Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays

• US 9,448,378 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smrha, Mark, Coburn, Hutch, Sjodin, Chad J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/617,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20150286021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• 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 6/4455 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0003 Details

Abstract

An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters being arranged in arrays that slide independently of other adapter arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections.

Claims

1. A chassis arrangement comprising:

a) a chassis housing defining an interior accessible through an open front of the chassis housing;

b) a first sliding member coupled to the chassis housing, the first sliding member extending between a front and a rear, the first sliding member being configured to slide relative to the chassis housing so that at least a portion of the first sliding member passes through the open front of the chassis housing;

c) a row of front ports supported by the first sliding member and configured to slide relative to the first sliding member along an axis extending between the front and rear of the first sliding member, each front port defining a fiber optic connection location; and

d) a front cover configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position, the front cover extending across the row of front ports when the cover is in the closed position.

2. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the row of front ports is a first row of front ports and wherein a second row of front ports also is supported by the first sliding member, the second row of front ports also being configured to slide relative to the first sliding member, and wherein the second row of front ports slides independent of the first row of front ports, and wherein each port in the second row of front ports defines a fiber optic connection location.

3. The chassis arrangement of claim 2, wherein the second row of front ports is horizontally aligned with the first row of front ports.

4. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the front ports are defined by optical adapters.

5. The chassis arrangement of claim 4, wherein a plurality of the optical adapters form an optical adapter block.

6. The chassis arrangement of claim 4, wherein the optical adapters define a row of rear ports that face in an opposite direction from the row of front ports.

7. The chassis arrangement of claim 4, wherein the optical adapters are mounted to a frame that moves relative to the first sliding member to slide the row of front ports relative to the first sliding member, the frame being carried by the first sliding member.

8. The chassis arrangement of claim 7, wherein the optical adapters defining the row of front ports are stationary relative to each other when mounted to the frame.

9. The chassis arrangement of claim 7, wherein the row of front ports is a first row of front ports and the frame is a first frame, and wherein a second row of front ports is supported by the first sliding member, the second row of front ports being defined by second optical adapters that are stationary relative to each other when mounted to a second frame, the second frame being slidable relative to the first sliding member and independent of the first frame.

10. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sliding member is configured to slide between a closed position and an open position, wherein the row of front ports is disposed within the chassis housing when the first sliding member is disposed in the closed position and wherein the row of front ports is disposed external of the chassis housing when the first sliding member is disposed in the open position.

11. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sliding member is a drawer.

12. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the row of front ports is a first row of front ports, and further comprising a second row of front ports disposed above the first row of front ports, the second row of front ports being independently slidable relative to the first row of front ports, each of the front ports in the second row defining a fiber optic connection location.

13. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the row of front ports is mounted to a frame that moves relative to the first sliding member to slide the row of front ports relative to the first sliding member, the frame including a rail member configured to slide along guides carried by the first sliding member.

14. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the row of front ports is configured to slide relative to the first sliding member along an axis that is parallel with insertion axes of the front ports.

15. A chassis arrangement comprising:

a) a chassis housing defining an interior accessible through an open front of the chassis housing;

b) a first sliding member coupled to the chassis housing, the first sliding member being configured to slide relative to the chassis housing so that at least a portion of the first sliding member passes through the open front of the chassis housing;

c) a first row of front ports supported by the first sliding member and configured to slide relative to the first sliding member along a first axis extending between a front and a rear of the first sliding member, each front port in the first row defining a fiber optic connection location; and

d) a second row of front ports configured to slide relative to the first sliding member along a second axis parallel to the first axis, each front port in the second row defining a fiber optic connection location, wherein the second row of front ports slides independent of the first row of front ports.

16. The chassis arrangement of claim 15, wherein the second row of front ports is horizontally aligned with the first row of front ports.

17. The chassis arrangement of claim 15, wherein the front ports in the first and second rows are defined by optical adapters.

18. The chassis arrangement of claim 17, wherein a plurality of the optical adapters form an optical adapter block.

19. The chassis arrangement of claim 17, wherein the optical adapters define rear ports that face in an opposite direction from the front ports.

20. The chassis arrangement of claim 15, wherein the first and second rows of front ports are configured to slide relative to the first sliding member along axes that are parallel with insertion axes of the front ports.