Angled RJ to RJ patch panel

• US 7,241,182 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Clark, Gordon P., Schmidt, John, Mattson, Loren
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne; J. F.
• Application Number:
  US11/382,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20060194471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676, 439/540.1, 439/540, 439/709, 439/638
• US Class Current: 439/676
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/743 integral with the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• 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 patch panel including a plurality of electrical connector assemblies, each of the electrical connector assemblies including a first jack presented on a first side of a panel frame of the patch panel and a second jack electrically linked to the first jack to form a jack pair and presented on a second side of the panel frame. Both the first jack and the second jack are presented at an angle with respect to the panel frame, and both the first jack and the second jack may be engaged using a patch cord. The first and second jack of each jack pair are at a 90-degree angle relative to one another.

Claims

1. A telecommunications parch panel for connecting patch cords, comprising:

a panel frame including first and second panel sides; and

a plurality of connector assemblies, each of the connector assemblies including;

a first jack including a first jack housing defining a first port;

a second jack including a second jack housing defining a second port, the first jack being electrically connected to the second jack to form a jack pair such that the first port of the first jack forms a 90-degree angle with respect to the second port of the second jack, and the first jack being coupled to the second jack through the panel frame;

a board including first and second ends and top and bottom surfaces, the first jack being coupled to the first end and the top surface of the board so that the first port opens outwardly in parallel with the first end, and the second jack being coupled to the second end and the bottom surface so that the second port opens outwardly perpendicular to the bottom surface, the board including electrical connections between the first jack and the second jack;

wherein the first port of the first jack and the second port of the second jack are each positioned at an angle less than 90-degrees with respect to the first and second panel sides, respectively, such that the first and second ports are each angled towards the first end of the panel frame so that patch cords extending from plugs engaged with the first and second jacks are directed towards the first end of the panel frame; and

wherein a first line running through the first port of the first jack is perpendicular to a second line running through the second part of the second jack, and wherein the first line and the second line intersect outside the first and second housings.

2. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 1, wherein the first housing of the first jack defines a first latch groove and the second housing of the second jack defines a second latch groove, wherein the first latch groove is positioned at an outermost edge of the first jack housing in relation to the first panel side, and wherein the second latch groove is positioned at an outermost edge of the second jack housing in relation to the second panel side.

3. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 2, wherein the plurality of connector assemblies are releasably coupled to the panel frame.

4. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 3, wherein the angle is 45 degrees.

5. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 4, wherein the first jack includes a plurality of first springs, and the second jack includes a plurality of second springs, wherein the first springs are electrically connected to the second springs through the electrical connections of the board.

6. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connector assemblies are releasably coupled to the panel frame.

7. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 1, wherein the angle is 45 degrees.

8. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 1, wherein the first jack includes a plurality of first springs, and the second jack includes a plurality of second springs, wherein the first springs are electrically connected to the second springs through the electrical connections of the board.

9. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 8, wherein none of the electrical connections cross one another on the board.

10. The telecommunications patch panel of claim 8, wherein the second jack includes a plurality of pins, each of the pins being electrically connected respectively to one of each of the second springs, and each of the pins extending from the second jack and being electrically connected to one of the electrical connections.