Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-01-16
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
C174SDIG009, C312S223100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175079
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a fiber optic cable management system including a number of modular, rack-mounted cabinets applicable for collecting, interconnecting, terminating, segregating, splicing, and distributing fiber optic cable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which is formed of lightweight plastic.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which includes molded, interchangeable parts.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which includes a pivotable front door which can be used as a writing surface when in the open position.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet with a front door which can be readily removed, or moved to a hidden position inside the cabinet.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet with a front door which is shielded from contact with the cables when moved from the open position to the hidden position inside the cabinet.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet with a front door which is transparent to allow ready viewing of cables and identification labels located inside the cabinet.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which is adapted for quick and convenient mounting on existing racks.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which is adapted to provide flexible internal cable management.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which is easy to assemble.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which is easy to use.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which is adapted for accommodating as many as 192 ends of fiber optic cable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which includes features for controlling the bend radius of fiber optic cable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which includes novel connector plates for interconnecting ends of fiber optic cable together.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet which includes adjustable front and rear clips for bundling and segregating cable entering and exiting the cabinet.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a fiber optic cable management system. The system includes a cabinet defined by cabinet walls and having an interior mounting surface for carrying cable management components adapted for managing fiber optic cable within the cabinet. The mounting surface is spaced-apart from and cooperates with an adjacent one of the cabinet walls to define a door-receiving compartment inside the cabinet between the mounting surface and the adjacent wall. A cable access door is pivotably attached to the cabinet, and is adapted for pivoting movement between a closed position and an open position, and for sliding movement from the open position to a hidden position inside the cabinet and within the door-receiving compartment. Attachment means are provided for pivotably attaching the access door to the cabinet, and for permitting sliding movement of the access door from the open position to the hidden position.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the attachment means includes a pair of spaced-apart door rails located at opposite sides of the door-receiving compartment and between the interior mounting surface and the adjacent cabinet wall for guiding movement of the door between the open position and the hidden position within the compartment.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the door rails have respective longitudinal grooves extending from one end to the other. The access door has first and second outwardly projecting pins received within respective grooves of the door rails and cooperating with the door rails to permit sliding movement of the access door into and out of the door-receiving compartment.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the door rails have respective notches communicating with the grooves for receiving the pins of the access door into the grooves, and for removable attachment of the access door from the cabinet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the door rails have respective integrally-formed bearings within which the pins of the access door rotate as the access door is pivoted between the open and closed positions.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cabinet includes a plurality of cable access openings formed with the cabinet walls for receiving and distributing fiber optic cable entering and exiting the cabinet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the cable access openings has an outwardly curved trumpet flange adapted for controlling the bend radius of fiber optic cable.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cabinet includes a pivoted rear door movable between an open position and a closed position.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cabinet has separate, interchangeable, top and bottom cabinet sections.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, opposing removable spacers are located between the cabinet sections for adjusting the height of the cabinet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, mounting brackets are attached to the cabinet and adapted for mounting the cabinet on a vertical support rack.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of rear clips are located inside the cabinet and are carried on the mounting surface for managing fiber optic cable entering the cabinet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting surface includes a rear mounting track extending from one side of the cabinet to the other, and carrying the plurality of rear clips for adjustable sliding movement along the length of the track.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of cable connector plates are located inside the cabinet and extend generally perpendicular to the interior mounting surface for interconnecting respective ends of fiber optic cable.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector plates include a respective plurality of vertically spaced adaptors.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of front clips are located inside the cabinet, and are carried on the mounting surface for managing fiber optic cable exiting the cabinet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting surface includes a front mounting track extending from one side of the cabinet to the other and carrying the plurality of front clips for adjustable sliding movement along the length of the track.
In another embodiment, a fiber optic cable management system includes a cabinet having separate, interchangeable top and bottom cabinet sections defining respective cabinet walls and cable access openings for receiving and distributing fiber optic cable entering and exiting the cabinet. The cabinet further includes an interior mounting surface for carrying cable management components adapted for managing fiber optic cable within the cabinet. The mounting surface is spaced-apart from and cooperates with an adjacent one of the cabinet walls to define a door-receiving compartment inside the cabinet between the mounting surface and the adjacent wall. A cable access door is pivotably attached to the cabinet, and is adapted for pivoting movement between a closed position and an open position, and for sliding movement from the open position to a hidden position inside the cabinet and within the door-receiving compartment. Attachment means are provided for pivotably attaching the access door to the cabinet, and for permitting sliding movement of the access door from the open position to the hidden position.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 34955 (1995-05-01), Anton et a
Auteri Robert P.
Hani Erwin F.
Herda Michael T.
Johnston Dare P.
Mattei Michael
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
Reichard Dean A.
Tyco Electronics Corporation
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