GB2202254A - Electrical outlet box for raised modular floor panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a service outlet box arrangement in a modular floor panel. The arrangement has a support panel 22 of box-section or honeycomb structure which is hinged along one edge to an adjacent floor panel 14. The free edges of the panel 22 are supported by perimeter support members 32 secured to adjacent edges of the panel in which the arrangement is located. The support panel 22 carries several compartments 45 suspended beneath the panel 22. The compartments 45 contain the power or telephone sockets which are directly accessed via a front wall 52 of the compartments. The front wall has openings to allow electrical plugs or telephone jack plugs to be inserted directly into the sockets in the compartments without necessitating removal of the front panel 52. The connecting flex for the plugs passes through opening 56 in the support panel 22. The support panel 22 and the hinge 40 are of box-section or honeycomb structure to provide strength and rigidity whilst being of simplified design. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Service Outlet Box for Raised Modular Floor Panels The present invention relates to floor panels and in particular to a -service box outlet arrangement for use in raised modular floor panels.

One of the problems associated with the use of raised modular floor panels is providing easy access to services, particularly electrical services, to provide, for example, electrical outlets for consumer use, VDU points and telephone sockets.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved service outlet box arrangement Accordinaly, the present invention provides a service outlet box arrangement for use with raised modular floor panels, the arrangement being adapted -to locate in an opening in a floor panel, comprising a first member having a substantially planar upper surface arranged to lie substantially flush with the upper surface- of said floor panel, hinge means for hingedly connecting the member along one edge to the floor panel and outlet means enabling connection of service outlets to said services.

The present invention is further described hereinatter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a service outlet box located in a floor panel; Figure 2 is a section along the line 2 - 2 of Figure 1; Figure 3a is a plan view of a cable entry grommet for the box; Figure 3b is an inverse plan view of the grommet of Figure 3a; Figures 3c & 3d are respectively end and side elevations of the grommet of Figure 3a; Figure 3e is a vertical longitudinal section through the grommet; and Figure 4 is a vertical section along the line 4 - 4 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, these show a service outlet box arrangement 10 which is located in the edge region of a modular floor panel 12, abutting an adjacent floor panel 14.

The arrangement shown in the drawings has three service modules 16, 18 and 20 as canbeseen in Figure 1 and since these are muh.stantially the same in form, except tor tt)ell with nnly one nf th.Ro module 16. is described in dlAtai As can be seen from Figure 2 module 16 has a support plate or panel 22 which is generally rectangular in cross section with upper and lower generally coplanar horizontal walls 24, 26 held in spaced relatibnship by generally vertical; ribs 28.The effect is to provide the panel 22 with as "honeycomb" type structure which ensures that the panelkis of sufficient strength to withstand weight placed on it and does not weaken the floor panel 12 in which tile outlet bar arrangement is located.

The three sides of the combined modules 6, 18 and 2(s which are adjacent the panel~ 12 arc support on a projecting shoulder 30 -of perimeter support members 32. The latter have U-section channel portions which receive the edgc regions of the panel 12 as shown in Figure 2 with an upper horizontal limb 34 of the channel portions being receiveci in a correspondingly shaped rebate in the upper surface f the panel 12. The support shoulder 30 is formed as an upper surface of a box section which again gives the perimeter support 32- considerabl-e strength.

The edges of the modules 16, 18 and 20 adjacent floor panel 14 are formed with a part-cylindrica1 recess or socket 36 whose longitudinal axis extends parallel to the adjacent side wall of panel 14. This socket engages with a correspondinglyshaped pivot member 38 on a hinge 40 which extends beyond the full width of the modules 16, 18 and 20.

The hinge 40 is formed with longitudinal box sections 42, 44 below the pivot member 38 to strengthen the hinge.

The box sections 42, 44 of thehinge 40 project beneath the recess-36 of the panel 22, abutting an undersurface of the panel, and lie adjacent a depending side wall 46 of a facility housing or compartment 45. The latter is formed with upper and lower generally horizonal wall members 47, 48 at upper and lower ends of the wall 46 to form a compartment which is closed by detachable end walls 50 and backing plate 52. The latter clips in position as can be seen in Figure 2. The compartment45 clips to the lower wall 26 of the panel 22 by way of lugs or ribs 53 which engage in cooperating recesses or slots 55 formed in projections on the lower wall 26 and allow removal of the compartment.

Where the service outlet box arrangement is for electrical services the compartments of the modules 16, 18 and 20 serve to house terminals enabling connection of the services to power outlets for consumer use. As will be appreciated, the compartments serve similar functions for other services.

The hinge 40 is secured in position by extending the lower box section 44 underneath the panel 12 where it is secured, for example, by bolts. This extension also serves to reinforce the edge of the panel 12 where it abuts the panel14. The service outlet box arrangement is conveniently extruded from aluminium, in which case the hinge 40 is provided in lengths which can be cut to the required length for each floor panel with the hinge pivot 38 and upper box section 42 being cut away at the ends to leave the box section 44 for securing to the undersurface of the panel 12 To allow, for example, cables to pass through the panel 22 each module is provided with two grommets 54 which slidably locate in corresponding recesses or notches 56 in the module The notches extend from the side edges of the modules and the grommets are located by means of longitudinal ribs 58, located on respective side walls of the grommets, which engage in correspondingly shaped grooves 60 in cooperating walls in the modules. Each grommet is generally of rectangular cross section with the spacing of two opposed surfaces 62, 64 of the grommet being such that when in position these lie flush with the corresponding upper and lower surfaces of the modules.

As can be seen from Figures 3a and 3b, one surface 62,64 of the grommet has a semi-circular projecting portion 66 while the other surface has a correspondingly shaped semi-circular cut-away portion 68.

As is best seen in Figure 4, the cut-away portion of the upper surface of the panel 22 at each notch 56 has a sha;t corresponding to that of the grommet surface 62, while the lower surface of the panel at each notch is of greater legth than the upper cut-away portion. Thus, when the grommet is located in position-in a notch 56, for example with surface 64 uppermost (left hand grommet of Figure 4), a circular opening 70 is provided in the upper surface of the panel 22 while the extra length of the lower cut-away portion in the lower panel surface ensures a further opening 72 is maintained in the lower surface. Reversing the grommet (as in the right hand.gromemt of-Figure 4), with the surface 62 uppermost closes the circular opening 70 in the upper surface of the panel 22.Thus, with the left hand grommet of Figure 4 a cable can be fed from a plug 74 in the service compartment through the staggered openings in the upper and lower surfaces of the panel 22 provided by the left hand grommet of Figure 4.

The grommets are retained in position by the end panels 50 when these are in position.

Access to the service compartment beneath the panel 22 for example to install electrical sockets in a compartment iS effected simply by raising the panel 22 about the hinge pivot 38 by way of a finger tab 70 and removing the backplate 52. The pins of the plug are inserted into the socket through access holes in the backplate 52.

The hinge- socket 36 has an inner surface which extends in cross-section at an angle greater than 1800. Thus the module must be slid onto the pivot member 38 during assembly and once installed in the panel 12 the hinge socket 36 cannot be removed from the pivot member 38.

As will be appreciated, the service outlet box arrangement described and illustrated provides a simple and effective way of providing service outlets in raised modular flooring panels.

Claims (19)

1. A service outlet box arrangement for use with raised modular floor panels, the arrangement being adapted to locate in an opening in a floor formed by modular floor panels, comprising a first member having a substantially planar upper surface arranged to lie substantially flush with the upper surface of said floor panels, hinge means for hingedly connecting the member along one edge to a floor panel and outlet means supported beneath said first- member for receiving service outlets connectable to service supply means beneath said floor for enabling connection of consumer equipment above said floor to said services.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper surface is formed by an upper wall of said first member and said first member has a lower wall spaced from said upper wall by a plurality of spacer members to provide a rigid structure for said first member.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said upper and lower walls are generally coplanar.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said first member is of a honeycomb-type construction.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising at least one support member securahle to an edge of the floor panel or adjacent floor panel for supporting a free edge of said outlet box arrangement.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said support member has a shoulder for supporting said free edge, said shoulder being of hollow cross-section.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said hinge means has a hinge member secured to said floor panel wherein one of said hinge member and said one edge of said first member has a recess of part-cylindrical cross section and the other of said hinge member and said one edge of said first member has a cooperating pivot member engageable in said recess to enable hinging of said first member about said hinge member.

8. An arrangment as claimed in claim 7 wherein said recess is formed in said one edge of said first member and said hinge member comprises said pivot member.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein said recess extends substantially the whole of the length of said one edge of said first member.

10 An arrangment as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pivot member extends substantially the whole of the length of said one edge of said first member

11. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 wherein said part cylindrical recess extends in cross section through an angle greater than 1800.

12 An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said hinge means has an extension portion at each end thereof for securing to an undersurface of the floor panel or an adjacent floor panel.

13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein a body portion of said hinge means, including said extensions are of hollow cross-section.

14. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said outlet means comprises at least one compartment for receiving an outlet connector of said service ou-tlet, said compartment being adapted to enable connection of consumer equipment to said outlet connector.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim14 wherein said service is an electrical mains power supply and said service outlet connector is an electrical power socket.

16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14 wherein said service is a telephone line and said outlet connector is a telephone -socket.

17. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 15 when appendant to claim 2 wherein said first member has at least one through-opening provided therein for enabling connection of said consumer equipment to said service outlet connectors and further comprising at least one closure member for closing said through-opening.

18. An arrangment as claimed in claim 16 comprising at least two through-openings in said first member, wherein each said opening comprises a respective aperture in said upper and lower walls and said closure member has respective first and second closures for engaging in said upper and lower apertures, and wherein the arrangement of each said through-aperture and cooperating closure member is suc that in a first attitude of said closure member, said first closure completely closes said upper aperture while said second closure only partially closes said lower aperture, and in a reversed attitude of said closure member said second closure only partially closes said upper aperture for enabling connection of consumer equipment to a service outlet connector through an upper aperture of a first through-opening and a lower aperture of a second throughopening.

19. A service outlet box arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.