Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays

• US 9,448,379 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• 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:
  US14/813,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20150338597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 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 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 second sliding member supported by the first sliding member, the second sliding member having a row of front fiber optic connection locations and the second sliding member being configured to slide relative to the first sliding member along a forward-rearward axis;

d) an arm extending forwardly of the front connection locations, the arm defining a handle positioned to assist movement of the row of front fiber optic connection locations relative to the chassis housing along the forward-rearward axis; and

e) a fiber retaining ring carried by the arm, the ring positioned forward of the front fiber optic connection locations.

2. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, further including a front cover configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position, the front cover extending across the row of front fiber optic connection locations when the front cover is in the closed position.

3. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein a third sliding member is supported by the first sliding member, the third sliding member having another row of front fiber optic connection locations, the third sliding member being configured to slide relative to the first sliding member, and wherein the third sliding member slides independent of the second sliding member.

4. The chassis arrangement of claim 3, wherein the third sliding member is horizontally aligned with the second sliding member.

5. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second sliding member includes a frame member that carries the row of front fiber optic connection locations, the frame member being configured to move relative to the first sliding member to slide the row of front fiber optic connection locations relative to the first sliding member, the frame member being carried by the first sliding member.

6. The chassis arrangement of claim 5, wherein the front fiber optic connection locations of the row are stationary relative to each other when carried by the frame member.

7. The chassis arrangement of claim 6, wherein the row of front fiber optic connection locations is a first row of front fiber optic connection locations;

and wherein a third sliding member also is supported by the first sliding member, the third sliding member including a second frame member that carries a second row of front fiber optic connection locations, the second frame member being configured to move relative to the first frame member to slide the second row of front fiber optic connection locations relative to the first row of front fiber optic connection locations.

8. 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 fiber optic connection locations is disposed within the chassis housing when the first sliding member is disposed in the closed position and wherein the row of front fiber optic connection locations is disposed external of the chassis housing when the first sliding member is disposed in the open position.

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

10. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, further comprising another row of front fiber optic connection locations disposed above the row of front fiber optic connection locations, the another row of front fiber optic connection locations being independently slidable relative to the row of front fiber optic connection locations.

11. The chassis arrangement of claim 1, wherein the row of front fiber optic connection locations is mounted to a support structure that moves relative to the first sliding member to slide the row of front fiber optic connection locations relative to the first sliding member, the support structure including a rail member configured to slide along guides carried by the first sliding member.

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

13. 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 second sliding member carried by the first sliding member, the second sliding member having a row of fiber optic adapters and the second sliding member being configured to slide relative to the first sliding member along a forward-rearward axis;

d) an arm extending forwardly of the fiber optic adapters, the arm defining a handle positioned to assist movement of the row of fiber optic adapters relative to the chassis housing along the forward-rearward axis; and

e) a fiber retaining ring carried by the arm, the ring positioned forward of the fiber optic adapters.

14. The chassis arrangement of claim 13, wherein the fiber optic adapters are disposed in adapter blocks, each adapter block including at least one adapter pair.

15. The chassis arrangement of claim 13, wherein the fiber optic adapters of the second sliding member are stationary relative to each other when carried by the second sliding member.

16. The chassis arrangement of claim 13, further comprising a third sliding member carried by the first sliding member, the third sliding member also having a row of fiber optic adapters and being configured to slide relative to the first sliding member, and wherein the third sliding member slides independent of the second sliding member.

17. The chassis arrangement of claim 16, wherein the fiber optic adapters of the third sliding member are stationary relative to each other when carried by the third sliding member.

18. The chassis arrangement of claim 13, further comprising another row of fiber optic adapters disposed above the row of fiber optic adapters, the another row of fiber optic adapters being independently slidable relative to the row of fiber optic adapters.

19. The chassis arrangement of claim 13, wherein the fiber optic adapters are LC type adapters.

20. The chassis arrangement of claim 13, wherein the first sliding member is a drawer.