Abstract:
A power distribution jumper assembly includes a relatively fixed rigid support member, a multi conductor cable for supplying electrical energy to power utilization equipment and an electrical connector at one cable end. There is a jumper bracket mechanically coupled to the support member which mechanically supports the cable end and corresponding connector. A multiport electrical power distribution block receives the electrical connector. An electrical component is electrically connected to the power distribution block. The jumper mounting bracket extends from the support member and is mechanically connected to and rigidly supports the electrical component, connector and cable end.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/470,560, filed May 14, 2003, and entitled MODULAR ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN A MODULAR WALL PANEL ASSEMBLY. 
     Other related applications include U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/845,678, filed on even date herewith, entitled SYSTEM TO PLACE RECEPTACLES AND DISTRIBUTION BLOCKS, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/846,088, filed on even date herewith, entitled DOUBLE “E” ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION BLOCK, the entire disclosures of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to power distribution systems and more particularly to a power distribution assembly for supplying power to a plurality of spaced apart work stations, for example, as found in a modular furniture environment. Such modular electrical distribution systems are frequently used in wall panel assemblies within an office environment. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Wall panel power distribution systems are typically located near a panel upper or lower edge and within a metal channel or wireway. Conventionally, an electrical distribution wiring harness has an extruded metal wire channel extending from a center block, and the receptacle brackets are attached directly to the metal wire channel which is rigidly and permanently mounted to the center block. The jumper cables which interconnect terminal blocks are either permanently wired to the terminal blocks or coupled thereto by jumper connectors. The jumper connectors rely on the terminal block for mechanical support as do electrical receptacles which may be electrically connected to certain terminal blocks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a unique power distribution jumper cable assembly and method of assembling a power distribution jumper cable assembly. 
     The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a power distribution jumper assembly having a flexible multi conductor cable for supplying electrical energy to power utilization equipment with an electrical connector at one cable end. There are a plurality of electrical contacts within the connector, certain ones of which connect to corresponding cable conductors. A bracket mechanically engages the cable connector for directly supporting the cable end and corresponding connector. An electrical component is electrically coupled to the electrical connector. The bracket includes a component retainer for providing support to the electrical component. 
     In another form, a power distribution jumper assembly mounting bracket has a central jumper grasping portion and opposed pairs of modular electrical component retaining tabs. One pair of tabs extends outwardly from one side of the central jumper grasping portion and the other pair extends outwardly from an opposite side of the central jumper grasping portion for spanning and mechanically securing respective electrical components. Each side of the central jumper grasping portion further includes a resilient biasing portion for engaging and urging the corresponding electrical component outwardly away from the bracket to facilitate removal of the electrical component. 
     In a still further form, a method of assembling and stabilizing a power distribution system on a support member includes fixing a jumper mounting bracket to a jumper cable near one end thereof, fastening a power distribution block to the support member, electrically coupling the jumper cable one end and the power distribution block and attaching the jumper mounting bracket to the support member. A modular electrical component is electrically connected to the power distribution block and mechanically connected to the jumper mounting bracket. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that methods for mounting receptacles and power entry connectors are simplified. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that flexible jumpers having connectors on opposite ends allow ease of panel-to-panel connecting. 
    
    
     
       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 will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a certain components of a power distribution assembly; and 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a modified portion of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a plurality of power distribution components of a power distribution assembly  10  aligned and ready to be joined. The embodiment illustrated shows a modular electrical distribution system  10  of the present invention, which includes a multi-port power distribution block  14 , jumper cables  20  and  22 , cable/receptacle mounting brackets  24  and  26 , and may include additional electrical components such as electrical receptacles ( FIG. 2 ). A rigid support member  12  awaits the multiport power distribution block  14  to be joined by block mounting bracket  16 . The block mounting bracket  16  and distribution block  14  may be joined by threaded fasteners such as screw  18 , or may be coupled in a snap latch manner. Configured with a snap latch arrangement, multi-port power distribution block  14  may be coupled with the mounting bracket without the use of tools. Mounting bracket  16  is coupled with fixed structure  12  using any suitable fastening technique, such as with a screw  70  ( FIG. 2 ) passing through a threaded fastener receiving aperture  28  in the bracket base and into the aperture  36  in support  12 . Alternatively, fixed structure  12  may include mounting details allowing multi-port power distribution block  14  to be directly coupled therewith, rather than using an intervening mounting bracket such as  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , support member  12  includes predrilled holes  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  properly spaced and aligned as by a template. The hole or aperture  34  receives support member engaging tab  38  while aperture  36  receives screw  70  passing through the bracket base. The engagement of tab  38  prevents swiveling of the bracket  16  about the single screw  70 . Other suitable mounting techniques may, of course, be employed. 
     Holes  30  and  32  are positioned to receive screws which provide attachment by way of component mounting brackets  24  and  26  of power distribution jumper portions of the assembly  10 . Mounting bracket  24 , for example, functions to support cable  20  and its associated electrical connector  44  and provides mechanical support for an electrical component such as a duplex receptacle. Cable/receptacle mounting brackets (also called jumper brackets)  24  and  26  thus provide a dual functionality of maintaining jumper cables  20  and  22  in place with multi-port power distribution block  14 , and also mechanically supporting an electrical receptacle such as  42  ( FIG. 2 ) which is plugged into multiport power distribution block  14 . 
     The jumper bracket  24  is formed by bending a single sheet of metal into a U-shape which surrounds the jumper connector  44  with the free U ends flared outwardly and downwardly (as viewed). Thus, there is formed a central connector grasping portion  40  which is fixed to the connector  44  by rivets such as  46  and  48 . Bracket  44  also includes a base portion  50  comprising a pair of flanges  52  and  54  for spanning the fixed structure  12 . Each flange has a fastener receiving aperture such as  56  which, when the bracket is positioned on support  12 , allows a screw to pass through the flange and into an aperture such as  30  thereby securing the jumper bracket to the fixed structure. 
     Bracket  44  also includes a component retainer on each on each of the opposed sides. This retainer is visible on the bracket sides  58  and  60 . Each retainer has a pair of modular electrical component clamping or retaining tabs  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  which extend outwardly from a connector grasping portion side  58  or  60 . Pairs of opposed tabs are designed to engage a corresponding pair of tabs or grooves on an electrical component as shown in  FIG. 2 . Each jumper bracket further includes a second pair of modular electrical component retaining tabs extending outwardly from a connector grasping portion side opposite the side visible in  FIG. 1  for similarly spanning and mechanically securing a further electrical component. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , electrical receptacle  42  is snapped into engagement with cable/receptacle mounting bracket without the use of tools. A spring bias tab  74  engages the back of electrical receptacle  42  urging that receptacle firmly against the mounting tabs  66  and  68  providing a rigid mounting during normal use, and further aids in removal of the receptacle when the mounting tabs are sprung outwardly to release the receptacle. Alternatively, an electrical receptacle may be screw mounted or otherwise fastened to a corresponding cable/receptacle mounting bracket, depending upon the particular application. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the power distribution block  14  has been joined with the block mounting bracket  16  and that bracket fastened to the support  12  by screw  70 . Distribution block  14  is illustrated as having six like connector ports, three of which,  76 ,  78 , and  80 , are visible in  FIG. 1 . The jumper cable connector  44  is shown in  FIG. 2  mated with the central distribution block port  78  and connector  72  is similarly mated with the central port opposite port  78 . Jumper cable mounting brackets  24  and  26  have been omitted, however, it will be understood that mounting bracket  24  would normally lie behind the receptacle  42 . Receptacle  42  has connectors such as  82  at opposite ends which mate with any of the distribution block ports. Receptacle  42  is shown electrically connected or mated with the distribution block  14  port  80 . The mechanical connection of receptacle  42  to bracket  24  is by the clamping or retaining tabs  66  and  68  which span the receptacle vertically as viewed, and engage an opposed pair of receptacle ears  86  and  88 . Ears  90  and  92  are not used in the illustration, but would be spanned and gripped by tabs  62  and  64  had connector end  82  been mated with, for example, the distribution block port facing away from port  80 . 
     The jumper cable connectors  44  and  72  are designed to mate electrically with corresponding ports in distribution block  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Each connector can be mated with any unoccupied one of the ports, but preferable mate with the center ports such as  78  to allow free access, for example, by duplex receptacles, to the outside ports such as  76  and  80 . When a connector and port are mated, resilient arms  94  and  96  or  106 ,  108  flex allowing hooks such as  98  and  100  to engage a pair of opposed transverse block grooves  102  and  104  to create a latched arrangement securing the junction between the connector and port. 
     Assembling the system includes fixing jumper mounting bracket  24  or  26  to a jumper cable  20  or  22  near one end of the jumper cable. This may be accomplished by riveting or otherwise joining the one-piece bracket  24  or  26  to the connector, by employing rivets, screws, or similar fasteners in conjunction with a two piece bracket similar to the bracket illustrated, but with the overlying U-shaped bracket portion omitted, or even by integrally molding one or more bracket members in the insulative portion of the connector. Power distribution block  14  is mechanically fastened to the support member  12 , for example, by bracket  16 . and electrically coupled to a jumper cable end. The jumper mounting bracket is attached to the support member  12 . A modular electrical component such as electrical receptacle  42  is electrically connected to the power distribution block and the modular electrical component is mechanically connected to the jumper mounting bracket thereby stabilizing the power distribution system on the support member. 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, 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. 
     PARTS LIST 
     
         
           10  power distribution jumper assembly 
           12  fixed structure or support member, e.g., wall panel frame or other rigid support 
           14  multiport electrical power distribution block 
           16  block mounting bracket 
           18 ,  70  threaded fastener (screw) 
           20 ,  22  flexible multi conductor cable, or jumper cable 
           24 ,  26  support or mounting bracket, or component mounting bracket 
           28 ,  56  threaded fastener receiving aperture 
           30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  support member mounting holes 
           38  support member engaging tab 
           40  connector or jumper grasping portion 
           42  receptacle 
           44 ,  72  connector 
           46 ,  48  rivets 
           50  base portion 
           52 ,  54  structure spanning flanges 
           58 ,  60  bracket sides 
           62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  clamping or retaining tabs 
           74  spring bias tab 
           76 ,  78 ,  80  connector port 
           84  receptacle end connector 
           86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92  receptacle ears 
           94 ,  96 ,  106 ,  108  resilient arms 
           98 ,  100  hook near free arm end 
           102 ,  104  transverse hook accepting grooves