Adjustable power and telecommunications outlet apparatus and method for furniture and wall structures

A modular conduit for use with a modular construction system forming a plurality of different predetermined mounting locations to repositionably support an electrical line suitable for transmitting at least one of telecommunications data and electrical power, the modular conduit comprising:

• an elongated channel that has an open portion for providing access to the interior of the channel, and is sized for receiving the electrical line;
• a cover that fits over at least a part of the open portion for restricting access to the interior of the channel;
• an outlet box mounted on the channel, the interior of the outlet box communicating with the interior of the channel, the electrical line extending into the interior of the outlet box;
• an electrical outlet mounted to the outlet box, the electrical line connected to the electrical outlet via an electrical connection located within the interior of the outlet box;
• and
• means for removably attaching the modular conduit in the plurality of different predetermined mounting locations so that the modular conduit and the modular construction system cooperatively and repositionably support the electrical line, wherein the modular conduit is removably attachable to the modular construction system in the plurality of different predetermined mounting locations independent of any other fixture, the plurality of different predetermined mounting locations including a plurality of different vertical and lateral mounting locations on the modular construction system.

A work station including a repositionable power outlet and/or data connection port, which work station comprises:

• a base;
• a support frame that forms a plurality of different predetermined mounting positions and is connected to the base;
• and
• a modular conduit repositionably attachable to the support frame in the plurality of different predetermined mounting positions independent of any other fixture, the modular conduit vertically and horizontally repositionable to the different predetermined mounting positions on the support frame and including a channel sized to receive an electrical line suitable for transmitting at least one of telecommunications data and electrical power, an outlet box mounted on the channel with the electrical line extending into an interior of the outlet box, and an electrical outlet mounted to the outlet box, the electrical line connected to the electrical outlet via an electrical connection located at least partially within the interior of the outlet box.

A method for repositionably supporting an electrical line in a modular construction system forming a plurality of different predetermined vertical and horizontal mounting locations, the method comprising:

• providing a modular construction system forming the plurality of different predetermined vertical and horizontal mounting locations;
• selecting a mounting location from the plurality of different predetermined vertical and horizontal mounting locations;
• removably attaching an elongated channel to the modular construction system at the selected mounting location independent of any other fixture, the channel having a substantially open side for providing access to an interior of the channel and an outlet box mounted on the channel, the interior of the outlet box communicating with the interior of the channel;
• positioning within the interior of the channel the electrical line suitable for transmitting at least one of telecommunication data and electrical power;
• and
• installing an electrical outlet in the outlet box, the electrical outlet electrically connected to the electrical line via an electrical connection located at least partially within the interior of the outlet box.

An outlet positioning apparatus for use with an electrical line suitable for transmitting at least one of telecommunications data and electrical power, the outlet positioning apparatus adapted for releasably mounting to a modular construction system the outlet positioning apparatus comprising:

• a conduit defining an internal cavity;
• at least one fastener shaped to releasably mount the apparatus to the modular construction system in any of a plurality of different predetermined horizontal and vertical positions on the modular construction system independent of any other fixture, the conduit having a location adjustable with respect to the modular construction system via the plurality of different predetermined horizontal and vertical positions on the modular construction system;
• an outlet box mounted to the conduit;
• and
• an electrical outlet mounted to the outlet box;
• wherein the outlet box is positioned with respect to the conduit to enclose at least one connection between the electrical line and the electrical outlet within the interior of the outlet box.