Non-orthogonal cable management system

• US 7,070,459 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Green, Michael Patrick, Hoffer, John Carey, Eberle, James Joseph Jr., Denovich, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US10/823,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 439/719, 385/134, 385/135, D83/56, D83/80
• US Class Current: 439/719
• 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: H04Q 1/13 Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules

Abstract

A cable management system is provided having a patch panel and a wire manager. The patch panel has a first connectivity interface configured to connect with electronics cables. The wire manager is located proximate the patch panel and has a body with a curved interior contour. The wire manager is oriented in a non-orthogonal relation to the patch panel such that the body of the wire manager extends rearward at a non-orthogonal angle from the first connectivity interface. Wire managers may be mounted on opposite sides of the patch panel and oriented such that the wire managers and patch panels form a C-shape.

Claims

1. A cable management system, comprising:

a patch panel having a first connectivity interface configured to connect with cables; and

a wire manager located proximate said patch panel, said wire manager having a body with a curved interior contour defining a cavity configured to hold cables, said wire manager being oriented in a non-orthogonal relation to said patch panel such that said body extends at a non-orthogonal angle from said first connectivity interface wherein said patch panel and said wire manager extend along a common non-linear path.

2. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein said patch panel and wire manager extend along a common circular arc.

3. The cable management system of claim 1, further comprising a pair of wire managers mounted on opposite sides of said patch panel, said pair of wire managers and said patch panel forming a C-shape.

4. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein said patch panel and wire manager are joined to one another to be free-standing independent of a frame.

5. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein said wire manager and patch panel include adjoining sides that abut against one another, said adjoining sides extending along a radial axis through a center of the cable management system.

6. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein said body of said wire manager includes a convex back wall that bows into an interior cavity of said body.

7. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein said body of said wire manager includes back, side and front walls formed integral with one another, said side walls flaring outward from one another as said side walls extend from said back wall toward said front wall.

8. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein said body includes walls surrounding a cavity configured to hold cables, said walls having an semi-circular interior contour.

9. The cable management system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said wire managers, each wire manager including a mounting post projecting transversely in one direction from said body and a post receptacle opening transversely in an opposite second direction from said body, said mounting posts and post receptacles on adjacent being configured to mate when said plurality of said wire managers are stacked on one another.

10. The cable management system of claim 1, further comprising a frame, at least one of said patch panel and wire manager being mounted to said frame.

11. A cable management system, comprising:

a plurality of patch panels stacked on one another, wherein each of the plurality of patch panels have a first connectivity interface configured to connect with cables; and

first and second stacks of wire managers provided along opposite sides of said plurality of patch panels, each-of said wire managers located proximate said patch panel, each of said wire managers having a body with a curved interior contour defining a cavity configured to hold cables, each of said wire managers being oriented in a non-orthogonal relation to said plurality of patch panel such that said body extends at a non-orthogonal angle from said first connectivity interface.

12. A cable management system, comprising:

a patch panel having a first connectivity interface configured to connect with cables;

a wire manager located proximate said patch panel, said wire manager having a body with a curved interior contour defining a cavity configured to hold cables, said wire manager being oriented in a non-orthogonal relation to said patch panel such that said body extends at a non-orthogonal angle from said first connectivity interface; and

a frame extending upward through said wire manager, said wire manager being secured to said frame.

13. A wire manager for retaining cables in a cable management system having a connectivity interface configured to connect with cables, said wire manager comprising:

side walls, at least one of said side walls being configured to be located proximate the connectivity interface of the cable management system;

a front wall joined to said side walls; and

a back wall joined to said side walls, said front, back and side walls surrounding a cavity having a curved interior contour, said front and back walls extending at non-orthogonal angles from said side wall located proximate the connectivity interface such that said front and back walls extend at a non-orthogonal angle from the connectivity interface when the wire manager is located proximate the connectivity interface;

wherein at least one of said front, back and side walls further comprises a mounting post projecting transversely in one direction there from and a post receptacle opening transversely in an opposite second direction there from, said mounting post and post receptacle being configured to mate on adjoining wire managers when a plurality of wire managers are stacked on one another.

14. The wire manager of claim 13, wherein said front, back and side walls form a semi-circular interior contour about said cavity.

15. The wire manager of claim 13, wherein said side wall proximate the connectivity interface extends along a radial axis outward from a center of the cable management system.

16. The wire manager of claim 13, wherein said back wall is convex and bows into said cavity.

17. The wire manager of claim 13, wherein said back, side and front walls are formed integral with one another.

18. The wire manager of claim 13, wherein said side walls flare outward from one another as said side walls extend from said back wall toward said front wall.

19. The wire manager of claim 13, further comprising a bracket on one of said side walls, said bracket being configured to be secured to a frame.

20. The wire manager of claim 13, further comprising an opening through one of said front, back and side walls to receive cables.