Vertical cable management system with ribcage structure

• US 8,216,004 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Follingstad, Michael Jay, Lovaasen, Eric, Livingston, Jane, Feaster, Al
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US12/803,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 439/719, 385/135, 361825-827, 379/327, 211/26
• US Class Current: 439/719
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2416 Means for guiding or retaining wires or cables connected to terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/26 Installations of cables, lines, or separate protective tubing therefor directly on or in walls, ceilings, or floors by means of insulators H02G3/24; supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing F16L3/00; hose-clips F16L33/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/066 arranged on the front side
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames

Abstract

A cable management system is provided including a rack for holding telecommunications equipment, and a ribcage cable support member along a vertical side of the rack. The ribcage cable support member includes a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly extending ribs. The ribs each include cable retention tabs. A plurality of spools are provided for cable storage on the ribcage cable support member. Holes through the ribcage cable support member allow access between the front and rear portions. An additional rack may be positioned on an opposite side of the ribcage cable support member to the first rack, and two columns of ribs are provided.

Claims

1. A cable management system comprising:

a) a rack including two upwardly extending side supports, the rack being configured to hold telecommunications equipment having front cable connection locations; and

b) a ribcage cable support member mounted to one of the side supports of the rack, the ribcage cable support member including;

1) a middle support having a front, a rear, and two sides, the middle support including a spool positioned on the front; and

2) two columns of ribs, each column of ribs being located at one side of the middle support, each column of ribs extending transversely away from the front of the middle support, each rib including a main portion extending from the middle support and a cable retention tab, each main portion of the ribs of one column being horizontally aligned with the main portion of one of the ribs of the other column, each cable retention tab extending generally toward the ribs of the other column, wherein a cable positioning chamber is defined by the middle support and the two column of ribs;

c) wherein the ribs of the two columns are vertically spaced apart so as to provide a single rib adjacent to every row of front cable connection locations of telecommunications equipment when telecommunications equipment is mounted to the rack

d) wherein the spool is positioned only within a vertical spacing defined between free ends of the cable retention tabs of the two columns of ribs.

2. The system of claim 1, further including telecommunications equipment mounted to the rack.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the rack is a first rack and, further comprising a second rack, the ribcage cable support member positioned between the first and second racks.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the middle support defines a plurality of holes between the front and the rear.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable retention tabs extend at an angle toward the ribs of the other column.

6. The system of claim 1, further including two columns of spaced-apart ribs extending transversely away from the middle support on the rear.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the spool is centrally positioned on the front of the middle support.

8. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of spools centrally positioned on the front in a vertical array.

9. The system of claim 1, further including an edge protector mounted to the main portion of each rib.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the edge protectors are U-shaped and include two opposed inner snaps that snap mount to the main portion of the ribs.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein an unobstructed cable pathway is defined between each column of ribs and the spool.