Abstract:
A device, method and system for supporting and managing cables are disclosed herein. The exemplary device may have two or more vertical support posts. The two or more support posts may support one or more equipment shelves. The two or more support posts may support one or more cable supports for supporting cables. The two or more support posts may be partially or completely enclosed. The enclosures may be solid, slotted or perforated on one or more sides including the top as in a cabinet enclosure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/866,307 filed on Nov. 17, 2006 entitled Cable Management Bracket, which is incorporated fully herein by reference 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to cable management and more particularly, relates to managing cables routed above a rack. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0003]    In many industries such as banking, telecommunications, and Internet-based business there exists a need for high-speed communications services. It is now common for companies to have multiple racks  1 ,  FIG. 1 , arranged in rows containing dozens of servers, switches, and other communication and computer equipment within a single room. The communication and computer systems typically involve hundreds to thousands of cables/wires providing input and output for the various resources. 
         [0004]    Traditionally, these cables have been routed using cable ladders  2 ,  FIG. 2 . These cable ladders are typically supported by rods  3  hung from the ceiling or are secured to independent, stand-alone floor supports. While generally effective, the known designs suffer from several limitation or disadvantages. 
         [0005]    One such disadvantage of the known designs is that they are often difficult to install, particularly in a retrofit situations. In many applications, a drop ceiling is used in the room. However, most drop ceilings cannot support the weight of a loaded cable ladder  2 . As a result, the rods  3  of the cable ladder  2  must be secured directly to the structural ceiling rather than the drop ceiling and require the drop ceiling to be removed. Unfortunately, removing a drop ceiling can introduce a significant amount of dust/debris into the air which can damage the communication and computer equipment in the room. 
         [0006]    Yet another disadvantage of the known designs is that they take up a lot of valuable space. Because of the difficulty in installing ceiling-hung cable ladders  2 , independent, standalone floor supports are used. However, the floor supports take up space that could otherwise be used more productively. Additionally, floor support cable ladder systems are expensive due to the amount of material needed. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, what is need is an improved cable management system. The improved cable management system should preferably be easily retrofitted to an existing facility. The improved cable management system should preferably not require removal of a drop ceiling and should preferably utilize wasted space in the facility. Moreover, the improved cable management system should be a cost effective solution for cable routing that can be easily installed. 
         [0008]    It is important to note that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a prior art rack; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a prior art cable ladder system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is top perspective view of one embodiment of the bracket according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the bracket according to the present invention shown in  FIG. 3  secured to a prior art rack; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is top perspective view of another embodiment of the bracket according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    According to one embodiment, the present invention features a bracket  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , that is secured to the top  7 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , of a rack  1  for managing and routing cables, wires, or the like. A typical rack  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , includes a base  2 , two vertical side posts  3 ,  4  a spaced distance W apart from each other and extending generally upwards from the base  2  (typically 19 or 23 inches apart from each other and 7 feet tall) to which communication and computer equipment  9  is secured and supported, and a top angle bar  5  secured to the top  7  of the side posts  3 ,  4  with one or more bolts  6 . The side posts  3 ,  4  may be panels or other components used to support computer equipment. The computer equipment  9  may be secured to the vertical side posts  3 ,  4  or may be positioned on shelves extending from the side posts  3 ,  4 . The rack  1  may have one or more equipment components. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various other embodiments and designs of racks  1  exist and the present invention is not limited to any specific rack design unless specifically claimed as such. The side posts  3 ,  4  may include sides for partially enclosing one or more sides by solid, slotted or perforated panels. 
         [0016]    The bracket  10 ,  FIG. 3 , according to the present invention is secured to a rack  1  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The bracket  10  features a base cable support  12  having a longitudinal length L that is substantially the same as the width W ( FIG. 1 ) of the rack  1  (for example, preferably approximately 20 inches when used with a rack  1  having a width W of 23 inches) and a height H of approximately 1.5-2.0 inches. The base  12  features one or more apertures, slots, or opening  18  (preferably two apertures  18  at opposite ends  15 ,  16  of the base  12 ), for securing the bracket  10  to the top  7  of the rack  1 . In practice, the user simply removes or loosens the bolts  6  that secure the top angle bar  5  to the side posts  3 ,  4  of the rack  1  (preferably just the top bolt  6 ′), places the bracket  10  between the top angle bar  5  and the side posts  3 ,  4 , and retightens the bolts  6 . 
         [0017]    The bracket  10  also features a plurality of channel members  14 ,  16  disposed along the longitudinal length L of the base  12  a spaced distance apart from each other. The channel members  14 ,  16  extend generally outwardly and upwardly from the base  12  to form a channel or passageway for supporting the cables above the rack  1 . While the channel members  14 ,  16  may feature any shape that forms a passageway for retaining the cables, the channel members  14 ,  16  preferably have a generally “L” shape and include substantially horizontal sections  20 ,  21  and substantially vertical sections  22 ,  23 . 
         [0018]    The base cable support  12  and plurality of channel members  14 ,  16  may be constructed from a single sheet of material as shown in  FIG. 3 , according to one exemplary embodiment. By staggering the channel members  14 ,  16 , the channel members  14 ,  16  may be constructed by bending the channel members  14 ,  16  at angles from the base cable support  12 . The base cable support  12  and plurality of channel members  14 ,  16  are not limited to the above described method of construction and may use other methods for example molded material or a combination of methods and parts. 
         [0019]    In the exemplary embodiment, the channel members  14 ,  16  feature long and short horizontal sections  20 ,  21  that extend generally perpendicularly horizontally from the base  12  on opposite sides of the base  12  and vertical sections  22 ,  23  that preferably extend generally perpendicularly upwardly from the long and short horizontal sections  20 ,  21 . For illustrative purposes only, the long and short horizontal sections  20 ,  21  preferably have a length of approximately 4.5 and approximately 1.5 inches, respectively, and vertical sections  22 ,  23  preferably have a length of approximately 2.5 inches. 
         [0020]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 4 , the bracket  10  is preferably secured to the rack  1  such that the long channel members extend toward the back  11  of the rack  1  while the short channel members  16  extend towards the front  13  of the rack  1 . This arrangement is desirable because the front of the equipment  9  is generally secured to the rack  1  such that the equipment  9  extends generally towards the rear  11  of the rack. As a result, the bracket  10  according to the present invention utilizes space above the rack  1  which is otherwise wasted. Additionally, the bracket  10  according to the present invention can be easily secured to an existing rack  1  since installing the bracket  10  only requires loosening the bolt  6  of the rack, placing the bracket  10  in position, and retightening the bolts  6 . 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment, the bracket  10 ,  FIG. 5 , may feature channel members  14 ,  16  that are adjustable in length and height. For example, the channel members  14 ,  16  may feature horizontal  20 ,  21  and/or vertical sections  22 ,  23  that are telescopic. According to this embodiment, the horizontal  20 ,  21  and vertical sections  22 ,  23  feature a first and at least a second sections that move relative to each such that the user can adjust the lengths and height of the channel members  14 ,  16 . A locking device such as a setscrew or the like is preferably provided to lock the channel members  14 ,  16  in the desired positions. 
         [0022]    In an alternative embodiment, the bracket  10  may be used to couple the rack  1  to other racks  1  to provide a cable runway between racks  1 . The brackets may be the same size or larger to allow for passage of individuals between coupled racks  1 . The brackets may also be of different shapes, for example, the bracket may be curved and connect racks at ninety degree angles from another. In another example, the bracket may be “T” shaped and provide a multiple path runway between separate rows of racks that are perpendicular to each other. 
         [0023]    While the channel members  14 ,  16  of the present invention have been shown having a generally “L” shape, this is not a limitation of the present invention. The channel members  14 ,  16  may also have a curved or “V” shape. Additionally, the present invention may also feature channel members  14 ,  16  that extend outwardly from the base  12  substantially along the entire longitudinal length L of the base  12 . 
         [0024]    As mentioned above, the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated or implied object or feature of the invention and should not be limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as is suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention. 
         [0025]    The invention claimed is: