Angled patch panel with cable support bar for network cable racks

• US 20060154513A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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.
• Application Number:
  US11/369,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154513A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/450
• 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. A patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising:

a frame having rack mounting members provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, wherein the frame includes two patch panel frame halves, wherein at least a portion of each of the frame halves are angled relative to each other by an obtuse angle between 90° and

180°

, each of the frame halves having mountable thereon a plurality of connectors having a front face such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted on each of the frame halves, the front face of each connector in the patch panel is located such that the distance from each connector front face to a second plane, which is parallel to a first plane that is in line with the longitudinal ends of the frame, and which is in front of the patch panel, is not greater than the distance to the second plane from the front face of any other connector of the patch panel which is farther from the center of the patch panel in a horizontal direction.

2. The patch panel of claim 1, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the axis of each connector is horizontal.

3. The patch panel of claim 1, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector is parallel to the front face of the portion of the frame on which each connector is mounted.

4. The patch panel of claim 1, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector is substantially flush with the front face of the portion of the frame on which each connector is mounted.

5. The patch panel of claim 1, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, each connector is in fixed orientation relative to the patch panel.

6. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of connectors are individual cable connector modules.

7. The patch panel of claim 6, wherein each of the individual cable connector modules are mountable in one of a multitude of insert modules which are mountable in the frame.

8. The patch panel of claim 7, such that when the multitude of insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has a front face which is parallel to the front face of the portion of the frame in which the insert module is mounted.

9. The patch panel of claim 7, such that when the multitude of insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has a front face which is substantially flush with the front face of the portion of the frame in which the insert module is mounted.

10. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the patch panel comprises only a first patch panel frame half and a second patch panel frame half.

11. The patch panel of claim 10, wherein the first and second patch panel frame halves are symmetrical.

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

a frame having rack mounting members provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, wherein the frame includes two patch panel frame halves, wherein at least a portion of each of the frame halves are angled relative to each other by an obtuse angle between 90° and

180°

, each of the portions having mountable thereon a plurality of connectors having a front face such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted on each of these portions, the front face of each connector in the portions is located such that it is not behind the front face of that portion of the frame which is adjacent to the connector.

13. The patch panel of claim 12, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the axis of each connector is horizontal.

14. The patch panel of claim 12, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of the connectors in each portion are in a common plane which is coincident with or parallel to the plane of the front face of the portion on which the connectors are mounted.

15. The patch panel of claim 12, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector in each portion is substantially flush with the front face of the portion on which the connectors are mounted.

16. The patch panel of claim 12, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, each connector is in fixed orientation relative to the patch panel.

17. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of connectors are individual cable connector modules.

18. The patch panel of claim 17, wherein each of the individual cable connector modules are mountable in one of a multitude of insert modules which are mountable in the frame.

19. The patch panel of claim 18, such that when the multitude of insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has a front face which is parallel to the front face of the portion of the frame in which the insert module is mounted.

20. The patch panel of claim 18, such that when the multitude of insert modules are mounted thereon, the front face of each insert module is substantially flush with the front face of the portion of the frame in which the insert module is mounted.

21. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the patch panel comprises only a first patch panel frame half and a second patch panel frame half.

22. The patch panel of claim 21, wherein the first and second patch panel frame halves are symmetrical.

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

a frame having rack mounting members provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, wherein the frame includes two patch panel frame halves, each of the frame halves having mountable thereon a plurality of connectors having a front face such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted on each of the frame halves, the front face of each connector in the patch panel is located such that the distance from each connector front face to a second plane, which is parallel to a first plane that is in line with the longitudinal ends of the frame, and which is in front of the patch panel, is not greater than the distance to the second plane from the front face of any other connector of the patch panel which is farther from the center of the patch panel in a horizontal direction and the distance from the front face of a connector which is adjacent to the junction of the frame halves to the second plane is less than the distance from the front face of a connector in the same half which is adjacent to a rack mounting member to the second plane.

24. The patch panel of claim 23, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the axis of each connector is horizontal.

25. The patch panel of claim 23, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector is parallel to the front face of the portion of the frame on which each connector is mounted.

26. The patch panel of claim 23, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector is substantially flush with the front face of the portion of the frame on which each connector is mounted.

27. The patch panel of claim 23, such that when the plurality of connectors are mounted thereon, each connector is in fixed orientation relative to the patch panel.

28. The patch panel of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of connectors are individual cable connector modules.

29. The patch panel of claim 28, wherein each of the individual cable connector modules are mountable in one of a multitude of insert modules which are mountable in the frame.

30. The patch panel of claim 29, such that when the multitude of insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has a front face which is parallel to the front face of the portion of the frame in which the insert module is mounted.

31. The patch panel of claim 29, such that when the multitude of insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has a front face which is substantially flush with the front face of the portion of the frame in which the insert module is mounted.

32. The patch panel of claim 23, wherein the patch panel comprises only a first patch panel frame half and a second patch panel frame half.

33. The patch panel of claim 32, wherein the first and second patch panel frame halves are symmetrical.