Vertical cable management system

• US 6,501,899 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Paliga, Jeffery, Vavrik, Michael T., Marrs, Samuel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son V.
• Application Number:
  US09/585,966
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 385/25, 385/53, 385/59, 385/89, 385/134-140, 385/147
• 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: 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 2201/804 in optical transmission systems

Abstract

The invention is a vertical cable management system having a plurality of fanning guides and a plurality of cable management rings mounted to a frame. Additionally, the invention may include enclosures, fanning guide arrays, and cable management rings having a plurality of defined channels.

Claims

1. A vertical cable management system comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of fanning guide arrays secured to said frame, each fanning guide array including a plurality of fanning guides disposed thereon, said fanning guides for receiving and directing a plurality of cables; and

a plurality of cable management rings secured to said frame and spaced intermittently between said plurality of fanning guide arrays, said rings for defining a first vertical channel and for receiving said plurality of cables from said fanning guides to control cable routing.

2. The vertical cable management system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said fanning guides includes a curved surface, a first edge with an edge flange, and a second edge secured to a peripheral wall.

3. The vertical cable management system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of cable management rings define distinct first and second vertical channels.

4. The vertical cable management system of claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of cable management rings includes an end wall, a first leg connected to said end wall, and a second leg connected to said end wall, wherein said first leg includes an intermediate projection and a terminal projection that cooperate with said second leg to define said distinct first and second vertical channels.

5. The vertical cable management system of claim 4 wherein said intermediate projection is angled toward said end wall and away from said terminal projection.

6. A vertical cable management system comprising:

a frame having a plurality of enclosures;

a plurality of fanning guide arrays secured to said enclosures, each fanning guide array including a plurality of fanning guides disposed thereon, said fanning guides for receiving and directing a plurality of cables; and

a plurality of cable management rings secured to said enclosures and spaced intermittently between said plurality of fanning guide arrays, said rings for defining a first vertical channel and for receiving said plurality of cables from said fanning guides to control cable routing.

7. The vertical cable management system of claim 6 wherein at least one of said fanning guides includes a curved surface, a first edge with an edge flange, and a second edge secured to a peripheral wall.

8. The vertical cable management system of claim 6 wherein said plurality of cable management rings define distinct first and second vertical channels.

9. The vertical cable management system of claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of cable management rings includes an end wall, a first leg connected to said end wall, and a second leg connected to said end wall, wherein said first leg includes an intermediate projection and a terminal projection that cooperate with said second leg to define said distinct first and second vertical channels.

10. The vertical cable management system of claim 9 wherein said intermediate projection is angled toward said end wall and away from said terminal projection.