U.S. patent number 3,683,100 [Application Number 05/086,758] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-08 for modular wall and ceiling system.
Invention is credited to Clive Nall, 258 Curlew Court, John V. Deal, 1237 Manet Dr..
United States Patent |
3,683,100 |
|
August 8, 1972 |
MODULAR WALL AND CEILING SYSTEM
Abstract
A suspended ceiling grid frame provides an upper support for
prefabricated modular wall sections or panels that can be connected
to the grid frame in different arrangements to provide the desired
floor plan. An interfacing means on the top edges of the wall
sections or panels secures them in place to the ceiling grid frame
and allows the wall panels to be installed or removed rapidly with
a minimum of labor. Electrical power lines and audio or video
signal communication cables located above the ceiling grid may be
connected to the interfacing means so that power or signal energy
can be supplied to particular wall sections or panels capable of
transmitting both signal and power energy from their interfacing
means to either predesignated or randomly located outlets on the
sides of the wall sections.
Inventors: |
John V. Deal, 1237 Manet Dr.
(Sunnyvale, CA 23187), Clive Nall, 258 Curlew Court (Foster
City, CA 94404) |
Family
ID: |
22200716 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/086,758 |
Filed: |
November 4, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/491; 174/495;
52/243.1; 52/64; 52/220.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G
3/00 (20130101); H04B 3/54 (20130101); H04B
2203/5483 (20130101); H04B 2203/5441 (20130101); H04B
2203/5416 (20130101); H04B 2203/545 (20130101); H04B
2203/5445 (20130101); H04B 2203/5491 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H02G
3/00 (20060101); H04B 3/54 (20060101); H02g
003/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;174/48,49
;52/220,221,64,27,39,238 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lewis H. Myers
Assistant Examiner: D. A. Tone
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Owen, Wickersham & Erickson
Claims
1. In a building having structural sidewalls and a ceiling, an
internal, changeable wall system comprising: a ceiling grid frame
suspended at a predetermined distance downwardly from and supported
by the building ceiling and to one or more of its structural walls,
said grid frame being comprised of rigid members having a series of
longitudinally spaced apart openings; a plurality of prefabricated
wall panel members attached at predetermined locations to said grid
frame to form vertical walls of space dividers in accordance with a
desired floor plan, said wall panels having generally hollow
cylindrical connector means mounted on and projecting upwardly from
their top edge and expanding through said openings in said grid
members, and means removably engaging said connector means for
securing said panels to said grid frame but enabling them to be
removed when it becomes
2. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said frame members
are metallic members having a pair of spaced apart vertical side
portions interconnected by a horizontal web portion provided with
said spaced apart openings, and horizontal flange portions
extending outwardly from said
3. The system as described in claim 2 including ceiling panels and
light fixtures supported on said horizontal flange portions of said
metallic
4. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said panel comprises
a pair of spaced apart outer skin members of rigid material
fastened to peripheral frame members in a rectangular
configuration, filler material within said frame members and
between said skin members, and a rigid top
5. The system as described in claim 3 wherein said top edge member
is a rigid metallic member having vertical sides that lie flush
against said outer skin members and a connecting horizontal web
portion through which
6. The system as described in claim 3 wherein said connector means
on each said panel, each have a barrel portion with external
threads, a tapered upper end, a nut threaded to said barrel portion
and bearing against a ceiling frame member, and base means for said
barrel portion anchored to
7. The system as described in claim 3 including rigid metal edge
members fixed to the adjoining vertical edges of two said panels,
said edge members including central portions between vertical
flanges forming a recess, and a vertical strip of resiliently
yieldable material within said
8. The system as described in claim 1 including a yieldable,
resiliently deformable strip member between the top edge of each
wall panel and the
9. The system as described in claim 1 including electrical
receptacle means on the top edge of said wall panels, cable means
above said ceiling grid frame for transmitting electrical power and
having junction means for connecting it to said electrical
receptacle means, and conductive core means within said wall panel
for interconnecting said electrical receptacle means with an
electrical outlet fixed to an outer surface of
10. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said electrical
receptacle means and said connector means both are combined in
generally cylindrical
11. A ceiling and wall system for buildings comprising: a grid of
interconnected frame members adapted to be suspended above the
building floor; cable means above said ceiling structure for
supplying electrical power; a series of upright prefabricated
demountable wall sections and connector means at the upper end of
each wall section for attaching it to one of said frame members and
for also connecting it to said cable means; means for transmitting
electrical power through said wall sections; and electrical outlet
means attached to the side of said panel sections for
12. A ceiling and wall electrical power and signal distribution
system for buildings comprising: a gridlike ceiling structure
comprised of interconnected frame members adapted to be suspended
above the building floor; conduit means above said ceiling
structure for supplying electrical power and signal energy; a
series of upright wall members and connector means at the upper end
of said wall member for attaching it to one of said frame members
and including receptacle means for electrically coupling it to said
conduit means; means for transmitting electrical power and signal
energy internally through said wall members; and electrical outlet
means attached to the side of said wall members for
13. The system as described in claim 12 wherein said wall member is
a prefabricated wall panel having spaced apart outer sheet members,
and said means for transmitting power and signal energy through
said member is a central planar conductive member covering an
extensive area between said sheet members, so that said outlet
means may be located anywhere within an area defined by said
extensive area for extracting power or signal energy
14. The system as described in claim 13 wherein said central planar
conductive member has an area less than one-half of the panel
itself and
15. The system as described in claim 13 wherein said connector
means for attaching each wall panel comprises a plurality of spaced
apart cylindrical receptacles on the top edge of said wall panel,
which extend
16. The system as described in claim 14 wherein said receptacles
are generally cylindrical with external threads and a tapered upper
end
17. The system as described in claim 15 wherein said conduit means
includes a junction unit with coaxial connectors for said conduit
means and said
18. The system as described in claim 16 wherein said junction unit
includes a coupling capacitor for transmitting signal energy and a
choke coil for transmitting low frequency power from said conduit
means to said
19. The system as described in claim 14 wherein said central planar
conductive member is supported within a tank-like enclosure formed
by thin walls of conductive material and located between outer
structural skins of said wall panel, and a coaxial cable section
connected from one said
20. The system as described in claim 19 wherein said coaxial cable
section has a conductive outer shield which is grounded to said
tank-like
21. The system as described in claim 19 including layers of
dielectric material within said tank-like enclosure on opposite
sides of said central
22. The system as described in claim 21 wherein said electrical
outlet means includes a signal outlet receptacle comprised of a
monopole probe extending through an exterior skin of a said wall
panel through an insulated opening in a wall of said tank-like
enclosure and into said dielectric material, with its end spaced
from said central planar member.
23. The system as described in claim 21 wherein said electrical
outlet means includes a first conductor extending through an
exterior skin, through an insulated opening on a wall of said
tank-like enclosure and into contact with said central planar
member, and a second conductor extending through an exterior skin
and contacting a wall of said tank-like
24. A prefabricated wall panel adapted for connection with a
ceiling grid frame installed in a building comprising: a series of
rigid frame members near the edges of said panel; a pair of
parallel spaced apart external sheet members forming the sides of
said panel and fixed to said frame members; a plurality of
generally hollow cylindrical, spaced apart connector means fixed to
and projecting upwardly from the top edge of said panel adapted to
extend through openings in the ceiling grid frame for holding the
wall
25. The wall panel as described in claim 24 including a rigid top
edge
26. The wall panel as described in claim 26 wherein said top edge
member is a rigid metallic member having vertical sides that lie
flush against said outer skin members and a connecting horizontal
web portion through which
27. The wall panel as described in claim 27 wherein said connector
means on each said panel comprises a plurality of generally
cylindrical members, each having barrel portion with external
threads, a tapered upper end, a nut threaded to said barrel portion
and bearing against a ceiling frame member, and base means for said
barrel portion anchored to said panel
28. A prefabricated wall panel adapted for connection with a
ceiling grid frame installed in a building comprising: a series of
rigid frame members near the edges of said panel; a pair of
parallel spaced apart external sheet members forming the sides of
said panel and fixed to said frame members; a plurality of
generally cylindrical, spaced apart connector means fixed to and
projecting upwardly from the top edge of said panel adapted to
extend through openings in the ceiling grid frame for holding the
wall panel in position thereon, said connector means comprising a
plurality of generally cylindrical members spaced apart and
attached to the upper frame member of the panel, each cylindrical
member also having means for connecting it to a coaxial cable
supplying electrical power and signal energy to the panel.
29. The wall panel as described in claim 25 including means located
between said external sheet members forming a tank-like enclosure
of relatively thin conductive material, a central planar conductive
member supported within said enclosure, and a section of coaxial
cable extending downwardly from one of said cylindrical connector
members, through said panel and
30. The wall panel as described in claim 29 wherein said coaxial
cable section has a conductive outer shield which is grounded to
said tank-like
31. The wall panel as described in claim 29 including layers of
dielectric material within said tank-like enclosure on opposite
sides of said planar member.
Description
This invention relates to movable building interior systems
comprised of suspended ceilings and demountable wall structures,
and more particularly it relates to an improved system comprised of
an integrated ceiling grid frame and wall panels connected thereto
including means capable of distributing electrical power and
various forms of data and communication signals.
Modern buildings, such as schools, various business offices and
hospitals have widely varying requirements for electrical power and
communication facilities. Conventional interior structures for such
buildings which are necessary to provide the various walls,
partitions or dividers for establishing the predetermined floor
plan were expensive and time consuming to install. Also, in such
buildings there was often a need to change the floor plan
arrangement as well as the type and location of power and
communication facilities at various locations in order to
accommodate different building uses or new equipment. Since the
requirements for such facilities in many fields constantly vary, it
is not practical or economical to erect permanent building
interiors. Heretofore, various forms of temporary or movable
interior wall systems devised for sub-dividing space in buildings
were generally unsatisfactory because they failed to provide an
adequate wall/ceiling interface designed for rapid relocation.
Furthermore, previous demountable wall and ceiling designs did not
solve the problem of distributing electrical power and audio-video
signals to accommodate the different and ever increasing numbers of
apparatus and equipment. The present invention solves this
problem.
A general object of the present invention is to provide an
improved, highly versatile modular system of interchangeable,
demountable wall panels that are connectable to and detachable from
a ceiling grid system specifically designed to accommodate said
panels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide improved wall
panels for use with a ceiling grid system which can be made from
readily available materials and are therefore particularly well
adapted for ease and economy of manufacture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide improved wall
panels in combination with a ceiling grid and coaxial jumper cable
system which are capable of transmitting electrical power and also
signal energy for accommodating electrical apparatus or
communication facilities, such as various types of video or audio
systems, intercom, telephone, patient monitoring systems, and data
transmission systems.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide wall
panels for use with a ceiling grid system which can transmit or
distribute electrical power and on which an outlet can be installed
at any preselected, random location thereon.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
relocatable, demountable wall panel which can be easily installed
or removed without the need of special tools or highly skilled
labor and which will provide a structurally satisfactory and eye
pleasing joint with the ceiling grid despite small dimensional
variances that may occur.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved wall panel for attachment to a ceiling grid system which
has sufficient strength and rigidity to furnish the structural
support afforded by conventional wall structures and which also
provides satisfactory acoustical characteristics between rooms
formed by the wall panels.
The aforesaid and other objects of the present invention are
accomplished by a system which broadly comprises a ceiling frame
that forms a gridlike pattern of structural members that are
anchored to and suspend from the main structural ceiling of a
building. This suspended ceiling grid creates a space between it
and the building ceiling which can accommodate any type of service
line, cable or conduit for electricity, power or signal energy,
gas, water or any other form of energy or material that may be used
in a room below the ceiling grid. A plurality of prefabricated wall
panels have means for interfacing with the ceiling grid so that
they can be connected to any grid member and thus be arranged in
any pattern to form a desired floor plan. These wall panels may
also connect with any of the cables or conduits carrying the energy
or material desired and within them are means for receiving and
distributing this energy or material to receptacles installed on
its outer surfaces from which it may be extracted for use in the
room. Because of the internal structure of the panels the
receptacles may be installed at randomly selected locations either
before or after the wall panels are installed on the ceiling
grid.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a building interior with a
suspended ceiling and wall system embodying the principles of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the ceiling and wall system of
FIG. 1 taken from above the ceiling grid level;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric distribution system for
ceiling and wall panel installation according to the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective and in section showing
portions of a ceiling grid and wall panel structure according to
the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a vertical edge
portion of a wall panel member according to our invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view in section showing a joint
between two of the wall panels like the one shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view in elevation and in section with portions broken
away showing the internal structure of a wall panel connected to a
ceiling member in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation and in section
showing the upper end portion of a receptacle-connector for the
wall panel of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective and in
section showing the internal "tank" portion of the wall panel of
FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a view in perspective showing schematically how a wall
panel is installed to a ceiling grid frame in accordance with our
invention;
FIG. 11 is a view in perspective showing how a series of our wall
panels can be connected to a ceiling grid frame to form a series of
rooms;
FIG. 12 is a view in perspective showing another form of ceiling
grid frame with attached wall panels according to our invention;
and
FIG. 13 is an enlarged view in perspective of a section of grid
frame and an attached wall panel from the installation of FIG.
12.
As shown in FIG. 2, the connectors 26 on certain wall panels 20a
may also serve as receptacles for electrical junction units 28
attached to an electrical transmission cable 30 or to jumper cables
30a. The ceiling grid 24 which is suspended from and anchored to
the structural ceiling of the building provides an upper space
above it to accommodate the electrical cables which furnish both
power and communication signals to the wall panels 20a or transmit
it from panel to panel as will be described below. Depending on the
particular arrangement desired and the facilities required for the
building, only a limited number of the wall panels 20a are used and
supplied with power and signal energy while considerably more
panels 20 may provide merely the typical wall function of dividing
or separating one area from another.
As will be seen, however, the wall panels 20a capable of
transmitting both power and signal energy are an important feature
of our invention and make possible a high degree of flexibility and
versatility in the use of building space. For example, FIG. 3 is a
block diagram representing a typical audio-video and/or data
transmission system that may utilize our ceiling grid and wall
panel system by the distribution of electrical power and signals to
the receptacle-connectors 26 of wall panels 20a arranged in some
preselected but changeable pattern. In this example, a.c. power
(e.g. 230 volts) from a conventional outside source is supplied to
a power transformer 32 which steps it down to some lower level such
as 24 volts. Signal energy may be derived from video modulators 34
such as videotape recorders, video disc recorders or any video
source equipment, data or computer modulators 36, audio sources
such as F.M. modulators 38, tape recorders, live microphones or
other communications modulators 40. This signal energy is supplied
through a signal combiner 42 and a directional filter and coupler
44 to a signal-power interface component 46.
As shown in FIG. 2, this interface component may be a single box
that includes the power transformer which can be mounted in any
convenient location above the ceiling grid. From the interface box
46, a single transmission cable 30 that carries both electrical
power and signals extends to the desired number of wall panels 20a
adapted to receive power and signal energy. Additional jumper
cables 30a may serve to interconnect any pair of panels, as shown
in FIG. 2. An additional power tap 50 from the power interface box
46 may be provided to a distribution bus 52 for use as a low
voltage source through wires 54 to conventional ceiling lights 56
supported by the ceiling grid or to air conditioning controls and
the like.
Now, with the general concept of the present system in mind, its
various structural components will be described in greater detail.
For example, the ceiling grid 24 as shown in one form in greater
detail in FIG. 4, is made up from channel shaped frame members 58
that are parallel and spaced apart and interconnected by similar
cross members 58a. The spacing of these members is preferably
uniform at some selected distance (e.g. 4 or 5 feet) so that the
ceiling grid forms a large plurality of uniform squares or
rectangles. Each of these frame members, which are preferably light
metal or plastic extrusions, has spaced apart and parallel vertical
sides 60 connected by a web 62 near their lower edges. Horizontal
flanges 64 extending outwardly from each lower edge are adapted to
support ceiling panels 66 or light fixtures 56 between the frame
members 58 and 58a, as previously mentioned. Spaced at intervals
along the upright sides of the ceiling members 58 are pairs of
holes, each one of which supports a transverse pin 72. This pin
extends through the lower end of a strap 74 whose upper end is
anchored in some suitable manner to the structural building ceiling
above it. The scraps may be adjustable in length so that the
ceiling grid can be suspended at a uniform height even if the
building ceiling is irregular. Along the web portion of the ceiling
grid members are spaced apart elongated openings 76 of a uniform
width which receive the boss-like connector-receptacles 26 on the
wall panels 20 that may bring both power and signal energy into the
wall panels and also serve to secure them to the ceiling grid. The
cross members 58 and 58a may be connected together by welding or by
suitable fasteners, and along each wall a ceiling grid member is
attached to a spacer member 78 such as a wood strip that is fixed
to the building wall by suitable fasteners.
The wall panels 20 according to our invention comprise generally a
pair of parallel, outer skin panels 78 of uniform thickness. These
may be made of any suitable non-conductible sheet material such as
plywood, a plastic or cellulose composition, gypsum or a
combination of such materials. These outer skin panels are spaced
apart by and attached to upper and lower frame members 80 and to
vertical frame members 82 along the sides. All of these frame
members are formed from some rigid, non-conductive material such as
wood or plastic.
Attached to the top of each panel is an extruded metal member 84
having a central web portion 86 and side flanges 88 that extend
downwardly over and fit tightly against the skin panels. Each
connector-receptacle 26 has a base plate 90 that is anchored by
screws 92 or other suitable means to an upper frame member 82. An
externally threaded barrel portion of the connector extends
upwardly from its base plate 90 through an opening in the web 86 of
the metal member 84. A large nut 94 is threaded to the connector
barrel and bears against the web 86 to hold the metal member on the
panel. Between the metal member of each panel and a ceiling grid
member is provided a yieldable strip member 96, which is made from
some flexible, resilient material such as foamed plastic. This
strip member affords an adjustable sealing joint between the
members 58 and 84 that will enable the panel 20 to fit properly to
the ceiling grid member despite small dimensional irregularities.
When each panel is in place, the strip member 96 is compressed and
tends to fill the space formed by the webs of the members 58 and
84, thereby providing a light-proof, sound-proof seal between the
panel and its grid members. As the panels are installed their
connectors 26 extend through the elongated openings 76 in the
ceiling members 58 or 58a and these openings are purposely made
fairly wide and long so that all panels can be easily installed or
removed and can be adjusted laterally to some degree.
In many installations it may be desirable to install the panels 20
in an end-to-end arrangement to create a relatively long room or
wall. In such cases adjoining panels may abut together and each is
provided with an end edge that will retain a vertical sealing strip
98 between the panels, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the
construction shown, each panel edge is formed from a pair of
identical metal edge members 100 with inwardly bent central
portions 102 that overlap at the center line of the panel edge,
with each having an outer flange 104 that fits around the corner of
the panel skin member 78. Another flange 106 extends outwardly from
the central portion 102 and the outer flange 104 of each edge
member 100. Thus, the two overlapped edge members form a
longitudinal recess between the flanges 106 for the vertical
sealing strip 98. The flanges 106 may have vertically spaced apart
slots 108 in them, if desired, so that they can support hangers 110
for shelving and the like as shown in FIG. 5.
As just described, the panel 20 provides a structural or divider
function for forming rooms or spaces of the desired floor plan. We
shall now describe in greater detail the modified wall panel 20a
which, in addition to its normal wall function, also provides for
the distribution and access of electrical power and signal energy.
The general structural elements of this power and signal panel 20a
may be the same as for the panel 20, that is, it has outer skins or
panels 78 attached to top, bottom and side frame members 80 and 82.
However, within the space between the outer skins is a tank-like
enclosure 112 made of conductive material such as a thin sheet
metal or metal foil which provides an electrical ground as well as
a shield for R.F. energy released within the enclosure. Opposite
sides 114 of conductive material forming this enclosure lie flush
against the inner surfaces of the outer panel skins 78, and they
connect along their edges to top and bottom members 116 and 118 and
to side portions that lie flush against the side frame members. The
size of this tank 112 may vary as desired depending on how the
panel is to be used and how much area will be required for signal
and power outlets. For example, in some panels 20a, the entire
lower half may be occupied by a tank enclosure 112, whereas in
others a smaller or larger tank within the panel may be used.
Spaced midway between and parallel to the opposite conductive sides
within each tank is a center conductor plate 120 which is made of a
thin sheet of metal or other conductive material. The lower edge of
this plate is spaced above the bottom of the tank and is surrounded
on opposite sides by and thus encased within a dielectric material
122 which is preferably a foamed plastic such as polyurethane.
At its upper end the center plate is connected to a coaxial cable
124 that extends vertically upwardly through the panel and through
a central bore 126 on the connector-receptacle 26. Surrounding the
section of cable within the panel is a jacket 128 of hard plastic
(FIG. 9). Also, a body of dielectric material 130 such as foamed
plastic, paper or glass fiber material fills the space around the
cable between the panel skins. The coaxial cable may be of the
conventional type with an outer braided conductive cover 132 and a
central copper conductor 134 separated by a plastic insulator 136.
As best shown in FIG. 9, the central conductor is connected to the
side of the center plate by some convenient means such as a
terminal button brazed thereto, and the braided cover 132 is flared
outwardly and attached as be welding it to the inside surface of
the tank wall, thereby providing a ground connection.
At its upper end the cable section 124 extends through the bore of
the receptacle barrel portion and is attached to one part of a
coaxial connector 138 fixed to its upper tapered end portion 140.
The mating part 146a of the connector is fixed to a junction unit
28 in the main transmission cable 30 or jumper cable 30a. Each
junction unit, as shown schematically in FIG. 7, contains a main
line conductor 144 extending between two male connector members 146
mounted at opposite ends of the unit. Extending from a junction in
the conductor 144 is another branch conductor 148 which is series
connected and transmits signal energy through a coupling capacitor
150 to another male connector member 146a mounted on a bottom side
of the junction unit. The amount of coupling may be adjusted by
changing the value of the capacitor 150. A choke coil 152 which is
also connected between the junction of lines 144 and 148 and the
male connector member 146a is used to couple low frequency (60
cycle) 24 volt electrical power to the center conductor plate 120.
When the junction unit is installed, its end connectors are
connected to an inlet end 154 of one jumper cable 30a and an outlet
end 156 of another jumper cable, both of which are provided with
mating connector members. Similarly, the bottom junction unit
connector 146a is attached to the connector 138 on the tip of the
receptacle 28. With this arrangement, the electrical power in the
inlet jumper cable is supplied through the central core conductor
134 direct to the conductor plate 120 within the panel tank 112.
Signal energy is simultaneously supplied through the coaxial cable
central core and through the coupling capacitor to the central
conductor plate. The latter thus radiates the RF signal energy
which is confined within the shielding tank 112. The choke coil 152
functions to prevent any interference between the power and signal
energy paths.
FIG. 8 shows in greater detail one form of a coaxial connector 158
for use with the present system including the female connector
member 138 which is fixed to the upper end of the connector
receptacle 26 and also to the ends of the jumper cables and the
male connector members 146 which are fixed to the junction
unit.
The upper end of the coaxial cable 124 extends into a metal
connector body 138 that is attached at its lower end, as by welding
or soldering, to the upper end of the receptacle 26. The braided
cover portion 132 of the cable end is soldered to the walls of this
connector body. At the upper end of the connector body 138 is an
enlarged cylindrical portion 160 filled with a hard insulation
material 162 having a series of locator protuberances 164 on its
upper service. Within the insulation 162, the center cable
conductor 134 is soldered to a tubular connector pin 166 that
extends above it. The male connector body 146 is tubular with a
base flange 168 that enables it to be secured to the junction unit
by some type of fasteners. Within the body is tubular pin socket
170 that is anchored within a surrounding body 172 of insulator
material such as a hard plastic which has recesses 174 to receive
the protuberances 164 on the connector member 164. The wire 148
within the junction unit is secured to the inner end portion of the
pin socket 170. While the connector members 138 and 146 exemplify
one preferred embodiment of coaxial connector, it should be
understood that other connectors could be used within the scope of
the present invention.
An important feature of the present invention is that the power and
signal energy supplied to the wall panels can be extracted from
them at any randomly, selected location included within the area of
the central core or plate 120 within the internal tank or enclosure
112. As previously described, this central core or conductor
surrounded on opposite sides by the dielectric material 122 may
extend practically the entire height of the panel so that power and
signal outlets may be installed almost anywhere, or for other
installations it may cover only a lower portion of the panel.
In order to extract both signal and power from this wall section,
it is necessary to install both a receptacle and an associated
connecting device which will meet with the conducting surfaces of
the inner core section of the wall panel. This can readily be
accomplished in the following manner, as shown in FIG. 7. Once the
location for extraction of power has been made, a clearance hole
173 is drilled through the surface skin panel 78, through the metal
external shielding wall 114 of the tank enclosure 112 and into the
center conductor plate 120 for the power extraction. A screw-type
conductor 117 forming one terminal 175 of a power socket 176 is now
placed through this hole and secured to the central core member 120
as by an expandable self-locking and nut 178 of the well known
type. The other terminal 175a of this power socket is connected to
one of a pair of connecting screws 180 which is itself secured to
the ground conductor layer or wall 114 of the tank 112 on the
inside of the skin panel.
To install a receptacle 182 for signal only extraction, it will be
necessary to drill a hole 184 through the surface panel 78, the
shield conductor or tank wall 114 and into the dielectric material
122 which fills the void between the center conductor plate 120 and
the outside shield conductor layer 114. Now, secured to this
surface panel is a signal connector such as a U.H.F. type coaxial
connector having a monopole antenna probe 186 mounted directly to
its center pin. The end of this monopole antenna is spaced from the
central plate 120 and intercepts the signal energy which radiates
from it through the adjacent dielectric portion 122.
The thickness of the central core 120 of our panels 20a can be
designed to form a universal "element" which can be used in a
number of different walls manufactured for different installations.
Also, various types of signal connectors which can be inserted into
the wall for extracting signal energy may be used within the scope
of the present invention, and the example shown is not intended to
be limiting in any sense.
An advantage of having the continuous tank-like metal shield 112
which forms the inner core of the wall 20a is that, regardless of
the direction which the power or signal extraction receptacle
enters the wall, it will always come in contact with the exterior
or grounded side of the power and signal system first. Thus, the
exterior mounting hardware for a receptacle is electrically
grounded to those parts which will meet with the external or
outside conductor of the wall core, thereby causing all exterior
parts and hardware to be at ground potential.
From the foregoing it is seen that once the wall panels 20a are
installed, any number of power or signal receptacles 176 or 182 can
be quickly installed at the desired randomly selected locations,
and these receptacles can be connected to any apparatus in the room
formed by the wall panel.
In a normal installation procedure for our power and signal
distribution system, a building bay is first supplied with the
suspended ceiling grid by suspending and interconnecting the frame
members 58 and 58a. The combined power and signal cable 30 is then
brought from the junction units 28 installed above the ceiling grid
level, and additional jumper cables 30a are supplied where needed.
Now, the wall panels 20 and 20a are installed where called for by
merely inserting their tapered receptacles 26 up through the
elongated holes or slots 76 in the ceiling frame members. As shown
in FIG. 10, the installation of each panel can be accomplished
easily by manual manipulation of panel. As each panel is installed,
it is first inclined so that its receptacle connectors 26 can be
inserted into appropriate slots 76 within the ceiling grid members.
The panel is then moved upwardly until it is in the vertical
position and at this point it compresses somewhat the yieldable
strip 96 between the ceiling grid member 58 and the top edge member
84 of the panel. Along their bottom edges the wall panels are
preferably supported by a channel fitting 188 which can be fixed to
the floor or floor covering suitable fasteners. If attached
directly to the hard floor surface, simple screws may be used (FIG.
7) or if the channel means is installed on a carpet other retaining
means may be used such as a plurality of short pins on the bottom
surface of the channel (not shown). Now, the main combined power
and signal and other jumper cables are connected to the wall panel
receptacles which extend above the ceiling grid. Thereafter, the
ceiling light fixtures 56 can be installed and connected to their
own separate power leads and additional ceiling panels 190 of the
conventional type can be placed in position. After the panels 20a
have been installed the wall receptacles 176 and 182 for power and
signal connections can be installed as previously described.
FIG. 11 illustrates how a series of panels 20 and 20a can be
arranged in a building space to provide rooms of different sizes.
In each of these rooms one or more power and signal panels 20a can
be employed to furnish a wide range of electrical power and signal
facilities. The necessity for conventional wall or floor wiring has
been completely eliminated. Although not shown in detail, various
modifications of panels can be made within the scope of the
invention to provide panels 20b with doors, vent openings, windows
or other conventional structural features.
In FIGS. 1, 2 and 11, a ceiling grid 24 comprised of parallel
members 58 connected to perpendicular members 58a is shown, but our
invention may also be applied to other ceiling grid systems having
different patterns, as shown in FIG. 12. Here, a plurality of
ceiling grid members 58c converge inwardly from a building outer
wall 192 that may be circular or octagonal in planform. A series of
panels 20 or 20a are connected to these grid members to provide
rather large rooms. Such a building design with larger open spaces
may be particularly useful for schools or other institutions. With
such an installation, the connection of each panel to the ceiling
grid member may be accomplished in the same manner as previously
described. However, as shown in FIG. 13, it may be desirable for
the grid members to support angle members 194 between them so that
conventional ceiling tiles 196 and light fixtures can be
installed.
From the foregoing it should be apparent that the present invention
provides a unique approach to internal building design and
construction. Not only does it substantially decrease both the cost
of materials in labor for interior wall and ceiling systems but it
provides a versatility for usefulness heretofore unavailable.
Moreover, the interfacing between wall panels and ceiling grid
frame members provides a capability for rapid change to a wide
range of floor patterns or plans, a factor that greatly increases
the usefulness of existing buildings.
To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many
changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and
applications of the invention will suggest themselves without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The
disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and
are not intended to be in any sense limiting.
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