Zone access floor network distribution system

An access floor line distribution system that includes a low profile access floor system with a low profile switch box placed inside a switch box vault formed in the floor system. The access floor system is designed to be six inches or less in height and includes support props formed in a grid pattern and covered by floor panels. The props are sufficiently spaced apart to form a vault in the floor system designed to house the switch box. Formed on the switch box is a telecommunication cable opening, and a duplex electrical plug opening. Formed on the opposite side of the switch box is a plurality of knockouts opening through which network cables extend. A plurality of air vents are formed on the sides of the box to increase air flow and heat distribution. Located inside the switch box is a low profile network switch. The network switch includes a main telecommunication input port and a power cable on one surface and plurality of network ports on an opposite surface. Attached to the inside surface of the switch box is at least one adjustable bracket that holds the network switch it in a fixed position inside the switch box. Disposed over the top opening of the box is a rigid cover which is held in position by suitable connectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to telecommunication switches, and more particularly to telecommunication switches used in a low profile access floor system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Low profile access floor systems, such as the one shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,437, and conventional adjustable height floor systems six inches or less in height, are commonly used to distribute electrical and telecommunication wires in the floor of office buildings, schools and other buildings in which a high concentration of networked computers are used. The low profile access floor systems are of particular importance because, unlike high profile (above six inches) conventional access floors, they can be incorporated into new building designs or retrofitted to existing structures with little or no impact on the engineering, structure or spatial allocation of the building. Additionally, they provide a dedicated, flexible, accessible environment for power distribution and telecommunication cabling infrastructure. Such systems include a structural support system spaced at predetermined intervals that support removable access panels in a grid pattern and create space between the structural sub floor and the deck of the access floor (formed by access panels) to form a continuous hollow space or contiguous cable raceways that extends the entire length and width of the building. Electrical power cables and telecommunication lines and cables may be placed in the hollow spaces or raceways.

The electrical and telecommunication lines located in the floor of an building are typically connected to a floor electrical circuit panel and to an intermediate distribution frame (IDF) located in a telecommunication distribution closet located on each floor. Floor electrical and telecommunication distribution wires and cables extend from the floor electrical circuit panel and the IDF to a main electrical panel and main distribution frame (MDF), respectively, located in a utility closet located at the service entry to the building. The main electrical panel and MDF connect to large, outside electrical distribution trunk lines and telecommunication trunk lines, respectively, that service the geographical area around the building.

The telecommunication lines which may be either copper wire and/or fiber optic cables, articulated from the MDF through stair wells or elevator shafts or by other routes to the IDF located on the individual floors. From the IDF, the telecommunication wires and cables are then commonly extended through suspended ceilings, walls, power poles, surface mounted ducts, in slab trench duct, pillars and system furniture, in some combination, to the individual personal computer work stations in the space. If a low profile access floor system is used, such as the floor system shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,437, the wires and cables may be extended through the floor to various areas throughout the tenant's space.

Tenants need different amounts of space, different build outs and different work area or classroom configurations. Before a tenant occupies a building space, the desired walls, doors, counters, build outs, electrical wires and outlets that fit the needs of the tenant must be constructed. During construction, the distribution and installation of all telecommunication wires, cables and connection ports are installed as well. Even existing tenants, sometimes require changes to the interior walls, doors, counters, furniture layout or communication network configuration which, in turn require the re-positioning of electrical wires, outlets, the telecommunication wires and cables and connection ports. Depending on the extent of change, the cost of these changes can be relatively large and sometimes prohibitive. A major factor that increases the overall cost of changing and existing layout is the cost and installation of the copper wire or cable used in telecommunication network.

The cost of copper wire telecommunication network infrastructure has increased dramatically in recent years due to world demand for copper, petrochemical products (insulators for communication wire), the constant requirement for greater network band width (the industry standard for copper communication transmission speed has been reestablished four times in the past eight years), and changes in the U.S. National Electrical Code that requires discontinued or abandoned communication cabling to be removed from buildings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a zone, low profile access floor network distribution system for high speed copper conductor telecommunication cables and fiber optic cables.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system that reduces the cost of installation and maintenance of modem telecommunication local area networks in new and existing buildings.

It is the object of the present invention to provide such a system that is compatible with current and anticipated future telecommunication network standards.

These and other objects are met by the network distribution system disclosed therein designed to be used with a low profile access floor system approximately 6 inches or less in height. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a rigid switch box with four straight side walls and a flat bottom panel. Disposed over the top opening of the switch box is a flat, removable cover panel. In the preferred embodiment, a rigid floor cover replaces a standard floor access panel used in the low profile access floor system and covers the vault-like cavity, called a switch box vault, in the floor that houses the switch box. In low profile access floor systems taller between 2.5 inches to 6 inches in height, the switch box is mounted inside the switch box vault and under the floor deck. Depending on the type of low profile floor system used, the floor cover may be supported at its corners by the existing floor structure members or by the switch box itself.

In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of air vents is formed on the sidewalls of the switch box to allow circulation of air generated by an internal fan located in a network switch placed inside the switch box. In the preferred embodiment, outward extending lips are formed along the upper edges of the four side walls designed to extend over the top surface of the adjacent support props used on the access floor system. Formed on the rear surface of the switch box are a plurality of knockout openings.

A low profile network switch is designed to fit inside the switch box. In the preferred embodiment, the network switch is a standard, ‘active’ multiple port network switch and includes a main telecommunication input port that connects to a high speed input telecommunication cable and a power cable that connects to an electrical receptacle mounted on the side of the switch box. Mounted on the rear surface of the network switch is a plurality of network ports. Two adjustable mounting brackets are used to securely attach the network switch in a fixed position inside the switch box. The location of the brackets may be adjusted inside in the switch box thereby allowing the switch box to be used with different size network switches.

During assembly, a plurality of copper core network patch cords extend through the rear knockout openings on the switch box and connect to the network ports. The opposite ends of the patch cords connect to receptacles located within the designated floor plan zone in the building.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the accompanyingFIGS. 2, there is shown an access floor line distribution system, designated12, designed to be used with an existing low profile access floor system8such as shown inFIG. 1, which was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,437 and now incorporated therein by reference. Such a floor system8includes a plurality of short support props9used to support rigid floor panels10. In the system12disclosed herein, the floor system8is modified by removing some of the support props9to create a square or rectangular shaped switch box vault16.

When a switch box vault16is created in the floor system8, a square or rectangular switch box20is placed therein. In the preferred embodiment, the switch box20has a square configuration with four straight side walls22,24,26,28and a flat bottom panel30. Formed along the upper edges of the four side walls22,24,26,28are four outward extending lips32,34,36,38, respectively, designed to extend horizontally over the top surface of an adjacent support prop9, as shown inFIG. 3, to securely hold the switch box20inside the vault16.

Formed on the front side wall24is a telecommunication opening25and a duplex electrical plug opening27. Disposed inside the electric plug opening27is an electrical outlet29. Formed on the rear sidewall28of the switch box20opposite the telecommunication opening25and plug opening27are a plurality of knockout network cable openings31. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of air vents45are formed on the side walls22,26of the box20to increase air distribution to facilitate cooling of the network switch70placed inside the switch box20during installation.

A top opening40is formed over the switch box20which is later covered by a rigid flat cover panel50. The cover panel50which replaces a rigid floor panel10, is attached to the support props9located at the comers of the switch box vault16by corner clamps13, which are used in the system12disclosed in the '437 patent.

Located inside the switch box20is a standard,24port, rack mount, 10/100/1000, network switch70. In the preferred embodiment, the network switch70includes a main telecommunication input port72and a power connector port74on its front surface and a plurality of network outlet ports76on its rear surface. Attached to the inside surface of the switch box20are two adjustable brackets80,82, that attach to the end or sides of the network switch70to hold it in a fixed position inside the switch box20. In the preferred embodiment, the network switch70is electrically activated and includes a power cord84that plugs into the outlet29which is installed in the electric plug opening27. During use, the main telecommunication cable86extends through the telecommunication opening25and connects to the main telecommunication port72on the network switch70. A plurality of network cables88extend through the knockout openings31and connect to the network ports76on the rear surface of the network switch70.

The network switch70may include an optional cooling fan (not shown).

In the preferred embodiment, the switch box20is made of 16 gauge reinforced sheet metal or aluminum and measures approximately 21.5 inches×21.5 inches×2.25 inches (W×L×H). The flat cover50is made of eight gauge reinforced sheet metal or aluminum and measures approximately 23.5 inches×23.5 inches and 0.65 inches (W×L×H). The switch box20includes six knockout openings31for the network patch cords88. The industry standard network switch70measures 19 inches×12 inches×1.75 inches (W×L×H). The actual size of the network switch70may vary depending on model and manufacturer. In the preferred embodiment, the network switch70includes24network ports.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.