Cable management device for rack mounted equipment

#The present invention relates generally to routing a number of cables between components at various locations. More specifically, but without limitation thereto, the present invention relates to a cable management device for rack mounted equipment.

#In one aspect of the present invention, a cable management channel may be conveniently removed from an area normally covered by the cable management channel without having to untie or detach cables, for example, to provide access to equipment located behind the cable management channel. In one embodiment, a cable management device includes a cable management channel having at least one cable routing slot for routing a cable in and out of the cable management channel, a cable retainer for holding the cable inside the cable management channel, and a mounting bracket coupled to the cable management channel for fastening the cable management channel to a surface, such as an equipment rack enclosure rail, and for moving the cable management channel and the cable between a first position and a second position. The cable management channel may be advantageously released from the mounting bracket for moving the cable management channel between the first position and the second position to service an area of the equipment enclosure normally covered by the cable management channel. Alternatively, the cable management channel may be rotated on the mounting bracket to move the cable management channel away from the area of the equipment enclosure normally covered by the cable management channel. In the first position, the cable management channel may cover an area directly in front of the equipment rack enclosure. In the second position, the cable management channel may be located a distance away from the area directly in front of the equipment rack enclosure, for example, to provide access to the area directly behind the cable management channel that is covered by the cable management channel in the first position. The mounting bracket may be coupled to the cable management channel so that the cable management channel may be released from the mounting bracket, or the mounting bracket may be coupled so that the cable management channel may be rotated on the mounting bracket to move the cable management channel between the first position and the second position. A cable hitching slot may also be formed in the cable management channel for inserting and replacing cables without having to thread an end of the cable through the cable management channel.

#The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements throughout the several views of the drawings, and in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a cable management device that includes a mounting bracket release according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 illustrates a cable management device that includes a mounting bracket pivot according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

#FIG. 1 illustrates a cable management device that includes a detachable mounting bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention. Shown in FIG. 1 are a cable management channel 102, mounting brackets 104, cables 106, cable rest slots 108, a cable hitching slot 110, channel latches 112, plug-in modules 114, equipment enclosure rails 116, an end slot 118, and cable retainers 120.

#In a typical configuration of modular electronic hardware in applications such as telecommunications, a number of plug-in modules 114 are connected by cables 106 that are attached to the front of the plug-in modules 114, typically by cable connectors (not shown).

#As the number of cables 106 increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the cables 106 organized in a manner that does not interfere with replacing failed plug-in modules 114 or with servicing other equipment such as fan assemblies (not shown) that may be mounted on the equipment enclosure rails 116 above and below the plug-in modules 114. For example, cable ties are commonly used to bundle cables 106 into harnesses. Several cable ties may have to be cut to move the harness away from the area covered by the harness if access to a module or to other equipment behind a cable becomes necessary, and afterward the cable ties have to be replaced. In the arrangement of FIG. 1, however, the cables 106 are advantageously bundled inside the cable management channel 102. The cable management channel 102 may be released from the mounting brackets 104 by the channel latches 112 to move the cables 106 away from the area over the plug-in modules 114 covered by the cables 106, for example, to provide access to equipment located behind the cables 106.