GB2437366A

GB2437366A - Combined cable port and accessory mount

Info

Publication number: GB2437366A
Application number: GB0607733A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Ian Fenton
Original assignee: OFQUEST Ltd
Current assignee: OFQUEST Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-19
Filing date: 2006-04-19
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Also published as: GB0607733D0

Abstract

A cable port fitting 1 comprises a cable access portion 5 having a first opening 2 forming a cable port and a second opening 3 for receiving an elongate mounting member for mounting an accessory above a desktop. The cable access portion may have a downwardly extending wall (7, Fig. 4) and a flange (8, Fig. 4) to allow it to be located and supported in an opening in the desktop. The fitting may comprise a bracket portion 6 which extends perpendicularly to the cable access portion and may be fastened to a vertical panel of the desk. The bracket portion may be L-shaped, comprising a flange (10, Fig. 3) to be fitted to the cable access portion and a channel section (15, Fig. 2) to receive and support the mounting member. Also disclosed are a desktop accessory mounting bracket and a method of mounting accessories to a desk.

Description

CABLE PORT FITTING

This invention relates to a cable port fitting for a desk which provides an opening or port for receiving one or more cables through a desk. More particularly the invention relates to an integrated cable port fitting which combines the provision of a cable access port with other features.

It is common to provide an opening or a port in a desktop to allow the passage of cables from a CPU or from electricity and/or communications connections accessed under the desk to equipment such as a computer, VDU or monitor located on or above the desktop. Typically a tubular plastic sleeve is inserted into the opening as a lining and is provided at its upper end with a peripheral flange which rests on the desktop to prevent the sleeve from falling through the opening. A plastic closure is sometimes provided to close the opening when the cable port is not in use.

Positioning accessories such as shelves or flat screen monitors above a desktop usually involves sitting the accessories on the desktop or providing a metal bracket which clamps to the desktop and supports a metal pole for mounting the accessory from the clamp. Such metal clamp and pole arrangements can be awkward if they protrude beyond the back of the desk and are not always structurally secure. They can also undesirably damage the desk surface. If the accessory requires cables to be connected, the cables are fed through a cable port in the desktop which may or may not be at a location close to the accessory. This can cause a hazard and can result in untidy and unsightly lengths of cable.

Desks are often provided with substantially vertical front or side panels known as modesty panels which screen the legs of a person seated at the desk from view and may also provide an element of structural support for the desk. These modesty panels typically extend from at or near the underside of the desktop to a location spaced above the floor, but such panels can also extend to the floor and/or be spaced from the underside of the desktop by a small gap. Modesty panels can interfere with the mounting of accessories with clamp arrangements unless the modesty panel is sufficiently displaced forwards from the back of the desk or unless there is a sufficient vertical gap for a clamp to be fastened about the desktop.

There is a need to provide improved apparatus for mounting accessories on or above desktops and for routing cables to those accessories, particularly in desks provided with modesty panels.

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a cable port fitting for a desk, the fitting being provided with a cable access portion having a first opening therethrough forming a cable port for passage of one or more cables through the fitting and a second opening therethrough for receiving an elongate mounting member for mounting an accessory above the desktop.

At least preferably the fitting is provided with an upper surface which is substantially flat such that it can be positioned in use substantially flush with a surface of a first panel of the desk. More preferably the upper surface of the fitting is positioned in use substantially flush with an upwardly facing desktop surface.

Preferably the fitting is also provided with one or more downwardly extending walls.

In preferred embodiments a peripheral flange extends outwardly from the upper surface of a cable access portion beyond said downwardly extending wall or walls to seat the fitting in an opening through a desktop.

In preferred embodiments downwardly extending walls define first and/or second passages corresponding to said first and second openings. Such downwardly extending walls may be formed as part of the cable access portion or as part of a bracket portion to be described below.

It is to be understood that descriptions such as "upper", "lower", "upwardly" and "downwardly" are to be interpreted with respect to the orientation of a cable access fitting as mounted in a horizontal desktop.

The cable port opening may have any appropriate cross section such as round or square. However preferably the cable port opening is elongate with the mounting member opening positioned to one side of a longer dimension of the cable port opening. Preferably the sides of the cable port opening viewed in horizontal cross-section are tapered towards each other at the side of the cable port opening nearest to the mounting member opening. For example the cross-section of the opening may be in part trapezoidal. When the fitting is used to provide through-desk access for a number of cables this facilitates formation of a tighter and neater bundle of cabling.

The cable access port may be provided with a cover to provide a continuation of the flat desktop surface when the fitting is not in use.

The mounting member opening preferably opens into a passage of uniform cross section along its vertical length so as to be capable of slidingly receiving a mounting member such as a pole, shaft or mounting arm therethrough. The opening may have any suitable cross-section suitable for receiving a mounting member such as a pole, for example square or circular. In some embodiments the inwardly facing walls of the passage are provided with inwardly protruding bearing surfaces for engaging against the surface of a mounting member. The mounting member opening may be provided with a flat cover for closing the opening when not in use.

The first and second openings are preferably separate openings spaced from each other. However embodiments are also be envisaged in which the first and second openings meet or coalesce, or in which a single opening functions as both the first and second openings. For example a single opening may have a portion at one end shaped for receiving a mounting member. Alternatively a mounting member may be hollow or may have a recess permitting passage of one or more cables through the mounting member parallel to its axis or along one side of the mounting member.

Preferably means are provided for supporting a mounting member slidingly received through an opening in the cable access portion of the fitting on a second panel of the desk which is substantially perpendicular to the first panel. Thus where the fitting is mounted in a desktop in accordance with its preferred method of use, means are provided for supporting a mounting member on a substantially vertical panel of a desk such as a rear panel, a side panel, or in the most preferred embodiments a modesty panel.

In preferred embodiments the cable port fitting is provided with a bracket portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the cable access portion, the bracket portion being provided with means for holding the mounting member and means for fastening the bracket to a modesty panel for example by means of bolts or screws, thereby to support the mounting member on the modesty panel.

Preferably the bracket portion comprises an elongate channel mounted to the cable access portion such that the bottom and two sides of the channel at least partially surround the mounting member opening. The rear of the bottom surface of the channel forms a fixing surface which is secured to the modesty panel.

Preferably the fitting is substantially L-shaped, with the plane of the fixing surface of the bracket portion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the upper surface of the cable access portion and with the elongate bracket portion preferably forming the longer leg of the "L".

The mounting member may be secured to the bracket by any convenient means, for example by means of a push fit or by screws, bolts or retaining bands. In preferred embodiments a stop member is provided towards the lower end of the bracket to hold the mounting member in position and to prevent it from falling beyond the bracket.

The stop member may have an opening therein for receiving an end portion of the mounting member for retaining the mounting member by means of a bolt.

The bracket portion may be formed integrally with the cable access portion of the fitting. However preferably these two portions are formed separately and the bracket portion is mountable to the cable access portion, and/or to the desk underneath the cable access portion, by any suitable means, for example by means of screws. In embodiments in which the two portions are formed separately this enables desks to be fitted with a cable access portion and for the bracket portion to be mounted retrospectively to or against the cable access portion if it is subsequently decided mounting of desktop accessories is required.

Preferably locating means are provided on the cable access portion and/or on the bracket portion for locating the bracket portion with respect to the cable access portion.

The bracket portion is preferably L-shaped having a flange at its upper end extending substantially perpendicular to the elongate section and means for mounting the flange over an opening in a desk adjacent a cable access portion of the fitting. In preferred embodiments the flange is provided with holes around its periphery for receiving screws to mount the bracket to the underside of a desktop. A pair of elongate arms or buttresses may be provided extending from the elongate section along the underside of the flange to provide additional rigidity.

The fitting may be provided with means for attaching a cable management tray.

Preferably means are provided for hingedly mounting a cable management tray beneath the cable access portion and for clipping the tray to the bracket portion. In one embodiment recesses are provided at the ends of said pair of elongate arms on the bracket portion for pivotably receiving one side of a tray and a lip for holding the tray in a cable stowing position in use is provided at the lower end of the bracket.

Viewed from another aspect the invention provides a desktop accessory mounting bracket having a flange mountable to a first desk panel under a through-desk cable access opening in the first desk panel, an elongate mounting member supporting section extending substantially perpendicular to said flange for supporting a mounting member for an above desktop accessory, and means for fixing said elongate section to a second desk panel substantially perpendicular to said first desk panel. Preferably the flange is provided with a mounting member receiving opening and a cable access opening for the passage of cables therethrough. The mounting member receiving opening preferably has a wall defining a tubular passage of uniform cross-section for receiving a mounting member slideably therethrough.

Viewed from another aspect the present invention provides a desk fitting comprising a cable access port for mounting in an opening in a first desk panel, the cable access port having an opening forming a cable port for passage of one or more cables through the first desk panel and an opening for receiving an elongate mounting member for mounting an accessory above the desktop, and a bracket for supporting said mounting member below the desktop, said bracket having means for fixing the bracket to the first desk panel under the cable access port and means for mounting the bracket to a second desk panel substantially perpendicular to the first desk panel.

Viewed from another aspect the present invention provides a desking system comprising at least one aforementioned desk fitting, at least one mounting member receivable through said mounting member opening and into said bracket, and optionally at least one cable management tray for attaching to a said desk fitting.

Viewed from a further aspect the present invention provides a method of mounting accessories to a desk comprising positioning a cable access port in an opening in a first desk panel, mounting a bracket to a second desk panel substantially perpendicular to said first desk panel, positioning a mounting member through the cable access port and supporting said mounting member on said second panel by means of said bracket. Preferably the method additionally includes the step of fixing the bracket to the first desk panel over the cable access port, and/or the step of fixing or locating the bracket with respect to the cable access port.

Viewed from another aspect the present invention provides a method of retrofitting an accessory mounting bracket to a desk provided with a cable access port in an opening in a first desk panel comprises mounting a bracket to a second desk panel substantially perpendicular to said first desk panel, positioning a mounting member through the cable access port and supporting said mounting member on said second panel by means of said bracket.

The mounting member can include a pole, shaft or other elongate rigid member for supporting an accessory above a desktop, including in particular an accessory such as a monitor or other electrical or communications equipment requiring cable access.

The fitting, cable port, bracket, desking system and method in accordance with at least preferred embodiments have certain advantages.

In particular at least preferred embodiments provide a fitting provided with a cable access port and which is also capable of receiving a mounting member for a desktop accessory.

In at least preferred embodiments there is provided a bracket mountable under a cable access port enabling secure mounting of desktop accessories from under the desktop.

Preferably a cable port and accessory mounting bracket form two co-operating portions of a desktop fitting. It is believed this is the first time a fitting has been proposed which has a dual function of providing through-desk cable access and accepting means for mounting desktop accessories.

The integrated design allows a more direct route for feeding cables from a monitor or other accessory above the desk to a CPU, cable management area or electricity and/or communications access located below the desk. The cable access port is part of the same assembly which mounts the accessory such that the cable access port is in close proximity to the location from which a monitor or other accessory is mounted, thereby facilitating a short and tidy run of cabling.

The provision of a hinged basket or tray below the cable access portion in preferred embodiments further integrates cable management with accessory mounting and holds and tidies cabling below the desktop.

The fitting provides a secure and stable way of mounting accessories. In particular the use of an L-shaped fitting or bracket fixed both to the underside of a desktop and to a vertical panel (especially a modesty panel) provides a strong mounting for a desktop accessory whilst reinforcing and providing additional strength to the desk.

The formation of the bracket portion as a separate component in preferred embodiments which is engageable with the underside of the desktop and/or the cable access portion allows the bracket to be retro-fitted. Thus the bracket portion can be added at a later date if above desk features are required.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention described by way of

example only:

Fig I is a perspective view from above and to the rear of an embodiment of a fitting in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Fig 2 is a perspective view of the fitting of Fig 1 from below and to the front; Fig 3 is a perspective view of a bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Fig 4 is a perspective view of a cable access port in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figs 1 and 2 show a fitting 1 having a cable port opening 2 for the passage of cables (not shown) through the fitting and a mounting member opening 3 for receiving a pole (not shown) for mounting an accessory such as a monitor above a desktop. In Figure 1 the openings are shown closed by removable coverings 2a, 3a. In the illustrated embodiment the fitting is comprised of a cable access portion 5 and a bracket portion 6 as seen separately in Figs 3 and 4. In other embodiments these two portions could be integrally formed.

The cable access portion 5 is inserted in use into an opening in a desktop such that its top surface (upper surface in Fig 4) is flush with a desktop surface. A downwardly extending wall 7 and peripheral flange 8 locate and support the cable access portion 5 within the opening in the desktop.

As best seen in Fig 2, a downwardly extending wall 9 forms the sides to a passage guiding cables through the cable port opening 2. The cable port opening 2 has a trapezoidal section at its side adjacent the mounting member opening 3.

The bracket portion 6 has a flange 10 at its upper end with protruding lugs 11 for locating the bracket portion 6 with respect to the cable access portion 5. The flange has through-holes 12 which receive screws (not shown) to fix the bracket 6 to the underside of the desktop, under the cable access portion 5. Openings in the flange 10 which correspond to the cable port opening 2 and mounting member opening 3 in the cable access portion 5 are labelled 2b and 3b respectively.

The bracket portion 6 is provided with an upwardly extending wall 13 forming a passage for receiving a mounting member. The passage has a constant cross section and is provided with axially oriented protrusions 14 which form a sliding bearing surface. As can be seen in Fig 1, the upwardly extending wall meets a correspondingly shaped downwardly extending wall depending from the cable access portion 5.

The bracket portion 6 is substantially L-shaped and has an elongate channel shaped section 15 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the flange 10. The channel section 15 has a substantially planar surface 16 at its rear and through holes 17 through the base of the channel for receiving screws (not shown) to fix the channel section to a vertical modesty panel. In use the channel section 15 receives and supports a vertically oriented mounting pole for mounting a desktop accessory such as a flat screen monitor. A collar 18 at the base of the bracket 6 provides additional support to the mounting pole and an opening therethrough allows the pole to be fastened to the bracket 6 by means of a bolt (not shown).

The bracket portion 6 has two elongate arms 20 below the flange which provide additional rigidity. A cable management tray (not shown) is optionally hingedly mounted in recesses 21 at the distal end of each arm 19 and is releasably clipped to an engagement means 22 at the bottom of the elongate portion of the bracket.

It will be seen that a fitting comprising the cable access portion 5 and the bracket portion 6 provides an integrated system for mounting an above desktop accessory and for providing through-desk cable access. The openings 2,3 for the mounting pole and cable access are in close proximity providing a more direct route for cable access from below the desk to the desktop accessory. The system has flexibility in that a cable access portion 5 can be fitted to a desk initially with the functionality to add a bracket for mounting a desktop accessory at a later date if required. The L-shape of the fitting and the mounting of the bracket both to the underside of the desktop and to a modesty panel (or other substantially vertical desk panel) provides a particularly strong support for mounting the desktop accessory. A cable tray optionally mounted under the cable access portion 5 provides additional integration of cable management with accessory mounting function.

The above embodiment has been described by way of example. Modifications within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A cable port fitting for a desk having a desktop, the

fitting being provided with a cable access portion having a first opening therethrough forming a cable port for passage of one or more cables through the fitting and a second opening therethrough for receiving an elongate mounting member for mounting an accessory above the desktop.

2. A cable port fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cable access portion is arranged to be fitted in an opening in a desktop, said cable access portion having a substantially flat upper surface and one or more downwardly extending walls, and a peripheral flange extending outwardly beyond said downwardly extending wall or walls to seat the fitting in an opening through a desktop 3. A cable port fitting as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein means are provided for supporting a said elongate mounting member slidingly received through said second * opening on a second panel of the desk which is substantially perpendicular to the .* desktop. * S* S...

*..: 4. A cable port fitting as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cable port * fitting is provided with a bracket portion extending substantially perpendicularly to *: : : the cable access portion, the bracket portion being provided with means for holding the mounting member and means for fastening the bracket to a substantially vertical S.....

* panel of the desk, such as a modesty panel, thereby to support the mounting member thereon.

5. A cable port fitting as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bracket portion comprises an elongate channel mounted below the cable access portion such that the bottom and two sides of the channel at least partially surround the mounting member opening, the rear of the bottom surface of the channel forming a fixing surface for securing to the substantially vertical desk panel.

6. A cable port fitting as claimed in any preceding claim which is substantially shaped 7. A cable port fitting as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said bracket portion is formed separately to said cable access portion, the bracket portion being L-shaped with a flange at its upper end arranged to be fitted to the cable access portion andlor to the underside of a desktop underneath the cable access portion, the flange having a mounting member receiving opening and a cable access opening corresponding to the first and second openings through the cable access portion, and locating means being provided on the cable access portion and/or on the bracket portion for locating the bracket portion with respect to the cable access portion.

8. A cable port fitting as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cable access portion and/or the bracket portion are formed with upwardly or downwardly extending walls defining passages extending from said first and second openings through the desktop to the underside thereof for receiving said one or more cables and said elongate mounting member.

:.*** 9. A cable port fitting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first .... opening forming a cable port is elongate in cross section, the second opening for * S. S receiving a mounting member is positioned to one side of the longer dimension of the *5Sa : first opening, and the sides of the first opening taper towards each other at the side of * the first opening nearest to the second opening. **5* S S *

10. A cable port fitting as claimed in any of claims ito 8, wherein said first and *S.S*.

* second openings coalesce or overlap at least in part.

11. A cable port fitting as claimed in any preceding claim further provided with a cable management tray.

12. A desktop accessory mounting bracket having a flange mountable to a first desk panel under a through-desk cable access opening in the first desk panel, an elongate mounting member supporting section extending substantially perpendicular to said flange for supporting a mounting member for an above desktop accessory, and means for fixing said elongate mounting member supporting section to a second desk panel substantially perpendicular to said first desk panel.

13. A desktop accessory mounting bracket as claimed in claim 12, wherein the flange is provided with a mounting member receiving opening and a cable access opening for the passage of cables therethrough.

14. A desktop accessory mounting bracket as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the mounting member receiving opening has a wall defining a tubular passage for receiving a mounting member slideably therethrough.

15. A desk fitting comprising a cable access port for mounting in an opening in a first desk panel, the cable access port having an opening forming a cable port for passage of one or more cables through the first desk panel and an opening for receiving an elongate mounting member for mounting an accessory above the desktop, and a bracket for supporting said mounting member below the desktop, said bracket having means for fixing the bracket to the first desk panel under the cable access port and means for mounting the bracket to a second desk panel substantially : perpendicular to the first desk panel. S... * . S...

16. A desking system comprising at least one desk fitting as claimed in claim 15, *SSS *..: at least one mounting member receivable through said mounting member opening and * into said bracket, and optionally at least one cable management tray for attaching to a said desk fitting.

* 17. A method of mounting accessories to a desk comprising positioning a cable access port in an opening in a first desk panel, mounting a bracket to a second desk panel substantially perpendicular to said first desk panel, positioning a mounting member through the cable access port and supporting said mounting member on said second panel by means of said bracket.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further including the step of fixing the bracket to the first desk panel over the cable access port, and/or the step of fixing or locating the bracket with respect to the cable access port.

19. A method of retrofitting an accessory mounting bracket to a desk provided with a cable access port in an opening in a first desk panel comprises mounting a bracket to a second desk panel substantially perpendicular to said first desk panel, positioning a mounting member through the cable access port and supporting said mounting member on said second panel by means of said bracket.

20. A cable port fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A desktop accessory mounting bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A desk fitting or a desking system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of mounting accessories to a desk substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * I

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