Abstract:
A floor covering which incorporates wiring for providing electrical power and/or communication services to at least one location on the floor covering, means for connecting the wiring externally of the covering to a source of electrical power and/or to an external communication service, and connection means at said location for permitting connection to the wiring of a device requiring said source of electrical power and/or communication service.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims benefit from U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/189,059 filed Mar. 14, 2000 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to the provision of electrical power and/or communication services to a work area, for example, in an office.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Traditionally, electrical power and communications wiring (e.g. telephone wiring) has been routed to specific work areas through walls or ceilings in a building. In a private office, for example, the wiring may simply be connected to standard receptacles and jacks in a wall adjacent to a desk, so that electrical devices, telephones, etc. on the desk can be plugged in. In a larger office, such as an open plan office having a number of different work areas, the wiring can be routed to individual work areas in a number of ways. There can be a main feed conduit containing electrical and communications wiring that is connected to a particular desk, and from which wiring is routed to other desks in the work area, through the desks themselves, or through partitions or other conduits linking the individual desks.  
           [0004]    Wiring can also be routed down from a ceiling space, through hollow posts or columns to individual desks, or to a group of interconnected desks.  
           [0005]    Examples of U.S. patents considered in the preparation of this application are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,578,731, 4,728,300 and 4,746,308.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of delivering electrical power and/or communication services to a work area.  
           [0007]    According to the invention there is provided a floor covering which incorporates wiring for providing electrical power and/or communication services to at least one location on the floor covering. In more detail, the floor covering comprises a substrate for extending over a floor area and providing a traffic surface of the covering, and the wiring is carried by the substrate. External means is provided for connecting the wiring to a source of electrical power and/or to an external communication service, and connection means is provided at the said location and is accessible from the traffic surface for permitting connection to the wiring of a device requiring the said source of electrical power and/or communication service.  
           [0008]    In summary, the invention provides power and/or communication services to a workspace by routing associated wiring through the floor covering itself to a connection point within the area of the floor covering. A computer, telephone or other device, for example, on a desk disposed on the floor covering, can then simply be connected (plugged in) at the relevant location or locations on the floor covering.  
           [0009]    Preferably, the covering incorporates wiring for both electrical and communications services. It is also preferred that, for each service, there be an array of connection points distributed appropriately over the traffic surface of the floor covering so as to provide a choice of locations at which to plug in. A desk can then be positioned wherever is appropriate on the floor covering, and electrical and/or communications devices can be plugged in to a convenient location.  
           [0010]    The connection points may comprise conventional telephone jacks for communications services (including computer network jacks) and electrical receptacles for electrical power. Telephone jacks that are not being used can simply be covered by a suitable cap. An electrical receptacle may be incorporated in a separate monument or fixture that is installed only at a particular location at which it has been determined that power is required. Unused locations can comprise a monument base within the floor covering that is covered by a removable cap, and to which a monument can be fitted. There is then no obstruction of the covering surface by a receptacle that is not being used.  
           [0011]    Typically, the floor covering will be in the nature of an area rug or mat that is designed to be placed wherever appropriate in a workspace without covering the whole of the floor. On the other hand, it is still within the scope of the invention that the covering could be shaped to cover the entire floor area. When the covering is in the form of a rug or mat, it may be of any appropriate shape, not necessarily regular. The size will of course depend on the work area and the number of desks or other work stations to be accommodated on the covering.  
           [0012]    The covering itself may comprise a one-piece substrate with wiring embedded within the substrate. Preferably, however, the substrate is a laminated structure comprising an underlay carrying wiring, an insulating layer that incorporates connection points for electrical power and communication services, and a traffic layer on top through which the connection points can be accessed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a particular preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor covering in accordance with the invention, with two desks shown disposed on the floor covering;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but without the desks, and showing elements of the covering in exploded positions;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing three layers of the floor covering in exploded positions;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the assembled floor covering;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line V V of FIG. 4;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a base component for an electrical receptacle monument of the covering; and,  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 7 and 8 are side elevational and underneath perspective views respectively of the monument itself. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    Referring first to FIG. 1, a floor covering in accordance with the invention is generally denoted by reference numeral  20  and comprises a substrate  22  that provides a traffic surface  23  of the covering. Two desks  24  are shown on the traffic surface. Each desk supports a computer represented diagrammatically at  26  that requires both electrical power and connection to a telecommunication service. Of course, the computer is a representative example only of many types of different devices that can be accommodated, including telephones.  
         [0022]    As will be described in detail later, the floor covering  20  incorporates wiring for providing both electrical power and communication services to a plurality of locations distributed over the surface  22  of the floor covering. Locations for receiving electrical power are represented by circles denoted  28 , while locations for telecommunication service connections are represented by cruciform elements  30 .  
         [0023]    A conduit enclosing cables for connecting the internal wiring to a source of electrical power and to external telecommunication services is represented generally at  32 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows the floor covering  20  without the desks  24  and computers  26 . It will be seen that the locations  28  and  30  for power and telecommunication services respectively are distributed fairly widely over the area of the surface  22  of the floor covering and are arranged in pairs, i.e. with a telecommunications location adjacent each power location.  
         [0025]    The circles representing the power locations are in fact circular caps that fit into corresponding openings in the surface  22  of the covering, and each of which conceals a base  34  to which a receptacle monument  36  can be coupled when a particular location is to be used. FIGS.  4  to  8  show the bases and monuments in more detail.  
         [0026]    Each of the cruciform elements  30  is a simple cover that conceals a pair of conventional jacks for voice and data communication. The covers  28  and  30  are simply push-fitted into corresponding openings in the top of the floor covering and can readily be pried up to give access to the connections below. Conversely, when the covers are in place, they maintain the continuity of the top surface of the floor covering.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 shows that the floor covering in fact has a laminated substrate  22  comprising an underlay  38 , and insulating layer  40  and a traffic layer  42 . While there is no limitation to particular materials, the underlay  38  may comprise a rubber cushioning layer and a plastic sheet (e.g. vinyl) carrying wiring, the insulating layer may be rubber, possibly with a styrene protective sheet, while the traffic layer may be a section of commercially available floor covering material such as a carpet that is available under the trade mark FLOTEX or TAPISOM.  
         [0028]    The traffic layer has openings  44  and  46  to accommodate the electrical power location covers  28  and the covers  30  for the communications jacks. Layer  40  acts as a carrier for the communications jacks and bases  34  for the electrical power connections (to be described), while underlay  38  carries the electrical wiring. The three layers may be glued or otherwise secured together so that the wiring is protected.  
         [0029]    Again, there is no limitation to the particular configuration of wiring shown in the drawings. However, by way of example, the wiring may comprise an outer loop  48  of three tracks comprising respectively live, neutral and ground, to which corresponding power supply leads  50  of the supply conduit  32  are coupled. Inwardly of loop  48  are additional loops  52  of communication wiring to which individual telecommunication lines  54  are coupled. Each of the telecommunication jacks in the floor covering may have its own line. The electrical monument bases  34  on the other hand will be series connected to the tracks of loop  48 .  
         [0030]    In the illustrated embodiment, the wiring loops  48  and  52  are printed circuit tracks on the top surface of the underlay  38 . It is, however, to be understood that other forms of wiring could alternatively be used, e.g. individual flexible wires secured at intervals to the underlay  38 . Also, the wiring need not be configured in loops as shown.  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a monument for providing an electrical receptacle on the floor covering is shown at  36  in an exploded position above the traffic surface  23  of the floor covering  20 . A base  34  is visible within an opening  44  in the traffic layer  42  of the covering. The base  34  is disposed on the underlay  38  and below the traffic layer  42 , in a space defined by the insulating layer  40 . The receptacle is hard-wired to the outer wiring loop  48  by wiring indicated at  56 .  
         [0032]    Reverting to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the wiring extends around a relatively large unobstructed central area of the underlay. Preferably, the receptacle bases  34  are disposed in this area.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 shows one of the receptacle bases  34  and illustrates the fact that the base comprises upper and lower plates  58  and  60  respectively that are supported in spaced parallel positions by corner posts  62  extending between the plates. In FIG. 6, the top plate  58  is shown exploded above the bottom plate  60  to reveal electrical terminal clips  64 ,  66  and  68  that are coupled to the wiring  56  shown in FIG. 5. It can be seen that the clips  64 ,  66  and  68  each have a C-shape configuration as seen from above. The clips line up with respective arcuate slots  70 ,  72  and  74  in the top plate  58 . Each slot has an enlarged portion  70   a ,  72   a ,  74   a  at one end and the clips are aligned with the opposite (inner) ends of the respective slots.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the receptacle monument  36  has a generally wedge-shaped configuration as seen from the side and a flat bottom surface from which depend three pins  76 ,  78  and  80  that correspond with the respective slots  70 ,  72  and  74  and clips  64 ,  66  and  68 . The pins have enlarged flanges  76   a ,  78   a  and  80   a  that are dimensioned to fit relatively closely through the enlarged opening  70   a ,  72   a  and  74   a  of the respective slots when the monument is appropriately positioned on the base and depressed. The monument  36  can then be turned counter-clockwise as seen in FIG. 6 with the flanges  76   a ,  78   a  and  80   a  below the plate  58 , to bring the pins  76 ,  78  and  80  to the inner ends of the slots and into engagement with the respective clips  64 ,  66  and  68 . Flange  76   a  and the corresponding opening  70   a  are larger than the other two flanges and openings so that the monument can be fitted to its base in one angular position only.  
         [0035]    At the centre of the bottom face of the monument is a plain pin  82  which is fitted with a resilient washer  84 . When the monument  36  is fitted to the base  34  and the monument is depressed, the washer  84  is compressed. When the monument is in its fully installed position on the base  34 , the washer  84  returns somewhat to its original thickness, so that the monument is held snugly in place on the base.  
         [0036]    In the installed position of the monument, the pins  76 ,  78 , and  80  engage in the respective clips  64 ,  66  and  68  and provide electrical connections to the wiring  56 . As seen in FIG. 7, internally, the monument has wiring  86  that connects the pins  76 ,  78  and  80  to a conventional electrical receptacle  88  within the monument.  
         [0037]    In summary, the floor covering of the invention allows provision of electrical and communication services to work areas without the need for lengthy cables extending across the floor surface, power poles or columns extending up to the ceiling, or expensive inter-connection of desks. An array of connection points can be provided across the surface of the covering so that a point is convenient for almost any desk or other work station location. Unused connection points are covered so that the integrity of the floor surface is not compromised.  
         [0038]    It should of course be appreciated that the preceding description relates to a particular preferred embodiment of the invention only and that many modifications are possible, some of which have been indicated previously and others of which will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.