Modularly mountable cable management systems and associated methods

• US 9,632,271 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand DPC LLC (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Ortronics Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Montgelas, Rudolph A., Grandidge, Ryan J., Wood, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEACE, RHONDA S
• Application Number:
  US14/683,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/01 for supporting or guiding the pipes, cables or protective tubing, between relatively movable points, e.g. movable channels
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/2235 each pipe being supported by a common element fastened to the base
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• 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: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1491 having cable management arrangements management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49828 Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49842 Between tube-forming helical coils

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to modular cable management systems for a rack, the rack including frame members. The systems can include a first support plate and a second support plate. The first and second support plates can be mountable in a horizontal orientation relative to the frame members of the rack. The systems can include a media patching assembly mountable in a vertical orientation relative to the rack. Embodiments are also directed to methods of mounting cable management systems to a support structure or a rack.

Claims

1. A cable management system for a rack, the rack including vertical frame members, the cable management system comprising:

a first support plate and a second support plate, the first and second support plates being mountable in a perpendicular orientation relative to vertical frame members of the rack, and

a media patching assembly including an elongated body, the media patching assembly being mountable to the first and second support plates such that the elongated body of the media patching assembly extends between the first and second support plates in a parallel orientation relative to the vertical frame members of the rack;

wherein the media patching assembly includes a multi-connector panel assembly including first and second flanges, each of the first and second flanges including a fastening mechanism formed thereon;

wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a cantilevered extension including a protrusion at a distal end; and

wherein each of the first and second support plates comprises a slot configured and dimensioned to at least partially receive the protrusion of the respective cantilevered extension to detachably secure the multi-connector panel assembly to the first and second support plates in the parallel orientation relative to the vertical frame members of the rack.

2. The cable management system according to claim 1, further comprising a support frame mounted to the first and second support plates, the support frame including two vertical side beams and a plurality of cross-beams.

3. The cable management system according to claim 2, further comprising two support frame brackets configured to secure the support frame to respective first and second support plates.

4. The cable management system according to claim 3, wherein each of the two support frame brackets is configured to receive via a snap fit opposing cross-beams of the support frame to detachably secure the support frame to the first and second support plates in the parallel orientation relative to the vertical frame members of the rack.

5. The cable management system according to claim 3, wherein each of the two support frame brackets includes a central body section with two T-shaped slots formed therein.

6. The cable management system according to claim 5, wherein each of the two support frame brackets is secured to one of the first and second support plates via a snap fit connection between protrusions in the first and second support plates and a portion of each T-shaped slot.

7. The cable management system according to claim 1, further comprising a cable management plate defining a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side of the cable management plate comprises a plurality of slots formed therethrough configured and dimensioned to receive flanges of a spool therein for detachably securing the spool to the cable management plate.

8. The cable management system according to claim 1, further comprising a cable management plate defining a front side and a rear side, wherein the rear side of the cable management plate comprises a pair of hooks and a pair of fixation extensions, the pair of hooks and the pair of fixation extensions being configured to receive and secure respective vertical side beams of a support frame to secure the cable management plate to the support frame.

9. The cable management system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional media patching assembly mountable in the parallel orientation relative to the vertical frame members of the rack, wherein the media patching assembly and the at least one additional media patching assembly are configured and dimensioned to be mountable in the parallel orientation relative to the vertical frame members of the rack at the same time.

10. A cable management system for a rack, the rack including vertical frame members, the cable management system comprising:

a first support plate and a second support plate, the first and second support plates being mountable in a perpendicular orientation relative to vertical frame members of the rack,

a media patching assembly including an elongated body, the media patching assembly being mountable to the first and second support plates such that the elongated body of the media patching assembly extends between the first and second support plates in a parallel orientation relative to the vertical frame members of the rack, and

a cable management plate defining a front side and a rear side, wherein the rear side of the cable management plate comprises a pair of hooks and a pair of fixation extensions, the pair of hooks and the pair of fixation extensions being configured to receive and secure respective vertical side beams of a support frame to secure the cable management plate to the support frame.