NETWORK CABINET

Abstract

A network cabinet is provided comprising first and second doors. The first door is positioned on a side of the cabinet and comprises first and second opposing lateral sides that each comprise a retractable hinge that permits the first door to rotate about either of the hinges. The second door is positioned on another side of the cabinet and comprises opposing lateral sides wherein at least one of the lateral sides comprises a hinge that permits the door to rotate about the hinge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the network cabinet of the present invention:

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the base frame of the network cabinet of the present invention:

FIG. 2B is an enlarged partial exploded view of the front door mount and base frame shown in FIG. 2A:

FIG. 2C is an enlarged partial exploded view of the adjustable equipment rail and base frame shown in FIG. 2A:

FIG. 2D is a top view of the base member of the network cabinet of the present invention:

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2A:

FIG. 4A is a bottom perspective view of the base frame of FIG. 2A and top cover of the network cabinet of the present invention:

FIG. 4B is all enlarged partial view of the base frame and top cover shown in FIG. 4A:

FIG. 5A is a top view of the top cover of the network cabinet of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged partial view of a cable entry knockout shown in FIG. 5A:

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 2A:

FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of the base flame, top cover, and side panels of the network cabinet of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is an enlarged partial exploded view of the base frame and side panel brackets shown in FIG. 7A:

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the base frame, top cover, and side panels of the network cabinet of the present invention, with one side panel partially installed:

FIG. 8B is an enlarged partial view of the base frame, top cover, and side panel shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8C is an enlarged partial view of the top cover and grounding clip shown in FIG. 8B:

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8A:

FIG. 10A is a back perspective view of the network cabinet of the present invention:

FIG. 10B is an enlarged partial view of the door handle shown in FIG. 10A:

FIG. 10C is an enlarged partial view of the back of the door handle shown in FIG. 10B:

FIG. 10D is a back perspective view of the back doors of the network cabinet of the present invention with an alternative latch mechanism:

FIG. 10E is an enlarged partial view of the alternative latch mechanism shown in FIG. 10D in the open position:

FIG. 10F is an enlarged partial view of the alternative latch mechanism shown in FIG. 10D in the closed position:

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10A:

FIG. 12A is a front perspective view of the network cabinet of the present invention with the front door partially open:

FIG. 12B is an enlarged partial view of a safety hinge of the front door shown in FIG. 12A:

FIG. 12C is a back view of the safety hinge in FIG. 12B:

FIG. 12D is an enlarged partial view of a second safety hinge of the front door shown in FIG. 12A:

FIG. 12E is an enlarged partial view of a front door lifting mechanism of the front door shown in FIG. 12A;

FIG. 12F is a back perspective view of the front door of the network cabinet shown in FIG. 12A with an alternative latch mechanism;

FIG. 12G is an enlarged partial view of the alternative latch mechanism of the front door shown in FIG. 12F:

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken alone line 13-13 in FIG. 12A:

FIG. 14A is a front perspective view of the base frame of the network cabinet of the current invention with caster assemblies, cable management units, and slack management spools attached:

FIG. 14B is an exploded, enlarged partial view of a caster assembly shown in FIG. 14A:

FIG. 15A is a back perspective view of a right hand cable management unit;

FIG. 15B is a back perspective view of a left hand cable management unit;

FIG. 16A is an exploded partial enlarged view showing the attachment of a right hand cable management unit to the base frame of the network cabinet of the present invention:

FIG. 16B is an exploded partial enlarged view showing the attachment of a left hand cable management unit to the base frame of the network cabinet of the present invention:

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 in FIG. 15B:

FIG. 18A is an exploded partial enlarged view showing the attachment of a slack management spool to the base frame of the network cabinet of the present invention:

FIG. 18B is a side view of the slack management spool shown in FIG. 18A:

FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of two network cabinets ganged together:

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of the network cabinets in FIG. 19, with the front doors open: and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 in FIG. 20.

Claims

1. A network cabinet, comprising: a first door comprising first and second opposing lateral sides and positioned on a side of the cabinet, wherein each lateral side of the first door comprises a retractable hinge that permits the first door to rotate about either of the hinges; anda second door comprising opposing lateral sides and positioned on another side of the cabinet, wherein at least one of the lateral sides of the second door comprises a hinge that permits the door to rotate about the hinge.

2. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the side of the cabinet comprises a front side.

3. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the other side of the cabinet comprises a back side.

4. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the second door is a split door.

5. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the hinge of the second door comprises a retractable hinge pin.

6. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the second door is constructed of perforated steel.

7. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the first door is constructed of perforated steel.

8. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the retractable hinge of the first lateral side and the retractable hinge of the second lateral side operate independently of one another.

9. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein: the first door rotates about the hinge of the first lateral side with the hinge of the first lateral side in an extended position and the hinge of the second lateral side in a retracted position; andthe first door rotates about the hinge of the second lateral side with the hinge of the second lateral side in an extended position and the hinge of the first lateral side in a retracted position.

10. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein each of the retractable hinges comprises a retractable hinge pin that engages openings in portions of the cabinet with the hinge pins in extended positions.

11. The network cabinet of claim 10, further comprising bushings positioned within the openings in the cabinet, such that the hinge pins engage the bushings with the hinge pins in extended positions.

12. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein each of the retractable hinges comprises a pair of opposing retractable hinge pins that engage openings in portions of the cabinet with the hinge pins in extended positions.

13. The network cabinet of claim 12, further comprising bushings positioned within the openings in the cabinet, such that the hinge pins engage the bushings with the hinge pins in extended positions.

14. The network cabinet of claim 12, further comprising a pair of latch mechanisms, wherein each pair of hinge pins is connected to one of the latch mechanisms.

15. The network cabinet of claim 14, further comprising a pair of door handles, each door handle connected to one of the latch mechanisms to control the extension and retraction of the hinge pins.

16. The network cabinet of claim 12, further comprising locking hinge assemblies associated with each of the hinge pins that prevent the retraction of the hinge pins of the first lateral side with the hinge pins of the second lateral side in a retracted position and the door in an open position and prevent the retraction of the hinge pins of the second lateral side with the hinge pins of the first lateral side in a retracted position and the door in an open position.

17. A network cabinet, comprising: a base member; anda vertical frame rail member connected to the base member and positioned spaced apart, along at least a portion of a length of the vertical frame rail member, from first and second adjacent sidewalls and a corner of the cabinet formed by the adjacent sidewalls:wherein the first sidewall comprises one of a panel and a door and the second sidewall comprises a door, the door of the second sidewall comprising first and second opposing lateral sides and positioned on a side of the cabinet, wherein each lateral side of the door comprises a retractable hinge that permits the door to rotate about either of the hinges.

18. The network cabinet of claim 17, further comprising at least one finger secured to the vertical frame rail member and extending from the vertical frame rail member towards the door of the second sidewall.

19. The network cabinet of claim 17, further comprising at least one finger secured to the vertical frame rail member and extending from the vertical frame rail member away from the door of the second sidewall.

20. The network cabinet of claim 17, wherein the second sidewall is position on a front side of the cabinet.

21. The network cabinet of claim 17, wherein the door of the second sidewall is constructed of perforated steel.

22. Tile network cabinet of claim 17, wherein the retractable hinge of the first lateral side and the retractable hinge of the second lateral side operate independently of one another.

23. The network cabinet of claim 17, wherein: the door of the second sidewall rotates about the hinge of the first lateral side with the hinge of the first lateral side in an extended position and the hinge of the second lateral side in a retracted position andthe door of the second sidewall rotates about the hinge of the second lateral side with the hinge of the second lateral side in an extended position and the hinge of the first lateral side in a retracted position.

24. The network cabinet of claim 17, comprising a pair of vertical frame rail members connected to the base member and spaced apart from the first and second sidewalls and the corner, wherein the door of the second sidewall and the pair of vertical frame rail members define a cable management pathway.

25. The network cabinet of claim 24, wherein the base member defines an opening and at least a portion of the cable management pathway is vertically aligned with at least a portion of the opening.

26. The network cabinet of claim 17, wherein each of the retractable hinges comprise a retractable hinge pin that engages openings in portions of the cabinet with the hinge pins in extended positions.

27. The network cabinet of claim 26, wherein the openings are formed in a portion of the base member.

28. The network cabinet of claim 26, further comprising bushings positioned within the openings in the cabinet, such that the hinge pins engage the bushings with the hinge pins in extended positions.

29. The network cabinet of claim 17, wherein each of the retractable hinges comprises a pair of opposing retractable hinge pins that engage openings in portions of the cabinet with the hinge pins in extended positions.

30. The network cabinet of claim 29, further comprising bushings positioned within the openings in the cabinet, such that the hinge pins engage the bushings with the hinge pins in extended positions.

31. The network cabinet of claim 29, further comprising a pair of latch mechanisms, wherein each pair of hinge pins is connected to one of the latch mechanisms.

32. The network cabinet of claim 31, further comprising a pair of door handles, each door handle connected to one of the latch mechanisms to control the extension and retraction of the hinge pins.

33. The network cabinet of claim 29, further comprising locking hinge assemblies associated with each of the hinge pins that prevent the retraction of the hinge pins of the first lateral side with the hinge pins of the second lateral side in a retracted position and the door in an open position and prevent the retraction of the hinge pins of the second lateral side with the hinge pins of the first lateral side in a retracted position and the door in an open position.