# US 6,235,988 B1 · Wall panel assembly

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- Number: US 6,235,988 B1
- Document ID: US6235988B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/322,529
- Filed: 1999-05-28
- Granted: 2001-05-22
- Earliest claimed: 1999-05-28
- Assignees: Pent Assemblies, Inc.
- Inventors: Ronald E. Karst; Edward J. Keil; James M. Busé; Donald E. DeWitt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6235988B1

## CPC

- H02G 3/288: {in modular walls, e.g. wall panels}
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A wall panel assembly for use in an office environment includes a wireway which is attached to a wall panel. The wireway includes two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a raceway defining a conduit for electrical power conductors. The raceway is positioned between the side walls and extends between and interconnects the top wall and the bottom wall. The raceway structurally supports the wireway.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wall panel assembly for use in an office environment, comprising:
a wall panel; and
a wireway attached to said wall panel, said wireway including two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a raceway defining a conduit for electrical power conductors, said raceway positioned between said side walls and extending between and interconnecting said top wall and said bottom wall, said raceway structurally supporting said wireway.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said wireway has a generally vertical plane of symmetry and includes two plates which are attached together on opposite sides of said plane of symmetry, said two plates conjunctively defining said top wall, said bottom wall and said raceway.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The wall panel assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said plates has a snap lock recess connected with said top wall, each of said side walls being snap locked together with a corresponding said snap lock recess.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The wall panel assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said two plates are structured and arranged to be formed by one of an extrusion process and forming process.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said raceway is unitarily and monolithically formed with at least one of said bottom wall and said top wall.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said side walls are pivotally connected to one of said bottom wall and said top wall.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The wall panel assembly of claim 6, wherein each of said side walls are pivotally connected to said bottom wall via a hinge.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The wall panel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of data cable brackets, each said data cable bracket being removably attached to said raceway.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The wall panel assembly of claim 8, wherein said raceway includes a hanger recess, each said data cable bracket being removably attached to said hanger recess.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said wireway further includes at least one quick attach projection extending from said top wall for connection with said wall panel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The wall panel assembly of claim 10, wherein said wall panel has a bottom end with a snap lock cavity and wherein said at least one quick attach projection comprises a plurality of snap lock projections configured to snap lock into said snap lock cavity in said wall panel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said raceway structurally supports each of said wireway and said wall panel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said wireway includes a plurality of openings extending upwardly from said bottom wall, and further comprising a plurality of adjustable legs, each said leg disposed in a respective said opening.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The wall panel assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one flexible panel-to-panel interconnect, each said interconnect being attached to said raceway and having an end positioned within said conduit.

### Claim 15

A wall panel assembly for use in an office environment, comprising:
a wall panel, and
a wireway attached to said wall panel, said wireway including two side walls, at least one horizontal wall interconnecting said side walls, said at least one horizontal wall comprising a bottom wall and a top wall, and a raceway defining a conduit for electrical power conductors, said raceway positioned between said side walls and being unitarily formed with said at least one horizontal wall, said raceway extending between and interconnecting said bottom wall and said top wall.

### Claim 16

A wall panel assembly for use in an office environment, comprising:
a wall panel; and
a wireway attached to said wall panel, said wireway including two side walls, at least one horizontal wall interconnecting said side walls, and a raceway defining a conduit for electrical power conductors, said raceway positioned between said side walls and being unitarily formed with said at least one horizontal wall. said raceway structurally supporting said wireway and said wall panel.

### Claim 17

A wireway for use in a wall panel assembly in an office environment comprising:
two side walls;
at least one horizontal wall interconnecting said side walls, said at least one horizontal wall comprising a bottom wall and a top wall; and
a raceway defining a conduit for electrical power conductors, said raceway being unitary with and extending vertically from said at least one horizontal wall and positioned between said side walls, said raceway extending between and interconnecting said bottom wall and said top wall.

### Claim 18

A wireway for use in a wall panel assembly in an office environment, comprising:
two side walls;
at least one horizontal wall interconnecting said side walls, said at least one horizontal wall comprising a bottom wall; and
a raceway defining a conduit for electrical power conductors, said raceway being unitary with and extending vertically from said at least one horizontal wall and positioned between said side walls, said raceway including a plurality of openings extending upwardly from said bottom wall, each said opening configured to receive a corresponding adjustable leg.

### Claim 19

A wireway for use in a wall panel assembly in an office environment, comprising:
two side walls;
at least one horizontal wall interconnecting said side walls said wireway having a generally vertical plane of symmetry and including two plates which are attached together on opposite sides of said plane of symmetry, said two plates conjunctively defining each said at least one horizontal wall; and
a raceway defining a conduit for electrical power conductors, said raceway being unitary with and extending vertically from said at least one horizontal wall and positioned between said side walls.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The wireway of claim 19, wherein said at least one horizontal wall comprises a top wall and a bottom wall, and wherein each of said plates has a snap lock recess connected with said top wall, each of said side walls being snap locked together with a corresponding said snap lock recess.
