Abstract:
A modular wall panel assembly including at least one wall panel and a plumbing system installed at least partially within the at least one wall panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/649,778, entitled “A MODULAR PLUMBING METHOD FOR OFFICE FURNITURE”, filed Feb. 3, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to modular office furniture, and, more particularly, to modular office wall panels arranged in a work environment.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A typical work surface requires convenient access to electrical power. In an office setting, electrical power is typically provided in the form of electrical receptacles connected to a utility power source. The electrical receptacles power office equipment such as computers, calculators, facsimile machines, copiers, printers, clocks, lamps and the like. Work surfaces are conveniently arranged and can be connected to modular wall panels that are arranged in a removable fashion for use in an office environment. Work surfaces, particularly modular furniture work surfaces are easily configurable to meet the changing needs of the business. Work surfaces require access to electricity, and the existing circuits and receptacles in a building may limit the inherent flexibility of a modular furniture work surface by requiring the work surface to be located near existing circuits and receptacles.  
         [0006]     A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that converts hydrogen or some other compound of gases through suitable conversion to hydrogen, and oxygen into water, producing electricity and heat in the process.  
         [0007]     What is needed in the art is a system that does not require connection to a utility power grid, is cost effective to operate, is suitable for typical work environments and is environmentally friendly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides a work surface gas delivery system to power a fuel cell module.  
         [0009]     The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a modular wall panel assembly including a wall panel and a plumbing system installed at least partially within the wall panel.  
         [0010]     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a reconfigurable distribution system for a gas supply.  
         [0011]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an electrical power module that is connectable to a wall panel system.  
         [0012]     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it removes the restriction of having to position work surfaces proximate to an electrical outlet to obtain power.  
         [0013]     A further advantage of the present invention is that it removes a restriction of having to hardwire modular office panels into a building power grid. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     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:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective, partially fragmentary view of an embodiment of modular furniture wall panels of the present invention including a plumbing system of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the modular furniture wall panel plumbing system of  FIG. 1  interconnected with a fuel cell;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematicized top view of the modular wall panel system of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of an end of a modular wall panel of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     
    
       [0019]     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  
       [0020]     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a workspace in an office environment including modular wall panel system  10  generally having at least one modular wall panel  12 , which is associated with another modular wall panel  14 . Work surface  16  is attached to modular wall panel  14  and provides a functional work surface area. A plurality of modular wall panels  12  and  14  can be interconnected and all panels  12  or  14 , or any subset thereof can have at least one work surface  16  attached therewith. Modular wall panels  12  and  14  are substantially similar and any reference to modular wall panel  14  should be understood to be typical of other interconnected modular wall panels including wall panel  12 .  
         [0021]     Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 3 , modular wall panel  14  includes a raceway  18 , a cavity  20 , supply pipes  22 ,  24  and  26 , and drain pipes  28 ,  30  and  32 . Although supply pipes and drain pipes are illustrated as being separated, the two can be associated and somewhat interconnected to further coordinate their interconnection. Supply pipes  22 ,  24  and  26  supply a hydrogen compound, or hydrogen gas throughout modular wall system  10 .  
         [0022]     A drain pipe  32  is shown in raceway  18  allowing a drain line to run along a lower portion of wall panel  14  and interconnect at the ends thereof with other wall panels. At some point along the running of drain pipe  32  a T-coupling  42  is supplied that interconnects a drain pipe  30 , having a predetermined installation length, which interconnects a drain pipe  28  with drain pipe  32  allowing fluid to further drain through floor drain coupling  34 . Various plumbing fixtures, such as a three-way coupling  40  connects a drain pipe  28  in modular panel  14  and another drain pipe in modular wall panel  12  with drain pipe  30  to cause fluid therein to drain towards floor drain coupling  34 . Floor drain coupling  34  may be a flexible tube that is connected to an end of T-coupling  42  and a floor drain. Hydrogen is supplied by a source, not shown, and is distributed by way of supply pipes  22 ,  24  and  26 , which may be coupled together such as by an elbow coupling  38  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Respectively fluidly coupled to supply pipe  22  and drain pipe  28  are supply valve  44  and drain valve  46 . Valves  44  and  46  respectively shut off the contents of the pipes from the ambient environment, such as that at or above a work surface  16 .  
         [0023]     Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an end of wall panel  14  with a supply pipe  22  extending therefrom. For purposes of illustration a coupling  36  is shown to interconnect with an end of supply pipe  22  so as to fluidly couple one wall panel with another wall panel, or with a gas source or drain as appropriate. Although the illustration relates to supply pipe and coupling, a similar arrangement for the drain pipes is also provided. It should also be understood that although the supply pipes and drain pipes are, for purposes of illustration, shown as being similar, the actual size, color and/or cross-sectional shape can be different to avoid an inadvertent mixing of supply and drain plumbing.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a plurality of wall panels are positioned and are plumbed with couplings, such as couplings  36  and T-coupling  42 . Supply lines  22 ,  24  and  26  are of a predetermined length and are either integrally constrained and contained in a respective wall panel or are replaceably therein, such as being within a cavity  20  of a wall panel  14 . Couplings such as coupling  36 , elbow coupling  38 , three-way coupling  40  and T-couplings  42  may be removably placed on ends of respective pipes or may be attached requiring a destructive method for their removal.  
         [0025]     A fuel cell  48  is fluidly coupled to a supply pipe  22  and a drain pipe  28  to provide a supply of hydrogen to fuel cell  48  and a drain line for the draining away of water created in the combining of hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen to produce electricity. Fuel cell  48  includes a supply line with coupling  50 , a drain line with coupling  52  and a plurality of electrical outlets  54 . For the purposes of clarity fuel cell  48  is shown positioned on work surface  16  although fuel cell  48  may be integral with wall panel  14  with receptacles  54  remotely located therefrom. Fuel cell  48  is fluidly coupled by way of lines  50  and  52  each with couplings respectively to pipe  22  and pipe  28 . As hydrogen is supplied, oxygen from the atmosphere is consumed by the fuel cell reaction, thereby providing electrical energy at outlets  54 .  
         [0026]     Advantageously the present invention provides fluid coupling of at least one plumbing system in modular wall panel furniture. The fluid coupling provides for the delivery of hydrogen to a fuel cell and the draining of the water created by the reaction therein.  
         [0027]     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.