Telecommunications patch

• US 7,607,938 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Clark, Gordon P., Mattson, Loren
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/103,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20080293294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540.1, 439/577, 439/713, 439/534, 385134-137, 174/50, 174/68.1, 350/96.2, 312/324
• US Class Current: 439/540.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/09 Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/131 being pivotable
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames

Abstract

A connecting panel assembly including pivot modules that are pivotally connected to a frame of the assembly. The pivot modules include a plurality of jack modules. The jack modules have a plug opening on one side and wire terminations on an opposite side. The pivot modules are pivotally coupled at opposite ends of the frame. The pivot modules can pivot from a closed position wherein the pivot modules are aligned parallel with the frame, and an open angled position wherein the pivot modules are positioned at an angled position relative to the frame. The assembly also includes a support member that supports the pivot modules in the angled position.

Claims

1. A telecommunications device comprising:

a frame having a length that extends from a first end to a second end of the frame, the frame including upper and lower portions that extend along the length of the frame between the first and second ends to define an opening, each end of the frame including a mounting bracket;

a first latching assembly arranged between the upper and lower portions of the frame, the first latching assembly dividing the opening into at least first and second openings of the frame;

a central support extending outwardly from the frame, the central support extending from a first end adjacent the first latching assembly to a second end spaced from the first end;

a second latching assembly arranged adjacent the second end of the central support;

a third latching assembly arranged adjacent the second end of the central support;

a first pivot module including a first side at which a plurality of first connectors are located and a second side at which a plurality of second connectors are located, the first pivot module extending from an outer end to an inner end, the outer end being coupled to the mounting bracket at the first end of the frame, the inner end being configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein the inner end couples to the first latching assembly when the first pivot module is arranged in the first position, and wherein the inner end couples to the second latching assembly when the first pivot module is arranged in the second position; and

a second pivot module including a first side at which a plurality of first connectors are located and a second side at which a plurality of second connectors are located, the second pivot module extending from an outer end to an inner end, the outer end being coupled to the mounting bracket at the second end of the frame, the inner end being configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein the inner end couples to the first latching assembly when the second pivot module is arranged in the first position, and wherein the inner end couples to the third latching assembly when the second pivot module is arranged in the second position.

2. The telecommunications device of claim 1 wherein the first connectors of the first and second pivot modules include ports for receiving plugs.

3. The telecommunications device of claim 2 wherein the second connectors of the first and second pivot modules include insulation displacement connectors.

4. The telecommunications device of claim 3, wherein the ports and the insulation displacement connectors are provided on jack modules secured to the first and second pivot modules, wherein each jack module includes one of the ports and a plurality of the insulation displacement connectors.

5. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein each latching assembly includes a lock configured to releasably retain the inner end of at least one of the pivot modules.

6. The telecommunications device of claim 5, wherein the first latching assembly includes a lock configured to releasably retain the inner end of the first pivot module and the inner end of the second pivot module.

7. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the first pivot module is pivotally movable about a first pivot axis extending between the upper and lower portions of the frame adjacent the first end of the frame and the second pivot module is pivotally movable about a second pivot axis extending between the upper and lower portions of the frame adjacent the second end of the frame.

8. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the first sides of the first and second pivot modules are generally co-planar when the first and second pivot modules are arranged in the first position.

9. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the first sides of the first and second pivot modules are generally angled with respect to each other and the frame when the first and second pivot modules are arranged in the second position.

10. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the central support includes upper and lower tracks for guiding the inner ends of the first and second pivot modules as the first and second pivot modules are moved between the first and second positions.

11. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis of the first pivot module is generally aligned with the front face of the first pivot module.

12. A method comprising:

providing a telecommunications device including at least a first pivot module mounted to a frame, the frame including a first section extending perpendicularly to a second section to define a generally T-shaped body, the second section extending outwardly from a generally central portion of the first section, the first pivot module having a front face arranged generally parallel with the first section of the frame when the first pivot module is arranged in a closed position;

mounting wires to contacts arranged at a rear face of the first pivot module when the first pivot module is arranged in the closed position;

pivoting the first pivot module from the closed position to an open position including pivoting the first pivot module about a pivot axis defined through a first end of the first pivot module and through the first section of the frame;

securing a second end of the first pivot module to a free end of the second section of the frame when the first pivot module is pivoted to the open position, wherein the first pivot module is arranged at an angle with respect to the first section of the frame and with respect to the second section of the frame when arranged in the open position; and

inserting a cable into a port arranged on the front face of the first pivot module.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a second pivot module mounted to the frame, the second pivot module having a front face arranged generally parallel with the first section of the frame when the second pivot module is arranged in a closed position;

mounting wires to contacts arranged at a rear face of the second pivot module when the second pivot module is arranged in the closed position, the front face of the second pivot module being generally coplanar with the front face of the first pivot module when the first and second pivot modules are arranged in the closed position;

pivoting the second pivot module from the closed position to an open position including pivoting the second pivot module about a second pivot axis defined through a first end of the second pivot module and through the first section of the frame, the second pivot axis being spaced from the pivot axis of the first pivot module;

securing a second end of the second pivot module to a free end of the second section of the frame when the second pivot module is pivoted to the open position, wherein the second pivot module is arranged at an angle with respect to the first section of the frame and with respect to the second section of the frame when arranged in the open position; and

inserting a cable into a port arranged on the front face of the second pivot module.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein securing the second end of the first pivot module to the free end of the second section of the frame comprises rotating a locking cam arranged at the free end of the second section of the frame to lock the first pivot module to a latching assembly at the free end.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein mounting wires to contacts arranged at the rear face of the second pivot module comprises mounting the wires using a termination tool.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein pivoting the first pivot module from the closed position to the open position comprises pivoting the first pivot module along a track structure defined by the second section of the frame.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising pivoting the second end of the first pivot module past the free end of the second section of the frame.

18. A telecommunications device comprising:

a frame having a length that extends from a first end to a second end of the frame, the frame including upper and lower portions that extend along the length of the frame between the first and second ends to define an opening, each end of the frame including a mounting bracket;

a first latching assembly arranged between the upper and lower portions of the frame at a central location within the opening of the frame;

a central support having a first end coupled to the first latching assembly and a second, opposite end extending forwardly of the frame;

a second latching assembly arranged on the second end of the central support;

a third latching assembly arranged on the second end of the central support;

a first pivot module including a front side at which a plurality of front connectors are located and a rear side at which a plurality of rear connectors are located, the first pivot module extending from an outer end to an inner end, the outer end being coupled to the mounting bracket at the first end of the frame, the inner end being configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein the inner end of the first pivot module couples to the first latching assembly when the first pivot module is arranged in the first position, and wherein the inner end couples to the second latching assembly when the first pivot module is arranged in the second position; and

a second pivot module including a front side at which a plurality of front connectors are located and a rear side at which a plurality of rear connectors are located, the second pivot module extending from an outer end to an inner end, the outer end being coupled to the mounting bracket at the second end of the frame, the inner end being configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein the inner end couples to the first latching assembly when the second pivot module is arranged in the first position, and wherein the inner end of the second pivot module couples to the third latching assembly when the second pivot module is arranged in the second position.

19. The telecommunications device of claim 18, wherein each latching assembly includes a lock configured to releasably retain the inner end of at least one of the pivot modules.

20. The telecommunications device of claim 18, wherein the first pivot module is pivotally movable about a first pivot axis extending between the upper and lower portions of the frame adjacent the first end of the frame and the second pivot module is pivotally movable about a second pivot axis extending between the upper and lower portions of the frame adjacent the second end of the frame.

21. The telecommunications device of claim 18, wherein the first sides of the first and second pivot modules are generally angled with respect to each other and the frame when the first and second pivot modules are arranged in the second position.