilities, said central space open towards said second side face to permit vertical lay-in of utility lines, said central space further including a horizontally open portion;
• a first cover panel connected to said first side face of said infeed panel frame;
• a second cover panel removably connected to a second side face of said panel frame and closing off said central space to facilitate installation and removal of utilities within said open central space;
• and
• at least one utility line extending vertically through said central space, and horizontally across a selected one of said side edges through said horizontally open portion.

A floor-to-ceiling utilities infeed panel, comprising:

• an infeed panel frame defining first and second opposite side faces;
• cover panels removably mounted on said side faces to define a central space within said panel extending vertically to permit vertical routing of utilities through said central space within said infeed panel and through the ceiling;
• a termination panel support member mounted to said infeed panel frame, said termination panel support member disposed within said central space, said support member having a generally S-shaped cross section formed by first and second opposed U-shaped sections, said first U-shaped section defining a vertically extending channel and including a hinge along a base wall of the U-shape to provide access to data lines positioned within said vertically extending channel;
• and
• a termination panel having a plurality of data connection ports mounted on said support member within said central space.

A floor-to-ceiling partition wall system, comprising:

• a plurality of partition panels adapted to extend from a floor height to a ceiling height, and having panel frames interconnected along opposite side edges thereof and defining opposite side faces, and having cover panels mounted on said opposite side faces of the panel frames to form a partition wall having substantially planar side surfaces;
• a utilities infeed panel including:
• an infeed panel frame having opposite side edges interconnected with side edges of adjacent partition panel frames and forming an integral portion of the partition wall, said infeed panel frame defining first and second opposite side faces and a vertically-extending central space adapted to be connected to an opening in the ceiling, said infeed panel frame including a pair of spaced-apart upper horizontal elongated members adapted to be positioned at said ceiling height and defining an opening therebetween adapted to be aligned with an opening in the ceiling, at least one of said upper horizontal members being removable from said infeed panel frame to permit lay-in of vertical utility lines at said ceiling height;
• a first cover panel connected to said first side face;
• and
• a second cover panel removably connected to said second side face and closing off said central space, said second cover panel permitting access to said central space for utilities management upon removal of said second cover panel.