U.S. patent application number 11/361800 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for stair-stepped angled patch panel.
Invention is credited to Jack E. Caveney.
Application Number | 20060194470 11/361800 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36371019 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060194470 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Caveney; Jack E. |
August 31, 2006 |
STAIR-STEPPED ANGLED PATCH PANEL
Abstract
An angled patch panel is mountable to a network rack. The angled
patch panel includes a patch panel frame, rack mounting members
provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, and a
plurality of connectors mountable on the frame. The frame has a
first panel section and a second panel section angled relative
thereto by an obtuse angle between 90.degree. and 180.degree.. The
first and second panel sections each define a front surface, and
the plurality of connectors are oriented at an acute angle .alpha.
relative to the front surface of either the first or second panel
sections.
Inventors: |
Caveney; Jack E.; (Hinsdale,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANDUIT CORP.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT - TP12
17301 SOUTH RIDGELAND AVENUE
TINLEY PARK
IL
60477
US
|
Family ID: |
36371019 |
Appl. No.: |
11/361800 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60656253 |
Feb 25, 2005 |
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60765316 |
Feb 3, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/540.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 1/062 20130101;
G02B 6/4452 20130101; H04Q 2201/02 20130101; H04Q 1/068 20130101;
G02B 6/3897 20130101; H04Q 1/13 20130101; H01R 13/518 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/540.1 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/60 20060101
H01R013/60 |
Claims
1. An angled patch panel mountable to a network rack, comprising: a
patch panel frame having a longitudinal width sized to fit within
the network rack, the frame having a first panel section and a
second panel section angled relative thereto by an obtuse angle
between 90.degree. and 180.degree., the first and second panel
sections each defining a front surface; rack mounting members
provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame defining a
mounting plane M; and a plurality of connectors mountable on the
frame, the plurality of connectors being oriented at an acute angle
.alpha. relative to the front surface of either the first or second
panel sections.
2. The angled patch panel of claim 1, wherein the acute angle
.alpha. is substantially orthogonal to the mounting plane M.
3. The angled patch panel of claim 1, wherein the acute angle
.alpha. is oriented between an axis A orthogonal to the mounting
plane M and an axis B orthogonal to the front surface of either the
first or second panel sections.
4. The angled patch panel of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a
centerpiece at the intersection of the first and second panel
sections.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/656,253, filed Feb. 25, 2005, and 60/765,316,
filed Feb. 3, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to an angled patch panel
for a network equipment rack and, more particularly, an angled
patch panel having a plurality of connectors mounted at an acute
angle relative to the faceplate surface. Preferably, the connectors
are mounted substantially perpendicular to the plane of the network
equipment rack.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] Angled patch panels are known in the art, as shown and
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,541. In prior angled patch panels,
connectors are oriented orthogonal to the faceplate surface. This
angled configuration allows cables exiting the front of the
connectors to flow directly to one or more vertical cable managers
located adjacent the network rack and, thus, eliminates the need
for horizontal cable management.
[0004] However, prior angled patch panels have some drawbacks.
Because the connectors extend rearward of the patch panel a
substantial distance and are angled inward toward an imaginary
center line due to their orthogonal orientation, there is a
possibility of connector interference on the rear side of the patch
panel near the center. Moreover, the plugs installed in the
connectors at each end of the frame adjacent the mounting members
are oriented at an acute angle to the vertical rails of the network
rack. Thus, in high density patch panels such as the one shown in
FIGS. 1-4 wherein the rows of connectors are closely spaced, it is
difficult to access these plugs. However, orienting the connectors
parallel to the vertical rails of the network rack alleviates this
problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is desirable to provide a patch panel with additional
rear side connector and cabling clearance.
[0006] It is also desirable to provide a patch panel with better
accessability to plugs installed in connectors adjacent the
vertical rails of the network rack.
[0007] An angled patch panel is mountable to a network rack. The
angled patch panel includes a patch panel frame, rack mounting
members provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, and a
plurality of connectors mountable on the frame. The frame has a
first panel section and a second panel section angled relative
thereto by an obtuse angle between 90.degree. and 180.degree.. The
first and second panel sections each define a front surface, and
the plurality of connectors are oriented at an acute angle .alpha.
relative to the front surface of either the first or second panel
sections.
[0008] Preferably, the rack mounting members define a mounting
plane M, and the acute angle a is substantially orthogonal to the
mounting plane M. The acute angle .alpha. is oriented between an
axis A orthogonal to the mounting plane M and an axis B orthogonal
to the front surface of either the first or second panel
sections.
[0009] Preferably, the frame includes a centerpiece at the
intersection of the first and second panel sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a top right perspective view of a fully loaded
angled patch panel and a cable support bar therefor according to
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a top right partial exploded perspective view
of the angled patch panel and cable support bar of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the angled patch panel of FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a partial enlarged top view of the angled patch
panel of FIG. 1; and
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a partial exploded top view of a second
exemplary embodiment of a patch panel according to the invention,
along with exemplary cable routing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIGS. 1-4 are directed to a high density angled patch panel
utilizing four, twelve-position faceplates for a total of
forty-eight ports in one rack unit. One rack unit is 1.75 inches
high under the EIA/TIA standard. However, it is likewise
contemplated that the patch panel may include any number of
faceplates having any number of positions. For example, the patch
panel may include only two, twenty-four position faceplates.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a fully loaded high density angled patch panel
10. As best seen in FIG. 2, the patch panel 10 includes a frame 12,
a plurality of faceplates, such as faceplate 14, and a plurality of
connectors, such as connector 16. Moreover, a separate or integral
cable support bar 18 may be provided on a rear side of the patch
panel 10. Preferably, the frame 12 is metal, and the faceplate 14
is plastic. However, it is likewise contemplated that the frame 12
may be formed of any suitable rigid material, such as many plastics
or composites.
[0017] The outwardly angled central frame 12 defines at least two
angled faceplate surfaces, as the frame 12 has a plurality of
faceplate openings 20 (see FIG. 2). The frame 12 also has a
mounting member 22 at each end with a plurality of mounting
apertures 24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The frame 12 further
includes a centerpiece 26 located midway along the frame 12 to
space the faceplate openings 20 on opposite halves of the central
frame 12.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 12 has a top flange 28
including a plurality of rectangular apertures, such as aperture
30. Similarly, the frame 12 has a bottom flange 32 including a
plurality of rectangular apertures, such as aperture 34. The
apertures 30, 34 allow the faceplates 14 to be snapped into the
rear side of the frame 12. Moreover, as best seen in FIG. 2, each
half of the frame 12 includes a vertically-oriented separator
portion 36 to add strength to the frame 12.
[0019] Both the frame 12 and the cable support bar 18 are designed
to mount on a network rack 38. The frame 12 can be any size, but
preferably is sized with a width W (see FIG. 3) to fit within a
conventional network rack, such as a 19'' or 23'' EIA rack. The
invention is not limited to such EIA racks, but is equally
applicable to other known or subsequently developed racks.
Moreover, the network rack 38 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 frame 12 and
vertical cable managers. The rack 38 has spaced vertical rails or
legs 40 and various mounting openings 42 to facilitate equipment
mounting. When mounted, the frame 12 protrudes out from the front
of the rack 38 by a distance D of several inches, as shown in FIG.
3, due to the outwardly angled frame 12.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the angled frame 12. As shown
therein, the frame 12 is angled outwardly in a generally inverted
V-shape. Each half of the central frame 12 is preferably a mirror
image and front faceplate surfaces thereof are angled from the
other by an angle .phi., which is an obtuse angle between about
90.degree.and 180.degree., preferably an angle .phi. between about
100.degree.to 140.degree., and more preferably an angle
.phi.between about 110.degree. and 130.degree.. The illustrative
embodiment shown has an angle .phi. of about 120.degree..
[0021] Each half of the frame 12 is also angled relative to the
mounting members 22 at an angle .theta. and the mounting members 22
are oriented in the same plane and parallel to the mounting plane
of the front sides of the vertical rails 40 of the network rack 38.
The angle .theta. is an acute angle of preferably not more than
45.degree.,preferably between about 20.degree. to 40.degree., and
more preferably between about 25.degree. and 35.degree.. In the
illustrative example, the angle .theta. is about 30.degree.. While
the central frame 12 is shown and described as being symmetrical,
it is to be understood that the patch panel sections could be
disposed at different angles relative to the mounting members 22
and, thus, be of different lengths.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the faceplate openings 20 receive
faceplates 14, and faceplates 14 are sized to fit within the
openings 20, preferably by snap fit. As best seen in FIG. 2, the
faceplate 14 has two cantilever tabs 44 along a top surface
thereof, and two cantilever tabs (not shown) along a bottom surface
thereof. The cantilever tabs 44 engage with the apertures 30, 34 to
allow the faceplate 14 to be snapped into the frame 12. However,
rather than removable faceplates, faceplates 14 may be integrated
into the frame 12. The faceplates 14 and the openings 20 may be
multiple rack unit heights or may be sized as a single rack unit
height, as shown.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of faceplate 14 loaded with
twelve connectors 16. Two other faceplates 14 with connectors 16
are already loaded into the frame 12. In this illustrative example,
the frame 12 has a total of four faceplates 14, each with a
capacity of twelve connectors 16 for a total capacity of
forty-eight connection ports in a one rack unit space. However,
this is merely illustrative. Any number of faceplates 14 may be
provided.
[0024] Connectors 16 may take many forms, such as electrical,
optical, telecommunications-related or other known or subsequently
developed connectors for connecting cabling. Preferred connectors
are capable of connecting Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), Screened
Twisted Pair (ScTP), coaxial and/or fiber optic cables used in the
telecommunications industry to transmit data, voice, video and/or
audio information. While twelve connectors 16 per faceplate 14 are
shown, this is merely illustrative. Fewer or greater numbers of
connectors 16 per faceplate 14 may be provided.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the connectors 16 are mounted and
oriented at an acute angle a relative to the faceplate surface.
That is, the connectors 16 have cable receiving surfaces oriented
to longitudinally extend at an angle a and receive cabling on rear
and front sides in line with this angle .alpha.. In this exemplary
embodiment, angle .alpha. is substantially orthogonal to plane M
(see FIG. 3), which is the mounting plane of vertical rails 40.
[0026] In a second exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, angle
.beta. is an acute angle representing the angle between a plane
extending across the front of a connector 16 and plane M. As in the
first embodiment, .theta. is the angle at which a section of frame
12 is angled relative to plane M. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
3, for example, .beta. would be 0.degree.. In the embodiment of
FIG. 5, .beta. is at an acute angle between 0.degree. and
.theta..
[0027] The aforementioned features work together to increase the
functionality of the inventive patch panel. For example, the
acutely angled connectors better manage the cabling on the rear
side of the patch panel by reducing the interference of cabling on
the rear side. Thus, by the acute angling, interference near an
imaginary centerline rearward of centerpiece 26 can be eliminated.
This arrangement can also provide improved front side cable
management. For example, there may be better accessability to plugs
installed in the connectors 16 adjacent the vertical rails 40 of
the network rack 38.
[0028] 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.
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