Release Latch for Pre-Terminated Cassette

• US 20080089656A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Wagner, Matthew M., Ducharme, Paul B., Mirusky, William F., Wojcik, Alan F., Fritz, Robert L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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

Abstract

A release latch for a pre-terminated cassette is described. The pre-terminated cassette includes a release latch to allow removal of the pre-terminated cassette from a patch panel, where the patch panel includes a retaining feature for retaining the pre-terminated cassette. The release latch includes a cantilever beam located on the sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette. The cantilever beam has a hinge point that allows the beam to deflect with respect to the sidewall. The release latch further includes a depressing tab provided at the distal end of the cantilever beam and a latch tab protruding from the surface of the cantilever beam between the hinge point and the depressing tab. The latch tab is capable of engagement with the retaining feature of the patch panel when the cassette is installed in the patch panel.

Claims

1. A pre-terminated cassette for installation into a patch panel, wherein the patch panel comprises a retaining feature for retaining the pre-terminated cassette, the pre-terminated cassette having a release latch to allow removal of the cassette from the panel, the release latch comprising:

a cantilever beam located on a sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette wherein the cantilever beam has a hinge point that allows the beam to deflect with respect to the sidewall;

a depressing tab provided at a distal end of the cantilever beam; and

a latch tab protruding from a surface of the cantilever beam between the hinge point and the depressing tab, the latch tab capable of engagement with the retaining feature of the patch panel when the cassette is installed in the patch panel.

2. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 1, wherein each sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette has a release latch capable of engagement with a retaining feature of the patch panel.

3. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 1, wherein the latch tab and the retaining feature of the patch panel have shapes complementary to one another.

4. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 1, wherein the latch tab is capable of inward deflection when the depressing tab is pushed inwardly with respect to the sidewall of the cassette.

5. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 4, wherein the latch tab disengages from the retaining feature of the patch panel when the latch tab is deflected inwardly.

6. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 1, further comprising a grip surface extending from the sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette and located adjacent the depressing tab.

7. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 1, wherein the cantilever beam is formed by a slot in the sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette.

8. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 7, further comprising a grip surface extending from the sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette, the slot extending from the hinge point of the cantilever beam to the grip surface.

9. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 1, wherein the pre-terminated cassette comprises a cassette base and a cassette cover.

10. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 9, wherein the cantilever beam is formed by a slot in a sidewall of the cassette cover.

11. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 9, wherein the cantilever beam is formed by a slot in a sidewall of the cassette base.

12. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 9, wherein the cassette base comprises at least one interior rib with a notch therein, the notch allowing clearance for the cantilever beam when the beam is deflected inward and operating as a stop for the cantilever beam to prevent excessive deflection of the cantilever beam when the beam is deflected inward.

13. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 1, wherein the release latch is self-energizing.

14. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 1, wherein the pre-terminated cassette is a pre-terminated, high density Multi-Fiber Push On cable assembly.

15. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 14, wherein the pre-terminated, high density Multi-Fiber Push On cable assembly comprises an angled profile along a surface of the pre-terminated, high density cable assembly.

16. A patch panel for receiving a pre-terminated cassette, the patch panel comprising;

a frame, wherein the frame comprises a top flange and a bottom flange;

a plurality of top panel tabs extending downwardly from the top flange;

a plurality of bottom panel tabs extending upwardly from the bottom flange;

a plurality of side guides each having

a top slot adapted to receive a top panel tab and a bottom slot adapted to receive a bottom panel tab; and

a pair of guide latch tabs for retaining a pre-terminated cassette; and

a pre-terminated cassette for installation between adjacent side guides, the cassette having a release latch to allow removal of the cassette from the patch panel, the release latch comprising

a cantilever beam located on a sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette, wherein the cantilever beam has a hinge point that allows the beam to deflect with respect to the sidewall;

a depressing tab provided at a distal end of the cantilever beam; and

a latch tab protruding from a surface of the cantilever beam between the hinge point and the depressing tab, the latch tab capable of engagement with one of the guide latch tabs of the patch panel when the cassette is received between adjacent side guides to retain the cassette in the patch panel.

17. The patch panel of claim 16, wherein the guide latch tabs extend outwardly from a rear end of the side guide and face opposite directions.

18. The patch panel of claim 16, wherein the cassette further comprises a grip surface extending from the sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette and located adjacent the depressing tab.

19. The patch panel of claim 16, wherein each sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette has a release latch.

20. The patch panel of claim 16, wherein the patch panel is selected from the group consisting of an angled patch panel and a high density patch panel.

21. A pre-terminated cassette for installation into a patch panel, wherein the patch panel comprises a retaining feature for retaining the pre-terminated cassette, the pre-terminated cassette comprising:

a release tab having a fixed end connected to a surface of the pre-terminated cassette, a free end extending along a sidewall of the cassette; and

a hinge portion located between the fixed end and the free end of the tab.

wherein. when the tab is depressed inwardly toward the sidewall of the cassette, the free end of the tab interacts with the retaining feature of the patch panel to remove the cassette from the patch panel.

22. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 21, wherein each sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette has a release tab.

23. The pre-terminated cassette of claim 21, wherein the pre-terminated cassette is a pre-terminated, high density Multi-Fiber Push On cable assembly.