Insert for Filling Utility Access Opening in Furniture Panel

The present invention includes an insert for filling utility access openings in furniture panels on furniture articles, such as a desk adapted for use with electrical devices.

Modern furniture is often adapted to support electrical devices such as computers, telephones, and the like, such as by including structure for holding electrical outlets or communication connectors under the worksurface of the furniture, and by providing an access opening through a worksurface or a side panel to access the outlets or communication connectors. Preferably, the access openings are covered to make them visually attractive. For example, access openings in the furniture for receiving wires and the like are often covered with an insert or trim piece to partially hide or cover the openings. However, this can result in a plurality of different inserts and trim pieces which are expensive to inventory and can cause frustration during on-site assembly due to lack of appropriate inserts and/or trim pieces. The problem is complicated by panels that are substantially the same shape but that have different thicknesses. It is also undesirable to provide inserts and trim pieces that require additional or specialized tools for installation, or that require experienced and/or skilled labor for installation.

Thus, an insert for filling utility access opening is desired solving the aforementioned problems, and in particular which is adapted to fill different access openings without the need for separate or addition pieces or tools, but that is adapted to securely, interlockingly engage the access opening to prevent accidental disengagement of the insert.

In one aspect, the present invention includes an insert that can be used to selectively fill a utility access opening in furniture where the access opening is formed in a panel in the furniture, the panel having a first surface and an opposing surface defining a predetermined thickness that is one of at least two different thickness dimensions. The insert includes a sleeve having a stop for engaging the first surface on the panel and further having first retainers configured to frictionally interlockingly engage the opposing surface in opposition to the stop when the panel defines a first thickness dimension and still further having second retainers configured to frictionally interlockingly engage the opposing surface in opposition to the stop when the panel defines a second thickness dimension. In a preferred form, the insert further includes a port for mateably engaging the sleeve and covering the access opening, which port frictionally engages the retainers to securely hold the retainers in interlocking engagement with the panel. In one aspect, the shorter of the two type retainers can be broken off so that the shorter of the retainers do not interfere with insertion of the port into the sleeve when engaging a relatively thicker panel.

The present invention further includes a method of installing the insert.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an insert and wood desk embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the sleeve shown in FIG. 2 but with the short retainers broken off;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the sleeve shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the desk shown in FIG. 1 including the access opening and the insert inserted therein;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the port shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the port shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the sleeve shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the insert shown in FIG. 7

FIG. 9 is an end view of the insert shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10-16 are enlarged cross sectional views taken along the lines XX--XX, XI--XI, XII--XII, XIII--XIII, XIV--XIV, XV--XV and XVI--XVI in one of FIGS. 7-9.

The present invention includes an insert 10 (FIG. 1) for selectively filling a utility access opening or aperture 11 in furniture where the access opening 11 is formed in a panel in the furniture, such as in an end panel 13 in a desk 12 immediately below a worksurface 14. The panel 13 has a thickness that may be one of two different dimensions "D1" or "D2" (FIG. 3), depending on the structural requirements of the desk. The insert 10 includes a sleeve 15 having a lip or stop 16 for engaging an exterior surface 17 on the panel 13, short retainers 18 configured to frictionally engage an opposing inner surface 19 in opposition to the stop 16 when the panel 13 defines a first relatively thin dimension "D1", and long retainers 20 configured to frictionally engage the opposing inner surface 19 in opposition to the stop 16 when the panel 13 defines a second relatively thick dimension "D2". A port 21 mateably frictionally engages the sleeve 15 to close the access opening 11. The port 21 is frictionally held in the sleeve 15 by detents 32-33, and engages the retainers 18 and 20 to hold them securely in engagement with the panel 13. The short retainers 18 can be broken off so that they do not interfere with positioning the port 21 into the sleeve 15 when the sleeve 15 is engaged with a relatively thick panel 13.

In the illustrated desk 12, the access opening 11 is formed along a top edge of end panel 13, three sides of the access opening 11 being formed by material along the top edge of panel 13, and the top of access opening 11 being formed by the bottom of worksurface 14. The remainder of desk 12 is formed in ways generally known in the art and need not be described in detail herein for a complete understanding of the present invention. Notably, though the present invention is shown as part of desk 12, it is contemplated that the present invention can be used on a variety of different furniture arrangements, particularly those adapted for use with electrical device such as computers and the like.

Desk 12 represents a line of furniture wherein the panel 13 can be either 3/4 inch thick or 1 inch thick, depending upon the functional requirements of desk 12. For example, a panel 13 having a thickness of 1 inch will be used where the desk end panel 13 will be subject to considerable stress and will require the additional strength, such as a desk without side drawers. Contrastingly, where the end panel 13 is subject to lesser stress, a panel having a thickness of 3/4 inch is used.

Sleeve 15 (FIGS. 7-9) comprises a U-shaped wall molded from polystyrene or other resilient but fracturable polymeric material. Sleeve 15 has a center wall section 26 and a pair of end wall sections 27 and 28 that extend from center wall section 26. A continuous band of material 29 of constant wall thickness extends around wall sections 26-28. Lip 16 extends from the exteriorly oriented edge of the band of material 29 of wall section 26-28. Lip 16 is configured to mateably engage the exterior surface 17 of panel 13 around access opening 11 to set the depth of sleeve 15 and to aesthetically cover any chips or deformations that occur along the material forming access opening 11. Sleeve 15 includes one each of retainers 18 and 20 on each end wall section 27 and 28, and includes a pair of each of retainers 18 and 20 on center wall section 26. Each short retainer 18 defines a resilient finger that extends generally parallel the wall section from which it extends, and further includes a hooked end 30 that faces outwardly. Each long retainer 20 defines a resilient finger that extends generally parallel the wall section from which it extends, and further includes a hooked end 31 that faces outwardly. The hooked ends 30 and 31 are generally similar in shape and each include a substantially perpendicular surface 30' and 31' for positively engaging the inner surface 19 of panel 13. The ends 30 and 31 are configured to frictionally interlockingly engage the end panel 13 when sleeve 15 is inserted into access opening 11, depending of course on which thickness of panel 13 they are inserted into.

Detent forming protruding ridges 32 and 33 (FIGS. 7, 13 and 15) are defined on the inside of opposing end wall sections 27 and 28. Also, depth-setting, insertion-limiting stops or flanges 34-38 are formed around the inside of wall sections 26-28. Notably, the spacings and positions of ridges 32-33 and stops 34-38 can be placed as desired around sleeve 15 to provide the amount of stability and security of engagement required in particular applications.

Optimally, the end wall sections 27 and 28 are formed such that they are spread apart slightly when in an unstressed state. For example, where access aperture 11 is rectangularly shaped, the end wall sections 27 and 28 preferably molded such that each extends at an angle "A" (FIG. 8) that is spread a few degrees outwardly from parallel as molded (i.e. when in an unstressed state). Thus, when sleeve 15 is inserted into access opening 11, the end wall sections 27 and 28 are flexed inwardly. This causes end wall sections 27 and 28 to grippingly engage material of panel 13 forming the opposing sides of access opening 11. Thus, sleeve 15 provides an initial level of force to hold itself in the installed position.

Port 21 (FIGS. 5-6) is configured to generally aesthetically cover the opening defined by sleeve 15. Port 21 includes a U-shaped perimeter wall section 40 configured to mateably engage wall sections 26-28 in sleeve 15. An elongated depression 41 extends around the outside of perimeter wall section 40 for mateably engaging detent-forming ridges 32 and 33. A plurality of parallel protrusions 42 extend along one edge of port 21, and define a series of open-ended slots 43 for receiving utilities such as cables, wires, communication lines, tubes, and the like. A reinforcing web 44 extends around the edges of protrusions 42 and forms the depth of protrusions 42. The depth of perimeter wall section 40 is such that the "inner" edge of wall section 40 engages stops 34-38 as port 21 is inserted into sleeve 15 to accurately locate port 21 in sleeve 15 when port 21 is inserted into sleeve 15. A planar wall section 45 extends across half of port 21 between the lower half of the U-shaped perimeter wall section 40. As illustrated, the planar wall section 45 aesthetically covers at least about half of access opening 11, although it is noted that various shapes and sizes of wall section 45 can be used to match the decor of desk 12.

Insert 10 is inserted into access aperture 11 by first inserting sleeve 15 and thereafter inserting port 21 into sleeve 15. Where panel 13 is 3/4 inch thick, the sleeve 15 is inserted without modification, and the port 21 is thereafter pressed into position. In the installed position, the depression 41 of the perimeter wall section 40 receives and engages the detent-forming ridges 32/33 of retainers 18. The retainers 18 are held outwardly by port 21 such that the hooked ends 30 frictionally interlockingly engage the material of panel 13 defining access opening 11. Utilities are extended through access opening 11 by removing port 21, extending the utilities through the access opening 11, and thereafter re-inserting the port 21 as the utilities are arranged in the slots 43.

Where panel 13 is 1 inch thick, the sleeve 15 must be modified so that the short retainers 18 do not interferingly engage the material in the one-inch-thick panel 13 and prevent the insertion of port 21. To accomplish this, the short retainers 18 of sleeve 15 are deformed in and out until they fracture and break off thus forming a modified sleeve 15' (FIG. 2A). The material of sleeve 15 is such that the flexing is relatively easy to accomplish, and such that the retainers 18 break off after only one or two flexures. It is noted that sleeve 15 could also be manufactured from a more durable material if desired such that the material would need to be clipped off. Thereafter, the port 21 is pressed into position in the one-inch-thick panel 13. In the installed position, the depression 41 of the perimeter wall section 40 receives and engages the ridges 32/33 of retainers 18. The retainers 20 are held outwardly by port 21 such that the hooked ends 30 frictionally interlockingly engage the material of panel 13 defining access opening 11. Utilities are extended through access opening 11 by removing port 21, extending the utilities through the access opening 11, and thereafter re-inserting the port 21 with the utilities arranged in the slots 43.

A method includes providing first furniture that includes a relatively thick panel 13 having material defining a first utility access opening, and providing a sleeve 15 configured to selectively aesthetically trim the utility access openings 11 of panels 13 having different thicknesses. The sleeve 15 includes long retainers 20 configured to frictionally interlockingly engage inner and outer surfaces on the relatively thick panel 13, and further includes short retainers 18 configured to frictionally interlockingly engage inner and outer surfaces on a relatively thinner panel. The short retainers 18 are deformed back-and-forth and broken off so that the short retainers 18 do not interferingly engage material in the thick panel 13 defining the first utility access opening such that they prevent insertion of the port 21 into the sleeve 15. The sleeve 21 is then inserted into the access opening 11 where the port 21 is frictionally interlockingly engaged by the sleeve 15 and held in the access opening 11.

Thus an insert is provided for selectively filling a utility access opening in furniture where the access opening is formed in a panel in the furniture, but where the panel has a thickness that may be at least one of two different dimensions. The insert includes a sleeve having a stop for engaging a first surface on the panel, and different length retainers configured to frictionally engage an opposing surface in opposition to the stop despite the fact that the panel defines one of two different thickness dimensions. A port mateably frictionally engages the insert to close the sleeve, and is configured to frictionally engage the retainers to hold them securely in engagement with the panel. The short retainers can be broken off so that they do not interfere with positioning the port into the sleeve when the sleeve is engaged with a relatively thick panel. A related method includes breaking off the short retainers and engaging the insert with the relatively thick panel.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as covered by the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: