Cable manager for network rack

• US 6,884,942 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pureti, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: McGrath, Michael J., Goodwin, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/842,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 174/100, 174/68.1, 174/68.3, 174/135, 174/97, 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 242/586.6, 439/719, 361/825, 361/826
• US Class Current: 174/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/066 arranged on the front side
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/068 arranged on the rear side
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/142 Terminal blocks for distribution frames

Abstract

A cable manager provides horizontal cable management of adjacent patch panels or network equipment on network distribution racks. The cable manager includes a central section and a front cable routing section and is mountable on a network rack, such as an EIA rack. The central section has a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a front side, a rear side, and rack mounting holes provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section. The front cable routing section extends from the front side of the central section and, includes a plurality of spaced fingers having an arcuate surface that provides bend radius control. A slit provides flexibility to the fingers. Ears extend laterally from the fingers. The cable manager can also include a rear cable routing section that includes a second plurality of spaced fingers. One or more passthrough openings can be provided in the central section to allow routing of cabling from the front section to the rear section. Either or both of the from and rear sections can include a removable cover. The cover may be hingedly connected.

Claims

1. A cable manager mountable to a network rack having mounting legs, comprising:

a central section having a longitudinal width sized to fit between the mounting legs of the network rack, a predefined height, a front side, a rear side, and rack mounting holes provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section;

a front cable routing section extending from the front side of the central section, the front cable routing section including a plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the front side of the central section, wherein the central section includes at least one passthrough opening that provides access to the front cable routing section; and

a hinged cover rotatably attachable to the plurality of fingers.

2. The cable manager of claim 1, further comprising retaining flanges extending from distal ends or multiple ones of the plurality of spaced fingers.

3. The cable manager of claim 1, wherein the cover is hingedly openable in two opposite directions.

4. The cable manager of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spaced fingers are arranged in multiple spaced rows.

5. The cable manager of claim 4, wherein the hinged cover is attachable to at least one finger on at least two of the multiple spaced rows.

6. A cable manager mountable to a network rack having mounting legs, comprising:

a central section having a longitudinal width sized to fit between the mounting legs of the network rack, a predetermined height, a front side, a rear side, and rack mounting holes provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section;

a front cable routing section extending from the front side of the central section, the front cable routing section including a first plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the front side of the central section; and

a rear cable routing section extending from the rear side of the central section, the rear cable routing section including a second plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the rear side of the central section,

wherein the central section includes at least one passthrough opening that provides access between the front cable routing section and the rear cable routing section.

7. The cable manager of claim 6, further comprising a first cover attachable to the first plurality of spaced fingers.

8. The cable manager of claim 7, further comprising a second cover attachable to the second plurality of spaced fingers.

9. The cable manager of claim 7, further comprising a second hinged cover rotatably attachable to the second plurality of spaced fingers.

10. The cable manager of claim 9, wherein the second hinged cover is hingedly openable in two opposite directions.

11. The cable manager of claim 6, further comprising a first hinged cover rotatably attachable to the first plurality of spaced fingers.

12. The cable manager of claim 11, wherein the first hinged cover is hingedly openable in two opposite directions.

13. The cable manager of claim 11, further comprising a second cover attachable to the second plurality of spaced fingers.

14. The cable manager of claim 11, further comprising a second hinged cover rotatably attachable to the second plurality of spaced fingers.

15. The cable manager of claim 14, wherein the second hinged cover is hingedly openable in two opposite directions.