Cable management panel with sliding drawer and methods

• US 7,079,744 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Douglas, Joel B., Smith, Trevor D., Barnes, Kathleen M., Franklin, Michael J., Hannah, Lonnie E., Trebesch, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wood, Kevin S
• Application Number:
  US09/900,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20030007767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4478 Bending relief means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An optical fiber cable management panel includes drawer assemblies, each including a drawer slidable within a chassis. The drawer assemblies are secured together by a bracket that includes an interlock arrangement with the chassis. Such an interlock arrangement includes a non-threaded stud engaging a hole. Radius limiters may be part of the drawer assembly and include a cable entry aperture have a closed perimeter and a flared cable guide surface around most of, and preferably all of, the closed perimeter to allow for the entry of cables from all directions. A control mechanism controls movement of the radius limiter relative to the drawer assembly. The control mechanism includes a rotating member that has an axis of rotation transverse to the slidable motion of the radius limiter and normal to the radius limiter.

Claims

1. A radius limiter for an optical fiber cable management panel;

the radius limiter comprising;

(a) a frame piece including a vertically oriented continuous curved wall; and

a continuous trough section adjacent to said curved wall;

(i) said curved wall being concavely shaped relative to said trough section;

(ii) said trough section being defined by a vertically oriented wall and a base;

(A) said base bridging said vertically oriented wall and said curved wall;

(B) said base being continuous with said vertically oriented wall and said curved wall;

(b) a cover member oriented at least partially over the trough section;

(i) said cover ember and said frame piece defining a cable entry aperture having a closed perimeter;

(A) said cable entry aperture being in communication with said trough sect on to permit cables to enter through the aperture and rest within the trough section;

(B) all of said perimeter of said cable entry aperture being circumscribed by a flared cable guide surface.

2. A radius limiter according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said cover member includes a finger defining at least one free edge;

(i) said free edge defining a portion of said flared guide surface.

3. A radius limiter according to claim 2 further including:

(a) a latch arrangement releasably securing said finger to said frame piece.

4. A radius limiter according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) said finger includes a second free edge selectively engaging said vertically oriented wall of said trough section;

(i) said latch arrangement being mounted on said vertically oriented wall and said second free edge to releasably secure said finger to said frame piece.

5. A radius limiter according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) said finger includes an attachment portion pivotally securing said finger to said frame piece.

6. A method of limiting a radius of optical fiber cables;

the method comprising;

(a) providing a radius limiter including;

(i) a frame piece including a vertically oriented continuous curved wall; and

a continuous trough section adjacent to the curved wall;

(ii) a cover member oriented at least partially over the trough section;

(A) the cover member defining at least a portion of a perimeter of a cable entry aperture;

(B) the portion of the perimeter of the cable entry aperture defined by the cover having a flared cable guide surface;

(1) all of the perimeter of the cable entry aperture being circumscribed by the flared cable guide surface;

(b) directing optical fib r cables through the cable entry aperture and against the flared cable guide surface of the cover member; and

(c) after said step of directing, orienting the optical fiber cables within the continuous trough section and against the continuous curved wall.

7. A method according to claim 6 further including:

(a) before said step of directing, pivoting the cover member relative to the frame piece by releasing a latch connection between the cover member and the frame piece.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein:

(a) said step of pivoting includes rotating the cover member about a hinge point between the cover ember and the frame piece.

9. An optical fiber cable management system comprising:

(a) a first drawer assembly including a first chassis and a first drawer slidably mounted within said first chassis;

(i) said first chassis and first drawer defining a first storage interior;

(ii) said first drawer assembly defining a first cable access entry to permit optical fiber cable to enter into said first storage interior;

(b) a second drawer assembly including a second chassis and a second drawer slidably mounted within said second chassis;

(i) said second chassis and second drawer defining a second storage interior;

(ii) said second rawer assembly defining a second cable access entry to permit optical fiber cable to enter into said second storage interior; and

(c) a mounting bracket connecting together at least said first drawer assembly and said second drawer assembly through an interlock arrangement;

(i) said interlock arrangement including;

(A) a plurality of non-threaded stud members in one of;

(i) said mounting bracket; and

(ii) said first and second chassis; and

(B) a plurality of holes sized for receiving said non-threaded stud members;

said plurality of holes being defined by one of (i) said mounting bracket; and

(ii) said first and second chassis.

10. An optical fiber cable management system according to claim wherein:

(a) said interlock arrangement includes;

(i) at least two of said non-threaded stud members projecting from said first chassis;

(ii) at least two of said non-threaded stud members projecting from said second chassis; and

(iii) at least four of said holes defined by said mounting bracket receiving each of the non-threaded stud members of said first chassis and said second chassis.

11. A method of connecting a first drawer assembly to a second drawer assembly in an optical fiber cable management system;

the method comprising;

(a) providing a first an second drawer assembly;

the first drawer assembly including a first drawer slidably received by a first chassis;

the second drawer assembly including a second rawer slidably received by a second chassis;

(i) the first chassis and first drawer defining a first storage interior for holding optical fiber cable;

(ii) the second chassis and second drawer defining a second storage interior for holding optical fiber cable; and

(b) securing a bracket to the first chassis and the second chassis by inserting a non-threaded stud arrangement into an aperture arrangement.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) said step of securing includes inserting a plurality of non-threaded studs projecting from each of the first chassis and the second chassis into a plurality of holes sized to receive the non-threaded studs defined by the bracket.

13. An optical fiber cable management panel comprising:

(a) a drawer assembly including a chassis and a drawer;

(i) said drawer being slidably mounted within said chassis;

(ii) said drawer assembly defining a storage interior and a first cable access entry to permit optical fiber cable to enter into said storage interior;

(b) a cable radius limiter slidably mounted relative to said drawer assembly; and

(c) a control mechanism secured to said drawer assembly to synchronize slidable movement of said cable radius limiter relative to slidable movement of said drawer within said chassis;

(i) said control mechanism including a rotating member oriented to rotate between said drawer and said chassis;

(ii) said rotating member having an axis of rotation that is normal to said cable radius limiter.

14. An optical fiber cable management panel according to claim 13 wherein:

(a) said control mechanism includes a bracket and an axle;

(i) said rotating member being mounted for rotation on said axle.

15. An optical fiber cable management panel according to claim 14 wherein:

(a) said rotating member includes a wheel.

16. An optical fiber cable management panel according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) said bracket includes a projection arrangement secured to said cable radius limiter.

17. An optical fiber cable management panel according to claim 16 wherein:

(a) said drawer includes a base defining an elongated slot;

(i) said bracket being secured to said cable radius limiter through said elongated slot.

18. An optical fiber cable management panel according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) said drawer further includes a wheel guide secured thereto having a guide surface extending normal to said drawer base;

(b) said chassis includes a base in a plane generally parallel to said drawer base;

said chassis further includes a sidewall extending normal to said chassis base;

(i) said wheel oriented for rotation between and against said guide surface and said chassis sidewall.

19. An optical fiber cable management panel according to claim 18 wherein:

(a) said bracket includes a catch;

(b) said chassis include a stop member;

(i) said catch selectively engaging said stop member when said drawer and said radius limiter are slid relative to said chassis.

20. In an optical fiber cable management system having a drawer assembly;

the drawer assembly including a drawer slidably received by a chassis, a method for controlling slidable movement of a cable radius limiter relative to slidable movement of the drawer within the chassis;

the method comprising;

(a) rotating a wheel, secured to the cable radius limiter, between the drawer and the chassis;

(i) the wheel having an axis of rotation that is normal to the cable radius limiter.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein:

(a) the wheel is mounted on a bracket;

the drawer includes a base defining an elongated slot;

the racket is secured to the cable radius limiter through the elongated slot;

the drawer further includes a wheel guide surface extending normal to the drawer base;

the chassis includes a base in a plane generally parallel to the drawer base;

the chassis further includes a sidewall extending normal to the chassis base; and

(b) said step of rotating a wheel between the drawer and the chassis includes rotating the wheel between and against the guide surface and the chassis sidewall.

22. A radius limiter for an optical fiber cable management panel;

the radius limiter comprising;

(a) a frame piece including a vertically oriented curved wall; and

a trough section adjacent to said curved wall;

(i) said curved all being concavely shaped relative to said trough section;

(ii) said trough section being defined by a vertically oriented wall and a base;

(A) said ase bridging said vertically oriented wall and said curved wall

(b) a cover member oriented at least partially over the trough section;

(i) said cover member and said frame piece defining a cable entry aperture having a closed perimeter;

(A) said cable entry aperture being in communication with said trough section to permit cables to enter through the aperture and rest within the trough section;

(B) at least 75% of said perimeter of said cable entry aperture being circumscribed by a flared cable guide surface;

(C) said cover member including a finger defining at least one free edge;

(1) said free edge defining a portion of said flared guide surface;

(2) said finger including a second free edge selectively engaging said vertically oriented wall of said trough section;

(c) a latch arrangement releasably securing said finger to said frame piece;

(i) said latch arrangement being mounted on said vertically oriented wall and said second free edge to releasably secure said finger to said frame piece;

(ii) said finger including an attachment portion pivotally securing said finger to said frame piece; and

(A) said attachment portion comprises a pair of tabs projecting from said finger.

23. A radius limiter according to claim 22 wherein:

(a) all of said perimeter of said cable entry aperture is circumscribed by said flared cable guide surface.

24. A radius limiter for an optical fiber cable management panel;

the radius limiter comprising;

(a) a frame piece including a vertically oriented curved wall; and

a trough section adjacent to said curved wall;

(i) said curved all being concavely shaped relative to said trough section;

(b) a cover member oriented at least partially over the trough section;

(i) said cover member and said frame piece defining a cable entry aperture having a closed perimeter;

(A) said cable entry aperture being in communication with said trough section to permit cables to enter through the aperture and rest within the trough section;

(B) at le st 75% of said perimeter of said cable entry aperture being circumscribed by a flared cable guide surface;

(C) said cover member including a finger;

(ii) said finger including an attachment portion pivotally securing said finger to said frame piece; and

(A) said attachment portion comprises a pair of tabs projecting from said finger.

25. A radius limiter according to claim 24 wherein:

(a) said finger defines at least one free edge;

(i) said free edge defining a portion of said flared guide surface.

26. A radius limiter according to claim 25 further including:

(a) a latch arrangement releasably securing said finger to said frame piece.

27. A method of limiting radius of optical fiber cables;

the method comprising;

(a) providing a radius limiter including;

(i) a frame piece including a vertically oriented continuous curved wall; and

a continuous trough section adjacent to the curved wall;

(ii) a cover member oriented at least partially over the trough section;

(A) the cover member defining at least a portion of a perimeter of a cable entry aperture;

(B) the portion of the perimeter of the cable entry aperture defined by the cover having a flared cable guide surface;

(b) pivoting the cover member relative to the frame piece by releasing a latch connection between the cover member and the frame piece;

(i) the step of pivoting including rotating the cover member about a hinge point between the cover member and the frame piece;

(A) said step of rotating the cover member about a hinge point includes rotating a pair of tabs projecting from the cover member about a port on of the frame piece;

(c) directing optical fiber cables through the cable entry aperture and against the flared cable guide surface of the cover member; and

(d) after said step of directing, orienting the optical fiber cables within the continuous trough section and against the continuous curved wall.