Slide and tilt mechanism for a telecommunications panel

• US 7,769,266 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Morris, Stephen James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Application Number:
  US11/821,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20080106871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-139, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/142 Terminal blocks for distribution frames

Abstract

A mechanism that provides access to a rear termination area of a telecommunications panel. The mechanism including a slide bar that permits the panel to laterally slide, and a tilt element the permits the panel to tilt. The slide bar and tilt element positioning the tilted termination panel over lower adjacent termination panels without contacting cables associated with the lower adjacent termination panels.

Claims

1. A telecommunications panel, comprising:

a) a chassis;

b) a termination panel positionable in a first generally horizontal position and a second tilted position; and

c) a slide bar interconnected between the chassis and the termination panel, the slide bar permitting the termination panel to slide horizontally between first and second lateral positions relative to the chassis;

d) wherein the termination panel includes a tilting element located at an end of the termination panel, the tilting element including an arm that slides within a slot formed in the slide bar, the arm and slot cooperating to limit the angle of the termination panel when the termination panel is positioned in the second tilted position.

2. The panel of claim 1, further including a front face plate directly connected to the termination panel, the front face plate being correspondingly tilted when the termination panel is tilted to the second tilted position.

3. The panel of claim 1, wherein the slide bar and the tilting element are interconnected to one another at a hinged joint.

4. The panel of claim 1, wherein the angle of the termination panel in the second tilted position is limited by contact between the arm and a stop.

5. The panel of claim 4, wherein the stop is defined by an end portion of the slot formed in the slide bar.

6. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a) a telecommunications frame; and

b) a panel assembly including a chassis fixedly mounted to the telecommunications frame and a termination panel interconnected to the chassis, the termination panel having a rear cable termination area and a front face plate, the panel assembly further including a mechanism that provides access to the rear cable termination area of the termination panel, the mechanism including;

i) a slide bar interconnected between the chassis and the termination panel, the slide bar permitting the termination panel to slide horizontally between first and second lateral positions relative to the chassis, the slide bar defining a slot having a stop end; and

ii) a tilting element interconnected to the slide by at a hinged joint, the tilting element including an arm that slides within the slot such that the termination panel tilts between a generally horizontal position and a tilted position;

iii) wherein tilting movement of the termination panel is limited by contact between the arm and the stop end of the slot.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the panel assembly is a first panel assembly, the system further including a second panel assembly located beneath the first panel assembly, the tilting movement of the termination panel of the first panel assembly being limited to provide clearance of the second panel assembly.