# US 10,310,204 B2 · Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,204 B2 - Document ID: US10310204B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/499,608 - Filed: 2017-04-27 - Published: 2017-08-10 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-19 - Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC - Applicants: CommScope Technologies LLC - Inventors: Mark Smrha; Hutch Coburn; Chad J. Sjodin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310204B2 ## CPC - H04Q 1/142: {Terminal blocks for distribution frames} - G02B 6/3825: {with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs} - G02B 6/4452: {Distribution frames} - G02B 6/44526: {Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack} - G02B 6/4455: {characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding} - H04Q 1/023: {using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus} - H04Q 1/06: Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations - H04Q 11/0003: {Details} - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters being arranged in arrays that slide independently of other adapter arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adapter panel arrangement comprising: a chassis defining an interior; an elongated guide coupled to the chassis, the elongated guide defining an elongated channel, the elongated guide including a first stop member disposed at an intermediate location along the elongated channel; and a piece of fiber optic equipment including a side rail configured to slide within the elongated channel relative to the elongated guide, the side rail defining a second stop member sized and shaped to engage the first stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is disposed at a first position along the elongated guide, the piece of fiber optic equipment carrying a plurality of fiber ports. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first stop member protrudes into the elongated channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 2, wherein the second stop member is a notch defined in the side rail. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 3, wherein the first stop member snaps into the second stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is slid sufficiently along the elongated channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 2, wherein the second stop member is a detent defined in the side rail. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the elongated channel widens at a transition region of the elongated guide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 6, wherein the elongated channel widens by ramping outwardly as the elongated channel extends through the transition region to an axial end of the elongated guide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first stop member defines a detent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 8, wherein the second stop member includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the side rail. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the side rail includes a third stop member sized and shaped to engage the first stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is disposed at a second position along the elongated guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 10, wherein the first stop member snaps into the third stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is slid sufficiently along the elongated channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least some of the fiber ports form a row of fiber ports. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 12, wherein the fiber ports of the row move unitarily with each other when the piece of fiber optic equipment is slid along the elongated channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the piece of fiber optic equipment carries an optical adapter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 14, wherein the piece of fiber optic equipment carries multiple optical adapters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 15, wherein each optical adapter defines some of the plurality of fiber ports. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 15, wherein the multiple optical adapters are arranged in a row. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a drawer that carries the elongated guide. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 18, wherein the drawer slides forwardly of the chassis to extend outwardly from an interior of the chassis to enhance access to the fiber ports. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The adapter panel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the piece of fiber optic equipment includes a retaining ring for managing an optical fiber received at one of the fiber ports. ### Claim 21 An adapter panel arrangement comprising: a chassis defining an interior; an elongated guide coupled to the chassis, the elongated guide defining an elongated channel, the elongated guide including a first stop member disposed at an intermediate location along the elongated channel; and a piece of fiber optic equipment including a side rail configured to slide within the elongated channel relative to the elongated guide, the side rail defining a second stop member sized and shaped to engage the first stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is disposed at a first position along the elongated guide, the piece of fiber optic equipment carrying a plurality of fiber ports, wherein the side rail includes a third stop member sized and shaped to engage the first stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is disposed at a second position along the elongated guide, wherein the first stop member snaps into the third stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is slid sufficiently along the elongated channel. ### Claim 22 An adapter panel arrangement comprising: a chassis defining an interior; an elongated guide coupled to the chassis, the elongated guide defining an elongated channel, the elongated guide including a first stop member disposed at an intermediate location along the elongated channel; and a piece of fiber optic equipment including a side rail configured to slide within the elongated channel relative to the elongated guide, the side rail defining a second stop member sized and shaped to engage the first stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is disposed at a first position along the elongated guide, the piece of fiber optic equipment carrying a plurality of fiber ports, wherein at least some of the fiber ports form a row of fiber ports, wherein the fiber ports of the row move unitarily with each other when the piece of fiber optic equipment is slid along the elongated channel. ### Claim 23 An adapter panel arrangement comprising: a chassis defining an interior; an elongated guide coupled to the chassis, the elongated guide defining an elongated channel, the elongated guide including a first stop member disposed at an intermediate location along the elongated channel; and a piece of fiber optic equipment including a side rail configured to slide within the elongated channel relative to the elongated guide, the side rail defining a second stop member sized and shaped to engage the first stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is disposed at a first position along the elongated guide, the piece of fiber optic equipment carrying a plurality of fiber ports defined by multiple optical adapters arranged in a row. ### Claim 24 An adapter panel arrangement comprising: a chassis defining an interior; an elongated guide coupled to the chassis, the elongated guide defining an elongated channel, the elongated guide including a first stop member disposed at an intermediate location along the elongated channel; and a piece of fiber optic equipment including a side rail configured to slide within the elongated channel relative to the elongated guide, the side rail defining a second stop member sized and shaped to engage the first stop member when the piece of fiber optic equipment is disposed at a first position along the elongated guide, the piece of fiber optic equipment carrying a plurality of fiber ports, wherein the piece of fiber optic equipment includes a retaining ring for managing optical fibers received at the fiber ports.