Patent Abstract:
An electrical distribution block suitable for use in modular wall systems of various thicknesses. The electrical distribution block includes branch connectors spaced from each other by an electrically conductive bridge having a telescopic engagement such that a spacing between the branch connectors can be selectively controlled for use in modular walls of different thickness.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains generally to modular electrical systems used in modular wall systems, and, more particularly, relates to a distribution block for distributing electrical current to a plurality of components attached to the distribution block. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Modular wall systems are used in many situations to construct temporary, or at least rearrangeable office configurations. With the proliferation of computer work stations, and the decreasing costs for obtaining and operating various office equipment including printers, scanners, fax machines and the like, the installations of such equipment have increased, and there is an ever increasing need for electrical, communication and data transmission circuits in each defined work space. Rearrangement of the work space defined by the panels, and/or rearrangement of the equipment within the work space can result in the need to relocate the various receptacles to avoid unsightly and unsafe dependence on extension cords. 
     To meet the need for relocatable and expandable electrical, data and communication circuitry in modular wall systems, it is known to provide a wire race in the modular wall, commonly near the bottom thereof. Plugable circuit components may include distribution, jumper and receptacle elements that can be combined and configured to achieve the desired outlet locations. 
     As needs have increased, it has become more common to require receptacles on both sides of the modular wall. Separate distribution components can be used, but this requires a relatively large wire race, and can result in an undesirable amount of wires or cables in the wire race. Alternatively, components can be used to service both sides of a wall panel. Unfortunately, wall panels are provided in a variety of different thicknesses, and it has been necessary to stock specialized components for each wall width if single components are to be used to service both sides of the wall. Supply costs and storage space are increased by each different wall thickness being used. 
     What is needed in the art is a distribution terminal block that can accommodate both sides of a modular wall, and is adjustable for walls of different thicknesses. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an electrical distribution block that is adjustable in width, to accommodate walls of different thickness. 
     The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an electrical distribution block with a first connector assembly having a first plurality of electrical branch connectors and a first bridge portion including first bridge connectors electrically connected to the first plurality of electrical branch connectors. A second connector assembly has a second plurality of branch connectors and a second bridge portion including second bridge connectors electrically connected to the second plurality of electrical branch connectors. The bridge connectors of the first bridge portion and the bridge connectors of the second bridge portion are adapted for direct electrical connection to each other along a variable length establishing a variable spacing between the first connector assembly branch connectors and the second connector assembly branch connectors. 
     In another form thereof, the invention provides an electrical distribution block with a first T-shaped connector assembly having first and second branch connectors extending in opposite directions relative to each other, and first bridge connectors extending perpendicular thereto. A second T-shaped connector assembly has third and fourth branch connectors extending in opposite directions relative to each other, and second bridge connectors extending perpendicular thereto. The first and second bridge connectors are adapted for telescopic engagement with each other. 
     In a further form thereof, the invention provides an electrical distribution block with first and second oppositely directed branch connectors; third and fourth oppositely directed branch connectors disposed in parallel, spaced relation to the first and second branch connectors; and an electrical bridge disposed between and electrically connecting the first and second branch connectors with the third and fourth branch connectors. 
     An advantage of the present invention is providing a distribution block that can be connected in a distribution line to accommodate several receptacles, and can be coupled with a variety of modular components. 
     Another advantage of the invention is providing a distribution block which is adjustable to fit in modular walls of different thickness, to provide receptacle sites along opposite wall surfaces of a modular wall panel. 
     A further advantage of the invention is providing a distribution block having a variety of applications, thereby reducing the number of parts required in modular electrical power distribution systems. 
    
    
     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 exploded perspective view of an electrical distribution block according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the distribution block of FIG. 1, shown in an assembled condition from the side opposite the side shown in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modular electrical distribution system in which distribution blocks of the present invention are used. 
    
    
     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 more specifically to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, an electrical distribution block  10  of the present invention is shown. Distribution block  10  includes a first connector assembly  12  and a second connector assembly  14 , each adapted for connection to each other to form an electrically coupled structure having four sites for connecting to other components of a modular electrical distribution system  16 , described in greater detail hereinafter, illustrated in a modular wall panel  18  shown in phantom lines in FIG.  3 . First connector assembly  12  and second connector assembly  14  are joined to each other through first and second bridge portions  20  and  22 . 
     First connector assembly  12  is a substantially T-shaped structure, and includes a group of first branch connectors  30  and a group of second branch connectors  32  disposed and arranged in substantially opposite direction. First and second branch connectors  30  and  32  are configured for connection to and with other components of electrical distribution system  16  to be described hereinafter. 
     First connector assembly  12 , and specifically first bridge portion  20  thereof, includes first bridge connectors  34  electrically coupled to first and second branch connectors  30  and  32 . Bridge connectors  34  are disposed perpendicular to first and second branch connectors  30  and  32 . As those skilled in the art will readily understand, first and second branch connectors  30  and  32  and bridge connectors  34  may be formed as a series of stacked, individual terminals A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, each such terminal being essentially T-shaped and having ends each corresponding to one of the branch connectors  30  and  32  and bridge connector  34 . Thus, terminal A has first branch connector terminal end  30 A, second branch connector terminal end  32 A and bridge connector terminal end  34 A. The respective first and second branch connector ends  30 B- 30 H and  32 B- 32 H and bridge connectors  34 B-H are also shown. In various applications of the present invention, a distribution block  10  may include more or fewer first branch connectors  30 , second branch connectors  32  and bridge connectors  34  than as shown. 
     A generally T-shaped housing  36  is provided and includes first and second branch connector housings  40  and  42  surrounding first and second branch connectors  30  and  32 , respectively, and a bridge connector housing  44  surrounding bridge connectors  34 . 
     Second connector assembly  14  is also a substantially T-shaped structure, and includes a group of third branch connectors  50  and a group of fourth branch connectors  52  disposed and arranged in substantially opposite directions. Third and fourth branch connectors  50  and  52  also are configured for connection to and with other components of electrical system  16  to be described hereinafter. 
     Second connector assembly  14 , and more specifically second bridge portion  22  thereof, further includes second bridge connectors  54  electrically coupled to third and fourth branch connectors  50  and  52 . Bridge connectors  54  are disposed substantially perpendicular to third and fourth branch connectors  50  and  52 . Third and fourth branch connectors  50  and  52  and second bridge connectors  54  likewise may be formed as a series of stacked individual terminals I, J, K, L, M, N,  0  and P. Each terminal is essentially T-shaped and includes third and fourth branch connector ends  50 I-P and  52 I-P, respectively, and bridge connector ends  54 I-P. In various applications of the present invention, a distribution block  10  may include more or fewer third branch connectors  50 , fourth branch connectors  52  and second bridge connectors  54  than as shown. 
     A generally T-shaped housing  56  is provided for second connector assembly  14  and includes third and fourth branch connector housings  60  and  62  surrounding third and fourth branch connectors  50  and  52 , respectively, and a second bridge connector housing  64  surrounding bridge connectors  54 . 
     First connector assembly  12  and second connector assembly  14  are complementary halves forming distribution block  10 . First connector assembly  12  and second connector assembly  14  join to each other through first and second bridge connectors  34  and  54  and first and second bridge connector housings  44  and  64  of first and second bridge portions  20  and  22 . First bridge connectors  34  are formed as male terminals, comprising an elongated flat blade. Second bridge connectors  54  are formed as female terminals having upper and lower elements biased toward each other at the outer ends thereof. First bridge connectors  34  are received in second bridge connectors  54  and provide electrical conductivity therethrough. Electrical contact can be made anywhere along the lengths of first bridge connectors  34 . It should be understood that first and second bridge connectors  34  and  54  can be of other shapes and forms, and each may include a combination of male and female terminals. 
     First bridge connector housing  44  is provided sufficiently smaller in cross-section to be received in second bridge connector housing  64 . As thus configured, first and second bridge connectors  34  and  54  and first and second bridge connector housings  44  and  64  are telescopically engaged one with the other such that they can be overlappingly engaged to a greater or lesser length as desired. In doing so, first and second branch connectors  30  and  32 , which are oppositely directed relative to each other and substantially parallel to the similarly oppositely directed third and fourth branch connectors  50  and  52 , can be selectively arranged spaced a selectively greater or lesser distance from third and fourth branch connectors  50  and  52 . In this manner, connector block  10  can be adjusted to fit in modular wall panels  18  of different thickness, and can function to provide electrical service to both sides of modular wall panel  18 . 
     First, second, third and fourth branch connectors  30 ,  32 ,  50  and  52 , respectively, are each similarly configured to be electrically connected to other components of modular electrical distribution system  16 , and a plurality of distribution blocks  10  can be used in configuring electrical distribution system  16  as desired. 
     An example of the manner in which several distribution blocks  10  can be used is illustrated in FIG.  3 . Assuming modular wall panel  18  is a first section of a wall system, a power entry cable  70  is provided from an electrical power source (not shown) that may be an electrical breaker box or the like. With a first distribution block  10  oriented to have first and third branch connectors  30  and  50  facing toward power entry cable  70 , an end connector  72  on cable  70  can be connected to either first branch connectors  30  or third branch connectors  50 . Electrical current is thus available at second and fourth branch connectors  32  and  52  and the other of first and third branch connectors  30  or  50  that is not connected to connector  72  of cable  70 . Various combinations of receptacles  74  and jumper cables  76  having similar end connectors  72 , can be used with additional distribution blocks  10 , to configure electrical system  16  as desired, with receptacles provided in sufficient number and at convenient locations in modular wall panel  18 . By adjusting the telescopic overlap of first and second bridge connectors  34  and  54  and the telescopic overlap of first and second bridge connector housings  44  and  64 , first and second branch connectors  30  and  32  can be spaced a selected distance from third and fourth branch connectors  50  and  52  so that receptacles  74  connected on opposite sides of distribution block  10  are properly aligned with opposite faces of modular wall  18 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize the manner in which receptacles  74  and jumper cables  76  can be connected to each other and/or to one or more terminal blocks  10  to provide a series of receptacles exposed on the opposite faces of modular wall panel  18 . 
     The present invention provides a distribution block that is adjustable to fit within walls of different thickness. The number of different parts required for modular electrical systems in modular walls is reduced. 
     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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7