초록 ▼

A box for electrical and communication receptacles is mounted in an opening in a furniture unit, and in particular, the top surface of an office conference table. The box has an opened top, and a cover is pivotably mounted to the opened top and movable between an opened position for providing access

A box for electrical and communication receptacles is mounted in an opening in a furniture unit, and in particular, the top surface of an office conference table. The box has an opened top, and a cover is pivotably mounted to the opened top and movable between an opened position for providing access to the electrical and communications receptacles within the box, and a closed position in which access to within the box is restricted. The electrical receptacles within the box are coupled to an external source of electrical power by an electrical cord, and the communication receptacles within the box are coupled to external communication lines. The box is electrically grounded by the electrical cord coupling the box to the external source of electrical power. A wire is coupled between a surface of the grounded box and the pivotable cover to be in permanent engagement with the pivotable cover for providing continuous electrical grounding of the cover. The cover is pivotably mounted to the box so that it cannot be pivoted into an opened position at an angle greater than substantially 45 degrees relative to the top surface of the box so that the cover will automatically assume its closed position, as a result of gravitational forces, when no opposing force is applied to the cover.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A box having an opened top and adapted to be mounted in an opening defined in an article of furniture; at least one electrical receptacle provided in said box; a cover pivotably mounted to the opened top of the box, said cover being movable between an opened position an

The invention claimed is: 1. A box having an opened top and adapted to be mounted in an opening defined in an article of furniture; at least one electrical receptacle provided in said box; a cover pivotably mounted to the opened top of the box, said cover being movable between an opened position and a closed position; and means for preventing said cover from pivoting at an angle of substantially 45 degrees or greater relative to the opened top of the box; wherein said cover will assume said closed position as a result of gravitational forces in the absence of an opposing force exerted thereon. 2. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover is pivotably mounted to said box by a hinge, and said means for preventing comprises a stop element on said hinge. 3. The box as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hinge and said stop element defined on said hinge are integrally formed with said cover. 4. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover is flush with a top surface of said article of furniture in which said box is mounted when said cover is in said closed position. 5. The box as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cover is dimensioned such that a gap is defined between a front end of said cover and a front end of said box when said cover is in said closed position. 6. The box as claimed in claim 5, further including a brush extending from said front end of said cover. 7. The box as claimed in claim 5, further including a brush extending from said front end of said box and into said gap defined between said front end of said cover and said front end of said box. 8. The box as claimed in claim 5, further including a first brush extending from said front end of said cover, and a second brush extending from said front end of said box and into said gap defined between said front end of said cover and said front end of said box. 9. The box as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first and second brushes are oriented such that said first and second brushes intersect when said cover is in said closed position. 10. A box having an opened top and adapted to be mounted in an opening defined in an article of furniture, at least one electrical receptacle provided in said box, means for electrically grounding said box, a cover pivotably mounted to the opened top of said box, said cover being movable between an opened position and a closed position, and means for electrically coupling said cover to said box for electrically grounding said box, wherein said means for electrically coupling includes a ground wire connected at one end thereof to said box, and at the other end thereof to said cover. 11. The box as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cover is pivotably mounted to said box by a hinge defined on the cover, and said ground wire is connected to said cover in close proximity to said hinge. 12. The box as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ground wire is connected to said hinge. 13. A box having an opened top and adapted to be mounted in an opening defined in an article of furniture, at least one electrical receptacle provided in the box, means for electrically grounding said box, a cover pivotably mounted to the opened top of said box, said cover being movable between an opened position and a closed position, means for preventing said cover from pivoting at an angle of substantially 45 degrees or greater relative to said opened top of the box such that said cover will assume said closed position as a result of gravitational forces in the absence of an opposing force exerted thereon; and means for electrically coupling said cover to said box for electrically grounding said cover. 14. The box as claimed in claim 13, wherein said cover is pivotably mounted to said box by a hinge, and said means for preventing comprises a stop element on said hinge. 15. The box as claimed in claim 14, wherein said hinge and said stop element defined thereon are integrally formed with said cover. 16. The box as claimed in claim 13, wherein said cover is dimensioned such that a gap is defined between a front surface of said cover and a front end of said box when said box is in said closed position, and a brush extending from said front end of said box and into said gap. 17. The box as claimed in claim 16, further including a brush extending from said front end of said cover, said brush extending from said front end of said cover being oriented such that it intersects with said brush extending from said front end of said box when said cover is in said closed position. 18. The box as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for electrically coupling includes a ground wire connected at one end thereof to said box, and at the other end thereof to said cover. 19. The box as claimed in claim 18, wherein said cover is pivotably mounted to said box by a hinge on said cover, and said ground wire is connected to said cover in close proximity to said hinge.