Patch panel

Details Patch panel Patch panel

2002-01-02

2003-07-29

Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With supporting means for coupling part

Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening

Reexamination Certificate

active

06599149

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a type of patch panel, and more particularly to the structure and assembly of a patch panel's adapter and panel on a machine framework.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
To meet the demands of expandability and transmission capability, computers and their peripheral devices are usually equipped with adapters that can connect to other devices through the use of cables. A patch panel is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,648.
FIG. 1
is a diagram showing the structure of a known combination of an adapter
10
and a machine framework
20
as disclosed by this patent. The adapter
10
is a type of a jack
12
and an IDC
13
, which comprises a circuit board
11
and a mutual connection fixed on the circuit board
11
by means of the printing circuit of the circuit board
11
. The jack
12
provides a connection for a plug, whereas the IDC
13
connects with a cable (particularly to a twisted-pair cable). As shown in the Figure, the adapter
10
is fixed on the inside of the machine framework
20
by means of screws
14
. This kind of installation method is not only time-consuming, but also requires the use of tools in order to fasten the screws
14
tightly. In addition, this kind of installation method does not allow a port to be marked.
Due to the inconvenience mentioned above of having to fasten an adapter
10
onto a machine framework
20
with screws
14
, the said patent proposes another means for installing the adapter
10
on the machine framework
20
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, the means adopted by the said patent primarily involves fixing the adapter
10
onto the machine framework
20
with a front panel
15
, a rear compression panel
16
, and several screws
14
. The front panel
15
is made of plastic, and it is placed at the front of the machine framework
20
, so that it provides the function of displaying the marking of a port. In this said design, the adapter
10
is sandwiched between the front panel
15
and rear compression panel
16
at the machine framework, with the front panel
15
in front of it, and the rear compression panel
16
behind it. Although this design requires fewer screws the use of screws is still necessary for the installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of this, the primary objective of the invention is to propose a patch panel that has a simplified structure and is easy to install.
To achieve the aforesaid objective, the invention proposes a patch panel where an adapter and a panel can be installed on a machine framework with fewer components. Primarily, there is a separately allocated catch and flange that can be fitted and pegged to one another on the adapter and the panel, where the adapter and panel can be separately allocated at the front and rear of the machine framework, respectively, and the adapter and panel can further be held together tightly on either side of the machine framework by having the catch and flange fitted and locked to each other, thus achieving the objective of installing the adapter onto the machine framework without the use of any screws at all.
To further illustrate the detailed characteristics of the invention, a preferred embodiment is provided below with drawings attached.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4812133 (1989-03-01), Fleak et al.
patent: 4863398 (1989-09-01), Steenton et al.
patent: 5632648 (1997-05-01), Liu

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