More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of electrical and communications lines routing within a permanent or temporary building, home or facility.

Description of the Related Art A major factor in the occupation of any commercial or residential space is the routing of electrical power and communications lines. Without power for computers, lamps, facsimile machines, copiers, scanners, and other devices most modem workspaces simply cannot be occupied. With the growth in information technology, the same has become true for access to communications lines. In all type of work environments, from offices to manufacturing and distribution facilities to homes, access to information and the ability to share information has become central in the operation of many employees and people who depend on information.

With the advent of information available from cable TV, DSS dishes, internet hookups and on-line services, there is an increasing need to distribute multiple power, video, voice, data and other communications lines within offices, facilities and homes.

Workers in offices and production facilities need access to information relating to customers inventory, design plans, and schedules to name just a few. While access to information has significantly aided workers in performing their jobs, competition has

made such access essential for firms wishing to be competitive in the marketplace of the 21st century. Firms wishing to occupy new office space or manufacturing facilities are faced with substantial costs in routing, moving, adding, and removing power and communications lines with currently available infrastructual systems.

The standard infrastructure architecture known as"homerun"architecture runs wires through the walls, ceilings or floors of the structure from a communications closet to communications outlets. All the communications lines entering the space are concentrated in the communications closet. The wires and cables are run point-to- point between the communications closet and the communications outlets. The wire or cable are continuous (i. e. without breaks, splits or interconnections) and are only as long as needed to span the distance between the communications closet and the communications outlet. This infrastructual architecture used in the vast majority of offices and facilities has substantial limitations which increase the cost of rerouting the AC electrical and communications lines with the workspace. As offices and workspaces change by adding or removing walls and partitions, the wiring to the communications outlets must also be rerouted. The relocating the communications lines is an expensive, time consuming and labor intensive proposition.

"Homerun"architecture information infrastructure systems have several drawbacks. Specifically, the addition of new communications outlets requires routing new cables or lines the full distance from the communications closet to the communications outlets. The cost of this addition can be expensive if the distance from the communications closet to the communications outlet is great or if the routing in the ceiling (or through or under the floor) is met with obstructions (e. g., structural elements such as beams, air handlers, air ducts, electrical and plumbing infrastructure).

Another disadvantage of the traditional"homerun"architecture is the cost of relocating communications outlets. Relocation of communications outlets requires the rerouting of a substantial portion of the"homerun"between the communications closet and communications outlet. This can be a very costly and labor intensive undertaking.

In an effort to avoid the cost of rerouting,"homeruns"are often abandoned in the floor or ceiling raceways or spaces while a new"homerun"is installed from the communications closet to the relocated communications outlet. This practice of abandoning"homeruns"has the disadvantage of cluttering the ceiling or floor raceways of the structure. Such clutter results in limited space for the addition of other homeruns or other wires and cables. Additionally, the clutter of abandoned "homeruns"results in difficulty when tracing or rerouting existing"homeruns"or other lines.

While the relocation of communications outlets can sometimes be accomplished with the rerouting of the"homerun,"often the homerun is not long enough to span the distance to the relocated communications outlet. In such an instance a new homerun must be run from the communications closet, and the old homerun either removed or abandoned in the structure.

Another method to avoid the disadvantages related to the"homerun" architecture is to use wireless communications solutions. While wireless does avoid the problems of rerouting cabling, its high cost, limited bandwidth, absence of a standard wireless communications protocol and ease with which communications can be monitored make it an unsuitable alternative for many applications.

Accordingly, it is desired that the present invention overcome the limitations of current communications infrastructure systems and equipment.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a communications infrastructure system which provides connectivity between communications lines entering a workspace and communications outlets distributed throughout the workspace. In one embodiment of the present invention, communications lines entering the workspace through a communications closet are connected to trunk lines. The end of each of the trunk lines opposite the communications closet is terminated with a rapid interconnect connector.

The trunk lines are bundled to form horizontal risers which are run throughout the workspace. Drop cables connect to the rapid interconnect connector of the horizontal riser to provide connectivity to communications outlets. An outlet connector is mounted on the end of the drop cable which connects to the communications outlet.

In another embodiment of the present invention, horizontal risers are bundled in a branched layout whereby groups of trunk lines of the horizontal riser are split off from other groups in the bundling. The branch bundling of the horizontal trunk lines allows for customized distribution of rapid interconnect connectors throughout the workspace, thereby providing the desired distribution of connection points for the drop cables connecting to the communications outlets.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the horizontal risers consist of conduit made from a semi-stiff material. Trunk lines are run within the conduit to rapid interconnect connectors which protrude through holes in the sidewall of the conduit. The holes are spaced to provide a distribution of rapid interconnect connectors along the length of the horizontal riser.

In another embodiment of the present invention rapid interconnect connectors are provided on the end of the horizontal risers which connect to the communications closet. Outside communications lines entering the communications closet are attached to the rapid interconnect connectors of the communications closet. The connection of horizontal risers to the communications closet by rapid interconnect connectors allows for the communications distribution system of the present application to be expanded to provide communications connectivity to other work areas with minimal effort and expense.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a diagram of the communications distribution system, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a rapid interconnect connector of a horizontal riser, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rapid interconnect connector of a drop cable, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a drop cable with an outlet connector for connection to a communications outlet, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a layout view of the communications distribution system shown in Figure 1 installed in a workspace, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 is an alternate layout of the of the communications distribution system shown in Figure 5, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7 is a diagram of a communications distribution system having branched horizontal risers, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is a layout view of the communications distribution system having branched horizontal risers as shown in Figure 7 installed in a workspace, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 is a diagram of a communications distribution system having rapid interconnect horizontal risers, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 10 is a layout view of the communications distribution system having rapid interconnect horizontal risers as shown in Figure 9 installed in a workspace, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 11 is a layout view of the communications distribution system having rapid interconnect horizontal risers installed in a workspace as shown in Figure 10 where the communications distribution system has been expanded to provide communications to an adjacent workspace, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 12 is a side view of two embodiments of a rapid interconnect connector cap adapted to connect to a rapid interconnect connector, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the horizontal riser encased in a flexible conduit, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 14 is a cross sectional view of the conduit-type horizontal riser shown in Figure 13, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention provides an infrastructure system for the distribution of power and communications lines. In the following description numerous details are set forth in order to enable a through understanding of the present invention. However,

it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Further well-known elements, devices, process steps and the like are not set forth in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

In the following figures like objects are given the same numbers in an effort to aid the reader in understanding the features of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a communications distribution system (2) of the present invention. Communications lines (not shown) from outside the workspace to be serviced by the communications distribution system are received in a communications closet (4). These lines can come from a public telephone switching network (PTSN), private branch exchange (PBX) located outside of the workspace, or other communications devices such as a satellite hookup, local area networks, or any other forms of communication which need to be distributed within a workspace.

Trunk lines (6) which connect to the communications lines from outside the space are bundled to form horizontal risers (8) (HRs). The trunk lines (6) terminate at a rapid inter-connect interface (RICI) connectors (12). Drop cables (10) (DCs) connect to the RICI connectors (12) of the HRs (8) to provide connection between the trunk lines (6) of the HRs and communications outlets (14) located within the space serviced by the communications distribution system (2).

Figure 2 is a close up perspective view of the RICI connector (12) of the HR (8) (HR-RICI) shown in Figure 1. The RICI connector (12) has a cylindrical body (14) approximately 5 inches long. One end of the cylindrical body (14) is closed by a circular interconnect interface (16), approximately 3 inches in diameter. Located on the interconnect interface (16) are male connectors (18), (20) and (22). In this

embodiment of the present invention connector (22) is a fiber optic pair connector.

Two fiber optic cables (24) are housed in the protective covering (26) of the fiber optic pair connector (22). One DB25 connector (18) is located above the fiber optic pair connector (22) and one DB25 connector (20) is located below the fiber optic pair connector (22). Four positioning keys (28) are located on the interconnect interface and are spaced approximately 90° around the circumference of the interconnect interface (16). The positioning keys (28) protrude approximately 3/8 of an inch from the surface of the interconnect interface (16). A threaded collar (30) is located on the body (14) of the RICI connector (12) and is used for securing the RICI connector (12) of the HR (8) to the RICI connector (32) of the DC (10) shown in Figure 3. The trunk lines (6) of the HR enter the cylindrical body (14) of the RICI connector (12) through the end opposite the end closed by the interconnect interface (16).

The RICI connector (32) of the DC (DC-RICI) (10) shown in Figure 3 has female connectors (36), (38) and (40) located on the circular interconnect interface (42). The female connectors (36), (38) and (40) are positioned on the interconnect interface (42) to allow connection with the male connectors of the RICI connector (32). Four positioning notches (44), sized to accept the positioning keys (28) of the HR-RICI connector (12), are positioned at 90° intervals around the circumference of the interconnect interface (42). The size, shape, spacing and location of the positioning notches (44) allows the female connectors (36), (38) and (40) to connect to the male connectors (18), (20) and (22) when the positioning keys (28) are aligned and inserted within the positioning notches. Due to the size, shape, orientation and spacing of the positioning keys (28) and positioning notches (44) there is only one unique orientation that allows the DC-RICI connector (32) to be connected to the HR-RICI

connector (12). The use of positioning keys (28) allows the connection of the RICI connectors (12) and (32) without the need to visually determine whether the connectors are aligned properly. The body (46) of the RICI connector (32) is threaded (50) to accept the threaded collar (30) from the RICI connector (12) of the HR (8).

While the above embodiments of the RICI connectors utilized a threaded collar to securely hold the DC-RICI connector to the HR-RICI connector, other embodiments could use other forms of securely holding the two connectors together. Other forms of securing connection between the two connectors include snap together connectors or connectors with an securing clasp.

While the above embodiments showed the DC connected to the RICI such that the weight of the DC is supported by the RICI, alternate embodiments of the present invention could utilize a strain relief mechanism whereby the weight of the DC is born by the structure of the building the communications distribution system is installed within.

The use of DB25 connectors (18), (20), (36) and (38) as well as a fiber optic pair connectors (22) and (40) allows for connection between six cables each consisting of four twisted pair copper wires and one pair of fiber optic strands. Each trunk line (6) and DC (10) then consists of six cables of four twisted pair copper wires and one pair of fiber strands. Other combinations of fiber, copper, coaxial or other cabling may be used to meet the particular communications needs of the workspace served by the present invention.

The trunk lines of the DC opposite the RICI connector (32) end without connectors. The connectors of the communications outlet (not shown) are part of the communications outlet and are not mounted on the DC until after the DC has been run

from the communications outlet to the RICI connector (12) of the HR (8). This is done to aid the running of the DCs, especially throughout narrow passageways.

When a DC is moved and reconnected to the HR by a different RICI connector, color coding or labeling the trunk lines in the HR aids the installer in identifying the newly connected trunk line at the communications closet. Other embodiments of the present invention could use low voltage signature signals to identify the different lines.

Alternatively, the DC (32) can end in a connector or connectors (52) which connect to a communications outlet (54) as shown in Figure 4. The use of outlet connectors pre-installed on the DC allows for installation and removal of DCs, and hence the addition or relocation of communications outlets within a workspace, with minimal effort and expense. Removal and installation is as simple as plugging the outlet connectors (52) from the outlet and the HR, rerouting the DC from the location of the new or relocated communications outlet to the nearest HR-RICI, and connection to the HR-RICI and communications outlet.

The present invention, in its multiple embodiments, is particularly suitable to reconfigurable workspaces which utilize modular furniture and movable partitions to allow reconfiguration of a workspace with minimal cost and effort. The communications distribution system of the present invention enables reconfigurable workspaces to realize the potential of reconfigurability by allowing the communications infrastructure to be readily adaptable without the high cost and extensive work required to reconfigure prior art communications distribution systems.

As such, the present invention allows workspaces to be reconfigured many times for different purposes or different occupiers without the high cost associated with removal and replacement of the prior art"homerun"distribution system.

Figure 5 is a layout view of the communications distribution system (2) of the present invention installed to service a workspace (60). Located in one corner of the workspace is a communications closet (62). Communications closets are typically located in an unobtrusive section of the workspace as close as possible to the incoming communications lines (not shown) entering the workspace. HRs (8) carry the trunk lines (not shown) which provide connection to the RICI connectors (12). DC's (32) connect the communications outlets (64) to the trunk lines of the HR by connection to the HR-RICI connectors (12).

Figure 6 is an alternate layout view of the communications distribution system (2) shown in Figure 5 installed in the workspace (60) shown in Figure 5. The partitions (66) and desks (68) have been relocated, as well as adding new partitions and desks, to produce different work areas within the workspace. Accordingly, the communications outlets (64) located in both the walls (70) and the partitions (66) of the workspace have been repositioned, and new communications outlets have been added, to provide communication access to the individual cubicles and work areas of the workspace. To provide connectivity between the repositioned communications outlets (64) and the communications closet (62) the DC (32) have been repositioned to connect to the closest HR-RICI connector (12). In this manner the present invention, by having HRs running throughout the workspace, each HR having multiple RICI connectors positioned along its length, the repositioning of communications outlets can be accomplished without the need for complete rerouting of trunk lines from the communications closet to the individual communications outlets. Additionally, new communications outlets may be added without the need to run trunk lines from the

communications closet. The addition of new communications outlets is easily accomplished by running a DC to the nearest available HR-RICI connector.

The procedure for connecting a new communications outlet, or connecting a relocated communications outlet, is as simple as connecting the connector or connectors to the end of the DC opposite the RICI connector (32), and then routing the DC to the nearest available RICI connector (12) of the HR (8). The RICI connectors of the HR and DC are then easily connected by use of the positioning keys (28) and positioning notches (44) as described above. The threaded collar (30) of the RICI connector (12) of the HR is then pulled over and screwed onto the threads (50) on the body (46) of the DC-RICI connector (32). Removal of a DC for relocation of a communications outlet is as simple as unscrewing the threaded collar (30) from the body (46) of the DC-RICI connector (32) and disconnecting the RICI connectors (12) and (32).

With the present invention, only the DC need be rerouted when adding or relocating a communications outlet. This saves the time and effort of rerouting the wires and cables from the communications closet to the communications outlet, as required in prior art systems. In this manner, the HRs provide the primary communications distribution and do not need to be moved or replaced when reconfiguring a workspace. The DCs provide local connectivity to the HR an are moved, replaced or added as need be.

While the above embodiments utilized HRs having a segment configuration and the termination of the trunk lines spaced to allow a distribution of RICI connectors along the segment of the HR, other embodiments of the HR could be bundled in

different configurations to meet the communications distribution needs of the workspace.

Figure 7 is a diagram of the communications distribution system (2) having the trunk lines (6) bundled to form HRs (72) in a branched configuration. The trunk lines (6) from the communication closet (62) are bundled into two HRs (72). The trunk lines (6) are further split and rebundled after the initial bundling from the communications closet.

Figure 8 shows the branched HR communications distribution system (2) shown in Figure 7 installed to service a workspace (74). By bundling the trunk lines (6) in a branched configuration to form HRs (72) the RICI connectors (12) can be distributed throughout the workspace (74). This allows RICI connectors to be within the span distance of a standard length DC from any potential communications outlet installed within the workspace. In this manner, the present invention is able to use a standard DC of moderate length to provide connectivity between any potential communications outlet and the communications closet. Additionally, the branched HR configuration allows the even distribution of RICI connectors throughout the workspace. This facilitates the close proximity of a RICI connector to any potential communications outlet.

Alternatively, the installation of the branched HRs in a workspace can provide for non-uniform distribution of RICI connectors. This allows for the anticipation that some areas of the workspace may have a higher or lower density of anticipated communications outlets. Areas within a workspace, such as high traffic areas near a stairwell, may have a low probability of having communications equipment installed and therefore need only a low concentration of RICI connectors to provide adequate

connectivity to the communications closet. By not deploying multiple RICI connectors in the stairwell area, other RICI connectors are available for central areas within the workspace. Such central areas may alternatively be configured for conference rooms, fax centers, work cubicles, offices or other spaces which often have a high density of communications outlets. In this manner the present invention is particularly adaptable to the anticipated needs of future occupiers of the workspace.

Figure 9 is a diagram of a communications distribution system (2) having HRs (76) connected to the communications closet (62) by RICI connectors (82) and (80).

Trunk lines (not shown) from the communications closet (62) are connected to male RICI connectors (82) of the type shown in Figure 2. Female RICI connectors (80) of the type shown in Figure 3 are connected to one end of the trunk lines (3) bundled to form the HRs (76). Each individual trunk line has a separate RICI connector on each end. The HRs are formed from bundling multiple trunk lines and can be bundled either in the segment or branched configurations described above.

The communications closet (62) can use traditional patch panels tying incoming communications lines to internal trunk lines, or can have the incoming communications lines connect directly to RICI connectors, thereby eliminating the need for a patch panel.

Figure 10 is a layout view of the infrastructure system (2) shown in Figure 9 installed in a workspace (78). The communications closet (62) has multiple RICI connectors (82) for connection to the RICI connectors (80) of the HRs (76). The communications closet has a sufficient number of RICI connectors to connect all of the individual trunk lines of the HRs. The number of HRs and the number of trunk lines being determined by the anticipated density of communications outlets

throughout the workspace and the number of RICI connectors distributed throughout the workspace. In most applications the number of RICI connectors distributed throughout the workspace will be greater than the number of communications outlets to allow flexibility in moving DCs to an available nearby RICI.

Figure 11 is a layout view of the communications distribution system (2) shown in Figures 9 and 10 which has been expanded to provide communications connectivity to an adjacent workspace (84). A third HR (86) is installed by connecting the RICI connectors (88) of the HR (86) to the RICI connectors (90) of the communications closet (62). Once the HR is installed the communications outlets (14) can be connected to the communications lines (not shown) entering the workspace by connecting a DC (10) to the communications outlet (14), and then connecting the DC (10) to the nearest available RICI connector (12) of the HR (86). By providing RICI connectors both on the communications closet and on the end of the HR which connects to the communications closet, the present invention is particularly adaptable to expansion as well as reconfiguration of the workspace. Additional areas, or additional outlets within the same workspace area, can be accommodated by the simple addition of HRs and DCs. The use of RICI connectors allows the installation of additional HRs and DCs, as well as their relocation, with minimal effort and with minimal interruption to the use of the workspace.

Figure 12 is a side view of two embodiments of a RICI cap (90) and (92). The RICI cap (90) screws onto the threaded body (46) of the female RICI connector (32) of the DC (10). The RICI cap (90) protects the RICI interface (42) from dust or damage when not connected to a male RICI connector of a HR.

Similarly, a RICI cap with threads on its exterior (not shown) could be used to fit the male RICI connector (12) shown in Figure 2 by the threaded collar (30) screwing onto the treads on the exterior of the cap, much as the threaded collar secures the female RICI (32) of the DC (10) onto the male RICI (12).

Alternatively, the RICI cap (92) can be attached to the DC-RICI connector by a snap together fitting. This cap is particularly adapted to RICI connectors, as described above, which do not use the threaded collar (30) for securing connection between the DC-RICI and the HR-RICI. Notches (94) in the RICI cap (92) accept tabs (96) on the body (98) of the DC-RICI connector (32), thereby securely holding the RICI cap (92) onto the RICI connector (32).

On both of the RICI caps (90) and (92) a tie ring (100) is located on the top of the RICI cap to facilitate the installation of the DC or HR in raceways located in floors, walls and ceilings. In this manner the DC or HR the RICI cap (90) or (92) is attached to can be pulled through walls, floors, ceilings, or raceways by a wire or rope run through such structures.

While the above embodiments showed a HR constructed by bundling multiple trunk lines, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 13 and 14 where the trunk lines (6) are run inside a flexible conduit (102). Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the conduit-type HR (104). Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the conduit-type HR (104) shown in Figure 13. The conduit (106) is made from a semi-stiff material, such as a plastic, which is flexible enough to be bent around corners but which is stiff enough to protect the trunk lines form chaffing and damage from sharp edges and rough surfaces as may be found inside walls on in floors of ceilings. The conduit is a long tube having openings (106) at either end to allow trunk

lines to be run inside the conduit. Access holes (108) in the side wall of the conduit (102) allow RICI connectors (12) of the HR (104) to protrude from the conduit, thereby being accessible for connection with DCs. One advantage to the conduit-type HR (104) is that adding trunk lines to a HR is simplified due to the ease of running additional lines through a conduit, thereby preventing the snagging which often occurs on beams and other obstructions in a structure.

The conduit-type HR (102) shown in Figures 13 and 14 can be of the type formed from bundling trunk lines from the communications closet or of the type with RICI connectors included on the end of the HR for connection to RICI connectors of a communications closet.

While the holes (108) in the conduit (102) of the conduit-type HR (104) shown in Figures 13 and 14 are evenly spaced, other embodiments of the present invention could utilize uneven spacing of the conduit holes (108). In this manner the present invention is able to provide a distribution of RICI connectors tailored to the anticipated distribution of communications outlets in a given workspace.

While the embodiments shown in Figures 9-11 and Figures 13 and 14 utilized multiple RICI connectors to connect the communications closet to the HR, other embodiments of the present invention could use one rapid interconnect connector for connecting the multiple trunk lines of the HR to the communications closet.

The embodiments in the above figures used only a small number of trunk lines, RICI connectors, DCs and HRs, for illustration purposes only. The number of trunk lines and RICI connectors used in a HR, as well as the number of HRs and DCs, is limited only by the space for running such lines in the ceilings, floors and walls of the

space. As such, actual implementation of the present invention may utilize many more lines and connectors than is illustrated in the accompanying figures.

While the above embodiments of the present invention provided only communications lines to outlets, other embodiments could provide power via AC or other power lines to communications lines. As such, the RICI connectors, HRs and DCs would include power connectors and power lines.