Abstract:
A cable management and distribution system comprises posts and beams. The posts may be one of several heights to accommodate various office layouts. The beams run between the posts and a cable entry slot runs the length of each beam to allow cable entry at any point along the beam. The beams further provide space for running and storing cables and fixed power outlets may be attached to the beam interior for plugging power cords. A lift off cap may be positioned over the beam, or a bridge may be positioned above the beam to provide a separate path for data cables. The bridge includes an upper face with a mounting surface for a privacy panel or the like, and accepts plain vertical side covers, or vertical side covers with accessory tracks. The posts include lower mounting points and the beams include upper mounting points for modesty panels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to cable distribution and in particular to a stand alone cable distribution and management system for use with office furniture.  
         [0002]     Modern office workspace often comprises an open area with dividers separating desks, tables, files, and the like. With the advent of personal computers, internet connections, office networks, individual printers, local shared printers, etc. the number of cables running from a single work station (e.g., desk) has risen sharply. The result is both an unsightly appearance and difficulty in managing data and power cables. Such cluttered workplaces present an poor image to customers and does not provide the desired motivation to employees. Mingled cables make maintenance and upgrading of cabling difficult and time consuming.  
         [0003]     Office partitions have been provided which include internal wiring and external outlets. Such partitions are intended to be permanently cabled and lack easy access to add, remove, or adjust wiring. Because these partitions include external outlets, excess cable length of computer and other cables generally remains exposed and unsightly. Therefore, a need remains to an effective and attractive cable management system.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a cable management and distribution system which comprises posts and beams. The posts may be one of several heights to accommodate various office layouts. The beams run between the posts and a cable entry slot runs the length of each beam to allow cable entry at any point along the beam. The beams further provide space for running and storing cables, and fixed power outlets may be attached to the beam interior for plugging power cords. A lift off cap may be positioned over the beam, or a bridge may be positioned above the beam to provide a separate path for data cables. The bridge includes an upper face with a mounting surface for a privacy panel, posting self, or other accessories, and accepts plain vertical side covers, or vertical side covers with accessory tracks commonly called a slat wall. The posts include lower mounting points and the beams include upper mounting points for modesty panels.  
         [0005]     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cable management and distribution system comprising at least two posts and at least one beam supported by the posts. A bridge resides above each of the at least one beam. A first cable passageway resides in the beam and a second cable passageway resides in the bridge. A cable entry slot has a vertical gap and runs substantially the beam length along the at least one beam.  
         [0006]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a free standing cable management and distribution system comprising at least two posts and at least one beam supported by the posts. An upper member resides above each of the at least one beam and a first cable passageway resides in the beam. Cable entry slots define vertical gaps and run substantially the beam length along opposite sides of the at least one beam and reside between top edges of the at least one beam and the upper member. Electrical outlets are provided in the at least one beam for connecting the cables.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0007]     The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a first cable distribution and management system according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the first cable and distribution and management system and a desk.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed perspective view of the first cable distribution and management system and the desk with a computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse residing on the desk.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cable distribution and management system according to the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the cable distribution and management system and the desk.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the cable distribution and management system according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the cable distribution and management system and the desk.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a rear view of the cable distribution and management system.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of the cable distribution and management system.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5C  is a front view of the cable distribution and management system.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5D  is a top view of the cable distribution and management system.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a starter section including a bridge above a beam.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of an add-on section including the bridge above the beam.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6C  is a perspective view of a starter section including a cap above the beam.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6D  is a perspective view of an add-on section including the cap above the beam.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a detailed perspective view of a post and cooperating ends of the bridge and the beam.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a detailed perspective view of a post and cooperating ends of the cap and the beam.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the bridge take along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 5D .  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a side edge of view of a plain side cover for the bridge.  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a side edge view of a side cover with tracks for the bridge.  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the beam taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 5D .  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the cap taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 5D .  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is a second embodiment of the bridge and beam cooperation with the post.  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the beam taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 5D .  
         [0032]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a section of the cable distribution and management system including a privacy panel and a modesty panel.  
         [0033]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the privacy panel and bridge taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the modesty panel taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 16 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 19  is a detailed view of an attachment of the modesty panel to the beam. 
     
    
       [0036]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]     The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.  
         [0038]     A perspective view of a first cable distribution and management system  10   a  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1A , and a perspective view of the cable and distribution and management system  10   a  and a desk  20  is shown in  FIG. 1B . The cable distribution and management system  10   a  comprises beams  14  supported by first posts  12   a . An upper member comprising a bridge  16  resides above the beam  14 . Cable slots  18  reside between the beams  14  and the bridges  16 . The cable slots  18  run horizontally and preferably define a vertical gap thereby allowing cables to enter the beams  14  and/or the bridges  16  and allowing routing and/or storage of cables. Removable post caps  13  reside on top of the posts  12   a  and the desk  20  resides against the beams  14  with a top surface of the desk  20  preferably even with or just below the cable slot  18 .  
         [0039]     A more detailed perspective view of the cable distribution and management system  10   a  and the desk  20  with a computer monitor  22 , keyboard  26 , and mouse  30  residing on the desk  20  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The cables  24  from the monitor  22 , keyboard  26 , and mouse  30  run across the top of the desk  20  and into the cable slot  18 . The cable slot  18  runs along the beam  14  substantially the entire length (the slot may end before the ends of the beam to allow for end caps etc. on the beam) of the beam  14 , and preferably runs the entire length of the beam  14 . Such continuous running cable slot  18  allows the cables  24  to enter the beam  14  at a closest point, and provides a very inconspicuous appearance. Further, the cable slot  18  preferably define a horizontally running vertical gap thereby minimizing objects falling through the cable slot  18 .  
         [0040]     A perspective view of a second embodiment of the cable distribution and management system  10   b  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3A , and a perspective view of the second embodiment of the cable distribution and management system  10   b  and the desk  20  is shown in  FIG. 3B . The cable distribution and management system  10   b  includes two of the first posts  12   a  and one second post  12   b . The bridge  16  and the beam  14  reside between the posts  12   a , and the beam  14  and an upper member comprising a cap  15  residing above the beam  14  reside between one of the posts  12   a  and the post  12   b . A vertical gap between the cap  15  and the beam  14  creates a second cable slot  18   b.    
         [0041]     A perspective view of a third embodiment of a cable distribution and management system  10   c  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4A , and a perspective view of the third embodiment of the cable distribution and management system  10   c  and the desk  20  is shown in  FIG. 4B . The cable distribution and management system  10   c  includes the beams  14  and caps  15  residing between pairs of the second posts  12   b . The second cable slots  18   b  reside between the beams  14  and the caps  15 .  
         [0042]     A rear view of the cable distribution and management system  10   b  is shown in  5 A, a side view of the cable distribution and management system  10   b  is shown in  FIG. 5B , a front view of the cable distribution and management system  10   b  is shown in  FIG. 5C , and a top view of the cable distribution and management system  10   b  is shown in  FIG. 5D . A modesty panel  38  resides below the beam  14  between the posts  12   a . A plain vertical side cover  34  resides on one side of the bridge  16 , and a vertical side cover with tracks  36  resides on an opposite side of the bridge  16 . The side cover with tracks  36  provides tracks and preferably provide a slat wall for attaching accessories to the cable distribution and management system  10   b , and the side cover with tracks  36  may reside on one side of the bridge  16 , both sides of the bridge  16 , or the plain cover  34  may reside on both sides of the beam  16 .  
         [0043]     A perspective view of a starter section  11   a  including the bridge  16  above the beam  14  is shown in  FIG. 6A , and a perspective view of an add-on section  11   b  including the bridge  16  above the beam  14  is shown in  FIG. 6B . The starter section  11   a  may be used alone if supported, and the add-on section  11   b  may be attached to one of the posts  12   a  of the starter section  11   a  to form a cable distribution and management system  10   a  (see  FIG. 1A ). When the add-on section  11   b  is attached at a 90 degree angle to the starter section  11   a , the cable distribution and management system  10   a  is self supporting.  
         [0044]     A perspective view of a second starter section  11   c  including a cap  15  above the beam  14  is shown in  FIG. 6C , and a perspective view of a second add-on section  11   d  including the cap  15  above the beam  14  is shown in  FIG. 6D . The second starter section  11   c  and the second add-on section  11   d  may be combined as described for the starter section  11   a  and add-on section  11   b  in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  to form the cable distribution and management system  10   c  (see  FIG. 4A ). Further, the second add-on section  11   d  may be attached to the starter section  11   a  to form the cable distribution and management system  10   b  (see  FIG. 3A ).  
         [0045]     A detailed perspective view of a post  12   a  and cooperating ends of the bridge  16  and the beam  14  are shown in  FIG. 7 , and a detailed perspective view of a post  12   b  and cooperating surfaces of the cap  15  and the beam  14  are shown in  FIG. 8 . The beam  14  is rectangular with an open top to allow entry and management of cables therein, thus providing a cable passageway and storage area. The posts  12   a  and  12   b  includes post entries  42 . Entry covers  40  may be attached to the post entries  42  using cover clips  40   a  attached to the entry covers  40  which engage notches  42   a  in the post entries  42  to position and hold the entry covers  40  in place. The beam  14  includes hooks  46  which engage slots  46   a  in the posts  12   a  and  12   b . The bridge  16  is preferably attached to the post  12   a  using first fastener sets  17   a . The hooks  46  preferably comprise six hooks  46  attaching each end of the beam  14 , and the fastener sets  17   a  preferably comprise two sets of the screws, nuts, and washers attaching each end of the bridge  16  to the post  12   a . Alternatively, the beam  14  may be attached by a combination of four hooks and two threaded fasteners.  
         [0046]     A basket  44  resides in the bridge  16  and provides a second cable passageway allowing data cables to be separated from power cables where desired. In order to provide easy access to the interior of the beam  14  and bridge  16  ( FIG. 7 ), side covers  34  and  36  (see FIGS.  10  an  11 ) pivot or lift away from the bridge  16 . When the side covers  34  and  36  are pivoted or lifted away from the bridge  16 , space is provided between the basket  44  and beam top edges  14   a  to allow a hand to reach into the beam  14  to reach cables or outlets  50  (see  FIG. 12 ) residing in the beam  14 . The space is preferably approximately three inches across. The space between top edges  14   a  is also sufficient to allow a hand to reach into the beam  14 , and is preferably approximately three inches. The beam  14  has sufficient height to provide structural strength to the cable management system and is preferably between approximately four and approximately six inches in height, and more preferably approximately six inches in height.  
         [0047]     The cap  15  includes cap clips  15   a  which enter and engage the open top of the beam  14  to hold the cap  15  in place. The cap  15  is preferably attachable and removable from the beam  14  by pushing the cap  15  onto the beam  14  and by pulling the cap  15  from the beam  14 . When the cap  14  is attached to the beam  14  the vertical cable slot  18  (see  FIG. 2 ) provides an opening for entry of cables into the beam  14 . The posts  12   a  are preferably approximately 37 inches high, and the posts  12   b  are preferably between approximately 18 inches high and approximately 31 inches high, and the posts  12   b  are more preferably approximately 31 inches high.  
         [0048]     A cross-sectional view of the bridge  16  take along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 5D  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The bridge  16  includes a mounting surface  18  for attaching accessories, for example a privacy panel  56  (see  FIG. 16 ) to the bridge  16 . The bridge  16  also includes a basket  44  (also see  FIG. 7 ) running substantially the length of the bridge  16  to provide support for cables in the bridge  16  and where desired, to separate data cables from power cables. The basket  44  includes a hand portion  44   a  along one or both top edges of the basket  44 . The hand portion engages ledges  45  attached to the bridge  16 . The hands  44   a  preferably run the length of the basket  44  and the ledges  45  preferably provide continuous support to the basket  44  for the length of the bridge  16 . The basket  44  may be a single continuous basket running most of, or the entire length of, the bridge  16 , or two or more baskets may combine end to end to run most of, or the entire length of, the bridge  16 . By disengaging the hands  44   a  from the ledges  45 , the basket  44  may be opened to access cables. The hands  44   a  may be disengaged from the ledges  45  by pressing the top edge of the basket inward.  
         [0049]     A side edge view of the plain side cover  34  for the bridge  16  is shown in  FIG. 10 , and a side edge view of the side cover with tracks  36  for the bridge  16  is shown in  FIG. 11 . The side covers  34  and  36  include cover hooked portions  35  which hook over top edges  16   b  of the bridge  16  to hang the covers  34  and  36  on sides of the bridge  16 . The side covers  34  and  36  provide easy access to the interior of the bridge  16  and the beam  14  for adding, removing, and adjusting cables in the bridge  16  and/or the beam  14 . The side covers  34  and  36  may be pivoted about the hooked portions  35  to gain access to the bridge  16  and/or the beam  14 , or may be removed by lifting approximately vertically. Such easy vertical removal allows the side covers  34  and  36  to be removed when equipment, for example monitors, reside close to the side covers  34  and  36 . The cover with tracks  36  includes tracks on an outward facing surface, allowing accessories to be attached to the bridges, for example, a monitor support, file shelves, phone support, etc.  
         [0050]     A cross-sectional view of the beam  14  taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 5D  is shown in  FIG. 12 . A fixed connector  50  for power or data connection (for example, a power outlet, phone line receptacle, internet cable receptacle, or any electrical connector) may reside inside the beam  14  to provide a convenient power source. The connector  50  may be attached or loose. By providing easy access to the interiors of the beam  14  and the bridge  16  using the cap  15  or side covers  34  and  36 , cables may be easily added or removed from the fixed connector  50 , thus overcoming common cabling issues.  
         [0051]     A cross-sectional view of the cap  15  taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 5D  is shown in  FIG. 13 . The clips  15   a  (also see  FIG. 8 ) extend downward from the cap  15  to attach the cap  15  to the beam  14 . The cap  15  and the side  34  and  36  comprise easy access panels providing easy access to the interiors of the beam  14  and the bridge  16 . The easy access panels are easily openable or removable to allow the addition, removal, or adjustment of cables inside the beam  14  and the bridge  16 , and the easy access panels are preferably openable or removable without the use of tools. The easy access panels also allow hand access to cables in the beam  14  and the bridge  16 .  
         [0052]     A second embodiment of the bridge  16  and second beam  14 ′ cooperation with a third post  12   c  is shown in  FIG. 14 , and a cross-sectional view of the second beam  14 ′ taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 5D  is shown in  FIG. 15 . The beam  14 ′ is attached to the post  12   c  by a combination of four hooks  46  and two threaded fastener sets  17   b . The threaded fastener sets  17   b  facilitate drawing the beam  14 ; and post  12   c  together for a firm fit. The post  12   c  include pairs of passages  17   c  on each of the four sides of the post  12   c  and the beam  14 ′ includes pairs of passages  17   d  on each beam  14 ′ end for the fasteners  17   b . Second covers  40   a  cooperate with tabs  42   b  to retain the covers  14   a  on the post entries  42 .  
         [0053]     A perspective view of a section  11   e  of the cable distribution and management system including a privacy panel  56  and a modesty panel  38  is shown in  FIG. 16 . A cross-sectional view of the privacy panel  56  and the bridge  16  taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16  is shown in  FIG. 17 . The privacy panel  56  includes a base  56   a  configured to cooperate with the mounting surface  48  to support the privacy panel  56 .  
         [0054]     A cross-sectional edge view of the modesty panel  38  taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 16  is shown in  FIG. 18 , and a lower mounting point for the modesty panel  38  is shown in  FIG. 19 . The modesty panel  38  is attached to the bottom of the beam  14  by a knurled (or thumb) first screw  52   a  screwed into a nut  54  which is preferably a weld nut. A lower frame portion  38   a  of the modesty panel  38  is attached to an attaching point  58  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the post  12   a  or  12   b  by a second screw  52   b.    
         [0055]     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.