US 8,556,356 B2 · Communication shelf having supports for pivotable adapter panels and method of mounting adapter panels therein

Abstract

A communications shelf configured to support at least one communications adapter panel includes first and second spaced sidewalls and a first bracket mounted at the first sidewall, the first bracket including a mounting portion fixed relative to the first sidewall and a cantilevered portion projecting away from the first bracket mounting portion and having an end, the first bracket cantilevered portion being configured to shift from a first position wherein the first bracket cantilevered portion end is spaced a first distance from the first sidewall to a second position wherein the first bracket cantilevered end is spaced a second, smaller distance, from the first sidewall under application of a force and to return to the first position when the force is discontinued, the first bracket cantilevered portion including at least one pivot pin or at least one opening forming a bearing for a pivot shaft.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A communications shelf configured to support at least one communications adapter panel comprising:

first and second spaced sidewalls;
and
a first bracket mounted at said first sidewall, said first bracket including a mounting portion fixed relative to said first sidewall and a cantilevered portion projecting away from said first bracket mounting portion and having an end, said first bracket cantilevered portion being configured to shift from a first position wherein said first bracket cantilevered portion end is spaced a first distance from said first sidewall to a second position wherein said first bracket cantilevered portion end is spaced a second distance, smaller than said first distance, from said first sidewall under application of a force applied to said first bracket cantilevered portion and to return to said first position when said force applied to said first bracket cantilevered portion is discontinued, said first bracket cantilevered portion including at least one pivot pin or at least one opening forming a bearing for a pivot shaft.

A rack comprising first and second supports, an interior and a plurality of communications shelves slidably mounted in the rack for movement into and out of the rack interior, each of said plurality of communications shelves comprising:

a first sidewall including a first flange connected to the first support and a second sidewall spaced from the first sidewall and including a second flange connected to said second support;
first and second spaced brackets mounted along said first and second sidewalls, each of said first and second brackets including at least one pivot pin or at least one opening forming a bearing for a pivot shaft, said first bracket including a mounting portion fixed relative to said first sidewall and a cantilevered portion projecting away from said mounting portion toward said rack interior and having an end, said cantilevered portion being configured to flex away from a starting position under application of a force applied to said cantilevered portion and to spring back to the starting position when the force applied to said cantilevered portion is removed, said cantilevered portion including the at least one pivot pin or at least one opening of said first bracket.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Communication shelf having supports for pivotable adapter panels and method of mounting adapter panels therein

Life of this patent

Communication shelf having supports for pivotable adapter panels and method of mounting adapter panels therein

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19