U.S. patent application number 11/369803 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for angled patch panel with cable support bar for network cable racks.
Invention is credited to Jed M. Barker, Mark J. Donnell, Kevin E. Honan.
Application Number | 20060154513 11/369803 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25438086 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060154513 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barker; Jed M. ; et
al. |
July 13, 2006 |
Angled patch panel with cable support bar for network cable
racks
Abstract
A patch panel mountable to a network rack includes a patch panel
frame and rack mounting plates. The frame forms a central section
having a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack.
The rack mounting plates are provided on opposite longitudinal ends
of the central section and allow the panel to be mounted to a
network rack. The central section includes two panel sections
angled outwardly in an inverted V-shape and the central section has
mounted thereon a plurality of cable connectors that receive
cabling on the front side and the rear side of the patch panel
frame. Each connector has a horizontal axis.
Inventors: |
Barker; Jed M.; (Orland
Park, IL) ; Donnell; Mark J.; (Orland Park, IL)
; Honan; Kevin E.; (Tinley Park, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANDUIT CORP.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT - TP12
17301 SOUTH RIDGELAND AVENUE
TINLEY PARK
IL
60477
US
|
Family ID: |
25438086 |
Appl. No.: |
11/369803 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11353703 |
Feb 14, 2006 |
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11369803 |
Mar 7, 2006 |
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11256798 |
Oct 24, 2005 |
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11353703 |
Feb 14, 2006 |
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11139327 |
May 27, 2005 |
6981893 |
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11256798 |
Oct 24, 2005 |
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10941472 |
Sep 15, 2004 |
6918786 |
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11139327 |
May 27, 2005 |
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09916923 |
Jul 26, 2001 |
6866541 |
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10941472 |
Sep 15, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/450 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 1/062 20130101;
H04Q 1/066 20130101; H01R 13/74 20130101; G02B 6/4452 20130101;
H04Q 1/13 20130101; H01R 9/2416 20130101; H04Q 1/068 20130101; H04Q
1/06 20130101; H04Q 2201/02 20130101; H01R 13/518 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/450 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/58 20060101
H01R013/58 |
Claims
1. A patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising: a frame
having rack mounting members provided on opposite longitudinal ends
of the frame, wherein the frame includes two patch panel frame
halves, wherein at least a portion of each of the frame halves are
angled relative to each other by an obtuse angle between 90.degree.
and 180.degree., each of the frame halves having mountable thereon
a plurality of connectors having a front face such that when the
plurality of connectors are mounted on each of the frame halves,
the front face of each connector in the patch panel is located such
that the distance from each connector front face to a second plane,
which is parallel to a first plane that is in line with the
longitudinal ends of the frame, and which is in front of the patch
panel, is not greater than the distance to the second plane from
the front face of any other connector of the patch panel which is
farther from the center of the patch panel in a horizontal
direction.
2. The patch panel of claim 1, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the axis of each connector is
horizontal.
3. The patch panel of claim 1, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector is
parallel to the front face of the portion of the frame on which
each connector is mounted.
4. The patch panel of claim 1, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector is
substantially flush with the front face of the portion of the frame
on which each connector is mounted.
5. The patch panel of claim 1, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, each connector is in fixed
orientation relative to the patch panel.
6. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of
connectors are individual cable connector modules.
7. The patch panel of claim 6, wherein each of the individual cable
connector modules are mountable in one of a multitude of insert
modules which are mountable in the frame.
8. The patch panel of claim 7, such that when the multitude of
insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has
a front face which is parallel to the front face of the portion of
the frame in which the insert module is mounted.
9. The patch panel of claim 7, such that when the multitude of
insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has
a front face which is substantially flush with the front face of
the portion of the frame in which the insert module is mounted.
10. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the patch panel comprises
only a first patch panel frame half and a second patch panel frame
half.
11. The patch panel of claim 10, wherein the first and second patch
panel frame halves are symmetrical.
12. A patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising: a frame
having rack mounting members provided on opposite longitudinal ends
of the frame, wherein the frame includes two patch panel frame
halves, wherein at least a portion of each of the frame halves are
angled relative to each other by an obtuse angle between 90.degree.
and 180.degree., each of the portions having mountable thereon a
plurality of connectors having a front face such that when the
plurality of connectors are mounted on each of these portions, the
front face of each connector in the portions is located such that
it is not behind the front face of that portion of the frame which
is adjacent to the connector.
13. The patch panel of claim 12, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the axis of each connector is
horizontal.
14. The patch panel of claim 12, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of the connectors in
each portion are in a common plane which is coincident with or
parallel to the plane of the front face of the portion on which the
connectors are mounted.
15. The patch panel of claim 12, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector in
each portion is substantially flush with the front face of the
portion on which the connectors are mounted.
16. The patch panel of claim 12, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, each connector is in fixed
orientation relative to the patch panel.
17. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of
connectors are individual cable connector modules.
18. The patch panel of claim 17, wherein each of the individual
cable connector modules are mountable in one of a multitude of
insert modules which are mountable in the frame.
19. The patch panel of claim 18, such that when the multitude of
insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has
a front face which is parallel to the front face of the portion of
the frame in which the insert module is mounted.
20. The patch panel of claim 18, such that when the multitude of
insert modules are mounted thereon, the front face of each insert
module is substantially flush with the front face of the portion of
the frame in which the insert module is mounted.
21. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the patch panel comprises
only a first patch panel frame half and a second patch panel frame
half.
22. The patch panel of claim 21, wherein the first and second patch
panel frame halves are symmetrical.
23. A patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising: a frame
having rack mounting members provided on opposite longitudinal ends
of the frame, wherein the frame includes two patch panel frame
halves, each of the frame halves having mountable thereon a
plurality of connectors having a front face such that when the
plurality of connectors are mounted on each of the frame halves,
the front face of each connector in the patch panel is located such
that the distance from each connector front face to a second plane,
which is parallel to a first plane that is in line with the
longitudinal ends of the frame, and which is in front of the patch
panel, is not greater than the distance to the second plane from
the front face of any other connector of the patch panel which is
farther from the center of the patch panel in a horizontal
direction and the distance from the front face of a connector which
is adjacent to the junction of the frame halves to the second plane
is less than the distance from the front face of a connector in the
same half which is adjacent to a rack mounting member to the second
plane.
24. The patch panel of claim 23, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the axis of each connector is
horizontal.
25. The patch panel of claim 23, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector is
parallel to the front face of the portion of the frame on which
each connector is mounted.
26. The patch panel of claim 23, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, the front face of each connector is
substantially flush with the front face of the portion of the frame
on which each connector is mounted.
27. The patch panel of claim 23, such that when the plurality of
connectors are mounted thereon, each connector is in fixed
orientation relative to the patch panel.
28. The patch panel of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of
connectors are individual cable connector modules.
29. The patch panel of claim 28, wherein each of the individual
cable connector modules are mountable in one of a multitude of
insert modules which are mountable in the frame.
30. The patch panel of claim 29, such that when the multitude of
insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has
a front face which is parallel to the front face of the portion of
the frame in which the insert module is mounted.
31. The patch panel of claim 29, such that when the multitude of
insert modules are mounted therein, each of the insert modules has
a front face which is substantially flush with the front face of
the portion of the frame in which the insert module is mounted.
32. The patch panel of claim 23, wherein the patch panel comprises
only a first patch panel frame half and a second patch panel frame
half.
33. The patch panel of claim 32, wherein the first and second patch
panel frame halves are symmetrical.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
11/353,703, filed Feb. 14, 2006, which is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 11/256,798, filed Oct. 24, 2005, which is a
continuation of application Ser. No. 11/139,327, filed May 27,
2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,893, which is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 10/941,472, filed Sep. 15, 2004, now U.S. Pat.
No. 6,918,786, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.
09/916,923, filed Jul. 26, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,541.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] Generally, the present invention relates to cable management
devices for network equipment racks. In particular, the invention
relates to an angled patch panel and cable support bar
therefor.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Cables, such as UTP, ScTP, coaxial and fiber optic cables,
transmit data, voice, video and/or audio information in the
telecommunications industry. Patch panel and network equipment
enclosure rack systems are well-known in the industry. They manage
and organize such cables both to and from such equipment and/or to
and from such patch panels. These systems usually include the
standard EIA 19'', 23'' or other distribution frame rack on which
one or more patch panels, network equipment, fiber optic enclosures
and the like are mounted. Rack enclosures serve various functions,
including their use as slack trays, splice trays, cable organizers
and patch panels. These rack enclosures also serve as interconnect
or cross-connect enclosures when they interface with equipment.
Additionally, rack systems may serve as a telecommunications
closet, allowing the cables to be terminated, spliced, patched
and/or stored at various places along their length.
[0006] The rack is usually formed from a frame having mounting
apertures located along the vertical legs or walls of the rack.
Patching equipment, such as a patch panel, is mounted onto the rack
so as to generally define a patching side, where patch cords from
another active device or another patch panel can be cross-connected
and interconnected, and a distribution side, where cables from
network equipment and/or work station areas are terminated.
Generally, some form of cable management is provided on both sides
of the rack to support and route the cables. While preventing
detrimental bending is always important even for copper cabling,
with the increasing use of fiber optic connectors as applied to
connector rack systems, proper cable management and bend radius
control has become increasingly important. Many known systems are
unable to provide complete bend radius control, are inefficient,
are difficult to manufacture, are difficult to manage and access,
and/or have other drawbacks. Thus, improvement in the cable
management of network rack systems is desired. In particular, many
patch panel systems require both horizontal and vertical cable
management within the rack.
[0007] There is a need for a patch panel design that eliminates the
necessity for one or more of these cable management devices.
[0008] There is also a need for a patch panel system that can
accommodate more port capacity and provide additional space for
containing cabling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved
patch panel for a network rack that can provide better cable
management without the need for a horizontal cable manager.
[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved
patch panel that can accommodate greater port capacity.
[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide cable
support to a patch panel.
[0012] Various ones of the above and other objects are achieved by
a patch panel mountable to a network rack comprising a frame and
rack mounting plates. The frame forms a central section having a
longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a
predefined height, a front side, and a rear side. The rack mounting
plates are provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central
section and allow the panel to be mounted to a network rack. The
central section is angled outwardly in an inverted V-shape. The
central section has mountable thereon a plurality of cable
connectors that receive cabling on the front side and the rear side
of the patch panel frame. When mounted, the plurality of cable
connectors are oriented to have rear surfaces thereof face a common
axis of the central section.
[0013] Various ones of the above and other objects are also
achieved by a network rack and patch panel assembly, comprising: a
network rack having two rails spaced a predetermined distance from
each other, each rail including spaced mounting openings; and a
patch panel mounted to the network rack. The patch panel includes a
frame forming a central section and having a longitudinal width
sized to fit between the two rails, a predefined height, a front
side, and a rear side. The patch panel also includes rack mounting
plates provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central
section connected to ones of the spaced mounting openings of the
rails. The central section is angled outwardly in an inverted
V-shape. Mounted on the central section are a plurality of cable
connectors that receive cabling on the front side and the rear side
of the patch panel frame. The plurality of cable connectors are
oriented to have rear surfaces thereof face a common axis of the
central section.
[0014] The patch panel and rack may further include a cable support
bar that supports the weight of cabling exiting the rear of the
patch panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages
of the present invention will become apparent from the following
description of preferred embodiments with references to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows an exploded isometric view of a first
embodiment of an angled patch panel frame according to the present
invention and a cable support bar therefor;
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the patch panel frame of FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an insert module loaded
with four cable connector modules being inserted into the patch
panel frame of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 4 shows the patch panel of FIG. 3 and the cable support
bar mounted onto a 19'' standard rack;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a detailed partial view of the 19'' standard rack
and patch panel of FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the patch panel and the 19''
standard rack of FIG. 4;
[0022] FIG. 7 show an isometric view of a second embodiment of an
angled patch panel frame according to the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 shows an insert module used in the second embodiment
of the patch panel; and
[0024] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of an insert module loaded
with four cable connector modules being loaded into the second
embodiment of the patch panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] A patch panel 100 according to an exemplary first embodiment
of the invention is generally shown in FIGS. 1-6 and is useful in
providing a support panel for mounting reconfigurable ports for
patching components in a network rack.
[0026] The patch panel frame 100 includes an outwardly angled
central frame 110, a plurality of faceplate openings 120 and a
mounting plate 130 at each end with a plurality of mounting
apertures 135, as shown in FIG. 1. A flat centerpiece 140 located
midway along frame 110 may be provided to space the openings 120 on
opposite halves of the central frame 110 from each other. This
centerpiece 140 also slightly reduces the depth D of the patch
panel by eliminating the angle at a central portion where no
openings 120 are located. Patch panel frame 100 is preferably
formed of a suitable material, such as metal so as to be self
grounding. However, frame 110 may be formed of any suitable rigid
material, such as many plastics or composites. A separate or
integral cable support bar 200 may be provided on a rear side of
the patch panel. Cable support bar 200 includes a bar portion 210
and mounting plates 220.
[0027] Both the patch panel frame 100 and cable support bar 200 are
designed to mount on a rack. Patch panel frame 100 can be any size,
but preferably is sized with a width W to fit within a conventional
19'' or 23'' EIA network rack that has spaced vertical rails or
legs 510 that allow the mounting of various rack elements thereon
(see FIGS. 4-5). The patch panel can occupy a single rack unit
height of 1.75'' (4.45 cm) or multiple rack unit height, such as
the two rack unit height illustrated (3.5'' or 8.9 cm). The rack
500 should have various mounting openings 520 or comparable devices
to facilitate equipment mounting. When mounted, patch panel frame
100 protrudes out from the front of the rack 500 by a distance D of
several inches, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, due to the outwardly
angled frame 110.
[0028] The invention is not limited to such EIA racks, but is
equally applicable to other known or subsequently developed racks.
Moreover, a network rack 500 need not be an open frame structure as
in the above EIA racks, but may include mounting cabinets or
enclosures having mounting features and walls defining openings
that can receive and affix rack elements, such as the patch panel
100, cable managers and the like.
[0029] Patch panel frame 100 is angled outwardly in a generally
inverted V-shape. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the angled patch panel
frame 100. Each half of the central frame 110 is preferably a
mirror image and angled from the other by an angle .phi., which is
an obtuse angle of a suitable angle of between about 90.degree. and
180.degree., preferably an angle of between about 100.degree. to
140.degree., and more preferably between about 110.degree. and
130.degree.. The illustrative embodiment shown has an angle .phi.
of about 120.degree.. This allows cables attached to the front of
the patch panel to flow directly to one or more vertical cable
managers located adjacent the network rack.
[0030] The patch panel frame halves are also angled relative to
mounting brackets 130 (which are oriented in line with each other
and parallel to the front sides of rails 510 of the mounting rack
500) at an angle of .theta., which is an acute angle of preferably
not more than 45.degree., preferably between about 20.degree. to
40.degree. degrees, and more preferably between about 25.degree.
and 35.degree.. In the illustrative example, the angle .theta. is
about 30.degree.. While the central section is shown and described
as being symmetrical, it is to be understood that the patch panel
sections 110 could be disposed at different angles relative to the
brackets 130 and thus be of different lengths.
[0031] Patch panel frame 100 has a plurality of faceplate openings
120 that receive insert modules 300, as shown in FIG. 3. The insert
modules 300 are sized to fit within openings 120, preferably by
snap fit. However, rather than replaceable modules, modules 300 may
be integrated into frame 110. The modules and openings may be
multiple rack unit heights or may be sized as a single rack unit
height, as shown. In the first illustrative exemplary embodiment,
patch panel frame 100 has twelve faceplate openings 120. These
twelve faceplate openings 120 allow twelve insert modules 300 to be
inserted into the patch panel frame 100, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0032] Insert modules 300 are fitted to hold one or more removable
cable connector modules 400. Cable connector modules 400 may take
many forms, such as electrical, optical, telecommunications-related
or other known or subsequently developed connector for connecting
cabling. Preferred modules are capable of connecting UTP, ScTP,
coaxial and/or fiber optic cables used in the telecommunications
industry to transmit data, voice, video and/or audio
information.
[0033] Insert modules 300 are secured within patch panel openings
120 by way of snap fit, as is known in the art. FIG. 3 shows an
exploded view of an insert module 300 loaded with four cable
connector modules 400 that is then inserted into patch panel 100.
Three other insert modules 300 with cable connector modules 400 are
already loaded into patch panel 100. In this first illustrative
example of FIGS. 1-6, patch panel 100 can have a total of twelve
insert modules 300, each with a capacity of four connector modules
400 for a total capacity of 48 ports in a two rack unit space.
[0034] There are several advantages to the inventive patch panel.
By making the frame angled outwardly in an inverted V-shape, the
axis of each cable connector is at the acute angle .theta. relative
to a common central axis (parallel to the depth direction D). This
provides front connector surfaces that are better oriented relative
to front corners of the rack rails 510, where vertical cable
managers or ducts 530 are provided that contain cables 540 that
mate with front sides of various ones of the cable connector
modules 400 as shown in FIG. 6. In particular, the angled frame 110
provides a connector surface that is at a reduced angle relative to
an exit direction of the cables exiting the vertical cable manager
as compared to conventional patch panels. That is, prior art,
flat-faced patch panels which were oriented substantially parallel
to the exit direction and required one or more 90.degree. cable
bends for connection. In general practice, this required an
external horizontal cable manager to control the bends and provide
a minimum bend radius. However, as the inventive patch panel has
surfaces that intersect this exit direction (direction X in FIG. 6)
at an acute angle, the bend necessary to achieve connection is
substantially less than 90.degree. as shown. This reduces or
eliminates the need for additional horizontal cable management
adjacent to the patch panel to guide exiting cables from the
vertical cable managers 530 to the individual connector modules 400
as each cable 540 is routed directly from each connector module 400
to the adjacent vertical duct 530.
[0035] Additionally, this structure results in slightly shorter
patch cable lengths than before. Moreover, the outwardly angled
frame 110 provides increased space behind patch panel frame 100 for
housing the cabling. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a conventional
flat-faced patch panel would be flush to the rack rails 510 and
would thus only provide an area of the inner rectangle between
rails 510. However, with the angled patch panel, the receiving area
is this inner rectangle plus the triangular area defined by the
outwardly extending frame of patch panel 100.
[0036] Further, by making the front face of the patch panel angled
(in an inverted V-shape), rather than flat, there is additional
surface area on the front face of the patch panel. That is, for a
rack of a given width, such as 19'', a conventional flat patch
panel would only have a surface area equal to
19''.times.N.times.1.75'', where N is the number of rack units in
height. However, at any given angle .theta., the total length of
the two angled halves of frame 110 will be greater than the length
of a corresponding flat piece. For example, with the inventive
angled patch panel front face at an exemplary angle .theta. of
30.degree., the surface area is approximately
22''.times.N.times.1.75''. This and other surface areas for other
angles .theta. can be simply solved using basic trigonometric
principles.
[0037] The aforementioned features work together to increase the
functionality of the inventive patch panel. That is, the increased
space behind the patch panel helps accommodate the cabling needs,
and the uniformly angled connector modules better manage the
cabling on the front side of the patch panel by reducing the
necessary bend angle for incoming cabling, eliminating the need for
external horizontal cable managers as often required with
conventional patch panels.
[0038] While horizontal cable management on the front side may not
be necessary, it may be beneficial to provide cable support bar 200
to assist in supporting the weight of the various cabling attached
to the rear side of patch panel 100, and to assist in the direction
of the cables exiting patch panel 100. Cable support bar 200 is
preferably formed of a suitable material, such as metal. Support
bar portion 210 preferably extends the entire width of rack 500 and
includes mounting plates 220 each with at least one mounting
aperture 225 as shown to mount the support bar on rack 500 or
comparable device.
[0039] Cable support bar 200 is preferably separate from patch
panel frame 100, but may be integrally formed therewith if desired.
Cable support bar 200 may be attached to rack 500 using mounting
apertures 225 either from the front when the patch panel frame 100
is attached, or from the back after the patch panel frame 100 has
been attached. Attaching the cable support bar 200 from the back
allows the end user to install the cable support bar 200 after all
of the connectors have been terminated, thus eliminating any
interference from the cable support bar 200 when terminating the
connectors.
[0040] In a second embodiment of the present invention shown in
FIGS. 7-9, a variation in configuration is provided. Patch panel
frame 700 is angled with angles .phi. and .theta. as in the first
illustrative embodiment. However, for this embodiment, there are
only six faceplate openings 720 in frame 710 that allow for
twelve-pack insert modules 800 to be inserted therein. These
modules occupy a double rack height. Like the previous embodiment,
mounting plates 730 are provided for mounting the patch panel to a
rack and a flat centerpiece 740 may be provided.
[0041] The twelve-pack insert modules 800 for the second embodiment
of the present invention are shown in FIG. 8. While more or less
connector modules could be provided, the illustrative insert
modules 800 are capable of receiving up to twelve single-spaced
cable connector modules 900. To allow a snap fit within openings
720, insert modules 800 have four `upside down` snaps 810, as shown
in FIG. 8, which hold insert module 800 to patch panel frame 700.
However, other methods of affixing insert modules 800 to openings
720 are contemplated.
[0042] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of an insert module 800 loaded
with four exemplary cable connector modules 900 being positioned
for mounting into patch panel frame 700. Five other insert modules
800 with cable connector modules 900 are shown already loaded into
patch panel 700. While not necessary, the illustrative patch panel
700 covers two rack units as in the previous embodiment and fits
into a standard 19'' network rack. With this configuration, a
capacity of 72 cable connector ports can be achieved in a two rack
height patch panel.
[0043] As in the previous embodiment, frame 710 is angled outwardly
in an inverted V-shape so that the rear of all of the ports are
angled toward a common central axis. This provides better flow of
the cabling entering the front of patch panel 700 as described with
respect to the first embodiment to eliminate the need for a front
external horizontal cable manager. However, as in the first
embodiment, a cable support bar 200 may be provided to support the
weight of exiting cables to the rear of patch panel 700.
[0044] While the invention has been shown and described in
conjunction with specific exemplary embodiments, the invention is
not limited to these. It will be obvious to those skilled in the
art that changes and modifications may be made without departing
from the teachings of this invention and that the matter set forth
in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered
by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual
scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following
appended claims.
* * * * *