Abstract:
An electrified partition system having a plurality of panels interconnected with each other to form a plurality of work spaces. A plurality of receptacles are mounted in raceways located in the panels with each receptacle including a housing and a plurality of conductors extending from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing. The conductors terminate in respective terminals and define individual circuits. At least one electrical socket is disposed in a face of each of the receptacle housings and include a plurality of connectors positioned behind respective apertures in the housing face to receive a standard multi-pronged electrical plug. The connectors are connected to respective conductors which are fewer in number than the plurality of conductors so that some of the conductors pass through the housing electrically isolated from the connectors. Multi-circuit cables connect the terminals of the receptacles to form an electrical network.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a wiring system used to provide electricity to individual work spaces created by a plurality of partitions subdividing an office area. 
     Open office space is typically partitioned to be used efficiently. By using a plurality of office panels or partitions, valuable space can be divided into individual cubicles providing employees with their own work spaces. The office panels are generally rectangular and may be provided with decorative surfaces. Each panel is provided with fasteners along the side edges which allow several adjacent panels to be attached to one another in orientations such as end to end or perpendicularly to one another. 
     Each panel is provided with a raceway which extends the length of each panel and is used to support a wiring system. The raceway may be located along the lower edge of the panel or near the middle of the panel at a height above the upper surface of a work surface such as a desk top. The wiring system is used to electrically connect adjacent panels while providing each panel with electricity. The wiring system includes receptacles mounted on a distribution harness (FIGS. 4 and 5) which, when supplied with electricity, provides each individual work station with receptacles for electrically operated equipment such as computers, lamps or the like. The receptacles are conventionally duplex receptacles in that each receptacle is provided with a pair of outlets. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, one method of supplying electrical receptacles  40  to a plurality of individual work stations defined by office panels includes the use of buss or distribution harness  38 . Each end of distribution harness  38  is provided with connector  44  having a plurality of openings for receiving the socket ends of the receptacles  40 , jumper cables and power entry. Electrical current is supplied to the wiring system from either a ceiling power entry  61 , which would plug into one outlet of a receptacle, or a floor power entry  61 , which is plugged into connector  44  secured to one end  43  of distribution harness  38  (FIG.  5 ). From power entry  61 , the electrical current travels through distribution harness  38  to receptacles  40 . 
     Receptacles  40  are electrically connected to distribution harness  38  which carries a plurality of jacketed wires or buss bars which are constructed from stamped metal (not shown). Distribution harness  38  typically carries eight or ten wires (although the present invention is not so limited) with each receptacle  40  being electrically connected to a ground wire, a neutral wire and a hot wire, the three wires defining a circuit. If desired, each receptacle  40  attached to harness  38  may be electrically connected to the same ground and neutral wires, however, receptacles  40  may be connected to different hot wires to define a second circuit. The first receptacle  40  is in engagement with connector  44  located at one end of distribution harness  38  and is connected to a combination of three wires of a first circuit. The second receptacle  40 , plugged into connector  44  at the opposite end of distribution harness  38 , may be electrically connected to the same or a second combination of three wires of a second circuit. By placing two receptacles on two separate circuits, overloading of a single circuit is prevented if, for example, more than one piece of equipment was plugged into receptacles  40  on that single circuit. 
     Distribution harness  38  is provided with elongated body portion  42  having ends  43 . One connector  44  is integrally attached to elongated body  42  at each end  43  (FIG. 5) and connectors  44  include sockets  46  having openings  47 , one pair of sockets protruding from each side of connector  44 . Socket  46  of connector  44  electrically connects with socket  48  located at one end of receptacle  40  while one socket  49  at the end of jumper cable  50  is electrically linked to socket  47  of connector  44  to define a pathway for electrical current between receptacle  40 , connector  44  and jumper cable  50 . One receptacle  40  is electrically attached to each socket  46  of connector  44  such that receptacles  40  may be mounted adjacent one another. A pair of receptacles  40  may be placed in one office panel being spaced the length of distribution harness  38 . One socket  49  of jumper cable  50  is secured to socket  47  of connector  44  while the second socket  49  of cable  50  is secured to a socket of a second connector disposed on distribution harness  38  in an adjacent office panel, thereby allowing distribution harnesses  38  of adjacent office panels to be electrically connected (FIG.  4 ). 
     Once receptacles  40  are electrically joined with connectors  44 , receptacles  40  are secured to brackets  52  which are in turn fixed to distribution harness  38  (FIG.  5 ). Tabs  54  extending from receptacle housing  56  are provided with apertures  58  which align with apertures  60  in brackets  52 . Fasteners are placed through aligned apertures  58  and  60 , securing receptacles  40  to buss or harness  38 . A plurality of wires or stamped buss bars (not shown) extend the length of distribution harness  38  between connectors  44 . All eight or ten wires are carried through connectors  44  to form contacts (not shown). Each receptacle  40  includes three wires (not shown) extending through receptacle  40 , connecting with connectors which align with each opening of the outlets in receptacle  40 . These wires have contacts at each end which provide means for electrically connecting to different combinations of ground, neutral and hot wires in connector  44 . By having each receptacle  40  associated with a separate circuit, overloading of a single circuit is prevented. 
     A problem with the current wiring system is the cost of the distribution harness. The distribution harness is a relatively large component of the system which requires that the raceway disposed at the bottom of the office panel be large enough to support the assembly. This adds to the cost of manufacturing and assembling the office panels when the wiring system is installed. Further, the size of the distribution harness limits the number of receptacles to two in each panel. The distribution harness is an expensive component of the wiring assembly which in turn increases the overall expense of supplying electricity to a plurality of work stations in an office. The assembly of the distribution harness assembly is time consuming due to the number of parts which must be assembled which again increases the cost of manufacturing. Furthermore, outlets in a duplex receptacle must be on the same circuit. 
     It is desired to provide a wiring assembly for providing office panels with a plurality of receptacles which eliminates the need for a distribution harness while being cost effective and easy to assemble. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a wiring assembly for office panels in which the wires conventionally carried by the distribution harness are carried directly by the receptacle, thus eliminating the buss or distribution harness. The receptacle is preferably plugged into a quad connector and the wiring system is supplied power by a typical ceiling or floor power entry. Each receptacle picks off three wires from the eight or ten wires carried by the receptacle to provide the receptacle with electrical power. The receptacles may be wired to one circuit or a plurality of circuits to a partitioned area depending on how the area is being utilized. A jumper cable links one end of the first receptacle to one end of a second receptacle. The receptacles are wired in different circuits by being electrically connected to a different combination of three wires. 
     If desired, each outlet in a duplex or larger receptacle could be connected to a different circuit. 
     The advantages of eliminating the distribution harness include reducing the size of the wiring assembly as well as the cost of the assembly. The installation time required for placing the electrical assembly within the raceways of a plurality of office panels has also been reduced, which in turn lowers the expense of manufacturing. By wiring each receptacle or each outlet to be on a specific circuit, a work space may be provided with any number of circuits, from one to four in each panel depending on the needs of the office area. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above mentioned and other features and objects 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 the embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an office panel assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the wiring assembly of the office panel assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the wiring assembly installed in an office panel assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a prior art wiring assembly in an office panel assembly; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the prior art wiring assembly shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the wiring assembly of the present invention including a single receptacle; 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the wiring assembly of the present invention including a pair of receptacles mounted back-to-back; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of a receptacle of the office panel assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an internal electrical wire; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a pair of duplex receptacles, one receptacle showing the electrical connections of a receptacle in the wiring system of the present invention and one receptacle showing and an alternative wiring scheme; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an exemplary wiring scheme for a plurality of duplex receptacles in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a quad connector in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent an embodiment of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality of panels  20  are secured to one another to partition large areas such as in an office building. Panels  20  have side edges  22  provided with interlocking channels and posts (not shown) disposed thereon for securing sides  22  of adjacent panels  20  together. An example of the panel interlocking system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,384 which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. By attaching a plurality of panels  20  to one another in any suitable orientation including panels  20  being disposed side to side or at right angles to one another, an office area can be divided into a number of individual work spaces. 
     Each panel  20  is provided with raceway  24  which is disposed along lower edge  26  thereof and is suspended below panel  20  by supporting members  28  (FIGS.  1  and  2 ). Raceway  24  is formed from metal and may be of any shape appropriate for supporting wiring assembly  30  as will be described hereinbelow. An example of the raceway for the panel system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,886, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Raceway  24  of this embodiment includes base  31  for supporting wiring assembly  30 , which includes at least one electrical assembly  34  resting upon ledge  32  of raceway  24  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Cover plates (not shown) are positioned along the length of panel  20  being secured thereto between base  31  and lower edge  26  of panel  20 . The cover plates are attached to raceway  24  by any suitable fastening method including being snap fit or held in position by screws or the like. The cover plates protect the wires of assembly  30  from damage and are also provided for the safety of people occupying the work space. Apertures are provided in such cover plates to allow receptacles  36  of electrical assemblies  34  (FIGS. 1 and 2) to be exposed. Wiring assembly  30  includes a plurality of separate electrical assemblies  34 , generally two, which are spaced along each raceway  24  and thus panel  20  to provide electricity to the partitioned office space. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  6  and  7 , receptacles  36  have connectors or sockets  66  disposed at each end for electrically connecting to jumper cables  50 . Sockets  66  are male in construction and are received by female sockets  49  of jumper cables  50 . Referring to FIG. 6, when electrical assembly  34  is provided with a single receptacle  36 , a plurality of assemblies  34  are interconnected by jumper cables  50 . A series of receptacles  36  may be electrically connected by connecting socket  66  of one receptacle  36  with socket  49  of jumper  50  and socket  66  of a second receptacle  36  is received by the second socket  49  of jumper  50 . As usual, one end of the series of electrical assemblies is supplied with electrical current by power entry  61  or a jumper from an adjacent panel. When mounting receptacles  36  back-to-back to provide front and back surfaces  51  of panels  20  with electrical outlets or when panels  20  are disposed perpendicularly to one another as illustrated in FIG. 3, each assembly  34  further includes quad connector  62  module. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 12, quad connector  62  module includes surfaces  64  and  65  each having a pair of sockets  64   a ,  64   b , and  65   a ,  65   b  protruding therefrom, respectively, and all electrically connected to each other. Sockets  64   a  and  64   b  are flush with edges  67  of quad connector  62  and are female in construction so as to electrically connect with male sockets  66  of receptacles  36 . Sockets  65   a  and  65   b  are male and are received in female sockets  49  of jumper cables  50 . Male sockets  65   a  and  65   b  are offset from edges  67  of quad connector  62 , being disposed inwardly from edges  67 . In assembly of wiring assembly  34 , female socket  49  of cable  50  is connected to one male socket  65   a  or  65   b  of connector  62  and one female socket  64   a  or  64   b  receives male socket  66  of receptacle  36 . Once cable  50  is electrically connected to quad connector  62 , resilient metal locking tabs  63  located on both sides of connector  62  engage a portion of socket  49  of cable  50  to prevent cable  50  from becoming dislodged from engagement with quad connectors  62  (FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  12 ). It is understood that locking tabs  63  is only one method of locking cable  50  into engagement with quad connectors  62  and that any suitable method may be used. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, quad connector  62  has the capability of supporting a pair of duplex receptacles  36 , with a receptacle  36  electrically connected to each socket  64   a  and  64   b  of quad connector  62 . The pair of sockets  65   a  and  65   b  of connector  62  are provided on the opposite side of quad connector  62  and are able to receive sockets  49  of two jumper cables  50 . For example, in one panel system shown in FIG. 3, one jumper cable  50   a  secures one electrical assembly  34   a  to a second electrical assembly  34   b  between two panels  20   a  and  20   b  that are disposed perpendicular to one another. A second jumper cable  50   b , electrically connected to first assembly  34   a , links first electrical assembly  34   a  to a third electrical assembly  34   c  located in a third panel  20   c . Electrically connecting the above described panels  20   a - 20   c  is possible because quad connector  62  allows two jumper cables  50   a  and  50   b  from two different panels  20   b  and  20   c  to be connected simultaneously. The distance between subsequent assemblies  34  is dependant upon the length of jumper cables  50  linking assemblies  34  as well as the size of panels  20 . Assemblies  34  are spaced to provide an adequate number of receptacles  36  to the work space and may include from a single electrical assembly  34  or a plurality of assemblies  34  as is depicted in the present embodiment. 
     Buss or distribution harness  38  of prior wiring systems disclosed in FIGS. 4 and 5 is an expensive component used in the construction of wiring assembly  30 . The present invention eliminates distribution harness  38  by using receptacle  36  itself as the power distribution unit (FIG. 8) as will be described hereinbelow. 
     Referring more specifically to receptacle  36  shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, housing  68  includes a front plate  70  and rear plate  72  which are detachably joined by a plurality of integral pegs (not shown) and apertures  71  (FIG.  10 ). The pegs extend perpendicularly from the inner surface of front plate  70 , aligning with and engaging and being welded or bonded to apertures  71  located in inner surface  98  of rear plate  72 , thereby interlocking front plate  70  and rear plate  72 . Housing  68  is constructed from a non-metallic material such as plastic including flame retardant polycarbonate, polystyrene, PVC, or ABS, by any suitable method including injection molding. Front plate  70  is provided with openings that define a pair of electrical sockets or outlets  74  in receptacle  36 , making receptacle  36  a duplex receptacle. Each outlet  74  includes elongated apertures or slots  76  and  78  which allow prongs of a conventional electrical plug of any electrically operated device (not shown) to connect to a neutral wire and a hot wire carried within housing  68 . Further provided to define grounded outlets  74  is a smaller, D-shaped aperture  80  disposed adjacent elongated slots  76  and  78  to enable an electrical connection between a ground prong of an electric plug and a ground wire in housing  68 . 
     Each receptacle  36  carries a plurality of active conductors or wires  96  which extend the length of receptacle housing  68  as discussed above (FIG.  8 ). In a preferred embodiment, wires  96  have metal terminals  94  secured to both ends as shown in FIG.  9 . Wires  96  are relatively loose to permit crossing over of wires  96 . Wires  96  have an insulative jacket disposed thereon so as to protect against shorts in receptacle  36  when wires  96  are crossed as will be discussed below. Alternatively, conductors  96  may be stamped copper, cut to a specific length and shape necessary to create different circuits for receptacles  36  as will be described below. Crossing over of stamped copper conductors is not possible as they are not insulated from one another, thus contact between conductors  96  will create a short in receptacle  36 . A third method of wiring receptacle  46  includes the use of a printed circuit board. 
     Front plate  70  and rear plate  72  have ends  88  and  90  with grooves  82  and  84  located in plates  70  and  72 , respectively. When front plate  70  is assembled with rear plate  72 , ends  88  and  90  of each plate align such that grooves  82  and  84  define openings  86  in each end  88  and  90  of housing  68  (FIGS.  6  and  7 ). Openings  86  are sized to received terminals  94  on wires  96  (FIGS.  8 - 10 ), holding wires  96  in position within housing  68 . Once in place, terminals  94  are spaced from one another to define contacts in male sockets  66  at each end of receptacle  36 . 
     Projecting substantially perpendicularly from inner surface  98  of rear plate  72  are partitions and  102  which are longitudinally spaced from one another. Partitions are shorter than partitions  102  and are centrally disposed between ends  88  and  90  of rear plate  72 . A pair of partitions  102  are placed at each end  104  of partition , partitions and  102  being aligned along their longitudinal axes such that voids  106  exist between adjacent partitions and  102 . Voids  106  are of sufficient size for receiving metal electrical connectors or spades  108  and  109  so that connectors  108  and  109  fit tightly within voids  106 . Each electrical connector  108  and  109  includes a pair of female sockets  110  and  112 , respectively, which align with slots  76  and  78  for receiving the male prongs of an electrical plug. Electrical connector  114  is disposed between the longitudinal sets of spacers and  102  such that female sockets  116  of connector  114  align with D-shaped apertures  80  for receiving the male ground prongs of an electrical plug. It is understood that any orientation of alternative partitions may be used to receive connectors  108 ,  109 ,  114  whereby the connectors are suitably supported. 
     Connectors  108 ,  109 , and  114  are constructed from a conductive metal which, when connected with conductors such as wires  96  and being in contact with the prongs of the electrical plug, provide a pathway for electrical current traveling through wiring system  30  to the electrically operated device. Sockets  110 ,  112  and  116  are shaped such that the prongs of an electrical plug fit tightly in the sockets allowing for direct contact of the prongs and metal connectors  108 ,  109 , and  114 . Sockets  110  and  112  of electrical connectors  108  and  109 , and sockets  116  of electrical connector  114  are integrally joined by bar  118 . Along the lower edge of each socket  110 ,  112 , and  116  is a pair of barbs  122 . When electrical connectors  108 ,  109  and  114  are electrically joined to one wire  96 , barbs  122  and bar  118  are folded around wire  96  (FIG.  8 ). In order for an electrical connection to be made, pressure is applied to barbs  122  causing barbs  122  to pierce the insulative covering about wires  96  to, contacting the bare copper wire, thereby providing a conductive pathway for electrical current. 
     When manufactured, each receptacle  36  may be wired to be on a specific circuit. Wires  96  are manufactured to include a small amount of slack between terminals  94  so that they may be crossed over one another, enabling connection of wires  96  positioned within housing  68  furthest from stationary connectors  108 ,  109  and  114  as illustrated in FIG.  8 . For example, in the case of the circuit provided in receptacle  36  which is illustrated in FIG. 8, hot wire  96   a  is positioned a distance from electrical connectors  114 . Therefore, in order for a connection to be made between conducting wire  96   a  and connector  114 , wire  96   a  must be crossed over hot wire  96   b . Housing  68  of each receptacle  36  is provided with a marking (not shown) such as a number or letter so that the circuitry located within the receptacle may be easily identified. By having receptacles  36  wired on specific circuits, panels  20  of a work space may be provided with any number of circuits to prevent overloading of a single circuit. Each work space may be provided with receptacles  36  all wired on the same circuit such that different work spaces have different circuits. A second option is to place a pair of receptacles  36  on the same circuit in one panel  20  and receptacles  36  of a second circuit in a second panel  20  of the work space, thereby supplying a work space with two circuits. Further, each receptacle  36  in one panel  20  could be on different circuits to provide each panel with two circuits. Another alternative may be to provide each individual outlet  74  with a separate circuit, providing panel  20  with four different circuits, two circuits in each receptacle  36 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, receptacle  36  is wired to a specific circuit to allow for the different configurations of circuits in a work space as discussed above. Referring to FIG. 11, a schematic of one wiring scheme  30  is shown having ten wires electrically connected to six receptacles  36   a - 36   f . It is understood that the illustrated wiring schematic may be the same for the prior art wiring system including the distribution harness as it is for the present invention. A wiring system  30  having eight wires is similar to the ten wire system shown in FIG. 11 having two fewer hot wires (FIG. 10) as will be discussed below. When wiring receptacles  36 , all ten wires  96  are carried by the receptacles with three wires  96  being “picked off,” or electrically connected to, by connectors  108 ,  109 , and  114  to electrify outlets  74 . The remaining wires  96  simply pass through receptacles  36  without being electrically connected to connectors  108 ,  109  and  114 . Electrical current is supplied to all ten wires with only three being used to supply electricity to outlets  74 . Sockets  49  of jumper cables  50  receive male socket  66  of receptacles  36  and carry current from one receptacle  36  to a second receptacle  36 . With the receptacles  36  themselves carrying wires  96 , distribution harness  38  used in previous systems is effectively eliminated. 
     Referring specifically to wiring system  30  of the schematic in FIG. 11, receptacle  36   a  is electrically connected to ground wire  126 , neutral wire  128 , and hot wire  130 , such that outlets  74  of receptacle  36   a  are on one circuit. Duplex receptacle  36   b  is mounted directly behind receptacle  36   a  in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, creating one electrical assembly  34  having a pair of duplex receptacles  36 . Receptacle  36   b  is electrically connected to the same ground  126  and the same neutral wire  128 . However, in order to place receptacle  36   b  on a second circuit, receptacle  36   b  must be electrically connected to a different, second hot wire  132 . The next pair of receptacles  36   c  and  36   d  shown in FIG. 11 are on two additional circuits including ground and neutral wires  126  and  128 , respectively. However, receptacle  36   c  is electrically connected to hot wire  134  and receptacle  36   d  is linked to hot wire  136 . The third pair of receptacles  36   e  and  36   f , furthest from receptacles  36   a  and  36   b , are also on separate circuits. Receptacle  36   e  is electrically connected to ground  126 , neutral wire  128  and hot wire  138 , where ground  126  and neutral wire  128  are shared by receptacles  36   a - 36   d . Receptacle  36   f  is wired to ground and neutral wires  140  and  142 , respectively, and hot wire  144  wherein receptacle  36   f  has a pure, independent circuit in which the ground and neutral wires are not shared by adjacent receptacles. With each receptacle  36  being wired to have a separate, specific circuit, panels  20  may be easily provided with a plurality of circuits to prevent overloading of a single circuit. 
     With reference to FIG. 10, two receptacles  36  are shown with connectors  108 ,  109  and  114  schematically connected to ground, neutral, and hot wires  96  by lines  152 ,  154  and  156 , respectively. These receptacles  36  are shown carrying eight wires  96 . Although wires  96  are shown in FIG. 10 as being straight, it is understood that wires  96  may be crossed over adjacent wires in order to come in contact with connectors  108 ,  109  and  114 . Receptacle  36  on the left side of FIG. 10 shows ground connector  114  electrically associated with ground wire  146  by line  152 . Connector  109  is electrically connected with neutral wire  148  by line  154  and hot connector  108  is associated with hot wire  150  by line  156 . 
     The second receptacle  36  shown on the right side of FIG. 10 shows an alternative method of wiring receptacle  36  in which each outlet  74  is wired to be supplied with electrical current by separate circuits. In order to accomplish this, sockets  110 ′ of electrical connector  108  are separated by eliminating connecting bar  118 . Each socket  110 ′,  112  and  116  of a first outlet  74  are connected to three wires  96 : one ground wire  146 , one neutral wire  148  and one hot wire  158 . Sockets  110 ′,  112  and  116  of a second outlet  74  on the same receptacle  36  are electrically connected to the same ground wire  146  and neutral wire  148  as first outlet  74 . Socket  110 ′ of the second outlet  74  is connected to a second, different hot wire  160  by line  162 , thereby placing the second outlet  74  on a separate circuit from the first outlet  74 . 
     In assembling electrical assemblies  34  and thus wiring assembly  30 , each receptacle  36  is first wired to be on a given circuit. To do this, sockets  110  of connector  108  are secured to a hot wire  96 , sockets  112  of connector  109  are secured to a neutral wire  96 , and sockets  116  of ground connector  114  are secured to a ground wire  96 . Wires  96  need not be aligned parallel to one another, they may be crossed over one another to provide connection with connectors  108 ,  109  and  114  to produce the desired circuit (FIG.  8 ). Once receptacles  36  are produced, they are labeled with an identifying mark indicating the circuit for which the receptacle is wired. Receptacle  36  is electrically connected with jumper cable  50  (FIG. 6) and quad connector  62  (FIG.  7 ). Depending on the number of circuits being provided to a work space, receptacles  36  are electrically connected to one another to create electrical assemblies  34 . Quad connector  62  is used if electrical assembly  34  is being provided with a pair of receptacles  36  mounted back-to-back or if panels  20  are oriented perpendicularly to one another. Male socket  66  of receptacle  36  is received by one female socket  64   a  and  64   b  of quad connector  62  to provide an electrical connection between quad connector  62  and receptacle  36 , forming electrical assembly  34 . A pair of adjacent electrical assemblies  34  are then joined by jumper cables  50  such that female socket  49  of cable  50  is received within one male socket  65   a  and  65   b  of connector  62 . Once fully inserted into quad connector  62 , locking tabs  63  lock onto jumper cable  50  to ensure full seating of male socket  65   a  and  65   b  of connector  62  into female socket  49  of cable  50 . One electrical assembly  34  is then supplied with power from ceiling or floor entry supply  61  (FIGS. 6 and 7) which supplies electricity to receptacles  36  via jumper cable  50  and quad connector  62 , thereby energizing electrical outlets  74  for use to supply electricity to any electrical equipment. 
     The sockets of jumper cables  50  and quad connectors  62  include individual connector terminals (not shown) that electrically contact terminals  94  to provide electrical continuity for each individual circuit. 
     While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this application is 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.