Vertical cable management system with ribcage structure

A cable management device for use with a telecommunications equipment mounting fixture, the cable management device comprising:

• a) a middle support having a front, a rear, and two sides, the middle support including:
• 1) a plurality of spools positioned on the front, wherein each spool includes a cable support extending from the front and a cable retention member spaced from the front;
• and
• 2) a hole between the front and the rear;
• and
• b) two columns of spaced-apart ribs on each side, each column of ribs including a first set of ribs extending transversely away from the middle support on the front, and a second set of ribs extending transversely away from the middle support on the rear, each rib including a cable retention tab, each cable retention tab extending generally toward the ribs of the corresponding set in the other column wherein first and second cable positioning chambers on opposite sides of the middle support are defined by the middle support and the two columns of spaced apart ribs, the tabs extending at an angle toward the ribs of the corresponding set in the other column, wherein the cable retention tabs of one of the first sets of ribs are spaced from the cable retention tabs of the other of the first sets of ribs to define a vertical spacing, the vertical spacing extending rearwardly toward the front of the middle support, wherein the cable support and the cable retention member of the spools are positioned only in the vertical spacing.

A cable management system comprising:

• a) a rack including a base, and two upwardly extending side supports configured and arranged for holding telecommunications equipment having front and rear cable connection locations, the rack further having a front, a rear, and a side;
• b) a ribcage cable support member mounted to the rack and positioned along the side, the ribcage cable support member including:
• 1) a middle support having a front, a rear, and two sides, the middle support including:
• A) a plurality of spools positioned on the front;
• B) a plurality of holes between the front and the rear;
• 2) two columns of vertically spaced-apart ribs on each side of the middle support, each column of ribs extending transversely away from the middle support on the front, each rib including a main portion extending from the middle support and a cable retention tab, each main portion of the ribs of one column horizontally aligned with the main portion of one of the ribs of the other column, each cable retention tab extending generally toward the ribs of the other column, wherein a cable positioning chamber is defined by the middle support and the two columns of spaced apart ribs;
• c) telecommunications equipment mounted to the rack, the equipment defining a plurality of rows of front cable connection locations on a front of the equipment, one of the columns of ribs positioned so as to have a rib adjacent to each row of front cable connection locations, the equipment further defining a plurality of rows of rear connection locations on the rear of the equipment.

A cable management device for use with a telecommunications equipment rack, the cable management device comprising:

• a) a middle support having a front, a rear, and two sides, the middle support including:
• 1) a plurality of spools centrally positioned on the front in a vertical array, wherein each spool includes a cable support extending from the front and a cable retention member spaced from the front;
• 2) a hole between the front and the rear;
• b) two columns of vertically spaced-apart ribs on each side, each column of ribs extending transversely away from the middle support on the front, each rib including a main portion extending from the middle support and a cable retention tab, each main portion of the ribs of one column horizontally aligned with the main portion of one of the ribs of the other column, each cable retention tab extending generally toward the ribs of the other column, wherein a cable positioning chamber is defined by the middle support and the two columns of spaced apart ribs, wherein an unobstructed cable pathway is defined between each column of ribs and the vertical array of spools, wherein the cable retentive tabs of one of the first sets of ribs are spaced from the cable retentive tabs of the other of the first sets of ribs to define a vertical spacing, the vertical spacing extending rearwardly toward the front of the middle support, wherein the cable support and the cable retention member of the spools are positioned only in the vertical spacing.

A cable management system comprising:

• a) a rack including a base, and two upwardly extending side supports configured and arranged for holding telecommunications equipment having front cable connection locations, the rack further having a front, a rear, and a side;
• b) a ribcage cable support member mounted to the rack and positioned along the side, the ribcage cable support member including:
• 1) a middle support having a front, a rear, and two sides, the middle support including a plurality of spools centrally positioned on the front in a vertical array;
• 2) two columns of vertically spaced-apart ribs on each side of the middle support, each column of ribs extending transversely away from the middle support on the front, each rib including a main portion extending from the middle support and a cable retention tab, each main portion of the ribs of one column horizontally aligned with the main portion of one of the ribs of the other column, each cable retention tab extending generally toward the ribs of the other column, wherein a cable positioning chamber is defined by the middle support and the two column of spaced apart ribs, wherein an unobstructed cable pathway is defined between each column of ribs and the vertical array of spools;
• c) telecommunications equipment mounted to the rack, the equipment defining a plurality of rows of front cable connection locations on a front of the equipment, one of the columns of ribs positioned so as to have a rib adjacent to each row of front cable connection locations.