HIGH DENSITY PATCHING SYSTEM FOR CABLE AND OPTICAL FIBER

• US 20100310225A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• 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: Case, Richard L., Anderson, Timothy W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,361 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/131 being pivotable
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/133 being slidable

Abstract

A communication patching system includes a platform configured to support a plurality of cables and a first panel pivotably mounted to the platform, the first panel having at least one holder for securing communications adapters to the first panel. A first set of communications adapters is connected to the platform, and a second set of communications adapters mounted in the at least one holder. The first panel is pivotable between a first position in which the second set of communications adapters is spaced from the first set of communications adapters by a first distance and a second position in which the second set of communications adapters is spaced from the first set of communications adapters by a second distance greater than the first distance.

Claims

1. A communication patching system comprising:

a platform configured to support a plurality of cables;

a first panel pivotably mounted to said platform, said first panel having a first holder for securing a first set of communications connectors to said first panel; and

a second holder for securing a second set of communications connectors, wherein said second holder is directly or indirectly connected to said platform, wherein said first panel is pivotable between a first position and a second position whereby said first holder is spaced from said second holder by a first distance and a second distance, respectively, and wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

2. The communication patching system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second panel pivotably mounted to said platform, said second panel having a third holder for securing a third set of communications connectors, wherein said second panel overlies said first panel and is pivotable toward and away from said first panel.

3. The communication patching system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second panel pivotably mounted to said platform and pivotable between a third position and a fourth position, said second panel having a third holder for securing a third set of communications connectors; and

a first set of communications connectors being located within said first holder;

a second set of communications connectors being located within said second holder; and

a third set of communications connectors being located within said second holder,

wherein said first set of communications connectors may be spaced from said second set of communications connectors by pivoting said first panel to said second position, and wherein said third set of communications connectors may be spaced from said first set of communications connectors by pivoting said second panel to said fourth position.

4. The communication patching system of claim 3, wherein said third set of communications connectors is stacked above said first set of communications connectors and said first set of communications connectors is stacked above said second set of communications connectors when said second panel is in its third position and said first panel is in its first position.

5. The communication patching system of claim 3, wherein said first, second and third sets of communications connectors are located on a first side of said platform.

6. The communication patching system of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third sets of communications connectors are fiber optic adapters.

7. The communication patching system of claim 1, further comprising:

a stop for selectively holding said first panel in said second position.

8. The communication patching system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for selectively holding said first panel in said second position.

9. The communication patching system of claim 1, wherein said first panel includes a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotably attached to said platform, said first holder being located between said first end and said second end and wherein said first panel includes a trough between said first holder and said second end configured to support cables.

10. The communication patching system of claim 1 wherein said platform comprises a drawer slidably mounted to a rack.

11. The communication patching system of claim 1, the second holder is pivotably connected to said platform and may pivot between a fifth position and a sixth position, such that said second holder is pivoted further away form said platform while in said sixth position.

12. The communication patching system of claim 11, wherein said first, second and third holders are all pivotably connected to said platform and stacked upon each other while in said first, third and fifth positions, respectively.

13. A communication patching system comprising:

a rack;

a tray slidably mounted in said rack, said tray having a bottom and an end edge and being configured to support a plurality of cables on said bottom;

a first holder configured to hold a first plurality of communications adapters on said tray; and

a first panel pivotably mounted to said tray, said first panel including a first portion overlying said tray and a second portion projecting past said end edge, and a second holder configured to hold a second plurality of communications adapters, said first panel being shiftable between a first position wherein said second holder is spaced from said first holder by a first distance and a second position wherein said second holder is spaced from said first holder by a second distance greater than said first distance.

14. The communication patching system of claim 13, wherein said second holder is supported by said first holder in said first position.

15. The communication patching system of claim 13, including a second panel mounted to said tray, said second panel including a first portion overlying said tray and a second portion projecting past said end edge, said first holder comprising a portion of said second panel.

16. The communications patching system of claim 15, including a third panel pivotably mounted to said tray, said third panel including a first portion overlying said tray and a second portion projecting past said end edge, and a third holder configured to hold a third plurality of communications adapters on said third panel, said third panel being shiftable from a third position wherein said third holder is spaced a third distance from said second holder and a fourth position wherein said third holder is spaced a fourth distance from said second holder, said fourth distance being greater than said third distance, said first, second and third holders forming a stack when said first panel is in said first panel first position and said third panel is in said third position.

17. The communications patching system of claim 13 including a first plurality of fiber communications adapters in said first holder and a second plurality of fiber communications adapters in said second holder.

18. A communication patching system comprising:

a platform configured to support a plurality of cables;

a first holder connected to said platform and configured to hold a first row of communications adapters;

a first set of communications adapters mounted to said first holder;

a second holder connected to said platform and configured to hold a second row of communications adapters on top of said first holder;

a second set of communications adapters mounted to said second holder;

means for moving said second row of communications adapters from a first position a first distance from said first row of communications adapters to a second position a second distance from said first row of communications adapters, said second distance being greater than said first distance; and

means for releasably holding said second row of communications adapters in said second position.

19. The communication patching system of claim 18, including a trough connected to said second holder, a first plurality of cables on said platform connected to a first side of said second set of communications adapters and a second plurality of cables on said trough connected to a second side of said second set of communications adapters.

20. The communications patching system of claim 18 wherein said means for moving said second row of communications adapters comprises at panel pivotably connected to said platform.