High density telecommunications chassis with cable management

A method of using a telecommunications device, the method comprising:

• providing a telecommunications chassis (10/100) configured for receiving telecommunications equipment, wherein the telecommunications chassis (10/100) defines a top (12), a bottom (14), a front side (16), a rear side (18), a right side (20), and a left side (22), the telecommunications chassis (10/100) defining a central longitudinal axis (36) extending between the top (12) and the bottom (14);
• providing a first pair of panels (24/124) located at the front side (16), a second pair of panels (24/124) located at the rear side (18), a third pair of panels (24/124) located at the right side (20), and a fourth pair of panels (24/124) located at the left side (22) of the telecommunications chassis (10/100), each panel (24/124) of the pairs of panels (24/124) defining a plurality of receptacles (26/126) for receiving the telecommunications equipment;
• and
• pivoting a panel (24/124) of a given pair of panels (24/124) away from the other panel (24/124) of the given pair of panels (24/124) about a pivot axis (30) parallel to the central longitudinal axis (36) of the chassis (10/100), wherein the pivot axis (30) for each panel (24/124) is defined by a hinge (46) that is shared by and pivotally connects a panel (24/124) of a given pair of panels (24/124) with a panel (24/124) of an adjacent pair of panels (24/124), wherein a cable trough (38/138) is defined between each pair of panels (24/124) around a periphery of the telecommunications chassis (10/100), the cable troughs (38/138) extending from the top (12) to the bottom (14), each cable trough (38/138) being defined by a first sidewall (40/140), a second sidewall (42/142), and an intermediate sidewall (44) that connects the first sidewall (40/140) to the second sidewall (42/142), the hinge (46) for pivotally connecting the panels (24/124) of adjacent pairs of panels (24/124) defined along a centerline (48) of the intermediate sidewall (44) such that when the panels (24/124) of adjacent pairs of panels (24/124) pivot, the first and second sidewalls (40/140, 42/142) move toward each other.

A telecommunications device comprising:

• a telecommunications chassis (10/100) configured for receiving telecommunications equipment, the telecommunications chassis (10/100) defining a top (12), a bottom (14), a front side (16), a rear side (18), a right side (20), and a left side (22), the telecommunications chassis (10/100) defining a central longitudinal axis (36) extending between the top (12) and the bottom (14);
• and
• a first pair of panels (24/124) located at the front side (16), a second pair of panels (24/124) located at the rear side (18), a third pair of panels (24/124) located at the right side (20), and a fourth pair of panels (24/124) located at the left side (22) of the telecommunications chassis (10/100), each panel (24/124) of the pairs of panels (24/124) defining a plurality of receptacles (26/126) for receiving the telecommunications equipment;
• wherein each panel (24/124) of any given pair of panels (24/124) is pivotable away from the other panel (24/124) of the any given pair of panels (24/124) about a pivot axis (30) parallel to the central longitudinal axis (36) of the chassis (10/100), wherein the pivot axis (30) for each panel (24/124) is defined by a hinge (46) that is shared by and pivotally connects a panel (24/124) of a given pair of panels (24/124) with a panel (24/124) of an adjacent pair of panels (24/124), wherein a cable trough (38/138) is defined between each pair of panels (24/124) around a periphery of the telecommunications chassis (10/100), the cable troughs (38/138) extending from the top (12) to the bottom (14), each cable trough (38/138) being defined by a first sidewall (40/140), a second sidewall (42/142), and an intermediate sidewall (44) that connects the first sidewall (40/140) to the second sidewall (42/142), the hinge (46) for pivotally connecting the panels (24/124) of adjacent pairs of panels (24/124) defined along a centerline (48) of the intermediate sidewall (44) such that when the panels (24/124) of adjacent pairs of panels (24/124) pivot, the first and second sidewalls (40/140, 42/142) move toward each other such that each trough (38/138) is configured to not only guide cables extending from the panels (24/124) but also provide spacing to accommodate pivotal movement of the panels (24/124) of the adjacent pairs of panels (24/124) toward each other.