Granted Patent B2

US 8,731,361 · App. 12/793,728 · Granted May 20, 2014

Abstract

Claims (52)

1. A communication patching system comprising:

a platform configured to support a plurality of cables, the platform including a bottom and spaced apart first and second sidewalls that extend upward from said bottom;

a first holder connected to said platform and configured to hold a first row of communications adapters;

a first set of communications adapters mounted to said first holder;

a second holder configured to hold a second row of communications adapters on top of said first holder;

a second set of communications adapters mounted to said second holder;

a first pivot directly pivotably attaching said second holder to said first sidewall of said platform;

a second pivot directly pivotably attaching said second holder to said second sidewall of said platform, wherein said first and second pivots define a pivot axis of said second holder, and wherein the pivot axis of said second holder passes through said first and second sidewalls above a plane of said bottom of said platform, such that said second holder can pivot from a first position to a second position and thereby said second row of communications adapters moves from a first position a first distance from said first row of communications adapters to a second position a second distance from said first row of communications adapters, said second distance being greater than said first distance; and

means for releasably holding said second row of communications adapters in said second position.

2. The communication patching system of claim 1 , including a trough connected to said second holder, a first plurality of cables on said platform connected to a first side of said second set of communications adapters and a second plurality of cables on said trough connected to a second side of said second set of communications adapters.

3. The communication patching system of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said second row of communications adapters comprises:

a first key attached to said second holder, wherein said first key extends into a first keyhole in said first sidewall, and wherein said first keyhole includes a generally circular portion in which said first key can freely rotate, and

a second key attached to said second holder, wherein said second key extends into a second keyhole in said second sidewall, and wherein said second keyhole includes a generally circular portion in which said second key can freely rotate.

4. A communication patching system comprising:

a drawer having a bottom, a front portion, a rear portion, a first sidewall extending upward from said bottom, and a second sidewall, spaced from said first sidewall and extending upward from said bottom, wherein said first and second sidewalls reside in an area between said front portion of said drawer and said rear portion of said drawer;

a first panel attached to said first and second sidewalls of said drawer, said first panel having a front, a rear, a first side residing in an area between said front of said first panel and said rear of said first panel, a second side residing in an area between said front of said first panel and said rear of said first panel, and a first bulkhead configured to receive a first set of communications connectors;

a first pivot directly pivotably attaching said first side of said first panel to said first sidewall of said drawer;

a second pivot directly pivotably attaching said second side of said first panel to said second sidewall of said drawer, wherein said first and second pivots define a pivot axis of said first panel, and wherein the pivot axis of said first panel passes through said first and second sidewalls above a plane of said bottom of said drawer; and

a second bulkhead configured to receive a second set of communications connectors, wherein said second bulkhead is directly or indirectly connected to said drawer, wherein said first panel is pivotable along said pivot axis of said first panel via said first pivot and said second pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein said first bulkhead is spaced from said second bulkhead by a first distance when said first panel is in said first position, wherein said first bulkhead is spaced from said second bulkhead by a second distance when said first panel is in said second position, and wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

5. The communication patching system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a second panel attached to said first and second sidewalls of said drawer, said second panel having a front, a rear, a first side residing in an area between said front of said second panel and said rear of said second panel, a second side residing in an area between said front of said second panel and said rear of said second panel, and a third bulkhead configured to receive a third set of communications connectors, wherein said second panel overlies said first panel and is pivotable between a third position and a fourth position.

6. The communication patching system of claim 5 , wherein said first, second and third holders form a stack when said first panel is in said first position and said third panel is in said third position.

7. The communication patching system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first stop for holding said first panel in said second position; and

a second stop for holding said second panel in said fourth position.

8. The communication patching system of claim 4 , wherein said first pivot is located adjacent to said rear of said first panel and attached to said first sidewall of said drawer at a location between said front portion of said drawer and said rear portion of said drawer, and wherein said first sidewall is located at a first side edge of said bottom of said drawer.

9. The communication patching system of claim 8 , wherein said first pivot includes a pin extending into a first opening in said first sidewall of said drawer, and wherein said first pivot includes a pull which allows for retraction of said pin from said first opening in said first sidewall of said drawer so that said first panel may be removed from said drawer.

10. The communication patching system of claim 8 , wherein said first pivot includes a first key which extends into a first keyhole in said first sidewall of said drawer, and wherein said first keyhole includes a generally circular portion in which said first key can freely rotate, and wherein said second pivot includes a second key which extends into a second keyhole in said second sidewall of said drawer, and wherein said second keyhole includes a generally circular portion in which said second key can freely rotate.

11. The communication patching system of claim 10 , wherein said first keyhole include a first linear portion, wherein said first key may be inserted into said first linear portion in which said first key may not freely rotate, wherein said second keyhole include a second linear portion, wherein said second key may be inserted into said second linear portion in which said second key may not freely rotate, and wherein when said first and second keys are in said first and second linear portions, said first panel is stopped in said second position.

12. The communication patching system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a stop for holding said first panel in said second position.

13. The communication patching system of claim 12 , wherein said stop includes a plunger attached to said first sidewall of said drawer and selectively extendable into a space beneath said first panel to support said first panel in said second position.

14. The communication patching system of claim 12 , wherein said stop includes a moveable pin attached to said first panel and selectively extendable to a position outward of said first side of said first panel to engage said first sidewall of said drawer when said first panel is in said second position.

15. The communication patching system of claim 4 , wherein said first bulkhead is configured to present the first set of communications connectors in a first row extending in a first direction, and wherein said pivot axis of said first panel is substantially parallel to said first direction.

16. The communication patching system of claim 15 , wherein said second bulkhead is configured to present the second set of communications connectors in a second row extending in a second direction, and wherein said pivot axis of said first panel is substantially parallel to said second direction.

17. The communication patching system of claim 4 , wherein said first bulkhead is configured to present the first set of communications connectors in only a first row.

18. A communication patching system comprising:

a drawer having a bottom, a front portion, a rear portion, a first sidewall extending upward from said bottom, and a second sidewall spaced from said first sidewall and extending upward from said bottom, wherein said first and second sidewalls reside in an area between said front portion of said drawer and said rear portion of said drawer;

a first panel attached to said first and second sidewalls of said drawer, said first panel having a front, a rear, a first side residing in an area between said front of said first panel and said rear of said first panel, a second side residing in an area between said front of said first panel and said rear of said first panel, and a first bulkhead presenting first holders for a single layer of adapters;

a single layer of adapters populated into said first holders;

optical fibers extending into backsides of said single layer of adapters on a backside of said bulkhead;

patch cords connected to front sides of said single layer of adapters on a front side of said first bulkhead;

a first pivot directly pivotably attaching said first side of said first panel to said first sidewall of said drawer;

a second pivot directly pivotably attaching said second side of said first panel to said second sidewall of said drawer, wherein said first and second pivots define a pivot axis of said first panel, and wherein the pivot axis of said first panel passes through said first and second sidewalls above a plane of said bottom of said drawer; and

a second bulkhead presenting second holders for a single layer of adapters, wherein said second bulkhead is directly or indirectly connected to said drawer,

wherein said first panel is pivotable along said pivot axis of said first panel via said first pivot and said second pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein said first bulkhead is spaced from said second bulkhead by a first distance when said first panel is in said first position, wherein said first bulkhead is spaced from said second bulkhead by a second distance when said first panel is in said second position, and wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

19. The communication patching system of claim 18 , further comprising:

a stop for holding said first panel in said second position.

20. The communication patching system of claim 18 , further comprising:

a second panel attached to said first and second sidewalls of said drawer, said second panel having a front, a rear, a first side residing in an area between said front of said second panel and said rear of said second panel, a second side residing in an area between said front of said second panel and said rear of said second panel, and a third bulkhead presenting third holders for a single layer of adapters, wherein said second panel overlies said first panel and is pivotable between a third position and a fourth position;

a first stop for holding said first panel in said second position; and

a second stop for holding said second panel in said fourth position.

Assignments (15)