U.S. patent application number 09/386111 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-31 for cable management apparatus and method.
Invention is credited to LAUGHLIN, KENNETH S., LECINSKI, DANIEL J..
Application Number | 20020012242 09/386111 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23524205 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020012242 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LECINSKI, DANIEL J. ; et
al. |
January 31, 2002 |
CABLE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD
Abstract
A cable management apparatus includes a bracket member and a
cable guide member fastened to the bracket member. The bracket
member includes a stem portion and a body portion for fastening to
a cabinet for housing a plurality of electronic modules. The cable
guide member includes a flange portion and a shelf portion having a
surface. The flange portion is angled with respect to the surface
of the shelf portion to allow a plurality of cables to contact the
surface of the shelf portion to route the plurality of cables
within the cabinet.
Inventors: |
LECINSKI, DANIEL J.;
(ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL) ; LAUGHLIN, KENNETH S.;
(ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANIAK PINE & GANNON
150 N. Wacker Drive
Suite 1200
Chicago
IL
60606-1606
US
|
Family ID: |
23524205 |
Appl. No.: |
09/386111 |
Filed: |
August 30, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/827 ;
174/135; 361/823; 361/824; 361/825; 361/826 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1491 20130101;
H02B 1/202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/827 ;
361/823; 361/824; 361/825; 361/826; 174/135 |
International
Class: |
H02B 001/21 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A cable management apparatus comprising: a bracket member and a
cable guide member fastened to the bracket member, the bracket
member including a body portion for fastening to a cabinet for
housing a plurality of electronic modules, the bracket member
further including a stem portion, the cable guide member including
a shelf portion and a flange portion, the shelf portion including a
surface, the flange portion angled with respect to the surface of
the shelf portion to allow a plurality of cables to contact the
surface of the shelf portion to route the plurality of cables
within the cabinet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body portion includes a
plurality of body portion openings to allow the body portion to be
fastened to the cabinet.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flange portion is fastened
to the stem portion.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stem portion includes a
plurality of stem portion openings to allow the cable guide member
to be fastened to the stem portion.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flange portion includes at
least one flange portion opening to allow the flange portion of the
cable guide member to be fastened to the stem portion of the
bracket member.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the at least one flange portion
opening comprises two flange portion openings.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shelf portion includes a
plurality of shelf portion openings spaced along the shelf portion
for receiving cable ties to secure the plurality of cables to the
surface of the shelf portion.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flange portion is angled
with respect to the surface of the shelf portion more than 90
degrees.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body potion has a generally
rectangular shape.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stem portion has a
generally rectangular shape.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stem portion extends
outward perpendicular from the body portion.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bracket member is a planar
member.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body portion includes a
length and the shelf portion includes a length, the length of the
body portion being equal to the length of the shelf portion.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shelf portion includes at
least one curved edge portion.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one curved edge
portion comprises two curved edge portions.
16. A cable management apparatus comprising: a cabinet for housing
a plurality of electronic modules, a bracket member fastened to the
cabinet, and a cable guide member fastened to the bracket member,
the bracket member including a body portion fastened to the
cabinet, the bracket member further including a stem portion, the
cable guide member including a shelf portion and a flange portion,
the shelf portion including a surface, the flange portion angled
with respect to the surface of the shelf portion to allow a
plurality of cables to contact the surface of the shelf portion to
rout the plurality of cables within the cabinet.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the cabinet includes a
sidewall, the bracket member fastened to the sidewall.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a brace member
extending along the sidewall, the bracket member fastened to the
brace member.
19. A method of routing a plurality of cables within a cabinet for
housing a plurality of electronic modules comprising: providing a
bracket member and a cable guide member, the bracket member
including a body portion and a stem portion, the cable guide member
including a shelf portion and a flange portion, the shelf portion
including a surface, the flange portion angled with respect to the
surface of the shelf portion; fastening the cable guide member to
the bracket member; fastening the body portion of the bracket
member to a cabinet for housing a plurality of electronic modules;
contacting a plurality of cables with the surface of the shelf
portion; and routing the plurality of cables within the
cabinet.
20. A method of routing cables comprising: providing a cabinet for
housing a plurality of electronic modules, a bracket member, and a
cable guide member, the bracket member including a body portion,
the bracket member further including a stem portion, the cable
guide member including a shelf portion and a flange portion, the
shelf portion including a surface, the shelf portion further
including a plurality of shelf portion openings spaced along the
shelf portion, the flange portion angled with respect to the
surface of the shelf portion; fastening the bracket member to the
cabinet; fastening the cable guide member to the bracket member;
fastening the body portion of bracket member to the cabinet;
contacting a plurality of cables with the surface of the shelf
portion; routing the plurality of cables within the cabinet; and
securing the plurality of cables to the surface of the shelf
portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to a cable management
apparatus for routing cables. In particular, the invention relates
to a cable management apparatus which may be fastened to a cabinet
for housing electronic modules to route cables within the
cabinet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Electronic modules that house various application cards for
various high speed networking functions are typically inserted into
standardized racks in a vertically stacked configuration. These
standardized racks typically have upright supports, each of which
have spaced openings along the length of the supports. A plurality
of horizontally oriented cross members is typically provided on
each side of the rack to provide support for the upright supports.
Brackets and conventional fasteners are typically used to secure
the electronic modules to the upright supports.
[0003] Each standardized rack may house several electronic modules.
Standardized racks in turn are typically housed in a cabinet having
a top, bottom, and sidewalls. Conventional cabinets typically
include a pair of doors positioned along the front side and the
backside of the cabinet so that a technician can access the front
and back end of the electronic modules within the cabinet.
[0004] Typically, a large number of cables are routed to and from
each of the electronic modules within the cabinet. As a result,
cable management problems arise due to the large number of cables
that have to be routed within the cabinet. This problem is
compounded due to the size restrictions placed on conventional
electronic modules and cabinets. For example, the large number of
cables within the cabinet may cause interference problems with
respect to the input and output terminals of the electronic modules
within the cabinet. Moreover, the large number of cables may make
it difficult for a technician to identify various cables thereby
making the installation and removal of cables a burdensome and
time-consuming process.
[0005] In conventional cabinets, it is desirable to route cables
from certain electronic modules in a horizontal fashion to the
sides of the cabinet so that they do not interfere with the inputs
and outputs of the other electronic modules. When the cables reach
the sides of the cabinet, they are typically bent in an upward or
downward direction so that they can be routed vertically along the
sides of the cabinet.
[0006] Problems arise in providing a cable management solution for
this arrangement. For example, cables that are directed to the
sides of the cabinet may be routed through a small gap created
between one of the horizontally oriented cross members of the rack
and the sidewall of the cabinet. However, this typically requires
that the cables be bent at an angle of 90 degrees, which may result
in unacceptable bending stresses on the cables. Similarly, the
bending stresses on the cables may in turn create unacceptable
stresses at the connection points of the cables located at the
electronic modules. Moreover, the horizontally oriented cross
members are typically thin planar members that have sharp edges. As
a result, routing cables over an edge of conventional cross members
may damage the cables.
[0007] In addition, conventional cross members are fixedly mounted
to the rack, and therefore cannot be adjusted up or down to vary
the direction of the cables and account for varying cable sizes.
This drawback is compounded by the fact that there are typically
only a few cross members provided for a conventional rack, and they
are typically spaced apart from one another. As a result, one or
more of the electronic modules may be positioned within the cabinet
at a location between two cross members. This may make it
difficult, if not impossible, to route cables horizontally from an
electronic module in a direction towards the sidewall of the
cabinet and route the cables between a cross member and the
sidewall.
[0008] Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a cable
management apparatus that overcomes the disadvantages described
above, and to provide a simple and cost effective cable management
apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] One aspect of the invention provides a cable management
apparatus including a bracket member and a cable guide member
fastened to the bracket member. The bracket member includes a body
portion for fastening to a cabinet for housing a plurality of
electronic modules. The bracket member further includes a stem
portion. The cable guide member includes a shelf portion having a
surface and a flange portion. The flange portion is angled with
respect to the surface of the shelf portion to allow a plurality of
cables to contact the surface of the shelf portion to route the
plurality of cables within the cabinet. The body portion may
preferably include a plurality of body portion openings to allow
the body portion to be fastened to the cabinet. The flange portion
may preferably be fastened to the stem portion. The stem portion
may preferably include a plurality of stem portion openings to
allow the cable guide member to be fastened to the stem portion.
The flange portion may preferably include at least one flange
portion opening to allow the flange portion of the cable guide
member to be fastened to the stem portion of the bracket member.
The at least one flange portion opening may preferably include two
flange portion openings. The shelf portion may preferably include a
plurality of shelf portion openings spaced along the shelf portion
for receiving cable ties to secure the plurality of cables to the
surface of the shelf portion. The flange portion may preferably be
angled with respect to the surface of the shelf portion more than
90 degrees. The body portion and the stem portion may each
preferably have a generally rectangular shape. The stem portion may
preferably extend outward perpendicular from the body portion. The
bracket member may preferably be a planar member. The body portion
may preferably include a length and the shelf portion may
preferably include a length. The length of the body portion may
preferably be equal to the length of the shelf portion. The shelf
portion may preferably include at least one curved edge portion.
The at least one curved edge portion may preferably be comprised of
two curved edge portions.
[0010] Another aspect of the invention provides a cable management
apparatus including a cabinet for housing a plurality of electronic
modules. A bracket member is fastened to the cabinet, and a cable
guide member is fastened to the bracket member. The bracket member
includes a body portion fastened to the cabinet. The bracket member
further includes a stem portion. The cable guide member includes a
shelf portion having a surface and a flange portion. The flange
portion is angled with respect to the surface of the shelf portion
to allow a plurality of cables to contact the surface of the shelf
portion to route the plurality of cables within the cabinet. The
cabinet may preferably include a sidewall, and the bracket member
may preferably be fastened to the sidewall. A brace member may
preferably extend along the sidewall, and the bracket member may
preferably be fastened to the brace member.
[0011] Another aspect of the invention provides a method of routing
a plurality of cables within a cabinet for housing a plurality of
electronic modules. A bracket member and a cable guide member are
provided. The bracket member includes a body portion and a stem
portion. The cable guide member includes a shelf portion having a
surface and a flange portion. The flange portion is angled with
respect to the surface of the shelf portion. The cable guide member
is fastened to the bracket member. The body portion of the bracket
member is fastened to a cabinet for housing a plurality of
electronic modules. A plurality of cables contacts with the surface
of the shelf portion. The plurality of cables is routed within the
cabinet.
[0012] Another aspect of the invention provides a method of routing
cables. A cabinet for housing a plurality of electronic modules is
provided. A bracket member and a cable guide member are also
provided. The bracket member includes a body portion and a stem
portion. The cable guide member includes a shelf portion having a
surface and a flange portion. The shelf portion further includes a
plurality of shelf portion openings spaced along the shelf portion.
The flange portion is angled with respect to the surface of the
shelf portion. The bracket member is fastened to the cabinet. The
cable guide member is fastened to the bracket member. The body
portion of bracket member is fastened to the cabinet. A plurality
of cables contacts with the surface of the shelf portion. The
plurality of cables is routed within the cabinet and the plurality
of cables is secured to the surface of the shelf portion.
[0013] The invention provides the foregoing and other features, and
the advantages of the invention will become further apparent from
the following detailed description of the presently preferred
embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of
the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention, which is
defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
cable management apparatus that is made in accordance with the
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cable management
apparatus of FIG. 1 fastened to a cabinet for housing a plurality
of electronic modules;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the embodiment of FIG.
2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a front view of the bracket member of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the cable guide member of FIG.
1;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the cable guide member of FIG. 1;
and
[0023] FIG. 10 is a side view of the cable guide member of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4-6, a preferred embodiment of a
cable management apparatus 10 includes a bracket member 12 and a
cable guide member 14 fastened to the bracket member 12. As shown
in FIGS. 2-3, the cable management apparatus 10 is used for routing
a plurality of cables 16 in a cabinet 18 for housing a plurality of
electronic modules 20. The cabinet 18 may preferably be any
conventional cabinet for housing a plurality of electronic modules
20. For example, the cabinet 18 may preferably be adapted to house
various electronic modules used to carry out various networking
applications. The cabinet 18 may preferably be rectangular in
shape, and may preferably include a top wall 21, a bottom wall 22,
a first sidewall 24 and a second sidewall
[0025] 26. The electronic modules 20 may preferably be any type of
electronic devices including, for example, an office router, a port
expansion device, a managed modem pool device, an access
concentrator, a redundant power device, a LAN switch, an
edgeserver, and other various types of conventional electronic
devices.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 7, the bracket member 12 includes a body
portion 28 and a stem portion 30. As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the
bracket member 12 is fastened to the cabinet 18 and provides a
structure to which the cable guide member 14 can be fastened. The
bracket member 12 may be easily and quickly fastened to the cabinet
18 with any conventional fastener, such as screws, bolts, or
rivets. Referring again to FIG. 7, the bracket member 12 may
preferably be a thin planar member, although other shapes and
configurations are contemplated. The body portion 28 of the bracket
member 12 may preferably include a plurality of body portion
openings 32, 34, 36 to allow the body portion 28 to be fastened to
the cabinet 18. As shown in FIG. 7, the body portion 28 may
preferably have a generally rectangular shape. Alternatively, the
body portion 28 may have other shapes and configurations depending
upon the particular application.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the bracket member 12 may preferably be
fastened to the sidewall 24 of the cabinet 18. The sidewall 24 of
the cabinet 18 may preferably include a horizontally oriented brace
member 38 that extends along the sidewall 24 of the cabinet 18 from
the front of the cabinet 18 to the back of the cabinet 18. As shown
in FIG. 3, the bracket member 28 may preferably be fastened to the
horizontally oriented brace member 38.
[0028] Referring again to FIG. 7, the stem portion 30 of the
bracket member 12 may preferably include a plurality of stem
portion openings 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 to allow the cable
guide member 14 to be fastened to the stem portion 30. Any
conventional fastener, such as screws, bolts, or rivets may be used
to fasten the cable guide member 14 to the stem portion 30. As
shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the plurality of stem portion
openings 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54 may be arranged in two
vertical columns each positioned along the length of the stem
portion 30. The openings of the first column may be aligned
horizontally with the openings of the second column. The advantage
of this arrangement is that position of the cable guide member 14
can be easily adjusted relative to the bracket member 12. Having an
adjustable cable guide member 14 allows a technician to adjust the
position of the plurality of cables 16 within the cabinet 18, and
allows a wide range of sizes of cables or bundles of cables to be
routed within the cabinet 18.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 7, the stem portion 30 of the bracket
member 12 may preferably have a generally rectangular shape,
although other shapes and configurations are contemplated. In the
embodiment shown, the stem portion 30 extends outward perpendicular
from the body portion 28.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 8-10, the cable guide member 14 includes
a shelf portion 56 and a flange portion 58. The shelf portion 56
includes a surface 60 (see FIG. 10) onto which the plurality cables
16 are positioned. The shelf portion 56 may preferably include a
plurality of shelf portion openings 62 (see FIG. 8) spaced along
the length of the shelf portion 56. Referring to FIG. 3, the
plurality of shelf portion openings 62 may preferably receive cable
ties 64 to secure the plurality of cables 16 to the surface 60 of
the shelf portion 56. The cable guide member 14 minimizes movement
of the plurality of cables 16, which is particularly important
during seismic activity which may cause movement of the entire
cabinet 18.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 10, the flange portion 58 of the cable
guide member 14 is angled with respect to the surface 60 of the
shelf portion 56. In the embodiment shown, for example, the flange
portion 58 may preferably be angled with respect to the surface 60
of the shelf portion 56 more than 90 degrees. The advantage of
angling the flange portion 58 with respect to the shelf portion 56
is that it provides strain relief for the plurality of cables 16
and ensures that the maximum bend radius for the plurality of
cables 16 is not exceeded. In addition, this arrangement reduces
stresses at the connection points of the plurality of cables 16.
Finally, the angled flange portion 58 facilitates the guiding of
the plurality of cables 16 in a predetermined direction along a
desired path.
[0032] Referring again to FIG. 10, the shelf portion 56 may also
preferably include a first curved edge portion 64 and second curved
edge portion 66. The first and second curved edge portions 64, 66
prevent the plurality of cables 16 from being damaged as they are
routed over the surface 60 of the shelf portion 56.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 8-9, the flange portion 58 may preferably
include at least one flange portion opening 68 to allow the flange
portion 58 of the cable guide member 14 to be fastened to the stem
portion 30 of the bracket member 12. A second flange portion
opening 70 may also be provided. The number of flange portion
openings may vary depending upon the particular application.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 7-8, the body portion 28 of the bracket
member 12 includes a length (L) and the shelf portion 56 of the
cable guide member 14 includes a length (LL). The length (L) of the
body portion 28 may preferably be equal to the length (LL) of the
shelf portion 56. Alternatively, other configurations are
contemplated.
[0035] The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-10 may be used for routing a
plurality of cables 16 within a cabinet 18 for housing a plurality
of electronic modules 20. The cable guide member 14 is fastened to
the bracket member 12, and the body portion 28 of the bracket
member 12 is fastened to the cabinet 18. A plurality of cables 16
contacts with the surface 60 of the shelf portion 56, and the
plurality of cables 16 are routed within the cabinet 18. The
plurality of cables 16 may preferably be secured to the surface 60
of the shelf portion 56 with a plurality of cable ties 64.
[0036] While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are
presently considered to be preferred, various changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in
the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning
and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *