Wiring window for desks and the like

Claim 2

Wiring means for articles of furniture or the like having a supportive base portion, said wiring means comprising: said base having an open slot therein forming a wiring window opening, said slot extending from the bottom of said base whereby said wiring window is open and accessible through the bottom of said base; closure means for said window, said closure means being shiftable between open and closed positions and a position intermediate said open and closed positions with respect to said window; means mounting said closure means for movement between said open and said closed positions whereby when open said base portion may be positioned directly over wiring, said wiring passing through said open slot in said base; said closure means including at least one wall surface adapted to block and close said window opening when said closure is in said closed position; said closure means including a securing portion adapted to block and only partially close said window opening when said closure means is in said intermediate position whereby when wiring is located in said window, said closure means can be moved to said intermediate position with its said securing means blocking said window opening to hold wiring therein but leaving room for said wiring to pass through said window opening.

Claim 3

Wiring means for articles of furniture or the like having a supportive base portion, said wiring means comprising: said base having an open slot therein forming a wiring window opening, said slot extending from the bottom of said base whereby said wiring window is open and accessible through the bottom of said base; closure means for said window, said closure means being shiftable between open and closed positions with respect to said window; means mounting said closure means for movement between said open and said closed positions whereby when open said base portion may be positioned directly over wiring, said wiring passing through said open slot in said base; said closure means including at least one wall surface adapted to block said opening and wherein said closure is mounted for movement transverse to said window opening whereby said wall will cover said opening when in said closed position; said base being formed as an elongated channel, said window extending through said channel transverse to its elongated length, said closure means being mounted for sliding movement in said elongated channel along at least a portion of its length, and said mounting means including means for limiting the movement of said closure means.

Claim 4

Wiring means for articles of furniture or the like having a supportive base portion, said wiring means comprising: said base having an open slot therein forming a wiring window opening, said slot extending from the bottom of said base whereby said wiring window is open and accessible through the bottom of said base; closure means for said window, said closure means being shiftable between open and closed positions with respect to said window; means mounting said closure means for movement between said open and said closed positions whereby when open said base portion may be positioned directly over wiring, said wiring passing through said open slot in said base; said closure means including at least one wall surface adapted to block said opening and wherein said closure is mounted for movement transverse to said window opening whereby said wall will cover said opening when in said closed position; said base being formed as an elongated channel, said window extending through said channel transverse to its elongated length, said closure means being mounted for sliding movement in said elongated channel along at least a portion of its length, and said mounting means including means for limiting the movement of said closure means.

Claim 5

The wiring means of claim 2 wherein said closure means comprises a generally U-shaped channel member having a bottom wall and a pair of sidewalls, said bottom wall being adapted to slide along the bottom wall of said base, said mounting means including cooperative captivating means on said bottom wall of said base and said bottom wall of said closure means for holding and guiding said closure means for movement between said positions.

Claim 6

The wiring means of claim 3 wherein said closure means includes means for securing the wiring in said window opening, said securing means being operative as said closure means is shifted from open position toward said closed position.

Claim 7

The wiring means of claim 4 wherein said securing means comprises said bottom wall of said closure means having a tongue member extending therefrom a greater distance than said sidewalls, said tongue member being adapted to close the bottom portion of said opening to thereby clampingly receive wiring therein.

Claim 8

The wiring means as defined in claim 3 wherein said captivating meAns includes said bottom wall of said closure means having an elongated slot therein along at least a portion of its length; a plurality of tab members extending upwardly from said bottom wall of said base member, said tab members extending through said elongated slot.

Claim 9

The wiring means as defined in claim 6 wherein said tab members are generally T-shaped, the upper portion of said T being wider than said elongated slot in said bottom wall of said closure means to restrict the vertical movement thereof.

Claim 10

The wiring means as defined in claim 7 wherein at least a portion of said slot is wider than said upper portion of said T-shaped tab to facilitate the assembly thereof.

Claim 11

In an article of furniture having an elongated base portion for supporting said article on a surface an improved wiring window comprising: said base having an open slot formed therein extending through said base transverse to its length whereby said base may be positioned directly over wiring lying on said surface; means in said base for closing said window and means mounting said closing means for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said window; said window being formed in a wall portion of said base and said closure means includes a disc-like member rotatably mounted on said wall adjacent said window opening, said disc member having a slot formed therein adapted in a first position to allow passage of wiring through said window and rotatable to a second position to close said window.

Claim 12

In an article of furniture having an elongated base portion for supporting said article on a surface an improved wiring window comprising: said base having an open slot formed therein extending through said base transverse to its length whereby said base may be positioned directly over wiring lying on said surface; means in said base for closing said window and means mounting said closing means for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said window; said window being formed in a wall portion of said base and said closure means includes a disc-like member rotatably mounted on said wall adjacent said window opening, said disc member having a slot formed therein adapted in a first position to allow passage of wiring through said window and rotatable to a second position to close said window.

Claim 13

The wiring means as defined in claim 9 in which said window is generally semi-circular in configuration with only a portion of the semi-circle opening to the bottom of said base and has greater area than said slot whereby wiring can be inserted into said slot and said closure means can be rotated until said slot opening is closed by a side of said semi-circle to thereby trap the wiring in place.

Claim 14

In an article of furniture having an elongated base portion for supporting said article on a surface an improved wiring window comprising: said base having an open slot formed therein extending through said base transverse to its length whereby said base may be positioned directly over wiring lying on said surface; means in said base for closing said window and means mounting said closing means for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said window; said base being formed as an elongated channel, said window extending through said channel transverse to its elongated length, said closure means being mounted for sliding movement in said elongated channel and along at least a portion of its length, and said mounting means including means for limiting the movement of said closure means.

Claim 15

In an article of furniture having an elongated base portion for supporting said article on a surface an improved wiring window comprising: said base having an open slot formed therein extending through said base transverse to its length whereby said base may be positioned directly over wiring lying on said surface; means in said base for closing said window and means mounting said closing means for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said window; said base being formed as an elongated channel, said window extending through said channel transverse to its elongated length, said closure means being mounted for sliding movement in said elongated channel and along at least a portion of its length, and said mounting means including means for limiting the movement of said closure means.

Claim 16

The wiring window as defined in claim 11 wherein said closure means comprises a generally U-shaped channel member having a bottom wall and a pair of sidewalls, said bottom wall being adapted to slide along the bottom wall of said base, said mounting means including cooperative captivating means on said bottom wall of said base and said bottom wall of said closure means for holding and guiding said closure means for movement between said positions.

Claim 17

The wiring window as defined in claim 12 wherein said closure means includes means for securing the wiring in said window opening, said securing means being operative as said closure means is shifted from open position toward said closed position.

Claim 18

The wiring window of claim 13 wherein said securing means comprises a stepped portion formed on said sidewalls of said closure members, said stepped portion cooperatively forming, with said slot in said base, a secondary window through said first-mentioned slot as said closure member is moved from open toward closed position.

Claim 19

In an article of furniture having an elongated base portion for supporting said article on a surface an improved wiring window comprising: said base having an open slot formed therein extending through said base transverse to its length whereby said base may be positioned directly over wiring lying on said surface; means in said base for closing said window and means mounting said closing means for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said window; said closing means comprising a door having at least one step to give said door a stepped configuration whereby said door can be positioned to completely close said window, to completely open said window, or to only partially close said opening by placing said step in alignment with said window opening.

Claim 20

In an article of furniture having an elongated base portion for supporting said article on a surface an improved wiring window comprising: said base having an open slot formed therein extending through said base transverse to its length whereby said base may be positioned directly over wiring lying on said surface; means in said base for closing said window and means mounting said closing means for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said window; said closing means comprising a door having at least one step to give said door a stepped configuration whereby said door can be positioned to completely close said window, to completely open said window, or to only partially close said opening by placing said step in alignment with said window opening.

Claim 21

In an article of furniture having an elongated base portion for supporting said article on a surface an improved wiring window comprising: said base having an open slot formed therein extending through said base transverse to its length whereby said base may be positioned directly over wiring lying on said surface; means in said base for closing said window and means mounting said closing means for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said window; a mounting wall upon which said closure is slidably mounted; a slot in said closure; a mounting tab having an enlarged head and a stem being bent out of said mounting wall; said slot including an enlarged portion wider than said head and a narrower portion narrower than said head but wider than said stem whereby said closure can be slipped over said mounting tab and moved until said mounting tab is captured in the narrower portion of said slot; said mounting wall including a stop tab bent upwardly therefrom, said stop tab being in the path of movement of said closure and being located such that it limits movement of said closure on a path where said mounting tab travels only in said narrower portion of said tab; said mounting wall being made of a material which can readily be bent whereby said stop tab can be bent upwardly after said closure has been mounted on said mounting tab.

Claim 22

In an article of furniture having an elongated base portion for supporting said article on a surface an improved wiring window comprising: said base having an open slot formed therein extending through said base transverse to its length whereby said base may be positioned directly over wiring lying on said surface; means in said base for closing said window and means mounting said closing means for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said window; a mounting wall upon which said closure is slidably mounted; a slot in said closure; a mounting tab having an enlarged head and a stem being bent out of said mounting wall; said slot including an enlarged portion wider than said head and a narrower portion narrower than said head but wider than said stem whereby said closure can be slipped over said mounting tab and moved until said mounting tab is captured in the narrower portion of said slot; said mounting wall including a stop tab bent upwardly therefrom, said stop tab being in the path of movement of said closure and being located such that it limits movement of said closure on a path where said mounting tab travels only in said narrower portion of said tab; said mounting wall being made of a material which can readily be bent whereby said stop tab can be bent upwardly after said closure has been mounted on said mounting tab.

Claim 23

Wiring means for an article of furniture comprising: a wiring opening in said article of furniture; a closure for said wiring opening in said article of furniture; a mounting wall upon which said closure is slidably mounted; a slot in said closure; a mounting tab having an enlarged head and a stem being bent out of said mounting wall; said slot including an enlarged portion wider than said head and a narrower portion narrower than said head but wider than said stem whereby said closure can be slipped over said mounting tab and moved until said mounting tab is captured in the narrower portion of said slot; said mounting wall including a stop tab bent upwardly therefrom, said stop tab being in the path of movement of said closure and being located such that it limits movement of said closure on a path where said mounting tab travels only in said narrower portion of said tab; said mounting wall being made of a material which can readily be bent whereby said stop tab can be bent upwardly after said closure has been mounted on said mounting tab.

Claim 24

Wiring means for an article of furniture comprising: a wiring opening in said article of furniture; a closure for said wiring opening in said article of furniture; a mounting wall upon which said closure is slidably mounted; a slot in said closure; a mounting tab having an enlarged head and a stem being bent out of said mounting wall; said slot including an enlarged portion wider than said head and a narrower portion narrower than said head but wider than said stem whereby said closure can be slipped over said mounting tab and moved until said mounting tab is captured in the narrower portion of said slot; said mounting wall including a stop tab bent upwardly therefrom, said stop tab being in the path of movement of said closure and being located such that it limits movement of said closure on a path where said mounting tab travels only in said narrower portion of said tab; said mounting wall being made of a material which can readily be bent whereby said stop tab can be bent upwardly after said closure has been mounted on said mounting tab.

Claim 25

The wiring means of claim 17 in which said mounting wall includes two such mounting tabs spaced such that said enlarged portion of said slot will fit over both said mounting tabs simultaneously.