Cable management system and method of installation and operation thereof

• US 6,646,893 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: McGrew, Allison R., Hardt, Thomas T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, HUNG S
• Application Number:
  US10/209,616
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 361/826, 361/827, 361/683, 361/681, 361/686, 361/752, 361/797, 361/730, 439/92, 439/95
• US Class Current: 361/826
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1491 having cable management arrangements management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06

Abstract

A system and method for supporting at least one electrical cable is provided. The at least one electrical cable may be secured to a movable electronic device disposed within a chassis. A harness is provided that is securable to at least one electrical cable. A flexible support member is provided to support the harness and the at least one electrical cable. The flexible support member may move with the electrical device as the electrical device is moved. The flexible support member may comprise wire. A wire reel may be provided to extend and retract the wire. The wire of the wire reel may be unwound as the electrical device is moved from a normal position to a withdrawn position. The wire of the wire reel may be wound as the electronic device is moved from the withdrawn position to the normal position.

Claims

1. An electrical system comprising:

an electrical device adapted to receive at least one electrical cable;

a chassis adapted to receive the electrical device and enable the electrical device to move relative thereto; and

a cable management system adapted to support the at least one electrical cable, comprising;

a harness securable to a portion of at least one electrical cable;

a first biasing member securable to the harness and adapted to support the harness, the at least one biasing member comprising a first reel movable with the electrical device, the first reel having a first line wound thereon, wherein the first reel is spring-loaded to maintain a tensile force on the first line; and

a second biasing member securable to the harness and adapted to support the harness, the second biasing member comprising a second reel movable with the electrical device, the second reel having a second line wound thereon, wherein the second reel is biased to maintain a tensile force on the second line.

2. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second biasing members are disposed on opposite sides of the harness to support the harness therebetween.

3. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical device has a top surface and a bottom surface, the cable management system being adapted to maintain the portion of the at least one electrical cable secured to the harness below the top surface and above the bottom surface of the electrical device.

4. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cable management system is adapted to coil the at least one electrical cable as the electrical device is moved to a first position and to uncoil the at least one electrical cable as the electrical device is moved to a second position.

5. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the harness is adapted to be secured to the electrical device.

6. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the harness is adapted to be secured to a portion of the chassis.

7. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the harness comprises a plurality of securing straps disposed along the harness, each strap being adapted to secure the at least one electrical cable to the harness.

8. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical device comprises a server.

9. An electrical system comprising:

an electrical device adapted to receive at least one electrical cable;

a rack adapted to receive the electrical device and to enable the electrical device to move relative thereto; and

a cable management system adapted to support the at least one electrical cable, comprising;

a first wire reel having a first wire securable to the at least one electrical cable, the first wire reel being biased to apply a tensile force to the first wire; and

a second wire reel having a second wire securable to the at least one electrical cable, the second wire reel being biased to apply a tensile force to the second wire,

wherein the first wire reel and second wire reel are disposed to support the at least one electrical cable therebetween.

10. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 9, comprising a flexible harness securable to the at least one electrical cable, the first and second wires being securable to the flexible harness.

11. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the harness is adapted to receive the first wire at a first position axially along the harness and to receive the second wire at a second position axially along the harness.

12. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the harness comprises a plurality of securing straps disposed along the harness, each strap being adapted to extend around the at least one electrical cable to secure the harness to the at least one electrical cable.

13. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 10, where the harness comprises a plurality of securing rings disposed along the harness and the first and second wires comprise a hook adapted to secure to a securing ring.

14. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the flexible harness, first wire reel, and second wire reel are adapted to coil the at least one electrical cable as the electrical device is moved to a first position and to uncoil the at least one electrical cable as the electrical device is moved to a second position.

15. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first and second wire reels comprises a spring to bias the wire reel to wind the wire onto the first and second wire reels.

16. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first and second wire reels are secured to the electrical device.

17. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the electrical device has a top surface and a bottom surface, the first and second wire reels being adapted to apply tensile forces sufficient to maintain the at least one electrical cable below the top surface and above the bottom surface of the electrical device.

18. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the electrical device comprises a server.

19. An electrical system comprising:

an electrical device adapted to receive a plurality of electrical cables;

a rack adapted to receive the electrical device and to enable the electrical device to move relative thereto; and

a cable management system adapted to support the plurality of electrical cables, comprising;

a harness having a plurality of securing straps adapted to be extend around the plurality of electrical cables; and

a plurality of support members adapted to attach to the harness at a plurality of points along the length of the harness to support the plurality of electrical cables, wherein the plurality of support members comprises;

a first reel having a first line securable to the harness, the first reel being biased to apply a tensile force to the first line and

a second reel having a second line securable to the harness, the second reel being biased to apply a tensile force to the second line.

20. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the first and second reels are secured to the electrical device.

21. The electrical system as recited in claim 20, wherein the first and second reels are disposed on opposite sides of the electrical device.

22. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the electrical device has a top surface and a bottom surface, the harness, first reel, and second reel being adapted to maintain the portion of the at least one electrical cable secured to the harness below the top surface and above the bottom surface of the electrical device.

23. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the cable management system is adapted to coil the at least one electrical cable as the electrical device is moved to a first position and to uncoil the at least one electrical cable as the electrical device is moved to a second position.

24. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the plurality of securing straps are adapted to secure to themselves after being wrapped around the at least one electrical cable.

25. The electrical system, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the electrical device comprises a server.