Cable management system

• US 6,326,547 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Mark J., Hunt, Christopher, Saxby, Don M., Coles, Henry C. III, Kliewer, Edward J., Allen, Joseph R., Hardt, Thomas T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nino, Adolfo
• Application Number:
  US09/432,145
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/49, 174/69, 174/72.A, 174/72.C, 174/72.R, 174/97, 174/135, 174/DIG.9, 312/273, 242/615
• US Class Current: 174/69
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1491 having cable management arrangements management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/09 Pull-out cabinet or drawer with retractable cable

Abstract

A cable management system for organizing and controlling cables extending from an electronic device while providing substantially unimpeded device access, substantially unrestricted cable movement and substantially unrestricted air flow into and out of the device. The system attaches to a secure structure and is capable of boxing out from the structure to allow access to service a device positioned within the secure structure. The cable management system includes at least three cable arms of rigid material, a coupling member attached between each adjacent pair of the at least three cable arms, where the coupling member provides movement between each of the adjacent pairs of cable arms.

Claims

1. A system for managing at least one cable comprising:

at least three cable arms of rigid material;

a coupling member attached between each adjacent pair of cable arms of the at least three cable arms, wherein the coupling member provides movement between each of the adjacent pairs of cable arms of the at least three cable arms; and

a cable slider slideably mounted upon at least one of the at least three cable arms, wherein the cable slider is capable of holding the at least one cable in a position such that the at least one cable can shift across the cable slider.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a mounting hinge, wherein one end of the mounting hinge attaches to an end portion of the coupled at least three cable arms and the other end of the mounting hinge attaches to one from a group comprising a structure, an electronic device, and a mounting flange.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the structure is a cabinet having rails, wherein the other end of the mounting hinge is attached to one of the rails.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a mounting flange, wherein one end of the mounting flange attaches to one from a comprising a mounting hinge and an end portion of the coupled at least three cable arms, and the other end of the mounting flange attaches to one of a group comprising a structure and an electronic device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the structure is a cabinet having rails, wherein the other end of the mounting flange is attached to one of the rails.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the at least three cable arms includes at least one ventilation portion that promotes air flow.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the ventilation portion is triangular shaped.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable slider includes at least one ventilation portion that promotes air flow.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the ventilation portions are triangular shaped.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling member comprises a hinge coupled to a rigid plate.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling member serially couples a first adjacent pair of cable arms of the at least three cable arms.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling member couples in parallel a second adjacent pair of cable arms of the at least three cable arms.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the cable arms of the at least three cable arms includes a flange for supporting the cable slider.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein one adjacent pair of cable arms of the at least three cable arms are serially coupled and another adjacent pair of cable arms of the at least three cable arms are coupled in parallel, so that the system is a multi-level system.

15. A system for managing at least one cable comprising:

at least three cable arms; and

a coupling member attached between each adjacent pair of cable arms of the at least three cable arms, wherein the coupling member provides movement between each of the adjacent pairs of cable arms of the least three cable arms and allows the at least three cable arms to box out in spaced relation from a structure.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein one adjacent pair of cable arms of the at least three cable arms are serially coupled and another adjacent pair of cable arms of the at least three cable arms are coupled in parallel, so that the system is a multi-level system.

17. The system of claim 16, further including a mounting hinge, wherein one end of the mounting hinge attaches to an end portion of the coupled at least three cable arms and the other end of the mounting hinge attaches to one from a group comprising a structure, an electronic device, and a mounting flange.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the structure is a cabinet having rails, wherein the other end of the mounting hinge is attached to one of the rails.

19. The system of claim 16, further including a mounting flange, wherein one end of the mounting flange attaches to one from a comprising a mounting hinge and an end portion of the coupled at least three cable arms, and the other end of the mounting flange attaches to one of a group comprising a structure and an electronic device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the structure is a cabinet having rails, wherein the other end of the mounting flange is attached to one of the rails.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein one of the at least three cable arms includes at least one ventilation portion that promotes air flow.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising a cable slider, slideably mounted upon at least one of the at least three cable arms, for holding the at least one cable in a position such that the at least one cable can more relative to the cable slider.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein one end portion of the coupled at least three cable arms is pivotally connected at a first position and the other end of the coupled at least three cable arms is pivotally connected at a fixed distance from the first position.

24. A system for managing at least one cable comprising:

an upper cable arm pivotably attached at its proximate end to a first structure at a first height;

a lower cable arm pivotably attached at its distal end to a second structure at a second height; and

an intermediate cable arm having a first and a second end, with the first end pivotably attached to the distal end of the upper cable arm and extending laterally therefrom, and the second end disposed above the lower cable aim and pivotably attached to the proximate end of the lower cable arm.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each of the first and second structures comprises one of the group comprising a cabinet, an electronic device, a mounting flange, and a mounting hinge.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the first and second structures are different portions of a cabinet.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the distance between the first height and the second height is fixed.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising a cable slider, slideably mounted upon at least one of the upper, lower, and intermediate cable arms, for holding the at least one cable in a position such that the at least one cable can move relative to the cable slider.

29. A system for managing at least one cable comprising:

an upper cable arm pivotably attached at its proximate end to a first structure at a first height;

a lower cable arm pivotably attached at its distal end to a second structure at a second height; and

an intermediate cable arm having a first and a second end, with the first end pivotably attached to the proximate end of the lower cable arm and extending laterally therefrom, and the second end disposed below the upper cable arm and pivotably attached to the distal end of the upper cable arm.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein each of the first and second structures comprises one of the group comprising a cabinet, an electronic device, a mounting flange, and a mounting hinge.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the first and second structures are different portions of a cabinet.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the distance between the first height and the second height is fixed.

33. The system of claim 29, further comprising a cable slider, slideably mounted upon at least one of the upper, lower, and intermediate cable arms, for holding the at least one cable in a position such that the at least one cable can move relative to the cable slider.

34. A system for managing at least one cable comprising:

a first cable arm pivotably attached at its proximate end at a first position on a first structure;

a second cable arm pivotably attached at its distal end to a second structure at a fixed distance from the first position;

a third cable arm, having a first and a second end, with the first end pivotably attached to the distal end of the first cable arm and with the second end pivotably attached to the proximate end of the second cable arm.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein each of the first and second structures comprises one of the group comprising a cabinet, an electronic device, a mounting flange, and a mounting hinge.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the first and second structures are different portions of a cabinet.

37. The system of claim 34, further comprising a cable slider, slideably mounted upon at least one of the first, second, and third cable arms, for holding the at least one cable in a position such that the at least one cable can move relative to the cable slider.