Front-access locking arrangement for sliding drawer

• US 20090274429A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Kostecka, Ryan, Krampotich, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5128 Drawer

Abstract

A cable management panel including a chassis, a drawer, and an open-drawer locking arrangement. The open-drawer locking arrangement preventing inadvertent closing movement of the drawer relative to the chassis. The open-drawer locking arrangement including an activation arm accessible from the front of the drawer and a locking piece located at the rear of the drawer. The activation arm moving in a linear direction to engage the locking piece, causing the locking piece to rotate from a locking position to a non-locking position.

Claims

1. A cable management panel, comprising:

a) a chassis;

b) a drawer mounted to the chassis, the drawer being configured to slide between an open position and a closed position relative to the chassis, the drawer having a front, a rear, and opposite sides; and

c) a first locking arrangement that locks the drawer in the closed position and a second locking arrangement that locks the drawer in the open position, wherein to unlock the drawer from the closed position and the open position, each of the respective first and second locking arrangements is accessed from the front of the drawer.

2. The panel of claim 1, wherein the second locking arrangement includes a linkage having an activation arm and a locking piece, a first end of the activation arm being accessible from the front of the drawer.

3. The panel of claim 2, wherein the first end of the activation arm extends through a front panel of the drawer.

4. The panel of claim 3, wherein the locking piece is located at the rear of the drawer, the activation arm extending from the front of the drawer to the locking piece.

5. The panel of claim 2, wherein the activation arm moves in a linear direction when activated, the linear motion of the arm causing the locking piece to rotate from a locking position to a non-locking position.

6. The panel of claim 5, wherein the locking piece is biased toward the locking position by a spring.

7. The panel of claim 2, wherein the locking piece is secured to a bottom of the drawer.

8. The panel of claim 2, wherein the locking piece travels with the drawer during sliding movement, the locking piece engaging the chassis to lock the drawer in the open position.

9. The panel of claim 1, wherein the second locking arrangement automatically locks the drawer in the open position.

10. A cable management panel, comprising:

a) a chassis;

b) a drawer mounted to the chassis, the drawer being configured to slide between an open position and a closed position relative to the chassis, the drawer having a front, a rear, and opposite sides; and

c) a locking arrangement that locks the drawer in the open position, the locking arrangement including an activation arm and a locking piece, the activation arm including a first end accessible from the front of the drawer and a second end positioned to engage the locking piece, the locking piece being located at the rear of the drawer.

11. The panel of claim 10, wherein the locking arrangement automatically locks the drawer in the open position.

12. The panel of claim 10, wherein a first end of the activation arm extends through a front panel of the drawer.

13. The panel of claim 10, wherein the activation arm moves in a linear direction to engage the locking piece so that the drawer is free to close.

14. The panel of claim 13, wherein upon engagement with the activation arm, the locking piece rotates from a locking position to a non-locking position.

15. The panel of claim 14, wherein locking piece is biased toward the locking position by a spring.

16. The panel of claim 10, wherein the locking piece is secured to a bottom of the drawer.

17. The panel of claim 10, wherein the locking piece travels with the drawer during sliding movement, the locking piece engaging the chassis to lock the drawer in the open position.

18. The panel of claim 10, wherein the actuation arm has a projection that seats within a shoulder formed in the locking piece when the drawer is unlocked in the open position.

19. The panel of claim 10, further including another front-accessible locking arrangement that locks the drawer in the closed position.