Abstract:
An electrical and data services module to provide access to additional electrical and data receptacles which is used in conjunction with a flat work surface and a channel adjacent at least a portion of the flat work surface. The electrical and data services module has a first portion with at least one aperture therein for access to a power or data receptacle. The module also has a second portion which is slidably disposed in the channel, thereby allowing a user to easily move the module from one location to another in the channel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The resent invention relates to electrical and data services modules, specifically, electrical and data services modules for use in office and home workstations. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As the office and the home become more dependent upon electrical and data equipment, such as computers and their associated peripheral devices, fax machines, copiers and other equipment, the need for additional electrical and data receptacles is readily apparent. 
     Prior methods of providing additional electrical and data receptacles include power strips which were “daisy-chained” together in a manner in which the power cord plug of one outlet strip is plugged into another power strip, or systems which incorporated additional receptacles into a work surface or a piece of furniture. However, both of these approaches present several problems. 
     Chains of power strips are unsightly as well as inconvenient since each receptacle, and each power strip, is limited in its electrical loading by its current rating, such that connection of many more pieces of electrical and data equipment than anticipated could overload such circuits and inconveniently trip the circuit breakers thereof. Furthermore, chains of power strips require large amounts of floor space, which could be used for other furniture or other devices. Incorporation of additional electrical and data receptacles in a work surface or a piece of furniture limits the placement of the electrical and data equipment. Additionally, each piece of equipment has a relatively short power cord and the receptacles included in the work surface or piece of furniture are not movable, thus one must move the equipment to meet the receptacles. 
     Another approach, which is similar to the incorporation of the receptacles within the furniture, is the use of a device in which a housing is permanently located within a work surface with a rotatable receptacle module disposed therein such that the rotatable module is rotated to expose the receptacles when needed. In a similar vein, other devices may include a cover over the receptacles which is flush with a work surface and is flipped up to reveal the receptacles when additional receptacles are needed. These devices, as with incorporating the receptacles in the work surface, are permanently located, thus the equipment must be moved closer to the receptacles for electrical connection. 
     Another structure used to provide additional receptacles is a module that is placed on a work surface edge with the edge “clamped” between the arm portions of the module. While this module may provide additional outlets to locations of the work surface near the edge thereof, this structure would not be suitable for locations on a work surface adjacent a wall or modular panel of a workstation. 
     A similar module also manufactured by Electric-Cable Assemblies, is “clamped” around an edge of the work surface. This module utilizes a thin extension placed between an edge of the work surface and a vertical wall, and a brace attached to the extension and extending to the underside of the work surface to provide a stable mounting mechanism for the module. While this module may provide additional receptacles, moving the module requires a user to remove the brace before moving the module and extension to a different location, followed by reattaching the brace, such that relocating the module is difficult. 
     Yet another approach is to place a hemispherical shaped module, having additional electrical or data receptacles, in a grommet hole in a work surface. Such a module is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,426. The module may comprise two halves, which are joined by protrusions extending from a back surface to form one structure that is inserted in a round grommet hole in a work surface. If each half were placed in a channel or space, the protrusions extending from the back surface thereof would prevent the module half from abutting a vertical surface. Additionally, the hemispherical structure would prevent secure placement in a channel or space and the module half would rock right and left as a user plugged into or removed a plug from the receptacle. 
     In light of the difficulties associated with the prior approaches, what would be desirable is a device including electrical and data receptacles, which is easily located and moved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An electrical and data services module to provide access to additional electrical and data receptacles is provided which is used in conjunction with a flat work surface and a channel adjacent at least a portion of the flat work surface. The electrical and data services module has a first portion with at least one aperture therein for access to a power or data receptacle. The module also has a second portion which is slidably disposed in the channel, thereby allowing a user to easily move the module from one location to another in the channel. 
     The first portion of the module has an angled planar front surface with at least one coplanar aperture therein and at least one receptacle behind the aperture. The first portion also includes a vertical flat back surface, which abuts a vertical wall or modular panel. The bottom of the first portion also includes a substantially flat bottom surface which extends forwardly of the second portion and rests on a work surface when the second portion is disposed in the channel. The second portion has a planar forwardly facing front surface and a flat backwardly facing surface defined by the back surface of the first portion. The second portion also includes an aperture in a bottom surface thereof for receipt of electrical cables connected to the receptacles. 
     The channel includes a flexible flap, which covers the channel when a module is not placed within the channel. The flap is forced downwardly by the second portion of the module into the channel when a module is placed therein, and provides a “grip” which maintains the module securely in the channel. 
     The module may be provided with a cover that is hingedly mounted to the first portion. The cover has a first, closed position wherein the receptacle is not accessible to the user and a second, open position wherein the receptacle is accessible to the user. When the cover is in the closed position, debris and dust are prevented from entering the module, thereby protecting the receptacles when not in use. 
     The movable electrical and data services module is advantageous over the prior approaches since the module may be easily moved closer to office equipment, thereby eliminating the need to move such equipment closer to the receptacles or to have the equipment located near the receptacles in potentially awkward positions. The angled front surface allows a user to easily access the receptacles for plugging in the equipment or removing the plugs from the receptacles. Additionally, since the module is used in conjunction with a channel, the module is placed along the outer periphery of the work surface, as opposed to a grommet hole, which would place the module in an inconvenient location closer to the middle of the work surface. 
     The present invention provides an electrical and data services module for placement within a space defined between a substantially horizontal work surface and a substantially vertical wall surface, including a housing having a first portion and a second portion protruding from an underside of the first portion. The first portion has a substantially flat vertical back surface and a planar front surface being at an acute angle with respect to the back surface, the front surface having at least one aperture therein for receipt of a receptacle. 
     The present invention further provides a workstation including a substantially flat work surface, a substantially vertical wall surface, a channel between the work surface and the wall surface, the channel abutting at least a portion of an edge of the work surface, and a movable electrical and data services module. The module has a housing including a first portion having a planar front surface with at least one aperture therein, and a second portion protruding from an underside of the first portion and slidably disposed within the channel. 
     The present invention also provides in combination, a work surface, a substantially vertical wall surface adjacent the work surface, a space defined between the work surface and the wall surface, and a movable electrical and data services module. The module includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion protruding from an underside of the first portion, the first portion having a planar front surface having at least one aperture therein, the second portion slidably disposed within the space. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an electrical and data services module in accordance with the present invention, with the cover removed; 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the electrical and data services module, with the cover attached; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the module of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the module of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the module of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of the module of FIG. 1A with the back portion attached; 
     FIG. 6 is a back view of the module of FIG. 1A with the back portion removed; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the module of FIG. 1A taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 2 further showing the module disposed within a channel between a wall and a work surface; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the module of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrical and data services module in accordance with the present invention, with the cover removed; and 
     FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrical and data services module, wit the cover attached; and 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of two modules of FIG. 1A taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 2 further showing the Two modules being disposed in a grommet hole in a work surface. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to FIG. 7, electrical and data services module  20  is shown disposed within channel  22  which is located between work surface  26  and vertical wall  24 . Vertical wall  24  may be part of a modular panel, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,907,384 and 4,918,886, each assigned to the assignee of the present application, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Channel  22  may be a commercially available cable channel such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,703, assigned to the assignee of the present application the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIG. 10, two modules  20  may be placed in a conventional round grommet hole  100  in work surface  26  with their respective back portions  34 , or back surfaces  36 , abutting each other. Rounded comers  51  (FIGS. 1A-2,  4 ,  8 ) provide engagement points with at least a portion of the round grommet hole and pilot modules  20  into the round grommet hole to ensure a close fit. 
     Channel  22  includes bottom  28 , which has apertures  29  therein for receipt of electrical cords or data cables which lie within channel  22 , and side wall  30 , which abuts edge  25  of work surface  26 . Channel  22  further includes rubber flap  32  which covers the sections of channel  22  in which a module  20  is not placed. As shown in FIG. 7, when module  20  is placed within channel  22 , the section of flap  32  which covers the corresponding section of channel  22  is forced downward to abut sidewall  30 . Additionally, by forcing flap  32  downward into channel  22 , flap  32  provides a compressible grip to hold module  20  securely within channel  22  through flap  32  filling any space between the front wall of channel  22  and portion  48  of module  20 . It should be noted that flap  32  comprises a flexible material, such as a compressible rubber material, while channel  22  comprises an inflexible material, such as a rigid plastic material. 
     Back portion  34  of module  20  is adjacent vertical wall  24  with surface  36  of back portion  34  abutting surface  38  of vertical wall  24 . In a similar vein, surface  44  of bottom portion  42  of module  20  abuts surface  40  of work surface  26 . Bottom portion  42  of module  20  actually comprises two distinct portions: a first portion  46  and a second protruding portion  49  which includes bottom surface  50  and vertical portion  48 . Vertical section  48  abuts flap  32  when protruding portion  49  is maintained within channel  22 . Module  20  also includes front  52  and top  54 . Top  54  has a recessed portion  56  that is used to receive cover  78  (FIG. 1B) and recessed portion  56  has surfaces  58  along the sides thereof which receive connection devices for cover  78 . Front  52  defines recesses  60 , each having surface  62 , which abut receptacles  64 ,  65 , described hereinbelow. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1A,  1 B,  2 ,  3  and  4 , module  20  is shown in respective perspective, front, top and side views. Module  20 , as described above, includes recessed portion  56  (FIG. 7) in top  54 . Recessed portion  56  further includes bottom surface  68 , which interfaces with cover  78 , and holes  82  in side surfaces  58  for receipt of connections to cover  78 . As best seen in FIG. 1B, removable cover  78  has extending portion  80  which extends over recessed portion  72  when cover  78  is closed covering surface  66  and receptacles  64 ,  65 . Cover  78  is moveable about an axis extending across recessed portion  56  through holes  82  from an open position, as shown in FIG. 1B, to a closed position. When cover  78  is closed, bottom edge surface  84  of cover  78  abuts surface  66  of front portion  52  to prevent an accumulation of dust or other debris in receptacles  64 ,  65  when module  20  is not in use. As shown in FIG. 1B, cover  78  has a curved profile, for example; however, cover  78  may have any profile suitable for covering receptacles  64 ,  65  and surface  66 . 
     Front  52  of module  20  includes surface  66 , which is angled relative to back  34  of module  20 , and surface  70 , which is a short vertical surface and adjoins surface  66  and surface  44  of bottom  42 . Between surfaces  66  and  70  is slightly recessed portion  72  located below receptacles  64 ,  65 . Recessed portion  72  allows one to place a finger under extending portion  80  of cover  78  to lift cover  78 . Module  20  further includes two respective side portions  76  which, as shown in FIG. 4, are generally triangular in shape. 
     As best seen in FIG. 4, bottom  42  of module  20  includes side surfaces  86  between section  48  of bottom  42  and back  34 . Protruding portion  49  does not extend across the full width of module  20 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. Protruding portion  49  is less than the full width and depth of module  20  to enable bottom  42  to have a protruding portion which is received in a grommet hole or channel  22  and a portion which sits on work surface  26 . Protruding portion  49  is thus dimensioned to securely seat in channel  22 . Overhanging surface  46  prevents module  20  from falling through a grommet hole or sitting too far down in channel  22 . Thus, the structure of module  20 , with portions  46  and  49 , allows secure placement of module  20  in channel  22  or a grommet hole but does not require screws or other fastening devices to maintain the position of module  20 , thereby allowing module  20  to be easily relocated along channel  22 . With reference to FIG. 8, it should be noted that bottom surface  50  includes aperture  96  through which electrical wires or cords  63  for connection to removable receptacles  64 ,  65  may be inserted so that removable receptacles  64 ,  65  may be used. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, module  20  is depicted in a rear view. In FIG. 5, back  34  is attached to the body of module  20  by means of screws  88 . In FIG. 6, back  34  has been removed revealing flange  92  on the inner periphery of the body of module  20 ; flange  92  includes screw holes  94  for receipt of screws  88  for assembly of module  20 . Also shown in FIG. 6 are apertures  90  in front  52 , which are used for receipt of removable receptacles  64 ,  65 . As used in this application the term “receptacle” includes both electrical outlets and data outlets, such as those used for phone jacks, modems, or Ethernet connections, as well as any other electrical and data connection. It should be noted the receptacles may include all electrical receptacles  64 , all data receptacles  65  or any combination thereof, such as the combination shown in FIG. 1B with a data receptacle  65  and an electrical receptacle  64 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation of module  20  will now be described. Prior to placement of module  20  in channel  22 , receptacles  64 ,  65  are inserted in apertures  90 . In the case of electrical receptacles  64 , cord  63 , which is attached to receptacle  64 , is inserted through aperture  90  into the body of module  20  and then through aperture  96  in bottom surface  50 . If the receptacles are data receptacles  65 , then receptacle  65  is inserted into aperture  90  and cord  63 , with a modular jack, is fed through aperture  96 , from bottom surface  50  to the body of module  20 , to connect to receptacle  65 . Once receptacles  64 ,  65  and cords  63  are properly inserted, module  20  is placed at the location where module  20  will be located in channel  22 . Cords  63  are then placed in channel  22  and fed through aperture  29  to connect to permanent receptacles (not shown) in vertical wall  24  or the floor (not shown) of the work area. Then module  20  is pushed downward into channel  22 . As module  20  is pushed into channel  22 , flap  32  is pushed downward into channel  22  and into a position where flap  32  abuts the front wall of channel  22 . Flap  32  also abuts front surface  48  of protruding portion  49  and is compressed thereby gripping module  20  and maintaining module  20  in the proper position in channel  22 . 
     When module  20  is to be moved, a user may slide module  20  in channel  22  to the desired location, wherein cords  63  may selectively extend through aperture  29  along channel  22  through a gap between bottom surface  50  of module  20  and channel  22 . However, if module  20  is to be moved a greater distance, such as from one side of work surface  26  to the other, cords  63  are disconnected from the permanent receptacles and the module  20  is lifted from channel  22  with cords  63  still attached. Cords  63  are then pulled through aperture  29  and removed from channel  22 . Once the new location is selected, again, module  20  is placed on flap  32 , cords  63  are placed in channel  22  and fed through an aperture  29  for connection to permanent receptacles, and module  20  is pushed into channel  22 . 
     It is to be noted that channel  22  is disposed adjacent at least a portion of the periphery of work surface  26  and that channel  22  may contain several apertures  29  at various locations in channel  22 , although only one such aperture  29  is shown in FIG.  7 . 
     Referring now to FIG.  9 A and FIG. 9B, a second embodiment of electrical and data services module  20  is shown, marked as module  20 ′. Module  20 ′ differs from module  20  in that the configuration of removable receptacles  64  is vertical rather than horizontal. Again, the removable receptacles may be electrical receptacles  64 , as shown, or data receptacles  65  or a combination thereof. Module  20 ′ includes a removable cover  78 ′ similar to cover  78 , front  52 ′ having surfaces  66 ′ and  70 ′, back  34 ′, top  54 ′, and bottom  42 ′ having two portions  46 ′ and  50 ′. In all aspects, other than the configuration of the receptacles, modules  20  and  20 ′ are similar in structure and function. 
     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary process, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.