Vertical cable management ring with pivotable section

A vertical cable guide for mounting on a telecommunications equipment rack, the cable guide comprising:

• a first ring structure and a second ring structure;
• the first ring structure including:
• a closed end base having a first end and a second end;
• an outer arm with a first end and a second end, the second end attached to the first end of the closed end base and the first end extending from the closed end base;
• an opposing inner arm with a first end and a second end, the second end attached to the second end of the closed end base and the first end extending from the closed end base generally parallel to the outer arm;
• the first end of the outer arm extending further from the closed end base than the first end of the inner arm;
• and
• the outer and inner arms and the closed end base defining a vertical cable channel with an open end generally opposite the closed end base;
• the second ring structure including:
• an outer arm, having a first end and a second end, generally parallel with the outer side of the first ring outer arm;
• an inner arm, having a first end and a second end, generally parallel with the inner of the first ring inner arm;
• a closed end base connecting the first end of the second ring inner arm and the first end of the second ring outer arm;
• a plurality of fingers extending from the second end of the inner arm toward the outer arm and from the second end of the outer arm toward the inner arm, the inner arm, outer arm, closed base and fingers of the second ring structure defining a second vertical cable channel;
• the fingers of the second ring structure generally parallel with the closed end base of the second ring and cooperating to extend across the second cable channel;
• and
• the fingers of the second ring structure vertically offset from one another to permit cables to be passed from outside the second cable channel into the second cable channel past the fingers;
• wherein the closed end base of the second ring structure is pivotably mounted to the first end of the inner arm of the first ring structure adjacent the open end of the first ring structure, the second ring structure pivotable about a vertical axis between a first and a second position;
• wherein when the second ring structure is in the first position, the second ring structure closes the open end of the first ring structure, and when the second ring structure is in the second position, the open end of the first ring structure is accessible.

A cable management system comprising:

• a rack;
• a plurality of first ring structures cooperating to form a first vertical cable path along a first side of the rack, the first ring structures having an open end;
• a plurality of second ring structures cooperating to form a second vertical cable path along the first side of the rack, each second ring structure being hingedly mounted to one of the first ring structures and pivotable about a vertical axis between a first position and a second position;
• the open end of each first ring structure being closed by the respective second ring structure mounted to the first ring structure when the second ring structure is in the first position.

A method for managing a cable extending vertically along a telecommunications equipment rack, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first ring structure cooperating to form a first vertical cable path along a first side of the rack, the first ring structure having an open end;
• providing a second ring structure cooperating to form a second vertical cable channel along the first side of the rack, the second ring structure being hingedly mounted to the first ring structure and pivotable about a vertical axis between a first position and a second position, the open end of the first ring structure being closed by the second ring structure mounted to the first ring structure when the second ring structure is in the first position;
• moving the second ring structure from the first position to the second position;
• placing the cable through the open end of the first ring structure into the first cable channel;
• moving the second ring structure from the second position to the first position.