MULTI-PORT CABLING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090142965A1
• Filed: 02/04/2009
• Published: 06/04/2009
• 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 7,682,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/639
• 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 enclosure, the cabling assembly comprising:

a mounting bracket configured to be secured to the equipment enclosure, the mounting bracket including;

a body having a plurality of mounting apertures formed therein; and

a plurality of flanges disposed along an edge of the body;

a plurality of connector heads, each connector head including;

a housing defining a jack entry side, a cable entry side disposed opposite the jack entry side and a plurality of tabs configured to engage the plurality of flanges to provide removable and tool-less installation of the housing to the mounting bracket; and

a plurality of ports disposed along the jack entry side of the housing, the housing being configured to locate the plurality of ports through the one of the plurality of mounting apertures, each port of the plurality of ports being configured to accept connective wiring of rack-mounted equipment and to internally terminate at least one workpiece cable within the housing; and

at least one cable entry defined along the cable entry side of the housing, the at least one cable entry being configured to receive and to dispose the at least one workpiece cable such that the at least one workpiece cable enters the housing at an angle of less than 90 degrees defined between an outer surface of the at least one workpiece cable and an external surface of the housing along the cable entry side.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of flanges of the mounting bracket and the plurality of tabs of each connector head of the plurality of connector heads are disposed symmetrically relative to one another along the housing of each connector head to permit reverse installation of each connector head to the mounting bracket.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of flanges of the mounting bracket and the plurality of tabs of each connector head of the plurality of connector heads are disposed symmetrically relative to one another within the housing of each connector head to permit reverse installation of each connector head to the mounting bracket.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is further configured to removably attach to at least one equipment enclosure in at least one orientation selected from the group comprising a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is configured to removably attach to a wall to permit removable and tool-less installation of the connector head to the wall.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is configured to removably attach to at least one of an equipment rack and a wall and to permit removable and tool-less installation of the connector head to the mounting bracket.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is further configured to removably mount to the equipment enclosure.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing further defines at least one slot, the at least one slot being configured to receive at least a portion of a fastener configured to support the at least one workpiece cable, the at least one slot being disposed to permit the fastener to secure at least a portion of the at least one workpiece cable adjacent and proximate to the connector head.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing is further configured to removably attach to a wall.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector head is sized and is configured such that up to four of the cabling assemblies removably attach to a mounting bracket.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of ports includes six ports.

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

13. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a conductor termination arrangement disposed internally within the housing, the conductor termination arrangement including at least one jack mounted internally within the housing such that at least one pair of conductors of the at least one workpiece cable connect internally to the at least one jack.

14. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a conductor termination arrangement disposed internally within the housing, the conductor termination arrangement including at least one jack operatively connected to at least one printed circuit board, the at least one printed circuit board mounted internally within the housing such that at least one pair of conductors of the at least one workpiece cable connect internally to the at least one printed circuit board.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable entry further disposes the at least one workpiece cable such that the at least one workpiece cable extends from the housing in either a substantially leftward orientation or a substantially rightward orientation relative to the housing.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the cable entry further disposes the at least one workpiece cable such that when the at least one workpiece cable extends from the housing the at least one workpiece cable is disposed at a radius greater than a minimum bend radius for a type of the at least one workpiece cable.

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

a mounting bracket configured to be secured to the equipment rack or enclosure, the mounting bracket including;

a body having a plurality of mounting apertures formed therein; and

a plurality of flanges disposed along an edge of the body;

a plurality of connector heads, each connector head operatively connectable to at least one workpiece cable, each connector head including;

a housing defining a jack entry side, a cable entry side disposed opposite the jack entry side and a plurality of tabs configured to engage the plurality of flanges to provide removable and tool-less installation of the housing to the mounting bracket; and

a plurality of ports disposed along the jack entry side of the housing, the housing being configured to locate the plurality of ports through the one of the plurality of mounting apertures, each port of the plurality of ports being configured to accept connective wiring of rack-mounted equipment;

at least one cable entry defined along the cable entry side of the housing, the at least one cable entry being configured to receive and to dispose the at least one workpiece cable such that the at least one workpiece cable enters the housing at an angle of less than 90 degrees defined between an outer surface of the at least one workpiece cable and an external surface of the housing along the cable entry side; and

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

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the conductor termination arrangement is factory-terminated and factory-tested.

19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the cable entry further disposes the at least one workpiece cable such that the at least one workpiece cable extends from the housing in either a substantially leftward orientation or a substantially rightward orientation relative to the housing.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the cable entry further disposes the at least one workpiece cable such that when the at least one workpiece cable extends from the housing the at least one workpiece cable is disposed at a radius greater than a minimum bend radius for a type of the at least one workpiece cable.

21. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the cable entry further disposes the at least one workpiece cable such that when the at least one workpiece cable extends from the housing the at least one workpiece cable is disposed at a radius greater than a minimum bend radius for a type of the at least one workpiece cable.

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

a mounting bracket configured to be secured to the equipment rack or enclosure, the mounting bracket including;

a body having a plurality of mounting apertures formed therein; and

a plurality of flanges disposed along an edge of the body;

a plurality of connector heads, each connector head operatively connectable to at least one workpiece cable, each connector head including;

a housing defining a jack entry side, a cable entry side disposed opposite the jack entry side and a plurality of tabs configured to engage the plurality of flanges to provide removable and tool-less installation of the housing to the mounting bracket; and

a plurality of a plurality of ports disposed along the jack entry side of the housing, the housing being configured to locate the plurality of ports through the one of the plurality of mounting apertures, each port of the of ports being configured to accept connective wiring of rack-mounted equipment and to internally terminate the at least one workpiece cable within the housing; and

at least one cable entry defined along the cable entry side of the housing, the at least one cable entry being configured to receive and to dispose the at least one workpiece cable such that the at least one workpiece cable enters the housing at an angle of less than 90 degrees defined between an outer surface of the at least one workpiece cable and an external surface of the housing along the cable entry side.

23. The kit of claim 22 wherein the cable entry further disposes the at least one workpiece cable such that the at least one workpiece cable extends from the housing in either a substantially leftward orientation or a substantially rightward orientation relative to the housing.

24. The kit of claim 23 wherein the cable entry further disposes the at least one workpiece cable such that when the at least one workpiece cable extends from the housing the cable is disposed at a radius greater than a minimum bend radius for a type of the at least one workpiece cable.