Abstract:
A cable slack manager for managing cable slack comprises two or more spaced apart cable management members rotatable between a first stored position and a second deployed position. At least one arm releasably securable to a cable management assembly (e.g., a rack or data cabinet) may carry the two or more spaced apart cable management members, which may exhibit a round or C-shaped configuration. The cable slack manager may optionally comprise a base mountable to the cable management assembly, with the at least arm securable to the base.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a cable slack manager and, more particularly, to a cable slack manager used to manage cable slack in cable management assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typical cable management solutions include various structures for retaining and controlling patch cords. Patch cords are available in various discrete lengths. However, typical installations result in cable slack, which is undesirable. 
     There is a need, therefore, for a cable manager that routes and stores cable slack in an organized way. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved cable slack manager for use with a cable management assembly. The term cable management assembly, as used herein, includes, but is not limited to, racks and data cabinets. Typically, the cable slack manager is dimensioned to occupy no more than one rack mounting unit on the cable management assembly. 
     In one embodiment, the cable slack manager comprises two or more spaced apart cable slack management members and a hinge for rotatably securing the two or more spaced apart cable slack management members to the cable management assembly. The two or more cable slack management members of this embodiment comprise first and second forward facing surfaces spaced apart and connected by a curvilinear surface, with an open space defined between the first and second forward facing surfaces and the curvilinear surface. In addition, the two or more spaced apart cable slack management members are rotatable between a first position and a second position. The first position may be a stored position, with the cable slack management members inaccessible to a user and the second position may be a deployed position, with the cable slack management members accessible to the user. The hinge enables rotation of the two or more spaced apart cable slack management members from the first position to the second position. 
     In another embodiment, the cable slack manager comprises at least one arm carrying two or more spaced apart cable slack management members, a hinge rotatably securing the at least one arm to the cable slack manager and a guide comprising opposing guide members defining an opening therebetween. The two or more spaced apart cable slack management members define openings between adjacent slack management members for receiving cable slack. The hinge comprises an axis of rotation transverse to the at least one arm. Each guide member comprises a first end and a second end, with the axis of rotation extending between the first and second ends. 
     In yet another embodiment, the cable slack manager comprises at least one arm rotatably secured to the cable management assembly, a leading slack management member and two or more successively spaced C-shaped trailing slack management members defining openings between adjacent cable slack management members. The leading slack management member is positioned on the at least one arm and comprises a rounded portion extending circumferentially about 360 degrees. The at least one arm is rotatable between a first position and a second position about an axis of rotation transverse to the at least one arm. The C-shaped trailing slack management members are positioned on the at least one arm in spaced apart relation to the leading slack management member, and the leading slack management member is positioned closer to the hinge than the trailing slack management members. The C-shaped trailing management members may be positioned along a longitudinal axis running the length of the at least one arm. 
     The above-described cable slack managers may incorporate various additional features. Each cable slack management member may, for example, comprise a top surface overhanging the entirety of the curvilinear surface. The at least one arm may comprise opposing arms dimensioned so that each arm can rotate without contacting the other. The opposing arms may be positioned such that each arm rotates in opposite directions, with one arm rotating in a clockwise direction and the other arm rotating in a counterclockwise direction upon rotation into the deployed position. The hinge may take various forms, such as a pin within an aperture. The opposing guide members may comprise curvilinear surfaces for providing bend radius control. Depending on their positioning, the guide members may help to limit translational movement of cable slack to between about 0.05 inches to about 0.5 inches upon rotation of the at least one arm. When the cable slack management assembly comprises a patch panel, the cable slack management members may rotate beyond a front face of the patch panel. The cable slack manager may further comprise a base mountable to the cable management assembly, the base for carrying the at least one arm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It should also be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rotatable arm of the cable slack manager of the present invention: 
         FIG. 2A  is a front perspective view of the cable slack manager of the present invention mounted to a rack; 
         FIG. 2B  is a top plan view of  FIG. 2A , with a portion of the patch panel removed; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front perspective view of  FIG. 2A , with one of the arms of the cable slack manager rotated outwardly from the rack; 
         FIG. 3B  is a top plan view of  FIG. 3A , with the patch panel removed: 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1 , showing rotation of a rotatable arm from a stored to a deployed position: and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the base plate of the cable slack manager of the present invention, with a detail showing the mounting flange. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3B , one embodiment of the cable slack manager  10  of the present invention is shown. Manager  10  may comprise rotatable arm  12  pivotally secured to base plate  13 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , arm  12  comprises slack management assembly  14 . Arm  12  may further comprise cable guide  18  and aperture  20  for receiving a pin to create hinge  15  for facilitating rotation. 
     Arm  12  may be rotatably secured to base plate  13  through hinge  15  and rotatable between a first position and a second position about an axis of rotation A transverse to arm  12 . Base plate  13  comprises a longitudinally extending pin (not shown), which may be positioned within aperture  20  of arm  12  to create hinge  15  about which arm  12  may rotate. Base plate  13  may further comprise opposing mounting flanges  33 , each of which comprises aperture  34  that mates with an aperture positioned within the rail of a cable management assembly, such as a rack or data cabinet. Mounting flanges  33  are best seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown, in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 B,  3 B and  4 , slack management assembly  14  comprises leading slack management member  22  and a plurality of successively spaced apart C-shaped trailing slack management members  24 . Leading slack management member  22  may extend circumferentially about 360 degrees. Trailing slack management members  24 , which may extend circumferentially about 180 degrees, define openings  16  between adjacent cable slack management members, with cable slack extendable through the openings and windable about trailing slack management members  24 . Trailing slack management members  24  may comprise first and second forward facing surfaces  17  and  19  spaced apart and connected by a curvilinear surface  21 , with an open space  23  defined between first and second forward facing surfaces  17  and  19  and curvilinear surface  21 . Both leading slack management member  22  and C-shaped trailing slack management members  24  are positioned on arm  12 , with leading slack management member  22  positioned closer to hinge  15  than trailing slack management members  24 . Trailing slack management members  24  are typically positioned along a longitudinal axis L of arm  12 . 
     Each of leading slack management member  22  and trailing slack managers  24  may comprise rounded portion  25  for winding cable around them and top overhanging portion  26  for retaining cable slack thereon. The use of rounded portion  25  provides bend radius control. Other configurations such as oval may, of course, be employed. 
     The dimensions of slack management assembly  14  may vary. Radius r of slack management assembly  14  may be between about 0.75 inches to about 1.25 inches, with 1.0 inch being typical. The distance between successive slack managers may be between about 0.25 and about 0.50 inches, with about 0.40 being typical. 
     Cable guide  18  may comprise opposing guide members  28  and  30  defining opening  32  therebetween. Cables may enter and exit through opening  32 . Each guide member  28  and  30  comprises first end  29  and second end  31  with curvilinear surface  35  interposed therebetween. Curvilinear surface  35  provides bend radius control. Axis of rotation A is positioned between the first end and second ends. 
     Cable slack manager  10  may be formed as separate pieces and assembled. Arm  12  and base plate  13  may be separately stamped from metal, while slack management members  22  and  24  may be individually molded out of plastic. Slack management members  22  and  24  may be affixed to arm  12  through rivets, adhesive and/or other suitable means known to those skilled in the art. 
       FIGS. 2A-3B  illustrate use of cable manager  10  in rack  36 . Typically, manager  10  comprises opposing arms  12  each of which is rotatably secured to base plate  13  which, in turn, is mounted to rack  36  through mounting flanges  33 . Arms  12  may be dimensioned so that each arm  12  can rotate freely without contacting the other and positioned such that each arm rotates in opposite directions during rotation, with one arm rotating in a clockwise direction and the other arm rotating in a counterclockwise direction upon rotation into the deployed position. Arms  12  are typically between about 7.0 inches and about 11.0 inches in length, with about 10.0 inches being typical. Rack  36  comprises opposing rails  38  and  40 , and patch panel  42  is mounted to rails  38  and  40 . Cable path  44  (see  FIG. 4 ) runs along the sides of slack management assembly  14 , adjacent cable management fingers  46 . 
     Operation is stepwise. Arms  12  begin in a first stored position, seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Each arm  12  may be separately rotated so two or more slack management assemblies  14  are positioned beyond front face  43  of patch panel  42 , thereby placing slack management assemblies  14  in a second deployed condition for use, is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Most often, arms  12  are rotated about 90°. Cable may then be threaded through opening  32  of cable guide  18 , wrapped around one of slack management members  22  or  24  and threaded back through opening  32 . 
     The rotatability of arms  12  provides certain advantages. Because arms  12  may be rotated beyond front face  43  of patch panel  42 , accessability is provided while utilizing minimum space. As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 3A , manager  10  could occupy as little as one rack space. Depending on the number and size of cables to be managed, however, manager  10  may be modified to occupy two or more rack spaces. Additionally, positioning cable guide  18  at or near the axis of rotation of arm  12  substantially prevents translational movement of cable during rotation of arm  12 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , rotation of arm  12  only slightly changes the length l of cable positioned about slack management assembly  14 . This slight translational movement of cable is on the order of between about 0.05 inches to about 0.50 inches and, more specifically, between about 0.10 inches to about 0.29 inches. 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims.