Cable management panel with sliding drawer

• US 7,463,811 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Douglas, Joel B., Smith, Trevor D., Tinucci, Thomas C., Holman, John C., Trebesch, Steven P., Lance, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Connelly-Cushwa; Michelle R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHU, CHRIS H
• Application Number:
  US11/891,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20080063350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• 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

Abstract

An optical fiber cable management panel is provided with slideable drawers and structure within the drawers for cable management and/or connection to other devices. Tray inserts drop into the drawers to provide the appropriate management and connection devices. A movable take-up mechanism manages the cable entering and exiting the drawers at side openings. Stackable pivoting storage trays on the tray insert include a detent arrangement for holding each tray in a pivoted access position. The tray inserts further include a front key, and a back tab mounting arrangement for mounting the tray inserts to the drawers, and side radius limiters including notches for extending over raised portions of the drawer. The take-up mechanism includes a U-shaped trough section and cable retention tabs. A control mechanism is provided for controlling movement of the take-up mechanism relative to the drawer.

Claims

1. A cable management panel, comprising:

a) a chassis;

b) a drawer slidably mounted to the chassis; and

c) a radius-limiter mounted to the drawer;

d) a control mechanism including a rotating member engaged with at least one of the chassis and the drawer;

e) wherein the radius limiter moves in synchronized movement relative to movement of the drawer, the synchronized movement being controlled by the control mechanism.

2. The cable management panel of claim 1, wherein the radius limiter includes a curved vertical surface that limits the bend radius of cables.

3. The cable management panel of claim 2, wherein the radius limiter includes a cable retention tab spaced from the drawer, the cable retention tab being located adjacent to the curved vertical surface.

4. The cable management panel of claim 1 wherein the rotating member is a wheel.

5. The cable management panel of claim 1, wherein the chassis and the drawer define an access location that allows entry of the cables into a side of the chassis.

6. The cable management panel of claim 1, wherein the drawer has a bottom defined by a removable bottom plate.

7. The cable management panel of claim 6, wherein the removable bottom plate includes a notch that engages a key provided on the drawer.

8. A cable management panel, comprising:

a) a chassis;

b) a drawer slidably mounted to the chassis; and

c) a radius limiter slidably mounted to the drawer, the radius limiter including;

i) a U-shaped cable trough section including a curved outer wall, a curved inner wall, and a base extending between the curved outer and inner walls;

ii) wherein the curved outer and inner walls and the base define first and second open ends of the U-shaped cable trough section;

the first open end of the U-shaped cable trough section being directed toward a side of the drawer, the second open end of the U-shaped cable trough section being directed transversely toward a rear of the drawer.

9. The cable management panel of claim 8, wherein the radius limiter moves in synchronized movement relative to movement of the drawer.

10. The cable management panel of claim 8, wherein the first open end of the trough section is a flared open end that is located adjacent to the side of the drawer.

11. The cable management panel of claim 8, wherein the radius limiter includes a cable retaining tab spaced from the base of the trough section.

12. The cable management of claim 11, wherein the cable retaining tab is pivotally mounted to one of the outer and inner walls.

13. The cable management panel of claim 12, wherein radius limiter includes two cable retaining tabs each pivotally mounted to one of the outer and inner walls.

14. The cable management panel of claim 11, wherein the radius limiter includes two cable retaining tabs spaced from the base, one tab extending across the trough section in a first direction, the other tab extending across the trough section in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

15. A cable management panel, comprising:

a) a chassis;

b) a drawer slidably mounted to the chassis, the drawer having a bottom defined by a removable bottom plate; and

c) a radius-limiter mounted to the drawer;

d) wherein the radius limiter moves in synchronized movement relative to movement of the drawer.

16. The cable management panel of claim 15, wherein the removable bottom plate includes a notch that engages a key provided on the drawer.