Cross aisle connection panel

• US 20020160660A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jose-Filonel T. Mendoza
• Inventors: Mendoza, Jose-Filonel T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,830,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/625
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/09 Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames

Abstract

The present invention relates to telecommunications equipment racks including vertical cable guides, horizontal troughs, cross aisle panels and cross-connection modules for telecommunications equipment racks. The vertical cable guides define vertical cable channels for both network infrastructure and cross-connection cables. The structure defining the second cable channel is hingedly attached to the structure defining the first cable channel. The horizontal cable troughs include both upper and lower troughs. The upper cable trough defines two cableways for directing cross-connection and other cables, and provides access openings for cables to pass into and out of each cableway and between the two cableways. The lower cable trough defines a cableway and provides access openings for cables extending into and out of the cableway. Cable troughs attached to adjacently mounted equipment racks cooperate to form continuous horizontal cableways. The cross aisle panel includes movable cable guide structures to permit access to connectors mounted on the panel. The cross-connection modules provide multiple connector planes on the rear of the module to increase the number of circuits the module can support.

Claims

1. A cross aisle connection panel comprising:

a housing with a top and a bottom, a first and second opposed sides and first and second opposed ends defining an enclosed interior;

a plurality of input connectors on the first side;

a plurality of output connectors on the first side electronically connected with the plurality of input connectors;

a first ring structure mounted at each end; and

a second ring structure mounted at each end;

wherein the second ring structure is hingedly mounted about a vertical axis and movable between a first and second position;

wherein the second ring structure covers at least some of the input and output connectors on the first side when in the first position; and

wherein the covered input and output connectors are exposed when the second ring structure is in the second position.

2. The cross aisle panel of claim 1, wherein the housing includes mounting flanges at each end for mounting the panel to a telecommunications equipment rack and the housing and ring structures are sized and shaped to fit within a telecommunications rack.

3. The cross aisle panel of claim 1, wherein the second ring structure is hingedly mounted to the first ring structure.

4. A telecommunications rack comprising:

a base having a first side and opposing second side;

a first vertical frame member having a top and a bottom, the bottom being attached to the first side;

a second vertical frame member having a top and a bottom, the bottom being attached to the second side;

a top connecting the top of the first vertical frame member with the top of the second vertical frame member;

a cross aisle panel mounted to the vertical frame members, the cross aisle panel including;

a faceplate including a plurality of input connectors on a first side of the faceplate;

a plurality of output connectors on the first side electronically connected to the plurality of input connectors;

a first ring structure mounted at each end; and

a second ring structure mounted at each end;

wherein the second ring structure is hingedly mounted about a vertical axis and movable between a first and second position;

wherein the second ring structure covers at least some of the input and output connectors on the first side when in the first position; and

wherein the covered input and output connectors are exposed when the second ring structure is in the second position.

5. The telecommunications rack of claim 4, wherein the rack includes a plurality of vertical cable guides defining a first vertical cable channel and the first ring structure defines a portion of the first vertical cable channel.

6. The telecommunications rack of claim 5, wherein the vertical cable guides define a second vertical cable channel and the second ring structure defines a portion of the second vertical cable channel.