Haworth, Inc.

Innotec Corporation

Derek Crow

Dave Emery

Duane R Danz

Ross S Johnson

Jonathan R DeYoung

Jason S Elzinga

Steve King

Mark Wiersema

Doug Moerler

Harold R Wilson

Randy Borgman

Richard D Elushik

Scott Leenstra

A power distribution assembly (PDA) is provided with a support rail having a bendable grounding arm. This grounding arm extends from at least one axial end of the metal support rail and is bendable downwardly so as to overlie an end face of a power block on the PDA. The grounding arm includes a connector flange that projects inwardly through an access window formed in the power block, which connector flange is tight-fittingly engaged with an internal ground terminal upon insertion of the connector flange into the access window during downward bending of the grounding arm.

Power distribution assembly with grounding feature

A modular power distribution system includes power distribution assemblies and flex connectors. The flex connector includes end connector housings and a flexible jacket that encloses conductor wires extending between the connectors. The jacket is formed from superimposed layers of sheet-like jacket material that is flexible. The bottom jacket layer is first laid on a bottom housing section wherein conductors are then placed thereupon with an upper jacket layer then positioned over the bottom jacket layer. The top and bottom jacket layers have aligned free edges along at least one side thereof wherein the free edges are bonded together such as by heat sealing.

Flex connector and manufacturing process

A modular multi-component power distribution system is provided having a plurality of modular components which are configurable into a bus-bar based system, a flexible cable base system and a hybrid configuration wherein the bus-bar and flexible cable components are interconnected together. The components allow for configuration of the power distribution system into a variety of office systems including wall panel systems, desking or freestanding furniture systems and raised flooring systems either individually or in various combinations. The system components include a bus-bar-like power distribution assembly (PDA), branching connectors, flex connectors, which are useable to join power distribution assemblies together, and receptacles which are pluggable into either the power distribution assembly, the branching connectors or the flex connectors. Additionally, the power distribution assembly includes solid-wire electrical conductors which are accessible through multiple groups of plug openings to which any of the connectors and receptacles may be plugged. Still further, the flexible branching connectors are joinable serially together to distribute power and also may plug into the PDAs. The branching connectors further include at least one group of openings on each end to allow for the connection of additional system components like a branching connector or a receptacle.

Solid wire modular electrical system for office areas

A modular power distribution system is provided having a power distribution assembly (PDA) which is mountable in office furniture and the like. A plurality of plug-in receptacles are provided which plug in to the PDA. The receptacles have a multi-system design which uses common internal components and an external housing which has a support structure therein readily adapted to allow adaptation of the design of the housing for use with multiple power distribution systems.

Multi-system plug-in power receptacle for modular power distribution system

Growing community of inventors

Wayland, MI, United States of America

Derek Crow