Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Single duct conduits
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-18
2001-01-30
Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Single duct conduits
C174S135000, C174S068100, C108S050010, C312S223600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06180884
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer desk device suitable for a network system using computers for use in a school or office environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
FIG. 1
, in a conventional computer desk device, network cables
104
are connected to computer
103
installed on desk unit
102
. Network cables
104
are secured to the back surface of desk unit
102
by securing hardware
105
, pass through cable hole
106
formed in the floor and are arranged inside wiring groove
107
formed below the floor surface.
Network junction box
108
is placed inside wiring groove
107
as shown in FIG.
2
. Network cables connected to other computers (not shown) are also connected to network junction box
108
in addition to network cable
104
connected to computer
103
. A plurality of the computers are thus interconnected to make up a network system.
The conventional computer desk device is disadvantageous in that since, holes for cables and grooves for wiring must be provided on the floor or below the floor surface, considerable time and expense are required for wiring preparation and for the actual wiring.
Furthermore, the addition of desk units or alteration of the layout of computer desk devices also necessitates extensive reconstruction of the floor for reworking the wiring grooves in the floor. On the other hand, limiting floor construction work to a minimum imposes severe constraints on the layout of desk units or computer desk devices. Devices of the prior art have therefore been unable to flexibly cope with the addition of desk units or changes in computer layout.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer desk device which enables simplified preparation for wiring and actual wiring of network cables and easy additions or changes in layout.
The computer desk device according to the present invention includes a desktop on which a computer is to be installed, and a cable accommodating means provided on the desktop for accommodating cables to be connected to computers. Such an arrangement obviates the need for preparatory work for wiring in the floor and below the floor surface, thereby greatly reducing both wiring expenses and wiring time. In addition, computer desks can be freely arranged on the floor space without taking wiring routes below the floor surface into consideration, and changes in a layout can be easily done. Finally, the proximity of the cable accommodating means to the computer installed on the desktop facilitates both the routing of the various cables to the computer and the organization of cables in the vicinity of the computer.
According to one embodiment on the present invention, the cables include at least a common power supply cable that supply power to the computer and the common network cable to which the computer is connected, and the cable accommodating means include a first cable accommodating portion for accommodating common power supply cable and a second cable accommodating portion for accommodating common network cable. The common power supply cable and the common network cable are thus separately wired inside the cable accommodating means, thereby improving the workability of maintaining the cable accommodating means.
According to another embodiment on the present invention, a network junction box to be connected to common network cables and that connects the computers is arranged in the second cable accommodating part. A plurality of computers are connected by way of a network junction box to enable the transmission and reception of data between the computers.
According to another embodiment, the first cable accommodating portion and the second cable accommodating portion are each made of a cable accommodating member with an approximately U-shaped cross-section, and a stepped portion that forms a depression for accommodating common power supply cables or common network cables and is formed in the bottom surface of a cable accommodating member.
Since, for example, the common power supply cable can be accommodated within the depression and the power supply taps to which the common power supply cables connect can be placed on the stepped portion, the power supply taps do not lie directly on the common power supply cables, and plugs can be easily inserted into the power supply taps. In addition, cable connection to a network junction box is facilitated because the network junction box does not lie directly on the common network cables even in a case in which a network junction box is arranged on the second cable accommodating part.
According to another embodiment, a protective cover is provided for covering the first cable accommodating part and second cable accommodating part in the cable accommodating means.
According to another embodiment, a surplus cable length accommodating portion for accommodating the surplus length of cables is provided in the cable accommodating means.
According to another embodiment, in the cable accommodating means is provided with an opening for leading cables out of the cable accommodating means or for leading external cables connected to cables into the cable accommodating means.
Alternatively, a surplus cable length accommodating part for accommodating surplus cable portions may be provided in the cable accommodating means in the vicinity of the desktop; and an opening may be provided in the surplus cable length accommodating part for leading cables out of the cable accommodating means or for leading external cables connected to cables into the cable accommodating means.
According to another embodiment, the opening is substantially of the same width as the cable accommodating means in the direction along one edge of the desktop. Thus, cables may be led out from the opening at any position or external cables led into the cable accommodating means from the opening at any position, thereby allowing cables to be freely wired according to the layout of computer desk devices or arrangement of computers.
According to another embodiment, a cover member that covers the opening and that is made of an elastic material is provided in the cable accommodating means. The cover member usually covers the opening, and is deformed, so that cables can be easily introduced into the opening when cables are to pass through the opening.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4762072 (1988-08-01), Boundy et al.
patent: 5243136 (1993-09-01), Chen
patent: 5265952 (1993-11-01), Greshem et al.
patent: 5526756 (1996-06-01), Watson
patent: 5693908 (1997-12-01), Amberger
patent: 5844775 (1998-12-01), Lundberg
patent: 5845587 (1998-12-01), Ditonto
patent: 5896817 (1999-04-01), Hancock
patent: 3132015 (1982-10-01), None
Ohba Kiyomitsu
Takasawa Yoshihiro
Tokunaga Masato
Kincaid Kristine
NEC Corporation
Patel Dhiru R
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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