IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,477,545
Granted Patent B2
US 11,477,545 · App. 17/062,088 · Granted Oct 18, 2022

Modular telecommunications patch panel

Inventors: Zhihui Liu (Suzhou, CN); Danny Ghislain Thijs (Zonhoven, BE); Min Dong (Suzhou, CN); Yu Zhao (Suzhou, CN); Wenyong Wu (Suzhou, CN)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
H04Q1/13H01R13/518H01R13/741
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,477,545
App. No.
17/062,088
Filed
Oct 2, 2020
Granted
Oct 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2833
USPC
439/540.1
Abstract

In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, a modular telecommunications patch panel system is shown and described. The panel can include a mounting frame extending between a first end and a second end, the mounting frame defining a plurality of apertures for receiving telecommunications components, a first mounting ear forming a snap-fit connection with the mounting frame first end, in a first orientation, and a second mounting ear, identical to the first mounting ear, forming a snap-fit connection with the mounting frame second end, in a second orientation.

Claims (27)

1. A modular telecommunications panel comprising:

a) a mounting frame having a front face extending between opposite first and second sides extending orthogonally from the front face, the mounting frame defining a plurality of apertures extending through the front face for receiving telecommunications components, the mounting frame including a first connection arrangement on the first side and a second connection arrangement on the second side;

b) a first mounting ear having a first sidewall with a mounting aperture and having a second sidewall with a third connection arrangement forming a snap-fit connection with the first connection arrangement; and

c) a second mounting ear, identical to the first mounting ear, having a first sidewall with a mounting aperture and having a second sidewall with a fourth connection arrangement forming a snap-fit connection with the second connection arrangement.

2. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 1 , wherein the mounting frame includes a first frame piece and a second frame piece operably connected to each other with a snap-fit connection.

3. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 2 , wherein the first frame piece is directly connected to the second frame piece.

4. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 3 , wherein the first and second frame pieces are parallel to each other.

5. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting ear is mounted in a first orientation and the second mounting ear is mounted in a second orientation that is rotated 180 degrees from the first orientation.

6. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 2 , wherein the mounting frame further includes a center connector connecting the first frame piece to the second frame piece.

7. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 6 , wherein the first frame piece is disposed at a non-zero angle to the second frame piece.

8. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 1 , wherein the mounting frame has a 1U rack height.

9. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 1 , further including a plurality of jacks inserted into the plurality of apertures.

10. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of jacks can be inserted into one of the apertures from a front side of the mounting frame or from a rear side of the mounting frame.

11. The modular telecommunications panel of claim 1 , wherein the mounting frame, first mounting ear, and second mounting ear are each formed from a polymeric material or a metal material.

12. A modular telecommunications system comprising:

a) a plurality of frame pieces operably connectable to each other via a snap-fit connection to form a mounting frame;

b) a first pair of mounting ears operably connectable to the plurality of frame pieces via a snap-fit connection such that the mounting ears can be provided on opposite sides of the mounting frame, the first pair of mounting ears being configured for use when the plurality of frame pieces are interconnected such that they are parallel to each other; and

c) a second pair of mounting ears operably connectable to the plurality of frame pieces via a snap-fit connection such that the mounting ears can be provided on opposite sides of the mounting frame, the second pair of mounting ears being configured for use when the plurality of frame pieces are interconnected such that they are disposed at a non-zero angle to each other.

13. The modular telecommunications system of claim 12 , further including a center connector for connecting two of the frame pieces together at a non-zero angle.

14. The modular telecommunications system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of frame pieces can be directly connected together.

15. The modular telecommunications system of claim 14 , wherein each of the frame pieces has a first connection arrangement proximate a first end and a second connection arrangement proximate a second end, wherein the first and second connection arrangements are complimentarily shaped such that the first connection arrangement can form a snap-fit connection with the second connection arrangement of an adjacent frame piece.

16. The modular telecommunications system of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second pairs of mounting ears includes a third connection arrangement connectible to the frame piece first and second connection arrangements.

17. The modular telecommunications system of claim 16 , wherein the third connection arrangement is connectable to the first connection arrangement in a first orientation of each of the first and second pairs of mounting ears and is connectable to the second connection arrangement in a second orientation of each of the first and second pairs of mounting ears.

18. The modular telecommunications system of claim 17 , wherein the first orientation is a position that is rotated 180 degrees from the second orientation.

19. A mounting frame for a telecommunications panel, the mounting frame comprising:

a) a first main body having a front face extending between opposite first and second sides, the front face defining a plurality of apertures for receiving telecommunications components, the first side including a first connection arrangement including a deflectable latch arm and an aperture defining a catch surface, the second side including a second connection arrangement including a deflectable latch arm and an aperture defining a catch surface, the first and second connection arrangements being configured to enable a snap-fit type connection with a second main body identical to the first main body.

20. The mounting frame of claim 19 , wherein the first and second connection arrangements each further include a raised portion and a recessed portion, wherein the raised and recessed portions are located between the deflectable latch arms and the apertures.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 058843/0712 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA); COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 074591/0389 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 058875/0449 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 069743/0057 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2022
From: LIU, ZHIHUI; THIJS, DANNY GHISLAIN; DONG, MIN; ZHAO, YU; WU, WENYONG
To: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 060584/0604 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058875/0449 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058843/0712 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 201910956057.1 · Oct 10, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210112316A1 · Apr 15, 2021