Utility distribution system for open office plans and the like

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A utility distribution system for open office plans and the like, comprising:

a prefabricated floor construction adapted to be abuttingly supported on a building floor, and including a hollow interior portion thereof defining at least one raceway to route utilities therethrough, and a floor surface shaped to support at least one workstation thereon;

at least two utility posts for distributing utilities from said floor construction to the: workstation, and each including a foot shaped to be mounted on said floor construction to rigidly support said utility posts in a generally upstanding orientation; said utility posts each include a utility channel which communicates with the raceway in said floor construction for dispensing utilities to the workstation;

at least one utility beam extending generally horizontally between and supported by utility posts; said utility beam having at least one raceway extending longitudinally therealong: with opposite end portions thereof communicating with the utility channels in said utility posts to route utilities therebetween; and

at least two top post-extending transition elements telescopically received by said utility posts mounting said utility beams to upper ends of said utility posts.

2. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said utility beam is supported on said utility posts at an overhead elevation to collectively define therebetween a portal.

3. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said utility beam is configured to be mounted on said utility posts at various elevations therealong.

4. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said raceway includes an open side with a detachable cover selectively enclosing the same.

5. A utility distribution system for open office plans and the like, comprising:

a prefabricated floor construction adapted to be abuttingly supported on a building floor, and including a hollow interior portion thereof defining at least one raceway to route utilities therethrough, and a floor surface shaped to support at least one workstation thereon;

at least two utility posts for distributing utilities from said floor construction to the workstation, and each including a foot shaped to be mounted on said floor construction to rigidly support said utility posts in a generally upstanding orientation; said utility posts each include a utility channel which communicates with the raceway in said floor construction for dispensing utilities to the workstation;

at least one utility beam extending generally horizontally between and supported by said utility posts; said utility beam including first and second raceway channels extending longitudinally therealong, which are physically separated from one another to define two mutually isolated raceways, and having opposite end portions thereof communicating with the utility channels in said utility posts to route utilities therebetween, and

at least two top transition elements mounting said utility beam to upper ends of said utility posts.

6. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said utility beam includes an accessory channel extending longitudinally therealong, which is configured to support accessories thereon.

7. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said utility beam includes a plurality of junction risers extending generally vertically between said raceway channels and said accessory channel, and are fixedly connected therewith to rigidify said utility beam.

8. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said junction risers each include an interior portion each shaped to mount a utility junction therein.

9. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said top transition elements each include first and second cavities communicating with the first and second raceway channels in said utility beam.

10. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said first and second raceway channels are positioned back-to-back, and include removable covers to selectively enclose the same.

11. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said first and second raceway channels each include a plurality of windows opening through lower flange portions thereof to communicate with the interior portion of an associated junction riser.

12. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said top transition elements each have a generally X-shaped plan configuration.

13. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said utility beam is supported on said utility posts at an overhead elevation to collectively define therebetween a portal.

14. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

each of said first and second raceway channels includes an open side with a detachable cover selectively enclosing the same.

15. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said floor surface comprises a plurality of cover plates juxtaposed to form a substantially continuous floor area.

16. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said utility post foot is shaped to replace at least one of said cover plates.

17. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said utility post has a generally X-shaped plan configuration with four outwardly oriented U-shaped channels which define between opposite side flange portions thereof four mounting channels, and define between adjacent U-shaped channels four of said utility channels, each having a generally V-shaped plan configuration.

18. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

said utility beam is configured to be mounted on said utility posts at various elevations therealong.

19. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said utility beam end portions are configured to be closely received in associated ones of said utility post mounting channels.

20. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said top transition elements are vertically aligned with said utility posts, wherein each includes four outwardly oriented U-shaped channels which define between opposite side flange portions thereof four mounting channels, and define between adjacent U-shaped channels four utility channels, each having a generally V-shaped plan configuration.

21. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 20, wherein:

said top transition elements each include apertures through said opposite side flange portions thereof to thread utility conduits between said mounting channels and said utility channels.

22. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

said top transition elements each include a lower end shaped to be telescopingly received in the upper end of an associated one of said utility posts.

23. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 22, including:

a pair of top clips mounted on the opposite end portions of utility beam to connect said utility beam with said top transition elements.

24. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 23, wherein:

said floor construction includes a plurality of floor pans arranged in a mutually adjacent, lattice-like arrangement, and adapted to support said cover plates thereon.

25. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said utility post foot has a generally X-shaped plan configuration with four outwardly radiating legs between which open areas are defined.

26. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

said utility post legs are vertically inclined, and include covers extending therebetween to enclose the same.

27. A utility distribution system for open office plans and the like, comprising:

a prefabricated floor construction adapted to be abuttingly supported on a building floor, and including a hollow interior portion thereof defining at least one raceway to route utilities therethrough, and a floor surface .shaped to support at least one workstation thereon;

at least two utility posts for distributing utilities from said floor construction to the workstation, and each including a foot shaped to be mounted on said floor construction to rigidly support said utility posts in a generally upstanding orientation; said utility posts each include a utility channel which communicates with the raceway in said floor construction for dispensing utilities to the workstation;

at least one utility beam extending generally horizontally between and supported by said utility posts; said utility beam having at least one raceway extending longitudinally therealong and having opposite end portions thereof communicating with the utility channels in said utility posts to route utilities therebetween and also including an accessory channel extending longitudinally therealong, which is configured to support accessories thereon, at least two top transition elements mounting said utility beam to upper ends of said utility posts.

28. A utility distribution system for open office plans and the like, comprising:

a prefabricated floor construction adapted to be abuttingly supported on a building floor, and including a hollow interior portion thereof defining at least one raceway to route utilities therethrough, and a floor surface shaped to support at least one workstation thereon;

at least two utility posts for distributing utilities from said floor construction to the workstation, and each including a foot shaped to be mounted on said floor construction to rigidly support said utility posts in a generally upstanding orientation; said utility posts each include a utility channel which communicates with the raceway in said floor construction for dispensing utilities to the workstation;

at least one utility beam extending generally horizontally between and supported by said utility posts; said utility beam having at least one raceway extending longitudinally therealong with opposite end portions thereof communicating with the utility channels in said utility posts to route utilities therebetween, and including a plurality of junction risers to rigidify said utility beam; and

at least two top transition elements mounting said utility beam to upper ends of said utility posts.

29. A utility distribution system for open office plans and the like, comprising:

a prefabricated floor construction adapted to be abuttingly supported on a building floor, and including a hollow interior portion thereof defining at least one raceway to route utilities therethrough, and a floor surface shaped to support at least one workstation thereon;

at least two utility posts for distributing utilities from said floor construction to the workstation, and each including a foot shaped to be mounted on said floor construction to rigidly support said utility posts in a generally upstanding orientation; said utility posts having a generally X-shaped plan configuration with four outwardly oriented U-shaped channels each of which communicates with the raceway in said floor construction for dispensing utilities to the workstation and which define between opposite side flange portions thereof four mounting channels, and define between adjacent U-shaped channels four utility channels, each having a generally V-shape plan configuration

at least one utility beam extending generally horizontally between and supported by said utility posts; said utility beam having at least one raceway extending longitudinally therealong with opposite end portions thereof communicating with the utility channels in said utility posts to route utilities therebetween; and

at least two top transition elements mounting said utility beam to upper ends of said utility posts.

30. A utility distribution system for open office plans and the like, comprising:

at least two posts, each including a foot shaped to be mounted on an associated building floor surface to rigidly support said posts in a generally upstanding orientation; said utility posts each include at least one utility channel which extends longitudinally along a substantial portion of the same;

at least on utility beam extending generally horizontally between and supported by said utility posts; said utility beam having at least one raceway extending longitudinally therealong with opposite end portions thereof communicating with the utility channels in said utility posts to route utilities therebetween; and

at least two top post-extending transition elements telescopically received by said utility posts mounting said utility beam to upper ends of said utility posts.

31. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 30, wherein:

said utility beam includes first and second raceway channels extending longitudinally therealong, which are physically separated from one another to define two mutually isolated raceways.

32. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 31, wherein:

said utility beam includes an accessory channel extending longitudinally therealong, which is configured to support accessories thereon.

33. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 32, wherein:

said utility beam includes a plurality of junction risers extending generally vertically between said raceway channels and said accessory channel to rigidify said utility beam.

34. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 33, wherein:

said junction risers each have an interior portion shaped to mount a utility junction therein.

35. A utility distribution system as set forth in claim 34, wherein:

said top transition elements each include first and second cavities communicating with the first and second raceway channels in said utility beam.

36. A utility distribution system for open office plans and the like, comprising:

a prefabricated floor construction adapted to be abuttingly supported on a building floor, and including a hollow interior portion thereof defining at least one raceway to route utilities therethrough, and a floor surface shaped to support at least one workstation thereon;

at least two utility posts for distributing utilities from said floor construction to the workstation, and each including a foot shaped to be mounted on said floor construction to rigidly support said utility posts in a generally upstanding orientation; said utility posts each include a utility channel which communicates with the raceway in said floor construction for dispensing utilities to the workstation;

at least one utility beam extending generally horizontally between and supported by said utility posts; said utility beam having at least one raceway extending longitudinally therealong with opposite end portions thereof communicating with the utility channels in said utility posts to route utilities therebetween; and wherein

at least one of said utility posts has four outwardly radiating legs between which open areas are defined, and said legs are vertically inclined, and include covers extending therebetween to enclose the same.