Rack-mountable cable manager

• US 7,000,784 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Canty, Mark E., McGarth, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PUROL, SARAH L
• Application Number:
  US10/384,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20040173545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 211/26, 211/71.01, 211/85, 211/189, 361/826
• US Class Current: 211/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/202 Cable lay-outs
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/142 Terminal blocks for distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/08 Pivotable parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/058 Undercut

Abstract

An integrally molded rack-mountable manager for managing the routing of cables along a network rack supporting electrical components having distinct rows of ports. The manager includes an integrally molded channel having a base portion and a pair of slotted side wall portions for retaining cables therein and managing the routing of the cables by providing optional routing through the channel and through slots defined by the slotted sidewalls. The integrally molded manager includes a rack-mounting portion configured for being connected to the network rack.

Claims

1. An integrally molded rack-mountable manager for managing the routing of cables along a network rack supporting an electrical component having distinct rows of ports, said manager comprising:

an integrally molded pair of front and rear channels having a common base portion having front and rear surfaces for partitioning said front and rear channels;

a pair of slotted front side wall portions extending from said front surface of said base portion, and a pair of slotted rear side wall portions extending from said rear surface of said base portion;

each of said channels for retaining cables therein and managing the routing of said cables by providing optional routing through said respective channels and slots defined by said slotted sidewall portions thereof; and

said integrally molded manager including a rack-mounting portion configured for being connected to a network rack and wherein said slotted side wall portions include a plurality of independently flexible adjacent finger portions defining a plurality of slots therebetween and wherein each of said finger portions terminates in a lip portion suitable for receiving an edge of a cover, wherein a cover is thereby retainable on said side wall portions such that in may be rotated between a first portion wherein said cover substantially encloses the corresponding channel and a second position wherein said cover does not substantially enclose the corresponding channel.

2. A manager in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rack-mounting portion includes at least one molded-in mounting hole.

3. A manager in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said slotted side wall portions includes slots spaced to correspond to the spacing between distinct rows of ports.

4. A manager in accordance with claim 3 wherein the majority of slots on one of said slotted side wall portions are spaced such that each slot corresponds to two adjacent rows of ports.

5. A manager in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said slotted side wall portions includes slots having bend-radius controlled edges.

6. A manager in accordance with claim 5 wherein said bend-radius controlled edges have a bend radius of approximately 0.04 to 0.05 inches.

7. A manager in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network rack includes a generally rectangular frame with a pair of upstanding vertical support portions, and top and bottom horizontal support portions connecting said vertical support portions, and said manager is simultaneously mountable to both of said vertical support portions at approximately the same height such that said manager is generally parallel to said top and bottom support portions and said cables may thereby be routed horizontally across said rack.

8. A manager in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network rack includes a generally rectangular frame with a pair of upstanding vertical support portions, and top and bottom horizontal support portions connecting said vertical support portions, and said manager is mountable to either of said vertical support portions along a substantial portion thereof such that said manager is generally parallel to said vertical support portions and said cables may thereby be routed vertically along said rack.

9. A manager in accordance with claim 1 wherein said base portion includes at least one pass-through hole for cables to pass between said front and rear channels.

10. A manager in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of adjacent finger portions includes an end finger portion that is stronger and provides a larger bend radius than others of said plurality of finger portions.