Granted Patent B2

US 8,753,142 · App. 12/718,255 · Granted Jun 17, 2014

Abstract

Claims (13)

1. A method of retrofitting an existing patching system with an intelligent patching module, comprising the steps of:

providing an existing patching system including at least one patching shelf unit populated with interconnection sites, the shelf unit including a rear face and an opposing front side;

routing a cable between a rear location located rearward of the rear face and the front side;

connecting the cable to an intelligent patching module; and

attaching the intelligent patching module to the shelf unit;

wherein the shelf unit includes a shelf cover that overlies the interconnection sites, and wherein the step of routing comprises attaching the cable to the shelf cover and sliding the shelf cover between a rearward retracted position and a forward extended position.

2. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the shelf cover includes an engagement projection configured to engage the cable during the step of sliding.

3. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein routing the cable comprises routing the cable as a portion of the cable rests on an upper surface of the shelf cover.

4. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the step of sliding comprises sliding the shelf cover from the retracted position to the extended position.

5. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the step of sliding comprises sliding the shelf cover from the extended position to the retracted position.

6. The method defined in claim 2 , wherein the engagement projection projects rearwardly from the rear face of the shelf unit when the shelf cover is in the retracted position.

7. The method defined in claim 2 , wherein the engagement member is a hook that is substantially coplanar with a body portion of the shelf cover.

8. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the cable is a ribbon cable.

Assignments (15)