Angled patch panel with cable support bar for network cable racks

• US 6,918,786 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Donnell, Mark J., Barker, Jed M., Honan, Kevin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gushi, Ross
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchi
• Application Number:
  US10/941,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20050041947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540.1, 439/532, 439/536, 439/134, 439135-137, 439/48, 439/716, 439/501, 439557-558, 385134-139, 211/26, 361/826, 361/825, 361/600, 361/695
• US Class Current: 439/540.1
• 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: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2416 Means for guiding or retaining wires or cables connected to terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/066 arranged on the front side
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/068 arranged on the rear side
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/13 Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames

Abstract

A patch panel mountable to a network rack includes a patch panel frame and rack mounting plates. The frame forms a central section having a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network. The rack mounting plates are provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section and allow the panel to be mounted to a network rack. The central section includes two panel sections angled outwardly in an inverted V-Shape, and the central section has mounted thereon a plurality of cable connectors that receive cabling on the front side and the rear side of the patch panel frame. Each connector has a horizontal axis.

Claims

1. A patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising:

a frame having rack mounting plates provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame,

wherein the frame includes a first panel section, a second panel section angled relative thereto and a centerpiece connecting the first and second panel sections, each of the first and second panel sections having mountable thereon a first connector adjacent the centerpiece and a second connector adjacent a rack mounting plate, the second connector being closer than the first connector to a horizontal axis extending between the rack mounting plates.

2. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the first and second panel sections are angled outwardly in a V-shape.

3. The patch panel of claim 1 wherein the first and second panel sections are symmetrical.

4. The patch panel of claim 1 wherein the centerpiece has no connectors mounted therein.

5. The patch panel of claim 1 wherein the centerpiece is substantially flat.