Telecommunications patch panel with angled connector modules

• US 20060228940A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Follingstad, Michael Jay
• Granted Patent: US 7,544,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/534
• 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 13/748 using one or more screws H01R13/746 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/09 Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for
• 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 1/148 Identification strips for distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/10 Housing details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/12 Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/954 Special orientation of electrical connector

Abstract

A telecommunications patch panel is provided having a plurality of connector modules rotatably mounted to a frame member. Each connector module has a front face and an opposite facing rear face, and each front face includes a plurality of connector jacks. Each rear face includes a plurality of wire termination blocks. The wire termination blocks are electrically connected to the connector jacks. Each connector module is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the frame member. A lock selectively locks each connector module to the frame member as desired. The connector jacks and the connector modules are arranged in linear arrays perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A telecommunications panel comprising:

a frame having a length that extends from a left end to a right end of the frame, the frame including a left mounting bracket positioned at the left end of the frame and a right mounting bracket positioned at the right end of the frame, the frame also including upper and lower portions tat extend along the length of the frame; and

a plurality of connector modules mounted between the upper and lower portions of the frame and between the left and right ends of the frame, each of the connector modules including a front side at which a plurality of front connectors are located and a rear side at which a plurality of rear connectors are located, the connector modules being pivotally movable about generally upright pivot axes that extend between the upper and lower portions of the frame, each connector module having a height that extends between the upper and lower portions of the frame and a length that extends between the left and right ends of the frame, the lengths of the connector modules being longer than the heights, and the lengths of the connector modules being generally perpendicular relative to the pivot axes.

2. The telecommunications panel of claim 1, wherein the front connectors include jacks having ports for receiving plugs.

3. The telecommunications panel of claim 2, wherein the jacks are RJ45 jacks.

4. The telecommunications panel of claim 1, wherein the rear connectors include insulation displacement connectors.

5. The telecommunications panel of claim 1, wherein the connector modules are aligned along a line that extends from the first end to the second end of the frame.

6. The telecommunications panel of claim 1, wherein the front connectors are arranged in rows that extend along the lengths of the connector modules.

7. The telecommunications panel of claim 1, wherein at least six of the front connectors are provided at each of the connector modules.

8. The telecommunications panel of claim 7, wherein four of the connector modules are mounted to the frame between the left and right ends of the frame.

9. The telecommunications panel of claim 1, wherein the connector modules are each pivotally movable about the pivot axes between at least first and second positions, and wherein the telecommunications panel has a latch arrangement for securing the connector modules in at least the first and second positions.

10. The telecommunications panel of claim 1, wherein the connector modules are each pivotally movable about the pivot axes between first, second and third positions, and wherein the telecommunications panel has a latch arrangement for securing the connector modules in the first, second and third positions.

11. The telecommunications panel of claim 10, wherein the pivot axes extend through mid-regions of the connector modules.

12. A telecommunications panel comprising:

a frame having front face and a rear face; and

at least one connector module mounted to the frame, the connector module including a front side and at least first and second front jacks positioned at the front side, the first and second front jacks each defining a port adapted for receiving a plug, the connector module also including a rear side and rear connection locations positioned at the rear side, the connector module being pivotally movable relative to the frame between first and second positions, the front side of the connector module being generally parallel to the front face of the frame when the connector module is in the first position, the front side of the connector module being angled relative to the front face of the frame when the connector module is in the second position, wherein moving the connector module to the second position causes the second front jack to be positioned further from the front face of the frame than the first front jack.

13. The telecommunications panel of claim 12, wherein the frame has a length that extends from a left end to a right end of the frame, the frame including a left mounting bracket positioned at the left end of the frame and a right mounting bracket positioned at the right end of the frame, and wherein a plurality of the connector modules are mounted between the upper and lower portions of the frame and between the left and right ends of the frame.

14. The telecommunications panel of claim 13, wherein the connector modules pivot relative to the frame about generally upright pivot axes that extend between the upper and lower portions of the frame.

15. The telecommunications panel of claim 12, wherein the first and second front jacks are RJ45 jacks.

16. The telecommunications panel of claim 12, wherein the rear connection locations include insulation displacement connectors.

17. The telecommunications panel of claim 13, wherein the connector modules are aligned along a line that extends from the first end to the second end of the frame.

18. The telecommunications panel of claim 12, wherein the connector module includes at least one row of front jacks located at the front side of the connector module, the row of front jacks including at least the first front jack, the second front jack, and a third front jack, the third front jacks being positioned further from the front face of the frame that the second front jack when the connector module is in the second position.

19. The telecommunications panel of claim 12, wherein the telecommunications panel has a latch arrangement for securing the connector module in at least the first and second positions.

20. The telecommunications panel of claim 12, wherein the connector module is pivotally movable between first, second and third positions, wherein the second front jack is positioned closer to the front face of the frame than the first front connector when the connector module is in the third position, and wherein the telecommunications panel has a latch arrangement for securing the connector module in the first, second and third positions.

21. A telecommunications panel comprising:

a frame; and

a plurality of connector modules mounted to the frame, the connector modules each including a front side and a row of front connectors positioned at the front side, the rows of front connector being aligned generally along lines, the connector modules also including rear sides and rear connection locations positioned at the rear sides, the connector modules being pivotally movable relative to the frame about pivot axes that are generally perpendicular relative to the lines along which the rows of connectors are aligned.

22. The telecommunications panel of claim 21, wherein the frame has a length that extends from a left end to a right end of the frame, the frame including a left mounting bracket positioned at the left end of the frame and a right mounting bracket positioned at the right end of the frame, and wherein the connector modules are mounted between the upper and lower portions of the frame and between the left and right ends of the frame.

23. The telecommunications panel of claim 22, wherein the connector modules pivot relative to the frame about generally upright pivot axes that extend between the upper and lower portions of the frame.

24. The telecommunications panel of claim 21, wherein the front connectors are jacks defining ports adapted for receiving plugs.

25. The telecommunications panel of claim 21, wherein the rear connection locations include insulation displacement connectors.

26. The telecommunications panel of claim 21, wherein the connector modules are each pivotally movable about the pivot axes between at least first and second positions, and wherein the telecommunications panel has a latch arrangement for securing the connector modules in at least the first and second positions.

27. The telecommunications panel of claim 21, wherein the connector modules are each pivotally movable about the pivot axes between first, second and third positions, and wherein the telecommunications panel has a latch arrangement for securing the connector modules in the first, second and third positions.

28. The telecommunications panel of claim 21, wherein the pivot axes extend through mid-regions of the connector modules.