Abstract:
A communications interconnection system includes: a communications rack having a pair of upright members; a patch panel mounted to the upright members, the patch panel having mounting locations for telecommunications connectors; and a cable management system mounted to the rack. The cable management system comprises a cable mounting member having a cable securing portion and a pair of arms attached to the cable securing portion, the arms being substantially parallel to each other and slidably mounted relative to the panel to enable adjustment of the distance between the cable securing portion and the communications rack. This configuration can enable the cable management system to be used with communications racks of different sizes and designs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to telecommunications equipment, and more particularly to cord and cable distribution apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the telecommunications industry, the use of fiber optic cables for carrying transmission signals is rapidly growing. To interconnect fiber optic equipment, fiber distribution frames and racks have been developed. Such frames and racks are typically located in a communications closet, data room, or the like, where technicians can easily connect and reconnect, or “patch,” equipment in an organized and efficient manner. Examples of fiber distribution frames and racks are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,497,444 and 5,758,003, which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0003]    Often racks/frames are populated with panels that provide mounting locations for optical fibers and cables. An exemplary panel is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The panel  20  is mounted to the front flanges  23  of a rack  22  via mounting holes  21  that are preformed in the rack  22 . The illustrated panel  20  includes mounting locations for four modules  24  that receive and interconnect optical cables and fibers. Optical fiber patch cords  26  connect to the front of the modules  24 , and optical fiber cables  28  connect to the rear of the modules  24  via multi-fiber push-on (MPO) connectors  25 . Typically, the panel  20  includes a trough  30  into which the patch cords  26  are routed. 
         [0004]    Racks are customarily manufactured with either a 3 inch or 6 inch depth (wherein the depth is measured between the front flanges  23  and rear flanges  27  of the rack  22 ), or in some cases a rack may have no rear flange at all (often such racks are on the form of a cabinet). Because the panel  20  is mounted to the front flanges  23  of the rack  22 , the placement of the trough  30  for patch cord routing is relatively simple and predictable. However, management of the cables  28  routed from the rear of the modules  24  can be more difficult. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    As a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a communications interconnection system. The system comprises: a communications rack having a pair of upright members; a patch panel mounted to the upright members, the patch panel having mounting locations for telecommunications connectors; and a cable management system mounted to the rack. The cable management system comprises a cable mounting member having a cable securing portion and a pair of arms attached to the cable securing portion, the arms being substantially parallel to each other and slidably mounted relative to the panel to enable adjustment of the distance between the cable securing portion and the communications rack. This configuration can enable the cable management system to be used with communications racks of different sizes and designs. 
         [0006]    As a second aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a clip suitable for securing a telecommunications cable to a mounting structure. The clip comprises: a body with an external surrounding surface; a plurality of cable slots extending radially inwardly from the external surrounding surface, the cable slots being of a first width and configured to receive a communications cord therein; and a mounting slot extending radially inwardly from the external surrounding surface, the mounting slot being of a second width and configured to receive a mounting structure therein. This configuration can facilitate the securing and organization of cables to a mounting structure. 
         [0007]    As a third aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a mounting bracket for a cable organizing system of a telecommunications interconnection system. The mounting bracket comprises: a first leaf panel having a compression panel with a first hole and a tilting panel with a second hole, the compression panel being disposed at an oblique angle to the tilting panel; a merging panel attached to the tilting panel; and a second leaf attached to the merging panel and having a rod receiving panel and a deflecting panel. The rod receiving panel is disposed in generally parallel relationship with the tilting panel, the rod receiving panel being spaced apart from the tilting panel to form a gap of a first width; the rod receiving panel having a third hole that is generally aligned with the second hole of the tilting panel. The deflecting panel is disposed in generally parallel relationship with the compressing panel, the deflecting panel being spaced apart from the compression panel to form a gap of a second width, the deflecting panel having an aperture that is generally aligned with the first hole of the compression panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a prior communications patching system including a patch panel for interconnecting optical fibers and cables mounted to a communications rack. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a communications patching system with a cable management system mounted on a communications racks with 6-inch upright rails according to embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the mounting rod and mounting brackets of the cable management system of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary clip of the cable management system of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the cable management system of  FIG. 3 , with the left mounting bracket in a loosened condition, such that the arm of the mounting rod inserted therein can slide relative to the mounting bracket, and the right mounting bracket in a tightened condition, such that the arm of the mounting bracket inserted therein is fixed and cannot slide relative to the mounting bracket. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged top view of one mounting bracket of the cable management system of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the cable management system of  FIG. 3  with optical fiber cables exiting the communications modules and clipped into an organized arrangement with clips. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7A  is an enlarged rear perspective view of a clip shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the cable management system of  FIG. 3  mounted on a communications rack with 3 inch rails. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the cable management system of  FIG. 3  mounted to a communications cabinet that lacks a rear flange. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of a communications patching system in which multiple clips of  FIG. 5  are used to organize optical fiber cords without a mounting member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The present invention will be described more particularly hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiments; rather, these embodiments are intended to fully and completely disclose the invention to those skilled in this art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some components may be exaggerated for clarity. 
         [0021]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
         [0022]    In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” or “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
         [0023]    Also, as used herein the term “connector” is intended to encompass telecommunications connectors and devices employed to facilitate the interconnection of telecommunications cords and cables for the transmission of signals therebetween. A connector may include a termination device at the end of a cord or cable, an adapter that facilitates the interconnection of two termination devices (as may be employed in the interconnection of fiber optic cords and cables, such as may be found in a connector block), a jack, plug, or the like typically employed with copper cables and cords, or other devices that provide a location for the interconnection of cables and cords. Further, as used herein, the term “patch panel” refers to an interconnect device that includes a plurality of connectors on at least one side thereof, whether the connectors are fiber optic adapters such as MPO adapters, jacks such as, for example, RJ-45 style jacks, or another connector type. 
         [0024]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein the expression “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0025]    Where used, the terms “attached”, “connected”, “interconnected”, “contacting”, “mounted” and the like can mean either direct or indirect attachment or contact between elements, unless stated otherwise. 
         [0026]    Turning now to the drawings, a 6-inch deep communications rack, designated broadly at  100 , is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As used herein, the term “rack” is intended to encompass any rack, frame, cabinet or the like on which telecommunications patching panels are typically mounted. The rack  100  includes a pair of opposed upright rails  102 , each of which has a front flange  104  with mounting holes  105  and a rear flange  106  with mounting holes  107 . In this embodiment, the front and rear flanges  104 ,  106  are separated from each other by a distance of about 6 inches. A communications patch panel  108  is mounted to the front flange  104 , with a trough  110  mounted forwardly of the panel  108 . Communications modules  112  (four are shown herein) are attached to the panel  108  and extend rearwardly therefrom. Each of the modules  112  includes two MPO connectors  114  on its rear edge and connectors (not shown) on its front edge to receive patch cords. 
         [0027]    Referring still to  FIG. 3  and also to  FIG. 4 , a cable management system  120  is mounted to the rear flanges  106  of the upright rails  102 . The cable management system  120  includes a mounting rod  122  that has a straight main segment  124  that extends between two straight arms  126   a ,  126   b . The arms  126   a ,  126   b  are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main segment  124 , thereby forming generally a U-shape. Each of the arms  126   a ,  126   b  has a stop  128  (in the form of a cap nut) mounted to its free end (see  FIGS. 4 and 6 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting rod  122  is a monolithic member, but in other embodiments may be formed of multiple components or pieces. The mounting rod  122  may be formed of any material, such as steel or the like, that is sufficiently strong and rigid to provide support for cables. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  and to  FIG. 5 , the cable management system  120  also includes a plurality of fiber clips  130 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 5 . Each clip  130  comprises a body  132  that has a substantially cylindrical exterior surface. A number of cable slots  134  (in this instance, nine slots) are circumferentially spaced from each other and extend radially inwardly from the outer surface of the body  132 . The bottom of each cable slot  134  includes an enlarged, round recess  136  sized to capture an optical cable (or, in other embodiments, a copper cord or cable). The clip  130  also includes one mounting slot  138  that extends radially inwardly from the outer surface of the body  132 . The mounting slot  138  includes an enlarged round recess  139  located in the approximate geometric center of the body  132  that is sized to capture the main segment  124  of the mounting rod  122 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the clip  130  is formed of a resilient material, such as a polymeric or elastomeric material. An exemplary material is EPDM rubber. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 , two mounting brackets  140  are employed to mount the mounting rod  122  to the rear flanges  106  of the upright rails  102 . Each mounting bracket  140  includes a front leaf  141  having a compression panel  142  with a pair of holes  142   a  and a tilting panel  143  with a pair of holes  143   a , wherein the tilting panel  143  merges with and is disposed at an angle relative to the compression panel  142 . A merging panel  144  is disposed perpendicular to one edge of the tilting panel  143 . A rear leaf  149  includes a rod receiving panel  145  that merges with the merging panel  144  and overlies the tilting panel  143 . The rod receiving panel  145  includes holes  146  that are generally aligned with the holes  143   a . A gap G 1  is formed by the rod receiving panel  145  and the tilting panel  142 . The rear leaf  149  also includes a transition panel  147 , which is attached to the rod receiving panel  145 , and a deflecting panel  148 , which is attached to an edge of the transition panel  147 . The deflecting panel  148  overlies the compression panel  142  and forms a gap G 2  therebetween, the gap G 2  being smaller than the gap G 1 . Open-ended apertures  148   a  in the deflecting panel  148  are generally aligned with the holes  142   a.    
         [0031]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the arms  126   a ,  126   b  of the mounting rod  122  are received in the holes  146  of the rod receiving panel  145  and the holes  143   a  of the tilting panel  143 . The stops  128  are positioned on the ends of the arms  126   a ,  126   b  forwardly of the front leaf  141 . The mounting rod  122  is mounted to the rack  100  by inserting screws  150  through the open-ended apertures  148   a  in the deflecting panel  148 , through the holes  142   a  of the compression panel  142 , and into the holes  107  in the rear flange  106  of the upright  102 . 
         [0032]    As is shown in the left side of  FIG. 6 , when the screws  150  are inserted into the mounting bracket  140 , but are in a loosened condition, the compression panel  142  and deflecting panel  148  are angled relative to the rear flange  106 , and the tilting and rod receiving panels  143 ,  145  are substantially parallel with the rear flange  106  and perpendicular to the arm  126   a . As such, the holes  143   a ,  146  are substantially aligned (i.e., an axis A 1  between the holes  143   a ,  146  is normal to the rear flange  106  and parallel with the arms  126   a ,  126   b ), so the arm  126   a  of the mounting rod  122  is free to slide within the holes  143   a ,  146  relative to the mounting bracket  140  and, in turn, to the panel  108  and the rack  100 . As such, the distance between the main segment  124  and the rear flange  106   b  can be adjusted. For example, and as shown in  FIG. 7 , with a six-inch deep rack  100 , the arms  126   a ,  126   b  may be inserted mostly, if not entirely, into the holes  143   b ,  146 , such that the main segment  124  is a distance D 1  from the rear flanges  106 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , with a three-inch deep rack  100 ′, the arms  126   a ,  126   b  can slide relative to the rack  100  such that the main segment  124  is a greater distance D 2  from the rear flanges  106  but still essentially the same distance from the modules  112 . Finally, as shown in  FIG. 9 , if the rack  100 ″ lacks a rear flange, the mounting brackets  140  can be mounted to the rear surface of the front flanges  104 , and the arms  126   a ,  126   b  can be only slightly inserted into the holes  143   b ,  146  such that the main segment  124  is a distance D 3  from the front flanges  104 . Thus, it can be seen that the cable management assembly  120  can be positioned a suitable distance from the modules  108  with any of these rack configurations. 
         [0033]    As is shown in the right side of  FIG. 6 , when the screws  150  are in a tightened condition, the head of each screw  150  drives the deflecting panel  148  toward the compression panel  142 , thereby reducing (and eventually eliminating) the gap G 2  between the compression panel  142  and the deflecting panel  148  and reducing the gap G 1  between the tilting panel  143  and the rod receiving panel  145 . This action also forces the compression panel  142  into flush contact with the rear flange  106 , which angles the tilting panel  143  and the rod receiving panel  145  relative to the arm  126   b . In this position, the axis A 2  between the holes  143   a ,  146  is not perpendicular to the rear flange  106  and is parallel with the arms  126   a ,  126   b  only when they bend. The tilting action causes the tilting panel  143  and the rod receiving panel  145  to bend and “bite” into the arm  126   b , thereby binding it in position. 
         [0034]    The use of the clips  130  can also be seen in  FIG. 7 . Each clip  130  can be mounted in a desired location on the main segment  124  of the mounting rod  122  by inserting the mouth of the mounting slot  139  onto the main segment  124  and forcing the clip  130  onto the main segment  124 . The main segment  124  “bottoms out” in the recess  139  of the mounting slot  138 . In some embodiments, the clip  130  is configured to slide along the main segment  124  to facilitate positioning thereof. Once the clip  130  is mounted on the main segment  124 , cables  152  can be inserted into available cable slots  134  in the clip  130 , once again with each cable  152  being forced into the mouth of a cable slot  134  until it bottoms out in the recess  136 . By mounting multiple clips  130  on the mounting rod  122 , cables exiting the modules  108  can be maintained in a neat and organized manner. 
         [0035]    Turning now to  FIG. 10 , it can also be seen that the clips  130  can be used without a mounting rod. In  FIG. 10 , the clips  130  are used to “bundle” fibers  252  exiting the modules  212  to improve their organization, but are free-floating rather than being fixed relative to the rack  100 . 
         [0036]    Those skilled in this art will appreciate that the components discussed above may take other configurations. With respect to the mounting rod  122  or other cable mounting member, for example, the main segment  124  of the mounting rod  122  may be an arcuate, wavy, or otherwise non-straight member to which cables may be mounted. The cap nuts  128  may be replaced with another variety of stop; for example, the ends of the arms  126   a ,  126   b  may simply be bent or deformed to form a stop. Also, the mounting rod  122  may create a sliding relationship with the rack  100  and panel  108  in another way; for example, the arms  126   a ,  126   b  of the mounting rod  122  may have a telescoping design to enable the main segment  124  to vary in distance from the panel  108 . Further, in some embodiments, the mounting rod  122  may not slide relative to the panel  108 . 
         [0037]    The clip  130  may also take different configurations. As an example, if the clip  130  is to be used in a free-floating manner as shown in  FIG. 10 , it may lack a mounting slot  138 . The exterior surface of the body  132  may also take a different shape: it may be ovoid or another round shape, or may be square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. In some embodiments, the mounting slot  138  and/or the cable slots  134  may lack a recess  139 ,  136  at their bottom ends, and/or the slots  138 ,  134  and recesses  139 ,  136  may be sized differently *for example, to receive a copper cable or cord). Moreover, in some embodiments the mounting rod  122  and/or the mounting clips  140  may utilize a different style of clip or binding device to capture cable on the main segment  124 . 
         [0038]    The mounting bracket  140  may also take a different configuration. For example, sliding of the mounting rod  122  relative to the mounting bracket  140  may be permitted/prevented with a set screw or the like, or even with a slip-resistant material, such as rubber, lining the holes in which the mounting rod  122  is received. 
         [0039]    The foregoing embodiments are illustrative of the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.