Open slot and cavity for wire and cable management

Abstract

The invention is a wire and cable management system that is an open slot contiguous with a wiring and cable cavity located within and/or along the perimeter of vertical, horizontal or angled planar surfaces such as found in commercial furniture casework, systems furniture casework, movable and static petitions and walls for the purpose of housing and/or concealing electrical communication cables and/or wiring such as electrical power wiring, telephone and data lines, television cables; and the like.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELVPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LIST, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to routing and housing of electrical and non-electrical wiring and cabling through and around office furnishings (known to the commercial furniture industry as ‘wire management’) including, but not limited to desks, tables, cabinets, systems furnishing such as work surfaces, acoustical panels and the like that serve principally the commercial business office environment.

2. Prior Art

Prior to the end of World War II, prior art consisted primarily of simplistic electrical and telephone wiring that provided minimal service for lighting and communications and most of that wiring was routed through walls, ceilings and floors directly to desks, tables and the like. One electrical line and one telephone line often served more than one user.

Today, each person in the office environment requires at least a fourplex electrical outlet and two or more telephone lines to serve the numerous devices such as computers, monitors, television screens, cell phone chargers, laptops, calculators, printers and virtually unlimited numbers of high tech paraphernalia that is required to keep the economies of the world on the right track.

Wiring and cabling is so abundant that it interferes with the smooth running of business and the best inventers in the world have not yet come to grips with that mass of spaghetti under every desk in virtually every office on the planet. Anyone doubting this statement should look under their own desk and under desks of their co-workers for verification.

It hasn't been for the lack of trying. The following list of numerous prior art attempts attests to the efforts of those who have come before.

Group One: Design Patents

Note: No design patent listed herein or in USPTO data files is similar in appearance to the current art as described in this patent application.

U.S. D378,731 Wire Management Channel for Furniture System—D8/356—Apr. 8, 1977

U.S. D354,904 Wire Management Device—D8/356—Jan. 31, 1995

U.S. D348,432 Combined Wire Management Channel and End Cap Therefor—D8/395—Jul. 5, 1994

U.S. D331,917 Wire Management Cover—D13/155—Dec. 22, 1992

Group Two: Class 108 Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces

Note: No patent listed in USPTO Class 108 combines an open slot (no closure device) contiguous with a cavity that is contained within the perimeter of a top, base, work surface or panel as described in this patent application.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,896 Device for Receiving, Guiding, Protecting and Concealing the Electrical Power Leads in a Piece of Furniture Supporting Electrical and Electronic Appliances—108/50—Oct. 26, 1999

U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,761 Article of Furniture Including a Leg Having Wire Management Capabilities—108/50—Feb. 10 1998

U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,655 Wire Management System—108/50—Feb. 26, 2004

U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,174 Desk with Hidden Wiring—108/150—Jan. 18, 1972

U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,935 Work Environment System—108150—Aug. 24, 1993

U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,874 Channel Assembly With Snap-in Insert—108/50.2—Oct. 25, 1994

U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,256 Work Table Having Lines Embodied Therein—108/50—Sep. 8, 1992

U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,703 Wire or Line Manager—108/50.2—Aug. 20, 1985

U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,741 Modular Furniture—108/50—Apr. 14, 1992

U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,698 Desk with Concealed Wire Storage—108/143—Jun. 16, 1992

U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,988 Desk with Cable Management—108/50—Dec. 28, 1993

U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,920 Linkable Modular Table—108/50.02—Mar. 4, 1997

Group Three: Class 174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators

Note: No patent listed in USPTO Class 174 combines an open slot (no closure device) contiguous with a cavity that is contained within the perimeter of a top, base, work surface, panel or support as described in this patent application.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,981 Pivotable Cable Ring Wire Management—174/69—Sep. 2, 2003

U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,494 Work Space Wire Management—174148—Jul. 14, 1992

U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,453 Wire Management Assembly—174/48—Nov. 21, 1989

U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,834 Versitile Space Dividingwall Panel System—174/48—Jul. 14, 1981

U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,867 Wiring Access System for Desks and the like—174/48—Aug. 7, 1979

U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,020 Assembly for Accommodating Power and Data Lines from a wall Structure to a Surface Mounted Raceway—174/48—Jul. 10, 2001

U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,529 Snap-Fit Protective Molding Assembly for Electrical Cables and Entry Tools Therefor—174/101—Jun. 4, 1996

Group Four: Class 52 Static Structures (E.G., Buildings)

Note: No patent listed in USPTO Class 52 combines an open slot (no closure device) contiguous with a cavity that is contained within the perimeter of a top, base, work surface, panel or support as described in this patent application.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,085 Wall Panel System—52/239—May 4, 2004

U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,505 Panel Base Electrical Raceway—52/220.7—Jun. 10, 1986

U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,101 Partition Wire with Flexible Sides-52/220—Sep. 16, 1980

U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,153 Partition Raceway—52/220.7—Jan. 9, 1979

U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,886 Raceway System for Modular Wall Panels—52/221—May 31, 1989

U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,599 Flanged Conduit and Insulation for Electrical Wires and Methods of use—174/68.3—Dec. 11, 2001

Group Five: Class 248 Supports

Note: No patent listed in USPTO Class 248 combines an open slot (no closure device) contiguous with a cavity that is contained within the perimeter of a top, base, work surface, panel or support as described in this patent application.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,795 Table Leg Wire Management—248/188.1—Feb. 25, 2003

U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,028 Table Leg with Cable Management System—248/188.8—Jul. 11, 2000

Group Six: Class 312 Supports: Cabinet Structure

Note: No patent listed in USPTO Class 312 combines an open slot (no closure device) contiguous with a cavity that is contained within the perimeter of a top, base, work surface, panel or support as described in this patent application.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,509 Modular Power and Cable Distribution System—312/223.6—Oct. 26, 1999

U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,561 Wiring Enclosure for Desks—312/223—Jun. 13, 1978

U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,291 Desk and the like with Wire Management—312—Apr. 6, 1982

U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,100 Wire Management System—312/223.6—Sep. 19, 1995

U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,877 Electrical Raceway Assembly—312/223.6—Jul. 3, 2001

U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,045 Modular Structure—312/194—Nov. 25, 1975

U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,981 Desk with a Channel for Receiving Cables, Wires, etc.—312/194—Oct. 27, 1981

U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,431 Wire Management System and Assemblies Therefor—321/223.6—Jul. 4, 1995

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an open (no closure) slot and cavity located along the perimeter of a furniture top such as a table top, desk top, credenza top, system furniture work surface or a furniture base such as the base of a desk, credenza and/or other furniture casework including upper cabinets, vertical legs and/or support panels and system furniture panels as well as bases of static partitions and walls located in office buildings for the purpose of housing and/or concealing electrical communication cables and/or wiring such as electrical power wiring, telephone lines, television cables; and the like whereas the slot is contiguous with the cavity over their entire length; the slot and cavity are located along the entire length or partial lengths of the perimeter of the top, base and/or vertical support; the size and shape of the slot and cavity may vary; the size and shape of the top, base and/or support may vary; the method of construction may vary; the top, base and/or support may be hollow or solid; and the slot, cavity, top base and/or support may be constructed individually or joined in one or more pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 12 on Drawing Page 1 of 3 illustrate examples of unlimited variations of contiguous open slots and cavities as described in the ‘Brief Summary of the invention’, above;

FIGS. 13 through 21 on Drawing Page 2 of 3 illustrate examples of unlimited variations of tops and panels as described in the ‘Brief Summary of the invention’, above; and,

FIGS. 22 through 27 on Drawing Page 3 of 3 illustrate examples of unlimited variations of bases, panels, supports and static partitions, walls and vertical systems furniture panels as described in the ‘Brief Summary of the invention’, above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an open slot 1, that is contiguous with a perimeter-edge wiring and cable cavity 2, located along the perimeter of vertical, horizontal or angled planar surfaces 3, such as found is commercial casework such as table tops, desk tops, credenzas tops, system furniture work surfaces and panels and/or as in furniture bases such as the base of a desk, credenza and/or other furniture casework including upper cabinets, vertical legs and/or support panels as well as system furniture panels and the bases of static partitions and walls required in office buildings for the purpose of housing and/or concealing electrical communication cables and/or wiring 4, such as electrical power wiring, telephone lines, television cables; and the like whereas the slot is contiguous with the cavity over their entire length; the slot and cavity are located along the entire length or partial lengths of the perimeter of the top, base and/or vertical support; the size and shape of the slot and cavity may vary; the size and shape of the top, base and/or support may vary; the method of construction may vary; the top, base and/or support may be hollow or solid; and the slot, cavity, top, base and/or support may be constructed individually or joined in one or more pieces.

Claims

1. I claim as my invention a wire and cable management system that is an open slot contiguous with a wiring and cable cavity located within and/or along the perimeter of vertical, horizontal or angled planar surfaces such as those found in commercial casework including but not limited to furniture cabinets, table, desk and credenza tops, pedestals, supports, bases and systems furniture petitions, cabinets, pedestals, work surfaces, bases, etc. as well as static petitions and walls found in commercial office buildings, whereas the slot is contiguous with the cavity over their entire length; the slot and cavity are located within and/or along the entire length or partial lengths of the perimeters afore mentioned; the size and shape of the slot and cavity may vary; the size and shape of the planar surfaces may vary; the materials and methods of construction may vary; the slot and cavity may be constructed of different materials and may be constructed in one or more pieces.