Universal cable management system for telecommunications rack

1. A telecommunications system ( 10 ) comprising:

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

b. a plurality of cable management assemblies ( 100 ) mounted to the frame ( 10 ), each of the cable management assemblies ( 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 ).

2. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the the plurality of cable management assemblies ( 100 ) includes at least four cable management assemblies ( 100 ).

3. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 2 , 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 ).

4. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 1 , 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 ).

5. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 4 , 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 ).

6. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first and second side brackets ( 120 , 130 ) each have an extendable length (L).

7. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 6 , 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 ).

8. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 7 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 ).

9. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 7 , 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 ).

10. The telecommunications system ( 10 ) of claim 9 , 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 ).