Patent Publication Number: US-2019191229-A1

Title: Cabinet and patchcord management panel

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is being filed on Aug. 22, 2017 as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/378,093, filed on Aug. 22, 2016, and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/412,611, filed on Oct. 25, 2016, and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/415,218, filed on Oct. 31, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Telecommunications frames, racks, and cabinets are used to hold telecommunications equipment and/or connectivity devices. Various cables connect the telecommunications equipment with other equipment, panels, and outlets. There is a continuing need for managing the cables extending to and from the telecommunications frames, racks, and cabinets. In one example, patch cords are used to link equipment. The cables, including the patch cords, can be copper based, fiber based, or hybrid cables. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the present invention relates to a panel or bracket assembly which includes a frame defining various openings. In one example embodiment, the openings are provided in a vertical column extending from a top of the panel toward a bottom of the panel. Along one side of the frame, a hinge is provided for hingedly mounting the panel to a telecommunications frame, rack, or cabinet. Modules are positioned in the openings as desired. The modules typically have one or more front ports, and one or more rear ports defining termination locations for telecommunications cables. The front and rear ports receive telecommunications plugs, connectors, and other cable terminating devices. The front or rear ports can be jacks, adapters or other cable connection devices. 
     Other aspects of the disclosure include a channel frame assembly including a frame defining a cable channel, a bracket assembly mounted to the cable channel to selectively block access to the cable channel, and one or more termination modules carried by the bracket assembly. The bracket assembly may pivot relative to the cable channel between open and closed positions. At least one port and/or termination of the termination module is accessible within the cable channel and at least another port and/or termination of the termination module is accessible from outside of the cable channel when the bracket is closed. The channel frame assembly may be mounted within a telecommunications cabinet and/or to a telecommunications rack. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the panel is mounted to a cabinet (also a rack or frame) wherein the cabinet holds telecommunications equipment. In one example embodiment, the equipment is mounted to the cabinet extending from the front (or first side) of the cabinet toward a back (or second side) of the cabinet. The panel can be mounted to the cabinet to manage the cabling within the cabinet on the front side, or the back side. In one example embodiment, the panel is mounted to a side of the cabinet between the front and the back. 
     In one example, the panel is mounted to one side of the cabinet wherein a front of the panel faces the opposite side of the cabinet. 
     In one example embodiment, the panel hinges between a closed position, and an open position. In the open position, a rear of the frame is exposed to the front (or back) of the cabinet to allow access to the rear ports of the modules mounted to the panel. 
     In one example arrangement, patch cords extend from the modules of the panel to the equipment mounted in the cabinet. The patch cords extend from the front ports of the modules. 
     In one example embodiment, trunk cables or other cables extend within the cabinet between a side of the cabinet and a back of the frame of the panel. The trunk cables or other cables connect to the rear ports of the modules. 
     With a hingedly mounted frame of the panel, a user can access the rear ports of the modules to connect the trunk cables or other cables to the rear ports. Once closed, the frame of the panel is positioned facing the opposite side of the cabinet. 
     In one embodiment, the modules are mounted at an angle relative to the frame wherein the connection axis defined by the front ports or the rear ports or both. The front and rear ports are at an angle relative to both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. In one example, the modules angle downwardly. Other examples include upwardly angled modules. 
     The panel can also take the form of a standalone unit with a pivoting front frame mounted to a rear housing portion for mounting within a cabinet, or other structures. 
     Latches can be provided to hold the pivoting panel or frame in the closed position. 
     The modules can mount to the panel or frame with angled blocks. The blocks can be added at or around the time of assembly of the panel to the cabinet. Such a construction allows the panel to be mounted on either the right side or the left side of the cabinet. The blocks can then appropriately angle the modules in the desired direction, such as downward. Also, the panel or frame can be shipped more compactly without the modules mounted to the panel or frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-15  show various features of an example embodiment of a cabinet including telecommunications equipment, and a panel or bracket assembly for holding telecommunications modules. Various cables are shown connecting to the modules, and connecting the modules to the equipment. 
         FIGS. 16-19  show another example embodiment of a panel or bracket assembly for holding telecommunications modules. 
         FIGS. 20-22  show a further example embodiment of a panel or bracket assembly for holding telecommunications modules. 
         FIGS. 23-32  show a further example embodiment of a panel or bracket assembly for holding telecommunications modules. 
         FIGS. 33-42  show further views of the module mounting blocks. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the FIGS., a panel or bracket assembly  10  includes a frame  12  defining various openings  20 . In one example embodiment, the openings  20  are provided in a vertical column extending from a top  30  of the panel toward a bottom  32  of the panel. Along one side  40  of the frame  12 , a hinge  22  is provided for hingedly mounting the panel to a telecommunications frame, rack, or cabinet (hereinafter “cabinet”). Modules  16  are positioned in the openings  20  as desired. The modules  16  typically have one or more front ports  50 , and one or more rear ports  60  defining termination locations for telecommunications cables. The front and rear ports  50 ,  60  receive telecommunications plugs, connectors, or other cable terminating devices. The front and rear ports  50 ,  60  can be jacks, adapters or other cable connection devices. The modules  16  can be breakout modules, splitter modules, or other modules. As shown, copper modules  17  are on one area of panel  10 , and fiber modules  18  are mounted in another area. Other arrangements are possible. 
     The panel  10  is shown mounted to a cabinet  100  (also a rack or a frame) wherein the cabinet  100  holds telecommunications equipment  120 . In one example embodiment  120 , the equipment is mounted to the cabinet extending from the front  168  (or a first side) of the cabinet toward a back  170  (or a second side) of the cabinet. The panel  10  can be mounted to the cabinet  100  to manage the cabling within the cabinet on the front side (or the back side). In one example embodiment, the panel is mounted to a side wall  164  of the cabinet between the front  168  and the back  170 . It is to be appreciated that front  168  and back  170  are labels in this example and could be reversed in other examples. 
     Cabinet  100  also includes two posts  102 ,  104 . Cabinet  100  includes a top  160 , a bottom  162 , and sides or side wall  164 ,  166 . Side walls  164 ,  166  extend generally in the direction of front to back (or back to front). 
     As shown, the panel  10  is mounted to one side  164  of the cabinet  100  wherein a front  34  of the panel faces the opposite side  166  of the cabinet. 
     The panel  10  preferably hinges about axis  24  between a closed position, and an open position. Compare  FIGS. 10 and 12 . In the open position, a back  36  of the frame  12  is exposed to the front (or back) of the cabinet  100  to allow user access to the rear ports  60  of the modules  16  mounted to the panel. A cable passage  180  is also created by cabinet  100  and panel  10 . 
     In one example arrangement, patch cords  130  extend from the modules  16  of the panel  10  to the equipment  120  mounted in the cabinet  100 . The patch cords  130  extend from the front ports  50  of the modules to ports  122  on equipment  120 . Patch cords  130  are terminated on each end  132  by plugs, connectors or other cable terminating devices. 
     In one example embodiment, trunk cables or other cables  140  extend within the cabinet between a side  164  of the cabinet and a back  36  of the frame  12  of the panel  10 . The trunk cables or other cables connect to the rear ports of the modules with plugs, connectors or other cable terminating devices on end  142  of each trunk cable. 
     With a hingedly mounted frame of the panel, a user can access the rear ports  60  of the modules  16  to connect the trunk cables  140  or other cables to the rear ports. Once closed, the frame  12  of the panel is positioned facing the opposite side of the cabinet. 
     In one embodiment, the modules  16  are mounted at an angle relative to the frame wherein the connection axis  70  defined by the front ports or the rear ports or both. The front and rear ports are at an angle relative to both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. In one example, the modules angle downwardly. Other examples include upwardly angled modules. Block  44  mounts each module  16  to frame  12  to create the angled mounting arrangement. 
     Panel  10  with frame  12  has a top  30 , a bottom  32 , a front  34 , a back  36 , and sides  38 ,  40 . Side  38  defines a flange  39  which can be latched or mounted to cabinet  100  in the closed position. Hinge  22  includes a side  40  in the form of a panel that mounts to the cabinet  100 , but allows hingeable movement of the rest of frame  12 . 
     Panel  10  in the example cabinet  100  allows for shorter patch cords  130  that link to nearby modules  16  relative to the equipment  120 . Such a shorter length may lead to easier installations, especially if there are many connections to the equipment. In the case of longer patch cords, such as patch cords that extend to another frame, rack of cabinet, where the patch cords extend from a patch panel, there can be increased risk of damage to the patch cords or misconnections to the equipment. 
     Modules  16  in the examples shown can easily be customized to each user&#39;s needs by populating only those types of modules needed in that cabinet  100 . 
     Trunk cables  140  can easily be connected to the rear ports due to the easy accessibility by the hinge. 
     Modules  16  are mounted in a manner that does not take cabinet spacing that is needed for the equipment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 23-32 , panel  10   c  can take the form of a standalone unit including a frame  220  hingedly mounted to a rear housing  222 . Latches  240  can be provided to latch the panel in the closed position as shown in  FIGS. 24-29 . Mounting blocks  44  can be positioned in openings  20  in either orientation to angle modules  16  as desired. Blocks  44  snap into frame  220 . During shipping, blocks  44  can be left separate and housed within the interior  226  of panel  10 . Modules  16  can be shipped separately from blocks  44  and installed into blocks  44  after blocks  44  are mounted to frames  22 ,  220   
     Panel  10  can be mounted to either side of the cabinet  100  by flipping the panel 180 degrees vertically. In the instance where all of the modules  16  are angled downwardly, the blocks  44  can be mounted to each respective frame  222  in the proper orientation for cable management. As shown in  FIGS. 31 and 32 , both the top and bottom of panel  10  can include a feature for the hinge which traps a hinge pin  250  in position. Once the hinge pin  250  is in the desired position between the hinge elements  252  of frame  220  and rear housing  222 , and upper and lower elements  254  are crimped to prevent removal of the pin. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 33-42 , further features of blocks  44  are shown. Blocks  44  hold modules  16  within an opening  302 . Modules  16  will snap mount through a front of opening  302  to secure each module  16  to each block  44 . Further, modules  16  are also removable from each opening  302  from the front of opening  302 . 
     Each block  44  snap mounts to frame  12 . On a rear portion  306  of each block  44  along a periphery  308  extends a first fixation device  312  and a second fixation device  314 . Side portions  316  are also along periphery  308  of block  44 . A shoulder  320  of first fixation device  312  is positioned on one side of frame  12  and side portions  316  are positioned on an opposite side of frame  12 . Similarly, a shoulder  322  of second fixation device  314  is positioned on a rear side of frame  12 . 
     Second fixation device  314  is flexible and allows for module mounting blocks  44  to be snap-fit to frame  12 . Once a module  16  is positioned in a block  44 , if the module  16  has a depth along surface  340 , it may be difficult to remove or flex inward the second fixation device  314 . Such a feature helps to secure blocks  44  in place. Along a rear of block  44  is a rib  350  which helps center each block  44  in each opening  20 . Rib  350  defines a J-shape on each side of block  44  along each of side portions  316 . Blocks  44  can be removed as desired, and in some cases modules  16  may need to be removed first.