Fixed angled patch panel

• US 7,488,205 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Stanley E., Spisany, Gordon C., Fitzpatrick, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US11/637,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540.1, 439/676, 439/719, 385/135, 385/134, 385/55, 361/826
• US Class Current: 439/540.1
• 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, of the type for mounting to a rack system in a network closet, includes a plurality of openings for receiving bezels. The bezels may be connected to the patch panel by a snap-lock arrangement. Each bezel includes one or more ports for receiving a jack unit. The ports open in an angled direction toward a lateral side of the bezel. A surface is formed to a lateral side of the port, which accommodates snap locking features of a jack unit and a removable label over the snap locking features.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a patch panel formed by a frame having a plurality of openings placed laterally side-by-side therein and opposed lateral ends for mounting the patch panel to a rack system; and

a bezel mounted in one of said plurality of openings of said patch panel, said bezel including;

first and second contact areas engaging a portion of said patch panel and defining a general plane of said bezel;

connection features attaching said bezel to said patch panel, wherein said connection features include at least one resilient snap lock to engage an edge of said one of said plurality of openings of said patch panel; and

a plurality of ports, each port including opposed lateral walls with attachment features for mating with recesses or tabs formed on side walls of a jack unit so that the jack unit may be removably attached within the port, wherein each port opens in a direction which is set at an oblique angle relative to a normal line extending away from said general plane of said bezel at least slightly directed toward one of said opposed lateral ends of said patch panel.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first and second contact areas abut an outer perimeter of said one of said plurality of openings holding said bezel.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said oblique angle is between about 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said oblique angle is about 45 degrees.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first and second contact areas are on lateral sides of said bezel.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said at least one resilient snap lock includes first and second resilient snap locks to engage opposed lateral edges of said one of said plurality of openings holding said bezel.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said bezel is formed of plastic.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein said frame is formed of metal.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein said plurality of ports are arranging in a matrix in said bezel, and wherein said matrix has at least two columns and two rows of ports.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said matrix includes three columns and two rows of ports.

11. The combination of claim 1, further comprising:

a first labeling surface formed on said bezel adjacent to a first port of said plurality of ports; and

a print medium to indicate a connection made in said first port overlying said first labeling surface.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said first labeling surface is bordered on two opposing sides by slots, and further comprising:

a flexible transparent plastic piece overlying said print medium and having opposed side edges engaged with said slots to retain said print medium on said first labeling surface.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein said print medium overlying said first labeling surface also overlies said attachment features of a second and adjacent port of said plurality of ports.

14. A combination comprising:

a bezel configured for mounting to a patch panel, said bezel including;

first and second contact areas for engaging a portion of the patch panel and defining a general plane of said bezel;

connection features to attach said bezel to the patch panel, wherein said connection features include at least one resilient snap lock to engage an edge of an opening of the patch panel; and

a plurality of ports, each port including opposed lateral walls with attachment features for mating with recesses or tabs formed on side walls of a jack unit so that the jack unit may be removably attached within the port, wherein each port opens in a direction which is set at an oblique angle relative to a normal line extending away from said general plane of said bezel at least slightly directed toward a lateral side of said bezel.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said oblique angle is between about 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein said first and second contact areas are on lateral sides of said bezel and are adjacent to said connection features.

17. The combination of claim 15, wherein said plurality of ports are arranging in a matrix in said bezel, and wherein said matrix has at least two columns and two rows of ports.

18. The combination of claim 15, wherein said bezel is formed of molded plastic and the positioning of structural features of said bezel are arranged to permit straight pull molding to form said bezel.

19. The combination of claim 14, further comprising:

a first labeling surface formed on said bezel adjacent to a first port of said plurality of ports; and

a print medium to indicate a connection made in said first port overlying said first labeling surface.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said first labeling surface is bordered on two opposing sides by slots, and further comprising:

a flexible transparent plastic piece overlying said print medium and having opposed side edges engaged with said slots to retain said print medium on said first labeling surface.

21. The combination of claim 19, wherein said print medium overlying said first labeling surface also overlies said attachment features of a second and adjacent port of said plurality of ports.

22. A combination comprising:

a patch panel formed by a frame having a plurality of openings placed laterally side-by-side therein and opposed lateral ends for mounting the patch panel to a rack system; and

a bezel mounted in one of said plurality of openings of said patch panel, said bezel including;

first and second contact areas engaging a portion of said patch panel and defining a general plane of said bezel;

connection features attaching said bezel to said patch panel, wherein said connection features removably attach said bezel within one of said plurality of openings of said patch panel; and

a plurality of ports, each port including opposed lateral walls with attachment features for mating with recesses or tabs formed on side walls of a jack unit so that a jack unit may be removably attached within a port, wherein each port opens in a direction which is set at an oblique angle relative to a normal line extending away from said general plane of said bezel at least slightly directed toward one of said opposed lateral ends of said patch panel.

23. The combination of claim 22, further comprising:

a first labeling surface formed on said bezel adjacent to a first port of said plurality of ports; and

a print medium to indicate a connection made in said first port overlying said first labeling surface.

24. The combination of claim 23, wherein said print medium overlying said first labeling surface also overlies said attachment features of a second and adjacent port of said plurality of ports.