Abstract:
A system for attaching an enclosure to a fiber optic rack is disclosed. The system includes at least one bracket having a mounting aperture pattern which at least partially matches the rack aperture patterns presently in use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This disclosure is related to the following U.S. patent applications filed on the same date as this application, each of which is owned by the assignee of this application, and the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference: 
     U.S. Patent Application entitled “Improved Cable Management System,” naming Jack E. Caveney and Dale A. Block as inventors. 
     U.S. Patent Application entitled “Slack Cable Management System,” naming Jack E. Caveney as an inventor. 
     U.S. Patent Application entitled “Improved Enclosure for Use in Fiber Optic Management Systems,” naming Michael T. Vavrik and Philip B. Chandler, Jr. as inventors. 
     U.S. Patent Application entitled “Modular Latch and Guide Rail Arrangement for Use in Fiber Optic Cable Management Systems,” naming Samuel M. Marrs, Robert R. Brown, and John J. Bulanda as inventors. 
     U.S. Patent Application entitled “Vertical Cable Management System,” naming Samuel M. Marrs, Michael T. Vavrik, and Jeff Paliga as inventors. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a fiber optic communication center and more particularly to a universal system for mounting fiber optic interconnection enclosures to a fiber optic rack. 
     A fiber optic communication center represents a “node” where fiber optic networks are connected. Typically, individual fiber optic cables are interconnected within an enclosure, such as splice, connector and modular enclosure. The communication center is defined by a series of enclosures mounted on a rack, thereby facilitating organization of the various fiber optic networks. 
     Unfortunately, the industry has multiple standards for the enclosure-carrying racks. For example, there are presently two standards for the mounting hole pattern on the vertically extending rack. One was specified by the Western Electric Company (“WECO”); the other is specified by the Electronics Industries Alliance/Telecommunications Industry Association (“EIA”). More particularly, the mounting apertures of the WECO rack are equally spaced at 1 inch increments (hereinafter referred to as the “WECO Pattern”). In the EIA rack, the mounting apertures are alternately spaced at 1.25 inches and 0.5 inch (hereinafter referred to as the “EIA Pattern”). 
     Additionally the horizontal spacing, or gap, between the vertical racks varies between two unofficial standards. In a “public network,” such as sold by WECO, the racks are separated by 23 inches, providing a useable gap of 21.5 inches. In a “premises network,” such as sold by EIA, the separation is 19 inches with a useable gap of 17.5 inches. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect, the present invention is a universal mounting system for use ith both the WECO and EIA racks. The present invention includes a bracket having a series of mounting apertures. Regardless of the orientation of the bracket with respect to the rack, the mounting apertures at least partially match the WECO Pattern and EIA Pattern, thereby facilitating attachment. As used herein, the term “at least partially match” and obvious modifications thereof mean alignment of at least two non-adjacent mounting apertures on the bracket with two mounting apertures of the WECO Pattern and EIA Pattern. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting system for attaching an enclosure to a fiber optic rack. Another object is an enclosure-mounting system for use, without alteration, with WECO and EIA racks. Still another object is a universal enclosure-mounting system for use with WECO and EIA racks in either network configuration, i.e., public or premises. Yet another object of the present invention is a universal enclosure-mounting system wherein the enclosure is supported by a rack bracket to facilitate the attachment process. It is also an object to provide a universal enclosure-mounting system wherein the spacing between adjacent enclosures on the rack is minimized. 
     These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention are set forth or apparent in the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Various preferred embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the drawing herein: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a fiber optic communication center, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a rack having the EIA Pattern; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a rack with the WECO Pattern; and 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3 as a system, generally designated  10 , for attaching fiber optic enclosure  12  to a rack, generally designated  14 . As is well known in the art, the rack  14  includes left and right vertically secured frames  16 ,  18 . The rack  14 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, is an EIA rack, having the EIA Pattern of holes  20 . As shown, the holes  20  are alternately spaced at 1.25 inches and 0.5 inch, center-to-center. The system  10  further accommodates the WECO Pattern of holes  22 , as shown in FIG. 4, where the spacing is equal and on 1 inch centers. The holes  20 ,  22  are threaded to receive a No. 12 screw with 24 threads per inch. 
     The system  10  includes a pair of substantially identical rack brackets  24 , secured in horizontal alignment to the left and right frames  16 ,  18  by screws  26 . The first and second, or left and right, rack brackets  24  are secured on the frames  16 ,  18  in a reversed orientation, i.e., the first bracket  24  is rotated 180° with respect to the second. 
     The bracket  24  includes a substantially planar, substantially rectangular rack-mounting plate  28  and a pair of support tabs  30 ,  32 , respectively. In this preferred embodiment, the width of the plate  28  is about 3 inches. The plate  28  has a first section  34 , second section  36 , first-side or rack-side section  38 , and second-side or enclosure-side section  40 , defining a central, substantially rectangular opening  42 . This opening  42  provides fiber optic cable access to the rear of the system  10 . 
     The first and second support tabs  30 ,  32  extend from an outer edge  44  of the enclosure-side section  40 , substantially perpendicular to the rack-mounting plate  28 . As shown, the support tabs  30 ,  32  are equally displaced from the outer edges  46 ,  48  of the first and second sections  34 ,  36 , respectively. 
     The rack-side section  38  defines a series, generally designated  50 , of rack apertures  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 . The central aperture  60  defines the center of the series  50 , and the apertures  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are displaced therefrom at center-to-center intervals of 0.5, 1.125, 1.375 and 2 inches. The other apertures  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  are similarly positioned from the center aperture  60 . The apertures  54 ,  56  and  64 ,  66  are hourglass-shaped openings with the neck area small enough that the standard No. 12-24 screw will not pass through. This provides better positioning and support for the enclosure than slotted holes would provide. All apertures  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are generally elliptical, providing sufficient “play” to plumb the bracket  24  on the rack  14 . 
     The series  50  allows use of the bracket  24 , in both orientations, with the WECO Pattern and EIA Pattern. That is, the series  50  results in at least partial matching of non-adjacent rack apertures  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  with at least two apertures of the WECO Pattern and EIA Pattern in both the first and second, or left and right, orientations of the bracket  24  with respect to the rack  14 . Use of non-adjacent apertures within the series  50  enhances the structural integrity of the system  10 . Additionally, the series  50  provides the option of avoiding use of both hourglass-shaped openings, as defined by the apertures  54 ,  56  and  64 ,  66 , in any given application. Loosening due to the vibration is thereby substantially avoided. 
     The enclosure-side section  40  of the rack bracket  24  defines first and second enclosure-mounting apertures  70 ,  72 . The apertures  70 ,  72 , also threaded to receive a No. 12 screw, have a predetermined opposed relationship, i.e., the apertures  70 ,  72  are at opposite ends of the enclosure-side section  40 , with a center-to-center separation of 4 inches. The support tabs  30 ,  32  are inwardly displaced from the enclosure-mounting apertures  70 ,  72 . 
     The system  10  further includes a pair of substantially identical enclosure brackets  74 . The enclosure brackets  74  are secured to opposite sides  76 ,  78  of the enclosure  12 , in first and second, or left and right, reversed enclosure orientations, similar to the rack brackets  24 . 
     Each of the enclosure brackets  74  includes a substantially planar enclosure attaching plate  80  and first and second flanges  82 ,  84 , extending substantially perpendicular therefrom. In this preferred embodiment, the width of the plate  80  is about 0.5 inch. The plate  80  defines two enclosure-attaching apertures  86 ,  88 , such that the enclosure brackets are affixed by screws  90 . 
     The first and second flanges  82 ,  84  are slotted to define third and fourth enclosure-mounting apertures  92 ,  94 , respectively. The apertures  92 ,  94  have the same predetermined opposed relationship as the first and second enclosure-mounting apertures  70 ,  72  of the rack bracket  24 , further facilitating attachment of the enclosure  12  to the rack  14 . 
     Additionally, the first and second support tabs  30 ,  32  engage the first and second flanges  82 ,  84  as the enclosure  12  is manually maneuvered onto the rack  14 . This engagement guides the third and fourth enclosure-mounting apertures  92 ,  94  into alignment with the first and second enclosure-mounting apertures  70 ,  72 . The tabs  30 ,  32  interpose the flanges  82 ,  84 , thereby supporting the enclosure  12  during attachment to the rack  14 . 
     A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 as a single universal bracket  96  for direct attachment to both the enclosure  12  and rack  14 . The bracket  96  is substantially L-shaped, having a plate portion  98  and a flange portion  100 . The plate portion  98  is substantially identical to the rack-mounting plate  28  of the first preferred embodiment, described above, including the aperture series  50 . The flange portion  100  is substantially planar and extends substantially perpendicular from the outer edge  44  of the enclosure-side section  40  thereof. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the flange portion  100  defines an aperture series, generally designated  102 . The series  102  is substantially identical to, and horizontally aligned with, the series  50  of the plate portion  98 . 
     As such, the bracket  96  can be mounted to the left and right frames  16 ,  18  of the rack  14 , regardless of hole pattern. Furthermore, the bracket  96  can be used with both the 19 inch and 23 inch frame spacing. With 19 inch spacing, the flange portion  100  is affixed to the frames  16 ,  18 ; with 23 inch spacing, the plate portion  98  is affixed to the frames  16 ,  18 . 
     Both embodiments are designed for use with enclosures  12  having a height of about 5.25 inches. Given the WECO and EIA Patterns, the enclosures  12  can be mounted on the rack  14  with virtually no interposing vertical spacing or gap. As such, the number of enclosures  12  per rack  14  is maximized. 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that modifications and changes can be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention, as defined by the following claims which are to be interpreted in view of the foregoing.