A UTILITY PORT

The present invention relates to a utility port particularly, but not exclusively, to a utility port for an office desk or table.

In the modern office environment there is a requirement to provide at the office desk data and electrical power facilities. Providing such facilities can lead to an inefficient use of the desk surface and to unsightly and space consuming clutter. It is an object of the invention to mitigate or overcome these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a utility port comprising one or more modules, disposed around a central column, and adjustable in relation to that column.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the utility port is provided for an office desk, table or the like. Advantageously there are two or more modules. These two modules are preferably a power module and a data module. The power module incorporates one or more power sockets and the data module one or more data sockets. The or each module is preferably disposed for rotatable movement about the central column. For this purpose the or each module defines an aperture through which the central column extends. A sleeve is advantageously disposed in the aperture between the respective module and the column. Formations on the periphery of the aperture and the external surface of the sleeve enable module and sleeve to be locked together in one of a number of relative rotational positions.

Preferably, the formations are projections on the periphery of the aperture and channels or flutes on the external surface of the sleeve. The sleeve preferably has further formations which enable it to be rotationally locked with respect the desk, table or the like. A base plate is advantageously

connected for example by bolts, to the desk. This base plate is preferably provided with formations, advantageously on a boss, forming part of the base plate, which are complementary to the further formations on the sleeve. Preferably, the further formation comprises projections and the complementary formation comprises a slot. The column is advantageously connected to the base plate preferably by means of a bolt, and the base plate is provided with a cover advantageously defining an aperture through which the cables to the modules may pass. The modules are preferably made from synthetic plastics material and the base and column are preferably aluminium.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a utility port; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the utility port of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of part of the port of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the utility port of Figures 1 and 2 supporting a monitor, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the utility port of Figure 4 in position on a table or desk.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the utility port comprises two modules 1 and 2 extending in substantially opposite directions from a central upright cylindrical column 3. Referring additionally to Figure 3 module 1 , 2 comprises two complementary parts 4 and 5. Each part comprises a box portion 6 and an extension 7 defining an aperture 8. The periphery of each aperture 8 is formed with diametrically opposed projections 9 for a purpose

to be described later. Part 4 is the front part and part 5 is the rear part. The two parts are pushed together so that apertures 8 and projections 9 are aligned and connected together by means of four screws 10 screwed into complementary screwthreaded bores 1 1 formed in the front part 4. The column 3 extends through apertures 8, a bush 12, a sleeve 13 and a cover 14. A base plate 15 is bolted by means of bolts (not shown) to the underside of a panel 16 of the desk on which the utility port is, in use, mounted. A bolt 17 extends through a boss 18 on the base plate 15 and is screwed into a complementary screwthreaded bore in the column 3 thereby connecting the column 3 to the desk. The upper face of the boss is formed with a recess 19 which receives complementary formations 21 on the underside of the sleeve 13.

The location of the formations 21 in the recess 19 prevents rotation of the sleeve 13 with respect to the base plate 15. The sleeve 13 has eight channels 22 formed in its external surface. The above described projections 9 locate in two of these channels 22 to prevent relative rotation between the modules 1 and 2 and the sleeve 13 and therefore between those modules and the base plate 15 and the desk to which it is connected. The eight channels effectively provide eight different rotational positions spaced circumferentially at 45° intervals for the modules 1 and 2 around the central column 3. More rotational positions could be provided by increasing the number of channels 22. This arrangement enables a user to alter the position of the modules 1 and 2 as desired for ease of access. The modules 1 and 2 are of the same basic construction, module 2 being inverted with respect to module 1 so that both occupy the same plane when mounted on column 3. As a result both modules could not occupy the same rotational

position on column 3. Usually, module 1 is the power module incorporating two power sockets and module 2 is the data module incorporating two data sockets. Cable to the two modules are shown on Figures 1 and 2 and are referenced 23. Referring to Figure 4, the utility port described above is shown with the column 31 supporting a monitor 30. The column is of smaller diameter than the above described column 3 and a ring cap adaptor 32 surrounds it to ensure a fit between the column and the modules 1 and 2.

Referring to Figure 5, the assembly of Figure 4 is shown attached to a desk 40. A convenient place is at one of the corners of the desk remote from the user. Provision is made at the other remote corner 41 to accommodate the assembly.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.