Fiber optic patch panel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A patch panel for optical fibers, said fibers having a coiled portion, a first end portion and second end portion, comprising:
- tray means for supporting said coiled portions of said fibers, said tray means including a bottom panel having a front edge, a back edge and a pair of opposed side edges;
a plurality of transversely spaced apart tabs secured to said bottom panel, said tabs being spaced backwardly from said front edge of bottom panel and extending perpendicularly upwardly from said bottom panel;
a plurality of modular connector assemblies, each slidably mounted on said tray between adjacent pairs of respective tabs, and each comprising;
modular connector yoke means for mounting optical fiber connectors on said tray means, said connector yoke means comprising;
a flat panel having a front surface, a back surface, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposed first and second side edges and defining at least one mounting hole therethrough for receiving an optical fiber connector; and
means for mounting said flat panel on said tray means, comprising;
a first mounting flange, extending from the first side edge of said panel and defining a first slot for slidably receiving an edge of one of said tabs; and
a second mounting flange, extending from the second side edge of said panel and defining a second slot for slidably receiving an edge of a second tab.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patch panel for optical fibers includes a tray for supporting coiled portions of the fibers, a plurality of transversely spaced apart tabs, spaced backwardly from the front end of the tray and extending perpendicularly upwardly from the tray and a plurality of modular connector assemblies each slidably mounted on said tray between respective pairs of adjacent tabs. The modular connector assemblies each include a modular connector yoke for mounting optical fiber connectors on the tray. The tray includes tracks for slidably mounting the tray in a rack.
354 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A patch panel for optical fibers, said fibers having a coiled portion, a first end portion and second end portion, comprising:
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tray means for supporting said coiled portions of said fibers, said tray means including a bottom panel having a front edge, a back edge and a pair of opposed side edges; a plurality of transversely spaced apart tabs secured to said bottom panel, said tabs being spaced backwardly from said front edge of bottom panel and extending perpendicularly upwardly from said bottom panel; a plurality of modular connector assemblies, each slidably mounted on said tray between adjacent pairs of respective tabs, and each comprising; modular connector yoke means for mounting optical fiber connectors on said tray means, said connector yoke means comprising; a flat panel having a front surface, a back surface, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposed first and second side edges and defining at least one mounting hole therethrough for receiving an optical fiber connector; and means for mounting said flat panel on said tray means, comprising; a first mounting flange, extending from the first side edge of said panel and defining a first slot for slidably receiving an edge of one of said tabs; and a second mounting flange, extending from the second side edge of said panel and defining a second slot for slidably receiving an edge of a second tab. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A connector yoke for mounting a fiber optic connector in an opening defined by parallel spaced apart edges of a substrate, comprising:
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a flat panel having opposed first and second flat surfaces, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposed first and second side edges and defining at least one aperture therethrough for receiving the connector; and means for mounting said panel in the opening, comprising; a first mounting flange, extending from the first side edge of said panel and providing a first slot for slidably receiving one of said opposed edges of said substrate; and a second mounting flange extending from the second side edge of said panel and providing a second slot for slidably receiving the other of said edges of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A patch panel for optical fibers, each of said fibers having a coiled portion, a first end portion and a second end portion comprising:
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tray means for supporting the coiled portions of the optical fibers, said tray means including a bottom panel having a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of opposed side edges, a back wall extending perpendicularly upwardly from said rear edge and an opposed pair of side walls extending perpendicularly upwardly from said respective side edges; modular connector means, mounted on said tray means and spaced backwardly from said front edge of the tray mans, for terminating end portions of said optical fibers; track means, operatively associated with said tray means, for slidably mounting the tray means in a rack to provide a retracted position wherein said tray means is retracted within said rack and an extended position wherein said tray means extends outwardly from said rack to allow access to said fibers; and guide means, disposed within said tray means, for maintaining said coiled portions of said fibers within a predetermined range of bending radius wherein the guide means comprises a plurality of radially oriented clips, each of said clips including a longitudinally extending base, a first side wall extending upwardly from said base, a top hingeably secured to said first side wall, a second side wall extending downwardly from said base, and means for snaplockedly securing said second side wall to said base, wherein said first and second side walls define said range of bending radius. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A patch panel for optical fibers, each of said fibers having a coiled portion, a first end portion and a second end portion comprising:
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tray means for supporting the coiled portions of the optical fibers, said tray means including a bottom panel having a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of opposed side edges, a back wall extending perpendicularly upwardly from said rear edge and an opposed pair of side walls extending perpendicularly upwardly from said respective side edges; modular connector means, mounted on said tray means and spaced backwardly from said front edge of the tray means, for terminating end portions of said optical fibers; track means, operatively associated with said tray means, for slidably mounting the tray means in a rack to provide a retracted position wherein said tray means is retracted within said rack and an extended position wherein said tray means extends outwardly from said rack to allow access to said fibers; and wherein said track means further comprises a pair of track assemblies, each of said track assemblies comprising; a longitudinally extending first rail secured to a respective one of the side walls; a longitudinally extending second rail parallel to the first rail and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart roller members rotatably mounted on said second rail and received by said first rail; a longitudinally extending third rail slidably mounted on said second rail; a mounting flange means, secured to said third rail, for securing said third rail to the rack; first stop means for limiting outward travel of said tray means relative to said mounting flange to define the extended position; and second stop means for limiting inwardly directed travel of said tray means relative to said mounting flange to define the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A patch panel for optical fibers, each of said fibers having a coiled portion, a first end portion and a second end portion comprising:
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tray means for supporting the coiled portions of the optical fibers, said tray means including a bottom panel having a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of opposed side edges, a back wall extending perpendicularly upwardly from said rear edge and an opposed pair of side walls extending perpendicularly upwardly from said respective side edges; modular connector means, mounted on said tray means and spaced backwardly from said front edge of the tray means, for terminating end portions of said optical fibers; track means, operatively associated with said tray means, for slidably mounting the tray means in a rack to provide a retracted position wherein said tray means is retracted within said rack and an extended position wherein said tray means extends outwardly from said rack to allow access to said fibers; and a pair of support members extending perpendicularly upwardly and perpendicularly forwardly from said front edge of said tray means and front cover means, snaplockedly engaging said support members, for covering said modular connector means. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification