Fiber optic cable management rack

• US 5,640,482 A
• Filed: 08/31/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Commscope Emea Limited (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Barry, Bruce Eltringham, Fasnacht, Matthew Jon, Schaffer, Ronald Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/521,703
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/138, 385/139, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/09 Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/142 Terminal blocks for distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems

Abstract

A cable management rack (10) for supporting and routing pluralities of fiber optic cables (24) to and from optical interconnection sites of stacks of interconnection enclosures (22). First brackets (40) along end frame members (14) enable securing of the cables routed vertically, and also support removable rack cover panels (18). Second brackets (70,70A, 90) include arcuate cable support surfaces (72) for routing selected cables 90° (or 180°) about bends having radiuses great enough to protect the optical fibers of the cables. The second brackets (70,70A, 90) are removably affixable to the end frame members (14) or to intermediate frame members (16) at any location along a columnar array of fastening sites (34) beside the enclosure stacks, to correspond to any desired location of a cable bend, with the rack thus being modular. Relay brackets (110) provide for excess cable take-up.

Claims

1. A cable management rack for enabling securing, supporting and routing of bundles of fiber optic cables therealong at an optical fiber interconnection bay containing a plurality of interconnection enclosures, comprising:

a framework including at least a pair of vertical frame members spaced apart and enabling support for affixing interconnection enclosures at respective sites in vertical stacks between each pair;

first brackets fastened at least to an outer vertical edge of each end one of said frame members spaced from a said enclosure stack along an inner vertical edge thereof, providing for securing thereto ones of said cables routed vertically along a said vertical edge;

at least second brackets securable to each said frame member adapted to support ones of said cables about turns from vertical to horizontal orientation for ends thereof to extend to a said enclosure for fiber optic interconnection, such that said turns maintain at least a minimum radius thus protecting optical fibers thereof; and

each said frame member including a columnar array of fastening sites along each vertical edge adjacent a said enclosure stack enabling fastening thereto of at least one said second bracket at a selected said fastening site, said cable management rack thereby being modular.

2. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said framework includes at least one intermediate frame member located between a pair of end frame members and vertically between a pair of said enclosure stacks, and each said intermediate frame member including a columnar array of fastening sites along each vertical edge thereof adjacent respective enclosure sites of said enclosure stacks.

3. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first brackets and said at least second brackets include cable-retaining flanges at ends thereof spaced from said mounting surfaces of said frame members upon said first and second brackets being mounted to said frame members.

4. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 2 further including relay brackets affixed to said intermediate frame members between said columnar arrays of fastening sites, each said relay bracket providing an oval cable support surface for storing loops of excess lengths of cable therearound.

5. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 2 further including rack cover panels removably affixable to said framework outwardly of said fiber optic cables.

6. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 5 wherein each said fastener is of the type self-retaining to a said rack cover panel and includes a locking portion extending to be received into an aperture of said framework, and is of the type actuatable between a first state permitting insertion through a said aperture of said framework, and a second state locking to said framework to secure said rack cover member to said framework, enabling quick and simple rack cover panel mounting and unmounting.

7. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 5 wherein at least said first brackets include mounting flanges at forward ends thereof containing cover fastening sites of said framework.

8. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first brackets include an array of openings through body sections thereof enabling fastening of cable ties thereto for securing said cables thereto.

9. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 5 wherein relay brackets are affixed to said intermediate frame members between said columnar arrays of fastener sites, each said relay bracket providing an oval cable support surface for storing loops of excess lengths of cable therearound, and said relay brackets include mounting flanges at forward ends thereof containing cover fastening sites.

10. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said second bracket includes an arcuate cable support surface enabling selected said cables to be routed through a change of direction about a bend having a radius no less than a radius defined by said arcuate cable support surface, thereby protecting optical fibers of said cables.

11. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 10 wherein said arcuate cable support surface extends about an arcuate length up to 90°

enabling a 90°

change of direction for cables extending therearound.

12. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 10 wherein said arcuate cable support surface extends about an arcuate length up to 180°

enabling a 180°

change of direction for cables extending therearound.

13. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 12 wherein said arcuate cable support surface has two arcuate portions tangential to a common planar portion therebetween spacing said arcuate portions apart a selected distance.

14. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 10 wherein each said second bracket includes a frame mounting flange having two spaced fastener locations, and each said fastening site of a said frame member includes two correspondingly spaced fastener locations, whereby a pair of fasteners enable affixing said second bracket to said frame member in a manner preventing rotation of said second bracket.

15. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 14 wherein said spaced fastener locations and said correspondingly spaced fastener locations are apertures, and said fasteners extend through aligned ones of said apertures of said spaced locations and correspondingly spaced locations.

16. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 15 wherein each said fastener is of the type self-retaining to said frame mounting flange of said second bracket.

17. The cable management rack as set forth in claim 16 wherein each said fastener is of the type actuatable upon mounting said second bracket to a said frame member between a first state permitting insertion of a locking section thereof through a said aperture of said correspondingly spaced location, and a second state locking to said frame member to secure said second bracket to said frame member, enabling quick and simple bracket mounting and unmounting.