Raceway for providing power and communications connectivity

Abstract

The present invention introduces a raceway for association with a floor and a support of a structure to provide power or communications connectivity between the support and a location on the floor. The raceway includes a housing and a fastener. The housing, that is substantially equal in length to a distance between the location on the floor and the support, comprises a conduit and a sloping side. The conduit is adapted to receive one or more lines from the support, the one or more lines are capable of communicating signals to the location on the floor. The sloping side, that has a length substantially equal to a length of the raceway, provides a gradual transition between the floor and the raceway and is capable of being substantially covered by a floor cover. The fastener can be associated with the housing to at least substantially ensconce the one or more lines. The fastener and the housing are capable of cooperating to integrate the raceway and the floor cover.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A raceway for association with a floor of a structure to provide at least one of power and communications connectivity to a location on said floor of said structure, said raceway comprising: 
 a housing having a length and a conduit adapted to receive a line capable of communicating a signal to said location on said floor; and    a fastener that can be associated with said housing to at least substantially ensconce said line, said fastener and said housing cooperating to integrate a floor cover with said raceway.    
   
   
       24 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  wherein said length of said housing is substantially equal in length to a distance between said location on said floor and a support of said structure.  
   
   
       25 . The raceway as set forth in claim  2  wherein said length of said conduit is adapted to receive said line from said support of said structure.  
   
   
       26 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  wherein said communicated signal is a power signal.  
   
   
       27 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  wherein said communicated signal is a communications signal.  
   
   
       28 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  wherein said fastener is substantially equal in length to said housing.  
   
   
       29 . The raceway set forth in claim  1  further comprising a sloping side that provides a gradual transition from said floor substantially to said fastener.  
   
   
       30 . The raceway set forth in claim  1  further comprising a sloping side substantially along said length of said raceway to provide a gradual transition from said floor to said fastener, said sloping side capable of being substantially covered by said floor covering.  
   
   
       31 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  wherein said floor cover is a carpet.  
   
   
       32 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  further comprising clamping means for coupling said fastener with said housing to integrate said floor cover and said raceway.  
   
   
       33 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  wherein said raceway is capable of cooperating with a means for permanently associating said housing with said floor.  
   
   
       34 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  further comprising a mate that is capable of associating a portable device with said raceway.  
   
   
       35 . The raceway as set forth in claim  12  wherein said mate is capable of allowing communication of said signal between said raceway and said portable device.  
   
   
       36 . The raceway as set forth in claim  1  wherein said fastener includes at least a portion of a device box.  
   
   
       37 . A raceway for association with a floor of a structure to provide at least one of power and communications connectivity, said raceway comprising: 
 a housing having a length, a conduit and a sloping side, 
 said conduit being adapted to receive a line that is capable of communicating a signal to said location on said floor, and  
 said sloping side that provides a gradual transition between said floor and said raceway and is capable of being substantially covered by a floor cover; and  
   a fastener associated with said housing, said fastener and said housing cooperating to at least substantially ensconce said line and to integrate said raceway and said floor cover.    
   
   
       38 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  wherein said length of said housing is substantially equal in length to a distance between said location on said floor and a support of said structure.  
   
   
       39 . The raceway as set forth in claim  16  wherein said length of said conduit is adapted to receive said line from said support of said structure.  
   
   
       40 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  wherein said communicated signal is a power signal.  
   
   
       41 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  wherein said communicated signal is a communications signal.  
   
   
       42 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  wherein said fastener is substantially equal in length to said housing.  
   
   
       43 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  wherein said floor cover is a carpet.  
   
   
       44 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  further comprising clamping means for coupling said fastener with said housing to thereby integrate said floor cover and said raceway.  
   
   
       45 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  wherein said raceway is capable of cooperating with a means for permanently associating said housing with said floor.  
   
   
       46 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  further comprising a mate that is capable of associating a portable device with said raceway.  
   
   
       47 . The raceway as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said mate is capable of allowing communication of said signal between said raceway and said portable device.  
   
   
       48 . The raceway as set forth in claim  15  wherein said fastener includes at least a portion of a device box.