Slack cable management system

• US 6,614,978 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Caveney, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F.
• Application Number:
  US09/586,109
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 385/134, 385/89, 385/76, 385/137, 385/147, 385/138, 385/139, 385/140, 385/53
• 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

The invention is a slack cable management system for use with a cable management system, having a plurality of spools secured along a frame to receive slack cable. The spools have an elongate substantially half-cylindrical shaft having a curved cable-contacting surface, and a terminal flange. A main spool having a substantially cylindrical shaft to provide bend radius control for cable passing over and under the main spool is also included.

Claims

1. A slack cable management system, comprising:

a panel secured to a telecommunications network rack having a plurality of enclosures vertically spaced therein and located adjacent at least one network rack;

a vertical cable pathway for routing cables vertically adjacent the enclosures;

a plurality of spools located adjacent the cable pathway and spaced vertically at intervals along the length of the panel for receiving slack cable, the cable pathway located between the enclosures and the spools;

the spools having a substantially half-cylindrical elongate shaft to provide horizontal cable bend radius control for slack cable passing over the spools and an end flange.

2. The slack cable management system of claim 1, wherein the shafts of the spools have a curved upper, cable contacting surface to provide horizontal cable bend radius control.

3. The slack cable management system of claim 1, further comprising a main spool having a cylindrical shaft to provide bend radius control for cable contacting the main spool.

4. The slack cable management system of claim 1, wherein the enclosures are selected from the group consisting of a patch panel, a splice drawer and a connector module.

5. A slack cable management system, comprising:

a network rack having a plurality of enclosures vertically spaced therein, the network rack having two sidewalls;

a vertical cable pathway for routing cables vertically adjacent one of the sidewalls;

a plurality of spools located adjacent the cable pathway and secured vertically at intervals along the length of at least one sidewall for receiving slack cable, the cable pathway located between the enclosures and the spools;

the spools having a substantially half-cylindrical elongate shaft to provide horizontal cable bend radius control for slack cable passing over the spools and an end flange.

6. The slack cable management system of claim 5, wherein the enclosures are selected from the group consisting of a patch panel, a splice drawer and a connector module.

7. A slack cable management system, comprising:

a panel secured to a telecommunications network rack having a plurality of enclosures vertically spaced therein and located adjacent at least one network rack;

a vertical cable pathway for routing cables vertically adjacent the enclosures;

a plurality of spools located adjacent the cable pathway and spaced vertically at intervals along the length of the panel for receiving slack cable, the cable pathway located between the enclosures and the spools;

the spools having an elongate shaft, the shaft having a curved, upper surface to provide horizontal cable bend radius control for slack cable passing over the spools, wherein a portion of the shaft is removed longitudinally, opposite the curved upper surface, to create a substantially semi-circular shaft cross-section.

8. The slack cable management system of claim 7, further comprising a main spool having a shaft with a circular cross-section to provide bend radius control for cable contacting the main spool.

9. The slack cable management system of claim 7, wherein the enclosures are selected from the group consisting of a patch panel, a splice drawer and a connector module.