Modular Stackable Angled Patch Panel for Enclosure

• US 20090207577A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: O'Young, Jason, Fransen, Robert E., Parrish, Jeremy S., Blomquist, Edward G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,130,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/790
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

A modular patch panel module is mountable on an electronics enclosure and includes an angled patch face and mounting structure that enables stacking of modular patch panels without interference of patch panel cords with the top of the enclosure or another patch panel stacked thereon. The patch panel modules may each contain a plurality of RJ-45 ports and punchdown blocks. A cover plate may snap fit to the module to retain the patch panel electrical components therebetween.

Claims

1. A patch panel module attachable to a mounting surface on a module mounting plane, the patch panel module comprising:

two opposed side walls, each including a mounting structure for attachment to the mounting surface on the module mounting plane;

a base support panel provided between and interconnecting the two side walls, the base support panel including an electrical component mounting structure; and

a patch panel electrical component assembly including a series of patch panel ports, the assembly being fitted to the electrical component assembly mounting structure of the base support panel with the patch panel ports defining a component mounting plane oriented at an angle relative to the module mounting plane.

2. The patch panel module according to claim 1, wherein each of the side walls includes a main upstanding wall and two spaced apart laterally extending mounting walls oriented substantially parallel with the module mounting plane, the two laterally extending mounting walls each including the mounting structure to accommodate stacking of a second patch panel module on top of the patch panel module.

3. The patch panel module according to claim 2, wherein the two opposed side walls are C-shaped.

4. The patch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the side walls and base support panel are integrally formed.

5. The patch panel module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cover plate,

wherein the electrical component assembly is fitted on the base support panel by the cover plate.

6. The patch panel module according to claim 5, wherein the cover plate includes a latching system hidden from plain sight once the patch panel module is assembled.

7. The patch panel module according to claim 6, wherein the hidden latching system includes:

toes on the base support panel;

toe holds on the cover plate, the toes respectively corresponding to the toe holds; and

at least one latch to attach the cover plate to the base support panel and fit the electrical components to the base support panel.

8. The patch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the electrical component assembly further comprises a circuit board and is assembled together with compliant pin connections.

9. The patch panel module according to claim 1, wherein pins on the patch panel ports are oriented perpendicular to the printed circuit board.

10. The patch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the angle is acute.

11. The patch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the patch panel is a self-contained, mini patch panel module.

12. The patch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the angle is about 35°

.

13. A method of forming a stacked patch panel array using a plurality of stacked, patch panel modules including the patch panel module according to claim 2, the method comprising:

mounting the modular patch panel module on the mounting surface on the module mounting plane;

mounting a second stackable patch panel module on top of the patch panel module; and

attaching patch cables to the patch panel module and the second stackable patch panel module to form the stacked patch panel array.

14. A patch panel enclosure system, comprising:

a rear wall defining the module mounting plane;

at least one patch panel module according to claim 2 having one of the two laterally extending mounting walls mounted to the rear wall; and

at least one additional patch panel module stacked on top of the at least one patch panel module by being mounted to the two laterally extending mounting walls of the at least one patch panel module.

15. The patch panel enclosure system according to claim 14, further comprising:

patch cords attached to both of the at least one patch panel module and the at least one additional patch panel module; and

the patch panel modules being oriented such that the patch cords attached to both modules meet applicable bend radius requirements for the particular patch cords attached.

16. The patch panel enclosure according to claim 14, further comprising:

a front cover wall mounted on the enclosure, the front cover wall being spaced from and substantially parallel to the rear wall.

17. The patch panel enclosure according to claim 14, wherein the angle is acute.

18. The patch panel enclosure according to claim 14 wherein the angle is approximately 35°

.

19. A stackable patch panel module attachable to a mounting surface on a module mounting plane, the patch panel module comprising:

two opposed side walls, each including a mounting structure for attachment to the mounting surface on the module mounting plane, the side walls including a main upstanding wall and two spaced apart laterally extending mounting walls oriented substantially parallel with the mounting plane, the two laterally extending mounting walls each including the mounting structure aligned in a plane perpendicular to the module mounting plane to accommodate stacking of a second patch panel module on top of the patch panel module;

a base support panel provided between and interconnecting the two side walls, the base support panel including an electrical component mounting structure; and

a patch panel electrical component assembly including a series of patch panel ports and a circuit board, the assembly being fitted to the electrical component assembly mounting structure of the base support panel with the patch panel ports defining a component mounting plane oriented at an angle, relative to the module mounting plane, of about 35°

.

20. The stackable patch panel module according to claim 19, further comprising:

a cover plate, wherein the electrical component assembly is fitted on the base support panel by the cover plate.

21. The stackable patch panel module according to claim 20, wherein the cover plate includes a latching system hidden from plain sight once the stackable patch panel is assembled.