Abstract:
A cable management system includes a panel with a plurality of openings, each opening defining a similar configuration, each opening defining a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension being longer than the second dimension. A cable management structure is removably coupled to the panel, the cable management structure including a plurality of latching elements, each latching element defining a retaining portion received through each opening of the panel, each retaining portion having a first dimension that is smaller than or equal to the second dimension of the opening and a second dimension that is greater than the second dimension of the opening, wherein the cable management structure is coupled to the panel by inserting the retaining portion of each latching element through each opening and rotating the cable management structure in a first direction with respect to the panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/225,808, filed Jul. 15, 2009, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
     The present disclosure relates generally to devices for use in the telecommunications industry, and various methods associated with such devices. More particularly, this disclosure relates to devices used in the management of cables, and various methods associated with cable management. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Telecommunication systems utilize fiber optic cables and/or copper cables to interconnect pieces of telecommunications equipment. The pieces of equipment are often mounted to telecommunication racks, cabinets, or other framework structures. Because of the large number of cables associated with such systems, effective cable management is crucial. Ease of cable organization and cable management adaptation are factors related to effective cable management. When routing optical fibers and other cables such as copper wires, it is desirable that a routing system will be readily modifiable and adaptable to changes in equipment needs. 
     Certain types of cable management systems may be located between adjacent first and second telecommunications racks, wherein the telecommunications racks are configured to receive a variety of telecommunications components. Examples of such telecommunications racks to which cable management systems can be mounted are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,051; U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0050084; 2006/0228087; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/212,920, entitled CABLE MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT WITH FINGER SETS, filed Apr. 16, 2009, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Other cable management/routing systems may include components, such as trough members and couplers, for defining the cable routing paths. Such trough members may be joined together by couplings. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,067,678; 5,316,243; 5,752,781; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0032280; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/170,857, entitled OFFSET SLOTTING FOR CABLE TROUGH MEMBER, filed Apr. 20, 2009 (now U.S. application Ser. No. 12/763,262, filed Apr. 20, 2010), describe cable routing systems that include a plurality of trough members and couplers, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     In general, conventional arrangements for managing cables can be improved. 
     SUMMARY 
     On aspect of the present disclosure relates to a cable management system comprising a panel including a plurality of openings, each opening defining a similar configuration, each opening defining a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension being longer than the second dimension. A cable management structure is configured to be removably coupled to the panel, the cable management structure including a plurality of latching elements, each latching element defining a retaining portion configured to be received through each opening of the panel, each retaining portion having a first dimension that is smaller than or equal to the second dimension of the opening and a second dimension that is greater than the second dimension of the opening. The cable management structure is coupled to the panel by inserting the retaining portion of each latching element through each opening and rotating the cable management structure in a first direction with respect to the panel. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a cable management system comprising a cable trough member defining length with a first end and a second end, the cable trough including a base portion, first and second sidewalls extending from the base portion to form a U-shaped trough having an open end and a closed end. The cable trough includes a plurality of slots formed along each of the first and second sidewalls, the slots formed by leg portions of the first and second sidewalls, the base portion including at least one opening. A cable management structure is configured to be removable coupled to the base portion of the cable trough member, the cable management structure including a base wall, a first cable management finger extending from the base wall toward the open end of the cable through and a second cable management finger extending from the base wall toward the open end of the cable trough, wherein the first cable management finger is offset with respect to the second cable management finger in a direction along the length of the trough member. The cable management structure includes a latching element extending from the base wall toward the closed end of the trough, the latching element configured to be received through the opening, whereby the cable management structure is coupled to the panel by inserting the latching element through the opening and rotating the cable management structure in a first direction with respect to the panel. 
     A variety of examples of desirable product features or methods are set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing various aspects of the disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure may relate to individual features as well as combinations of features, including combinations of features disclosed in separate embodiments. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the claimed invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is top front perspective view of a telecommunications cable management system including a trough member and at least one cable management finger structure shown in an exploded configuration, the telecommunications cable management system having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is another top front perspective view of the cable management system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top front perspective view of the cable management system of  FIG. 1  with a first cable management finger structure fully coupled to the trough and a second cable management finger structure partially inserted to openings at the rear wall of the trough; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the cable management system of  FIG. 3  from a bottom front perspective view; 
         FIG. 5  is a top front perspective view of one of the cable management finger structures shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom front perspective view of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom rear perspective view of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top rear perspective view of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a left side view of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a right side view of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 11  front elevational view of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 12A  is a close-up view of the latching portions of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the cable management finger structure of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a telecommunications system  10  including a cable management system  20  in accordance with the principles disclosed. The cable management system  20  shown includes a cable trough member  22  and at least one cable management finger structure  24  mounted to the cable trough member  22 . 
     Generally, trough members such as the one shown in  FIGS. 1-4  include a plurality of slots  26  formed in the sidewalls  28 ,  30  of the trough members. These slots  26  extend along the sidewalls  28 ,  30  from a first end  32  to a second open end  34 . 
     As used herein, the phrase “trough member” is used to refer to any trough, fitting, railway, raceway, or similarly configured component including any number of ends. In example embodiments, the trough members  22  can be positioned to extend vertically or horizontally. 
     The example trough member  22  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  includes first and second sidewalls  28 ,  30  coupled to a third wall  36  (i.e., base portion) generally forming a U-shaped trough with an interior space  38  through which cables such as fiber optic cables can be run. 
     The trough member  22  may extend lengthwise in a vertical or horizontal direction when in use. The trough member  22  extends from a first end  40  to a second end  42 . The trough member  22  can be of varying lengths and widths, and can be coupled to other trough members or similar structures to form a cable routing system. Although in  FIGS. 1-4 , a 2″×2″ (H×W) trough member is illustrated, in other embodiments, the trough members may be 2″×4″, 4″×4″, 4″×2″, or of other dimensions. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , adjacent the free ends  34  of each of the sidewalls  28 ,  30  are hinge portions  44 . In example embodiments, the hinge portions  44  are used to allow a cover to be coupled to the trough member  22 . In one example, the cover can be coupled to the hinge portions  44  and can be moved between closed and open positions. Additional details regarding one example cover that can be used with the trough member  22  is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0032280, the entirety of which has been incorporated herein by reference. In other configurations, the hinge portions  44  and related cover are optional and need not be provided on the trough member  22 . 
     In the example shown, the trough member  22  includes a plurality of slots  26  formed in the sidewalls  28 ,  30 . The slots  26  are defined by leg portions  48  of the sidewalls  28 ,  30 . The legs  48  define the hinge portions  44  discussed above. The slots  26  are sized to allow cables to enter or exit the interior space  38  of the trough member  22  through the slots  26 . In the examples shown, the slots  26  are formed at periodic intervals along the sidewalls  28 ,  30 . Other configurations are possible. 
     The third wall  36  of the trough member  22  that cooperates with the first and second sidewalls  28 ,  30  to form the U-shape of the trough includes a plurality of openings  50 . According to one embodiment, the openings  50  may be used as fastener openings for receiving fasteners for mounting various types of structures such as brackets to the trough member  22 . In the embodiment of the cable management system  20  shown, the openings  50  of the trough  22  are used for coupling cable management finger structures  24  to the trough member  22  as will be explained in further detail below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , in the embodiment shown, the openings  50  are provided in sets of three. The sets are provided at periodic intervals along the third sidewall  36 . Other number of openings or other arrangements are possible. In the embodiment shown, the openings  50  are generally elongate, having a first dimension D 1  that is longer than a second dimension D 2 . In the illustrated embodiment, all of the openings  50  are of a similar shape. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the cable management system  20  includes at least one cable management finger structure  24  coupled to the openings  50  on the third sidewall  36 . 
     It should be noted that the cable management system  20  including the trough member  22  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  is simply one example system on which the principles of the present disclosure may be utilized. The coupling arrangement between the trough member  22  and the cable management finger structure  24  may be utilized on other cable management/routing systems having structures such as mounting plates (e.g., back planes or panels) that are mounted along a side of a telecommunications frame or between adjacent first and second telecommunications frames. In alternative embodiments, the coupling arrangement may be used with other cable management systems, such as those in a cabinet or a rack, to manage and organize cables. 
     The shown trough  22  and cable management finger structure  24  are example embodiments used to describe and illustrate the inventive aspects of the coupling arrangement for the cable management system  20  and should not be used to limit the inventive aspects. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 5-13 , one of the cable management finger structures  24  is shown in isolation. In the embodiment shown, the cable management finger structure  24  includes a base wall  52  extending from a first end  54  to a second end  56 . The base wall  52  defines a front side  58  and a rear side  60 . A first finger  62  extends from the front side  58 , adjacent the first end  54  of the base wall  52 . A second finger  64  extends from the front side  58 , adjacent the second end  56  of the base wall  52 . The first finger  62  includes a first connection portion  66  that connects a first retention portion  68  to the base wall  52 . The second finger  64  includes a second connection portion  70  that connects a second retention portion  72  to the base wall  52 . The first and second retention portions  68 ,  72  of the fingers  62 ,  64  are disposed parallel to the base wall  52  while the first and second connection portions  66 ,  70  define planes P disposed perpendicular to the base wall  52 . 
     As shown, the first retention portion  68  of the first finger  62  and the second retention portion  72  of the second finger  64  provide a vertical gap G therebetween for inserting and removing cables. Also, the second connection portion  70  includes an S-shaped configuration to provide a horizontal offset to the second finger  64  with respect to the first finger  62 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , once the cable management finger structure  24  is coupled to the trough member  22 , the provided off-set positions the first retention portion  68  of the first finger  62  on one of the legs  48  of the first sidewall  28  and the second retention portion  72  of the second finger  64  on a horizontally offset leg  48  on the opposing second sidewall  30  of the trough. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , when the cable management finger structure  24  is coupled to the trough  22 , the first connection portion  66  aligns the first retention portion  68  of the first finger  62  with a leg  48  on the first sidewall  28 . The second connection portion  70  is S-shaped so as to align the second retention portion  72  of the second finger  64  with a horizontally offset leg  48  on the second sidewall  30 . The S-shaped structure of the second connection portion  70  is designed to avoid the slots  26  between the legs  48 . In this manner, the first and second fingers  62 ,  64  do not interfere with the slots  26  defined at the first and second sidewalls  28 ,  30  and cables can freely enter and exit the slots  26  without interference from the fingers  62 ,  64 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 5-13 , the cable management finger structure  24  include a plurality of latching elements or portions  80  extending from the rear side  60  of the base wall  52 . In the embodiment shown, three latching portions  80  are shown. Each latching portion  80  includes a head portion  82  (i.e., retaining portion) and a neck portion  84 . The head portion  82  is generally of a larger dimension that the neck portion  84 . Further, the head portions  82  are generally shaped to match the configuration of the openings  50  provided on the third wall  36  of the trough  22  such that the head portions  82  also include a first dimension H 1  that is longer than a second dimension H 2 . In the illustrated embodiment, all of the head portions  82  are similar in shape. 
     In the illustrated example, the head portions  82  are provided at an acute angle θ to the planes P formed by the first and second connection portions  66 ,  70 . The three head portions  82  are all provided at the same angle θ and are parallel to each other. In one example embodiment, the angle θ formed by the head portions are about 35 degrees with respect to the planes P formed by the first and second connection portions  66 ,  70  of the fingers  62 ,  64 . As will be described in further detail below, this angle θ can be varied between 0 and 90 degrees depending upon the configuration of the cable management finger structure  24  and the shape of the trough member  22 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 5-13 , the head portions  82  define planes PH that are parallel to the base wall  52 . The head portions  82  are arranged such that when the cable management finger structure  24  is tilted clockwise  35  degrees with respect to the first and second sidewalls  28 ,  30  of the trough member  22 , the head portions  82  align with the openings  50  provided on the third wall  36  of the trough member  22 . Once the head portions  82  are aligned with the openings  50 , the head portions  82  are inserted through the openings  50  on the third wall  36 . Once inserted, the cable management finger structure  24  can be twisted in a counter-clockwise direction to capture the head portions  82  behind the third wall  36  in coupling the cable management finger structure  24  to the trough member  22 . 
     The neck portions  84  are sized small enough to allow twisting or rotation of the latching portions  80  of the cable management finger structures  24  once the head portions  82  have been inserted through the openings  50 . As discussed above, since each head portion  82  is designed to match the shape of the opening  50 , each head portion  82  defines a first dimension H 1  that is longer than a second dimension H 2 . Once the head portions  82  are aligned with and inserted through the openings  50 , by rotating or twisting the cable management finger structure  24 , the longer dimension H 1  of the head portion  82  gets positioned behind the third wall  36  and extends further than the shorter dimension D 2  of the opening  50  to capture the latching portion  80  with respect to the opening  50 . In this manner, the cable management finger structure  24  is coupled to the trough member  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12A , the head portions  82  define a front face  90  directed toward the base wall  52  and a rear face  92  opposite the front face  90 . In certain embodiments, the front face  90  of the head portion  82  may define a raised surface  94  formed by two ramped portions  96  that come together. The raised surface  94  is configured to provide a frictional fit with the rear side of the third wall  36  of the trough member  22  once the cable management finger structure  24  is rotated/twisted during coupling. It should be noted that the front face  90  of the head portion  82  may include other raised surface structures or textures to provide a frictional fit with the rear side of the third wall  36  once the head portion  82  has been inserted through the openings  50  and the cable management finger structure  24  is twisted into a latched orientation. In certain embodiments, the raised surface  94  may be provided adjacent an edge of the head portion  82  that is away from the twisting direction so that the cable management finger structure  24  gets tightened to the trough  22  as it is twisted. In other embodiments, the surface of the front face  90  of the head portion  82  may ramp up toward the edge of the head portion  82  that is away from the twisting direction to provide a similar tightening effect. 
     Once the cable management finger structures  24  are twisted into a latched configuration, the first and second retention portions  68 ,  72  of the first and second fingers  62 ,  64  end up perpendicular to the first and second sidewalls  28 ,  30  of the trough  22  and the first and second connection portions  66 ,  70  end up adjacent and parallel to the first and second sidewalls  28 ,  30 . 
     Although in the illustrated embodiment, the trough member  22  includes sets of three openings  50  on the third wall  36  and the cable management finger structures  24  include three latching portions  80  configured to align with the three openings  50 , less or more than three may be provided on the trough member  22  and/or the cable management finger structures  24 . 
     It should also be noted that although the openings  50  on the trough member  22  are generally elongate and the longer dimensions D 1  are oriented parallel to the first and second sidewalls  28 ,  30 , the openings  50  and also the head portions  82  of the latching members  80  may be oriented at different angles as long as the cable management finger structures  24  are able to be coupled to the trough member  22  by insertion and rotation. 
     It should also be noted that, even though in the depicted embodiment, the cable management finger structures  24  are latched into place by twisting the cable management finger structures  24  in a counter-clockwise direction, depending upon the configuration of the cable management finger structures  24  and the trough members  22 , the head portions  82  of the latching portions  80  can be positioned and angled such that the cable management finger structures  24  are latched into place by twisting in the clockwise direction. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the cable management finger structures  24  are sized to fit within the interior space  38  of the U-shaped trough  22  such that a cover can be used with the trough  22 . In other embodiments, the sizes of the cable management finger structures  24  may vary. 
     As discussed above, the trough member  22  can be of varying lengths and widths. In  FIGS. 1-4 , a 2″×2″ (H×W) trough member  22  is illustrated and the shown cable management finger structures  24  are sized to fit within the trough member  22 . In other embodiments, wherein the trough members  22  may be 2″×4″, 4″×4″, 4″×2″, or of other dimensions, the cable management finger structures  24  may be sized differently to fit within the trough members  22 . For example, in deeper trough members  22 , the connection portions  66 ,  70  of the fingers  62 ,  64  may be longer. In wider trough members  22 , the base wall  52  and/or the retention portions  68 ,  72  of the fingers  62 ,  64  may be longer. 
     The above specification provides a complete description of the present inventive aspects. Since many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive aspects, certain aspects reside in the claims hereinafter appended.