Moveable bend control and patch cord support for telecommunications panel

• US 10,175,440 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Czech Republic sro (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Connectivity Belgium BVBA (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), ADC Czech Republic, s.r.o (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Alexi, Zoltan, Geling, Bernardus Johannes Nicolas, Christiani, Simon Reyndert, Verbruggen, Rudi, Geens, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tavlykaev, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/800,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137, 361610, 361724
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4478 Bending relief means
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/021 using pivoting mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/13 Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/131 being pivotable

Abstract

A termination field and a guide member are independently pivotally coupled to a base body. The termination field pivots relative to the base body along a path of travel. The guide member is coupled to the base body to provide bend radius protection to cables plugged into the termination field. The guide member defines a channel leading the cables from the termination field towards a first side of the base body at an exterior of the base body. In certain examples, the guide member and termination field pivot relative to the base body about different hinge axes. In other examples, the termination field pivots with the guide member for part of the path of travel and relative to the guide member for another part of the path of travel.

Claims

1. An enclosure comprising:

an enclosure body defining an access opening for accessing an interior of the enclosure body;

a door pivotally mounted to the enclosure body at the access opening, the door being configured to pivot along a path of travel to at least partially close the access opening when in a closed position and to allow access to the enclosure interior through the access opening when in an open position; and

guide members pivotally mounted to the enclosure body at the access opening, the guide members being configured to pivot with the door relative to the enclosure body about a common pivot axis when the door moves along a first portion of the path of travel and the guide members being configured to stop relative to the enclosure body at an intermediate position along the path of travel;

wherein the door is configured to move relative to the guide members and the enclosure body as the door pivots along a second portion of the path of travel.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the guide members extend forwardly of the door to define slots through which cables can be routed away from the enclosure body.

3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is disposed outside of the enclosure interior.

4. A method of accessing an interior of an enclosure through an access opening, the method comprising:

pivoting an enclosure door relative to the enclosure along a first portion of a path of travel in a first direction;

entraining guide members to pivot in unison with the enclosure door along the first portion of the path of travel in the first direction; and

pivoting the enclosure door along a second portion of the path of travel in the first direction, the enclosure door pivoting relative to the guide members and relative to the enclosure, the enclosure door and guide members pivoting about a common axis.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

pivoting the enclosure door relative to the enclosure and relative to the guide members along the second portion of the path of travel in a second direction until the enclosure door engages the guide members; and

pivoting the enclosure door along the first portion of the path of travel in the second direction; and

entraining the guide members to pivot in unison with the enclosure door along the first portion of the path of travel in the second direction.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein entraining guide members to pivot in unison with the enclosure door in the first direction comprises engaging a door flange with an abutment surface of the guide members.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein entraining guide members to pivot in unison with the enclosure door in the second direction comprises engaging a tab of the guide members with the door flange.

8. A telecommunications panel comprising:

a chassis;

a tray rotatably mounted to the chassis by a hinge, wherein the hinge rotates about a first axis, the tray being rotatable into and out of the chassis; and

a guide member rotatable with respect to the chassis and tray, the guide member defining a channel and being adapted to provide bend radius protection to cables routed to the telecommunications panel, wherein the guide member rotates about a second axis-that is spaced from the first axis, wherein the guide member is configured to be rotated by the cables.

9. The telecommunications panel of claim 8, wherein the guide member compensates for route length reduction of a route of the cables when the tray is moved from an installed configuration to an access configuration.

10. The telecommunications panel of claim 8, wherein the guide member channel includes a cable insertion slot.

11. The telecommunications panel of claim 8, wherein the guide member at least partially covers the hinge when the guide member is rotated to a closed position.

12. The telecommunications panel of claim 8, wherein the guide member is mounted to the chassis.

13. The telecommunications panel of claim 8, wherein the chassis includes a termination field supporting a plurality of fiber optic adapters.

14. The telecommunications panel of claim 8, wherein the guide member is rotatable about a mounting pin.

15. The telecommunications panel of claim 8, wherein the tray includes a plurality of vertically stacked trays, each of which being provided with the guide member.