Patent Publication Number: US-2023156377-A1

Title: Communications panel with selectable cable entry

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is being filed on Apr. 8, 2021 as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/007,594, filed on Apr. 9, 2020, and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/081,038, filed on Sep. 21, 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Many local area networks and telecommunication systems utilize termination panels to provide cross-connection between telecommunications equipment. Termination panels typically include front and rear connections. Equipment and cable management devices are often located adjacent to the termination panels. Termination panels are routinely mounted between rack elements with one or more feeder cables routed to the rear of the panels While patch cables are routed to available ports at the front of the panels. The feeder cables can be anchored at the rear of the termination panels. 
     Improvements are desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some aspects of the disclosure are directed to a communication panel including a chassis defining a cable entrance location through which one more cables extend into an interior of the chassis. A cable anchor station is disposed at the cable entrance location to anchor the one or more cables. The cable anchor station can be switched between at least two configurations. In the first configuration, the cable anchor station defines a first cable routing path extending to the cable entrance location in a first direction. In the second configuration, the cable anchor station defines a second cable routing path extending to the cable entrance location in a second direction that is different from the first direction. 
     In certain implementations, the second direction is opposite the first direction. In certain examples, the first cable routing path extends along part of a rear of the chassis from the cable entrance location to a first side of the chassis; the second cable routing path extends along another part of the rear of the chassis from the cable entrance location to an opposite, second side of the chassis. 
     In certain implementations, the cable anchor station includes a pivoting mounting bracket that carries one or more cable anchor members. In certain examples, the mounting bracket carries one or more cable clamps. In certain examples, the mounting bracket pivots relative to the chassis between first and second mounting positions. The mounting bracket is disposed in the first mounting position in the first configuration of the cable anchor station and is disposed in the second mounting position in the second configuration of the cable anchor station. 
     In certain implementations, a cable guide extends into the chassis from the cable entrance location. The cable guide provides bend radius limiting protection to the cable. The cable guide protects overbending of the cable while changing between the first and second configurations of the cable anchor station. In certain examples, the cable guide enables sliding of the cable through the cable guide during pivoting of the mounting bracket of the cable anchor station. 
     In certain implementations, the chassis is pre-cabled at a factory so that connectorized ends of the cable are plugged into internal ports of the chassis and the cable extends out the rear of the chassis. The cable is pre-anchored to a mounting bracket at the factory. The mounting bracket is movable relative to the chassis along a controlled path during installation of the chassis at an installation location remote from the factory. The mounting bracket can be secured relative to the chassis at two or more positions along the controlled path. 
     In certain implementations, the controlled path defines an arc. In certain implementations, the mounting bracket pivots along the controlled path. In certain implementations, the controlled path extends along a plane parallel with a bottom of the chassis (e.g., a horizontal plane). In certain implementations, the mounting bracket can be secured at two oppositely facing positions along the controlled path. 
     In certain implementations, pre-cabling the chassis at the factory allows the chassis to hold the internal ports in a dense configuration that need not provide finger access to the user for each internal port. Accordingly, pre-cabling the chassis at the factory allows a 5RU chassis to hold at least 432, 576, 864, or more internal ports. 
     Pre-anchoring an optical cable to the mounting bracket protects the pre-cabled optical fibers within the chassis. Pre-anchoring the cable inhibits the fibers from being pulled out of the internal ports during shipping or installation of the chassis. In certain examples, because the optical cable in anchored at the factory, the terminated fibers of the cable can be routed within the chassis as bare fibers, which provides space for a larger number of optical fibers to extend within the chassis compared to buffered or upjacketed fibers. 
     Other aspects of the disclosure are directed to a communication panel including a chassis holding at least 576 front ports within a 5 RU footprint. In certain implementations, the chassis holds at least 864 front ports. In certain examples, the front ports are optical ports. In certain examples, the front ports include LC ports. 
     Other aspects of the disclosure are directed to a communication panel including an angled frame. The frame has a first section extending from a first side towards a forward apex and a second section extending from an opposite second side towards the forward apex. Each of the sections of the frame is angled relative to an open front of the chassis. 
     In certain implementations, each section of the frame defines a plurality of elongate apertures. One or more groups of adapters can be mounted within respective ones of the apertures. In certain examples, two columns or two rows can be disposed within each aperture. In certain examples, the apertures of the first section are offset vertically (e.g., towards a top or bottom of the chassis) relative to the apertures of the second section. 
     A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of an example communications panel including a chassis holding a plurality of front ports; 
         FIG.  2    is another front perspective view of the communications panel of  FIG.  1    with a front cover removed for ease in viewing the front ports; 
         FIG.  3    is a rear perspective view of the communications panel of  FIG.  1    showing a feeder cable routed to the rear of the communications panel; 
         FIG.  4    shows a cover exploded from a cable anchor station of the communications panel of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    shows a top portion of the chassis removed from a remainder of the chassis for ease in viewing an interior of the communications panel of  FIG.  4   , the cable anchor station receiving the feeder cable along a first cable routing path; 
         FIG.  6    shows the cable anchor station receiving the feeder cable along a second cable routing path that extends in an opposite direction than the first cable routing path; 
         FIG.  7    shows the feeder cable anchored to a mounting bracket moving along a controlled path between two pre-determined mounting positions; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of a first example mounting bracket suitable for use with the cable anchor station of any of the communications panels disclosed herein; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of a first example cable guide suitable for use with any of the communications panels disclosed herein; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of an example v-frame configured to hold a plurality of ports and to be mounted within the communications panel of  FIGS.  1 - 7   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a top plan view of the communications panel of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  12    shows a cover exploded from the cable anchor station of the communications panel of  FIG.  3    to expose a second mounting bracket; 
         FIG.  13    shows a top portion of the chassis removed from a remainder of the chassis for ease in viewing an interior of the communications panel of  FIG.  12    and a second example fiber guide, the cable anchor station receiving the feeder cable along the first cable routing path; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of a second example mounting bracket suitable for use with the cable anchor station of any of the communications panels disclosed herein; 
         FIG.  15    is a first perspective view of a second example cable guide suitable for use with any of the communications panels disclosed herein; and 
         FIG.  16    is a second perspective view of the second example cable guide of  FIG.  15    where the narrower end is visible. 
     
    
    
     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. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a communications panel  100  (e.g., for telecommunications) including a chassis  114  that mounts to a standard rack (e.g., in a data center). For example, brackets B may be disposed at opposite first and second sides  106 ,  108  of the chassis  114  to attach the chassis  114  to the rack. The chassis  114  extends along a depth D between a front  102  and a rear  104 , along a width W between the opposite sides  106 ,  108 , and along a height H between a top  110  and a bottom  112 . Front ports  116  are accessible from the front  102  of the chassis  114 . A cable entrance location  118  ( FIG.  4   ) is disposed at the rear  104  of the chassis  114 . 
     A feeder cable F can enter an interior  115  ( FIG.  5   ) of the chassis  114  through the cable entrance location  118 . Connectorized ends of the feeder cable F plug into internal ports  117  of the chassis  114  so that signals carried by the feeder cable F are made accessible to cables (e.g., patch cables) that plug into the front ports  116 . In certain examples, fibers of the feeder cable F are separated from each other at one or more fanouts  123  disposed within the chassis  114  (e.g., see  FIG.  13   ). In certain examples, the fanouts  123  can be stacked at fanout holders  125  ( FIG.  13   ). In certain examples, the fanout holders  125  are disposed at opposite sides of the interior of the chassis  114 . 
     In certain implementations, groups S of fibers of the feeder cable F can be separated out after extending through the cable entrance location and routed to respective fanout holders  125  (e.g., see  FIG.  13   ). In certain examples, the groups S are routed from the fiber guide  140 ,  240 , towards the ports  117 , and looped back towards the fanouts holders  125 . Connectorized ends of the fibers are routed from the fanouts  123 , towards a rear wall  127  of the chassis  114 , and then looped back towards the internal ports  117 . 
     In certain implementations, an anchoring station  120  is disposed at the rear  104  of the chassis  114  (e.g., see  FIGS.  4  and  12   ). The anchoring station  120  secure the feeder cable F to the chassis  114  to inhibit pulling on the connectorized ends plugged into the internal ports  117 . One or more anchor members  130  are disposed at the anchor station  120  to retain the feeder cable F at the chassis  114 . For example, one or more cable clamps  130  can be disposed at the anchor station  120 . An end portion of the feeder cable F extends from the one or more anchor members  130  to the cable entrance location  118  at the rear  104  of the chassis  114 . 
     In certain implementations, the one or more anchor members  130  are coupled to a mounting bracket  124 ,  224  that is movable relative to the chassis  114  to carry the anchor members  130  between at least two configurations. In the first configuration, the anchor members  130  are positioned relative to the chassis  114  to define a first cable routing path extending in a first direction to the cable entrance location  118  (e.g., see  FIG.  5   ). In the second configuration, the anchor members  130  are positioned relative to the chassis  114  to define a second cable routing path extending in a different, second direction to the cable entrance location  118  (e.g., see  FIG.  6   ).  FIGS.  4 - 8    illustrate a first example implementation of the mounting bracket  124 .  FIGS.  12 - 15    illustrate a second example implementation of the mounting bracket  224 . 
     Advantageously, the feeder cable F can be pre-anchored to the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  at a factory during cabling of the chassis  114 . Pre-anchoring the cable F allows the internal ports  117  of the chassis  114  to be populated in the factory. An end user then installs the pre-populated chassis  114  and pre-anchored feeder cable F at an installation site. The anchor members  130  protect the connectorized ends of the cable F from pulling out of the internal ports  117  during shipping and/or installation. The movable mounting bracket  124 ,  224  allows the end user to select which cable routing path is desirable from the feeder cable F. For example, the movable mounting bracket  124 ,  224  allows the pre-anchored feeder cable F to be routed to the cable entrance location  118  from the first side  106  of the chassis  114  or from the second side  108  of the chassis  114 . 
     The mounting bracket  124 ,  224  carries the anchor members  130  along a controlled path P ( FIG.  7   ) as the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  moves relative to the chassis  114 . In certain examples, the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  is pivotally mounted to the support ledge  122  to move along an arc-shaped path P. In certain examples, a pivot axis A of the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  extends parallel with the height H of the chassis  114 . One or more pre-determined mounting positions are disposed along the controlled path P. The mounting bracket  124 ,  224  can be secured (i.e., locked) relative to the chassis  114  in any of the pre-determined mounting positions. In some examples, the pre-determined mounting positions include fastener apertures  132  at which fasteners  134  extending through the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  can be received. In other examples, other securement mechanisms (e.g., latches, catch surfaces, etc.) are disposed at the pre-determined mounting positions. 
     In certain implementations, the anchor station  120  includes a support ledge  122  that extends outwardly from the chassis  114 . In certain implementations, the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  is coupled to the support ledge  122 . In certain examples, the pivot axis A extends through the support ledge  122 . In certain implementations, a cover  126  can be mounted to the support ledge  122  to cover the end portion of the feeder cable F. The cover  126  may cooperate with the ledge  122  to form a passage extending between opposite side openings  128 . The mounting bracket  124 ,  224  can be positioned relative to the support ledge  122  to define each of the first and second cable routing paths through the passage to a respective one of the side openings  128 . 
     In certain implementations, the chassis  114  and mounting bracket  124 ,  224  include aligning elements that aid in securing the mounting bracket  124  to one of the pre-determined mounting positions. In certain examples, the chassis  114  defines slots  129  and the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  includes tabs  139  that fit within the slots  129 . When the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  is disposed at the first pre-determined mounting position, a first of the tabs  139  extends into a first slot  129  in the rear wall of the chassis  114  (e.g., see  FIG.  5   ). When the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  is disposed at the second pre-determined mounting position, a second of the tabs  139  extends into a second slot  129  in the rear wall of the chassis  114  (e.g., see  FIG.  6   ). Engagement between the tab  139  and the slot  129  may aid in holding the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  steady at the pre-determined mounting position until the mounting bracket  124 ,  224  can secured into position (e.g., using fasteners  134 ). 
       FIG.  8    illustrates the first example mounting bracket  124 , which is suitable for carrying one or more anchor members  130 . The mounting bracket  124  includes a body  131  configured to pivotally mount to the support ledge  122 . For example, the body  131  may define an aperture  133  through which a pivot pin extends. The body  131  also includes a mounting region  135  at which the mounting members  130  are disposed. In the example shown, the mounting region  135  is raised relative to form a platform for the anchor members  130 . In certain examples, the tabs  139  extend outwardly from opposite sides of the raised platform  135 . 
     In certain implementations, the body  131  is configured to be secured in one of the pre-determined mounting positions. For example, the body  131  may define fastener apertures  137  that align with the fastener apertures  132  at the pre-determined mounting positions to allow the fasteners  134  to extend therethrough. In certain examples, the body  131  defines a first set of fastener apertures  137  that align at the first pre-determined mounting position and a second set of fastener apertures  137  that align with the second pre-determined mounting position (e.g., compare  FIGS.  5  and  6   ). 
       FIG.  14    illustrates the second example mounting bracket  224 , which is suitable for carrying one or more anchor members  130 . The mounting bracket  224  includes a body  231  configured to pivotally mount to the support ledge  122 . In the example shown, the body  231  defines an aperture  233  through which a pivot pin extends. The body  231  also includes a mounting region  235  at which the mounting members  130  are disposed. 
     In certain implementations, the body  231  is configured to be secured in one of the pre-determined mounting positions. For example, the body  231  may define fastener apertures  137  that align with the fastener apertures  132  at the pre-determined mounting positions to allow the fasteners  134  to extend therethrough. In certain examples, the body  231  defines a first set of fastener apertures  137  that align at the first pre-determined mounting position and a second set of fastener apertures  137  that align with the second pre-determined mounting position. 
     In certain examples, the body  231  includes a planar surface extending along a length of the body  231  from the aperture  233 , past the mounting region  235 , to the fastener apertures  137 . In certain implementations, the body  231  includes opposing sidewalls  239  that extend along the length of the body  231 . The sidewalls  239  may aid in retaining the fibers and/or cable on the mounting bracket  224  during movement of the mounting bracket  224 . In certain examples, the tabs  139  extend laterally outwardly beyond the sidewalls  239 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , in certain implementations, the anchor members  130  (e.g., cable clamps) are secured to a jacketed portion of the feeder cable F. The jacket may be removed from the end portion of the cable F extending from the anchor members  130  into the chassis  114 . In some implementations, the end portion of the cable includes bare optical fibers. In other implementations, the end portion of the cable includes upjacketed or otherwise buffered optical fibers. In still other implementations, the end portion of the cable includes electrical wires. A protective sheath S (e.g., a mesh sleeve or corrugated tube) can be mounted over the unjacketed portion of the cable. For example, the protective sheath S can be attached to the jacketed portion of the cable F using a thermally recoverable tube. The protective sheath S inhibits damage to the unjacketed portion of the cable F as the unjacketed portion extends through the cable entrance location  118 . In certain examples, the protective sheath S is more flexible than the cable jacket. 
     In certain implementations, the cable entrance location  118  is elongate along the width of the chassis  114 . The width of the cable entrance location  118  accommodates movement of the cable F along the controlled path P. In certain implementations, the cable entrance location  118  is formed at an open end of a cable guide  140 . The cable guide  140  extends into the interior  115  of the chassis  114  to guide the feeder cable F. A cable guide  140 ,  240  provides bend radius protection to the feeder cable F even while the pre-anchored cable is being moved with the mounting bracket  124  to a pre-determined mounting position. In particular, the cable guide  140 ,  240  provides bend radius protection when the cable F and anchor station  120  are disposed in the first position and provides bend radius protection when the cable F and anchor station  120  are disposed in the second position. 
       FIG.  9    shows an example cable guide  140  suitable for use with the chassis  114 . In certain examples, the cable guide  140  includes opposing bend radius limiters  146  that protect the cable F. In certain implementations, the cable guide  140  also inhibits movement of the cable F towards the top  110  of the chassis  114 . For example, the cable guide  140  may form an enclosed passage  148  through which the cable F extends. The cable guide  140  includes a first piece  142  and a second piece  144  that cooperate to define the internal passage  148 . Each of the pieces  142 ,  144  forms part of the bend radius limiters  146 . In certain examples, the cable guide  140  generally has a trumpet shape. 
     In certain implementations, the feeder cable F is loose within the cable guide  140 . Accordingly, the feeder cable F can slide within the passage  148  of the cable guide  140  during movement of the cable bracket  124  and the anchor members  130  along the controlled path P. The mounting bracket  124  is configured so that the controlled path does not lead to sufficient sliding of the cable F to apply a pulling force on the connectorized ends disposed at the internal ports  117 . 
       FIG.  15    shows a second example cable guide  240  suitable for use with the chassis  114 . In certain examples, the cable guide  240  includes opposing bend radius limiters  246  that protect the cable F. In certain implementations, the cable guide  240  also inhibits movement of the cable F towards the top  110  of the chassis  114 . For example, the cable guide  240  may form an enclosed passage  248  through which the cable F extends. In certain examples, one axial end  243  of the passage  248  is narrower than the opposite axial end  245  of the passage  248 . In the example shown, the cable guide  240  generally has a trumpet shape. 
     In certain implementations, the cable guide  240  routes the feeder cable F from a first height level to a second height level as the cable extends along the passage  248 . For example, the wider axial end  245  of the passage  248  may be raised by a distance R relative to the narrower axial end  243 . Accordingly, the raised end  245  clears a bottom portion of the rear chassis wall  127  while the narrower end  243  transitions the feeder cable F onto the bottom of the chassis  114  (e.g., see  FIG.  13   ). Raising the wider end  245  also supports the feeder cable F as the cable anchor station  120  is transitioned between the first and second configurations, thereby inhibiting the feeder cable F from scraping over the pivot fastener. 
     In certain implementations, the cable guide  240  includes a first piece  242  and a second piece  244  that cooperate to define the internal passage  248 . In certain examples, the bend radius limiters  246  are defined by the first piece  242 . In the example shown, the first piece  242  defines an open-topped channel extending between the narrower end  243  and the wider end  245 . The second piece  244  mounts to the first piece to close the open top of the channel to form the internal passage  248 . In certain examples, the first piece  242  and second piece  244  are formed from different materials (e.g., the first piece  242  being formed from plastic while the second piece  244  is formed from metal). 
     In other implementations, opposing radius limiters can be used instead of a cable guide  140 ,  240 . For example, a first radius limiter may extend into the chassis  114  from a rear entrance while curving in a first direction and a second radius limiter may extend into the chassis  114  from the rear entrance while curving in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In some examples, the first and second radius limiters can be separate pieces that are separately mounted to the chassis  114 . In other examples, the first and second radius limiters can be monolithically formed or separate pieces mounted to a common base. 
     In accordance with certain aspects of the disclosure, pre-cabling the internal ports  117  of the chassis  114  at the factory allows the chassis  114  to hold the internal ports  117  in a dense configuration that need not provide finger access to the end user for each internal port  117 . Accordingly, pre-cabling the chassis  114  at the factory allows a 5RU chassis  114  to hold at least 432 internal ports  117 . In certain examples, the chassis  114  can hold at least 576 internal ports  117  within a 5 RU space. In certain examples, the chassis  114  can hold at least 864 internal ports  117  within a 5 RU space (e.g., see  FIG.  2   ). 
     In some implementation, the internal ports  117  are formed by optical adapters having aligned external (e.g., front) ports  116 . In some examples, the internal ports  117  are single-fiber ports. In an example, the internal ports  117  are LC ports. In another example, the internal ports  117  are SC ports. In other examples, the internal ports  117  are multi-fiber ports (e.g., MPO ports). In other implementations, the internal ports  117  are electrical sockets or electrical contacts for receiving wires of the feeder cable F. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the ports  116 ,  117  are supported by a frame  150  disposed within the chassis  114 . In some implementations, the frame  150  is disposed at the front  102  of the chassis  114 . In other implementations, the frame  150  is disposed at an intermediate position along the depth D of the chassis  114 , but is accessible from the front  102  of the chassis  114 . In certain implementations, the frame  150  is stationary relative to the chassis  114 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , the frame  150  includes a front face  152  that is accessible from the front  102  of the chassis  114 . The front face  152  defines a plurality of apertures  154  at which the ports  116 ,  117  are mounted. For example, optical adapters defining the ports  116 ,  117  are mounted within the apertures  154 . In certain examples, mounting flanges  156  extend rearwardly from the front face  152 . In an example, fasteners 
     In certain implementations, the front face  152  of the frame  150  includes first and second angled sections  162 ,  164  that meet at an apex  160  at an intermediate location along the width W of the chassis  114 . In the example shown, the first and second angled sections  162 ,  164  have a common length and the apex  160  is disposed at a center of the width W of the chassis  114 . The first and second sections  162 ,  164  extend inwardly and forwardly from the sidewalls of the chassis  114  to the apex  160 . In certain examples, the frame  150  forms a v-shape. Angling sections of the front face  152  increases the surface area at which the ports  116 ,  117  can be disposed compared to a front face extending straight along the width of the chassis  114 . 
     In some implementations, the apertures  154  at the first angled section  162  are laterally aligned with the apertures  154  of the second angled section  164  along the width W of the chassis  114 . In other implementations, the apertures  154  of the first angled section  162  are offset towards the top  110  or bottom  112  of the chassis  114  relative to the apertures  154  of the second angled section  164 . In certain examples, the offset is less than the vertical height of one of the front ports  164 . In certain examples, the offset is less than 0.1 inches. In certain examples, the offset is less than 0.09 inches. In certain examples, the offset is about 0.08 inches. In an example, the offset is about 0.08 inches. 
     In certain implementations, the chassis  114  includes a front cover  166  that selectively extends across an open front of the chassis  114 . The front cover  166  blocks access to the front ports  116  when the front cover  166  extends across the open front of the chassis  114 . In some examples, the front cover  166  pivots to an open position to expose the front ports  116 . In other examples, the front cover  166  is removable from the chassis  114 . When the front cover  166  is disposed in the blocking position, the front cover  166  is spaced from the apex  160  of the frame  150  by a gap G ( FIG.  11   ). The gap G provides space to accommodate cables extending from the front ports  116  of one angled section  162 ,  164  of the frame  150 , across the apex  160  of the frame  150 , and to the opposite side  106 ,  108  of the chassis  114 . 
     Referring back to  FIG.  10   , in certain implementations, more than one front port  116  can be mounted at each of the apertures  154 . In certain examples, a row or column of front ports  116  can be mounted at each of the apertures  154 . For example, the aperture  154  can be sized to hold a row or column of two, four, six, eight, ten, or twelve front ports  116 . In certain examples, multiple rows or columns of front ports  116  can be mounted at each aperture  154 . In the example shown in  FIGS.  2  and  10   , two columns of optical adapters are disposed within each aperture  154 . In certain examples, the optical adapters of the first column define front ports  116  oriented in a first direction and the optical adapters of the second column define front ports  116  flipped 180 degrees relative to the front ports  116  in the first column. 
     Having described the preferred aspects and implementations of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.