Electricity: conductors and insulators – Overhead – Towers – poles or posts
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-24
2001-11-13
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Overhead
Towers, poles or posts
C174S058000, C220S004020, C439S535000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06316725
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
NOT APPLICABLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to underfloor electrical distribution systems, and, more particularly, to improved underfloor preset and afterset housings. Modern office buildings require electric power, communication, and computer data services in various combinations at a large number of locations. In many instances these needs are addressed by underfloor distribution systems consisting of a network of ducts or raceways that are mounted in concrete floors. Access to the underfloor service raceways may be obtained through preset housings that mount on the raceways at regular intervals, usually 24 inches on center, before the concrete floor is poured. The preset defines a hollow interior compartment that is interconnected with the interior of the duct to provide access to the services that are carried in the raceway. The preset includes a removable mud cap that is generally parallel to the surface of the floor and is positioned slightly below the surface of the concrete floor. The mud cap serves to prevent concrete from entering the interior compartment of the preset when the floor is poured. After the concrete floor has hardened, the concrete above the mud cap is broken away and the mud cap is removed to provide access to the interior of the preset. An activation assembly that provides for power or data outlets may then be installed on the preset.
Access to the raceways may also be provided through afterset housings that are attached to the raceway after the concrete floor has been poured and is set. Aftersets are installed by cutting a hole in the concrete above the raceway and then securing the afterset to an opening that is cut in the raceway after the concrete has been removed to provide access to the raceway. Like a preset, the afterset defines hollow interior compartment that is interconnected with the interior of the raceway to provide access to the services that are carried in the raceway. The afterset is configured to support various activation kits, such as duplex outlets, phone outlets, coaxial connectors or fiber optics connectors.
In both presets and aftersets it is desirable to provide a housing that is gangable so that multiple services can be provided at a single location.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a preset that can be converted for use as an afterset housing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide presets and afterset housings that are gangable to provide multiple services at a single location.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a manner for aligning and interconnecting preset and afterset housings carried by adjacent raceway panels.
Still another object of the invention is to provide preset and afterset housings that can accommodate a wide variety of activation assemblies.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide preset and afterset housings that are economical to manufacture in mass production, and easy to install in the field.
According to one aspect of the present invention, afterset housings are provided and are configured for connection to the raceway panels by removing the concrete above the raceway panel, cutting a hole in the raceway panel, and securing the housing in the hole in the raceway panel. Alignment clips allow the afterset housings to be ganged together to form an integral afterset assembly. Each alignment clip is configured to slidably engage with a pair of the afterset housings. In one embodiment, the afterset housing comprises a preset housing that is normally configured for connection to the raceway panel prior to pouring of the concrete floor, and an adapter connectable to the preset housing and being constructed to reconfiguring the preset for use as an afterset housing which is adapted for connection to the raceway panel following pouring of the concrete floor.
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Cole Michael T.
Penczak John P.
Russo Thomas R.
Young Joe
McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd.
Patel Dhiru R
Reichard Dean A.
Walker Systems, Inc.
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