Floor Fitting

Abstract

A floor fitting including a housing made of clear polycarbonate plastic and having a painted interior surface, the clear plastic providing a colored appearance for the fitting and also protecting the colored surface from damage as by scuffing, etc.

Description

This invention relates to electrical underfloor distribution systems and in particular relates to improvements in colored floor or service fittings.

The principle object of the invention is to provide colored floor fittings constructed so that the color producing medium cannot be scraped, scuffed or otherwise damaged while the fitting is installed on the floor.

The invention will be described below in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exterior view of a floor fitting incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fitting of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1 the floor fitting 1 is disposed on the floor 2. In such position, the fitting is clearly visible and also is susceptible to being contacted by the foot of a person working at a desk or being struck by moving a moving object such as a chair or by a cart or the like.

The fitting 1 includes the base 3 and hollow housing 4 which is adapted to fit down on the base. A pair of posts 5 on the base receive screws 6 for locking the housing in position. A pair of posts 10 hold the the power receptacle 11 by screws 12. The receptacle extends through the aperture 13 and provides electrical communication between the inside and the outside of the housing. It will be understood that where the floor fitting is to provide a communication outlet, the apertures 13 are omitted and a single aperture with a grommet to hold a telephone cable is provided.

The base 3 mounts the housing for communication with the underfloor system. The base 3 has an aperture 14 receiving the nipple 15 which connects with an insert indicated by the dotted lines 16. The insert is connected to one of the ducts (not shown) in the system. The type of connection described is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,514,525 assigned to the assignee of this invention.

The housing 4 is molded from clear polycarbonate plastic such as Cycolac EP 3510 by Marbon Chemical Co. Preferably the wall of the housing is approximately 0.093 inch thick. This makes a high strength housing easily able to withstand static or impact loads which might be encountered in an office without cracking or collapsing. The outer surface 20 of the housing is hard or durable and highly scratch resistant.

The inside surface 21 is spray painted with a fire retardant paint such as Bee Chemical Co. paint No. 10145-R5 which is self-extinguishing and will not support combustion. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the paint is indicated by the heavy black line 22. A fire retardant paint is used in order to minimize chances of fire in the event of an electrical fault inside the housing.

The paint is of any desired color. The fitting partakes of this color since the inside painted surface is fully visible through the transparent wall.

It will be apparent that the plastic provides a protective shield for the inside colored surface. The surface cannot be damaged even if the housing is kicked or otherwise contacted.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a floor fitting for an electrical underfloor distribution system:

means forming a hollow housing and means for mounting the housing for communication with the underfloor system, the means forming the housing being clear, molded, polycarbonate plastic and the inside surface of the housing having a coating of fire retardant paint, the clear plastic providing for the paint of the inside surface to be seen from a position away from the housing whereby the housing partakes of a color the same as the paint and also the plastic providing a protective shield preventing the paint on the inside surface from being damaged by objects striking the outside surface of the housing; and

aperture means formed in said housing and being for use in providing electrical communication between inside and outside the housing.