Housings for underfloor raceways

Abstract

An housing is configured for connection to the raceway panels by removing the concrete above the raceway panel, cutting a hole in the raceway panel, and securing the housing in the hole in the raceway panel. Alignment clips allow the afterset housings to be ganged together to form an integral afterset assembly. Each alignment clip is configured to slidably engage with a pair of the afterset housings. In one embodiment, the afterset housing includes a preset housing that is normally configured for connection to the raceway panel prior to pouring of the concrete floor, and an adapter connectable to the preset housing and being constructed to reconfigure the preset for use as an afterset housing which is adapted for connection to the raceway panel following pouring of the concrete floor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/211,464, filed on Dec. 14, 1998 FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a wire retaining clip in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention.h, an alternative method of the afterset 201 will now be briefly described. The method is generally similar to that set forth above in connection with FIGS. 13a to 13f. Initially, the centerlines 320a, 320b of the raceways 322a, 322b are located, e.g., by using the markers (not shown) at the ends of the raceways or using existing fittings in the raceways. (See FIG. 18a). A round core hole 324a on the order of 6.5 to 7 inches in diameter is then drilled through the concrete floor above the center of one of the raceways 322a. (See FIG. 13b). The drill is run through the concrete until it reaches the top of the raceway. The concrete slug is then removed, leaving an opening 326 in the concrete over the raceway. (See FIGS. 13c and 13d). If more than one afterset is to be installed at the location, the above steps are repeated for the additional to provide access to the other raceway 322b. (See, e.g. FIG. 18d). It should be noted that both holes could be drilled before removing either of the concrete slugs.

Once the concrete is removed from above the raceways, circular openings 322a, 332b on the order of 2.5 inches are drilled through the top walls of the raceways 322a, 322b. The afterset housing 201 are then inserted into the opening 326 in the concrete and positioned on the raceways 322 in the manner described above. Where multiple aftersets are ganged together, the adjacent aftersets are connected together with the alignments clips 60 in the manner described above. After the alignment clips 60 are installed and the locking tabs are tightened into place, grout is used to fill the open areas around the afterset housings. (See FIGS. 18g and 18h). Preferably, mud caps are installed in the aftersets before the grout is poured. (See FIG. 18g). Once the grout has hardened, the grout over the mud caps is broken away and the mud caps are removed to provide access to the aftersets. (See FIG. 18h). Once the afterset housings are installed, the housings may be activated by installing the appropriate activation assemblies as was generally described above.

Claims

1. An afterset housing for providing access to an underfloor electrical distribution system of the type comprising at least one raceway panel embedded in a concrete floor, the afterset comprising:

a preset housing having an interior compartment generally defined by a bottom wall and a sidewall, the preset housing be normally adapted for connection to said at least one raceway panel prior to pouring of the concrete floor; and

an adapter connectable to the preset housing and being constructed to reconfigure the preset housing for use as said afterset housing which is adapted for connection to said at least one raceway panel following pouring of the concrete floor.

2. An afterset as set forth in claim 1, wherein the adapter slidably engagable with the bottom face of the preset housing.

3. An afterset as set forth in claim 1, wherein the preset housing is formed of metal.

4. An afterset as set forth in claim 1, wherein the preset housing is generally rectangular.

5. An afterset as set forth in claim 1, wherein multiple aftersets can be ganged together to form an integral assembly.

6. An afterset housing for providing access to an underfloor electrical distribution system of the type comprising at least one raceway panel embedded in a concrete floor, said at least one raceway panel having an interior passage defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls, the afterset being configured for connection to the raceway panels by removing the concrete above said at least one raceway panel, cutting a hole in said at least one raceway panel, and securing the housing in the hole in the raceway, the afterset comprising:

a housing adapted for connection to the top wall of said at least one raceway, the housing having an interior compartment generally defined by a bottom wall and an upwardly extending sidewall, the sidewall being adapted to receive an activation assembly, the bottom wall including an aperture for alignment with the aperture formed in the top wall of the raceway panel to provide access to services that are carried by the raceway; and

means for ganging at least two of the housings together to form an integral assembly, said ganging means comprising at least one alignment clip being adapted to slidably engage with a pair of adapter housings to form an integral assembly.

7. An afterset housing as set forth in claim 6, wherein said ganging means further comprises at least on ganging tab formed on the exterior of each afterset housing, the ganging tabs being configured to receive the alignment clip.

8. An afterset as set forth in claim 6, wherein the preset housing is formed of metal.

9. An afterset as set forth in claim 6, wherein the preset housing is generally rectangular.

10. An afterset as set forth in claim 6, further comprises at least one locking tab adapted to secure the afterset to the top wall of said at least one raceway panel.

11. An afterset as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a radial flange extending downwardly from the bottom wall of the housing and being configured for insertion into the opening in the top wall of the raceway.

12. An underfloor electrical distribution system for placement in a concrete floor comprising:

first and second raceway panels extending generally parallel to each other within the concrete floor, each raceway panel having a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls defining an interior passage;

a plurality of afterset housings, each housing being configured for connection to one of said first and second raceway panels by removing the concrete above the respective raceway panel, cutting a hole in the respective raceway panel, and securing the afterset housing in the hole in the respective raceway panel; and

a plurality of alignment clips, each clip being adapted to secure two of the afterset housings together to form an integral afterset assembly.

13. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the alignment clips are adapted to slidably engage with the afterset housings.

14. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 12, wherein each afterset housing has an interior compartment generally defined by a bottom wall and an upwardly extending sidewall, the bottom wall including an aperture that aligns with the opening formed in the top wall of a raceway panel when the adapter is connected thereto to provide access to services that are carried by the raceway panel.

15. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 14, wherein each afterset further comprises at least one locking tab adapted to secure the afterset to the top wall of the raceway.

16. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 14, wherein each afterset further comprises a radial flange extending downwardly from the bottom wall of the housing and being configured for insertion into the opening in the top wall of the raceway.

17. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the preset housings are formed of metal.

18. An underfloor electrical distribution system for placement in a concrete floor comprising:

a pair of raceway panels adapted to be positioned on a subfloor prior to pouring of the concrete floor, each raceway panel defining an interior passage and a plurality of preset openings that provide access to the interior passage;

a plurality of preset housings mountable in the preset openings and to provide access to the interior passage of said pair of raceway panels from an upper surface of the concrete floor; and

a plurality of alignment clips, each alignment clip being adapted to secure and align a preset housing carried by a first of the raceway panels with a second preset housing carried by a second of the raceway panels.

19. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 18, wherein each preset housing has a concrete cap and a knockout section, the concrete cap and the knockout section being removable to provide access to an interior compartment of the preset housing, the knockout being configured to align with and lockingly engage with the preset opening to secure the preset to the raceway panel during pouring of the concrete floor, whereby upon hardening of the concrete floor the concrete above the preset can be broken away to permit removal of the concrete cap, whereupon the knockout can be removed to provide access to the interior passage of the raceway panel through the preset.

20. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 18, wherein each preset housing comprises a bottom wall, a side wall extending from the base and defining an upper opening configured to receive the concrete cap.

21. An in-floor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a locking tab extending from the bottom wall of the housing, the locking tab being adapted to slidably engage with the raceway panel opening as the knockout protrusion is engaged with the raceway opening.

22. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the preset housings are formed of plastic.

23. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the preset housings are formed of metal.

24. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 23, wherein each preset housing further includes a plurality ribs extending from its bottom wall, the ribs being adapted to engage against the surface of the raceway panel when the preset is mounted on the raceway panel to provide ground continuity between the raceway panel and the preset.

25. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the preset housings are generally rectangular.

26. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the preset further comprises wire retaining clips removable mountable in the interior compartment about the periphery of the knockout section.

27. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the upper opening of the housing is adapted to receive an access assembly upon removal of the concrete cap.

28. A preset for providing access to an underfloor electrical distribution system, the underfloor electrical distribution system comprising at least one raceway panel adapted to be positioned in a concrete floor, the raceway panel defining an interior passage adapted to carry service cables and having an exterior wall defining preset openings that provide access to the interior passage, the preset comprising:

a housing mountable in the preset opening and to provide access to the interior passage of the raceway from an upper surface of the concrete floor; and

ganging means for ganging at least two of the housings together to form an integral assembly, said ganging means comprising at least one adapter clip configured to slidably engage with a pair of preset housings to form an integral assembly.

29. A preset housing as set forth in claim 28, wherein said ganging means further comprises at least one ganging tab formed on the exterior of each afterset housing, the ganging tabs being configured to slidably engage with the adapter clips.

30. An underfloor electrical distribution system for placement in a concrete floor, comprising:

first and second raceway panels disposed adjacent to one another in the concrete floor;

a first housing secured to the first raceway panel and a second housing secured to the second raceway panel; and

at least one clip engageable with the first and second housings to secure the first and second housings to one another.

31. An underfloor electrical distribution assembly as set forth in claim 30, wherein the first and second housing comprise preset housings that are secured to the raceway panels prior to pouring of the concrete floor.

32. An underfloor electrical distribution assembly as set forth in claim 30, wherein the first and second housings comprise afterset housings that are configured for connection to a respective one of the raceway panels after the concrete floor has hardened by removing the concrete from above the respective raceway panels, forming an opening in the raceway panel, and securing the housing to the raceway panel at a location that overlies the opening in the raceway panel.

33. An underfloor electrical distribution system for placement in a concrete floor, comprising:

a raceway panel defining an interior passage for carrying service cables;

a housing securable to the raceway panel, the housing defining an interior compartment and including an opening alignable with a reciprocal opening in the raceway panel to allow wires to pass between the raceway panel and the interior compartment of the housing; and

a plurality of wire retention clips mounted around the perimeter of the opening of the housing for storing wiring that has been routed into the housing through the opening.

34. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the retention clips are configured to mate with reciprocal mounting brackets formed in the interior compartment of the housing.

35. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the retention clips are generally U-shaped.

36. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the retention clips are formed of a non-conductive material.

37. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 36, wherein the wire retention clips are formed of nylon.

38. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the wire retention clips are formed separately from the housing.

39. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the wire retention clips are formed separately from the housing and are adapted to snap into place into reciprocal mounting brackets formed in the interior of the housing.

40. An underfloor electrical distribution system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the opening in the raceway panel is formed in a top wall of the raceway panel and the opening in the housing is formed in a bottom wall of the housing.

41. A housing for providing access to an underfloor electrical distribution system of the type comprising at least one raceway panel embedded in a concrete floor, the housing comprising:

a generally rectangular body having four corners and a top opening; and

a housing interconnector located proximate each of said four corners of said generally rectangular body, wherein said housing interconnector is configured to be at least one of slidably and snapably engaged by an alignment device that is adapted to interconnect said housing to another housing.

42. The housing of claim 41, wherein said housing interconnector is a tab extending outwardly from said generally rectangular body, and wherein said alignment device is an alignment clip comprising an upper portion integrally formed with legs extending downwardly from said upper portion, wherein said legs are configured to engage around said tab.

43. The housing of claim 42, wherein said alignment clip further comprises teeth formed on lower edges of said legs, wherein said teeth are configured to engage against top edges of said tab as said alignment clip is driven downwardly toward said tab, and wherein said teeth are configured to abrade said tab with continued downward pressure.

44. The housing of claim 41, wherein the housing is formed of a die cast metal, and wherein said alignment device is formed of a metal that is relatively harder than said die cast metal.

45. The housing of claim 41, wherein the housing is formed from plastic.

46. The housing of claim 41, wherein the housing is one of a preset housing and an afterset housing.

47. The housing of claim 41, wherein the housing is a preset housing having an interior compartment generally defined by a bottom wall and a sidewall, the preset housing being normally adapted for connection to a raceway panel prior to pouring of the concrete floor.

48. The housing of claim 41, wherein the housing is configured to receive and retain an activation assembly through said top opening.

49. The housing of claim 48, wherein the activation assembly is a flush mount duplex electrical outlet.

50. The housing of claim 41, wherein said generally rectangular body comprises a locking tab extending from a bottom surface of said generally rectangular body, wherein said locking tab is configured to slidably engage a reciprocal aperture formed in a raceway panel.

51. The housing of claim 41, wherein said housing interconnector is integrally formed with said generally rectangular body.

52. An assembly for providing access to an underfloor electrical distribution system of the type comprising a plurality of raceway panels embedded in a concrete floor, the assembly comprising:

first and second rectangular housings, each of said first and second rectangular housings comprising:

four upright walls integrally formed with a bottom wall defining a top opening therebetween and four corners; and

housing interconnectors, wherein at least one of said housing interconnectors is located proximate one of said four corners such that at least one of said housing interconnectors is located proximate each of said four corners, and

an alignment device that securably engages one of said housing interconnectors of said first rectangular housing and another of said housing interconnectors of said second rectangular housing to gang said first and second rectangular housings together.

53. The assembly of claim 52, further comprising additional rectangular housings ganged at least one of together and with said first and second rectangular housings.

54. The assembly of claim 52, wherein each of said plurality of housing interconnectors is an outwardly-extending tab, and wherein said alignment device is an alignment clip comprising an upper portion integrally formed with legs extending downwardly from said upper portion defining slots therebetween, wherein said legs are configured to engage around said tab.

55. The assembly of claim 54, wherein said alignment clip further comprises teeth formed on lower edges of said legs, wherein said teeth are configured to engage against top edges of said tab as said alignment clip is driven downwardly toward said tab, and wherein said teeth are configured to abrade said tab with continued downward pressure.

56. The assembly of claim 52, wherein said alignment device is configured to slidably engage said housing interconnectors

57. The assembly of claim 52, wherein said first and second housings are formed of a die cast metal, and wherein said alignment clip is formed of a metal that is relatively harder than said die cast metal.

58. The assembly of claim 52, wherein said first and second housings are formed from plastic.

59. The assembly of claim 52, wherein each of said first and second housings is one of a preset housing and an afterset housing.

60. The assembly of claim 52, wherein at least one of said first and second housings is a preset housing having an interior compartment generally defined by a bottom wall and a sidewall, the preset housing being normally adapted for connection to a raceway panel prior to pouring of the concrete floor.

61. The assembly of claim 52, further comprising an activation assembly secured within each of said first and second housings.

62. The assembly of claim 52, wherein said activation assembly is a flush mount duplex electrical outlet.

63. The assembly of claim 52, wherein each of said first and second housings further comprise a locking tab downwardly extending from said bottom wall, wherein said locking tab is configured to slidably engage a reciprocal aperture formed in a raceway panel.

64. An underfloor electrical distribution system for placement in a concrete floor, comprising:

first and second raceway panels disposed adjacent to one another in the concrete floor;

a first housing secured to said first raceway panel and a second housing secured to said second raceway panel, wherein each of said first and second housings comprises:

four upright walls integrally formed with a bottom wall defining a top opening therebetween and first, second, third and fourth corners; and

first, second, third and fourth housing interconnectors, wherein said first, second, third and fourth housing interconnectors are located proximate said first, second, third and fourth corners, respectively, and

an alignment device that securably engages one of said housing interconnectors of said first housing and another of said housing interconnectors of said second housing to gang said first and second housings together.

65. The system of claim 64, further comprising additional housings ganged at least one of together and with said first and second rectangular housings.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth housing interconnectors is a tab outwardly extending proximate said first, second, third and fourth corners, respectively, and wherein said alignment device is an alignment clip comprising an upper portion integrally formed with legs extending downwardly from said upper portion defining slots therebetween, wherein said legs are configured to engage around said tab.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein said alignment clip further comprises teeth formed on lower edges of said legs, wherein said teeth are configured to engage against top edges of said tab as said alignment clip is driven downwardly toward said tab, and wherein said teeth are configured to abrade said tab with continued downward pressure.

68. The system of claim 64, wherein said alignment device is configured to slidably engage said housing interconnectors

69. The system of claim 64, wherein said alignment device is configured to snapably engage said housing interconnectors.

70. The system of claim 64, wherein said first and second housings are formed of a die cast metal, and wherein said alignment clip is formed of a metal that is relatively harder than said die cast metal.

71. The system of claim 64, wherein said first and second housings are formed from plastic.

72. The system of claim 64, wherein each of said first and second housings is one of a preset housing and an afterset housing.

73. The system of claim 64, wherein at least one of said first and second housings is a preset housing having an interior compartment generally defined by a bottom wall and a sidewall, the preset housing being normally adapted for connection to a raceway panel prior to pouring of the concrete floor.

74. The system of claim 64, further comprising an activation assembly secured within each of said first and second housings.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein said activation assembly is a flush mount duplex electrical outlet.

76. The system of claim 64, wherein said first and second raceway panels further comprise first and second reciprocal apertures, respectively, and said first and second housings further comprise first and second locking tabs, respectively, said first and second locking tabs extend downwardly from said bottom walls of said first and second housings, respectively, wherein said first and second locking tabs are configured to slidably engage said first and second reciprocal apertures, respectively.