Service posts for electrical and air delivery to workstations
A polygonal service post provides electrical services and optionally air to one or more workstations. The service post has a square cross-sectional shape with vertical faces having a channel for mounting a panel wherein adjacent panels form a workstation and having power and data outlets and an air damper for delivering air to each workstation. Alternatively, the service post has a hexagonal or octagonal cross-sectional shape with first vertical mounting faces alternating with second vertical utility faces. The first vertical faces provide a surface for mounting a panel wherein adjacent panels form a workstation and each second vertical face includes electrical outlets and an air damper for delivering air to each workstation. Wiring for power and data delivery is provided to the service post from the floor or alternatively, from a ceiling wiring system whereas air may be provided from an access floor or a cellular floor system.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/007,338 filed on Dec. 12, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a device for delivering electrical services and/or environmental air to workstations in office buildings, schools, libraries, and other types of commercial buildings. More particularly, the invention relates to a power-data-air (PDA) service post configured to supply air and/or electrical services to a workplace, for example, an office workstation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Commercial buildings, such as office buildings, are generally steel and/or concrete framed and require the delivery of power and data wiring to cubicles, which are used to subdivide large open spaces referred to as “landscaped offices” into multiple, individual workstations. Typically, common partition panels are used to form and enclose these cubicles. Such common partition walls or panels are less than floor to ceiling height yet offer privacy to each workstation. Layouts of three or four workstations or cubicles may be formed by the partition panels and each workstation is commonly supplied with power and data cables or wires from raceway systems which are located above the ceiling or below the floor. Such floor based raceway systems generally consists of a core drilled “poke-thru” system, a cellular-floor system, or an access floor system.
Raceway systems provided in the ceiling generally use cable trays and steel conduits to route the data cables and power wires within the ceiling space. Service poles are provided to feed the power and data wiring downward to a common intersection of the partitions where the power and data wiring are then passed into raceways that are built into the base of the partitions from where they are then distributed to power outlets within each workstation.
Although some present day service poles may provide a direct electrical plug-in on at least one vertical face, no present day service poles are constructed to provide plug-in capability directly in each cubicle where cables enter the service pole from an in-floor or under-floor raceway.
Environment air is generally delivered to an office space in one of two ways. The conventional variable air volume (VAV) systems supply air through the ceiling ductwork and the air diffusers at the ceiling level. The return air is exhausted through the ceiling space and drawn by an exhaust fan into equipment used to clean and recycle the air. Another common air delivery method or system utilizes a raised floor or an access floor in order to create a space under the partition panels forming the cubicles or workstations and air is pumped into this space. Selected access floor panels, which are supported by a series of pedestals, are cut out at desired locations to accept and support a diffuser and air is delivered through the air diffuser at the floor level. In this latter method or system, the exhaust air is drawn upwardly and through the ceiling by the fan pressure such as that used in the VAV systems.
There is a need therefore to provide an improved and simplified device for delivering power and/or data and/or air to one or more cubicles or workstations which eliminates the need for raceways within the partitions forming the cubicles or workstations.
There is a further need to provide an improved system or device for extending power wiring, and/or data wiring, and/or air into multiple workstations or cubicles from a centrally located common feed point.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention has met these needs. The present invention provides a device for delivering electrical services, i.e. power and data or computer services, and/or environmental air into one or more workstations. The device includes a PDA service post constructed to enclose an outlet in the floor and which floor outlet allows power and data wiring and/or air to enter the PDA service post from the floor. The PDA service post has a plurality of first vertical faces for the attachment of partition panels for forming one or more workstations and a plurality of second vertical faces alternating with the first vertical faces. Each second vertical face has a bank of power outlets or receptacles and a bank of data outlets or receptacles, which are provided within each of the formed workstations. Preferably, the second vertical faces have a surface area that is greater than that of the first vertical faces. The power wiring and/or the data wiring extend through the service post and are connected to the bank of power outlets and to the bank of the data outlets of the second vertical faces for access within each workstation either above or below the desktop level.
The service post is multi-faced or polygonal, i.e. it has several sides or vertical faces. The service post has either a hexagonal or an octagonal cross-sectional shape, and which cross-sectional shape provides the first and second vertical faces. If the cross-sectional shape of the service post is hexagonal then the service post is capable of receiving three partition panels along its first vertical faces for forming three workstations or cubicles. If the cross-sectional shape of the service post is octagonal, then the service post can receive four partition panels along its first vertical faces for forming four workstations or cubicles. These partition panels may be inserted into a channel or pocket that extends along the vertical length of each of the first vertical faces of the service post and these panels may be fixedly mounted within this channel or pocket through suitable devices.
The PDA service post further includes a mounting base that preferably has a cross-sectional configuration that corresponds to that of the service post, a conduit for routing the power wiring, and a removable cap for access into the power compartment. Optionally, the service post includes a task light preferably located in each of the second vertical faces of the service post and above the bank of power outlets and the bank of data outlets in each workstation. The removable top cap preferably has a cross-sectional configuration that corresponds to that of the service post. The top cap is selectively removed to provide power wiring access into the interior of the PDA service post, e.g. into the power compartment of the PDA service post.
Optionally, the service post includes one or more access openings along the second vertical faces and a removable cover plate mounted over the access opening. An air chamber with an isolator plate is provided within the service post to pressurize the incoming air and is in communication with each of the access openings associated with each of the formed workstations. In this configuration, the cover plate may selectively be removed so as to provide the access opening with an air diffuser that is in communication with the air chamber. The air diffuser or louver can then be used to deliver air from the floor and into each of the workstations.
In an alternate configuration, power wiring and/or data wiring may be extended from a ceiling based wiring system and into the interior of the service post. The power wiring may then be connected to the bank of power outlets and to the task lights, while the data wiring may be connected to the bank of data outlets provided in each of the second vertical faces of the service post.
The PDA service post may be made of metal, preferably steel and formed from one or more metal sheets and then connected together via butt welding or via fasteners, such as screws.
A further embodiment of the present invention includes a PDA service post for delivering electrical services and/or environmental air into a workstation which has a square cross-sectional configuration with four vertical faces. Each vertical face may have a channel extending along its vertical length and offset to one side of the centerline of the face for receiving and mounting partition panels for forming four cubicles or workstations. Each of these vertical faces also includes a bank of power outlets and/or a bank of data outlets offset to the other side of the centerline of the face which are provided within each of the formed workstations. The power wiring extends through the service post and is connected to the bank of power outlets and task lights and the data wiring extends through the service post and is connected to the bank of data outlets of the second vertical faces for access within each workstation.
The PDA service post of this embodiment of the present invention includes a mounting base that preferably has a square cross-sectional shape, a conduit for routing the power wiring and data wiring and/or air, and a removable top cap for access into the power compartment of the post. The removable cap has a square cross-sectional shape. Optionally, the task light is preferably located in each of the four vertical faces of the service post and above the bank of power outlets and the bank of data outlets for each workstation.
Optionally, this service post also includes one or more access openings along the vertical faces and a removable cover plate mounted over the access openings. An air chamber created by an isolator plate is provided within the PDA service post and is in communication with each of the access openings associated with each of the formed workstations. When the PDA service post is utilized for air delivery, the cover plate is replaced by an air diffuser or louver. The air diffuser or louver may then be used to deliver air from the floor and through the air diffuser or louver into each of the workstations serviced by the PDA service post.
The removable top cap may be selectively removed to provide access to the power compartment of the service post. Power wiring and/or data wiring can be extended from a ceiling based wiring system using a standard service pole and into the PDA post. Electrical wiring from the ceiling may then be connected to the banks of power outlets and the data wiring may be connected to the banks of data outlets provided in each of the four vertical faces of the service post. This service post may be made of metal, preferably steel, and formed from one or more sheets of metal. If the service post is made of two sheets of metal, then the sides are preferably butt welded. If the service post is made of more than two sheets of metal, then the sheets are fastened together, preferably via fasteners such as screws.
A further embodiment of the square PDA post provides pockets extending along the vertical length of each vertical face for receiving and mounting a partition panel. The pockets eliminate the need for a mounting channel or other mounting devices required in the other PDA post embodiments of the present invention.
A square PDA service post, either with or without mounting pockets, allows the use of square cornered desks or tables which fit closely to the PDA service post. A square PDA service post therefore eliminates any gap existing between square cornered furniture and the diagonal faces of the PDA posts having other than a square cross-sectional configuration.
The PDA service post is polygonal. It may have a hexagonal cross-sectional configuration forming three workstations; it may have an octagonal cross-sectional configuration forming four workstations; or it may have a square cross-sectional configuration forming four workstations.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a versatile electrical and air delivery system to the building and interior design markets for either existing or new buildings.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a service post designed to form one or more workstations and to provide one or more vertical faces with a bank of power outlets and/or a bank of data outlets and/or air to each workstation.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified design for a service post adapted to deliver power and/or data and/or air to one or more workstations.
And a still further object of the present invention is to provide a PDA service post designed to simplify the manner in which power and/or data and/or air is delivered to one or more workstations whereby the equipment currently used for electrical, data and air delivery may be eliminated thereby offering greater economies to the construction market.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
The present invention relates to a device for forming one or more workstations or cubicles and for delivering electrical and/or data services and/or air into a workstation of a building, for example, an office building. This device is a power-data-air service post, which may be referred to as a “PDA” post. The height of this service post may vary depending on the desired height for the workstation or cubicle, and the service post may be made of metal or formed from a sheet metal. The service post is polygonal in that it is many sided or multi-faced.
Mounting faces 12, 14, 16 and 18 are preferably smaller in surface area compared to vertical service faces 20, 22, 24 and 26. Mounting faces 12, 14, 16 and 18 are referred to as such since channels 36, 38, 40 and 42 are mounted thereto. Utility faces 20, 22, 24 and 26 are referred to as such since these faces are used to deliver utilities, i.e. electrical services, e.g. power and data, and optionally air to adjacent workstations WS.
Referring to
Referring particularly to
Still referring to
Still referring to
Through-floor outlet 58 illustrates a “poke-thru” electrical outlet that may be installed in a core drilled hole through any building floor slab. The term “poke-thru” is a common term for “through-floor” outlet. A through-floor outlet is the most common type of electrical activation for workstations since there is no initial investment in electrical raceway equipment.
After the concrete slab is core drilled, a “poke-thru” outlet is dropped through the hole which penetrates the entire depth of the slab and not as that shown in
Still referring to
As shown by the arrows in
As stated herein above, in-floor outlets typically are provided within the floor slab while through floor outlets penetrate the slab and bring electrical services from the ceiling space below the slab and terminate within the service post. Under floor outlets 130a as shown in
It can be appreciated that the PDA service post 10 of
PDA post 10 and PDA post 70 may be made from a flat metal sheet, preferably a steel sheet, which is formed and connected together via appropriate fastening means, for example, by a butt weld process or by similar joint welding processes. An example of a connection is indicated at reference numeral 66 in
As shown in
The PDA service post 140 is mounted over and attached to a mounting base 158 as shown best in
As shown in
A mounting base similar to base 158 is provided for each of the PDA service posts 10 and 70 in a configuration that corresponds to the cross-sectional configuration of the PDA service post. That is, a mounting base for PDA service post 10 is provided and has a similar configuration illustrated in
PDA post 180 of
The square cross-sectional configuration of PDA service post 180 of
From the above, it can be appreciated that the PDA service posts 10, 70, 140 and 180 of the present invention are an improvement for delivering electrical and air services to one or more workstations. The PDA service posts of the invention eliminate the electrical raceways within partition panels required in current day systems. When installed over an access floor opening that is already distributing environmental air, the PDA service posts of the invention can deliver air into three or four workstations. The vertical air diffusers or louvers of the PDA posts of the invention may be used to replace the floor air diffusers which normally are required at the surface of the access floor panels, and which floor air diffusers are subjected to scrub water entry and/or accidental spills, e.g. coffee spills. The vertically mounted air diffusers or louvers in the service posts 10, 70, 140 and 180 of the invention eliminate this danger and reduce foot traffic hazards. When both air and electrical services are fed from the access floor and through the PDA service post of the invention, the savings are significant compared to conventional equipment.
The PDA service posts 10, 70, 140 and 180 of the present invention may be used in new offices or may be used for retrofit purposes. These service posts deliver the required electrical and/or air service from ceiling based electrical systems, from in-floor systems such as cellular floor or under floor ducts, from under floor systems such as access floors, and from through-floor systems such as poke-through outlets. Even though PDA service post 10, 70, 140 and 180 are disclosed herein as including mountings for attachment of partition panels, in some instances, this may be optional in that the PDA service post may be free standing within a large room and still providing one or more outlets for delivering one or more utility services.
While the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating there from. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A device for delivering electrical services and optionally air into one or more workstations, comprising:
- a polygonal service post adapted to enclose a floor outlet,
- said service post having a plurality of first vertical faces for the attachment of partition panels for forming said one or more workstations and a plurality of second vertical faces alternating with the first vertical faces and each second vertical face having a bank of power outlets and a bank of data outlets provided within each of the formed workstations,
- said service post further adapted to optionally receive power and data wiring from the floor outlet for extension in the interior of the service post and for connection of the power wiring to the bank of power outlets and the data wiring to the bank of data outlets on the second vertical faces.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said service post has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of hexagonal and octagonal shapes, and which cross-sectional shape provides the first vertical faces and the second vertical faces.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said service post further includes a mounting base and a removable top cap having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the service post, and
- wherein said removable cap provides the option of extending power and/or data wiring from the ceiling into the service post.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the second vertical faces have a surface area greater than that of the first vertical faces.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the second vertical faces includes an access opening and a removable cover plate mounted over the access opening for wiring access and optionally for delivering air into each workstation.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the service post further includes an isolator plate for creating an air chamber in communication with the access opening which optionally is fitted with an air delivering device for delivering air into each workstation.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the service post further includes an isolator plate located within the interior of the service post and between the bank of power outlets and the bank of data outlets.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the service post further includes a removable cap for selectively providing an opening for receiving power and data wiring from a ceiling based wiring system.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the first vertical faces includes a mounting device for mounting a partition panel along the vertical length of each of the first vertical faces of the service post.
10. A device for delivering electrical services and optionally air into a workstation, comprising:
- a polygonal service post adapted to enclose a floor outlet,
- said service post having a plurality of vertical faces for the attachment of partition panels for forming one or more workstations and for providing a bank of power outlets and a bank of data outlets for each of the workstations,
- said service post further adapted to receive power and data wiring from the floor outlet for extension in the interior of the service post and for connection of the power wiring to the bank of power outlets and the data wiring to the bank of data outlets.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein said service post has a square cross-sectional shape that provides the vertical faces.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein said service post further includes a mounting base and a removable cap having a square cross-sectional shape corresponding to the square cross-sectional shape of the service post.
13. The device of claim 10 wherein each of the vertical faces includes an access opening and a removable cover plate mounted over the access opening for wiring access and optionally for delivering air into each workstation.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the service post further includes an isolator plate for creating an air chamber in communication with the access opening which is fitted with an air delivering device for delivering air from the floor outlet into each workstation.
15. The device of claim 10 wherein the service post further includes an isolator plate located within the interior of the service post and between the bank of power outlets and the bank of data outlets.
16. The device of claim 10 wherein the service post further includes a removable cap for selectively providing an opening for receiving electrical and data wiring from a ceiling based wiring system.
17. The device of claim 10 wherein each of the vertical faces include pockets for receiving and mounting a partition panel along the vertical length of each of the vertical faces of the service post.
18. A service post for delivering utility services to one or more workstations, said service post being polygonal and including a plurality of first vertical faces each including mountings for optionally attaching partition panels for forming said one or more workstations and a plurality of second vertical faces alternating with said first vertical faces, wherein each second vertical face includes at least one outlet for said delivering of said utility services to said one or more workstations.
19. The service post of claim 18 wherein said one outlet is selected from the group of outlets consisting of a bank of power outlets, a bank of data outlets, and an air delivering device.
20. The service post of claim 18 wherein said each second vertical face includes a plurality of outlets including a bank of power outlets, a bank of data outlets, and an air delivering device.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 8, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2009
Inventor: John J. Michlovic (Seven Fields, PA)
Application Number: 12/316,092