Cable Management System for Moveable Communication Panels

• US 20090194647A1
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keith, Scott Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,093,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• 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 cable management system or member has an optional enclosure and annular hubs defining an axis. A rotatable support frame is attached to the annular hubs, with a patching field having a plurality of ports and first and second primary sides attached to the rotatable support frame. Rotation of the rotatable support frame about the axis produces corresponding rotation of the annular hubs. When cable bundles pass through the annular hubs, they may also rotate with the support frame, reducing or eliminating the need for cable slack loops and reducing or eliminating stress at cable/port connection points.

Claims

1. A cable management system comprising:

an enclosure;

at least one annular hub attached to the enclosure and defining an axis;

a rotatable support frame attached to the at least one annular hub;

a patching field comprising a plurality of ports mounted to the rotatable support frame, the patching field having first and second primary sides;

wherein rotation of the rotatable support frame about the axis produces corresponding rotation of the at least one annular hub.

2. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises at least two rotatable support frames.

3. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein at least one active component is housed within the enclosure.

4. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured to be a floor mount enclosure.

5. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured to be a ceiling mount enclosure.

6. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured to be a wall mount enclosure.

7. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured to be a rack mount enclosure.

8. The cable management system of claim 1, further comprising a display providing the availability and/or status of ports within the enclosure.

9. The cable management system of claim 1, further comprising a locking handle on the outside of the enclosure.

10. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member to facilitate rotation.

11. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member to protect components.

12. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member which serves as a floor rest.

13. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein:

the rotatable support frame has a first position wherein the first primary side of the patching field is exposed; and

the rotatable support frame when rotated has a second position wherein the second primary side of the patching panel is exposed.

14. The cable management system of claim 1, further comprising a cable strain relief mechanism that rotates with the rotatable support frame.

15. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one annular hub comprises two annular hubs.

16. A member useful in a cable management system comprising:

at least one annular hub defining an axis;

a rotatable support frame attached to the at least one annular hub;

a patching field comprising a plurality of ports mounted to the rotatable support frame, the patching field having first and second primary sides;

wherein rotation of the rotatable support frame about the axis produces corresponding rotation of the at least one annular hub.

17. The member of claim 16 comprising two annular hubs.

18. The member of claim 16, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member to facilitate rotation.

19. The member of claim 16, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member to protect components.

20. The member of claim 16, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member which serves as a floor rest.

21. The member of claim 16, further comprising a cable strain relief mechanism that rotates with the rotatable support frame.

22. A cable management system comprising:

an enclosure;

at least one annular hub attached to the enclosure and defining an axis;

a rotatable support frame attached to the at least one annular hub;

a patching field comprising a plurality of ports mounted to the rotatable support frame, the patching field having first and second primary sides;

a cable bundle passing through the at least one annular hub, the cable bundle comprising cables that connect to the patching field;

wherein rotation of the rotatable support frame about the axis produces corresponding rotation of the at least one annular hub.

23. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the system comprises at least two rotatable support frames.

24. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein at least one active component is housed within the enclosure.

25. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the enclosure is configured to be a floor mount enclosure.

26. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the enclosure is configured to be a ceiling mount enclosure.

27. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the enclosure is configured to be a wall mount enclosure.

28. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the enclosure is configured to be a rack mount enclosure.

29. The cable management system of claim 22, further comprising a display providing the availability and/or status of ports within the enclosure.

30. The cable management system of claim 22, further comprising a locking handle.

31. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member to facilitate rotation.

32. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member to protect components.

33. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the rotatable support frame includes a member which serves as a floor rest.

34. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein:

the rotatable support frame has a first position wherein the first primary side of the patching field is exposed; and

the rotatable support frame when rotated has a second position wherein the second primary side of the patching panel is exposed.

35. The cable management system of claim 22, further comprising a strain relief mechanism designed to rotate with the rotatable support frame.

36. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein the at least one annular hub comprises two annular hubs.

37. The cable management system of claim 36, wherein a second cable bundle passes through the second annular hub.

38. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein rotation of the rotatable support frame about the axis produces corresponding rotation of the at least one annular hub and the cable bundle.