Patent Application
20050265013
The present invention relates to shelves and, more particularly, to shelves for equipment racks where cables are terminated.
Many businesses and the like employ one or more racks or cabinets that hold electronic equipment and/or interconnection or patch panels. A typical rack includes a pair of parallel, vertical rails or uprights spaced apart some distance, commonly a standard width of 19, 23 or 30 inches. The vertical rails may be maintained upright by a base and/or attachment to a floor or other suitable structure. The rack or racks may be mounted in a communications closet, for example.
Patch panels mounted on such racks may serve to connect various transmission media to each other and to incoming and outgoing lines using connectors, for example, mounted to the patch panels. Patch panels typically incorporate a series or array of connectors for interconnecting the various transmission media. Transmission media, such as copper wires, may be mounted to the rear side of the patch panel (and the rack) and terminated by connectors such as plug receiving jacks that are exposed at the front side of the patch panel (and the rack) through ports in the patch panel. Further transmission media, such as copper wires and including patch or jumper cords, may likewise be terminated with connectors such as plugs and mated with the jacks from the front side of the patch panel.
From time to time, it may be desirable or necessary to modify the connections at the patch panel. For example, it may be necessary to terminate additional cables from the rear side of the patch panel or to rearrange the cables. However, in some cases it may be difficult or inconvenient to access the rear of the patch panel from the rear of the rack.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a modular shelf system for use with an equipment support structure to manage cables has opposed front and rear sides. The shelf system includes a base member adapted to be secured to the equipment support structure and first and second drawers mounted on the base member in side-by-side relation. Each of the first and second drawers is adapted to receive at least one cable from the rear side of the shelf system. Each of the first and second drawers includes a front panel located adjacent the front side of the shelf system and defines a cable port. Each of the first and second drawers is slidable between a first, stored position within the base member and an open position wherein the respective drawer is disposed forwardly of and at least partially withdrawn from the base member to provide access from the front side of the shelf system to a cable or cables introduced into the respective drawer from the rear side of the shelf system.
According to further embodiments of the present invention, a cable management system includes an equipment support structure and a modular shelf system having opposed front and rear sides. The shelf system includes a base member secured to the equipment support structure and first and second independent drawers mounted on the base member in side-by-side relation. Each of the first and second drawers is adapted to receive at least one cable from the rear side of the shelf system. Each of the first and second drawers includes a front panel located adjacent the front side of the shelf system and defining at least one cable port. Each of the first and second drawers is slidable between a first, stored position within the base member and an open position wherein the respective drawer is disposed forwardly of and at least partially withdrawn from the base member to provide access from the front side of the shelf system to a cable or cables introduced into the respective drawer from the rear side of the shelf system.
According to further embodiments of the present invention, a system for use with an equipment support structure to manage cables comprises a drawer. The drawer includes a carrier and a front panel. The carrier has a front side and is adapted to receive at least one cable. The front panel is removably and replaceably mounted on the front side of the carrier and defines a cable port.
According to further method embodiments, a method for managing cables includes providing a drawer including a carrier having a front side and adapted to receive at least one cable and a first front panel removably and replaceably mounted on the front side of the carrier and defining a cable port. The first front panel is removed from the carrier. The first front panel or a second front panel is installed on the front side of the carrier.
According to additional method embodiments of the present invention, a method for managing cables includes providing a modular shelf system having opposed front and rear sides. The shelf system includes a base member adapted to be secured to the equipment support structure and first and second drawers. Each of the first and second drawers includes a front panel defining a cable port. The method further includes: securing the base member to an equipment support structure, mounting the first and second drawers on the base member in side-by-side relation such that each of the front panels of the first and second drawers is slidable between a first, stored position within the base member and an open position wherein the respective drawer is disposed forwardly of and at least partially withdrawn from the base member, routing a cable into the first drawer from the rear side of the shelf system and connecting the cable to the cable port of the first drawer, and sliding the first drawer between the stored position and the open position to provide access from the front side of the shelf system to the cable connected to the cable port of the first drawer.
According to further embodiments of the invention, a modular shelf system for use with an equipment support structure to manage cables has opposed front and rear sides and the shelf system includes a base member adapted to be secured to the equipment support structure and a drawer mounted on the base member. The drawer defines a drawer cavity adapted to receive at least one cable from the rear side of the shelf system. The drawer includes a front panel located adjacent the front side of the shelf system and defines a cable port. The drawer is slidable between a first, stored position within the base member and a removed position wherein the drawer is disposed forwardly of and fully withdrawn from the base member to provide access from the front side of the shelf system to a cable or cables introduced into the drawer from the rear side of the shelf system.
Objects of the present invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow, such description being merely illustrative of the present invention.
The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
In the drawings, the thickness of lines, layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “attached” to another element, it can be directly connected or attached to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly attached” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
With reference to
The rack 20 includes two spaced apart vertical rails or uprights 24. The uprights 24 may be secured to and extend upwardly from either end of a base (not shown) that rests on an underlying support surface. The uprights 24 have apertures 26 that enable structures to be mounted thereon via mounting brackets or other mounting components. As indicated in
The modular shelf system 100 as shown includes generally a base member 110, a first drawer 140, a second drawer 140A, a third drawer 140B, a pair of cable management brackets 180 and a guard member 187. As indicated in
As best seen in
Attachment flanges 124 extend laterally outwardly from the side walls 114 to overlap the respective vertical rails 24 of the rack 20. Apertures 125 are formed through the flanges 124 and configured to align with selected ones of the apertures 26 so that the base member 110 can be rigidly and securely mounted on the rack 20.
Grounding lugs 130 extend from the rear of the base member 110. Drawer guides 132 protrude upwardly from the bottom wall 112. Upstanding retainer tabs 134 are located adjacent the front edge 120. Apertures 134A are formed in the retainer tabs 134.
The base member 110 can be formed of any suitable material, including polymeric and/or metal material. According to some embodiments, the base member 110 is formed of a relatively strong metal. According to more particular embodiments, the base member 110 is formed of sheet steel or sheet aluminum. The drawer guides 132 can be lanced (for metal) or molded into the base member 110. The base member 110 can be formed by any suitable method (e.g., stamping).
The width A (
The first drawer 140 includes a carrier 142 and a front panel 160. As illustrated and described below, the carrier 142 and the front panel 160 can be separable components. According to other embodiments (not shown), the carrier 142 and the front panel 160 may be unitary and inseparable. The carrier 142 and the front panel 160 define a drawer cavity 141 (
Referring to
The front panel 160 has a plurality of cable ports or termination sites 162 defined therein. Latch recesses 164 or other interlocking or securing structures can be formed in or adjacent the ports 162. A pair of extensions 166 extend laterally outwardly from opposed sides of the front panel 160. A hole 167 is formed in each of the extensions 166. Integral rails 168 extend vertically along the opposed side edges of the front panel 160. Interlock protuberances 169 extend rearwardly from the rear face of the front panel 160 adjacent its lower edge.
The carrier 142 and the front panel 160 may be formed of any suitable material, for example, a polymeric or metal material. According to some embodiments, the carrier 142 and the front panel 160 are preferably formed of a polymeric material. According to more particular embodiments, the carrier 142 and the front panel 160 are formed of polycarbonate, PC-ABS or conductive polymers. The carrier 142 and the front panel 160 may be formed of the same or different materials. The front panel 160 may be metallized for shielded applications. For example, the front panel 160 may be metallized to provide EMI-RF shielding and/or to provide electrical continuity between the housings of the jacks in the front panel and electrical ground (e.g., via the shelf and the rack). The metallization may be provided in or on the front panel 160 by any suitable technique, for example, electroless coating, electroplated coating, conductive paint, and/or vacuum metallizing.
According to some embodiments, the drawer 140 has a depth E (
With reference to
Before or after mounting the front panel 160 on the carrier 142, the carrier 142 can be mounted on the base member 110 by sliding the carrier 142 between a selected pair of the drawer guides 132 until the rear tabs 156 are received in the corresponding holes 117. With the front panel 160 mounted on the carrier 142, screws 170 are threaded through each of the holes 167 and into the apertures 134A of the retainer tabs 134.
Referring to
With reference to
The guard member 187 is secured to the front ends of the brackets 180 by rotatable latches 188 that engage the holes 185A. The guard member 187 has hinge holes 189 that are received in the hinge features 184 so that the guard member 187 can be pivoted downwardly when the latches 188 are released. Alternatively, the guard member 187 can be fully removed from the brackets 180 when the latches 180 are released.
In use, one or more cables can each be routed from the rear side 100B of the shelf system 100 (and the rear side 20B of the rack 20), through a respective one of the carriers 142, 142A, 142B and to a port 162, 162A, 162B of the associated front panel. One or more cables can each be routed from the front side 100A of the shelf system 100 (and the front side 20A of the rack 20) to a respective one of the ports 162, 162A, 162B to operatively (e.g., electrically or optically) connect with a cable routed from the rear side 100B of the shelf system 100. Any number of such cables may be routed, subject to the port capacity of the front panels 160, 160A, and 160B. For the purposes of explanation, rear cables 40, 44, and a front cable 50 as shown in
Referring to
The front cable 50 (e.g., a patch or jumper cable) is terminated by a connector plug 52 that is releasably inserted into the jack 42 from the front side of the rack 20 and the shelf system 100. The cable 50 is routed over one of the brackets 180 so that it does not obfuscate the front of the rack 20 and the components mounted thereon. If desired, the cable 50 can be tied or otherwise secured to the bracket 180.
In
When an operator desires to access the rear of a front panel, for example, the front panel 160, the operator can gain convenient access to the interior of the drawer 140 from the front side of the shelf system 100 and the rack 20. The operator can remove the screws 170 securing the drawer 140 to the tabs 134. Thereafter, the drawer 140 can be slid forwardly (i.e., in a direction H as indicated in
The drawers 140, 140A, 140B can each be secured, released, and moved to the stored and opened positions independently of one another. Thus, if modification to only a cable connection or cable connections in the drawer 140A is required, this can be accomplished by opening the drawer 140A while leaving the drawers 140 and 140B in the stored position. Alternatively, if necessary or desirable, two or more of the drawers can be opened at the same time. Also, one or more of the drawers 140, 140A, 140B can be removed and replaced with another drawer. This may be desirable if a drawer is damaged or the operator wishes to replace it with a drawer having a different front panel configuration or other features. This aspect of embodiments of the present invention may provide substantial flexibility, convenience and efficiency in cable management. For example, by allowing one or more drawers to remain in place, the need to disconnect cables connected to the front side of such drawers may be obviated.
The shelf system 100 provides further convenience and flexibility by allowing for selection and removal and replacement of the front panels 160, 160A and 160B. The interchangeability of the front panels allows a single drawer to be reconfigured without affecting other drawers in the shelf. The front panels may be interchanged to support various types of communications products (e.g., copper and/or fiber optics) and/or to change port density. The shelf can be easily and inexpensively reconfigured as requirements change over time. If an operator desires a different configuration or type of port arrays for one of the drawers or across the entire base member 110, the operator need only remove the screws 170 and slide the front panel off of its associated carrier. This may be particularly beneficial where it is desired to mix different types of connections and cables, for example, copper and fiber optic, on a common shelf. The operator can customize the shelf by swapping entire drawers and/or front panels.
The ports 162, 162A, 162B can be configured to operably engage multiple types of connectors to support various types of communication products (e.g., copper or fiber optic). The ports may have a standardized or proprietary configuration. According to some embodiments, the ports are configured as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,439 to Arnett, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereby by reference. The connectors may be configured to connect multiple cables on one side of the front panel to a single cable on the opposing side of the front panel.
Those skilled in this art will appreciate that the base member 110, the drawers 140, 140A, 140B and other components of the cable management system 10 may take different forms than those discussed herein. For example, the drawers may be releasably secured in the base member 110 by one or more latch mechanisms in addition to or in place of the screws 170. The front panels can be releasably secured to the carriers by other mechanisms, or may be permanently secured (e.g., integrally molded with) the carriers. The front bottom wall 144 may be omitted or truncated. The shelf system may include greater or fewer than three drawers. The drawers may be different dimensions from one another. Some of the drawers may not operate fully independently of the others. For example, the shelf system may be configured such that pulling out a first drawer causes a second drawer to pull out with the first drawer, but pulling out the second drawer does not pull out the first drawer. Multiple shelf systems 100 can be mounted on a single rack 20.
The ties 172 and/or the hooks 157 may be replaced with other cable holding structures. For example, integral or separate clips may be provided or holes may be formed in the carriers to receive the ties 172.
The shelf systems discussed herein can be employed with any suitable data carrying or power carrying media, such as copper and/or coaxial cable, twisted pair cable, fiber optic cable and the like. Also, the shelf systems of the present invention may be used with other types of equipment support structures, such as filing cabinets or kitchen cabinets.
While connector jacks 42, 46 and plug 52 are described and illustrated herein, any suitable termination devices may be employed for the cables. For example, other types of termination devices that may be used include S-video, RCA, coax (e.g., BNC, TNC, F-type, etc.) or fiber optic (e.g., SC, ST, FC, etc.)
The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.
