Herman Miller, Inc.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Michael A Wodka

Robert L Propst

Thomas J Newhouse

Ronald R Hodges

A pole clip for arranging wires and/or tubing around the circumference of a pole. The clip comprises a resilient, flexible, generally C-shaped body adapted for a snap fit on the pole, and at least one resiliently-flexible arcuate arm extending in generally concentric relationship relative to the C-shaped body. The arm defines an arcuate wire-and-tube-retaining area between the C-shaped body and the arm. The wire-and-tube-retaining area is concentric with the C-shaped body, and is configured to visibly retain wires and/or tubes in side-by-side relationship around the pole. The arm has a free end closely spaced from another portion of the clip such that wires and/or tubes can be manually introduced into or released from the wire-and-tube-retaining area by flexing the arcuate arm but the arm normally retains the wires and/or tubes.

Wire-and-tube-retaining pole clip

Pole clip for wires or tubing

A space divider assembly for an enclosure having a floor and a ceiling. The space divider assembly consists of a plurality of upright, free-standing, floor-supported panels arranged end to end and a plurality of border members secured to each other and to said panels so as to project upwardly from the panels and form a border at the upper ends of the panels. The border members are shaped at their upper ends to form a container for sound absorbing material which substantially fills the container and provides for sound separation of the areas of the enclosure on opposite sides of the panels.

Free-standing space divider assembly with acoustic upper end border

Side cover members positionable along the base of a movable wall panel for concealing a utility space below the lower edge of the wall panel in which electrical and telephone cables are disposed. Each side cover member consists of a main body having sections that are formed of yieldable material. The cover members are arranged end to end along the base of the wall panel with the yieldable end sections of adjacent cover members being positioned in a juxtaposed relationship with each other. The yieldable end sections enable the cables to be extended from the utility space between adjacent end sections whereby only the portions of the yieldable end sections in close proximity to the cables are deformed.

Under the wall wiring system with improved cover members

An energy distribution system comprising elongated support members housing power and communication lines and being arranged end to end on a floor along the primary walls of an enclosed area such as a room in an office building. Each support member includes an upright wall member to which a pair of vertically-spaced upper and lower support portions are mounted in a cantilevered arrangement to extend horizontally in one direction from the upright wall member. The support portions define a pair of utility spaces, an upper utility space being provided between the support portions and a lower utility space being provided below the lower support portion wherein the utility spaces house the electrical and communication lines. A secondary wall panel is positioned on the support members to cover and conceal the primary walls. Cover strips are detachably mounted on the support members to cover the utility spaces so as to provide the support members with the appearance of a continuous extension of the secondary wall panels.

Energy distribution system for enclosed areas

An energy supply system for transmitting electrical energy in a space divider system comprised of a plurality of upright wall panels arranged end-to-end on a floor. The energy supply system includes a compartment located adjacent to the lower edge of each wall panel and extending longitudinally between the upright ends of the wall panel. A flat cable unit comprised of a plurality of flat side-by-side conductors embedded in an insulating medium having a rectangular cross sectional configuration is disposed in the compartment and extends between the ends of the wall panel. The flat cable unit includes a pair of connector asemblies connected to the conductors at opposite ends of the flat cable unit and disposed adjacent the lower edge of the wall panel near its upright ends enabling the connection of the flat cable unit to a similar flat cable unit associated with an adjacent wall panel. Consequently, a plurality of interconnected flat cable units provide for the distribution of power throughout the space divider system.

Energy supply system including flat power cables for a space divider

An electrical supply system for use in a space divider system comprised of a plurality of upright wall panels arranged end to end to form a work station. Each wall panel is supported by depending legs in a position in which the lower edge of the panel is spaced above the floor. The energy supply system comprises a plurality of raceway sections containing electrical conductors and disposed below the panels adjacent their lower edges so as to provide an essentially unbroken appearance between the panels and the raceway sections. The lower edges of the raceway sections are located a predetermined distance above the floor to establish a clearance between the raceway sections and the floor where communications lines can be located. Side cover members are positioned on the floor along the lower edges of the raceway sections to conceal the clearance below the raceway sections.

Under the wall energy supply system for a space divider system

Masking sound generating apparatus for use in a conventional room enclosure occupied by adult persons of average range of heights comprising a hollow enclosure having a top opening and a side opening, a speaker mounted inside the enclosure intermediate the top opening and the side opening and facing outwardly from the apparatus through the top opening, and a circuit in the enclosure operable to develop an electric signal which is converted to an audible sound signal emitted by the speaker. Modulation means are incorporated into the circuit to cyclically vary the amplitude of the sound signal which provides the masking sound signal with a pleasant, natural sound characteristic. The sound generating apparatus is located in the room at a height intermediate the head of a standing adult person and the ceiling, and is positioned so that the speaker faces in an upwardly direction to direct sound signals toward the ceiling. Other sound signals produced by the speaker eminate from the side opening to provide the masking sound with a slight undertone characteristic.

Growing community of inventors

Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Michael A Wodka