Raceway for providing power and communications connectivity

Abstract

The present invention introduces a raceway for association with a floor and a support of a structure to provide power or communications connectivity between the support and a location on the floor. The raceway includes a housing and a fastener. The housing, that is substantially equal in length to a distance between the location on the floor and the support, comprises a conduit and a sloping side. The conduit is adapted to receive one or more lines from the support, the one or more lines are capable of communicating signals to the location on the floor. The sloping side, that has a length substantially equal to a length of the raceway, provides a gradual transition between the floor and the raceway and is capable of being substantially covered by a floor cover. The fastener can be associated with the housing to at least substantially ensconce the one or more lines. The fastener and the housing are capable of cooperating to integrate the raceway and the floor cover.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed generally to raceways having power and communications lines and, more specifically, to a raceway that is associable with a floor and a support (e.g., a wall, a column, etc.) of a structure (e.g., a room, a building, etc.) and is capable to reticulate power or communication lines proximate to a location within the structure. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The need for connectivity, that is the ability to “plug in” to a technology available in a work place, or, now, in a home (collectively, “work space”), has never been greater. In each setting, telecommunications, television, computer, power or like systems are the norm, causing every work space to have a physical connection to power and communications lines. This may be seen in offices, office system cubicles, as well as in libraries, classrooms, training rooms, conference rooms, team work rooms and, even, corporate lobbies and lounges. [0003] Conventional...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention introduces a raceway that can be associated with a floor of a structure to provide connectivity between the floor and a support of the structure. The raceway is designed to be integrated with the floor cover and can include one or more lines for power or communication signals. It is positioned between the floor and the support of the structure and has a gradual transition from the floor to the top, reducing the likelihood of tripping. The floor cover can be a carpet, tile, linoleum, padding, or wood floor, among others. The technical effect of the invention is to provide a safe and efficient means of connecting power or communication signals to the floor, making it easier to create and maintain a connected floor."

Problems solved by technology

This solution is limited for practical reasons to those users whose furniture is close to a wall or column having an appropriate outlet.

Flexibility is of course limited by the need for a “tether” of lines from a desk to the outlet.

A drawback to this approach is high price, which is associated with a need for either ramps or steps to walk on the floor or a depressed floor slab (which is only an option if a structure is so designed initially) to accommodate a height of the raised floor.

Common problems of this approach, other than its generally high cost, include potential structural limitations customary to coring through concrete floor slabs, inert penetrations that are permanent and cannot be moved as requirements change, access to the floor may be difficult when the room below the floor through which the hole is to be “poked” is occupied by a different party, and, in slab-on-grade situations (i.e., where a concrete floor slab is placed directly on the soil, with no cavity or space below) which is simply unavailable.

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