Angled patch panel with cable support bar for network cable racks

• US 20050041947A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jed M. Barker, Kevin E. Honan, Mark J. Donnell
• Original Assignee: Jed M. Barker, Kevin E. Honan, Mark J. Donnell
• Inventors: Donnell, Mark J., Barker, Jed M., Honan, Kevin E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,918,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2416 Means for guiding or retaining wires or cables connected to terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/066 arranged on the front side
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/068 arranged on the rear side
• 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 2201/02 Details of frames

Abstract

A patch panel mountable to a network rack includes a patch panel frame and rack mounting plates. The frame forms a central section having a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack. The rack mounting plates are provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section and allow the panel to be mounted to a network rack. The central section includes two panel sections angled outwardly in an inverted V-shape, and the central section has mounted thereon a plurality of cable connectors that receive cabling on the front side and the rear side of the patch panel frame. Each connector has a horizontal axis.

Claims

1-27. -27. (Canceled).

28. A patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising:

a frame having a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a front side and rack mounting plates provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame for mounting the frame horizontally,

wherein the frame includes a first panel section and a second panel section angled relative thereto, each of the first and second panel sections having mountable thereon a plurality of first connectors that receive a plurality of second connectors having cable terminated therein on the front side of the frame, such that the cable exits the plurality of second connectors on the front side of the frame at an acute angle relative to a horizontal axis extending between the rack mounting plates.

29. The patch panel of claim 28, wherein the first and second panel sections are angled outwardly in a V-shape.

30. The patch panel of claim 28, wherein the first and second panel sections are symmetrical.

31. A patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising:

a frame having a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a predefined height, a front side and rack mounting plates provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame for mounting the frame horizontally,

wherein the frame includes a first panel section and a second panel section angled relative thereto, each of the first and second panel sections having mountable thereon a plurality of first connectors that receive a plurality of second connectors having cable terminated therein on the front side of the frame, such that the cable exits the plurality of second connectors on the front side of the frame and flows substantially horizontally within the predefined height of the frame to the opposite longitudinal ends of the frame.

32. The patch panel of claim 31, wherein the first and second panel sections are angled outwardly in a V-shape.

33. The patch panel of claim 31, wherein the first and second panel sections are symmetrical.

34. A patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising:

a frame having rack mounting plates provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame,

wherein the frame includes a first panel section, a second panel section angled relative thereto and a centerpiece connecting the first and second panel sections, each of the first and second panel sections having mountable thereon a first connector adjacent the centerpiece and a second connector adjacent a rack mounting plate, the second connector being closer than the first connector to a horizontal axis extending between the rack mounting plates.

35. The patch panel of claim 34, wherein the first and second panel sections are angled outwardly in a V-shape.

36. The patch panel of claim 34, wherein the first and second panel sections are symmetrical.

37. The patch panel of claim 34, wherein the centerpiece has no connectors mounted therein.

38. The patch panel of claim 34, wherein the centerpiece is substantially flat.