Abstract:
A workspace partition system, for example, for an office building includes a relocatable cable raceway that can be positioned selectively at the belt line or at the baseline of a wall panel of the system depending on where power and data communications are required. Each wall panel of the system includes a structural frame. A raceway element can be selectively coupled to the frame in co-operation with any transverse member of the frame. Front and rear cover plates can be attached to mechanically protect cabling within the raceway. This design allows the panel to be reconfigured on site to change the location of the raceway.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to workspace partition systems such as might be used in an office building to provide individual work stations. In principle, however, the invention could find application in any partition system for space within a building. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Partition systems for office buildings typically comprise groupings of inter-connected wall panels arranged to define individual work areas. The wall panels may extend from floor to ceiling, in which case the partition system usually has a fixed overall configuration. Cables for providing power and data communications connections can then be routed through the wall panels themselves to appropriate locations within the workspace. Typically, cabling is run overhead and then brought down through the wall panels to work height. Where the wall panels are less than full height, cabling can be run through a column or pole that extends upwardly from the partition system to the ceiling. 
     Electrical codes require that certain precautions be taken to protect cables within a partition system. Appropriate protection can be achieved relatively easily where the system is substantially fixed. However, flexibility often is required. For example, in some office environments there may be a need to reconfigure a partition system at relatively frequent intervals and/or to change the locations at which power and communications services can be accessed within the system. Electrical receptacles and data jacks may be required at desk height at some locations within the partition system, and at floor height at other locations within the system, and these requirements may change over time. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a workspace partition system and a wall panel for use in such a system, in which power and/or data access points can readily be relocated on site, while at the same time providing appropriate protection for the cabling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a wall panel for a workspace partition system in which the panel includes a rectangular structural frame and a plurality of cladding elements removably secured to the frame. The frame is made up of a pair of spaced parallel uprights and at least two transverse frame members that extend in spaced parallel positions between the uprights generally at right angles thereto. The panel includes a cable raceway that extends between the uprights of the frame and that is defined at the top or bottom side by one of the transverse frame members and at the other side by a raceway element. The raceway element is made up of a frame member that extends parallel to the structural frame member between the uprights, and spacer means extending from the raceway frame member and co-operating with the structural frame member to position the members in spaced parallel positions. Raceway cover plates are coupled to the frame members to define with those members a substantially closed cable raceway extending transversely through the panel. The raceway element is removably coupled at its ends to the uprights so that the element can be repositioned on site in co-operating relationship with another transverse structural frame member of the panel, for relocating the raceway. At least the uprights of the frame include openings for permitting cables to enter and leave the raceway irrespective of the location of the raceway within the panel. 
     The raceway is not intended as a structural part of the panel in the sense that the panel has sufficient structural strength to be functional even without the raceway in place, though the raceway may add strength. Once the panel has been installed in a partition system, the location of the raceway can easily be changed by removing the raceway element and simply repositioning it in co-operation with a different transverse member of the structural frame. Different configurations of cladding panels will of course be required. Whatever its location, the raceway comprises a substantially closed conduit for cabling extending transversely through the panel. The cabling is protected top and bottom by the frame members and back and front by the cover plates. 
     Typically, the structural frame of the panel is a metal fabrication comprising primarily channel-shaped members spot welded or secured together by screws. The raceway element can be a channel-shaped member with two or more short channels projecting outwardly from the base to serve as the spacer means referred to previously. Preferably, the transverse frame member which co-operates with the raceway frame member is also channel-shaped and is positioned so that the bases of the channels of the two members face one another. The sides of the channels can then be used as attachment faces for the cover plates. The short channels defining the spacer means can align with openings in the base of the raceway frame member so that the short channels can serve as “chimneys” through which some of the cables can be routed. For example, data communication cables can be routed through the “chimneys” so that they will be maintained separate from and screened from the power cables. 
     When the top member of the structural frame is a channel, it preferably is positioned so that the channel is open to the top of the panel. Not only is the base of the channel then positioned appropriately to co-operate with the raceway element if required, but the channel itself can serve as a trough into which some of the cabling can be laid for routing of the cabling through the partition system. For example, in a particular grouping of wall panels, data communications cables may be routed into the trough formed by the frame member at the top of one of the panels at an entry point, laid along the trough of that panel and then into the corresponding troughs of other panels. Where a communications jack is required in a particular panel, one of the cables can be routed downwardly through an opening in the base of the channel of the top frame member, to the raceway. Electrical cabling can then travel separately through the panel and is kept away from the data cables. 
     In the minimum case, the structural frame of the panel has two transverse frame members, one at the top and one at the bottom. The raceway element can then be used in conjunction with either of those two members. Additional transverse frame members can be provided at one or more intermediate locations depending on the height of the panel and its intended application. For example, power and data connections typically are required at floor height or at desk height. In a relatively tall panel, the raceway element will be used in conjunction with the bottom transverse frame member to provide power and data connections at floor level, or in conjunction with an appropriately positioned intermediate member where connections are required at desk height. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a particular preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a partition system in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the structural frame members and raceway elements of the system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of part of the wall panel that appears at the right in FIG. 2 showing the raceway at desk (“belt line”) height; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the raceway positioned at the bottom of the wall panel (“baseline”); 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational views of a complete panel showing these two alternative locations for the raceway; Ac 
     FIG. 7 comprises views denoted (a) and (b) showing a raceway element in two alternative orientations; 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view generally on line VIII—VIII of FIG. 4, with the panel assembled and showing electrical receptacles accessible at both sides of the panel; and, 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the raceway at a belt line location and single side receptacle access only. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a workspace partition system in accordance with the invention is generally denoted by reference numeral  20 . In this embodiment, the system includes three wall panels  22  that are positioned mutually at right angles and extend outwardly from a column member  24  to which the panels are secured by fasteners (not shown). FIGS. 1 and 2 merely show one very simple configuration of wall panels. Other and more complex configurations are of course possible. 
     The wall panels  22  are essentially the same but of respectively different heights. Each panel includes a rectangular structural frame and a number of cladding elements that are removably secured to the frame. The frames of the three panels  22  are shown in FIG.  2  and two typical cladding elements for one of the panels are shown in exploded positions at  26 . A cap for the top edge of the panel is shown at  28 . Elements  26  are provided with clips (some of which are indicated at  30 ) for engagement in openings in the frame of the panel (e.g. as indicated at  31  in FIG. 3) for removably securing the cladding to the frame. Obviously, a range of elements will be provided in different sizes to suit different panels. The cap  28  snap-fits onto the top edge of the frame; again, similar caps will be provided for each of the panels. 
     Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, the frame of the panel  22  that appears on the right is generally denoted  32  and will now be described as a representative example of any of the panels. Frame  32  is made up of a pair of spaced parallel uprights  34 ,  36  and top and bottom transverse frame members  38  and  40  respectively. Each of the frame members has a generally channel-shaped configuration. It can be seen that the two uprights  34 ,  36  are oriented with their channels facing inwardly and that the channel members comprising the top and bottom frame members  38 ,  40  are positioned with their channels facing outwardly and with their end portions received within the channels of the uprights  34 ,  36 . The bottom transverse frame member  40  is positioned at a spacing above the bottom ends of the uprights  34 ,  36  to accommodate a kick panel  42 . In this embodiment, a third transverse frame member extends between the uprights parallel to the top and bottom frame members, and is denoted  44 . Shown immediately below member  44  in FIG. 2 are a pair of electrical receptacles  46  and a data jack  48 . FIG. 5 shows these components as they would appear in a finished panel and it will be seen that they are positioned generally at the so-called “belt line” of the panel, which would be immediately above a desk surface indicated in ghost outline at  50 . FIG. 6 by contrast shows the same components in a “baseline” location immediately above the kick panel  42 . 
     Reverting to FIG. 2, the third frame member  44  co-operates with a raceway element  52  (shown in detail in FIG. 7) to define a raceway  54  that extends transversely of the panel, and in which the receptacles  46  and jack  48  are located. The vertical position of frame member  44  is selected so that, when the raceway is assembled, the receptacles  46  and the jack  48  are in the required belt line location shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The other two panels shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 also have raceways  54  at the belt line. As will be described in more detail below, each of the raceways or any one of the raceways can be moved down to the baseline location illustrated in FIG. 6 by simply repositioning the raceway element  52 , or removed altogether. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 2, electrical power is supplied to the partition system through a main power supply cable  56  that leads to a junction box  58  carried by the bottom frame member  40  of one of the panels. From the junction box  58 , the power cable is led vertically upwardly within the panel, inside an armoured conduit  60  to the receptacles  46 . The main power supply cable is connected to a wiring “harness”, parts of which are indicated at  62  and  64 . The harness includes various snap connectors (see FIGS. 3 and 4) which allow additional wiring to be connected for extending the wiring through the panel system as required. It will be seen that the uprights  34  and  36  of the wall panel frames are provided with relatively large rectangular openings  66  through which the power and data cables are routed. Similar, aligned openings  68  provided in the column  24  at which the panels meet. 
     Data communication cables preferably are routed through the partition system separately from the power cables. In this embodiment, the data cables are shown extending downwardly from above to the partition system and are indicated at  70 . The main power cable  56  could be similarly routed. Whichever cables enter the partition system from above, they will normally extend through a decorative enclosure or column that would in effect be a vertical extension of column  24 . From their point of entry at the top of column  24 , the data communications cables  70  are laid into troughs that are formed by the top transverse frame members  38  of the panels. The cables can be routed on beyond the panels shown to other adjacent panels, as indicated at  72 . At the same time, connections to the jacks  48  within the respective panels can be taken vertically downwardly as indicated at  74  through openings in the bases of the top frame members  38 . 
     FIG. 3 shows in detail the raceway  54  that is formed in part by the intermediate transverse frame member  44  shown in FIG. 2, and by the raceway element  52  shown in FIG.  7 . FIG. 4 shows the same raceway element used in conjunction with the bottom frame member  40  to form a raceway at the baseline as shown in FIG.  6 . In FIG. 3, the raceway element  52  is below the transverse frame member  44 , while in FIG. 4, the raceway element  52  is inverted as compared with FIG.  3  and co-operates with the bottom frame member  40 . 
     FIG.  7 ( a ) shows the raceway element  52  in the position it occupies in the belt line position shown in FIG. 3, while FIG.  7 ( b ) shows the element in the position of FIG.  4 . Raceway element  52  comprises a frame member  74  that is essentially the same as the top and bottom frame members  38  and  40  (i.e. all three members are the same). The member is channel-shaped and is shown in FIG.  7 ( b ) with its channel facing upwardly, so that its base  74   a  confronts the corresponding face of the bottom frame member  40  as it appears in FIG.  4 . Tabs  74   b  are folded upwardly at the ends of the frame member  74  for receiving sheet metal screws that are driven through those tabs and into the respective uprights  34  and  36  of the frame, for securing the raceway elements within the frame. 
     The raceway element  52  also includes spacer means in the form of a pair of short channel members  76  that extend outwardly from the base  74   a  of frame member  74 . The two channel members  76  are symmetrically offset to respectively opposite sides of the base  74   a  of the frame member and are positioned with their channels facing outwardly in opposite directions, so that the raceway element overall is symmetrical. Openings  78  in the base  74   a  of the frame member align with the respective channel members  76 . The channel members  76  are welded in place. 
     It can be seen that the outer ends of the channel members  76  are notched as indicated at  76   a . Corresponding openings, one of which is indicated at  78  in FIG. 4, are provided in the transverse frame members  38 ,  40  and  44  of the panel frame, so that the notches  76   a  in the channel member  76  can fit into the openings in the frame members for locating the channel members with respect to the frame members and providing a conduit or “chimney” through which data cables can be conducted into, out of or through the raceway, for example as indicated by the cable denoted  80  in FIG.  4 . In this way, the data cables are mechanically and electrically isolated from the power cables in the raceway. 
     In FIG. 4, the power cables are indicated at  72 . Plug-in connectors incorporated in the power cables are indicated at  84 . It will of course be appreciated that there is an opening  78  at the bottom of the “chimney” through which the data cable  80  passes so that the cable could in fact be conducted straight through the raceway if appropriate. 
     The raceway is always positioned so that the base  74   a  of its frame member  74  confronts a corresponding base surface of the frame member with which the raceway element is to co-operate. Thus, FIG.  7 ( a ) shows the raceway element positioned for co-operation with a frame element above, with its base facing down, as in FIG.  3 . 
     In each of FIGS. 3 and 4, the raceway is completed by front and rear raceway cover plates  86  and  88  that are secured to the side flanges of the respective frame members  74  and  40 . It is an electrical code requirement that the cover plate should not be removable by hand. Accordingly, tabs  86   a  are provided on the top edge of cover plate  86  for receiving sheet metal screws  90  that are screwed into corresponding holes on the side flanges of the respective frame members  74 ,  40 . Tabs similar to tabs  86   a  are provided at the bottom edge of cover plate  86  but are not visible in FIG.  4 . The receptacles  46  are secured to the cover plate in conventional fashion using screws and nuts (not shown) via isolation plates  46   a . Jack  48  snap-fits into an opening in the cover plate. The cover plate  86  is visible in the assembled panel and therefore has an appropriate decorative appearance to match the cladding panels  26  (e.g. fabric covering). The plate may have the same profile shape (in section) as the cladding panels  26 . The cover plate  88  at the opposite side of the panel, however, is not visible in that it is covered by one of the cladding panels (as panel  26 —FIG. 2) in the assembled wall panel. Accordingly, plate  88  is simply a flat steel plate having appropriate tabs for receiving screws used to secure the plate to the frame of the wall panel. 
     FIG. 8 shows an example of a raceway which is designed to provide double-sided access to electrical receptacles and/or data jacks at a baseline location in a partition system. In this embodiment, both cover plates  86 ,  88  are visible at the exterior of the panel and can if necessary be removed to provide access to cabling within the raceway. FIG. 9 on the other hand shows an embodiment in which there is only single side receptacle access and plate  88  is covered by one of the cladding panels  26 . 
     It will be appreciated that, in a panel configured for baseline power and data access, it is a relatively simply matter to reconfigure the panel on site for belt line access. Referring to FIG. 4, the cover plates  86  and  88  are first removed and the wiring is removed (after of course removing the cladding panels). Raceway element  52  is then removed by removing the sheet metal screws that extend through the tabs  74   b  at the ends of the frame member of the raceway element (see FIG. 7 a ). The raceway element is then lifted out, inverted and reinstalled in the reverse fashion as shown in FIG.  3 . In both locations, the wiring that extends through the raceway is mechanically protected within the raceway. Access to cabling within the raceway is relatively straightforward. It is simply necessary to remove the cladding panels and then one or both of the cover plates  86 ,  88 . The raceway itself can easily be relocated as described previously. 
     In concluding, it should of course be borne in mind that the preceding description relates to a particular preferred embodiment of the invention only and that many modifications are possible within the broad scope of the invention. Some of those modifications have been indicated previously and others will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.