US 7,648,379 B2Granted

Modular electrical distribution system for a building

AssigneeHaworth, Inc.

InventorsRoss Johnson, Harold Wilson

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A universal power distribution system is provided for routing electrical circuits within a building structure to comprehensively provide electrical power to the building in ceiling configurations, wall-mounted configurations, raised floor configurations and in office furniture configurations. The system components for all of these configurations have common plug connectors that are engagable with each other so as to be readily usable in a wide variety of applications. The system is readily adaptable to form virtually any conventional circuit configuration found within conventional hard-wired systems yet is formed simply through the routing of the cables through the building cavities and interconnection is accomplished merely by plugging components together rather than through labor-intensive manual wiring.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A building power wiring system comprising:

flexible, elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends, wherein each said cable includes one or both of an A-end connector on said A-end of said cable and a multi-connector configuration of at least two B-end connectors on the opposite B-end thereof wherein the number of B-end connectors on said B-end is greater than the number of A-end connectors on said B-end, said cables having mating structures to allow any said A-end connector to connect to any said B-end connector but said mating structures do not allow said A-end connector to connect with any other said A-end connector or said B-end connector to connect to any other said B-end connector;
a box fixture having an A-end connector;
and
one or more fixture boxes each provided with a plurality of connector mounts which allow for the interconnection of a plurality of said cables thereto, said connector mounts at least permitting said B-end connectors in said multi-connector configuration of a first said cable to be fixedly attached to said fixture box for routing of electrical power to said fixture box so that said B-end connectors are accessible in said fixture box for connection of said box fixture to a respective one of said B-end connectors, the other of said B-end connectors being accessible next to said box fixture for the connection of an additional said A-end connector thereto, a first one of said cables having said B-end connectors connected to a first one of said connector mounts to provide power to said junction box and defining a first mounting location for a said box fixture, at least a second one of said cables defining a looped bypass cable having said A-end connector thereof connected to said B-end connector of said first cable so as to exit said first fixture box and being looped with its B-end being connected to a second one of said connector mounts so that one of said B-end connectors defines a second mounting location for a said box fixture and the other said B-end connector is accessible for connection to a third said cable which exits said first junction box and is available for routing to other system components or for return to said first junction box to define a third mounting location for a said box fixture.

1 more element

A building power wiring system comprising:

elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends wherein each said cable includes an A-end connector on said A-end of said cable and B-end connectors on the opposite B-end thereof, said cables having mating structures to allow said A-end connectors to connect to any said B-end connector but said mating structures do not allow said A-end connector to connect with any other A-end connector or a B-end connector to connect to any other B-end connector, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of one said cable to a said B-end connector of the other said cable;
and
one or more junction boxes each provided with box connectors which allow for the interconnection of a plurality of said cables thereto, said box connectors permitting said A-end connectors and said B-end connectors to be fixedly attached to said junction box for routing of electrical power through said junction box and between said junction box and each said cable attached thereto;
a first said box connector being formed as an A-end connector for connection to said B-end connector of an upstream first one of said cables wherein said first cable is in an A-to-B orientation as an infeed leg and supplies power to said junction box, a second said box connector being formed as an A-end connector for connection to said B-end connector of a downstream second one of said cables wherein said second box connector receives power from said first box connector and said second cable is oriented in a B-to-A orientation to define a switch leg connectable to a switch, and a third said box connector being formed as a B-end connector for connection to said A-end connector of a downstream third one of said cables which is oriented in an A-to-B orientation as an output cable, said third box connector configured to pass power downstream of said junction box to said third cable.

1 more element

A building power wiring system comprising:

elongate cables having opposite A-ends and B-ends wherein each said cable includes an A-end connector on said A-end of said cable and a B-end connector on the opposite B-end thereof, said cables having mating structures to allow said A-end connectors to connect to any said B-end connector but said mating structures do not allow said A-end connector to connect with any other A-end connector or a B-end connector to connect to any other B-end connector, a plurality of said cables being serially connectable together by serial interconnection of the A-end connector of one said cable to a said B-end connector of the other said cable;
and
one or more junction boxes each provided with box connectors which allow for the interconnection of a plurality of said cables thereto, said box connectors permitting said A-end connectors and said B-end connectors to be fixedly attached to said junction box for routing of electrical power through said junction box and between said junction box and each said cable attached thereto;
one said junction box being a multi-way junction box wherein a first said box connector being formed as an A-end connector for connection to said B-end connector of an upstream first one of said cables wherein said first cable is in an A-to-B orientation as an infeed leg and supplies power to said junction box, a plurality of second said box connectors being formed as A-end connectors for connection to said B-end connectors of downstream second ones of said cables wherein said second box connector receives power from said first box connector and said second cable is oriented in a B-to-A orientation to define one or more switch legs each connectable to a switch, and a third said box connector being formed as a B-end connector for connection to said A-end connector of a downstream third one of said cables which is oriented in an A-to-B orientation as an output cable, said third box connector configured to pass power downstream of said junction box to said third cable;
said second box connectors and two said second cables defining a 3-way switch configuration.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/228,267Filed 11 Aug 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 9 Aug 2007
Published: US 2009/0053926 A126 Feb 2009
Granted: 19 Jan 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H01R 25/16
Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more…
H02G 3/00
Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or
H02G 3/38
Installations of cables or lines in walls, floors or ceilings: the cables or lines being installed in preestablished conduits or ducts
H01R 25/006
Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more…