US3719768A - Construction panel - Google Patents
Construction panel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3719768A US3719768A US00147458A US3719768DA US3719768A US 3719768 A US3719768 A US 3719768A US 00147458 A US00147458 A US 00147458A US 3719768D A US3719768D A US 3719768DA US 3719768 A US3719768 A US 3719768A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- electrical
- upper edge
- connector
- ceiling
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/28—Installations of cables, lines, or separate protective tubing therefor in conduits or ducts pre-established in walls, ceilings or floors
- H02G3/281—Installations of cables, lines, or separate protective tubing therefor in conduits or ducts pre-established in walls, ceilings or floors in ceilings
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
- E04C2/44—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the purpose
- E04C2/52—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the purpose with special adaptations for auxiliary purposes, e.g. serving for locating conduits
- E04C2/521—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the purpose with special adaptations for auxiliary purposes, e.g. serving for locating conduits serving for locating conduits; for ventilating, heating or cooling
Definitions
- ABSTRACT A flexible, versatile building system including movable wall panels has a portion of an electrical system as an integral part of the' panel.
- the panels may be rearranged easily to provide a variety of wall and floor plan configurations adapted to suit a particular purpose.
- the portion of the electrical system which is integral with the panel is connected to one or more main electrical distribution systems by special easily disconnectable connectors which are formed permanently as an integral part of the panel at the upper marginal edge of the panel.
- the electrical distribution system is disposed above and map rest on the ceiling and includes flexible, easily accessible cords which may be reconnected to the panel after the panel has been moved to a new location.
- the system avoids conventional concepts of permanent wiring.
- the connectors integral with the panels are of special design to preclude inadvertent mismatching of connectors when the electrical system in the building includes a number of distinct circuits for different purposes such as lighting controls, communications etc.
- My invention may be employed in association with any of a number of movable wall panels which are available commercially from a variety of suppliers.
- the panels are retained at their upper marginal ends in overhead channels which lie in a horizontal plane defining a ceiling matrix.
- the panels may be engaged with the overhead channels in a variety of configurations and floor plans to support the panels as desired.
- the panels are provided with integral electric wiring which is permanent within the panel.
- a representative panel may have one or more of a switch circuit to control lighting, telephone or other communications circuitry, power outlets, etc.
- Each circuit in the panel is connectable to a main power distribution circuit by a special connector located at the upper, channel-engaging edge of the panel.
- the ceiling channels are designed to expose the special connectors from above the channels.
- the connectors themselves are of special design and are of different configuration for each circuit to preclude inadvertent mismatching of connectors and interconnection of separate distinct circuits.
- the flexibility of the panels is enhanced further by providing compact, portable distribution boxes which rest atop the ceiling and which are connected to the special panel connectors by flexible cords.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a building system employing panels of the type described in which the circuitry in the panel may be connected to and disconnected from the main electrical distribution system.
- Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved connector which is effective to preclude inadvertent interconnection of unrelated circuits when the building construction includes panels having more than one self contained integral electrical circuit.
- FIG. I is an illustration of a portion of a structure embodying the invention including a ceiling matrix, a representative panel and an overhead portable electrical distribution system;
- FIG. 2 is a side elevation in section of a representative panel and the channel in the ceiling matrix which engages the upper marginal edge of the panel;
- FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper edge of the panel
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, in section, of the connector at the upper edge of the panel
- FIG. 5 is an illustration of the special connector used in the panel
- FIG. 6 is a rear view of the connector module shown in FIG. 5;
- FIG. 7 is an illustration of a mating connector at the end of a typical cord.
- FIG. 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic illustration of a connector having dummy connector modules to preclude inadvertent misregistration.
- FIG. I shows an installation in which the invention may be embodied and includes a ceiling grid 10 formed from a number of downwardly opening channels 12 arranged in a matrix.
- the wall of the structure are formed from a variety of panels, indicated generally by the reference character 14 and having upper marginal edges which are engageable with the channels 12 to secure to panels in the manner described below.
- the adjacent edges 16 of the panels preferably are arranged to interlock with each other and further rigidify the structure.
- the ceiling grid 10 supports a plurality of ceiling panels 18, some of which may include integral lighting fixtures 20.
- the wall panels M may take a variety of forms such as the plain panel 14a, the door panel 14b and the electrically wired panel Me which may include one or more integral electrically operable devices and with which the invention is concerned particularly.
- each wall panel is designed to interlock with the channel 12 to retain the wall panel in place.
- the heightwise extending edges 16 of the wall panels also preferably interlock to provide a substantially continuous wall.
- the invention is illustrated as embodied in one type of panel having a spring loaded elongate shoe 22 extending along the upper edge of the panel.
- the shoe is biased upwardly and outwardly by appropriate spring means (not shown).
- Means also are provided to enable shoe 22 to be withdrawn into the upper edge of the panel to enable the panel to be properly placed between the floor and the receptive channel 12. After the panel has been placed, the shoe 22 is released to engage the channel and lock the panel firmly in place between the channel and the floor.
- Wall panels of this type are available commercially from the I-Iough Company of 1023 South Jackson Street, .Ianesville, Wis. 53545.
- the representative wired panel 14c may include one or more electrically operable devices such as an outlet 24, switches 26, a clock 28, communications equipment 30 or the like. Because the electrical requirements for each of these devices are different, a separate circuit must be provided in association with each of the devices. Thus, separate wiring 24c, 26c, 28c and 300 is associated with each of the devices.
- the wires extend from the electrical devices upwardly within the panel and are connected at their upper ends to special electrical connectors 32 which are secured permanently along the upper edge of the wallpanel.
- the electrical connectors 32 are incorporated into the panel so that when the panel is attached to the channel ceiling grid, the connectors 32 will remain exposed from above the channel 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 this arrangement may include forming the channels to define an elongate slot 34.
- the electrical connector 32 is secured in the spring loaded shoe 22 by an elongate basket 36 which extends along the shoe 22, is secured thereto and preferably is recessed below the level of the shoe. After the panel has been aligned with the channel and the spring loaded shoe has been released to engage the channel as show the electrical connectors 32 remain exposed.
- the complete panel with integral electrically operated devices and circuitry therefor may be moved to any location in the building having a receptive channel. The electrical elements in the panel remain intact and no special efforts must be made to connect or disconnect any of these elements. The cords need only be connected or disconnected.
- FIG. 1 shows the electrical distribution system.
- the complexity of the distribution system depends on the number and type of appliances which are associated with the panel. Regardless of the complexity of the circuitry, the distribution system is completely portable and may simply be rested on top of the ceiling panels 18.
- the distribution box or boxes 38 connected to the main electrical power line by one or more appropriate flexible electric cords 40.
- the distribution boxes may include integral transformers when necessary to feed power at the required voltage to a particular appliance.
- relays 42 are provided and are connected to the control circuit in the panel 140 through the electrical connector 32.
- the wiring in the panel is connected to the distribution box or the relay by a flexible electrical cord 44 which is connectable to the electrical connector 32 in the upper edge of the panel.
- the floor and wall plan configuration may be modified simply and rapidly when desired.
- An additional, not unimportant, feature of the system is that because the wall panel 140 includes self contained electrical appliances and circuitry therefor, the wall panel 14c may be fabricated completely and permanently in a factory thus achieving the attendant economies of mass production and avoiding the heretofor expensive and time consuming field work necessary to modify the electrical system in accordance with the modified wall panel arrangement.
- each module includes a hollow insulating housing 50 which supports an internal electrical contact 52.
- Each housing is formed with a bore 54 through which the electrical contact 52 and its cable 56 extends.
- the forward end of the housing is formed to define a hollow extension 58 which receives the forward end of the contact 52.
- the housing 50 also includes a forwardly extending overlapping extension 60 which defines an inverted U- shaped socket 62 extending over the contact receiving extension 58.
- each of the modules is connectable with another identical module in telescoping fashion in which the hollow extension 58 of one module is inserted into and is received within the U-shaped overlapping extension 60 of the other module.
- each housing 50 is of generally rectangular cross section and is provided along its longitudinal sidewalls with longitudinally extending dovetail shaped tongues 64 and grooves 66 on opposite sidewalls thereof. This enables any number of housing modules 50 to be connected together to form a multiple terminal connector. As shown in FIGS.
- a number of connected modular housings 50 are secured to each other and are retained in the basket 36 at the upper end of the shoe 22 in the panel.
- the modules are retained in the basket by semicircular slots 68 formed transversely along the opposite sidewalls of the housing 50.
- the slots receive ribs 70 formed along the length of the basket to facilitate in retaining the modular array in the basket.
- each cord is provided with a mating array of modular housings 50, a simplified single row version of which is shown in FIG. 7.
- This arrangement comprises a generally channel shaped retainer having sidewalls 74 which terminate in an inwardly extending longitudinal rib 76.
- the mating array of modular housings 50 is disposed within the channel with the ribs 76 engaging the aligned transverse slots 58 in the housing modules.
- the sidewalls 74 of the retainer 72 are urged together to grip firmly the modular array by a pair of bolts '78 which are passed through the sidewalls 74 at opposite ends of the array.
- the bottom wall 80 of the retainer 72 is provided with appropriate openings to enable the cable 56 of each terminal to extend outwardly of the retainer and be bound in a single, composite cable 44.
- One aspect of the invention relates to an improved arrangement to insure that the cable connector cannot be improperly connected with its intended panel connector.
- the flexibility which is obtained by using the connectors of the type described is of material advantage, it is possible that when making a connection, one may inadvertently misalign, longitudinally, the cable connector with its intended mating socket in the panel. in order to insure that such mismatching cannot occur, the connector assembly is modified as shown in FIG. 7 to include a blank module at each end of one of the connector array.
- the connector array includes a plurality of electrically operative housings 50 having their respective extensions 58 and sockets 62.
- a blank, non-receptive housing 82 of the same external configuration as the operative housing is provided.
- the blank housing 82 does not have the receptive socket 62 as does the operative housings.
- the blank housings 82 may be formed from operative housings by filling their receptive sockets 62 with an appropriate material or, alternatively, may comprise a separately formed member of the general external configuration as the housings but which is completely solid.
- the preferred arrangement is to employ a blank member @2 which is similar in external configuration to the housing 54 ⁇ , other means may be provided to insure that the end most housings of one connector array can only be engaged by the intended, end-most connectors of the mating connector array.
- any appropriate socket-free means located at one or both ends of at least one of the connector arrays to preclude engagement of a misaligned mating connector array may be employed.
- FIG. 8 shows somewhat diagrammatically, how the connector of FIG. 7 is employed, for example, in association with one of the panel connectors 32. It will be seen that the cord connector carrying the dummy modules 82 can only be mated with the connector in the basket 36 when the modules 50 of each connector array are aligned properly.
- the modules are connectable to each other in a variety of configurations to provide any of a number of module arrays.
- the modular arrays for each of the electrical connectors 32 may be varied to insure that all of the connectors 32 in the wall panels Me of a given floor plan region are different, thus precluding inadvertent mismatching of cords and connectors.
- the distribution boxes and relay boxes also may include connector arrays formed from the foregoing connector modules in an arrangement corresponding to those in the wall panels 1140. With this arrangement, any given 6
- l have described an improved wall panel system and integral electrical system which enables the wall panels to be rearranged in other floor plan configurations with minimal effort.
- wall panel means having an upper edge thereof detachably engageable with said overhead ceiling members to enable said wall panel means to be connected thereto in various floor plan configurations;
- disconnectable electrical connector means secured to and exposed at the upper edge of said panel, said overhead ceiling members being so constructed and arranged as to expose said connector means upwardly therethrough when said panel is connected to said ceiling member whereby said appliance means may be connected in circuit with an electrical power supply therefor by a flexible electric cable disposed above said ceiling and being connectable to said connector means.
- said electrical connector being mounted to said shoe.
- said electrical connector means comprises:
- appliance means includes switching means for controlling operation of another electrically operable appliance, said combination further comprising:
Abstract
Description
Claims (5)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14745871A | 1971-05-27 | 1971-05-27 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3719768A true US3719768A (en) | 1973-03-06 |
Family
ID=22521645
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00147458A Expired - Lifetime US3719768A (en) | 1971-05-27 | 1971-05-27 | Construction panel |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US3719768A (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3856981A (en) * | 1973-08-28 | 1974-12-24 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Power panel arrangement |
FR2390840A1 (en) * | 1977-05-13 | 1978-12-08 | Streif Ohg | Prefabricated house wiring system - uses prefabricated cable harness placed in wall elements, with plug connectors at their ends |
US4146287A (en) * | 1977-10-07 | 1979-03-27 | National Service Industries, Inc. | Lighting and power system and connectors therefor |
US4272689A (en) * | 1978-09-22 | 1981-06-09 | Harvey Hubbell Incorporated | Flexible wiring system and components therefor |
US4377724A (en) * | 1977-11-25 | 1983-03-22 | Haworth Mfg., Inc. | Space divider wall structure with multiple circuit power system |
US4715154A (en) * | 1984-12-10 | 1987-12-29 | Steelcase Inc. | Space partition module |
US4856242A (en) * | 1984-12-10 | 1989-08-15 | Steelcase Inc. | Space partition arrangement |
US5209035A (en) * | 1991-01-10 | 1993-05-11 | Steelcase Inc. | Utility panel system |
US20060174562A1 (en) * | 2002-04-04 | 2006-08-10 | Insalaco Robert W | Ceiling system with vertical space division |
-
1971
- 1971-05-27 US US00147458A patent/US3719768A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3856981A (en) * | 1973-08-28 | 1974-12-24 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Power panel arrangement |
FR2390840A1 (en) * | 1977-05-13 | 1978-12-08 | Streif Ohg | Prefabricated house wiring system - uses prefabricated cable harness placed in wall elements, with plug connectors at their ends |
US4146287A (en) * | 1977-10-07 | 1979-03-27 | National Service Industries, Inc. | Lighting and power system and connectors therefor |
US4377724A (en) * | 1977-11-25 | 1983-03-22 | Haworth Mfg., Inc. | Space divider wall structure with multiple circuit power system |
US4272689A (en) * | 1978-09-22 | 1981-06-09 | Harvey Hubbell Incorporated | Flexible wiring system and components therefor |
US4856242A (en) * | 1984-12-10 | 1989-08-15 | Steelcase Inc. | Space partition arrangement |
US4715154A (en) * | 1984-12-10 | 1987-12-29 | Steelcase Inc. | Space partition module |
US5209035A (en) * | 1991-01-10 | 1993-05-11 | Steelcase Inc. | Utility panel system |
US5341615A (en) * | 1991-01-10 | 1994-08-30 | Steelcase Inc. | Utility panel system |
US6481168B1 (en) | 1991-01-10 | 2002-11-19 | Steelcase Development Corporation | Utility panel system |
US6684583B2 (en) | 1991-01-10 | 2004-02-03 | Steelcase Development Corporation | Utility panel system |
US20040154233A1 (en) * | 1991-01-10 | 2004-08-12 | Hodges Ronald R. | Utility panel system |
US6951085B2 (en) | 1991-01-10 | 2005-10-04 | Steelcase Development Corporation | Utility panel system |
US20060174562A1 (en) * | 2002-04-04 | 2006-08-10 | Insalaco Robert W | Ceiling system with vertical space division |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORP. OF DE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:TEXTRON INC.;REEL/FRAME:003861/0986 Effective date: 19810511 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED FILE - (OLD CASE ADDED FOR FILE TRACKING PURPOSES) |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:005252/0023 Effective date: 19890824 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, MISSOURI Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CERTAIN BANKS AND MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:007052/0953 Effective date: 19940624 |