U.S. patent application number 13/441009 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-02 for cable management apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to MO-MING YU, HAI-CHEN ZHOU.
Application Number | 20120193485 13/441009 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40943798 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120193485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YU; MO-MING ; et
al. |
August 2, 2012 |
CABLE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS
Abstract
A cable management apparatus includes a cable support, and a
coil spring. The cable support includes a first support and a
second support. A rail assembly includes an outer rail and an inner
rail slidably attached to the outer rail. The first support is
rotationally attached to the inner rail and the second support is
rotationally attached to the outer rail. Opposite ends of the
coiling spring is respectively connected to the first and second
supports. The coiling spring is bendable to make an angle between
the first and second supports be changeable.
Inventors: |
YU; MO-MING; (Shenzhen City,
CN) ; ZHOU; HAI-CHEN; (Shenzhen City, CN) |
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
Shenzhen City
CN
|
Family ID: |
40943798 |
Appl. No.: |
13/441009 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12166264 |
Jul 1, 2008 |
8167146 |
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13441009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/68.1 ;
248/70 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1491
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/68.1 ;
248/70 |
International
Class: |
H02G 3/02 20060101
H02G003/02; F16L 3/01 20060101 F16L003/01 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 16, 2008 |
CN |
200810301152.X |
Claims
1. A cable management apparatus, the cable management apparatus
comprising: a rail assembly comprising an outer rail and an inner
rail slidably attached to the outer rail; a first support
comprising a first support section and a first rotation section,
wherein the first rotation section is rotatably attached to the
inner rail; a second support comprising a second support section
and a second rotation section, wherein the second rotation section
is rotatably attached to the outer rail; a connecting member
comprising a first connecting part and a second connecting part,
wherein the first connecting part connects with the first support
section and the second connecting part connects with the second
support section, and the first connecting part and the second
connecting part are capable of rotational relative movement; and a
coil spring bendable and comprising opposite ends respectively
connected to the first support section and the second support
section to rotatably link the first support section with the second
support section.
2. The cable management apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the inner rail comprises a first locking member and the outer rail
comprises a second locking member, and the first rotation section
is pivotably coupled to the first locking member and the second
rotation section is pivotably coupled to the second locking
member.
3. The cable management apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a plurality of cable retainers, wherein at lease one
cable retainer is located on each of the first and second
supports.
4. The cable management apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein
each cable retainer comprises a wire bent into a U-shape; two
coiled portions in axial alignment with each other are formed at
opposite ends of the wire; and a middle portion of the wire extends
towards the coiled portions to form a hook like structure.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This present application is a divisional application of U.S.
patent application, entitled "CABLE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS", with
application Ser. No. 12/166,264, filed on Jul. 1, 2008, which
claims foreign priority based on Chinese Patent application No.
200810301152.X, filed in China on Apr. 16, 2008. The content of the
above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to an accessory of a server
cabinet, and more particularly to a cable management apparatus
attached to a server cabinet to manage the cables connected to a
server.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Many servers are installed in cabinets via a pair of rail
assemblies. A cable management apparatus is attached to the cabinet
behind the server to manage the cables of the server to ensure that
the cables are well ordered. The cable management apparatus
generally includes a first supporting arm pivotably connected with
a second supporting arm. The first and second supporting arms are
attached to a rail assembly, and can rotate relative to each other
when the server moves with the rail assemblies. But, when the
server is in place, the first and second supporting arms cannot
rotate anymore and block the access to the rear part of the
sever.
[0006] Because of the existence of the above cable management
apparatus, maintenance of the components behind the server such as
power supply modules becomes inconvenient. The cable management
apparatus must be detached from the cabinet to provide access for
the maintenance.
[0007] What is desired, therefore, is a cable management apparatus
that facilitates the maintenance of servers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a cable management
apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but an inverted view.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIGS. 4 and 5 are assembled views of the cable management
apparatus of FIG. 1, two rail assemblies, and a server, showing two
using states respectively.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an assembled, isometric view of a cable management
apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an assembled, isometric view of the cable
management apparatus of FIG. 6, two rail assemblies, and a server,
showing a using state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a cable management apparatus
in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure is
attached between a first rail assembly 80 and a second rail
assembly 90, for managing cables 110 extending from a rear end of a
server 100 slidably mounted to a cabinet using the first and second
rail assembly 80 and 90. The cable management apparatus includes a
first supporting arm 10, a second supporting arm 20, a connecting
member 30, a plurality of cable retainers 40, a first locking
member 50, a second locking member 60, and a supporting member
70.
[0015] A rear end of the first rail assembly 80 defines a fixing
hole 81(see FIG. 5).
[0016] The first supporting arm 10 is approximately L-shaped, and
includes a pole-shaped supporting portion 11, and a pivot portion
12 vertically extending from a first end of the supporting portion
11.
[0017] The second supporting arm 20 is approximately L-shaped, and
includes a pole-shaped supporting portion 21, a pivot portion 22
vertically extending from a first end of the supporting portion 21,
and a threaded portion 23 defined at a second end of the supporting
portion 21.
[0018] The connecting member 30 includes a first connecting part 31
and a second connecting part 32. The first connecting part 31
includes a tube 313, a discoid-shaped hook portion 311 extending
from an end of the tube 313, and a plurality of circularly
distributed hooks 312 vertically extending from a circumference of
a bottom of the hook portion 311. The tube 313 defines an axial
hole 3132 therein. The second connecting part 32 includes a fixing
pole 323, a discoid-shaped receiving portion 321 extending from an
end of the fixing pole 323, and a blocking portion 324 radially
extending outward from the receiving portion 321. The receiving
portion 321 defines a stepped hole in a middle thereof. The other
end of the fixing pole 323 axially defines a threaded hole 3232,
corresponding to the threaded portion 23 of the second supporting
arm 20.
[0019] Each cable retainer 40 may be formed by a wire bent into a
U-shape. Distal ends 41 thereof are coiled and in axial alignment
to receive a corresponding pole-shape supporting portion 11, 21
therethrough. The middle portion is bent toward the coiled ends 41
to form a hook like structure.
[0020] The first locking member 50 is approximately L-shaped, and
includes an attaching portion and an extending portion vertically
bent from one end of the attaching portion. A pivot part 51 is
formed at a distal end of the extending portion.
[0021] The second locking member 60 includes an attaching portion,
an extending portion vertically bent from one end of the attaching
portion, and an elastic part 62 vertically bent from a distal end
of the extending portion. A pivot part 61 is formed at an outer
surface of the extending portion. Two cutouts 621 are respectively
defined at opposite sides of the free end of the elastic part
62.
[0022] The supporting member 70 includes a supporting portion 71, a
protrusion 72 extending outward from one end of the supporting
portion 71, and a fixing portion 73 vertically bent from the other
end of the supporting portion 71. The supporting portion 71 defines
a fixing hole 74 adjacent the fixing portion 73. The fixing hole 74
includes a greater section and a smaller section communicating with
the greater section.
[0023] Referring also to FIGS. 3 to 5, in assembly, the hooks 312
of the first connecting part 31 of the connecting member 30 is
extended into the stepped hole 322 of the second connecting part 32
from the smaller hole of the stepped hole 322, and engaged with the
step of the stepped hole 322. The first connecting part 31 is
rotationally mounted to the second connecting part 32. The cable
retainers 40 are positioned on the tube 313 of the first connecting
part 31, the supporting portion 11 of the first supporting arm 10,
or the supporting portion 21 of the second supporting arm 20, via
their coiled ends 41. The cable 110 can be retained by the cable
retainers 40. The supporting portion 11 of the first supporting arm
10 is slidably received in the axial hole 3132 of the tube 313 of
the first connecting part 31, and the threaded portion 23 of the
second supporting arm 20 is screwed into the threaded hole 3232 of
the fixing pole 323 of the second connecting part 32 of the
connecting member 30. The pivot portion 12 of the first supporting
arm 10 and the pivot portion 22 of the second supporting arm 20 are
respectively rotationally received in the pivot part 51 of the
first locking member 50 and the pivot part 61 of the second locking
member 60. The attaching portions of the first locking member 50
and the second locking member 60 are respectively fixed to rear
ends of an inner rail and an outer rail of the second rail assembly
90. The protrusion 72 of the supporting member 70 is engaged in the
fixing hole 81 of the first rail assembly 80. The fixing portion 73
of the supporting member 70 is inserted into an inner side of the
outer rail of the second rail assembly 90. The elastic part 62 of
the second locking member 60 is elastically deformed and passes
through the greater section of the fixing hole 74 of the supporting
member 70. The elastic part 62 of the second locking member 60
restores and moves into the smaller section of the fixing hole 74,
and the cutouts 621 of the elastic part 62 are engaged with
opposite edges of the smaller section of the fixing hole 74.
[0024] When the server 100 is completely accommodated in the
cabinet, a top of the supporting portion 71 of the supporting
member 70 supports the cabinet 324 of the second connecting part 32
of the connecting member 30, to prevent the cable management
apparatus from damage because of supporting heavy cables 110 for a
long time.
[0025] When the server is moved forwards on the rail assemblies 80,
90, the cables 110 are supported by the cable retainers 40 and the
first supporting arm 10 rotates relative to the second supporting
arm 20. The cables 110 also supply a force to prevent the
supporting portion 11 of the first supporting arm 10 from sliding
in the tube 313 of the first connecting part 31 of the connecting
member 30. The blocking portion 324 is moved off of the supporting
member 70. The cables 110 are maintained in a well ordered manner
such that when the server is pushed back, the cables 110 do not get
in the way.
[0026] To maintain the server 100 without detaching the server 100
from the cabinet, the elastic part 62 of the second locking member
60 is moved into the greater section of the fixing hole 74 of the
supporting member 70 against its elasticity. The fixing portion 73
of the supporting member 70 is drawn out of the outer rail of the
second rail assembly 90, and the protrusion 72 of the supporting
member 70 is disengaged from the fixing hole 81 of the first rail
assembly 80 to detach the supporting member 70. The pivot portion
12 of the first supporting arm 10 and the pivot portion 22 of the
second supporting arm 20 are respectively pivoted in the pivot part
51 of the first locking member 50 and the pivot part 61 of the
second locking member 60. The first supporting arm 10 and the
second supporting arm 20 are then moved toward the second rail
assembly 90. The supporting portion 11 of the first supporting arm
10 slides in the tube 313 of the first connecting part 31 of the
connecting member 30, until the first supporting arm 10 and the
second supporting arm 20 are juxtaposed, and located beside the
second rail assembly 90 to leave a space for the technicians to
maintain the components of the server 100. Thus, the relative
lengths of two sides the respective triangle can be altered
allowing easy access to the servers.
[0027] Referring also to FIGS. 6 and 7, a cable management
apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
disclosure is similar to that of the first embodiment. The cable
management apparatus of this embodiment includes a first supporting
arm 10a, a second supporting arm 20a, and a connecting member 30a.
The connecting member 30a is a helical spring, and both ends of the
helical spring are fixed to the corresponding ends of the first
supporting arm 10a and the second supporting arm 20a. To maintain
the server 100 without detaching the server 100 from the cabinet,
in virtue of the flexibility of the connecting member 30a, the
pivot portions of the first supporting arm 10a and the second
supporting arm 20a are respectively pivoted in the pivot part 51 of
the first locking member 50 and the pivot part 61 of the second
locking member 60, until the first and the second supporting arms
10a, 20a are juxtaposed, and located beside the second rail
assembly 90, to leave a space for the technicians to maintain the
components of the server 100. Thus, the relative lengths of two
sides the respective triangle can be altered allowing easy access
to the servers.
[0028] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of
the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of
illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical
application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize
the disclosure and various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in
the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing
from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present
disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the
foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described
therein.
* * * * *