Cable management panel with sliding drawer

• US 20090136196A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Douglas, Joel B., Smith, Trevor D., Tinucci, Thomas C., Holman, John C., Trebesch, Steven P., Lance, Paul C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,361 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: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

An optical fiber cable management panel is provided with slideable drawers and structure within the drawers for cable management and/or connection to other devices. Tray inserts drop into the drawers to provide the appropriate management and connection devices. A movable take-up mechanism manages the cable entering and exiting the drawers at side openings. Stackable pivoting storage trays on the tray insert include a detent arrangement for holding each tray in a pivoted access position. The tray inserts further include a front key, and a back tab mounting arrangement for mounting the tray inserts to the drawers, and side radius limiters including notches for extending over raised portions of the drawer. The take-up mechanism includes a U-shaped trough section and cable retention tabs. A control mechanism is provided for controlling movement of the take-up mechanism relative to the drawer.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A cable management panel, comprising:

a) a chassis;

b) a drawer slidably mounted to the chassis;

c) a radius limiter mounted to the drawer; and

d) a control mechanism including a rotating member having teeth that engage a rack provided on at least one of the chassis and the drawer;

e) wherein movement of the radius limiter is synchronized relative to movement of the drawer, the synchronized movement being controlled by the control mechanism.

3. The cable management panel of claim 2, wherein the rack is provided on the chassis.

4. The cable management panel of claim 3, wherein the rack is formed in the chassis.

5. The cable management panel of claim 3, wherein the rack is a first rack, and wherein the teeth of the rotating member engage a second rack provided on the drawer.

6. The cable management panel of claim 2, wherein the rack is provided on the drawer.

7. The cable management panel of claim 2, wherein the rotating member has an axis of rotation that is generally horizontal during use of the cable management panel.

8. The cable management panel of claim 2, wherein the control mechanism includes a plurality of rotating members each having teeth.

9. The cable management panel of claim 2, wherein the radius limiter includes a curved vertical surface that limits the bend radius of cables.

10. The cable management panel of claim 9, wherein the radius limiter includes a U-shaped trough section partly defined by the curved vertical surface, the U-shaped trough section defining a first open end that is directed toward a side of the drawer.

11. The cable management panel of claim 10, wherein the first open end of the U-shaped trough section is a flared open end that is located adjacent to the side of the drawer.

12. The cable management panel of claim 10, wherein a second open end of the U-shaped trough section is directed. transversely toward a rear of the drawer.

13. The cable management panel of claim 9, wherein the radius limiter includes a cable retention tab spaced from the drawer, the cable retention tab being located adjacent to the curved vertical surface.

14. The cable management panel of claim 13, wherein the cable retention tab pivots between an open position and a closed position to permit placement of cables adjacent to the curved vertical surface.

15. The cable management panel of claim 13, wherein the radius limiter includes two cable retention tabs spaced from the drawer, one tab extending in a first direction, the other tab extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

16. The cable management panel of claim 15, wherein each of the two cable retention tabs pivots to permit placement of cables adjacent to the curved vertical surface.

17. The cable management panel of claim 2, wherein the chassis and the drawer define an access location that allows entry of cables into a side of the chassis.

18. The cable management panel of claim 2, wherein the drawer has a bottom defined by a removable bottom plate.

19. The cable management panel of claim 18, wherein the removable bottom plate includes a notch that engages a key provided on the drawer.