Optical waveguides – Accessories
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-07-03
Spyrou, Cassandra (Department: 2872)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
C385S136000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256444
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to racks for mounting optical communications equipment, and more specifically, to an adjustable guide for routing fiber traffic in such racks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Communications systems, such as cable television and telephone systems, utilize fiber optics technology. In optical systems, many different types of equipment are utilized, and the various equipment is frequently housed in racks. These racks may house optical equipment such as laser transmitters, optical couplers, splice shelves, and optical pretermination units, as well as various other types of equipment. The racks typically have a number of rack spaces in which the equipment is mounted, with the rack spaces typically being arranged vertically in the rack. Each rack space is typically standardized to fit a unit of a predetermined size. For example, each rack space may be dimensioned to house a piece of equipment that is 7 inches high, as is common in the art. Many different connections are typically made between these various pieces of equipment in a rack, and also between the equipment in the rack and equipment in other racks located nearby. Therefore there are many optical fibers leading to and from the equipment in the rack.
With the many optical fibers connecting equipment in the rack, there is a need to organize the fibers as they run to and from the equipment. Prior organizing devices include a metal spool-shaped member mounted at a fixed location adjacent each rack space. Each spool allows the fibers entering or exiting the equipment housed in a rack space to be laid on the spool and directed toward its intended destination. However, a drawback of this current implementation is that the spool is located at a fixed position adjacent to each rack space. Because some equipment housed in the rack space may be a different height than other equipment, the fixed spool is often located at an improper position relative to such equipment, thus making it difficult or impossible to use the fixed spools to organize the fibers entering or exiting the equipment.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for an adjustable device that can be positioned at one of a plurality of different locations such that the device can be positioned according to the size of the equipment housed in the rack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for organizing fibers in a rack that houses optical equipment. The present invention includes a guide that can be removably connected at one of a plurality of different locations to define paths in which fibers can be routed between equipment within the rack. The invention includes a panel having an array of mounting holes therein, and a plurality of guides that can be removably connected to the panel at a plurality of different locations defined by the mounting holes. The panel is located in the rack adjacent to each rack space that houses a piece of equipment. Each guide includes a body that is generally circular or oval in cross-section, and a retaining plate which is connected to the body and extends beyond the periphery of the body. The retaining plate prevents any optical fibers resting on the body of the guide from slipping off the front edge of the guide.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the array of mounting holes adjacent each rack space includes three columns having five mounting holes in each column. This provides a plurality of vertical and horizontal locations at which a guide can be connected to the panel, thereby allowing the guide to be connected to an appropriate location depending on the size of the equipment in the rack space.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4776662 (1988-10-01), Valleix
patent: 5142606 (1992-08-01), Carney et al.
patent: 5487123 (1996-01-01), Fowble
patent: 5758002 (1998-05-01), Walters
Bechamps Ronald D.
Leib, III William S.
Antec Corporation
Boss Gerald R.
Cherry Euncha
Spyrou Cassandra
Troutman Sanders LLP
LandOfFree
Adjustable guide for organizing optical fibers in an... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Adjustable guide for organizing optical fibers in an..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Adjustable guide for organizing optical fibers in an... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2438117