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US 8,923,013 B2Granted
Communications bladed panel systems
AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorsChad Anderson, Joseph C. Coffey, Ryan Kostecka, David Stone, Michael Wentworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fiber panel system includes a chassis and at least blades configured to mount to the chassis. Each blade is moveable relative to the chassis between a retracted (closed) position and at least one extended position. Cable slack is managed at the front and/or rear of each chassis to facilitate movement of the blades without pulling or bending the cables beyond a maximum bend limit. Each blade may be locked into one or more positions relative to the chassis.
Claims36
A bladed panel system comprising:
- a chassis having an open front and a rear, the chassis including a management structure positioned at the rear of the chassis, the management structure being configured to secure at least one media segment to the chassis;
- and
- a plurality of blades coupled to the chassis, each blade including a base, at least one rear port at which the media segment is received, and a plurality of front ports, each blade being configured to slide relative to the chassis between at least a closed position and a first extended position while the media segment is received at the rear port, each blade including at least one flange that extends rearwardly from the base, the flange defining a retention location at which the media segment is secured to the blade, the retention location being located sufficiently rearward of the rear port to provide sufficient slack length of the media segment to accommodate movement of the respective blade between the closed and first extended positions.
A blade comprising:
- a base having a front, a rear, a first side, and a second side;
- first and second outer flanges extending rearwardly of the base at first and second sides of the base, at least one of the outer flanges defining a notch at an external side of the outer flange;
- at least a first inner flange extending rearwardly of the base between the outer flanges, the first inner flange having a distal end at which a tab is located;
- and
- a plurality of front couplers coupled to the front of the base, the front couplers defining a plurality of front ports.
2 more elements
A bladed panel system comprising:
- a chassis including sidewalls extending between a front and a rear to define an interior, the chassis including guides positioned on the sidewalls, the guides extending in a forward-rearward direction, the sidewalls defining a plurality of latching openings;
- a plurality of blades mounted to the guides of the chassis, each blade including a plurality of front couplers configured to optically couple together media segments, and each blade being configured to move in the forward-rearward direction along a respective one of the guides relative to the chassis between at least a closed position and a first extended position;
- and
- a latching arrangement on each blade that is configured to releasably lock the blade in the first extended position, the latching arrangement including a plurality of stops that are configured to latch in the latching openings in the sidewalls of the chassis, the latching arrangement also including an actuation member that extends forwardly of the blade, the actuation member being configured to release the stops from the latching openings when actuated.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.