US 5,964,611 A · Integrated cable manager and circuit pack/module latch

Abstract

A latch/cable management unit (LCM) provides a handle to push or pull a faceplate of a circuit pack or module into or out of a cabinet designed to house circuit modules. The LCM is also designed to contain and route cables or fibres extending from the faceplate. The LCM is pivotally connected to one end of the faceplate, pivotable in a plane parallel to an axis of the faceplate from a closed to an open position. The LCM has two arms which form a gap for containing the cables. Upper portions of the arms form an entrance/exit to allow passage of the cables or fibres into and out of the gap. The LCM also has a securing bar which locks the faceplate into the cabinet when the LCM is rotated into the closed position. The LCM also has means to hold the LCM in either the open position or the closed position to prevent inadvertent rotation of the LCM. Typically, the LCM will be used in combination with a latch located at another end of the faceplate to help move the faceplate into or out of the cabinet.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An elongate faceplate for a circuit module receivable within a cabinet, the faceplate having a longitudinal axis, at least one aperture for receiving a first connector mounted on the module which connector is mateable with a second connector connected to a cable, the faceplate having at one longitudinal end a latch member engageable with a part of the cabinet to latch the faceplate to the cabinet, the faceplate having at the other longitudinal end a latch/cable management unit (LCM) and an LCM end surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the faceplate, the LCM comprising:

a cable containment means for containing the cable connected to the second connector;
and
an integral latching member engageable with a part of the cabinet, the LCM being pivotably mounted about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that when the LCM is manually pivoted from a relatively open position to a relatively closed position the integral latching member latches to the cabinet.

A latch/cable management unit (LCM) for use with an elongate faceplate of a circuit module, the circuit module being receivable within a cabinet, the faceplate having a longitudinal axis, at least one aperture for receiving a first connector mounted on the module which first connector is mateable with a second connector connected to a cable, the faceplate having at one longitudinal end an LCM end surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the LCM comprising:

a cable containment means for containing a cable connected to the second connector;
and
an integral latching member the LCM being pivotably engageable to the faceplate adjacent the LCM end surface of the faceplate, the LCM being pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that when the LCM is engaged to the faceplate, when the LCM is manually pivoted from a relatively open position to a relatively closed position, the integral latching member latches to the cabinet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated cable manager and circuit pack/module latch

Life of this patent

Integrated cable manager and circuit pack/module latch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20