GB2245162A

GB2245162A - Cable port

Info

Publication number: GB2245162A
Application number: GB9013545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Krzysztof Krokosz
Original assignee: INTERCRAFT DESIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: INTERCRAFT DESIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-18
Filing date: 1990-06-18
Publication date: 1992-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-18
Also published as: GB9013545D0; GB2245162B

Abstract

A cable port for furniture comprises a housing having a base 20 with an opening through which cables can pass into the housing, a removable top and a plate 30 in the top, an opening 31 being provided in the plate through which one or more cables can pass, the plate being rotatable so that the opening can be placed in the desired position. <IMAGE>

Description

CABLE PORT This invention relates to a cable port.

In modern office furniture provision is made for cables such as for telephones, typewriters, computers etc. These run in channels in the desk and where required exit through an appropriate cable port.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective such port.

A cable port according to the present invention comprises a housing having a base with an opening through which cables can pass into the housing, a removable top and a circular plate in the top, an opening being provided in the plate through which one or more cables can pass, the plate being rotatable so that the opening can be placed in the desired position.

Preferably the plate is circular and the opening is in the form of a radially extending slot. The plate may be mounted so as to allow approximately 90" to 100" through which the slot can be rotated.

The housing preferably is generally rectangular with a part circular end in which is housed the plate. The housing may have an outwardly projecting lip around its upper periphery adapted to retain it flush with the desk top or side.

The housing preferably also has an end wall located at 90 to the top and closable by a removable access plate. In this case the housing may also contain means for storing the access plate when not required and for example the access plate and/or the housing may be provided with ribs and channels so that the access plate is stored flush with the base or top of the housing.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a housing forming part of the cable port according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 on the line A-A; Figure 3 is a cross-section in two halves taken on the line B-B and C-C of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view of the top plate insertable in Figure 1: Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a circular plate; Figures 8a, 8b and 8c are plan, end and side views of an end access plate; and, Figure 9 is a view of the cable port in use.

Figures 1 to 3 show a housing 10 of generally rectangular form having side walls 11 formed integrally with a semicircular end wall 12. The upper side is provided throughout with an outwardly projecting lip 13. The walls 11 are connected by an integrally formed bottom Dilate 14 at the end remote from the semicircular end wall 12, thus leaving the major portion of the base open for the receipt of cables.

The interior has along each side wall a projecting rib 15 and in the semicircular part of a similar but slightly downwardly spaced rib 16. Also spaced from the base on each side is a further rib 17. The ribs are spaced inwardly from the end remote from the semicircular part to permit a further vertical inner rib 18 to be present on each side with a gap between the ribs 18 and 15 to permit the insertion of an end access plate. This is shown at 20 in Figure 8. This can slide in to a position to close the end by means of its having grooves in its sides as shown at 21 which can slide over the ribs 18. It can also be stored when not required by sliding the ends 21 over the ribs 17 in the side walls so that it abuts against the base 14 and is stored unobtrusively and conveniently for future use. Ribs 23 are provided to afford a good grip.

The top of the cable port is formed by a cover 24 shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. This has a flap top 25 having ribs 25a extending along its underside adapted to be a snap fit under ribs 15. It is also provided with a part circular end plate 26 formed integrally therewith and which is a snap fit under ribs 16. The part circular end plate has an angle of approximately 90" open with a central boss 27 in which is located an opening 28. It also has two downwardly projecting flanges 30 which serve to separate the cables.

Adapted to fit over the part circular plate 26 is a circular rotatable plate 30 shown in Figure 7. This has a radially directed slot 31 in it and a centrally projecting pin 32 which is rotatably retained in the opening 28. It is also provided with gripping means 32 to assist in rotating it.

The arrangement shown in Figure 9 shows the cable port in operation in a desk. As can be seen the housing is flush with the desk top or side 32. The wires are carried in an internal channel in the desk as shown at 34 and can project either through the slot or through the end plate as shown, the required wire or wires being selected with the top plate removed and this then being clipped in position with the wire or wires projecting through the slot.

The cable port according to the invention provides a neat and effective arrangement for hiding as much as the zaire as possible whilst giving good flexibility in operation.

Claims

1. A cable port comprising a housing having a base with an opening through which cables can pass into the housing, a removable top and a plate in the top, an opening being provided in the plate through which one or more cables can pass, the plate being rotatable so that the opening can be placed in the desired position.

2. A cable port as claimed in claim 1 in which the plate is circular and the opening is in the form of a radially extending slot.

3. A cable port as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the plate is mounted so as to allow approximately 90" to 100" through which the slot can be rotated.

4. A cable port as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the housing is generally rectangular with a part circular end in which is housed the plate.

5. A cable port as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing has an outwardly projecting lip around its periphery adapted to retain it flush with a desk top or side.

6. A cable port as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing has an end wall located at 90" to the top and closable by a removable access plate.

7. A cable port as claimed in claim 6 in which the housing also contains means for storing the access plate when not required.

8. A cable port as claimed in claim 7 in which the access plate and/or housing is provided with ribs and channels so that the access plate is stored flush with the base or top of the housing.