Multi-port cabling system and method

• US 20060025010A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Spitaels, James S., Bryan, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,488,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/532
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/741 using snap fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/021 using pivoting mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• 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 1/141 Details of connexions between cable and distribution frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

A multi-port cabling system for use in installing cable to an equipment rack or enclosure or within an equipment room or data center includes a cabling assembly comprising at least one connector head having a plurality of ports and at least one cable operatively connected to the plurality of ports. The at least one cable terminates internally within the connector head to operatively couple the cable to the plurality of ports. The system further includes a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket and the connector head are each configured for tool-less attachment of one or more cabling assemblies to the bracket. The mounting bracket is further configured to removably mount to an equipment rack or enclosure, and/or to a wall, to thereby install one or more cables. The cabling assembly and the cabling system help to eliminate on-site cable termination and testing during installation of cables to rack-mounted equipment.

Claims

1. A cabling assembly for use with an equipment rack or enclosure, the cabling assembly comprising:

a connector head including a housing and a plurality of ports, the housing being constructed and arranged to support the plurality of ports such that each port is accessible from an area external to the housing, the housing being further constructed and arranged to removably mount to an equipment rack or enclosure; and

at least one cable operatively connected to the connector head such that the cable terminates to the plurality of ports internally within the housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a cable entry constructed and arranged to receive the cable and to dispose the cable within the cable entry at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the connector head.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a cable entry constructed and arranged to receive the cable and to permit the cable to exit the cable entry at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the connector head.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing defines one or more configurations, each configuration being constructed and arranged to removably attach the connector head to a mounting bracket.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the one or more configurations are configured and disposed to provide tool-less attachment of the connector head to a mounting bracket.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the one or more configurations are disposed symmetrically along the housing to permit reverse installation of the cabling assembly to a mounting bracket.

7. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the one or more configurations are disposed symmetrically within the housing to permit reverse installation of the cabling assembly to a mounting bracket.

8. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the mounting bracket is further constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure at one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

10. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to a wall.

11. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack and to a wall.

12. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the connector head is sized and is configured such that one or more of the connector heads removably attach to the mounting bracket.

13. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the connector head is sized and is configured such that one or more of the cabling assemblies removably attach to the mounting bracket.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing defines one or more tabs, each tab being disposed and configured to removably attach the connector head to a mounting bracket.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the one or more tabs are configured and disposed to provide tool-less attachment of the connector head to a mounting bracket.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein one or more of the tabs are disposed along a terminal end of the housing.

17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein one or more of the tabs are disposed along a side of the housing.

18. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the tabs are disposed symmetrically along the housing to permit reverse installation of the connector head to a mounting bracket.

19. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the tabs are disposed symmetrically within the housing to permit reverse installation of the connector head to a mounting bracket.

20. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the mounting bracket is further constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure at one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

22. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to a wall.

23. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure and to a wall.

24. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing defines one or more slots, each slot being configured to receive a fastener to support the cable and being disposed to permit the fastener to secure one or more other cables adjacent and proximate to the connector head.

25. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing is further constructed and arranged to removably attach to a wall.

26. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the connector head is sized and is configured such that up to four of the cabling assemblies removably attach to a mounting bracket.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the at least one cable includes a high conductor count twisted pair cable, and the plurality of ports includes six ports.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the mounting bracket defines a height of 1 U.

29. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable includes one of a telecommunications cable, a data transmission cable, a coaxial cable, a telephony cable and a fiber optic cable.

30. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a conductor termination arrangement disposed within the housing, the conductor termination arrangement including one or more jacks mounted therein such that one or more pairs of conductors of the cable connect to the one or more jacks.

31. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a conductor termination arrangement disposed within the housing, the conductor termination arrangement including one or more jacks operatively connected to one or more printed circuit boards, the one or more printed circuit boards mounted therein such that one or more pairs of conductors of the cable connect to the one or more printed circuit boards.

32. A cabling assembly for use in cable installation, the cabling assembly comprising:

a first connector head including a housing and a plurality of ports, the housing being constructed and arranged to support the plurality of ports such that each port is accessible from an area external to the housing, the housing being further constructed and arranged to removably mount to a first equipment rack or enclosure;

a second connector head including a housing and a plurality of ports, the housing being constructed and arranged to support the plurality of ports such that each port is accessible from an area external to the housing, the housing being further constructed and arranged to removably mount to one of a mounting bracket of the first equipment rack or enclosure and a second equipment rack or enclosure; and

at least one cable operatively connected at a first end to the first connector head such that the cable terminates to the plurality of ports internally within the housing of the first connector head, the cable being operatively connected at a second and opposite end to the second connector head such that the cable terminates to the plurality of ports internally within the housing of the second connector head.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head defines a cable entry constructed and arranged to receive the cable and to dispose the cable within the cable entry at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to its respective connector head.

34. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head defines a cable entry constructed and arranged to receive the cable and to permit the cable to exit the cable entry at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to its respective connector head.

35. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head defines one or more configurations, each configuration being constructed and arranged to removably attach the respective connector head to a mounting bracket.

36. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the one or more configurations of the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head are configured and disposed to provide tool-less attachment of the respective connector head to a mounting bracket.

37. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the one or more configurations are disposed symmetrically along each housing to permit reverse installation of the first connector head and the second connector head to a mounting bracket.

38. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the one or more configurations are disposed symmetrically within each housing to permit reverse installation of the first connector head and the second connector head to a mounting bracket.

39. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure.

40. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the mounting bracket is further constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure at one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

41. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to a wall.

42. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack and to a wall.

43. The assembly of claim 35 wherein each of the first connector head and the second connector head is sized and configured such that one or more of the first connector head removably attach to a first mounting bracket and one or more of the second connector head removably attach to a second mounting bracket.

44. The assembly of claim 32 further comprising a first mounting bracket constructed and arranged to removably attach the first connector head to the first equipment rack or enclosure, and further comprising a second mounting bracket constructed and arranged to removably attach to the second connector head to the second equipment rack or enclosure.

45. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head defines one or more tabs, each tab being disposed and configured to removably attach the respective connector head to a mounting bracket.

46. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the one or more tabs of the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head are configured and disposed to provide tool-less attachment of the respective connector head to a mounting bracket.

47. The assembly of claim 45 wherein one or more of the tabs are disposed along one of a side and a terminal end of the housing of the first connector head.

48. The assembly of claim 45 wherein one or more of the tabs are disposed along a one of a side and a terminal end of the housing of the second connector head.

49. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the tabs of the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head are disposed symmetrically along the housing to permit reverse installation of the respective connector head to a mounting bracket.

50. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the tabs of the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head are disposed symmetrically within the housing to permit reverse installation of the respective connector head to a mounting bracket.

51. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure.

52. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the mounting bracket is further constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure at one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

53. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to a wall.

54. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure and to a wall.

55. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head defines one or more slots, each slot being configured to receive a fastener to support the cable and being disposed to permit the fastener to secure one or more other cables adjacent and proximate to the respective connector head.

56. The assembly of claim 32 wherein one of the first connector head and the second connector head is sized and is configured such that up to four of the respective connector heads removably attach to a mounting bracket.

57. The assembly of claim 56 wherein the at least one cable includes a high conductor count twisted pair cable, and the plurality of ports includes six ports.

58. The assembly of claim 57 wherein the mounting bracket defines a height of 1 U.

wherein the cable includes a high conductor count twisted pair cable.

59. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the cable includes one of a telecommunications cable, a data transmission cable, a coaxial cable, a telephone cable and a fiber optic cable.

60. The assembly of claim 32 further comprising a conductor termination arrangement disposed within the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head, the conductor termination arrangement including one or more jacks mounted therein such that one or more pairs of conductors of the cable connect to the one or more jacks.

61. The assembly of claim 32 further comprising a conductor termination arrangement disposed within the housing of each of the first connector head and the second connector head, the conductor termination arrangement including one or more jacks operatively connected to one or more printed circuit boards, the one or more printed circuit boards mounted therein such that one or more pairs of conductors of the cable connect to the one or more printed circuit boards.

62. A cabling system for use with an equipment rack or enclosure, the cabling system comprising:

a connector head including a housing and a plurality of ports, the housing being constructed and arranged to support the plurality of ports such that each port is accessible from an area external to the housing,

at least one cable operatively connected to the connector head such that the cable terminates to the plurality of ports internally within the housing; and

a mounting bracket constructed and arranged to accept and to removably attach the connector head thereto, the mounting bracket being further constructed and arranged to removably mount to an equipment rack or enclosure.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the housing defines a cable entry constructed and arranged to receive the cable and to dispose the cable within the cable entry at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the connector head.

64. The system of claim 62 wherein the housing defines a cable entry constructed and arranged to receive the cable and to permit the cable to exit the cable entry at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the connector head.

65. The system of claim 62 wherein the housing defines one or more configurations, each configuration being constructed and arranged to removably attach the connector head to the mounting bracket.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the one or more configurations are configured and disposed to provide tool-less attachment of the connector head to the mounting bracket.

67. The system of claim 65 wherein the one or more configurations are disposed symmetrically along the housing to permit reverse installation of the cabling assembly to the mounting bracket.

68. The system of claim 65 wherein the one or more configurations are disposed symmetrically within the housing to permit reverse installation of the cabling assembly to the mounting bracket.

69. The system of claim 62 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure at one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

70. The system of claim 62 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to a wall.

71. The system of claim 62 wherein the mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack and to a wall.

72. The system of claim 62 wherein the connector head is sized and is configured such that one or more of the connector heads removably attach to the mounting bracket.

73. The system of claim 62 wherein the housing defines one or more tabs, each tab being disposed and configured to removably attach the connector head to the mounting bracket.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the one or more tabs are configured and disposed to provide tool-less attachment of the connector head to the mounting bracket.

75. The system of claim 73 wherein one or more of the tabs are disposed along a terminal end of the housing.

76. The system of claim 73 wherein one or more of the tabs are disposed along a side of the housing.

77. The system of claim 73 wherein the tabs are disposed symmetrically along the housing to permit reverse installation of the connector head to the mounting bracket.

78. The system of claim 73 wherein the tabs are disposed symmetrically within the housing to permit reverse installation of the connector head to the mounting bracket.

79. The system of claim 62 wherein the housing defines one or more slots, each slot being configured to receive a fastener to support the cable and being disposed to permit the fastener to secure one or more other cables adjacent and proximate to the connector head.

80. The system of claim 65 wherein the connector head is sized and is configured such that up to four of the cabling assemblies removably attach to the mounting bracket.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein the at least one cable includes a high conductor count twisted pair cable, and the plurality of ports includes six ports.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein the mounting bracket defines a height of 1 U.

83. The system of claim 62 wherein the cable includes one of a telecommunications cable, a data transmission cable, a coaxial cable, a telephony cable and a fiber optic cable.

84. The system of claim 62 further comprising a conductor termination arrangement disposed within the housing, the conductor termination arrangement including one or more jacks mounted therein such that one or more pairs of conductors of the cable connect to the one or more jacks.

85. The system of claim 62 further comprising a conductor termination arrangement disposed within the housing, the conductor termination arrangement including one or more jacks operatively connected to one or more printed circuit boards, the one or more printed circuit boards mounted therein such that one or more pairs of conductors of the cable connect to the one or more printed circuit boards.

86. The system of claim 62 wherein the cable defines one of a range of preselected lengths.

87. A prefabricated cabling assembly for use in an equipment rack or enclosure, the assembly comprising:

a connector head including a housing and a plurality of ports, the housing being constructed and arranged to support the plurality of ports such that each port is accessible from an area external to the housing, the housing being further constructed and arranged to removably mount to an equipment rack or enclosure;

at least one cable operatively connected to the connector head; and

a conductor termination arrangement contained within the housing, the conductor termination arrangement being configured and disposed to internally terminate the cable within the housing and to operatively couple to the plurality of ports.

88. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the conductor termination arrangement is assembled and terminates the cable prior to installation, and wherein the conductor termination arrangement and the cable are tested prior to installation.

89. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the cable operatively coupled to the conductor termination arrangement are each factory-terminated and factory-tested.

90. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the housing defines a cable entry constructed and arranged to receive the cable and to dispose the cable within the cable entry at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the connector head.

91. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the housing defines a cable entry constructed and arranged to receive the cable and to permit the cable to exit the cable entry at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the connector head.

92. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the housing defines one or more configurations, each configuration being constructed and arranged to removably attach the connector head to a mounting bracket.

93. The assembly of claim 92 wherein the one or more configurations are configured and disposed to provide tool-less attachment of the connector head to a mounting bracket.

94. The assembly of claim 92 wherein the one or more configurations are disposed symmetrically along the housing to permit reverse installation of the cabling assembly to a mounting bracket.

95. The assembly of claim 92 wherein the one or more configurations are disposed symmetrically within the housing to permit reverse installation of the cabling assembly to a mounting bracket.

96. The assembly of claim 92 wherein the connector head is sized and is configured such that one or more of the connector heads removably attach to the mounting bracket.

97. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the housing defines one or more slots, each slot being configured to receive a fastener to support the cable and being disposed to permit the fastener to secure one or more other cables adjacent and proximate to the connector head.

98. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the connector head is further constructed and arranged to removably attach to a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket being constructed and arranged to removably attach to one of an equipment rack or enclosure and a wall.

99. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the connector head is sized and is configured such that one or more connector heads removably attach to a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket being constructed and arranged to removably attach to an equipment rack or enclosure and to a wall.

100. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the cable includes one of a telecommunications cable, a data transmission cable, a coaxial cable, a telephone cable and a fiber optic cable.

101-114. -114. (canceled)

115-126. -126. (canceled)

127-129. -129. (canceled)

130. A cabling kit for use in installing cable for an equipment rack or enclosure, the cabling kit comprising:

at least one connector head including a housing and a plurality of ports, the housing being constructed and arranged to support the plurality of ports such that each port is accessible from an area external to the housing; and

a plurality of cables, each cable being configured to operatively connect to the connector head such that the cable terminates to the plurality of ports, each cable defining a preselected length within a range of lengths.

131. The cabling kit of claim 130 wherein the housing is further constructed and further arranged to removably mount to one of an equipment rack or enclosure and a wall.

132. The cabling kit of claim 130 wherein the housing is further constructed and further arranged to removably mount to an equipment rack or enclosure and to a wall.