Universal cable management system for telecommunications rack

1. A telecommunications cable management assembly ( 100 ) for a distribution frame ( 10 ) comprising:

a) a front plate ( 110 ) extending between a first end ( 110 a ) and a second end ( 110 c ), the front plate ( 110 ) being provided with apertures ( 112 );

b) a plurality of telecommunications components ( 20 ), each of which being installed within one of the apertures ( 112 ) of the front plate ( 110 );

c) a first side bracket ( 120 ) extending between a front end ( 120 a ) and a back end ( 120 b ), the first side bracket front end ( 120 a ) extending from the first end ( 110 a ) of the front plate ( 110 ), the first side bracket back end ( 120 b ) being configured for mounting to the distribution frame ( 10 ), the first side bracket ( 120 );

d) a first plurality of cables ( 26 ) extending laterally from at least some of the telecommunications components ( 20 ) mounted to the front plate ( 110 ) and over to the first side bracket ( 120 ), wherein the first plurality of cables ( 26 ) is supported along a length (L 2 ) of the first side bracket ( 120 ); and

e) a second side bracket ( 130 ) extending between a front end ( 130 a ) and a back end ( 130 b ), the second side bracket front end ( 130 a ) extending from the second end ( 110 c ) of the front plate ( 110 ), the second side bracket back end ( 130 b ) being configured for mounting to the distribution frame ( 10 ), the second side bracket ( 130 ); and

f) a second plurality of cables ( 28 ) extending laterally from at least some of the telecommunications components ( 20 ) mounted to the front plate ( 110 ) and over to the second side bracket ( 130 ), wherein the second plurality of cables ( 28 ) is supported along a length (L 2 ) of the second side bracket ( 130 );

g) wherein the cable management assembly has open back, top, and bottom sides, and wherein the first plurality of cables ( 26 ) are spaced apart and separated from the second plurality of cables ( 28 ) to define an open space ( 104 ) within a central region ( 102 ) between the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ), the open space ( 104 ) having a dimension that is a majority of a distance between the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ).

2. The telecommunications cable management assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ) have an extendable length (L).

3. The telecommunications cable management assembly ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ) include:

a) a sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ); and

b) an insert part ( 124 , 134 ) received within the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 );

c) wherein the insert part ( 124 , 134 ) is slidable within the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ).

4. The telecommunications cable management assembly ( 100 ) of claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ) further include a locking mechanism ( 124 d , 126 ) for fixing the position of the insert part ( 124 , 134 ) within the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ).

5. The telecommunications cable management assembly ( 100 ) of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ) and the insert part ( 124 , 134 ) have a plurality of aperture arrangements ( 122 d ) for receiving and retaining cable mounting accessories ( 140 ).

6. The telecommunications cable management assembly ( 100 ) of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of aperture arrangements ( 122 d ) are present on the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ) of each of the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ).

7. A telecommunications system ( 10 ) comprising:

a) a distribution frame ( 10 ) having a front ( 10 a ) and a back ( 10 b );

b) at least one cable management assembly ( 100 ) mounted to the frame ( 10 ), the cable management assembly ( 100 ) comprising:

i a front plate ( 110 ) extending between a first end ( 110 a ) and a second end ( 110 c ) and being provided with apertures ( 112 ), the front plate ( 110 ) being mounted to the front ( 10 a ) of the frame ( 10 );

ii a plurality of telecommunications components ( 20 ), each of which being installed within one of the apertures ( 112 ) of the front plate ( 110 );

iii a first side bracket ( 120 ) extending between a front end ( 120 a ) and a back end ( 120 b ), the first side bracket front end ( 120 a ) being mounted to the front ( 10 a ) of the frame ( 10 ) adjacent the first end ( 110 a ) of the front plate ( 110 ) , the first side bracket back end ( 120 b ) being mounted to the back ( 10 b ) of the frame ( 10 ), the first side bracket ( 120 )

iv a first plurality of cables ( 26 ) extending from at least some of the telecommunications components mounted to the front plate ( 110 ) and over to the first side bracket ( 120 ), wherein the first plurality of cables ( 26 ) is supported along a length (L 2 ) of the first side bracket ( 120 );

v a second side bracket ( 130 ) extending between a front end ( 130 a ) and a back end ( 130 b ), the second side bracket front end ( 130 a ) being mounted to the front ( 10 a ) of the frame ( 10 ) adjacent the second end ( 110 c ) of the front plate ( 110 ), the second side bracket back end ( 130 b ) being mounted to the back of the frame ( 10 ), the second side bracket ( 130 ); and

vi a second plurality of cables ( 28 ) extending from at least some of the telecommunications components ( 20 ) mounted to the front plate ( 110 ) and over to the second side bracket ( 130 ), wherein the second plurality of cables ( 28 ) is supported along a length (L 2 ) of the second side bracket ( 130 );

vii wherein the cable management assembly has open back, top, and bottom sides, and wherein the first plurality of cables ( 26 ) are spaced apart and separated from the second plurality of cables ( 28 ) to define an open space ( 104 ) within a central region ( 102 ) between the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ), the open space ( 104 ) having a dimension that is a majority of a distance between the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ).

8. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 7 , wherein the at least one cable management assembly ( 100 ) includes at least four cable management assemblies ( 100 ).

9. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 8 , further comprising a vertical cable management accessory ( 142 ) mounted to the front ( 10 a ) of the frame ( 10 ) and located below the cable management assemblies ( 100 ), the vertical cable management accessory ( 142 ) being for routing cables from the telecommunications components ( 20 ) to active equipment supported by the frame ( 10 ).

10. A method of supporting cables in a telecommunications distribution frame ( 10 ) within which a cable management assembly ( 100 ) is mounted, the method including the steps of:

a) connecting each of a first plurality of cables ( 26 ) to connectors ( 20 ) located on a front plate ( 110 ) of the cable management assembly ( 100 ) that includes the front plate ( 110 ), a first side bracket ( 120 ), and a second side bracket ( 130 ) that together form a three-sided structure defining open top, bottom, and back sides;

b) routing each of the first plurality of cables ( 26 ) laterally over from the connectors and along the first side bracket ( 120 ), the first side bracket ( 120 ) extending along a first side ( 10 c ) of the distribution frame ( 10 ) between a first end ( 110 a ) of the front plate ( 110 ) and a back ( 10 b ) of the distribution frame ( 10 );

c) securing each of the first plurality of cables ( 26 ) to the first side bracket ( 120 );

d) connecting each of a second plurality of cables ( 28 ) to connectors ( 20 ) located on the front plate ( 110 ) of the cable management assembly ( 100 );

e) routing each of the second plurality of cables ( 28 ) laterally over from the connectors ( 20 ) and along the second side bracket ( 130 ), the second side bracket ( 130 ) extending along a second side ( 10 d ) of the distribution frame ( 10 ) between a second end ( 110 c ) of the front plate ( 110 ) and the back ( 10 b ) of the distribution frame ( 10 ); and

f) securing each of the second plurality of cables ( 28 ) to the second side bracket ( 130 )

g) wherein the steps of routing the first and second plurality of cables ( 26 , 28 ) and securing the first and second plurality of cables ( 26 , 28 ) results in the first plurality of cables ( 26 ) being spaced apart and separated from the second plurality of cables ( 28 ) to define an open space ( 104 ) within a central region ( 102 ) between the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ), the open space ( 104 ) having a dimension that is a majority of a distance between the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ).

11. The method of supporting cables in a telecommunications distribution frame ( 10 ) of claim 10 , further including the step of:

a) securing one or more cable mounting accessories ( 140 ) to the first side bracket ( 120 ) and securing one or more cable mounting accessories ( 140 ) to the second side bracket ( 130 ), wherein the steps of securing each of the first and second plurality of cables ( 26 , 28 ) includes securing each of the first and second plurality of cables ( 26 , 28 ) to the respective cable mounting accessories ( 140 ) mounted to the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ).

12. The method of supporting cables in a telecommunications distribution frame ( 10 ) of claim 10 , wherein the front plate ( 110 ) defines an intermediate point ( 110 b ) and the step of connecting each of a first plurality of cables ( 26 ) includes connecting the cables ( 26 ) to connectors ( 20 ) located on a first side of the intermediate point ( 110 b ) and the step of connecting each of a second plurality of cables ( 28 ) includes connecting the cables ( 28 ) to connectors ( 20 ) located on a second side of the intermediate point ( 110 b ).

13. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 7 , further comprising:

a) a first connector ( 20 ) mounted in one of the apertures ( 112 ) of the front plate ( 110 );

b) a first cable mounting accessory ( 140 ) mounted to the first side bracket ( 120 ); and

c) a first cable ( 26 ) connected to the first connector ( 20 ) and extending laterally from the first connector ( 20 ) to the first side bracket ( 120 ), the first cable ( 26 ) extending along a length (L) of the first side bracket ( 120 ) and being supported by the first cable mounting accessory ( 140 ).

14. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 13 , further comprising:

a) a second connector ( 20 ) mounted in one of the apertures ( 112 ) of the front plate ( 110 );

b) a second cable mounting accessory ( 140 ) mounted to the second side bracket ( 130 ); and

c) a second cable ( 28 ) connected to the second connector ( 20 ) and extending laterally from the second connector ( 20 ) to the second side bracket ( 130 ), the second cable ( 28 ) extending along a length (L) of the second side bracket ( 130 ) and being supported by the second cable mounting accessory ( 140 ).

15. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 7 , wherein the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ) each have an extendable length (L).

16. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ) include:

a) a sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ); and

b) an insert part ( 124 , 134 ) received within the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 );

c) wherein the insert part ( 124 , 134 ) is slidable within the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ).

17. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ) further include a locking mechanism ( 124 d , 126 ) for fixing the position of the insert part ( 124 , 134 ) within the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ).

18. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ) and the insert part ( 124 , 134 ) have a plurality of aperture arrangements ( 122 d ) for receiving and retaining cable mounting accessories ( 140 ).

19. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of aperture arrangements ( 122 d ) are present on the sleeve part ( 122 , 132 ) of each of the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ).