Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a cable management module having a cover assembly that is secured in the closed position and when manually opened stays in the open position until manually closed. A method of accessing a cable management module is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/177,427, filed May 12, 2009; which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD Fiber optical terminal cable management modules that provide the ability to terminate, splice and store fiber optical jumpers in fiber panels. 
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Fiber optical terminal cable management modules provide the ability to terminate, splice and store fiber optical jumpers in fiber panels. Typically, the modules include a cover assembly that opens to allow access to the inside of the modules. In some configurations the cover assembly is configured so that once the cover is opened it stays opened until the user manually closes the cover. This feature is desirable as it allows the user of the modules to access it without manually holding open the cover. Modules with improved cover assemblies that stay open once opened are desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present disclosure provides a cable management module having a cover assembly that is secured in the closed position and when manually opened stays in the open position until manually closed. A method of accessing a cable management module is also provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable management module according to the present disclosure with a cover assembly in a closed position; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cable management module of  FIG. 1  with the cover assembly in an open position; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the cable management module of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the cable management module of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the cable management module of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the cable management module of  FIG. 1  along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the cable management module mounted to a rack with other modules mounted thereto. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , an embodiment to a cable management module with a cover assembly according to the present disclosure is shown. In the depicted embodiment, the cable management module  10  includes a frame  12  and a door  14  that pivots relative to the frame  12 . 
         [0014]    In the depicted embodiment, the frame  12  includes a top wall  16  that is shown in a horizontal orientation and a back wall  18  that is shown in a vertical orientation. Extending from the back wall  18  in a generally horizontal direction are a plurality of fanning members  20 . The fanning members  20  are used to keep cables in the cable management module separated and spaced apart. In the depicted embodiment the front edge  22  of the top wall  16  of the frame  12  includes a tab  24  that extends downwardly. The tab  24  includes a magnet  26  thereon. The tab  24  is part of the retaining mechanism, which is described in greater detail below. It should be appreciated that many other alternative frame configurations are possible. For example, the frame of alternative embodiments of the cable management module can have a many different geometric configuration and they may or may not include fanning members therein. 
         [0015]    In the depicted embodiment, the door  14  includes an upper edge  28  and a lower edge  30 . The door  14  is pivotally mounted to the frame  12  about a horizontal axis A-A that is adjacent the upper edge  28  of the door  14 . In the depicted embodiment door  14  extends generally horizontal when it is at 180° relative to the top wall  16 , and the door extends generally vertically upward when it is at 90° relative to the top wall  16 . 
         [0016]    When the door  14  is in the closed position, it hangs from the hinged upper edge  28  in a generally vertical orientation (defining an angle θ that would be about 270°). When the door is in the open position, the door  14  and the top wall  16  of the frame are preferably at an angle θ, which is preferably between 0-225°. More preferably, the angle θ is between 90-180°, and even more preferably the angle θ is between 135-180°. 
         [0017]    The above described preferred angles avoid inadvertent contact between the door  14  and other components (e.g., cables, connectors, etc.) that might be connected to modules  68  located above or modules  44  located below the cable management module  14  on a rack  46  (see  FIG. 9 ). It should be appreciated that many other alternative door configurations are possible. For example, door of alternative embodiments of the cable management module can have many different geometric configurations than depicted and can be connected to the frame in different ways. 
         [0018]    In the depicted embodiment, the door  14  is retained in its closed position in part due to gravity and in part due to a retaining mechanism, otherwise referred to as a first mechanism. The retaining mechanism includes the tab  24  with the magnet  26  and a contact pad  32  on a tab  34 , which is located adjacent the inside surface of the door  14 . In the depicted embodiment, the contact pad  32  includes a metallic construction and is arranged to engage the magnet  26 . In the depicted embodiment, the retaining mechanism is located closer to the upper edge  28  of the door  14  than the lower edge  30  of the door  14 . In the depicted embodiment, the tab  24  and the tab  34  are shown positioned between 0.5 to 5 inches from a pivot axis A-A of the door  14  and are generally positioned midway between the opposed ends of the door. In the depicted configuration, once the door  14  is manually closed it stays closed due to the magnetic attraction between the magnet  26  and the contact pad  32 . It should be appreciated that many other alternative mechanisms for retaining the door in the closed position are possible. 
         [0019]    In the depicted embodiment, an opening mechanism, otherwise referred to as a second mechanism, holds the door  14  open once it is manually pulled open by the user. In the depicted embodiment, the opening mechanism includes a spring  36  that is configured to biase the door  14  in the open direction. When the door  14  is in the closed position, the force of the spring  36  is not sufficient to overcome the attraction between the magnet  26  and the contact pad  32 , therefore, the door stays closed. However, when the door  14  is manually pulled open by the user, the force of the spring is sufficient to keep the door  14  open even despite the force of gravity on the door  14 . 
         [0020]    In use the user grasps the lower edge  30  of the door  14  (e.g., at the either lower corner) and pulls outwardly and upwardly to release the first mechanism. 
         [0021]    In the depicted embodiment, the spring  36  is a torsion type spring that includes a first portion  40  that presses against the door  14  and a second portion  42  that presses against the top wall  16  of the frame  12 . The body of the spring  36  extends around the pivot rod  38 , which is coincident with the pivot axis A-A. 
         [0022]    In the depicted embodiment, the spring  36  is nested within the hinge arrangement. The hinge arrangement of the depicted embodiment is formed from the rolled tabs  48 ,  50 ,  64  located at the edge of the door that are nested with rolled tabs  54 ,  56 ,  60 ,  62  located at the edge of the top wall  16  of the frame  12 . The rolled tabs  48 ,  50 ,  54 ,  56 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  are configured such that the pivot rods  58 ,  38  on either end can extend through them. In the depicted embodiment, the edge of the door  14  between the hinge arrangements on either end of the module  14  is folded over forming a folded over lip  52 . In the depicted embodiment, the spring  36  is located in a place what otherwise would be one of a rolled tab on the door  14  thereby nesting the spring  36  within the hinge arrangement. It should be appreciated that many other alternative mechanisms for keeping the door open once it is manually opened are possible. 
         [0023]    In the depicted embodiment, the fanning member  20  includes a main body  62  with a curved shaped for cable bend radius protection. A cable retention finger  64  is provided on each fanning member  20 . Other shape and arrangements for fanning members  20  are anticipated. 
         [0024]    As shown, module  10  defines a cable management device with an open bottom and open sides. When door  14  is opened, the user has easy access to the interior for accessing the cable management structures within the interior. 
         [0025]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.