Cable manager for network rack

Applicant claims, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the benefit of priority of the filing date of Mar. 28, 2000, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/192,989, filed on the aforementioned date, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Application Ser. No. <b>09</b>/<b>814</b>,<b>621</b>, filed on Mar. <b>22</b>, <b>2001</b>, is a continuation-<i>in</i>-<i>part of application Ser. No. <b>09</b>/<b>261</b>,<b>881</b>, filed on Mar. <b>3</b>, <b>1999</b>, now U.S. Pat. No. <b>6</b>,<b>437</b>,<b>243</b>.</i>

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to cable management devices for patch panel or network equipment racks, and more particularly to a cable manager for use with adjacent patch panels or network equipment on distribution racks or within cabinets, with an improved finger and cover design.

2. Description of Related Art

Cabling, such as UTP, ScTP, coax and fiber optic cabling, is being increasingly used in the telecommunications industry to provide data, voice, video, or audio information. Patch panel or network equipment enclosure and rack systems are well-known in the industry and provided to manage and organize such cables to or from equipment or cross-connect systems. These systems usually include a 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. Enclosures within the rack serve various functions, including operation as slack trays, splice trays, cable organizers and patch panels. These racks also serve as inter-connect or cross-connect enclosures when interfacing with equipment, or may serve as a telecommunications closet, allowing the cables to be terminated, spliced, patched or stored at places along their length.

The rack usually is formed of a frame having mounting apertures located along vertical legs or walls of the rack. Patching equipment, such as a patch panel, is mounted on the rack so as to define generally a patching side where patch cords coming from an active device or another patch panel can be cross-connected and interconnected, and a distribution side where cables from network equipment or a work station area are terminated. Generally some form of cable management is also 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 in use, difficult to manufacture, or have other drawbacks and thus, improvement in the cable management of network rack systems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved cable management device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cable manager for a network rack with an improved finger design that provides more effective bend radius control.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a single cable manager device that provides improved cable management to each side of a network rack.

It is still further an object of the present invention to provide an improved readily installable molded cable manager with a hinged cover for a network rack system.

Various ones of the above and other features and objects of the invention are provided by a cable manager mountable to a network rack. The cable manager includes a central section and a front cable routing section. The central section has a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a front side, a rear side, and rack mounting holes provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section. The front cable routing section extends from the front side of the central section and includes a plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the front side of the central section. Each of the plurality of spaced fingers has an arcuate surface that provides bend radius control. A slit is medially disposed along the arcuate surface and extends from a distal end of the finger towards a proximal end of the finger. At least one ear laterally extends from the distal end in a receiving space between adjacent fingers.

Various ones of the above and other features and objects of the invention are also provided by a cable manager mountable to a network rack, comprising a central section, a front cable routing section and a rear cable routing section. The central section has a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a front side, a rear side, and rack mounting holes provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section. The front cable routing section extends from the front side of the central section and includes a first plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the front side of the central section and retaining flanges extending from distal ends of multiple ones of the first plurality of spaced fingers. The rear cable routing section extends from the rear side of the central section, the rear cable routing section including a second plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the rear side of the central section and retaining flanges extending from distal ends of multiple ones of the second plurality of spaced fingers.

Various ones of the above and other features and objects of the invention are also provided by a network rack containing the above cable manager.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows a top front perspective view of a cable manager of the present invention;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a top rear perspective view of the cable manager of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, with the rear cover removed;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a top front perspective view of the cable manager of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, shown with closed covers;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a top front perspective view of the cable manager of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> with a front cover in a top open position;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a top front perspective view of a cable manager of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> with the cover in a bottom open position;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a top rear perspective view of the cable manager of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, shown with closed covers;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a top front perspective view of a network rack having a pair of the cable managers mounted on the rack;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a top rear perspective view of a network rack having a pair of the cable managers mounted on the rack;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a partial perspective view of a hinged cover; and

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a partial view of the hinged cover of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A cable manager <b>10</b> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>-<b>10</b> and is useful in providing horizontal cable management in a network rack.

Cable manager <b>10</b> is preferably formed by an injection molding process in which two halves, preferably identical halves, are molded and then snap fit together to form a single cable manager device that is mountable on and provides cable management to both a patching side and a distribution side of a network rack. A suitable rack is a conventional 19″ or 23″ EIA network rack that has spaced vertical rails or legs that allow mounting of various numbers of rack elements thereon. However, the invention is equally applicable to other known or subsequently developed racks. Moreover, a network rack 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 fix rack elements, such as cable manager <b>10</b>, patch panels, and the like.

As can be seen from <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, cable manager <b>10</b> generally includes a front cable routing section <b>12</b>, a rear cable routing section <b>14</b> and a central section <b>16</b>, which preferably has passthrough capabilities. The front and rear cable routing sections <b>12</b>, <b>14</b> generally include a pair of back-to-back channels each formed by a base section <b>18</b>, <b>20</b> and a plurality of upstanding fingers <b>30</b>, <b>40</b> disposed longitudinally along at least one and preferably two opposing sides (front and rear) of the respective base sections.

Central section <b>16</b> has a suitable height, a longitudinal width sized to fit within a desired network rack, and a depth which approximates the depth dimension of rack legs <b>60</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3 and 7</figref>) or a mounting cabinet (not shown) to which the cable manager <b>10</b> is mounted. In the case of a 19″ network rack, the width would be approximately 19″ when mounted horizontally on the rack and the height would be a multiple of 1.75″, which is a standard single device height. However, these are exemplary and may change depending on the size and type of rack used. Each longitudinal end of the central section <b>16</b> contains a plurality of mounting holes <b>50</b> that mount the cable manager to a frame structure, such as legs <b>60</b> of a standard rack system or to walls of a mounting cabinet (unshown). The legs <b>60</b> (or other equivalent mounting frame structure) have various apertures that allow mounting of the cable manager to the rack by a suitable mounting element, such as a bolt, that extends through the mounting holes and rack apertures aligned therewith. The base sections <b>18</b>, <b>20</b> are integrally connected by a central wall and a plurality of strengthening walls <b>22</b> to comprise the central section <b>16</b>.

The central section <b>16</b> of the cable manager is preferably a passthrough section that includes one or more passthrough openings <b>56</b>. The passthrough openings <b>56</b> allow installers the ability to route cables from one side of the rack to the other (i.e., from the patching side to the distribution side and the converse). The passthrough openings <b>56</b> preferably are formed with curved sidewalls that provide bend radius control to the cables routed through the passthrough openings.

The front cable routing side of the cable manager (front section <b>12</b>) preferably forms the patching side where active equipment is interconnected or patch cords on a patch panel are cross-connected. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1</figref>, <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> and <b>7</b>, patching side fingers <b>30</b> extend from base section <b>18</b> in the form of two parallel and spaced rows that define a cable channel. Fingers are separated from adjacent fingers <b>30</b> to provide a space <b>32</b> for routing cables from within the cable channel to the equipment either above or below on the rack. The fingers <b>30</b> preferably extend outwardly beyond the frame legs <b>60</b> as shown. Each of the plurality of patching side fingers <b>30</b> are formed having an inwardly directed arcuate surface at least on a distal portion of the finger. The arcuate surfaces of fingers <b>30</b> have a predefined minimum radius that provides a bend radius control surface for wires and cables. The minimum bend radius can vary depending on the types of wires and cables used. An exemplary radius may be 1″ or greater for many applications. However, the minimum bend radius should be selected to correspond to desired criteria of cable(s) to be managed by the cable manager.

Fingers <b>30</b> are also provided with a pair of ears <b>34</b> formed near the distal end with each ear extending towards an opposing ear formed on an adjacent finger <b>30</b>. The ears <b>34</b> preferably have a generally triangular configuration that provides angled surfaces which assist in the insertion and removal of cables from in between the fingers. As the formation of the fingers with an arcuate cross-section has been found to result in a relatively stiff structure, each finger <b>30</b> on the patching side also includes a slit <b>36</b> medially disposed along the arcuate surface of the finger. Slit <b>36</b> is formed to extend from the distal end towards the base approximately one-half the length of finger <b>30</b>. Slit <b>36</b> provides additional flexibility to fingers <b>30</b> during routing of cables.

As best seen in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3-5</figref>, the patching side of cable manager <b>10</b> includes a hingedly connected front cover <b>52</b>, which can be rotated 180° up or down. That is, cover <b>52</b> can be opened from either side. Cover <b>52</b> may also be completely removable. Cover <b>52</b> is hingedly connected to cable manager <b>10</b> by a plurality of spaced apart pairs of hinge brackets <b>54</b> having apertures. The hinge brackets <b>54</b> are dimensioned so as to releasably engage with the tops of a pair of opposing ears <b>34</b> formed on adjacent patching fingers <b>30</b>. A release tab <b>62</b> is formed in between hinge brackets <b>54</b> to allow for easier releasing of cover <b>52</b> by extending beyond the remaining periphery of cover <b>52</b>.

A more detailed description of hinged cover <b>52</b> will be described with respect to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 9-10</figref>. Hinge brackets <b>54</b> include a semi-spherical aperture <b>55</b> that mates with a corresponding ear <b>34</b> to allow rotation thereabout and a locking tab <b>53</b> that engages with an edge of ear <b>34</b> to lock the cover in an open position when cover <b>52</b> is opened about 180°. Cover <b>52</b> can be closed by pulling forward on the cover to release locking tab <b>53</b> and allow rotation of cover <b>52</b> back to a closed position.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> shows a pair of cable manager devices <b>10</b> mounted on a network rack having a pair of rack legs <b>60</b>, adjacent to a plurality of patch panels <b>64</b>. As shown, the cable managers <b>10</b> may be provided either above and/or below a patch panel <b>64</b>. The lower cable manager device <b>10</b> is shown with the cover <b>52</b> rotated pen in the down position. As can be seen, cables <b>70</b>, which terminate connectors connected to patch panels <b>64</b>, are routed through the spaces <b>32</b> and around fingers <b>30</b> into the cable routing section whereby they exit at either end. With the inventive cable manager <b>10</b>, good horizontal cable management can be achieved.

The rear side of the cable manager (rear section <b>14</b>) preferably forms the distribution side where cables from network equipment or a work station area can be terminated. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 6</figref>, distribution side fingers <b>40</b> are formed having arcuate portions <b>42</b> at least on a distal portion and a flat portion <b>44</b> at a proximal portion. As discussed above with reference to the front patching side, when the fingers are formed with an arcuate configuration, they are relatively stiff. On the distribution side, the installer often has need for greater access to the adjacent patch panels for their hands and other tools. Thus, by forming fingers <b>40</b> with the initial flat platform section <b>44</b>, the fingers <b>40</b> can be made more flexible. The distal ends of fingers <b>40</b> on the distribution side include lips <b>48</b> for engagement with a duct cover <b>58</b>. A suitable duct cover may snap fit on upstanding member <b>49</b> (see FIGS. <b>6</b> and <b>8</b>). Alternatively, a hinged cove as used on the front section may be provided.

As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 8</figref>, the distribution side also includes a stepped down portion <b>46</b> that provides additional room to accommodate a tool and/or a hand of an installer. That is, the base section <b>20</b> on the distribution side is narrower than the base section <b>18</b> on the patching side so that fingers <b>40</b> on the distribution side are spaced a little farther from the rear side of adjacent patch panels to provide additional clearance for the installer.

Selected fingers from both sets of fingers <b>30</b>, <b>40</b> also include respective retaining flanges <b>38</b>, <b>39</b> formed on the distal ends to help retain routed cables <b>70</b> when a cover is not present.

While the particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation.