Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays

• US 7,873,253 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Sjodin, Chad J., Coburn, Hutch, Smrha, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US12/460,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20100111482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/142 Terminal blocks for distribution frames

Abstract

An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining rearward cable connections and forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. Openings permitting access to the rearward and forward cable connections of the adapters are provided. The chassis further including a removable rear chassis portion to provide access to cable routing areas within the chassis interior.

Claims

1. A chassis arrangement, comprising:

a) a chassis assembly including housing, a drawer that slides relative to the housing, and framework structure mounted to the drawer;

b) sliding adapter arrays carried by the framework structure, the sliding adapter arrays defining front connection locations, the sliding adapter arrays being arranged in rows, the sliding adapter arrays being constructed to slide between a rearward position and a forward position independent of the drawer and independent of one another; and

c) a bottom access opening formed in the chassis assembly, the bottom access opening providing access therethrough to the front connection locations of the sliding adapter arrays when the adapter arrays are in the forward position.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the front connection locations are front open connection locations.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bottom access opening is an elongated opening.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, further including a plurality of bottom access openings formed in the chassis assembly, the bottom access openings being aligned to extend a length that spans a substantial majority of a distance of which the front connection locations span.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bottom access opening is formed in the drawer of the chassis assembly.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein the bottom access opening provides access to at least some of the front connection locations of the adapter arrays by permitting a technician to reach through the bottom opening when the drawer is positioned in an open position relative to the housing.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, further including a top access opening formed in the housing, the top access opening being located adjacent to a front opening of the housing to provide access to the sliding adapter arrays.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein the top access opening is provided by removing a panel attached to the top wall of the housing.

9. A chassis arrangement, comprising:

a) a chassis assembly including a housing, a drawer that slides relative to the housing, and framework structure mounted to the drawer;

b) adapters mounted to the framework structure; and

c) a bottom access opening formed in the chassis assembly, the bottom access opening being located to provide access to front connection locations of the adapters;

d) wherein the bottom access opening is elongated, the elongated bottom access opening extending a length that spans a substantial majority of the distance of which the adapters span.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the adapters are arranged in horizontal adapter arrays, and wherein the adapter arrays slide in a lateral direction toward a front opening of the housing to provide access to the front connection locations of the adapters.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the front connection locations are front open connection locations.

12. The arrangement of claim 9, further including a plurality of elongated bottom access openings formed in the chassis assembly, the elongated bottom access openings being aligned to extend a length that spans a substantial majority of a distance of which the adapters span.

13. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the bottom access opening is formed in the drawer of the chassis assembly.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the bottom access opening provides access to at least some of the front connection locations of the adapters by permitting a technician to reach through the bottom opening when the drawer is positioned in an open position relative to the housing.

15. A chassis arrangement, comprising:

a) a chassis housing having an interior, the chassis housing including a removable rear chassis portion, the removable rear chassis portion including;

i) a first part that partially defines a top chassis wall of the chassis housing;

ii) a second part that defines a rear chassis wall of the chassis housing; and

iii) a latch that detachably secures the rear chassis portion to a remainder of the chassis housing;

b) wherein the first part of the rear chassis portion provides an exposed opening in the top chassis wall when the rear chassis portion is removed, the exposed opening extending the width of the chassis housing.

16. The chassis arrangement of claim 15, wherein the chassis housing further defines rear chassis openings located adjacent to the rear chassis wall of the removable rear chassis portion, the rear chassis openings providing for cable passage through sides of the chassis housing.

17. The chassis arrangement of claim 16, wherein the rear chassis openings are notches formed in the sides and the rear wall of the chassis housing.

18. The chassis arrangement of claim 15, wherein the exposed opening provided in the top chassis wall has a depth of at least about 5 inches.

19. The chassis arrangement of claim 15, wherein the removable rear chassis portion includes two latches that detachably secure the rear chassis portion to the remainder of the chassis housing.