Retractable Power and Data Center for Office Workspaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power and data distribution systems face challenges in efficiently and aesthetically providing power and data outlets in office environments, leading to unsightly and entangled cords, high maintenance costs, and limited accessibility due to conventional designs that often require extensive installation and complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable and expandable power and data center with a thin profile that can be mounted to work surfaces, featuring a stationary housing with a retractable carriage and cover, allowing for easy access and concealment of outlets while maintaining connectivity even in a closed position, and adaptable to various mounting configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple receptacle raceways are employed to provide accessible power outlets, then accessibility and convenience are improved, but the system creates unsightly and entangled arrays of electrical cords and communication lines
Solution Approach 1:
The power and data center is nested within a housing that can be mounted inside a work surface, with the carriage retracting into the housing when not in use. This nesting approach hides the receptacles and cords within the work surface, eliminating the unsightly and entangled appearance while maintaining accessibility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from horizontal cord management on the work surface to vertical retraction within the work surface thickness. The thin profile design utilizes the vertical dimension by allowing the carriage to retract downward into the housing, moving cords from a visible horizontal plane to a hidden vertical space.
2Ease of operation
If receptacles are rigidly mounted to furniture surfaces, then accessibility is improved, but the system creates unsightly arrays of cords and consumes workspace
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static rigidly mounted receptacle to a dynamic retractable carriage that can move between extended and retracted positions. This allows the receptacles to be accessible when needed while occupying minimal space when retracted, eliminating the need for permanent workspace consumption.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional wall or floor mounted receptacles are used, then installation is straightforward, but the outlets are positioned at substantial distances from devices requiring power
Solution Approach 1:
The power and data center is divided into a stationary housing and a retractable carriage component. This segmentation allows the housing to remain fixed in the work surface while the carriage can be extended forward to deliver power and data connections directly to devices at the work surface edge, reducing the length of cords needed.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If a retractable mechanism is implemented to hide cords, then aesthetics are improved, but the device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical retractable mechanisms with a simpler system using resilient means (springs) and guide structures. The carriage is guided by pins moving in slots and held in position by resilient means, eliminating the need for complex motors, sensors, or control systems while maintaining the retractable functionality for aesthetic purposes.
5Volume of moving object
If the power and data center is designed with a thin profile, then workspace utilization is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the dimensional parameters by designing the housing and carriage with complementary geometric features (slots, pins, resilient means) that provide self-aligning and self-adjusting capabilities. This allows the thin profile design to accommodate normal manufacturing variations without requiring extreme precision, as the resilient means and guide structures compensate for minor dimensional deviations.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable power and data center (300) is mounted to a work surface (332), and includes a front face surface (302). Extending outwardly from an aperture (338) within the face (302) are power receptacles (310) and data ports (312). A housing (322) extends rearwardly of the front face (302) and includes a bracket mount (340). The bracket mount (340) is formed by the rear portion (330) of the housing (322) having a central portion (348) intermediate a set of L-slots (342). The L-slots (342) releasably engage various configurations of mounting brackets (350, 390) for use in mounting the power and data center (300) to various types of surfaces.