Receptacle cage with integrated plate for limiting the flow of air through the interior of the receptacle cage
A receptacle cage which may include: a frame including: a first frame end, a second frame end, a frame interior, a first frame surface and a second frame surface opposed to the first frame surface; and a plate projecting from the first frame surface into the frame interior towards the second frame surface.
1 . A receptacle cage comprising:
a frame comprising: a first frame end, a second frame end, a frame interior, a first frame surface and a second frame surface opposed to the first frame surface; and
a plate comprising a plurality of holes formed therethrough and projecting from the first frame surface into the frame interior towards the second frame surface,
wherein the plate is configured to collapse towards the first frame surface when a force is applied on the plate in a longitudinal direction extending from the first frame end towards the second frame end, and wherein the plate springs back into its initial position after the force is released.
2 . The receptacle cage of claim 1 , wherein the plate is inclined at an angle less than 90 degrees relative to the first frame surface in a longitudinal direction extending from the first frame end towards the second frame end.
3 . The receptacle cage of claim 1 , wherein the plate extends between a third frame surface and a fourth frame surface that is opposed to the third frame surface.
4 . The receptacle cage of claim 1 , wherein a free edge of the plate contacts the second frame surface.
5 . The receptacle cage of claim 1 , wherein the plate and the first frame surface are formed of one piece of material.
6 . The receptacle cage of claim 1 , comprising a spring hinge that couples a base edge of the plate to the first frame surface.
7 . The receptacle cage of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle cage is configured to be disposed on a printed circuit board such that the first frame surface faces the printed circuit board.
8 . The receptacle cage of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame interior is configured to accommodate a network interface device; and
the plurality holes are configured to allow air to pass through the plate when the plate has not collapsed towards the first frame surface while limiting a flow of the air through the frame interior,
such that, when the plate has not collapsed towards the first frame surface, air flows through the frame interior at a flowrate that is substantially the same as a flowrate that would occur if the network interface device were disposed within the frame interior.
9 . A receptacle cage comprising:
a frame comprising: a first frame end, a second frame end, a frame interior, a first frame surface, a second frame surface opposed to the first frame surface, a third frame surface and a fourth frame surface opposed to the third frame surface; and
a plate comprising a plurality of holes formed therethrough and coupled to the first frame surface and rotatable with respect to the first frame surface about an axis extending between the third frame surface and the fourth frame surface, the plate extending from the first frame surface into the frame interior towards the second frame surface,
wherein the plate is configured to collapse towards the first frame surface when a force is applied on the plate in a longitudinal direction extending from the first frame end towards the second frame end, and wherein the plate springs back into its initial position after the force is released.
10 . The receptacle cage of claim 9 , wherein the plate is inclined with respect to the first frame surface at an angle less than 90 degrees in the longitudinal direction extending between the first frame end and the second frame end.
11 . The receptacle cage of claim 9 , wherein the plate contacts, at its free edge, the second frame surface.
12 . The receptacle cage of claim 9 , wherein the plate extends between the third frame surface and the fourth frame surface.
13 . The receptacle cage of claim 9 , wherein the plate and the first frame surface are formed of one piece of material.
14 . The receptacle cage of claim 9 , comprising a spring hinge that couples the plate to the first frame surface.
15 . A receptacle cage comprising:
a frame comprising: a first frame end, a second frame end, a frame interior, a first frame surface, a second frame surface opposed to the first frame surface, a third frame surface and a fourth frame surface opposed to the third frame surface; and
a collapsible plate comprising a plurality of holes formed therethrough and coupled to the first frame surface and extending from the first frame surface into the frame interior towards the second frame surface;
wherein the collapsible plate is configured to collapse towards the first frame surface when a force is applied on the collapsible plate in a longitudinal direction extending from the first frame end towards the second frame end, and wherein the collapsible plate springs back to its initial position when the force is released.
16 . The receptacle cage of claim 15 , wherein the collapsible plate extends between the third frame surface and the fourth frame surface and contacts, at its free edge, the second frame surface.
17 . The receptacle cage of claim 15 , wherein the collapsible plate and the first frame surface are formed of one piece of material.