Abstract:
A telecommunications patching system is provided having a panel and at least one cassette movably received in the panel. The cassette receives a plurality of telecommunication jacks. The panel and cassettes are oriented horizontally. Each jack includes a front cavity adapted to receive a patch cord plug having a patch cord cable extending therefrom. The cassette has first and second ends. A cable management tab extends from the first end of the cassette so that the cassette may be readily moved to different positions in the panel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a U.S. non-provisional application relating to and claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/556,857 filed Nov. 8, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates to optical fiber telecommunications interconnection systems. As used herein, the term “telecommunications” includes voice, data, audio and video communications. The telecommunications industry has begun employing optical fibers as a means for signal transmissions, including voice, video and data. The primary advantage of optical fibers over copper wire is substantially increased broadband However, like copper wire systems, optical fiber systems require patching or interconnection between incoming land line optical cables and distribution cables which connect to various devices in a building. Typical optical fiber patching systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,672,561 and 6,363,198. These patching systems are usually housed in a panel which is mounted on frames and racks which, in turn, are typically located in a communications closet or a data room. Examples of optical fiber distribution frames and racks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,497,444 and 5,758,003. 
         [0003]    It is important that these panels are readily accessible by a technician and in addition, it is important that the interconnections are easy to make. Also, because of the large number of cables which are being interconnected within a panel, it is important that the cables be managed in such a way that when the technician handles the cables, excess bending of the cables does not occur and the cable remains organized. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with one form of this invention, there is provided a telecommunications patching system, including a panel. At least one cassette is provided and is adapted to be movably received in the panel. The cassette receives a plurality of telecommunication connector jacks. Each jack has a front cavity adapted to receive a patch cord plug having a patch cord cable extending therefrom. The cassette has first and second ends. A tab extends from the first end of the cassette so that the cassette may readily be moved to different positions in the panel. Preferably, the tab includes cable management channels. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another form of this invention, there is provided a telecommunications patching system, including a panel oriented horizontally. The panel includes a front end, a rear end, and first and second sides. A plurality of cassettes are received in the panel. The cassettes are also oriented horizontally. Each cassette receives a plurality of telecommunication connector jacks, Each jack has a front cavity adapted to receive a patch cord plug having a patch cord cable extending therefrom wherein a plurality of patch cord cables extend from the cassette. A cable management device is attached to the panel near the intersection of the front end and first side of the panel for receiving at least some of the patch cord cables. Preferably, the cable management device is a multi-channel clip with patch cord cables received in each channel. It is also preferred that a second identical cable management device be attached to the panel near the intersection of the front end and second side of the panel. 
         [0006]    In accordance with yet another form of this invention, there is provided a telecommunication patching system, including a panel having at least one rail. At least one cassette is provided and is adapted to be movably received in the panel. The cassette receives a plurality of telecommunication connector jacks. The cassette has a first and second side. The first side of the cassette engages the rail. A spring member is attached to the first side of the cassette or to the rail. The rail or the first side of the cassette includes at least one pocket for engaging the spring member so that the cassette may be secured at a first position within the panel. Preferably, the spring member is attached to the first side of the cassette and the pocket is on the rail. Also preferably, the rail has at least two pockets so that the cassette may be secured at multiple positions in the panel. Also preferably, there is an additional spring member on the second side of the cassette which engages multiple pockets on another rail. 
         [0007]    In accordance with still another form of this invention, there is provided a telecommunication patching system, including a panel having a front portion and a rear portion. At least one cassette having a front end and a rear end is received in the panel. The front end of the cassette receives a plurality of telecommunication connector jacks. A plurality of trunk cables is received at the rear portion of the panel and extend to the rear end of the cassette for interconnection with the jacks. A trunk cable capture mechanism is attached to the rear portion of the panel for securing the trunk cable in place. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a panel in accordance with the teachings of this invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of three of the panels shown in  FIG. 1  stacked and mounted on rack uprights. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view showing the bracket shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of the bracket of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rack of  FIG. 1  with top covers removed illustrating the cassettes. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a cassette of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cassette of  FIG. 3  showing patch cord cables extending from the cassette. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a more detailed view of a portion of  FIG. 3  but at a different angle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a cable management clip shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the clip of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the panel of  FIG. 1  with the rear cover removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a more de led perspective view of the trunk cable capture mechanism shown in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the top portion of the trunk cable capture mechanism of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view showing the bottom and top portion of the trunk cable capture mechanism of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a detailed view showing a portion of the bottom of the trunk cable capture mechanism of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    There is provided an improved high density telecommunications patching system including an improved panel and an improved cassette which is received within the panel which contains telecommunication connector jacks, preferably fiber optic jacks. As used herein, the term “jack(s)” includes any female connector(s) such as optical couplers and electrical jacks and the term “panel” includes enclosures and their panels which house cassettes. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows patching system  10  including panel  12  having top portions  14  and  16  which are readily removable for easy access by a technician and top portion  18  which is less readily removable. Panel  12  also includes front cover  20  mounted to hinges  22  and  24 . Brackets  26  and  28  are respectively connected to rack uprights  34  and  36 , shown in  FIG. 2 , which engage with the sides  30  and  32  of panel  12 , Brackets  26  and  28  enable panel  12  to be slidably mounted to the rack, As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of panels, such as panels  12  and  12 A, are adapted to be mounted on uprights  34  and  36 . Again, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , panels  12  and  12 A are mounted horizontally and may be offset from one another since the panels may be slid on brackets  26  and  26 . Since brackets  26  and  28  are identical, only bracket  26  will be described below. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2A  shows “L” shaped bracket  26  having holes  27  and  29  which align with the holes  31  on upright  34  for adjusting the vertical position of panel  12 . Screws are received in holes  27 ,  29  and  31  and are secured by bolts (not shown). Bracket  26  includes elongated rail  33  which interfaces with channel  35  on side  30  of panel  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , enabling the panel  12  to be slid to various positions. Channel  35  includes aperture  35 A receiving spring clip  37 . Spring clip  37  is attached to L-shaped support  39 . Spring clip  37  is bowed outwardly. Channel  35  on side  30  of panel  12  includes pocket  41  which captures bowed out portion of spring clip  37  to hold the panel in a predetermined but movable position. Thus, panels  12  and  12 A may be offset from one another within the rack to enable a technician to more easily access the panels. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows panel  12  with top portions  14  and  16  removed and with the front  20  in its open position, allowing access to the interior of panel  12  by a technician. Panel  12  receives four rows  38  of cassettes  40  which are better illustrated in reference to  FIG. 4 . Each row  38  includes three, preferably identical, cassettes  40  which are stacked adjacent to one another. The cassettes  40  are slidably received within panel  12 . With tops  14  and  16  removable, a technician can easily access the cassettes by sliding them forward or backward from their normal positions under top  18 . 
         [0027]    Referring now more particularly to  FIG. 4 , cassette  40  includes top  41 , sides  44  and  46 , front  48  and rear  50 . Front  48  preferably receives up to six telecommunication connector jacks  52  which may be electrical but are preferably optical. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each jack  52  includes two cavities for receiving two plugs  65 . Rear  50  preferably includes three optical fiber jacks  54 . Alternatively, jacks  54  may be omitted and cable connections may be made directly to jacks  52 . The optical fiber jacks  52  on the front  48  of the cassette  40  are adapted to be connected to optical fiber cable which is to be distributed to various devices and outlets in a building. Optical fiber jacks  54  on the rear  50  of cassette  40  are adapted to be connected to optical fiber trunk cable coming from outside of the building, such as from a telephone company central office or data center. Jacks  52  and  54  are connected together within cassette  40  by known optical fiber interconnection techniques. Elongated tab  56  is attached to and preferably made integral with the front  48  of cassette  40 . Tab  56  includes cable guides in the form of channels  58  and  60 . Cassettes  40  may also be reversed from the direction shown in  FIG. 3 , That is, front  48  of cassette  40  could face the rear of panel  12 . 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , cable guide  58  receives, holds, guides and organizes patch cord cables  62  attached to the right six plugs  63  which are adapted to be connected to the right three jacks of cassette  40  and cable guide  60  receives, holds, guides and organizes patch cord cables  64  attached to the left six plugs  65  which are adapted to be connected to the left three of the jacks  52 . Tab  56  riot only guides and organizes cables  62  and  64 , but also serves as a handle so that cassette  40  can be easily pulled out of and pushed back into position in panel. Tab  56 , which includes gripping region  67 , therefore enables the technician to easily move the cassette  40  within panel  12  without touching the cables. Thus, tab  56  performs a dual function. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , cassette  40  includes two bow clips  66  connected to sides  44  and  46 . Bow clips  66  function as springs. Cassette  40  includes rails  68  projecting from sides  44  and  46 . Rails  68  are received in grooves  70  in plate  72 , situated between top  18  and bottom  42  of panel  12  as shown in  FIG. 6  and between both sides of cassette  40 . The grooves  70  include pockets  74  which are adapted to receive bow clip  66  to help hold the cassette in place. It should be noted, however, that these cassettes  40  are not locked in place by the bow clips  66  and the pockets  74 . The bow clip  66  provides a resistance to movement. However, a technician may readily move the cassette using tab  56  with minimal effort. The positioning of the bow clips and pockets may be reversed, i.e. the bow clips may be attached within the panel and the pockets may be formed on the sides of the cassettes. 
         [0030]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , panel  12  includes forward side exit cable management devices in the form of multi-channel clips  76  and  78  located on opposing sides at the intersection of the front and sides of panel  12 . Multi-channel clips  76  and  78  are identical and, thus, only multi-channel clip  76  will be further described herein. The channels on clip  76  provide management to the stack of three cassettes on the left side of the panel. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of multi-channel clip  76 .  FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of multi-channel clip  76 . Multi-channel clip  76  includes top channel  80  preferably for receiving cables connected to each of the four top cassettes  40  in the four rows  38 . Middle channel  82  preferably receives cables from the four middle cassettes  40  located in the four rows  38 . Lower channel  84  preferably receives cables from the four lower cassettes  40  in the four rows  38 . By using the three channels  80 ,  82  and  84 , cables from the cassettes are appropriately segregated and managed. Multiple channel clip  76  receives cable from the left two rows of cassettes and clip  78  receives cable from the right two rows of cassettes. Multi-channel clip M further includes curved guides  86  and  88  which ease cable strain around the perimeter of the side exit. Guide  86  is provided for cable traveling upwardly and guide  88  is provided for cable traveling downwardly and guides the cable in those directions. The multi-channel clips  76  and  78  are held in place at the front side exit of the panel by means of affixing, such as screwing, the multi-channel clips to ears which protrude outwardly from the sides of panel  12 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the multi-channel clip  76  includes slots  90  arid  92  which receive a strap (not shown), such as a cable tie or a strap, to secure the cable when the installation is completed. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  shows panel  12  with readily removable top  14  having been removed. Cable capture mechanisms  94  and  96  are provided adjacent to cable exit openings  98  and  100  on the rear portion of the panel  12 . Since both cable capture mechanisms  94  and  96  are identical, only cable capture mechanism  94  will be described in detail herein. 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  shows a fully assembled cable capture mechanism  94 . Cable capture mechanism  94  includes a ribbed pad  102 , preferably made of a soft but resilient material such as rubber. Cable capture mechanism  94  also includes removable top plate  104  and ribbed pad mounting plate  106 . Cable capture mechanism  94  is held in place adjacent to opening  98  by bolts  108  and  110 . 
         [0035]    As can be seen from  FIG. 11 , a second pad  112  is attached to the bottom of removable top plate  104 . Pad  112  includes a plurality of lands  114 . The bottom/top combination of pad  102  and pad  112  captures cable  120  firmly but does not apply excessive force to the fiber in the cable. 
         [0036]    As can be seen from  FIG. 12 , pad  102  is mounted on plate  106 . Two rows of ribs  116  project upwardly along the edges of pad  102 . Adjacent ribs  116  form grooves  118  for receiving cable  120 , Pad  112  is received between the two rows of ribs  116  when the cable capture mechanism is fully assembled and lands  114  are in register with grooves  118 . 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , each rib  116  includes projection  122  on either side, Projection  122  helps hold the cable  120  in place within the groove  118  and enables the panel  12  to be used with various diameter cables. Cable capture mechanism  94  provides strain relief for the cables which are received at the rear side of cassette  40  after installation. It also provides for additional cable management. In addition, during cable installation, the individual cables are held in place in grooves  118  so that there is little strain or excess force exerted on the cable during installation and/or service. Also, since the cassettes are slidable within the panel, the installer will leave excess cable between the cable capture mechanism  94  and the cassettes  40 . Since the cable capture mechanism  94  holds the cable in place, strain on the connections of the cable at or in cassette  40  is reduced. 
         [0038]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in reference to optical fiber cables and connectors, it is also applicable to electrical cables and connectors. 
         [0039]    From the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein. It will be understood that these embodiments of the invention are exemplifications of the invention only and that the invention is not limited thereto.