Modular cross-connect panel
AssigneeAT&T Information Systems Inc.
InventorsDonn Baker, John E. Clarke, Chris G. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a cross-connect having a hinged rotating section panel which accepts multi-pair cables. The hinged section is mounted to a forward edge of a support section and the multi-pair cables are suspended between the two sections so that the cables remain in the same plane regardless of the position of the hinged section. The user cross connects between the cable pairs using the familiar modular plug and jack. The design of the cross-connect field is modular so that the cross-connect field can easily be added to as the system grows. The forward edge of the support panel slopes vertically to insure that the patch cords dress properly from top to bottom.
Claims21
A modular cross-connection field comprising a vertically mountable connector panel and a stationary support panel adapted to support said connector panel, said connector panel comprising,
- a plurality of slots each displaced vertically from the other when said connector panel is supported in position by said support panel,
- means on a first side of said connector panel for positioning and retaining with respect to each said slot a plurality of jacks, said means arranged such that jacks positioned thereby will be accessible through said associated slot from a second side of said connector panel,
- first cable support means associated with each said slot on said first side of said connector panel for positioning a cable for attachment to said jacks associated with said slot said cable support means including a second flange mounted offset from and parallel to said connection panel,
- and wherein said stationary support panel comprises
- means for supporting said connector panel such that said connector panel is free to rotate with respect to said support panel,
- second cable support means associated with each said slot and positioned on said stationary support panel such that said second cable support means cooperates with said first cable support means when said connector panel is supported by said support panel to retain each said cable attached to each said jack associated with each said slot said second cable support means positioned with respect to said first cable support means such that when said connector panel is rotated open, said first and second cable support means are in substantially the same plane with said first cable support means displaced forward of said second cable support means and such that when said connector panel is rotated closed with respect to said stationary panel said first and second cable support means are also in substantially the same plane with said first cable support means positioned partially rearward of said second cable support means.
A modular cross-connect field for use in interconnecting any one of a number of communication terminals with any one of a number of communication lines, said cross-connect field comprising
- a back panel having a first surface adapted for mounting to a mounting support,
- a support panel affixed to said back panel having at least one surface perpendicular to said back panel, said support panel having a front edge vertically sloped with respect to said back panel when said back panel is mounted to a mounting support,
- a connector panel having a plurality of slots therein, each said slot vertically displaced with respect to a next adjacent slot,
- means for mounting jacks within each of said slots, and
- means for mounting one edge of said connector panel to said front edge of said support panel such that said connector panel rotates with respect to said support panel,
- said support panel perpendicular surface includes a plurality of cable support means each associated with a particular one of said slots when said connector panel is mounted to said support panel, and wherein said connector panel includes a plurality of cable support means each associated with one of said slots, and wherein
- said mounting means includes means for rotating said connector panel such that said support panel cable support means and said connector panel cable support means are in substantially the same plane with each other when said panel is rotated to a closed position.
A modular cross-connection field comprising a vertically mounted connector panel and a stationary support panel adapted to support said connector panel, said connector panel comprising,
- means on a first side of said connector panel for positioning sets of jacks, said means arranged such that jacks positioned thereby will be accessible from a second side of said connector panel,
- first cable support means associated with each said jack set for positioning a cable for attachment to said jacks,
- and wherein said stationary support panel comprises
- means for mounting to a support surface such that said support panel is perpendicular to said support surface
- means for supporting said connector panel on an edge of said support panel away from said support surface, said edge sloped from top to bottom away from said support surface such that said connector panel is free to rotate with respect to said support panel,
- a plurality of second cable support means associated with each said jack set and angled with respect to the vertical and displaced in substantially a straight line along said stationary support panel, said second cable support means cooperating with said first cable support means when said connector panel is supported by said support panel to retain each said cable attached to each said jack set both when said connector panel is rotated open and when said connector panel is rotated closed with respect to said stationary panel such that a cable supported thereby rotates within said plurality of second cable support means to prevent said cable from folding upon itself in both said open and closed positions.
A connector panel comprising
- a stationary portion and a portion rotatable with respect to said stationary portion,
- means for mounting jacks on said rotatable portion,
- means for connecting wire cables to said jacks,
- means including a plane offset from and parallel to said jack mounting means on said rotatable portion and associated with each said jack mounting means for positioning a said cable connected to said associated jack,
- means on said stationary portion arranged to cooperate with each said cable positioning means for maintaining said cable in substantially the same plane both when said rotatable portion is rotated against said stationary portion and when said rotatable portion is rotated away from said stationary portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.