Cable management sytem and apparatus
First Claim
1. A cable guide device for supporting a plurality of cables and guiding the cables as they are routed to electronic equipment, the cable guide device comprising a cable guide body having a substantially two-dimensional cable guide surface and a first cable guide system along a portion of the cable guide surface, the first cable guide system comprising a plurality of first cable guides spaced along the cable body in a first direction, the first cable guide system for guiding a plurality of cables over the substantially two-dimensional cable guide surface, said cable guide body further comprising a common cable support system including at least one cable capture element that extends from the cable guide body at least partially in a third dimension with respect to the two-dimensional cable guide surface for supporting at least one cable at a level spaced from the two-dimensional cable guide surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cable management apparatus guides and supports cables when mounted as part of an electronics assembly. Preferably, cables enter the electronics assembly through the rear of the electronics assembly and through each side of the electronics assembly. Cables entering the electronics assembly are guided to the electronic components within the electronics assembly. Cables are organized such that individual cables or groups of cable may be associated with specific electronic components within the electronics assembly. Cables or groups of cables associated with specific electronic components within the electronics assembly may be accessed individually while handling a large bundle of cables. In one embodiment of the present invention fiber optic cables are supported such that a minimum bend radius is maintained. Thus, in accordance with one specific aspect of the present invention, fiber optic cables may be supported and organized as part of an electronics assembly.
50 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. A cable guide device for supporting a plurality of cables and guiding the cables as they are routed to electronic equipment, the cable guide device comprising a cable guide body having a substantially two-dimensional cable guide surface and a first cable guide system along a portion of the cable guide surface, the first cable guide system comprising a plurality of first cable guides spaced along the cable body in a first direction, the first cable guide system for guiding a plurality of cables over the substantially two-dimensional cable guide surface, said cable guide body further comprising a common cable support system including at least one cable capture element that extends from the cable guide body at least partially in a third dimension with respect to the two-dimensional cable guide surface for supporting at least one cable at a level spaced from the two-dimensional cable guide surface.
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24. An electronic equipment enclosure having at least a pair of spaced sidewalls and support structure operatively connecting the sidewalls and providing structure for supporting at least one electronic component within the enclosure, the enclosure further comprising a cable guide device operatively supported within the enclosure for supporting a plurality of cables and guiding the cables as they are routed to the electronic equipment, the cable guide device comprising a cable guide body having a first cable guide system and a second cable guide system, the first cable guide system comprising a plurality of first cable guides spaced along the cable body in a first direction, the second cable guide system comprising a plurality of second cable guides spaced along the cable body in a second direction that is different that the first direction, the first and second cable guide systems thereby creating a two-dimensional cable guide structure, said cable guide body further comprising a common cable support system including at least one cable capture element that extends from the cable guide body at least partially in a third dimension with respect to the two-dimensional cable guide structure for supporting a plurality of cables at multiple levels from the two-dimensional cable guide structure.
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25. A cable guide device for supporting a plurality of cables and guiding the cables as they are routed to electronic equipment, the cable guide device comprising a cable guide body having a first cable guide system and a second cable guide system, the first cable guide system comprising a plurality of first cable guides spaced along the cable body in a first direction, the second cable guide system comprising a plurality of second cable guides spaced along the cable body in a second direction that is different that the first direction, the first and second cable guide systems thereby creating a two-dimensional cable guide structure, said cable guide body further comprising a common cable support system including at least one cable capture element that extends from the cable guide body at least partially in a third dimension with respect to the two-dimensional cable guide structure for supporting a plurality of cables at multiple levels from the two-dimensional cable guide structure.
Specification