IP Library Granted Patent US 8,730,678
Granted Patent B1
US 8,730,678 · App. 13/250,769 · Granted May 20, 2014

Cable management apparatus

Inventors: W. Brian Cunningham (Westborough, MA); Albert F. Beinor, Jr. (Sutton, MA); Jeffrey M. Lewis (Maynard, MA)
Assignee: EMC Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,730,678
App. No.
13/250,769
Filed
Sep 30, 2011
Granted
May 20, 2014
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2848
USPC
361/725
Abstract

An apparatus and system for facilitating access to one or more components mounted in a rack comprising a base member and at least one pivot mechanism mounting the base member to the rack. The apparatus facilitates access to the components by being pivotable downward for access to upper components and pivotable upward for access to lower components.

Claims (38)

1. An apparatus for facilitating access to one or more components mounted in a rack the components having one or more cables connected thereto, the apparatus comprising:

a base member, having a first end and a second end, the base member being constructed and arranged for securing cables thereto; and

at least one pivot mechanism coupled between the first end of the base member and the rack, the pivot mechanism including a pivot enabling rotation of the base member relative to the rack;

wherein the rotation of the base member relative to the rack comprises:

a first state, wherein the base member is maintained in a first position wherein access to the one or more components is prevented by cables secured to the base member; and

a second state, wherein the base member is maintained in a second position, wherein the base member is rotated relative to the rack to facilitate access to the one or more components;

wherein the rack has a first row and a second row each capable of housing one or more components, the rotation of the base member relative to the rack further comprises a third position, opposite the second position relative to the first position, wherein the base member is rotated relative to the rack to facilitate access to the second row of one or more components, while preventing access to the first row of one or more components.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein movement of the base member between the first position and the second position includes movement of the base member along an arc relative to the pivot.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism further comprises:

a mount configured to attach the pivot mechanism to the rack;

a locking apparatus, coupled to the mount, configured to maintain the base member in one of the first or second positions, with respect to the mount; and

a locking handle, engageably coupled to the locking apparatus, constructed and configured to engage and disengage the locking apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the locking apparatus further comprises a locking pin, having an engaged and unengaged state; the locking in an unengaged state enables movement, by the base member, along an arc relative to the pivot; the locking pin in an engaged state restricts the movement of the base member.

5. A system, comprising:

an enclosure;

one or more components disposed within a first and second row of the enclosure;

a rack, having an inner space configured to receive the first and second row of one or more components; and

an apparatus for facilitating access to the first row of one or more components, the apparatus comprising:

a base member, having a first end and a second end, the base member being constructed and arranged for securing one or more cables thereto; and

at least one pivot mechanism coupled between the first end of the base member and the rack, the pivot mechanism including a pivot, enabling rotation of the base member relative to the rack;

wherein the rotation of the base member relative to the rack comprises:

a first state, wherein the base member is maintained in a first position wherein access to the one or more components is prevented by cables secured to the base member; and

a second state, wherein the base member is maintained in a second position, wherein the base member is rotated relative to the rack to facilitate access to the first row of one or more components;

wherein the rotation of the base member relative to the rack further comprises a third state, wherein the base member is maintained in a third position, opposite the second position relative to the first position, wherein the base member is rotated relative to the rack to facilitate access to the second row of one or more components, preventing access to the first row of one or more components.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein movement of the base member between the first position and the second position includes movement of the base member along an arc relative to the pivot.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism further comprises:

a mount configured to mount the pivot mechanism to the rack;

a locking apparatus, coupled to the mount, configured to hold the base member in a fixed position, with respect to the mount; and

a locking handle, engageably coupled to the locking apparatus, constructed and configured to engage and disengage the locking apparatus.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the locking apparatus further comprises a locking pin, having an engaged and unengaged state; the locking in an unengaged state enables movement, by the base member, along an arc relative to the pivot; the locking pin in an engaged state restricts the movement of the base member.

9. An apparatus for facilitating access to one or more components in a rack, the apparatus comprising:

a base member, having a first end and a second end, the base member being constructed and configured to have one or more retaining clips coupled to the base member for securing one or more cables thereto;

one or more pivot mechanisms, wherein one of the one or more pivot mechanism is coupled between the first end of the base member and the rack; the one or more pivot mechanism, having a pivot, enabling the rotation of the base member relative to the rack;

wherein the one or more pivot mechanisms further comprises:

one or more mounts configured to mount the one or more pivot mechanism to the rack,

one or more locking apparatus, coupled to the mount, configured to hold the base member in a fixed position, with respect to the mount; and

one or more locking handles, engageably coupled to the locking apparatus, constructed and configured to engage and disengage the locking apparatus;

wherein the locking apparatus further comprises a locking pin, having an engaged and unengaged state; the locking pin in an unengaged state enables movement, by the base member, along an arc relative to the pivot; the locking pin in an engaged state restricts the movement of the base member.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2016
From: EMC CORPORATION
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 040203/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2012
From: CUNNINGHAM, W. BRIAN; BEINOR, ALBERT F., JR.; LEWIS, JEFFREY M.
To: EMC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027577/0774 →