AU633434B2

AU633434B2 - Interior panel unit for permitting arrangement of cables and devices on room floor

Info

Publication number: AU633434B2
Application number: AU77189/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yutaka Ishibashi; Tsuneo Kaneko; Yoshio Kojima; Naoto Sasaki; Fumio Takeda; Isako Tsushima
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 1988-10-31
Filing date: 1991-05-20
Publication date: 1993-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-31
Also published as: AU7718991A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Form

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE 633434 Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: Divisional of 43933/89 TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant! Address of Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA 72 HORIKAWA-CHO

SAIWAI-KU

KAWASAKI-SHI

KANAGAWA-KEN

JAPAN

GRIFFITH HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Complete Specification for the invention entitled: INTERIOR PANEL UNIT FOR PERMITTING ARRANGEMENT OF CABLES AND DEVICES ON ROOM FLOOR The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1A- Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an interior panel unit for permitting an arrangement of cables and devices on a room floor, the panel being used in ar office or computer room to arrange an office-automation system.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional interior panel unit is available to realize an office-automation system by arranging power cables, signal cables, and various types of equipment on a room floor in an office or computer room, as described in U.S.P. Nos. 4,593,499 and 4,631,879, More specifically, a given unit has blocks having shapes to be engaged with each other at a peripheral portion of a rectangular floor base installed on a foundation floor surface of a room, and blocks on each floor base are engaged with and coupled to each other to form each floor base on the foundation floor surface.

In another unit, a plurality of columnar members are mounted on a lower floor base installed on a foundation floor surface, and an upper floor base is supported by the columnar members with a gap corresponding to the height of each columnar member from the foundation floor surface.

However, in the former unit, an operation for coupling the blocks of the adjacent floor bases is required. This operation is cumbersome and c time-consuming. Therefore, much labor is required to install the floor bases on the entire surface of the foundation floor base of the room. In addition, the blocks have to be arranged as close as possible to one another so as to couple them tightly. In this case, the arrangement operation is not easy and cannot be performed with high efficiency. Consequently, it takes much time to assemble and install the interior panel unit. When the blocks are loosely coupled to each other, the installation can be facilitated. However, the upper floor consisting of floor bases does not have a sufficiently flat surface or adequate stability.

The latter unit has a structure wherein the lower floor base is installed on the foundation floor surface of the room and the upper floor base is supported and fixed through the plurality of columnar members. The adjacent lower floor bases are not coupled to each other. For this reason, the lower floor bases are not integrally coupled.

Therefore, when the upper floor base is suppo-ted and fixed, stability and flatness of the upper floor surface consisting of the upper floor bases are degraded.

Summary of the invention The invention provides an interior panel unit for permitting an arrangement of cables and devices on a floor of a room, said interior panel unit comprising: a floor base member for installation on a foundation floor of the room; a floor panel member for location al-ve the floor base member and for cooperating with said floor base member so as to define an internal space for receiving the cables and the devices; a plurality of strip-like border fundamental members for arrangement in a border area defined by the edge of said floor base member and that side wall portion of the room which. are continuous with an edge of the room; and a border floor panel member for support by said plurality of border fundamental members to constitute the same plane as that of an upper surface of said floor panel member in the border area.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an overall arrangement of an interior panel unit according r 4 to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of a floor base member according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 3A to 3C are perspective views respectively showing modifications of a connecting support member according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 4A, 4B, SA, 5B, and 6 are perspective views respectively showing modifications of a base joint member according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification of a floor panel member according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 8 and 10 are sectional views showing a fundamental support member according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the fundamental support member according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Vig. 12 is a plan view showing a floor base member according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig, 12A is a perspective view showing an arrangement of a vertical separator member according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

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i~ IbW~ 5 Fig. 12B is a sectional view showing an arrangement of the vertical separator member according to the third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 13A is a perspective view showing an arrangement of a horizontal separator member according to the third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 13B is a sectional view showing an arrangement of the vertical separator member according to the third embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 14A to 14C are peLspective views respectively showing arrangements of the vertical or horizontal separator members according to the third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 15A is a perspective view showing a floor Ii panel member according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 15B is a plan view showing an arrangement of the floor panel member according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing a modification of the floor panel member according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 17A is a plan view showing an arrangement of a floor base member according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 17B is a sectional view showing an arrangement of the floor base member according to the fifth 6 embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 18A is a perspective view showing an arrangement of a floor panel member with a fan unit according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 18B is a sectional view showing an arrangement of the floor panel member with the fan unit according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing an arrangement of a floor panel member with a basket according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 20 is a plan view showing a layout of a boarder fundamental member according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 21A and 21B are perspective views showing arrangements of the border fundamental members according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 22A is a perspective view showing a modification of the boarder fundamental member according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 22B is a plan view showing the member shown in Fig. 22A; and Fig. 23 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of a boarder floor panel member according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Preferred embodiments of the present invention 7 will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a view showing an overall structure of an interior panel unit according to the present invention.

The unit comprises floor base members 1 installed on a foundation floor surface 4 which defines a space of an office or computer room. Each floor base member 1 consists of a flexible synthetic resin polypropylene) as a base material and comprises a rectangular plate having a ratio of a long side to a short side of 2 1 1 m 500 mm).

Fundamental support members (fundamental columns) 11 for supporting a floor panel member 2 are located on the surface of the floor base member i except for the edge at predetermined intervals. Connecting support members (connecting columns) 12 are located at the edge except for corners of the upper surface of the floor base member 1. connecting support members 13 are located at the corners of the upper surface of the floor base member 1. The support members 11 to 13 consist of a fire-retardant material such as foamed concrete and have the same height. It should be noted that fundamental support members 11, 14 connecting support members 12 extending at the edge except for the corners, and four connecting support members 13 at the four corners are formed on each floor base member 1.

Each fundamental support member 11 comprises 8 a truncated cone and has a recess lla at almost the center of the upper surface which is to contact the surface of the floor panel member 2. The recess lla serves to prevent lateral shift of the floor panel member 2. Each of the connecting support members other than those provided at the corners is made by one of the two pieces obtained by cutting a truncated cone corresponding to the fundamental support member 11 in the vertical direction a direction perpendicular to the surface of the floor base member Each connecting support member 13 extending at each corner of each floor base member 1 comprises a 1/4 piece obtained by cutting the conical member corresponding to the fundamental support member 11 in the vertical direction. A slit-like vertical groove 11b is formed in the circumferential wall of each of the support members 11 to 13. The vertical grooves lib are formed to support both ends of a vertical separator member 9 bridged between the adjacent ones of the support members 11 to 13. The vertical separator member 9 is a plate member for par'itioning the horizontal space on the surface of the floor base member 1.

V-shaped grooves (to be referred to as V-grooves hereinafter) 14a are formed in the surface of the floor base member 1 to extend between adjacent support members 11 to 13 along lines obtained by connecting the middle points of the long sides of the base member 1 and diagonal lines formed within squares obtained by dividing the rectangular base members 1 into halves. Grooves 14b are formed to surround the 1/2 bottom arc of the fundamental support member 11 and the entire bottom arc of the connecting _I support member 12 extending at the edge, and a groove 14c is also formed to surround the entire bottom arc of the connecting support member 13 extending at each corner. The grooves 14a to 14c serve as guide grooves for discharging leaking water. Guide holes 15 are formed in the V-grooves 14a at predetermined intervals to discharge water to the foundation floor surface.

The floor panel member 2 is a member supported by the support members 11 to 13 of the floor base member 1 to constitute an upper floor surface of the room. Each floor panel member 2 consists of a rectangular (square) plate member having an area 1/2 that of each floor base member 1.

More specifically, each side of the square of the floor panel member 2 is, 500 mm. A circular opening 21 is formed at almost the center of each floor panel member 2.

Rectangular notches 22 are formed at opposite sides of each floor panel member 2. The circular opening 21 is used to set various devices such as a circular blank piece 211, a floor outlet 2:12, an address panel 213, and a light-accumulating panel (nighttime marker lamp) 214. Each rectangular notch 22 is used to install various devicos such as a rectangular 10 blank piece 221, a floor outlet 222, and a partition joint part (partition connecting piece) 223. A projection is formed on the lower surface a surface which is brought into contact with the support members 12. to 13) of the floor panel member 2 to engage with the recess 11a formed on almost the center of the upper surface of the corresponding fundamental support member A floor carpet 3 is installed on the surface of the floor panel member 2. The floor carpet 3 consists of a fire-retardant material and has a size corresponding to the area of the floor panel member 2. The floor carpet 3 has an arbitrary shape in accordance with the circular opening 21 and rectangular notches 22 formed in Lhe floor pane, member 2.

When the plurality of floor base members 1 are arranged on the foundation floor surface of the room, the adjacent connecting support members 13 extending at the four corners are connected to each other by base joint members 7. B~ach base joint. member 7 is engaged with a truncated cone obtained by combining four adj acent connecting support members 13 to connect those connecting siupport members 313. The adjacent connecting support members 12 extending at edges of the adj acent 2S floor base members I. are, connected by the corresponding base ointmembrs he plurality of adjricent floor base members I. are connected by the base joint members 11 7.

Horizontal separator members 8 are prepar-d to partition the space defined by the floor panel members 2 and the floor base members 1 so as to partition the space vertically. Each horizontal separator member 8 comprises a plate member which is engaged with four adjacent fundamental support members 11 extending on the surface of the floor base member 1 to partition the vertical space.

Four holes each having a diameter slightly larger than the top circular surface of the frustoconical support member 11 are formed on the vertical separator member 8 so that the vertical separator member 8 is supported almost at the centers of the corresponding fundamental support members 11. By utilizing the space partitioned by these vertical separator mombers 8, network devices 10 connected to, e.g., signal and power cables can be three-dimensionally arranged between the floor panel members 2 and the floor base members 1.

When the floor base members 1 and the floor panel members 2 are installed to form an upper floor surface of a room, there are always corners where the floor base members 1 and the floor panel members 2 cannot be installed.

Border fundamental members 4 are installed on the foundation floor surface of the room at these corners.

Each border fundamental member 4 comprises a s-ip member having a rectangular wave shape and a predetermined width.

A plurality of border fundamental members 4 are combined in accordance with the size of a border area where the floor base members 1 and the floor panel members 2 cannot be installed, The plurality of border fundamental members 4 12 are installed in this border area. In this case, a border support joint 4a is fitted in a joint mounting groove 41 formed in each border fundamental member 4, so that the border fundamental members 4 can be integrally formed. A border floor panel 5 is installed on the upper surface of each border fundamental member 4. The border floor panel has longitudinal grooves so that it can be cut to obtain a desirable width in accordance with the border area. In addition, a border floor carpet 6 similar to the floor carpet 3 is installed on the border floor panel The structures of the respective members of the interior panel unit will be described in detail according to the first to seventh embodiments.

Fig. 2 is a view showing an arrangement of the floor base member 1 according to the first embodiment. A plurality of floor base members 1 are arranged on a foundation floor surface of a room. In this case, connecting support members 12 of the adjacent floor base members 1 are brought into contact to constitute truncated cones. The adjacent connecting support members 12 are connected by the base joint members 7. Four

_P~;L

13 adjacent connecting support members 13 at the adjacent corners of the four floor base members 1 are combined to constitute a truncated cone which is then connected by the base joint member 7. Therefore, the adjacent floor base members 1 can be connected to each other and are firmly fixed to each other. Therefore, when the floor panel members 2 are intalled as the entire upper surface of the floor base members 1, stability of the floor panel members 2 can be assured.

Figs. 3A to 3C, Figs. 4A and 4B, Figs. 5A and and Fig. 6 are views respectively showing modifications of the coupling support member and the base joint member of the first embodiment. The connecting support member 13 extending at each cor' r of the floor base member 1 may be a 1/4 piece (one of pieces 33a to 33d) shown in Fig. 3A or a 1/4 piece (one of pieces 34a to 34d) in Fig. 3B. The connecting supFprt member 12 extending at the edge except for any corner of the floor base member 1 comprises a 1/2 piece (one of pieces 32a and 32b), as shown in Fig. 3C. When these connecting support members 12 and 13 are used, base joint members a rectangular ring) corresponding to the shapes obtained by the combinations of the support members 12 and 13 must be used.

The connecting support member 13 extending at any corner of the floor base member 1 may be a 1/4 piece (one of pieces 40a to 40d) obtained by dividing a member w 14 (Fig. 4A) into quarters. In this case, the base joint member comprises a member 42 having a shape to fit with a cross guide groove 41 formed on the upper surface of the member 40, as shown in Fig. 4A. The connecting support member 12 extending at the edge except for any corner may be a 1/2 piece (one of pieces 43a and 43b) of a member 43 shown in Fig. 4B. In this case, the base joint member comprises a member 44 having a shape to fit in a guide groove 45 formed on the upper surface of the member 43, as shown in Fig. 4B.

According to still another modification, the connecting support member 13 extending at any corner comprises a 1/4 piece (one of pieces 50a to obtained by dividing a member 50 (Fig. 5A) into quarters. In tnis case, the base joint member comprises a member 52 having a shape to fit in a ring-like groove 51 formed on the upper surface of the member 50. As shown in Fig. 5B, the member 52 has a central recess and a ring-like peripheral projection fitted in the ring-like groove 51. A 1/2 piece of the member 50 shown in Fig. SA may be used as the connecting support member 12 extending at the edge except for the corner. In this case, when the two connecting support members 12 are combined, the member 50 is constituted. The member 52 IS is fitted in the ring-like groove 51 to connect adjacent connecting support members 12.

Fig. 6 shows a modificatior as a combination of 15 a joint portion 60 and a connecting support member 61.

The joint portion 60 formed at part of the peripheral portion of the floor base member 1 corresponds to the base joint member. The connecting support member 61 has a recess at its center. The recess is engaged with the corresponding joint portion 60 of the adjacent floor base member 1 to connect the adjacent floor base members 1.

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the floor panel member according to the first embodiment. This floor panel member has nine pieces 70a to 70i connected through thin adhesive sheets, and the adhered nine pieces constitute a standard member. Any of the pieces to 70i can be removed as needed. By using floor panel members as a combination obtained by using a plurality of pieces having the circular openings 21 and the rectangular notches 22, a panel shape can be arbitrarily changed.

Figs. 8 to 11 are views showing the second embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 8, a projection 21a engaged with a recess lia formed on almost the center of the upper surface of a fundamental support member 11 is formed on the lower surface of a floor panel member 2. The recess lla serves to prevent lateral shift. In addition, damping members (cushion members consisting of, rubber) which are brought into tight contact with the upper 16 sui.:: ce of the fundamental support member 11 are formed at four peripheral portions of the projection 21a on the lower surface of the floor panel member 2. With this structure, when the floor panel member 2 is placed on the upper surfaces of the fundamental support member 11 and connecting support members 12 and 13, a lateral shift of the member 2 can be prevented, and the floor panel member 2 can be accurately supported.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a modification of the above structure of the upper surface of the fundamental support member 11. Vertical grooves lib are formed on the circumferential surface of the fundamental support members 11 to support both ends of a vertical separator member 9. The vertical separator member 9 comprises a plate member for partitioning the horizontal space on the surface of the floor base 1. A plurality four) of recesses 90a to 90d are formed on the upper surface of the fundamental support member 11. A plurality of four) projections 100 which respectively engage with the recesses 90a to 90d are formed on the lower surface of the floor panel member 2, as shown in Fig. 10. Damping members 23 are formed around the projections o00 on the lower surface of the floor panel member 2.

Fig. 11 is a view showing the lower surface a surface which is brought into contact with the foundation floor surface of the room) of the floor 17 base member 1. A plate-like rubber member 16 having a three-dimensional pattern for preventing slippage on its surface is adhered to the lower surface of the floor base member 1. When the floor base member 1 is installed on the fundamental floor surface of the room, unstable movement of the floor base member 1 can be prevented.

Figs. 12A to 14C are views showing the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 12A, slit-like vertical grooves lib, 12b, and 13b are respectively formed on the circumferential wall surfaces of fundamental support members 11 and connecting support members 12 and 13, all of which extend on a floor base member 1. The vertical grooves lib, 12b, and 13b are used to support both ends of vertical separator members 9 bridged between the adjacent support members 11 to 13 (Fig. 12B). Each vertical separator member 9 comprises a plate member to partition a horizontal space on the surface of the floor base member 1. By using these vertical separator members 9, a path of cables such as signal and power cables and a ventilation path are formed in the space defined between the floor base members 1 and the floor panel members 2.

As shown in Fig. 13A, in the space defined by the floor panel member 2 and the floor base member 1, a horizontal separator 8 is prepared to partition the 18 vertical space. Each horizontal separator member 8 comprises a plate member and is normally engaged with four adjacent fundamental support members 11 formed on the surface of the floor base member 1 to partition the vertical space. Four holes each having a diameter slightly larger than the top circular surface of the frustoconical support member 11 are formed at four corners of the horizontal separator member 8. The horizontal separator member 8 is engaged with the adjacent fundamental support member 11 and the connecting support members 12 and 13 to partition the vertical space.

By using this horizontal separator member 8, the space above the floor base member 1 is vertically dividable to provide separate spaces for, signal and power cables, as shown in Fig. 13B.

Figs. 14A to 14C are views showing box-like separator members 80 v 82 as modifications of the vertical or horizontal separator member. The box-like separator members 80 to 82 are made of a metal such as aluminum. The box-like separators 80 to 82 have four corners 80a to which are brought into contact with the peripheral surfaces of the four adjacent fundamental support members 11 so as to conform to the circumferential surfaces. The box-like separator member 80 shown in Fig. 14A does not have side surfaces corresponding to those of the vertical separator member 9 and is used as a horizontal separator member 8.

The box-like separator members 81 and 82 shown in Figs 14B and 14C have side surfaces 81a, 81b, and 81c corresponding to those of the vertical separator member 9 and can partition the space by means of the side surfaces, When

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19 the box-like separator members 80 to 82 are used as the horizontal separator members 8, their height must be set to be almost about 1/2 that of each of the fundamental support member 11 and the connecting support members 12 and 13.

Therefore, the space between the floor base member 1, and the floor panel member 2 can be vertically partitioned.

Figs. 15A to 16 are views showing the fourth embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 15A (15B), a floor panel member 2 comprises a foamed metal base member 231, a cover member 232 consisting of punched metal and formed on the upper surface of the base member 231, and a cover member 233 consisting of punched metal and formed on the lower surface of the base member 231. With this structure, a floor reinforced by the cover members 232 and 233 and having an excellent ventilation property can be obtained.

As shown in Fig. 16, the floor panel member 2 comprises a base member 241 of a honeycomb structure consisting of a foamed metal, a ceramic, a metal plate of aluminum or the like, or paper. A cover member 242 consisting of punched metal is formed on the upper surface of the base member 241. A reinforcing member f___l ill~ 20 243 consisting of carbon fibers is formed on the lower surface of the base member 241. A floor carpet 3 is installed on the upper surface of the cover member 242.

With this structure, the same ventilation property as that in Fig. 15A can be obtained, and the floor is reinforced with the cover member 242 and the reinforcing member 243.

Figs. 17A and 17B are views of the fifth embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 17A, a fundamental support member 11 and connecting support members 12 and 13 extend on a floor base member 1 to support a floor panel member 2.

V-grooves 14a are formed on the surface of the floor base member 1 by a line connecting middle points of the long sides of the floor base member 1 and diagonals of rectangles (squares) of the rectangular floor base member 1 so as to connect between the support members 11 to 13. Grooves 14b are formed to surround a 1/2 bottom arc of each fundamental support member 11 and the entire bottom arc of each connecting support member 12. A groove 14c is also formed to surround the entire bottom arc of each connecting support member 13 extending at any corner. The grooves 14a to 14c serve as guide grooves for discharging leaking water. Guide holes for discharging the leaking water to the foundation floor surface are formed in the V-grooves 14a at predetermined intervals (Fig. 17B). With this structure, 21 water leaking on the upper surface of the floor base member 1 is guided to the guide holes 15 through the grooves 14a to 14c, thereby effectively discharging water to the foundation floor surface. Therefore, the cables and various devices arranged between the floor base member 1 and the floor panel member 2 can be protected from any trouble caused by water leakage, thereby maintaining a stable system operation.

As shown in Fig. 17B, wiring patterns P for detecting water leakage are formed at both sides of the V-groove 14a to constitute a water leakage sensor. The wiring patterns P are connected to a sensor circuit 170 arranged at a predetermined position of the floor base member 1. When leaking water is brought into contact with the wiring patterns P, when a circuit consisting of the leaking water and the wiring patterns P is formed, the sensor circuit 170 outputs a detection signal to drive, a buzzer unit. The wiring patterns P may be formed near other grooves 14b and 14c in addition to the portions adjacent to the V-groove 14a.

With this arrangement, when water leakage occurs on the floor base member 1, it can be detected and alarmed.

Therefore, the leaking water can be immediately removed, and the cables and various devices arranged between the floor base member 1 and the floor panrj member can be protected from any trouble caused by water leakage.

Figs. 18A to 19 are views showing the sixth I __m 22 embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 18A and 18B, a fan unit F is rnounte~i utilizing a circular opening 22. of a floor panel ,c amber 2 to constitute a ventilation system. The fan tun~t F is hel.d by a device support mechanism 180 provided to the lower surface of a floor panel member 2.

A vent port I, is formed on the upper surface of the floor panel member 2. By utilizing the vertical separator members 9, a ventilation duct is formed between the floor base member 1 and the floor panel member 2. The ventilation duct, the fan unit F, and the vent port 181 constitute a ventilation system (or air-conditioning system).

As shown in Fig. 19, a basket 8 correspond~ng to a 1s device support mechanism 180 is formed on the lower surface of a floor panel mernber 2 by utilizing a circular opening 21. For example, an insecticide or desiccant may be stored in the basket B to kill harmful insects entering the space between the floor base member I and the floor panel member 2 or remove humidity. Therefore, a good environment can be maintained for the cables and various devicos arranged between the floor base member 1 and the floor panel member 2, Figs. 20 to 23 are views showing the seventh ombodiment.

AS shown in Fig. 20, floor base members floor panel members 2, and floor carpets 3 are sequentially l- an: 23 installed on a foundation floor surface of a room 190 to constitute an upper floor surface of the room 190. There is a corner 191 of the room 190 where the members 1 to 3 cannot be installed. Border fundamental members 4 are installed on the foundation floor surface of the room 190 at this location a border area). Each border fundamental member 4 comprises a strip member having a rectangular wave shape and a predetermined width. A plurality of border fundamental members 4 are combined in accordance with the size of the border area and are installed in the border area. In this case, as shown in Fig. 1, the border columnar joint 4a is fitted in the joint mounting groove 41 arranged in each border fundamental member 4, so that the border fundamental members 4 are integrally formed. A border floor panel 5 is placed on the supper surface of each border fundamental member 4. The border floor panel 5 has longitudinal grooves which can be cut to have a predetermined width in accordance with the size of the border area. In addition, a border floor carpet 6 similar to the floor carpet 3 is placed on the upper surface of the border floor panel The border fundamental member 4 may have a strip member having a corrugated shape, as shown in Fig. 21A. As shown in Fig. 21B, a joint mounting groove 41 and semicircular openings 42 for wiring may be formed in the corrugated border fundamental member 4. When the signal or power cables are installed on the foundation floor surface of the room 190, each cable extends th.aough the opening 42 as needed. In addition, as shown in Fig. 22A, the border fundamental member 4 may have a comb-like shape. When a 24 plurality of comb-like border fundamental members 4a and 4b are combined, an interdigital pattern is formed, as shown in Fig. 22B.

The border floor panel 5 has longitudinal grooves so as to be cut to have a predetermined width, as shown in Fig. 23. Therefore, the border floor panel 5 is cut at a predetermined longitudinal groove 5a in accordance with the size of the border area, thereby forming a border floor panel 5 having an optimal size.

By using the border fundamental members 4, the border floor panels 5, and the border floor carpets 6, the floor surface of the room can be formed together with the members 1 to 3 in the border area where the members 1 to 3 of the room cannot be installed.

Claims

1. An interior panel unit for permitting an arrangement of cables and devices on a floor of a room, said interior panel unit comprising: a floor base member for installation on a foundation floor of the room; a floor panel member for location above the floor base member and for cooperating with said floor base member so as to define an internal space for receiving the cables and the devices; a plurality of strip-like border fundamental members for arrangement in a border area defined by the edge of said floor base member and that side wall portion of the room which are continuous with an edge of the room; and a border floor panel member for support by said plurality of border fundamental members to constitute the same plane as that of an upper surface of said floor panel member in the border area. Dated this 16th day of November, 1992 KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA By its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia