Cabinet fiber manager

A system for storing fiber optic cable and routing the fiber optic cable comprising:

• an equipment cabinet;
• and
• a tray having:
• a planar surface for accommodating the fiber optic cable, the tray being mounted to an upper end of the equipment cabinet;
• a plurality of routing channels extending along the planar surface, a portion of the routing channels extending along at least one surface of the equipment cabinet generally perpendicular to the planar surface, each of the routing channels defining a bend radius greater than or equal to a minimum bend radius to restrict over bending of the fiber optic cable;
• a central portion to receive fiber optic cable, wherein the plurality of routing channels being in communication with the central portion and extending downward towards equipment supported by the equipment cabinet;
• at least one end panel extending upwards and away from an end of the tray in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of the tray;
• two side panels extending upwards and away from the tray in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of the tray;
• at least one spool extending from the tray generally perpendicular to and away from the planar surface of the tray, wherein the at least one spool includes a spool body having an arcuate surface and a spool cover with a planar surface perpendicular to the spool body;
• and
• a transition panel extending upward and away from the planar surface of the tray, the transition panel including a first portion having a planar surface and a second portion extending perpendicularly upward and away from the planar surface of the first portion, the transition panel being configured to define a bend radius greater than or equal to a minimum bend radius to restrict over bending of the fiber optic cable
• wherein the tray is configured to be attached to the equipment cabinet.

A method for storing and routing fiber optic cable to an equipment cabinet comprising:

• mounting a storage tray to an upper end of the equipment cabinet;
• the tray having:
• a planar surface for accommodating the fiber optic cable;
• a plurality of routing channels extending along the planar surface and having a portion thereof extending along at least one surface of the equipment cabinet generally perpendicular to the planar surface, each of the routing channels defining a minimum bend radius to restrict over bending of the fiber optic cable;
• and
• a central portion for accommodating the fiber optic cable, wherein the plurality of routing channels being in communication with the central portion and extending downward towards equipment supported by the equipment cabinet;
• the central portion having three sections, a front portion, a rear portion, and a common portion, the front portion being configured to be adjustably attached to one side of the common portion and the rear portion being configured to be adjustably attached to an opposite side of the common portion, allowing the common portion to adjustably extend between the front portion and the rear portion to customize the tray for placement on the equipment cabinet;
• at least one end panel extending upwards and away from the tray in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of the tray;
• two side panels extending upwards and away from the tray in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of the tray;
• at least one spool extending from the tray generally perpendicular to and away from the planar surface of the tray, wherein the at least one spool includes a spool body having an arcuate surface and a spool cover with a planar surface perpendicular to the spool body;
• a transition panel extending upward and away from the planar surface of the tray with a first portion being a planar surface and a second portion extending from the first portion upward and away from the planar surface of the first portion, the transition panel being configured to conform to the bend radius requirements to prevent over bending of the fiber optic cable;
• routing the fiber optic cable into the tray;
• using the spools to store the excess fiber optic cable;
• routing the fiber optic cable to one of the routing channels;
• and
• connecting the fiber optic the cable to a piece of equipment in the equipment cabinet.