Movable wall panel system with electrical connections

Abstract

A movable wall panel system induces a plurality of movable wall panels. A first electrical connector of one panel is automatically coupled to a second electrical connector of an adjacent panel as the panels are moved from a folded storage position to an extended use position to electrically couple the adjacent panels together automatically. At least one of the plurality of panels has an electrical receptacle coupled to its associated first and second electrical connectors to provide an electrical power outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of dividing a space with a plurality of movable wall panels suspended from an overhead track, at least two of the moveable wall panels being operatively coupled together through at least one hinge and are movable about the at least one hinge between a folded storage position and an extended use position in which the panels are substantially coplanar, the method comprising the steps of:
 moving the at least two moveable wall panels along the track from the folded storage position to the extended use position; and 
 automatically coupling a first electrical connector of a first moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels to a second electrical connector of a second moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels during the step of moving the at least two moveable wall panels along the track from the folded storage position to the extended use position, the first electrical connector of the first moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels being spaced apart from the second electrical connector of the second moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels when the at least two moveable wall panels are in the folded storage position and the first electrical connector of the first moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels contacting the second electrical connector of the second moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels when the at least two moveable wall panels are in the extended use position. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 automatically coupling a third electrical connector of a third moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels to a fourth electrical connector of a fourth moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels during the step of moving the at least two moveable wall panels along the track from the folded storage position to the extended use position, the third electrical connector of the third moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels being spaced apart from the fourth electrical connector of the fourth moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels when the at least two moveable wall panels are in the folded storage position and the third electrical connector of the third moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels contacting the fourth electrical connector of the fourth moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels when the at least two moveable wall panels are in the extended use position. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 electrically coupling a fifth electrical connector of the second moveable wall panel of the at least two moveable wall panels to a sixth electrical connector of the third moveable wall panel of the least two moveable wall panels. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of moving the at least two moveable wall panels along the track from the folded storage position to the extended use position includes the steps of:
 rotating the first moveable wall panel relative to the second moveable wall panel about a first hinge of the at least one hinge, the first hinge coupling the first moveable wall panel to the second moveable wall panel when the first moveable wall panel and the second moveable wall panel are in the folded stored position; 
 rotating the third moveable wall panel relative to the fourth moveable wall panel about a second hinge of the at least one hinge, the second hinge coupling the third moveable wall panel to the fourth moveable wall panel when the third moveable wall panel and the fourth moveable wall panel are in the folded stored position; and 
 rotating the second moveable wall panel relative to the third moveable wall panel about a third hinge of the at least one hinge, the third hinge coupling the third moveable wall panel to the second moveable wall panel when the third moveable wall panel and the second moveable wall panel are in the folded stored position. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of moving the at least two moveable wall panels along the track from the folded storage position to the extended use position includes the steps of:
 rotating the first moveable wall panel relative to the second moveable wall panel about a first hinge of the at least one hinge, the first hinge coupling the first moveable wall panel to the second moveable wall panel when the first moveable wall panel and the second moveable wall panel are in the folded stored position; 
 rotating the third moveable wall panel relative to the fourth moveable wall panel about a second hinge of the at least one hinge, the second hinge coupling the third moveable wall panel to the fourth moveable wall panel when the third moveable wall panel and the fourth moveable wall panel are in the folded stored position; 
 translating the second moveable wall panel relative to the third moveable wall panel to bring the second movable wall panel into contact with the third moveable wall panel; and 
 receiving a projection of the second moveable wall panel within a slot of the third moveable wall panel as the second moveable wall panel is translated relative to the third moveable wall panel. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of receiving the projection of the second moveable wall panel within the slot of the third moveable wall panel as the second moveable wall panel is translated relative to the third moveable wall panel results in the fifth electrical connector of the second moveable wall panel being aligned with the sixth electrical connector of the third moveable wall panel. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the first moveable wall panel is electrically coupled to the fourth moveable wall panel when the first moveable wall panel, the second moveable wall panel, the third moveable wall panel, and the fourth moveable wall panel are in the extended use position; and 
 providing an alert signal in response to a determination that the first moveable wall panel is not electrically coupled to the fourth moveable wall panel. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of dividing a space, comprising:
 moving a first movable wall panel through a predefined range of motion relative to a second movable wall panel, the first movable wall panel comprising:
 a plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, comprising:
 a first movable wall panel first end; 
 a first movable wall panel second end spaced from the first movable wall panel first end; 
 a first movable wall panel top; and 
 a first movable wall panel bottom 
 a first movable wall panel first side; 
 a first movable wall panel second side opposite the first movable wall panel first side; 
 a first movable wall panel first electrical connector presented at a first one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces; and 
 a first movable wall panel second electrical connector presented at a second one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, the first movable wall panel first electrical connector electrically coupled to the first movable wall panel second electrical connector; 
 
 an electrical appliance electrically coupled to the first movable wall panel first electrical connector and the first movable wall panel second electrical connector; 
   the second movable wall panel comprising:
 a plurality of second movable wall panel perimeter faces, comprising:
 a second movable wall panel first end; 
 a second movable wall panel second end spaced from the second movable wall panel first end; 
 a second movable wall panel top; and 
 a second movable wall panel bottom 
 a second movable wall panel first side; 
 a second movable wall panel second side opposite the second movable wall panel first side; and 
 a second movable wall panel first electrical connector presented at a first one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces; and 
 a second movable wall panel second electrical connector presented at a second one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, the second movable wall panel first electrical connector electrically coupled to the second movable wall panel second electrical connector; 
 
   the moving step comprising the step of automatically electrically connecting the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector; and   providing electrical power to the electrical appliance.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
 communicating a data signal between the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel after the step of automatically electrically connecting the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
 communicating a signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector after the step of automatically electrically connecting the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector;   after the communicating step, indicating one of:
 successful communication of the signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector and the second movable wall panel electrical connector indicative of a proper electrical connection between the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel; and 
 unsuccessful communication of the signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector and the second movable wall panel electrical connector indicative of an improper electrical connection between the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel. 
   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 8, wherein the moving step comprises the step of rotating the first movable wall panel relative to the second movable wall panel about a first hinge, the first hinge coupling the first movable wall panel to the second movable wall panel. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 8, wherein the moving step comprises the step of moving the first movable wall panel along an overhead track from which the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel are suspended. 
     
     
       13. A method of dividing a space, comprising:
 moving a first movable wall panel through a predefined range of motion relative to a second movable wall panel, the first movable wall panel comprising:
 a plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, comprising:
 a first movable wall panel first end; 
 a first movable wall panel second end spaced from the first movable wall panel first end; 
 a first movable wall panel top; and 
 a first movable wall panel bottom 
 a first movable wall panel first side; 
 a first movable wall panel second side opposite the first movable wall panel first side; 
 a first movable wall panel first electrical connector presented at a first one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces; and 
 a first movable wall panel second electrical connector presented at a second one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, the first movable wall panel first electrical connector electrically coupled to the first movable wall panel second electrical connector; 
 
   the second movable wall panel comprising:
 a plurality of second movable wall panel perimeter faces, comprising:
 a second movable wall panel first end; 
 a second movable wall panel second end spaced from the second movable wall panel first end; 
 a second movable wall panel top; and 
 a second movable wall panel bottom 
 a second movable wall panel first side; 
 a second movable wall panel second side opposite the second movable wall panel first side; and 
 a second movable wall panel first electrical connector presented at a first one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces; and 
 a second movable wall panel second electrical connector presented at a second one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, the second movable wall panel first electrical connector electrically coupled to the second movable wall panel second electrical connector; 
 
   the moving step comprising the step of automatically electrically connecting the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector; and   communicating a data signal between the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel after the step of automatically electrically connecting the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
 communicating a signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector after the step of automatically electrically connecting the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector;   after the communicating step, indicating one of:
 successful communication of the signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector and the second movable wall panel first electrical connector indicative of a proper electrical connection between the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel; and 
 unsuccessful communication of the signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector and the second movable wall panel first electrical connector indicative of an improper electrical connection between the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel. 
   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving step comprises the step of rotating the first movable wall panel relative to the second movable wall panel about a first hinge, the first hinge coupling the first movable wall panel to the second movable wall panel. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving step comprises the step of moving the first movable wall panel along an overhead track from which the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel are suspended. 
     
     
       17. A method of dividing a space, comprising:
 moving a first movable wall panel through a predefined range of motion relative to a second movable wall panel, the first movable wall panel comprising:
 a plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, comprising:
 a first movable wall panel first end; 
 a first movable wall panel second end spaced from the first movable wall panel first end; 
 a first movable wall panel top; and 
 a first movable wall panel bottom 
 a first movable wall panel first side; 
 a first movable wall panel second side opposite the first movable wall panel first side; 
 a first movable wall panel first electrical connector presented at a first one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces; and 
 a first movable wall panel second electrical connector presented at a second one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, the first movable wall panel first electrical connector electrically coupled to the first movable wall panel second electrical connector; 
 
   the second movable wall panel comprising:
 a plurality of second movable wall panel perimeter faces, comprising:
 a second movable wall panel first end; 
 a second movable wall panel second end spaced from the second movable wall panel first end; 
 a second movable wall panel top; and 
 a second movable wall panel bottom 
 a second movable wall panel first side; 
 a second movable wall panel second side opposite the second movable wall panel first side; and 
 a second movable wall panel first electrical connector presented at a first one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces; and 
 a second movable wall panel second electrical connector presented at a second one of the plurality of first movable wall panel perimeter faces, the second movable wall panel first electrical connector electrically coupled to the second movable wall panel second electrical connector; 
 
   the moving step comprising the step of automatically electrically connecting the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector;   communicating a signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector after the step of automatically electrically connecting the first movable wall panel second electrical connector to the second movable wall panel first electrical connector;   after the communicating step, indicating one of:
 successful communication of the signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector and the second movable wall panel first electrical connector indicative of a proper electrical connection between the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel; and 
 unsuccessful communication of the signal through the first movable wall panel second electrical connector and the second movable wall panel first electrical connector indicative of an improper electrical connection between the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel. 
   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first movable wall panel further comprises an electrical appliance electrically coupled to the first movable wall panel first electrical connector and the first movable wall panel second electrical connector and the method further comprises the step of:
 providing electrical power to the electrical appliance.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17, wherein the moving step comprises the step of rotating the first movable wall panel relative to the second movable wall panel about a first hinge, the first hinge coupling the first movable wall panel to the second movable wall panel. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 17, wherein the moving step comprises the step of moving the first movable wall panel along an overhead track from which the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel are suspended.