Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a floor member for
wiring and, more particularly, to a floor member for wiring
capable of setting up or drawing out, at desired positions,
different distribution lines such as wiring lines and pipe
arrangements installed under a double floor in an office or
the like.
Background of the Invention
In recent years, the increased use of office
automation devices in an office or other places leads to an
increased necessity of wiring treatment and management
thereof and an increased use of floor-installed floor panels
such as a double-floor panel and the like. Use of the floor
panels makes it possible to, depending on the layout design,
draw out distribution lines from double-floor surfaces lying
in user-wanted and easy-to-use floor positions and to freely
install a variety of wiring devices. It is often the case
that there exists a need to set up distribution lines near
office automation devices and on desks, walls and posts,
e.g., a need to set up wiring lines from the inside of a
double floor to connect the same to office automation taps.
For example, there is proposed a double-floor

structure within which distribution line spaces are formed
by a plurality of support members. Distribution line
drawing-out areas are defined on the upper surface of the
double-floor structure in a specified interval. At least a
portion of each of the distribution line drawing-out areas
can be opened by piercing or cutting away the same (see,
e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-
090325) .
In this double-floor structure, as can be seen from an
enlarged view of major portions shown in Figs. 15 and 16,
top-plate-carrying unit bodies 103 are arranged to interpose
wiring channels therebetween. The wiring channels are
covered by a cross cover part 110 and straight cover parts
111. Fig. 16 shows a state in which one of the straight
cover parts 111 shown in Fig. 15 is rearranged. Cable
drawing-out holes 101 of 12 mm in diameter are formed in the
cross cover part 110 and the straight cover parts 111 at
four points at the greatest. By rearranging one of the
straight cover parts 111 as shown in Fig. 16, it becomes
possible to draw out one cable from one of the cable
drawing-out holes 101. In the meantime, there may be a
desire to draw out a plurality of cables at a time in the
personal computer room of a school or other like places. In
this case, countermeasures are taken at the job site in such
way that a trench cover is cut at the job site to form cable
drawing-out holes.

With this kind of technique mentioned above, it is
possible to set up or draw out distribution lines in floor
panels and wiring devices, although problems such as a
difficulty in installation work, an increase in part number
and an onerous process of setting up distribution lines
remain unsolved.
There is also proposed a structure in which, as
illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18, semicircular line path holes
are formed in the off-centered positions of a cross cover
part 110 and straight cover parts 111 in an effort to
increase the installation speed (see Japanese Utility Model
Application Publication No. H06-018536) . Fig. 17 shows an
instance where no circular line path hole is formed and Fig.
18 illustrates an instance where circular line path holes
through which to draw out cables are formed by mating the
semicircular line path holes. Referring to Figs. 19A and
19B, a plurality of (two) semicircular line path holes
(drawing-out holes) 101 are formed in each of the straight
cover parts 111 and the cross cover part 110. However, it
is sometimes the case that, as shown in Fig. 18, a circular
line path hole is additionally formed in area B against the
user' s intention to form a circular line path hole only in
area A.
In view of this, there is provided a double-floor
structure in which one cover hole is formed in one cover as
shown in Figs. 20 and 21 (see Japanese Patent Application

Publication No. H07-158238) . Fig. 20 shows an instance where
no circular line path hole is formed and Fig. 21 illustrates
an instance where one circular line path hole through which
to draw out a cable is formed by mating semicircular line
path holes. Referring to Figs. 22A and 22B, one
semicircular line path hole 101 is formed in each of the
straight cover parts 111 and the cross cover part 110. In
this case, it is possible to form a circular line path hole
in area A as shown in Fig. 21.
However, the prior art structures set forth above
suffer from the following problems.
In case of the double-floor structure disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-090325, a
problem is posed in that the installation work is time-
consuming and the ease of work is not sufficiently high.
In the structure of Japanese Utility Model Application
Publication No. H06-018536 in which the semicircular line
path hole is formed in the off-centered position of the
cover, it is sometimes the case that the semicircular line
path hole appears in an unintended portion if the trench
cover is rotated to form the circular line path hole.
In case of the double-floor structure disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H07-158238, if
each of the straight cover parts 111 has one kind of shape,
i.e., one kind of semicircular cutout position, the line
path hole can be formed only in the position where each of

the straight cover parts 111 makes contact with the cross
cover part 110. Thus, the formation position of a line path
hole is restricted to the central area of the cover parts,
i.e., the panels.
Summary of the Invention
In view of the above, the present invention provides a
floor member for wiring capable of avoiding the restriction
in installation direction and improving the ease of
installation work.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a floor
member for wiring capable of eliminating the possibility
that, when forming or removing a line path hole, another
line path hole is inadvertently formed in the surrounding
area.
Moreover, the present invention provides a floor
member for wiring capable of enjoying an increased degree of
freedom in respect of the formation position of a line path
hole .
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention,
there is provided a floor member for wiring, including: a
plurality of unit bodies arranged to interpose wiring
channels therebetween and provided with flat top surfaces;
and a cover member attached to the wiring channels in a
flush relationship with the top surfaces of the unit bodies,

wherein the cover member has a first hole portion of
semicircular shape formed the peripheral edge thereof, each
of the unit bodies having a second hole portion of
semicircular shape formed in the peripheral edge thereof,
the cover member and the unit bodies being configured to
create a line path hole by bringing the first hole portion
and the second hole portion into communication with each
other in the contact portion between the cover member and
the unit bodies.
With this configuration, the line path hole is formed
between one of the unit bodies as panel bodies and the cover
member. Therefore, the line path hole can be easily created
by rotating the cover member. In addition, the formation
position of the line path hole is not restricted to the
central area of the floor member for wiring. The line path
hole can also be formed in the marginal area of the floor
member for wiring. This makes it possible to enjoy an
increased degree of freedom in respect of the formation
position of the line path hole.
In the floor member for wiring, the cover member may
include a cross cover part of cross shape and four straight
cover parts, each of which has one side making contact with
the corresponding end surface of the cross cover part, the
first hole portion being formed in at least one lateral side
of each of the straight cover parts making contact with each
of the unit bodies.

With this configuration, it is possible to easily form
a line path hole in the marginal area and to enjoy an
increased degree of freedom in respect of the formation
position of the line path hole.
In the floor member for wiring, the first hole portion
may be formed in at least one lateral side of the cross
cover part making contact with each of the unit bodies.
With this configuration, it is possible to easily form
a line path hole in the central area and th enjoy an
increased degree of freedom in respect of the formation
position of the line path hole.
In the floor member for wiring, the cross cover part
may have a third hole portion formed in at least one end
side thereof, one of the straight cover parts having a
fourth hole portion formed in at least one end side thereof,
the third hole portion and the fourth hole portion being
arranged so that a line path hole is created by bringing the
third hole portion and the fourth hole portion into
communication with each other.
With this configuration, it is possible to form a line
path hole in the contact portion between the straight cover
parts and the cross cover part, which assists in increasing
the degree of freedom in respect of the formation position
of the line path hole.
In the floor member for wiring, the cover member may
include a cross cover part of cross shape, the first hole

portion being formed in at least one lateral side of the
cross cover part making contact with each of the unit
bodies.
With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the
number of components while enjoying an increased degree of
freedom in respect of the formation position of a line path
hole.
In the floor member for wiring, at least one of the
straight cover parts may be divided into a plurality of
rotatable cover pieces, the line path hole being formed by
rotating at least one of the cover pieces.
With this configuration, the cover piece of reduced
size is the subject of movement, thus improving the ease of
handling.
In the floor member for wiring, at least one of the
straight cover parts may be divided into a plurality of
position-changeable cover pieces, the line path hole being
formed by changing the position of at least one of the cover
pieces.
With this configuration, the cover piece of reduced
size is the subject of movement, thus improving the ease of
handling.
With the present invention, the line path hole is
formed between one of the unit bodies as panel bodies and
the cover member. Therefore, the line path hole can be
easily created by rotating the cover member. In addition,

the formation position of the line path hole is not
restricted to the central area of the floor member for
wiring. The line path hole can also be formed in the
marginal area of the floor member for wiring. This makes it
possible to enjoy an increased degree of freedom in respect
of the formation position of the line path hole. In
addition, the line path hole can be formed by merely
rotating, e.g., the straight cover parts, regardless of the
orientation of the neighboring cover member. Moreover, the
degree of line drawing-out freedom is increased because the
formation position of the line path hole is not restricted
to the central area of the floor member for wiring.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of
embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one unit of a
floor member for wiring of a first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a view showing a state in which a line path
hole for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is formed
by use of the floor member for wiring of the first
embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a cover member
employed in the floor member for wiring of the first
embodiment;
Fig. 4A is a view showing one of straight cover parts
making up the cover member of the first embodiment and Fig.
4B is a view showing a cross cover part making up the cover
member of the first embodiment;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the floor member
for wiring of the first embodiment with the cover member
removed for clarity;
Fig. 6 is an overall wiring view showing the floor
member for wiring of the first embodiment with the cover
member removed for clarity;
Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a floor member for
wiring of a second embodiment of the present invention in
which a line path hole for drawing out a wiring cable
therethrough is not formed;
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the floor member for
wiring of the second embodiment in which a line path hole
for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is formed;
Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a floor member for
wiring of a third embodiment of the present invention in
which a line path hole for drawing out a wiring cable
therethrough is not formed;
Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the floor member for
wiring of the third embodiment in which a line path hole for

drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is formed;
Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a floor member for
wiring of a fourth embodiment of the present invention in
which a line path hole for drawing out a wiring cable
therethrough is not formed;
Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the floor member for
wiring of the fourth embodiment in which a line path hole
for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is formed;
Fig. 13 is a plan view showing a floor member for
wiring of a fifth embodiment of the present invention in
which a line path hole for drawing out a wiring cable
therethrough is not formed;
Fig. 14 is a plan view showing the floor member for
wiring of the fifth embodiment in which a line path hole for
drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is formed;
Figs. 15 and 16 are views illustrating one example of
conventional floor member for wirings;
Figs. 17 and 18 are views illustrating another example
of conventional floor member for wirings;
Figs. 19A and 19B are views showing one of straight
cover parts and a cross cover part employed in the floor
member for wiring illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18;
Figs. 20 and 21 are views illustrating a further
example of conventional floor member for wirings; and
Figs. 22A and 22B are views showing one of straight
cover parts and a cross cover part employed in the floor

member for wiring illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Embodiments of the present invention will be described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which
form a part hereof.
A floor member for wiring in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention will be first described
with reference to Figs. 1 through 6.
The floor member for wiring of the present embodiment
includes a plurality of unit bodies 3 each having a flat top
plate 5 arranged to interpose wiring channels 2
therebetween, and a cover member 9 attached as a cover to
the wiring channels 2 in a flush relationship with the upper
surfaces of the unit bodies 3. The cover member 9 includes
a cross cover part 10 of cross shape and four straight cover
parts 11, one side of which makes contact with the
corresponding end surface of the cross cover part 10. Each
of the straight cover parts 11 has a first hole portion h1 of semicircular shape formed in the peripheral edge thereof
(one longitudinal side thereof in the illustrated
embodiment) . Each of the unit bodies 3 has a second hole
portion h2 of semicircular shape formed in the peripheral
edge thereof. The straight cover parts 11 and the unit
bodies 3 are configured so that a line path hole h can be

formed by bringing the first and second hole portions h1 and
h2 into communication with each other in the contact portion
between the straight cover parts 11 and the unit bodies 3.
Referring to Fig. 3, the cross cover part 10 has cutouts k
formed to improve the ease of taking-out work when rotating
the cross cover part 10.
The floor member for wiring 1 of the present
embodiment makes up a free-access floor-installed channel-
type floor panel. In other words, the floor member for
wiring 1 makes up a rectangular wiring-purpose floor panel
having the same surface height in the entire areas, in which
the wiring channels 2 are formed to extend lengthwise and
crosswise over the entire area or a partial area of a room
floor. As can be seen in the overall wiring view shown in
Fig. 6, the wiring cables taken out from a distribution box
60 are extended across the room through the wiring channels
2. If the orientation of the straight cover parts 11 of the
cover member 9 is changed by rotating the straight cover
parts 11, the first hole portion h1 of each of the straight
cover parts 11 comes into communication with the second hole
portion h2 of each of the unit bodies 3 in the contact
portion. This creates a line path hole h through which the
wiring cable can be drawn out.
The floor member for wiring 1 serves as a single floor
unit and is arranged in plural numbers. As shown in Fig. 5,
each of the top-plate-carrying unit bodies 3 includes the

top plate 5 and leg portions 6 suspending from the four
corners of the lower surface of the top plate 5. The cover
member 9 is removably attached to the openings of the wiring
channels 2. Bottom plate portions are provided in the lower
portions of the wiring channels 2. The wiring channels 2
can be formed in a specified pitch and in a lattice pattern
along the lengthwise and crosswise directions by arranging a
plurality of small unit bodies in a lattice pattern along
the lengthwise and crosswise directions.
The cover member 9 attached to the wiring channels 2
is made of a transparent or translucent resin material so
that the interior of the wiring channels 2 can be seen from
above. This makes it possible to know at a glance in what
place the connection devices are positioned. In a free-
access floor panel, it is one of principal objects to
replace wiring lines with ease. With the configuration set
forth above, it is possible to know the wiring condition
within the wiring channels 2 while keeping the cover member
9 attached to the wiring channels 2. This makes it possible
to easily figure out the position and kind of the connection
devices when replacing the wiring lines. As a result, the
wiring lines can be replaced by removing only the cover
member 9 attached to the relevant wiring channel 2 but
without removing the cover member 9 attached to other wiring
channels 2.
As shown in Figs. 1 through 6, the cross cover part 10

of the cover member 9 is attached to the cross channel
portion 2a while the straight cover parts 11 thereof are
attached to the channel portions 2b other than the cross
channel portion 2a. The size of one side of the cross cover
part 10 is set equal to the size of one transversely-
extending side of each of the straight cover parts 11, i.e.,
the width of each of the straight cover parts 11.
Referring to Fig. 6, the top plate 5 of each of the
unit bodies 3 is formed into a square shape whose one side
has the same dimension as the longitudinal length of the
straight cover parts 11. In the present embodiment, the
width of the straight cover parts 11 is set equal to about
165 mm and the width of each of the unit bodies 3 is set
equal to about 500 mm. The floor member for wiring 1 of the
first embodiment is formed by arranging the unit bodies 3 so
that the wiring channels 2 defined between the unit bodies 3
can intersect in the lengthwise and crosswise directions.
The top plate 5 of each of the unit bodies 3 or the
cover parts 10 and 11 may be fixed to the respective bottom
units by use of the engagement of protrusions and recesses.
With this configuration, the line path hole h is
formed between one of the unit bodies 3 as panel bodies and
the cover member 9. Therefore, the line path hole h can be
easily created by rotating the cover member 9. In addition,
the formation position of the line path hole h is not
restricted to the central area of the floor member for

wiring 1. The line path hole h can also be formed in the
marginal area of the floor member for wiring 1. This makes
it possible to enjoy an increased degree of freedom in
respect of the formation position of the line path hole h.
With the present embodiment described above, the
position of the line path hole h through which to draw out
the wiring line can be easily rearranged by rotating at
least one of the straight cover parts 11.
In the first embodiment, description has been made on
an instance in which the first hole portion h1 is formed in
each of the straight cover parts 11 of the cover member 9
and the second hole portion h2 in each of the unit bodies 3.
According to a second embodiment of the present
invention, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a third hole portion
h3 of semicircular shape is additionally formed in one side
of the cross cover part 10 and a fourth hole portion h4 in
one widthwise side of one of the straight cover parts 11, so
that the third and fourth hole portions h3 and h4 can form
an additional line path hole h as illustrated in Fig. 8.
In this regard, Fig. 7 shows a state in which a line
path hole h for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is
not formed and Fig. 8 shows a state in which a line path
hole h for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is
formed.
With the configuration of the second embodiment, the
floor member for wiring can be rearranged to form a

plurality of line path holes h by rotating the cross cover
part 10 and one of the straight cover parts 11 of the cover
member 9. This makes it possible to cope with different job
site situations.
In the first embodiment, description has been made on
an instance in which the first hole portion h1 is formed in
each of the straight cover parts 11 of the cover member 9
and the second hole portion h2 in each of the unit bodies 3.
According to a third embodiment of the present
invention, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, one of the straight
cover parts 11 are divided into three cover pieces 11a, l1b
and 11e, of which the cover piece l1b is rotatable and has a
first hole portion h1 of semicircular shape. If the cover
piece l1b is rotated as indicated by an arrow, the first
hole portion h1 is mated with the second hole portion h2 of
one of the unit bodies 3 to thereby form a line path hole h
as illustrated in Fig. 10.
In this regard, Fig. 9 shows a state in which a line
path hole h for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is
not formed and Fig. 10 shows a state in which a line path
hole h for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is
formed.
With the configuration of the third embodiment, the
reduced size of the cover piece 11b to be rotated can
improve the ease of handling.
In the third embodiment, description has been made on

an instance in which the line path hole h is formed by
rotating one of the cover pieces.
According to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, one of the straight
cover parts 11 are divided into three position-changeable
cover pieces 11a, 11b and 11c, in which the cover piece 11a
has a first hole portion h1 of semicircular shape and the
cover pieces 11a and 11b are made position changeable. If
the positions of the cover pieces 11a and 11b are changed to
each other, a line path hole h is formed by the first and
second hole portions h1 and h2 as illustrated in Fig. 12.
In this regard, Fig. 11 shows a state in which a line
path hole h for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is
not formed and Fig. 12 shows a state in which a line path
hole h for drawing out a wiring cable therethrough is
formed.
With the configuration of the fourth embodiment, the
reduced size of the cover pieces 11a and 11b to be exchanged
can improve the ease of handling.
In the first through fourth embodiments, description
has been made on an instance in which the cover member is
formed of the straight cover parts and the cross cover part.
According to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention, the cover member includes only a cross cover part
10 as shown in Fig. 13. The cross cover part 10 has first
hole portions h1 formed in two peripheral edges thereof. If

the cross cover part 10 is rotated, the first hole portions
h1 are mated with the second hole portions h2 of the unit
bodies 3, thereby forming line path holes h as illustrated
in Fig. 14.
With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the
number of components while enjoying an increased degree of
freedom in respect of the formation position of a line path
hole h.
Although the cover member is made of a rigid resin in
the foregoing embodiments, it may be formed of a flexible
resin. This permits slight misalignment of the cover member
and makes it possible to readily rotate the cross cover part
arranged in a specific position by bending the same. In
addition, the formation positions of the hole portions may
be changed depending on the circumstances.
While the invention has been shown and described with
respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes and modification may
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
1. A floor member for wiring, comprising:
a plurality of unit bodies arranged to interpose
wiring channels therebetween and provided with flat top
surfaces; and
a cover member attached to the wiring channels in a
flush relationship with the top surfaces of the unit bodies,
wherein the cover member has a first hole portion of
semicircular shape formed the peripheral edge thereof, each
of the unit bodies having a second hole portion of
semicircular shape formed in the peripheral edge thereof,
the cover member and the unit bodies being configured to
create a line path hole by bringing the first hole portion
and the second hole portion into communication with each
other in the contact portion between the cover member and
the unit bodies.
2. The floor member for wiring of claim 1, wherein the
cover member includes a cross cover part of cross shape and
four straight cover parts, each of which has one side making
contact with the corresponding end surface of the cross
cover part, the first hole portion being formed in at least
one lateral side of each of the straight cover parts making
contact with each of the unit bodies.

3. The floor member for wiring of claim 2, wherein the
first hole portion is formed in at least one peripheral edge
of the cross cover part making contact with each of the unit
bodies.
4. The floor member for wiring of claim 2 or 3, wherein
the cross cover part has a third hole portion formed in at
least one end side thereof, one of the straight cover parts
having a fourth hole portion formed in at least one end side
thereof, the third hole portion and the fourth hole portion
being arranged so that a line path hole is created by
bringing the third hole portion and the fourth hole portion
into communication with each other.
5. The floor member for wiring of claim 1, wherein the
cover member includes a cross cover part of cross shape, the
first hole portion being formed in at least one peripheral
edge of the cross cover part making contact with each of the
unit bodies.
6. The floor member for wiring of claim 2 to 4, wherein at
least one of the straight cover parts is divided into a
plurality of rotatable cover pieces, the line path hole
being formed by rotating at least one of the cover pieces.
7. The floor member for wiring of claim 2 to 4, wherein at

least one of the straight cover parts is divided into a
plurality of position-changeable cover pieces, the line path
hole being formed by exchanging the positions of at least
two of the cover pieces.

ABSTRACT

A floor member for wiring includes a plurality of unit
bodies arranged to interpose wiring channels therebetween
and provided with flat top surfaces, and a cover member
attached to the wiring channels in a flush relationship with
the top surfaces of the unit bodies. The cover member has a
first hole portion of semicircular shape formed the
peripheral edge thereof. Each of the unit bodies has a
second hole portion of semicircular shape formed in the
peripheral edge thereof. The cover member and the unit
bodies are configured to create a line path hole by bringing
the first hole portion and the second hole portion into
communication with each other in the contact portion between
the cover member and the unit bodies.