Fiber optic cable segregation and slack storage apparatus and method

• US 6,487,356 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harrison, Carl G., Hoyl, Bradley S., Smart, Denise L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US09/628,915
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/57, 385/59, 385/89, 385/134-137
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus provides storage for cable slack and also provides for segregation of interface cables on the front of a chassis and for segregation of intrasystem cables on the back of the chassis. A and B copies of intrasystem cables are segregated on opposite sides of the chassis. Cable slack spools are provided at the top and bottom, on each side of the front and rear surfaces. This configuration allows for convenient cable slack storage for both top-entry and bottom-entry cables.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a chassis having a front surface, a rear surface, a first side, and a second side, the rear surface being configured to form a substantially hollow rear access opening, the chassis having an upper portion and a lower portion, the first side having an outer surface and an inner surface, and the second side having an outer surface and an inner surface,

a mounting panel coupled to the outer surface of the first side of the chassis, the mounting panel having a front surface and a rear surface and also having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a first upper cable spool assembly having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first lower cable spool assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the first upper cable spool assembly and the first lower cable spool assembly comprising a first cable slack storage assembly, the proximal ends of the first lower cable spool assembly and the first lower cable spool assembly being coupled to the upper portion of the front surface of the mounting panel;

a second upper cable spool assembly having a proximal end and a distal end;

a second lower cable spool assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the second upper cable spool assembly and the second lower cable spool assembly comprising a second cable slack storage assembly, the proximal ends of the second upper cable spool assembly and the second lower cable spool assembly being coupled to the lower portion of the front surface of the mounting panel; and

an exterior vertical cable channel formed as a vertical depression along the outer surface of the first side.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a horizontal exterior intrasystem cable duct coupled to the rear surface of the chassis.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a third upper cable spool assembly having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a third lower cable spool assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the third upper cable spool assembly and the third lower cable spool assembly comprising a third cable slack storage assembly, the proximal ends of the third upper cable spool assembly and the third lower cable spool assembly being coupled to the upper portion of the rear surface of the mounting panel.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a fourth upper cable spool assembly having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a fourth lower cable spool assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the fourth upper cable spool assembly and the fourth lower cable spool assembly comprising a fourth cable slack storage assembly, the proximal ends of the fourth upper cable spool assembly and the fourth lower cable spool assembly being coupled to the lower portion of the rear surface of the mounting panel.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, further comprising:

at least one horizontal internal cable duct horizontally traversing the rear access opening.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a second horizontal exterior intrasystem cable duct coupled to the rear surface of the chassis.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second exterior vertical cable routing channel formed as a vertical depression along the outer surface of the second side.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one vertical cable duct coupled to the inner surface of the first side.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one vertical cable duct coupled to the inner surface of the second side.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of horizontal internal cable ducts horizontally traversing the rear access opening, the plurality comprising a bottom horizontal internal cable duct, a top horizontal internal cable duct, and an interior horizontal cable duct.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the first side is configured to form an aperture, the aperture being configured to allow one or more cables to pass through the first side.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the second side is configured to form an aperture, the aperture being configured to allow one or more cables to pass through the second side.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one network interface panel, wherein the network interface panel is coupled to the first side of the chassis.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one network interface panel is positioned lower than the first cable slack storage assembly and higher than the second cable slack storage assembly.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one network interface panel includes a vertical routing channel.

16. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one network interface panel, wherein the network interface panel is coupled to the second side of the chassis.

17. The apparatus recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one network interface panel is situated lower than a fifth cable slack storage assembly and higher than a sixth cable slack storage assembly.

18. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein each of the cable spool assemblies includes a winding base coupled between a mounting flange and a retaining structure.