Electrical connectors – With storage means for flaccid conductor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-29
2001-10-16
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With storage means for flaccid conductor
C439S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302728
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to patch panels for communications use and, more particularly, to patch panels which direct the cordage of their associated patch cords toward the mounting surfaces to which the patch panels are mounted.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
In buildings and, more particularly, within communications connection closets in buildings, various transmission media typically are connected to each other and to incoming and outgoing lines by means, such as connectors, which are mounted to patch panels. Patch panels generally are mounted within a communications closet, such as to a wall or other mounting surface, and incorporate a series of connectors for interconnecting the various transmission media. Transmission media, such as copper wires formed into patch cords, for instance, often incorporate plugs at their ends for facilitating electrical connections. These plugs are configured for mating with, for example, the plug-receiving cavities of jacks, which commonly serve as connectors for patch panels.
Heretofore, it has been commonplace to orient patch panel jacks within a patch panel so that the plug-receiving cavities of the jacks face forward, e.g. away from the mounting surface to which the patch panel is mounted. So configured, the plugs of patch cords typically have an insertion direction into the plug-receiving cavity of a patch panel jack that is perpendicular with and toward the mounting surface of the patch panel, thereby providing a technician with convenient access for connecting the plugs to and removing the plugs from the various jacks. However, since patch cord cordage typically exits its plug at a direction which is approximately 180 degrees from its jack insertion direction, the aforementioned patch panel configuration presents patch cord cordage which extend away from the patch panel jacks and the patch panel mounting surface. The patch cord cordage then tend to hang downwardly in front of the patch panel. When carefully dressed, these patch cords appear neat and orderly and can facilitate efficient patching efforts by a technician, because the patch cords and their associated jacks are readily accessible. However, when the patch cords are not carefully dressed, a general appearance of disorder can result as the cordage inherently tend to form loops in front of the jacks. In extreme cases, the cordage may become entangled or snarled with adjacent cordage, thereby potentially hindering a technician's patching efforts.
In an effort to alleviate the aforementioned problem of patch cord cordage becoming entangled in front of the jacks of a patch panel, a typical prior art solution includes installing a series of raceway brackets between the rows of patch panel jacks. Typically, the raceway brackets are arranged at spaced intervals across the width of the patch panel so that patch cord cordage hanging from a patch panel jack located thereabove may be supported in a trough which is formed by the raceway brackets. This technique, however, increases the production costs of each panel in proportion to the material and production costs for each raceway bracket used and the labor associated with fastening the raceway brackets to the prior art patch panels.
Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved patch panel which addresses these and other shortcomings of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Certain objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The present invention is generally directed to an improved patch panel which reduces the tendency for patch cord cordage to entangle or snarl in front of the jacks of the patch panel. In a preferred embodiment, the patch panel incorporates a plurality of jacks with each of the jacks including a plug-receiving cavity. The jacks are mounted to the patch panel so that their plug-receiving cavities are oriented away from the mounting surface to which the panel is mounted. The patch panel incorporates patch cords which are adapted to matingly engage the plug-receiving cavities of the patch panel jacks when the patch cord plugs are inserted into the plug-receiving cavities in a first direction. Additionally, the patch cord plugs include cordage which extend from their respective patch cord plugs in the first direction. Thus configured, patch cord cordage extending from their respective plugs are directed toward the mounting surface when the plugs engage the plug-receiving cavities.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an improved patch cord for use in a patch panel is presented. Typically, the patch panel utilizing the improved patch cord incorporates jacks which include plug-receiving cavities oriented away from the mounting surface of the patch panel. The patch cord includes a plug and cordage, with the plug incorporating a first portion insertable into a plug-receiving cavity of a jack in a first direction. The plug also includes a second portion configured to receive the cordage such that the cordage extends from the plug in a second direction. So configured, when the plug engages the plug-receiving cavity of a jack, the cordage is directed toward the mounting surface of the patch panel. In preferred embodiments, the plug includes a jack interface housing and a strain relief housing, with the strain relief housing incorporating a patch cordage-receiving cavity for receiving the cordage. The jack interface housing preferably is mounted to the strain relief housing adjacent the patch cordage-receiving cavity.
Another aspect of the present invention includes providing a patch panel which directs its patch cord cordage into a shadowed raceway, thereby preventing the cordage from entangling with other cordage in front of the jacks of the patch panel. In a preferred embodiment, the shadowed raceways are formed between adjacent vertically displaced rows of mounting brackets which are incorporated into the patch panel for mounting the jacks thereto. Typically, the mounting brackets extend outwardly from the mounting surface and provide an upper surface for forming a support segment of the raceway, and a lower surface to which a jack is mounted. A channel preferably is formed in the front of the brackets for retaining cables and cordage within the raceways, but which is of sufficient size and shape to allow a technician to place cordage through the channel and into the raceway.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a patch cord adapter is presented for use in “pulling” patch cords (e.g. removing a previously connected and dressed patch cord from a patch panel). In a preferred embodiment, the adapter incorporates a tapered body which includes a cordage-receiving channel and a plug-mating cavity. The cordage-receiving channel is formed to engage the cordage of a patch cord such that when the plug-mating cavity engages the plug of the patch cord, the plug is retained in close proximity to its cordage. So configured, the adapter substantially reduces the tendency of the plug to separate from its cordage and snag other cordage or cables as the plug end of the patch cord is pulled through a patch panel.
The numerous features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4606595 (1986-08-01), Dola
patent: 4611875 (1986-09-01), Clarke et al.
patent: 4990094 (1991-02-01), Chandler et al.
patent: 5718604 (1998-02-01), Conorich et al.
patent: 5906517 (1999-05-01), Crane et al.
Conorich Theodore A.
Drexler Leonard H.
Wild Ronald L.
Avaya Technology Corp.
Prasad Chandrika
Sircus Brian
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley LLP
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