Angled patch panel with cable support bar for network cable racks

• US 6,981,893 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• 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): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US11/139,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 221 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540.1, 439/532, 439/557, 439/558, 439/924.1, 211/26, 52/35, 361822-829
• 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 rack. 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 members provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame,

wherein the frame includes a first panel section and a second panel section angled relative thereto, by an obtuse angle between 90° and

180°

, each of the first and second panel sections having mountable thereon a first connector located a first distance from a horizontal axis extending between the opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, and a second connector located a second distance from the horizontal axis extending between the opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

2. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second panel sections has mountable thereon a third connector located a third distance from the horizontal axis extending between the opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, the third distance being greater than the second distance.