System and method for rack cable management

• US 20040079711A1
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Neville, Robert J. Jr., McKinnon, Wayne E., Hartman, Corey D., Burgener, Tyler L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,902,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0456 Ladders or other supports
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1491 having cable management arrangements management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06

Abstract

A cable management assembly includes a first arm assembly pivotally connected with a second arm assembly. Each arm assembly includes a slide lock which may tool-lessly couple to a slide lock receptacle attached to a rack slide chassis member or a rack slide stationary member, allowing the cable management assembly to be chassis independent and reversible. The arm assemblies include basket trays with movable covers that facilitate the storage of cabling.

Claims

1. A cable management assembly comprising:

a first arm assembly pivotally coupled to a second arm assembly;

the first arm assembly including a first slide lock operable to couple to a first slide lock receptacle disposed on a rack slide chassis member; and

the second arm assembly including a second slide lock operable to couple to a second slide lock receptacle disposed on a rack slide stationary member.

2. The cable management assembly of claim 1 further comprising the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly each having a basket tray and a movable cover formed to secure cabling disposed within the basket tray.

3. The cable management assembly of claim 1 further comprising the first slide lock operable to tool-lessly connect to the slide lock receptacle and to tool-lessly disconnect from the slide lock receptacle.

4. The cable management assembly of claim 1 further operable to be reversibly installed wherein:

the first slide lock operable to couple to a third slide lock receptacle disposed on a second rack slide stationary member; and

the second slide lock operable to couple to a fourth slide lock receptacle disposed on a second rack slide chassis member.

5. The cable management assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

the first arm assembly pivotally connected to an end member;

the second arm assembly pivotally connected to the end member; and

a wire tray hook connected to the end member and disposed between the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly, the wire tray hook operable to retain cabling channeled within the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly.

6. The cable management assembly of claim 5 further comprising the wire tray hook formed to interact with a cable management assembly stop to selectively secure the cable management assembly with respect to the cable management assembly stop.

7. A cable management assembly comprising:

a first arm assembly pivotally coupled to a second arm assembly; and

the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly each having a basket tray and a movable cover formed to secure cabling disposed within the basket tray.

8. The cable management assembly of claim 7 wherein each arm assembly further comprises:

a slide lock operable to tool-lessly couple to a slide lock receptacle;

a pivot arm pivotally coupled to the slide lock;

a first hinge arm pivotally coupled to the pivot arm;

the basket tray coupled to the first hinge arm; and

a second hinge arm coupled to the basket tray and operable to pivotally coupled to an end member.

9. The cable management assembly of claim 8 wherein:

the movable cover further comprises a wire frame cover; and

each hinge arm having a groove formed therein to receive a portion of the movable cover and allow the movable cover to rotate between an open position and a closed position.

10. The cable management assembly of claim 7 further comprising an elongated basket tray operable to replace the basket tray and further operable to increase the overall length of each arm assembly.

11. The cable management assembly of claim 7 wherein each movable cover comprises a wire frame cover.

12. The cable management assembly of claim 7 wherein each basket tray comprises a plurality of apertures formed therein operable to increase air flow through the basket tray.

13. The cable management assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

the first arm assembly pivotally connected to an end member;

the second arm assembly pivotally connected to the end member; and

a wire tray hook connected to the end member and disposed between the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly, the wire tray hook operable to retain cabling channeled within the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly.

14. The cable management assembly of claim 13 further comprising the wire tray hook formed to interact with a cable management assembly stop to selectively secure the cable management assembly with respect to the cable management assembly stop.

15. The cable management assembly of claim 7 further comprising a latch formed on each basket operable to secure the movable cover in a closed position.

16. A rack system for housing information handling system components comprising:

a rack having a back, a front, and two sides;

a pair of rack slide stationary members secured on each side of the rack at a selected height;

a pair of rack slide chassis members, each rack slide chassis member slidably associated with a rack slide stationary member;

a component secured to the pair of rack slide chassis members, the component having cabling associated therewith;

a cable management assembly associated with the rack and the component, the cable management assembly comprising;

a first arm assembly pivotally connected with a second arm assembly; and

the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly each having a basket tray and a movable cover operable to secure the cabling therein.

17. The rack system of claim 16 wherein the rack comprises an EIA-310 compliant rack.

18. The rack system of claim 16 wherein the movable cover comprises a wire frame cover.

19. The rack system of claim 16 wherein the basket tray comprises a plurality of apertures operable to allow air flow therethrough.

20. The rack system of claim 16 wherein:

the first arm assembly comprises a first slide lock operable to couple to a first slide lock receptacle disposed on a rack slide chassis member; and

the second arm assembly comprises a second slide lock operable to couple to a second slide lock receptacle disposed on a rack slide stationary member.

21. A cable management method comprising:

providing a cable management assembly having two pivotally connected arm assemblies, each arm assembly having a slide lock operable to couple with a slide lock receptacle;

coupling a first slide lock with a slide lock receptacle disposed on a rack slide chassis member; and

coupling a second slide lock with a slide lock receptacle disposed on a rack slide stationary member.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising

providing each arm assembly having a basket tray and a movable cover;

positioning the movable cover in an open position;

disposing cabling within the basket tray of each arm assembly;

securing each movable cover in a closed position.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein each movable cover comprises a wire frame cover.