Network cabinet
A network cabinet is provided comprising at least one vertical frame rail and a cable management unit. The vertical frame rail comprises first and second opposing sidewalls, each of which define a plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the vertical frame rail. The cable management unit comprises a base, a plurality of fingers extending from the base, and at least one projection extending from the base. The projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection engages any one of the apertures of the first sidewall.
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This application claims priority to prior patent application Ser. No. 11/467,956, filed Aug. 29, 2006, and provisional patent application No. 60/781,923, filed Mar. 13, 2006.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to network cabinets for cable connections and, more particularly, to grounded cabinets for switching and patching applications.
BACKGROUNDThere is a need for cabinets that provide cabinet access to the internal portions of the cabinet to install or modify cable connections and to provide less obtrusive ways to ground the cabinet, as well as other features that provide efficiencies and conveniences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to an improved network cabinet.
In one embodiment, a network cabinet is provided comprising at least one vertical frame rail and a cable management unit. The vertical frame rail comprises first and second opposing sidewalls, each of which define a plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the vertical frame rail. The cable management unit comprises a base, a plurality of fingers extending from the base, and at least one projection extending from the base. The projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection engages any one of the apertures of the first sidewall.
In another embodiment, the projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection does not engage the apertures of the second sidewall.
In another embodiment, a network cabinet is provided comprising at least one vertical frame rail and a cable management unit. The vertical frame rail comprises first and second opposing sidewalls. The first sidewall defines a first plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the vertical frame rail and the second sidewall defines a second plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the vertical frame rail. The cable management unit comprises a base, a plurality of fingers extending from the base, and at least one projection extending from the base. The projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection engages a first aperture of the first plurality of apertures and does not engage a second aperture of the first plurality of apertures.
In another embodiment, the projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection does not engage the apertures of the second sidewall.
Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
Referring to
Referring to
In the embodiment shown, the side to side base beams 120 have a rectangular cross-section geometry and are positioned between and perpendicular to the front to back base beams 115, which also have a rectangular cross-section geometry. The side to side base beams 120 are welded to the front to back base beams 115 and, along with the door mounts 15, form a base member for the network cabinet and define openings 123, as seen in
In the embodiment shown, the front to back support beams 135 have a generally “C” shaped cross-section geometry, are positioned between and perpendicular to corresponding front and back vertical frame rails 105, 110, and are welded to the front and back vertical frame rails 105, 110. By welding together all of the steel components of the base frame 100, the base frame 100 is a single conductive, bonded unit. In this example, a ground whip 25 is bonded to front to back top beam 125 and is, in turn, connected at its opposing end to a main building ground. Ground whip 25 can also be attached to any other base frame 100 structural member to provide a single ground point for the base frame 100.
Referring to
Although the various elements of base frame 100 have been described above as having a particular geometry, being made of a particular material, and having particular connections, it will be understood that each of these elements could be made of varying geometries, varying materials, and connected by any suitable means as a particular application requires.
Referring to
Each equipment rail 20 can extend approximately from a front to back base beam 115 to the corresponding front to back top beam 125 and is connected to each of the three front to back support beams 135 which are each positioned at different elevations opposing sides of the base frame 100. In this embodiment, the equipment rails are connected to two of the front to back support beams 135 by inserting a bolt 45 through a hole 21 in one side of the equipment rail 20 and through a slot 140 (see
In addition, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In this particular embodiment, each knockout 205, 210 is formed by cutting a slot 215 through the top cover 200 around the periphery of each knockout 205, 210. The slot 215 is cut almost completely around the periphery of each knockout 205, 210, except for the areas of the joining webs 225, which connect the main portion of the top cover 200 to the knockouts 205, 210 and hold the knockouts 205, 210 in place prior to removal. Each knockout 205, 210 has a minimum of four joining webs 225, as shown in
Referring to
With this construction, to adjust the height or level the network cabinet, a socket wrench or other similar tool is placed on the top portion 61 and the leveling leg 60 is rotated. As the leveling leg 60 is rotated, the interaction of the threaded body portion 63 and the nut 65 will raise or lower the leveling leg 60 depending on the direction of rotation. In this fashion, adjustment of the height of the front to back base beam 115 off of the floor can be accomplished. Being able to access and rotate the leveling legs 60 from the top allows the leveling legs 60 to be easily adjusted without having to tip or move the network cabinet. It also assists with the installation/removal of optional casters, which is discussed in more detail below. Furthermore, when casters are not installed, the leveling legs 60 can be fully retracted into the front to back base beams 1115 so that the front to back base beams 115 and side to side base beams 120 will sit on the ground and the cabinet load will be distributed.
Referring to
To mount the side panels 300, a bar 310 is attached between the front and back door mounts 15 by end brackets 312. The bar 310 is also supported near its center by center bracket 311, which is attached to the front to back base beam 115. As can best be seen in
As can best been seen in
In this embodiment, the brackets 320, 325 provide support for the side panels 300 and offset the side panels 300 from the front and back vertical frame rails 105, 110 and front to back support rails 135, thereby providing easily accessible vertical cable management pathways between the side panels 300 and the front and back vertical frame rails 105, 100 and front to back support rails 135. In addition, brackets 325 on each side of bracket 320 provide a guide or channel for placing cables extending in a vertical direction within the cabinet and proximate to the respective corners of the cabinet. Alternatively, brackets 320, 325 could be removed if not needed for a particular application.
Referring to
Alternatively, rather than using grounding clips 335 to bond the side panels 300 to the top cover 200, the side panels 300 could be bonded to the base frame 100 through the bar 310 and hooks 305. To provide bonding in this manner, one of the end brackets 312, which is welded to the bar 310, would be attached to a door mount 15 so that a bond is created and one of the hooks 305 would be attached to the side panel 300 so that a bond is created, such as by welding or the use of internal tooth lock washers, trilobular screws, paint masking, etc, as described throughout. A bond would then be created between the bar 310 and the bonded hook 305 by paint masking the bar 310 in the area that will contact the hook 305.
Referring to
Referring to
In the example shown in
In another example, shown in
Referring specifically to
As can be seen in
Referring to
To bond the thread forming screw to the top cover 200, a conductive ground angle 245 is welded to the inside surface of the top cover 200 and the thread forming screw 255 is threaded into the ground angle 245 and into a nut 250 that is welded to the ground angle 245, thereby providing a bond between the top cover 200 and the screw 255.
To install or remove the back door 400, the release arm 455 is pulled downward, which compresses the spring 450 and retracts the hinge pin 445 into the body 440. With the hinge pin 445 below the level of the bushing 260, the back door 400 can be placed in position or removed. Once the back door 400 is in position, the release arm 455 is released and the spring 450 pushes the hinge pin 445 outward through the bushing 260 until the hinge pin 445 contacts the screw 255.
In this example, the spring loaded hinge assembly 435 provides the hinge mechanism for the back door 400 and also provides a positive grounding path when the back doors 400 are installed. This allows the removal of the back doors 400 without the need of disconnecting any grounding jumper wires.
Referring to
For example, as described above, a back door 400 can be removed by pulling downward on the release arm 455, which retracts the hinge pin 445 and allows the back door 400 to be tilted and removed. Rather than having to lean the removed back door 400 on the cabinet 10 or against a wall or other equipment where it can be bumped into or knocked over, the removed back door 400 can be stored using holes 18 and 265 in the door mount 15 and top cover 200. To store the removed back door 400, the opposite back door is opened, the fixed hinge pin on the bottom of the removed back door 400 is inserted into the hole 18 in the door mount 15 nearest the bushing 600 of the open back door, and the hinge pin 445 of the spring loaded hinge mechanism 435 is inserted into the corresponding hole 265 in the top cover 200 by pulling downward on the release arm 455.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The hinge support 542 has a generally vertical wall 543 that is attached to the front door 500, such as by welding, with screws, etc. and a generally horizontal wall 544 extends generally perpendicular from the top of the vertical wall 543. The hinge lever 540 is mounted to the vertical wall 543 of hinge support 542 by pin 560 such that lever arm 540 can rotate about pin 560. Hinge lever 540 is also rotatably connected to a lower rod 525 (or upper rod 520 depending on which locking hinge assembly) at one end and to the hinge pin 545 at the end opposite the lower rod 525. The hinge pin 545 extends generally vertically through the front door 500 and through the horizontal wall 544.
A lever stop hinge pin 550, as seen in
In operation, when the front door 500 is closed (the closed position is defined as both top corners of the front door 500 seated against the top cover 200 and both bottom corners of the front door 500 seated against the door mount 15) the upper and lower rods 520, 525 are pulled towards the center of the front door 500, thereby rotating the lever arms 540 and extending the hinge pins 545 into their corresponding bushings 600 in the door mount 15 or top cover 200. Therefore, the hinge pins 545 in each of the four corners of the front door 500 engage the bushings 600 in the door mount 15 or top cover 200 and the front door 500 is fully secured. In addition, when in the closed position, the door mount 15 or top cover 200 will push against the release arms 557, 572 of both lever stops 555, 570, thereby disengaging the stop arms 556, 571 of both lever stops 555, 570 from the hinge lever 540. This allows the hinge lever 540 to rotate freely in either direction. Referring specifically to
Referring specifically to
Referring to
Referring to
As can be seen from the above description, the locking hinge assemblies 535 require that the front door 500 be in a closed position before the user can change the state of the front door 500 (e.g. engage or disengage the locking hinge assemblies 535). This accomplishes two important goals: (1) it prevents unexpected and accidental removal of the front door 500 (when one side is open, the other side is locked and cannot be disengaged until the front door 500 is closed); and (2) it prevents a user from mistakenly thinking that the front door 500 is closed when it is still ajar (the door handle cannot be moved into the closed position until the front door 500 is completely closed and the lever stops allow movement of the hinge lever).
To remove the front door 500, the front door 500 is first placed in the closed position. In this position all of the inner and outer lever stops 555, 570 of all of the locking hinge assemblies 535 are pushed into a retracted position allowing all of the hinge levers 540 to move freely. While in the closed position, both of the door handles are turned which will disengage all of the locking hinge assemblies 535 by extending the upper and lower rods 520, 525 and retracting the hinge pins 545 from their respective bushings 260, 600, allowing removal of the front door 500. Once the front door 500 has been removed, the inner lever stops 555 are moved into their forward position by the torsion spring 565, thereby obstructing the hinge lever 540 and preventing the door handles from being turned. To install the front door 500, the above process is reversed. The front door 500 is placed against the door mount 15 and top cover 200 such that the hinge pins 545 are aligned with their respective bushings 260, 600. In this position, the door mount 15 and top cover 200 will push the inner lever stops 555 backwards and out of the way of the hinge lever 540, thereby allowing the hinge lever 540 to move freely. Both of the door handles are then turned to retract the upper and lower rods 520, 525 and thereby extend the hinge pins 545 into their respective bushings 260, 600.
Referring to
In the example described above, with the weight of front door 500 riding on hinge pin 545 (rather than on bushing 600), there is a constant force on the bottom hinge pins 545 attempting to push hinge pins 545 into a retracted position. If the door handle is not fully engaged when the front door 500 is in the closed position, the force on the hinge pins 545 could cause the door handle to rotate towards an open position and possibly disengage locking hinge assemblies 535. To prevent this from happening an overcame latch mechanism can be used. Referring to
As can best be seen in
Referring to
Alternatively, as can be seen in
As can be seen from the detailed descriptions above, in this embodiment when the network cabinet 10 is fully assembled, all of the components of the cabinet are bonded together. The components that make up the base frame 100 are all bonded by welding them together. The door mounts 15, equipment rails 20, and top cover 200 are bonded to the base frame by use of internal tooth lock washers. The side panels 300 are bonded to the top cover 200 by use of grounding clips 335. The back doors 400 are grounded to the top cover 200 by spring loaded grounding hinge mechanisms 435. Finally, the front door 500 is grounded to the top cover 200 by the spring loaded bearing assemblies 610. By bonding all of the components of the cabinet together, separate grounding jumper wires are not required and the network cabinet 10 is completely grounded and requires only a single point of contact with the main building ground (e.g. the ground whip 25).
Referring to
Referring to
A standard caster wheel 730 is attached to the second wall 715 of the body 705. The first wall 710 of the body 705 has a pair of holes 711 and a wall member 712 that extends from the first wall 710 to form a slot 713 between the wall member 712 and the first wall 710.
As shown in
Referring to
As described in more detail below, left hand cable management units 800 would be mounted to the front sidewalls 165 of left side front vertical frame rail 105A (left side when facing the cabinet from the front) and left side back vertical frame rail 110A (left side when facing the cabinet from the back) and to the back sidewalls 166 of right side front vertical frame rail 105B and right side back vertical frame rail 110B. Right hand cable management units 805 would be mounted to the front sidewalls 165 of right side front vertical frame rail 105B and right side back vertical frame rail 110B and to the back sidewalls 166 of left side front vertical frame rail 105A and left side back vertical frame rail 110A. In this example, five cable management units 800, 805 can be mounted on the front sidewalls 165 of front and back vertical frame rails 105A, 105B, 110A, and 110B and four cable management units 800, 805 can be mounted in the back sidewalls 166 of front and back vertical frame rails 105A, 105B, 110A, and 110B.
As can best be seen in
In the example shown, the spacing between the tops of adjacent fingers 815 is approximately 1.75 inches (shown as B in
Referring additionally to
As can best been seen in the enlarged partial views in
As can best be seen in
Referring to
Referring specifically to
Referring specifically to
To mount a bracket 905 to a front vertical frame rail 105, first wall 910 of bracket 905 is placed against the front vertical frame rail 105 such that wall member 912 extends into an aperture 106 in front vertical frame rail 105. Apertures 106 are positioned spaced apart along vertical frame rails 105, 110. In this example, four apertures 106 are provided in each vertical frame rail 105, 110, as can be seen in
Slack management spool 900 is then mounted to bracket 905 by inserting protrusions 965 extending from mounting wall 960 through mounting holes 916 in bracket 905 and sliding spool 900 downward until the first section 966 of protrusions 965 engage mounting holes 916.
Referring to
Referring specifically to
Claims
1. A network cabinet, comprising:
- at least one vertical frame rail comprising first and second opposing sidewalls, wherein each of the opposing sidewalls define a plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the vertical frame rail; and
- a cable management unit comprising a base, a plurality of fingers extending from the base, and at least one projection extending from the base:
- wherein the projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection engages any one of the apertures of the first sidewall.
2. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein a surface of the first sidewall through which the plurality of apertures extend generally faces in a direction toward a front portion of the cabinet and another surface of said second sidewall through which the plurality of apertures extend generally faces in a direction toward a rear portion of the cabinet.
3. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures on the first and second sidewalls are generally the same size and shape.
4. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures defined in the first sidewall and second sidewall each comprise an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is larger in size than the lower portion.
5. The network cabinet of claim 4, wherein the upper and lower portions of the apertures are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
6. The network cabinet of claim 4, wherein:
- the projection of the cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the aperture; and
- the head portion is a size which allows the head portion to pass through the upper portion and be positioned behind the first sidewall and the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the aperture with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the aperture and the first sidewall.
7. The network cabinet of claim 6, wherein the head and the neck portions are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
8. The network cabinet of claim 1, wherein the projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection does not engage the apertures of the second sidewall.
9. The network cabinet of claim 8, wherein a surface of the first sidewall through which the plurality of apertures extend generally faces in a direction toward a front portion of the cabinet and another surface of said second sidewall through which the plurality of apertures extend generally faces in a direction toward a rear portion of the cabinet.
10. The network cabinet of claim 8, wherein the plurality of apertures of the first sidewall are different in at least one of size and shape than the plurality of apertures of the second sidewall.
11. The network cabinet of claim 8, wherein the plurality of apertures defined in the first and second sidewalls each comprise an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is larger in size than the lower portion.
12. The network cabinet of claim 11, wherein the upper and lower portions of the apertures are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
13. The network cabinet of claim 8, further comprising:
- a second cable management unit comprising a base, a plurality of fingers extending from the base, and at least one projection extending from the base:
- wherein the projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection engages anyone of the apertures of the second sidewall and does not engage the apertures of the first sidewall.
14. The network cabinet of claim 13, wherein:
- the projection of the cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the apertures in the first sidewall; and
- the head portion is a size which allows the head portion to pass through the upper portion and be positioned behind the first sidewall and the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the apertures of the first sidewall with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the aperture and the first sidewall.
15. The network cabinet of claim 13, wherein:
- the projection of the second cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the apertures in the second sidewall; and
- the head portion is a size which allows the head portion to pass through the upper portion and be positioned behind the second sidewall and the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the apertures of the second sidewall with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the aperture and the second sidewall.
16. The network cabinet of claim 14, wherein the head and the neck portions are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
17. The network cabinet of claim 15, wherein the head and the neck portions are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
18. The network cabinet of claim 13, wherein the plurality of apertures defined in the first sidewall each comprise a slot extending from the apertures in a predetermined orientation relative to each aperture and the plurality of apertures defined in the second sidewall each comprise a slot extending from the aperture in another predetermined orientation relative to the aperture.
19. The network cabinet of claim 18, wherein:
- the projection of the cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the apertures in the first sidewall;
- the head portion comprises a protrusion such the head portion has generally the same shape as the upper portion of the aperture of the first sidewall and a size such that head portion can pass through the upper portion of the aperture and the protrusion through the slot and position the head behind the first sidewall; and
- the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the apertures of the first sidewall with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the aperture and the first sidewall.
20. The network cabinet of claim 18, wherein:
- the projection of the second cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the apertures in the second sidewall;
- the head portion comprises a protrusion such the head portion has generally the same shape as the upper portion of the aperture of the second sidewall and a size such that head portion can pass through the upper portion of the aperture and the protrusion through the slot and position the head behind the second sidewall; and
- the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the apertures of the second sidewall with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the aperture and the second sidewall.
21. The network cabinet of claim 13, wherein the fingers of the cable management unit comprise an outside surface positioned on at least one side of the fingers such that with the cable management unit engaged to the first sidewall the outside surface faces a direction.
22. The network cabinet of claim 21, wherein the fingers of the second cable management unit comprise an outside surface positioned on at least one side of the fingers such that with the second cable management unit engaged to the second sidewall the outside surface of the fingers of the second cable management unit face in the direction.
23. The network cabinet of claim 13, further comprising:
- a second vertical frame rail spaced apart from the vertical frame rail, both vertical frame rails positioned in a front portion of the cabinet;
- wherein the second vertical frame rail comprises first and second opposing sidewalls;
- each of the opposing sidewalls of the second vertical frame rail define a plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the second vertical frame rail;
- the first sidewall of each of the vertical frame rail and the second vertical frame rail face generally toward a front portion of the cabinet; and
- the projection of the second cable management unit further engages any one of the apertures of the first sidewall of the second vertical frame rail and the projection of the cable management unit further engages any one of the apertures of the second sidewall of the second vertical frame rail.
24. The network cabinet of claim 23, wherein the fingers of the cable management unit and second cable management unit each comprise an outside surface positioned on at least one side of the fingers such that with the cable management unit engaged to the first sidewall of the vertical frame rail and the second cable management unit engaged to the second sidewall of the vertical frame rail the outside surfaces of the fingers of the cable management unit and the second cable management unit face a direction and with the cable management unit engaged to the second sidewall of the second vertical frame rail and the second cable management unit engaged to the first sidewall of the second vertical frame rail the outside surfaces of the fingers of the cable management unit and the second cable management unit face a second direction, opposite the direction.
25. A network cabinet, comprising:
- at least one vertical frame rail comprising first and second opposing sidewalls, wherein the first sidewall defines a first plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the vertical frame rail and the second sidewall defines a second plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the vertical frame rail; and
- a cable management unit comprising a base, a plurality of fingers extending from the base, and at least one projection extending from the base;
- wherein the projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection engages a first aperture of the first plurality of apertures and does not engage a second aperture of the first plurality of apertures.
26. The network cabinet of claim 25, wherein a surface of the first sidewall through which the first plurality of apertures extend generally faces in a direction toward a front portion of the cabinet and another surface of said second sidewall through which the second plurality of apertures extend generally faces in a direction toward a rear portion of the cabinet.
27. The network cabinet of claim 25, wherein the first and second plurality of apertures each comprise an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is larger in size than the lower portion.
28. The network cabinet of claim 27, wherein the upper and lower portions of the apertures are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
29. The network cabinet of claim 27, wherein:
- the projection of the cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the first aperture; and
- the head portion is a size which allows the head portion to pass through the upper portion of the first aperture and be positioned behind the first sidewall and the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the first aperture with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the first aperture and the first sidewall.
30. The network cabinet of claim 29, wherein the head and the neck portions are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
31. The network cabinet of claim 25, wherein the projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection does not engage the apertures of the second sidewall.
32. The network cabinet of claim 31, wherein a surface of the first sidewall through which the first plurality of apertures extend generally faces in a direction toward a front portion of the cabinet and another surface of the second sidewall through which the second plurality of apertures extend generally faces in a direction toward a rear portion of the cabinet.
33. The network cabinet of claim 31, wherein the first aperture is different in at least one of size and shape than the second aperture.
34. The network cabinet of claim 31, wherein the first aperture is different in at least one of size and shape than the second plurality of apertures.
35. The network cabinet of claim 31, wherein the first and second plurality of apertures each comprise an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is larger in size than the lower portion.
36. The network cabinet of claim 35, wherein the upper and lower portions of the apertures are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
37. The network cabinet of claim 31, further comprising:
- a second cable management unit comprising a base, a plurality of fingers extending from the base, and at least one projection extending from the base;
- wherein the projection is constructed of a size and shape such that the projection engages a first aperture of the second plurality of apertures, does not engage a second aperture of the second plurality of apertures, and does not engage the first plurality of apertures.
38. The network cabinet of claim 37, wherein:
- the projection of the cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the first apertures of the first plurality of apertures; and
- the head portion is a size which allows the head portion to pass through the upper portion of the first apertures of the first plurality of apertures and be positioned behind the first sidewall and the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the first aperture of the first plurality of apertures with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the first aperture and the first sidewall.
39. The network cabinet of claim 37, wherein:
- the projection of the second cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the first aperture of the second plurality of apertures; and
- the head portion is a size which allows the head portion to pass through the upper portion of the first aperture of the second plurality of apertures and be positioned behind the second sidewall and the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the first aperture of the second plurality of apertures with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the second aperture and the second sidewall.
40. The network cabinet of claim 38, wherein the head and the neck portions are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
41. The network cabinet of claim 39, wherein the head and the neck portions are each generally constructed of a quadrilateral shape.
42. The network cabinet of claim 37, wherein:
- the first aperture of the first plurality of apertures comprises a slot extending from the first aperture in a predetermined orientation relative to the aperture; and
- the first aperture of the second plurality of apertures comprises a slot extending from the second aperture in another predetermined orientation relative to the aperture.
43. The network cabinet of claim 42, wherein:
- the projection of the cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the first aperture of the first plurality of apertures;
- the head portion comprises a protrusion such the head portion has generally the same shape as the upper portion of the first aperture of the first plurality of apertures and a size such that head portion can pass through the upper portion of the first aperture of the first plurality of apertures and the protrusion through the slot and position the head behind the first sidewall; and
- the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the first aperture of the first plurality of apertures with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the first aperture of the first plurality of apertures and the first sidewall.
44. The network cabinet of claim 42, wherein:
- the projection of the second cable management unit comprises a head portion and neck portion positioned between the base and the head portion;
- the head portion is larger in size than the neck portion and the lower portion of the first apertures of the second plurality of apertures;
- the head portion comprises a protrusion such the head portion has generally the same shape as the upper portion of the first aperture of the second plurality of apertures and a size such that head portion can pass through the upper portion of the first aperture of the second plurality of apertures and the protrusion through the slot and position the head behind the second sidewall, and
- the neck portion is a size wherein the neck portion is positionable within the lower portion of the first aperture of the second plurality of apertures with the head portion positioned behind the lower portion of the first aperture of the second plurality of apertures and the second sidewall.
45. The network cabinet of claim 37, wherein the fingers of the cable management unit comprise an outside surface positioned on at least one side of the fingers such that with the cable management unit engaged to the first sidewall the outside surface faces a direction.
46. The network cabinet of claim 45, wherein the fingers of the second cable management unit comprise an outside surface positioned on at least one side of the fingers such that with the second cable management unit engaged to the second sidewall the outside surface of the fingers of the second cable management unit face in the direction.
47. The network cabinet of claim 37, further comprising:
- a second vertical frame rail spaced apart from the vertical frame rail, both vertical frame rails positioned in a front portion of the cabinet;
- wherein the second vertical frame rail comprises first and second opposing sidewalls;
- the first sidewall defines a third plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the second vertical frame rail and the second sidewall defines a fourth plurality of apertures positioned along a length of the second vertical frame rail;
- the first sidewall of each of the vertical frame rail and the second vertical frame rail face generally toward a front portion of the cabinet; and
- the projection of the second cable management unit further engages a first aperture of the third plurality of apertures and does not engage a second aperture of the third plurality of apertures and the projection of the cable management unit further engages a first aperture of the fourth plurality of apertures and does not engage a second aperture of the fourth plurality of apertures.
48. The network cabinet of claim 47, wherein the fingers of the cable management unit and second cable management unit each comprise an outside surface positioned on at least one side of the fingers such that with the cable management unit engaged to the first sidewall of the vertical frame rail and the second cable management unit engaged to the second sidewall of the vertical frame rail the outside surfaces of the fingers of the cable management unit and the second cable management unit face a direction and with the cable management unit engaged to the second sidewall of the second vertical frame rail and the second cable management unit engaged to the first sidewall of the second vertical frame rail the outside surfaces of the fingers of the cable management unit and the second cable management unit face a second direction, opposite the direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 5, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 13, 2007
Applicant: Panduit Corp. (Tinley Park, IL)
Inventors: Bruce R. Appino (Wood Dale, IL), Max W. Hibner (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/538,884