Wall cornice ducting system

Abstract

A wall cornice located at least partially around the periphery of walls of a room which cornice is so formed as to receive and carry wiring and other materials and is provided with ducting means which can be connected to a power supply in the cornice and carry wiring materials for said power supply from the cornice to a required position on the wall beneath the cornice thereby removing the need for fixed power outlets in a room. The cornice therefor can carry all electrical wiring and cabling required within a room.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] This invention relates to the area of building design and architecture and in particular to the area of providing an efficient and flexible means for ducting of cabling and wiring and the like inside the rooms of buildings.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Most buildings, particularly those of brick or concrete, are constructed with studs on the interior with brick for example on the exterior.

[0003] Interior walls may include plaster board over a cavity through which cabling may be run or may be a solid surface such as brick or concrete which may be plastered over. In the latter case electrical cabling and the like may be set back into the plaster otherwise it is customary for it to be enclosed in conduit running from the roof to power outlets located either on walls or adjacent skirting boards. It is also known for cabling to be run behind skirting boards.

[0004] In all these situations it is difficult to locate such cabling and in particular to create new power or other outlets as required once a building is completed. Consequently, as people acquire new products such as computers and other devices which can require both power other cables there is a difficulty of installing such products and generally also a proliferation of wiring across floors from product to power outlet.

[0005] Businesses which have many computers have a particular need for convenient cable installation and in buildings in general it would be desirable if lighting and other outlets could be conveniently located wherever desired.

[0006] The inflexible placement of power outlets in rooms is a problem which is not restricted to businesses. For example people do not necessarily have the same spatial requirements for power outlet locations as their acquisition of property requiring power supplies changes.

[0007] In addition, in hospitals and aged care facilities, different patients who may occupy a room may require different types of electrical equipment which renders the efficient use of available space difficult where power outlets and the like are inflexibly positioned. For example, dependent upon a particular person's disability, location of beds and associated equipment may vary.

[0008] Where premises are partitioned, and it is desired that such partitioning be relocated as required, it would be desirable to also have some means of easily relocating power and cable outlets as required.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of this invention to provide a method of providing easy access to all cabling and wiring required in a room of a building, including that for computers, light and power in an unobtrusive manner.

[0010] The invention is a wall cornice located at least partially around the periphery of walls of a room which cornice is so formed as to receive and carry wiring, cabling, ducting and other materials and is provided with means for connecting a power supply in the cornice to carrier means adapted to carry power to any required location beneath the cornice thereby removing the need for fixed power outlets in a room.

[0011] The cornice can be used not only to carry cables but also to receive step down transformers, to provide an electrical bus bar and as a support for a ceiling. The cornice can further carry any wiring required in a room. It is however preferred that all electrical power required in a room be sourced from the electrical busbar within the cornice.

[0012] It is also preferred that the cornice can be used without the busbar over windows or doors and the like to form a pelmet over these objects thereby giving a consistent look to the perimeter of a room.

[0013] It is further preferred that the cornice which is provided is adjacent the upper edge of a wall and all electrical and other cabling required within a room can be ducted through the cornice to wherever it is required.

[0014] It may also be preferred that the cornice of the invention have provision for the support of hanging wall units.

[0015] The cornice of the invention is intended to facilitate the elimination of all fixed wiring in houses and apartments and the like The concept allows developers to supply apartment shells which can be readily fitted out to suit individual resident's needs. This is because all power and lighting requirements can be added later and items which are not allowed for in speculative apartment construction can be added at a later time.

[0016] Using the concept of the invention even kitchen appliances can be moved around and altered to individual client requirements. This kind of flexibility and the range of options which can be offered would be unequalled and provide significant advantages to developers in controlling development costs.

[0017] In order that the invention may be more readily understood we shall describe by way of non limiting example several embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0018] FIG. 1 Shows a perspective cross-section through an embodiment of the cornice system including wall and ceiling panels;

[0019] FIG. 2 Shows the basic extrusion of the cornice chassis;

[0020] FIG. 3 Shows the power track (busbar) clipped into the cornice chassis;

[0021] FIG. 4 Shows the cornice with an adaptor to allow power to be taken off the busbar;

[0022] FIG. 5 Shows the cornice with vertical suspension members hung over a furniture suspension strip;

[0023] FIG. 6 Shows the cornice with wall and ceiling supports in situ;

[0024] In a first embodiment of the cornice system (FIG. 1) which incorporates all cable management a full size raceway is provided. The main cornice extrusion 10 is set into an upper corner of the wall and a power track or busbar 11 is clipped into it as shown in FIG. 3.

[0025] An adaptor 12 allows power to be taken off the busbar with a connector for the wiring system. A rotary knob 14 engages conductors with the track as with a standard such system but since the output position is stationary another set of contacts will be required within the adaptor to provide power via element 15 to mounted appliances and power outlets etc.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5 a number of brackets 20 are then clipped to the extrusion and wiring 21, including controlled cabling for lighting, telephone cables, category 5 cables and controlled wiring for the power supply are draped over the “cable tray” 20 brackets.

[0027] A steel furniture suspension strip 22 is then fixed to the lower part of the extrusion and vertical suspension members 23 are hung from the suspension strip 22 along edge 24 by means of slots 25. Panels 30 are then clipped to the slotted vertical suspension members which panels may accommodate shelving, wall mounted speakers, furniture including cabinets and any other pieces of furniture or equipment required. In addition panels with power outlets can be hung on these vertical members and can be readily repositioned if required.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows an edge of the ceiling 40 supported on the bracket 20 system while FIG. 1 shows the entire arrangement with a cover plate 50 clipped in place. Although in this embodiment of the invention the cover plate is shown clipped into place it is envisaged that the cover plate could be hingedly attached to the cornice. It is also envisaged that other embodiments of the invention may use some other shaped cover than a plate as appropriate to the cornice shape.

[0029] It is envisaged that the cornice system be manufactured from any appropriate material including plastic or any metal. The relevant portion of the cornice would however have to be sufficiently strong to support the hanging wall members. It is also envisaged that another embodiment of the invention include a cover plate which extends up to the ceiling where no interior lining ceiling is supported by the cornice brackets.

[0030] In either embodiment it is envisaged that the cornice could be run around the entire periphery of a ceiling with the absence of the busbar in the vicinity of doors and windows so that the cornice acts as a pelmet in these regions thus providing a more uniform effect in a room.

[0031] A cornice such as that of the invention allows the installation of wall units which may be associated with sophisticated audio visual installations with easy adaptation to add new technology, computers, additional phone lines etc.

[0032] It provides kitchens with the ability to be adapted to changing needs as it does bathrooms where shaving cabinets and the like can be provided with integrated power and lighting.

[0033] A similar concept of the provision of integrated power, lighting, phone, intercom and audio visual features can be provided in relation to bedheads and there is clearly a very beneficial effect for use in nursing homes, aged care facilities or hospitals where flexibility of placement of equipment and the like is of great importance. Also in this area there are many applications of the concept of the invention and in particular it could be adapted to include the provision of gases, or suction, monitoring equipment and associated power and such like in hospitals thereby permitting bedhead equipment to be updated and relocated with greater ease than currently is the case. The concept of the invention includes the integration of the supply of all room requirements from a wall cornice thereby removing the requirement for any other source of such supply.

[0034] It is therefor envisaged that other embodiments of the invention will exhibit any number of and any combination of the features previously described and whilst we have described herein several specific embodiments of the invention it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. A wall cornice located at least partially around the periphery of walls of a room which cornice is so formed as to receive and carry wiring, cabling, ducting and other materials and is provided with means for connecting a power supply in the cornice to carrier means adapted to carry power to any required location beneath the cornice thereby removing the need for fixed power outlets in a room.

2. A wall cornice as claimed in claim 1 which can carry therein and supply to any position below the cornice all forms of electrical wiring and cabling and other ducting required for a room.

3. A wall cornice as claimed in claim 2 wherein the power supply in the cornice is an electrical busbar.

4. A wall cornice as claimed in claim 3 wherein electrical power used in a room is sourced from the electrical busbar which is the in the cornice through ducting means from the cornice to a required power outlet.

5. A wall cornice as claimed in claim 4 wherein the ducting means includes an adaptor engaging with the busbar which adaptor terminates in carrier means to transport electrical energy to a power outlet.

6. A wall cornice as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 having a means for suspending wall panels at some predetermined distance from a wall.

7. A wall cornice as claimed in claim 6 wherein cupboards and other furniture are integral with suspended wall panels.

8. A wall cornice as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 having a bracket adapted to engage with it, said bracket being provided with means to support any cabling or other ducting.

9. A wall cornice as claimed in any preceding claim having means to provide ceiling support.

10. A wall cornice as claimed in any preceding claim having a removable or hinged cover plate adapted to engage with it such that access to the interior of the cornice can be obtained as required.

11. A wall cornice as claimed in claim 10 which may be continuous across an upper surface of any windows or doors in a room thereby forming a pelmet for such windows and doors.

12. A wall cornice as claimed in claim 11 wherein the cornice is continuous about the upper periphery of the walls of a room.