Patch panel and strain relief bar assembly

• US 7,404,736 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Herbst, Paul M., Parrish, Jeremy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/317,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540.1, 439/557, 439/719, 211/26, 174/72.A, 174/135, 361/826, 361/683, 160/39, 160/38
• US Class Current: 439/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• 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 and strain relief bar assembly includes a patch panel, two bracket assemblies connected to the patch panel and a strain relief bar connected to the bracket assemblies. Each bracket assembly includes a first bracket and a second bracket removably secured to the first bracket. The first bracket is connected to the patch panel, and the first bracket has a tab including a cantilever that secures the first bracket to the second bracket. The first bracket also includes two rollover edges connected to the tab. The second bracket is connected to the strain relief bar, and the second bracket has a tab including an aperture that receives a portion of the first bracket therein.

Claims

1. In combination with a patch panel and a strain relief bar, a bracket assembly comprising:

a first bracket having a cantilever and at least two rollover edges; and

a second bracket having a tab with an aperture,

wherein the first bracket is connectable to one of the patch panel and the strain relief bar and the second bracket is connectable to the other of the patch panel and the strain relief bar,

wherein the tab is adapted to slidably engage the at least two rollover edges and resiliently deflect the cantilever,

wherein the aperture is adapted to receive at least a portion of the cantilever and removably connect the first bracket to the second bracket, thereby securing the strain relief bar to the patch panel.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket is connectable to the patch panel and the second bracket is connectable to the strain relief bar.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket is connectable to the strain relief bar and the second bracket is connectable to the patch panel.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the aperture is adapted to receive at least a portion of the bend.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cantilever is deflectable about 0.03 inches.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are disconnectable using about 15 pounds of force.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are disconnectable using about 20 pounds of force.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are disconnectable using between 15 and 20 pounds of force.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cantilever has a bend.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the bend is less than 90 degrees.

11. A patch panel and strain relief bar assembly comprising:

a patch panel;

a strain relief bar; and

at least one bracket assembly connected to the patch panel and the strain relief bar, the at least one bracket assembly including;

a first bracket having a cantilever and at least two rollover edges; and

a second bracket having a tab with an aperture,

wherein the first bracket is connected to one of the patch panel and the strain relief bar and the second bracket is connected to the other of the patch panel and the strain relief bar,

wherein the tab slidably engages the at least two rollover edges and resiliently deflects the cantilever,

wherein the aperture receives at least a portion of the cantilever and removably connects the first bracket to the second bracket, thereby securing the strain relief bar to the patch panel.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first bracket is connected to the patch panel and the second bracket is connected to the strain relief bar.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first bracket is connected to the strain relief bar and the second bracket is connected to the patch panel.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the bend is less than 90 degrees.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the cantilever is deflected about 0.03 inches.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are disconnectable using about 15 pounds of force.

17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are disconnectable using about 20 pounds of force.

18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are disconnectable using between 15 and 20 pounds of force.

19. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the cantilever has a bend.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the aperture receives at least a portion of the bend.