Low profile copper and fiber optic cassettes

• US 8,958,680 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Bragg, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm Enayet
• Application Number:
  US14/295,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20140286618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 385 88- 90, 385/93, 385/139, 385/147, 385 76- 78, 385133-134, 385/137, 361/627, 361/633, 439/76.1, 439/357, 439/372, 439/484, 439/345, 439/607.25, 439/607.28, 439/556
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3624 Fibre head, e.g. fibre probe termination optical details of light guide terminations G02B6/241; reshaping of light guides G02B6/2552; optical details of coupling light into or out of fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44 Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables cables incorporating electric conductors and optical fibres where features relating to the optical fibres are not of interest H01B11/22
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• 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 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/659 with plural ports for distinct connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/743 integral with the housing

Abstract

A multi-port or multi-outlet cassette that may be configured as a low profile, high-density cassette. Selected embodiments include a bezel member having a projection positioned between each adjacent pair of outlets to help reduce crosstalk. A releasable latch mechanism may be included that is configured to selectively latch and unlatch the cassette to a patch panel. Embodiments configured for use with fiber optic cables may include a movable connector member. A cable connector may be mounted to the movable connector member to move therewith as a unit. Moving the movable connector member determines an angle of the cable connector relative to the panel. Angles may be selected to reduce stress on a cable connected to the cable connector. In particular, it may be desirable to position the cable connector such that it is orthogonal to the panel.

Claims

1. A patch panel for use with a rack and a cassette, the rack comprising a first upright member spaced apart from a second upright member, the cassette comprising a plurality of communication connectors and at least one tab, the patch panel comprising:

an intermediate portion;

a first angled portion extending outwardly from the intermediate portion, the first angled portion being mountable to the first upright member, the first angled portion comprising a first plurality of patching areas each configured to receive the cassette, each of the first plurality of patching areas comprising at least one first flange having an aperture configured to receive the at least one tab of the cassette; and

a second angled portion extending outwardly from the intermediate portion, the second angled portion being mountable to the second upright member, the second angled portion comprising a second plurality of patching areas each configured to receive the cassette, each of the second plurality of patching areas comprising at least one second flange having an aperture configured to receive the at least one tab of the cassette.

2. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of patching areas comprises a first plurality of openings configured to provide access to the plurality of communication connectors of the cassette, and

each of the second plurality of patching areas comprising a second plurality of openings configured to provide access to the plurality of communication connectors of the cassette.

3. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the patch panel is mountable to the rack within one rack unit.

4. The patch panel of claim 3, wherein the first and second pluralities of patching areas each comprise four patching areas.

5. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the patch panel is mountable to the rack with three like patch panels within four rack units.

6. The patch panel of claim 5, wherein the first and second pluralities of patching areas each comprise sixteen patching areas.

7. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion is positioned outwardly from the rack by the first and second angled portions.

8. The patch panel of claim 1 for use with the cassette being a first cassette, each of the plurality of communication connectors being a copper wire connector, and a second cassette comprising a plurality of fiber optic connectors, wherein the first plurality of patching areas are each configured to receive the second cassette;

and

the second plurality of patching areas are each configured to receive the second cassette.

9. The patch panel of claim 8, wherein the second cassette is mountable to a selected one of the first plurality of patching areas when the first cassette is mounted to an adjacent one of the first plurality of patching areas.

10. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the at least one first flange comprises third and fourth flanges that are spaced apart vertically such that the cassette is positionable between the third and fourth flanges, and

the at least one second flange comprises fifth and sixth flanges that are spaced apart vertically such that the cassette is positionable between the fifth and sixth flanges.

11. The patch panel of claim 10 for use with the cassette comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting flanges, wherein the patch panel further comprises:

a first support comprising a first slot configured to slidably receive a first one of the plurality of outwardly projecting flanges; and

a second support spaced apart horizontally from the first support such that the cassette is positionable between the first and second supports, the second support comprising a second slot configured to slidably receive a second one of the plurality of outwardly projecting flanges.

12. The patch panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a blank configured to be removably attachable to each of the first plurality of patching areas, the blank comprising at least one tab configured to be received by the aperture of the at least one first flange of each of the first plurality of patching areas.

13. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the at least one first flange comprises third and fourth flanges that are spaced apart vertically such that the blank is positionable between the third and fourth flanges, and

the blank comprises a wall configured to at least partially fill a space defined between the third and fourth flanges of each of the first plurality of patching areas.

14. The patch panel of claim 13, wherein each of the first plurality of patching areas comprises a plurality of openings configured to provide access to the plurality of communication connectors of the cassette, and

the wall of the blank closes each of the plurality of openings.

15. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the blank comprises a plurality of outwardly projecting flanges, and the patch panel further comprises:

a first support comprising a first slot configured to slidably receive a first one of the plurality of outwardly projecting flanges; and

a second support spaced apart horizontally from the first support such that the blank is positionable between the first and second supports, the second support comprising a second slot configured to slidably receive a second one of the plurality of outwardly projecting flanges.

16. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the blank is mountable to a selected one of the first plurality of patching areas when the cassette is mounted to an adjacent one of the first plurality of patching areas.

17. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the at least one tab of the black comprises a first tab spaced apart from a second tab,

the aperture of the at least one first flange is a first aperture,

the at least one first flange comprises a second aperture, and

the first and second tabs are configured to be received by the first and second apertures, respectively, of the at least one first flange of each of the first plurality of patching areas.

18. The patch panel of claim 17, wherein the blank comprises first and second fingers, and

the first and second tabs are positioned on the first and second fingers, respectively.

19. The patch panel of claim 1 for use with the cassette being a first cassette, each of the plurality of communication connectors being a copper wire connector, and a second cassette comprising a plurality of fiber optic connectors, wherein the second cassette is mountable to a selected one of the first plurality of patching areas when the first cassette is mounted to an adjacent one of the first plurality of patching areas, and

the patch panel further comprises a blank configured to be removably attachable to a different adjacent one of the first plurality of patching areas, the blank at least partially filling the different adjacent patching area.