High-density patch panel with modular cassettes

Abstract

To provide a new patch panel that can address traditional issues.SOLUTION: A patch panel includes a tray slidable between retracted and extended positions on tray supports and features for holding the tray in the retracted and extended positions. The patch panel may also include a cassette slidable on the cassette supports, latches for engaging the cassette to block movement of the cassette and features for disengaging the latches.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 971,477, filed May 4, 2018, by Vogel, titled "A High Density Patch Panel with Modular Cassettes", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 525,791, filed June 28, 2017, by Vogel, titled "A High Density Enclosure with Modular Cassettes", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. This application further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 590,823, filed November 27, 2017, by Vogel, titled "A High Density Enclosure with Modular Cassettes", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

[0002] The subject matter of the present invention generally relates to a high - density optical fiber patch panel or enclosure for pre - terminated cassette modules.

Background Art

[0003] Large-scale data centers often deploy multiple rows of racks and / or cabinets for cross-connect applications. The installation of high-density optical fiber patch panels is simplified and made more reliable by using pre-terminated cassette modules installed within rack-mounted enclosures. These pre-terminated cassettes address many installation issues with respect to eliminating the need for field termination and polishing, but have introduced another problem. In particular, there are some applications that require installation / maintenance from the rear side of the enclosure and other applications for which installation / maintenance from the front side is suitable. Many enclosures on the market allow only front or rear side installation / maintenance, and while there are some solutions on the market that allow access from both the front and rear sides, the removal of cassette modules requires the use of both hands in a confined space and can be cumbersome.

[0004] In addition, space constraints (especially in the 1RU enclosure version) have conventionally required the use of flat head screws and countersunk holes to attach cassette rails, which has increased weight and assembly time.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The subject of the present invention is to provide a patch panel. The patch panel may comprise a tray slidable between a retracted position and an extended position on a tray support. The patch panel may further comprise features for holding the tray in the retracted position and the extended position. The patch panel may further comprise a cassette slidable on a cassette support, a latch for engaging the cassette to prevent movement of the cassette, and a feature for releasing the latch. Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In a first exemplary embodiment, a patch panel defines a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a longitudinal direction, which are perpendicular to each other, and the patch panel includes a first tray support and a second tray support. The first tray support has a pair of slide rails arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction. The first tray support defines a first detent and a second detent that are arranged at intervals along the transverse direction and are positioned between the pair of slide rails of the first tray support along the longitudinal direction. The second tray support has a pair of slide rails arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction. The second tray support defines a first detent and a second detent that are arranged at intervals along the transverse direction and are positioned between the pair of slide rails of the second tray support along the longitudinal direction. The second tray support is arranged at an interval from the first tray support along the lateral direction. The tray has a plurality of cassette mounting bays. The tray has a first pair of detent followers and a second pair of detent followers. The detent followers of the first pair of detent followers are arranged at intervals along the transverse direction and are positioned on the first side of the tray. The second pair of detent followers are arranged at intervals along the transverse direction and are positioned on the second side of the tray. The first side of the tray is receivable between the pair of slide rails of the first tray support, and the second side of the tray is receivable between the pair of slide rails of the second tray support so that the tray is slidable along the transverse direction between a retracted position and an extended position on the first tray support and the second tray support. One of the first pair of detent followers is received in the first detent of the first tray support, and one of the second pair of detent followers is received in the first detent of the second tray support at the extended position of the tray. Each of the first pair of detent followers is received in each of the first detent and the second detent of the first tray support, and each of the second pair of detent followers is received in each of the first detent and the second detent of the second tray support at the retracted position of the tray.

[0007] In a second exemplary embodiment, the patch panel defines a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a longitudinal direction, which are mutually perpendicular. The patch panel comprises a tray having a plurality of cassette mounting bays. The tray comprises a first cassette support and a second cassette support. The first cassette support and the second cassette support are positioned on opposite sides of one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays along the lateral direction. The first cassette support has a first latch and a second latch respectively positioned at opposite ends of the first cassette support along the transverse direction. The cassette has a release slide positioned at a first side of the cassette. The release slide has a first lamp and a second lamp respectively positioned at opposite ends of the release slide along the transverse direction. The release slide is movable between a neutral position and a release position. The first side of the cassette is receivable by the first cassette support and the second side of the tray is receivable by the second cassette support such that the cassette is slidable along the transverse direction on the first cassette support and the second cassette support. The first latch and the second latch engage the cassette when the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays and the release slide is in the neutral position. When the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays and the release slide is in the release position, the first lamp disengages the first latch from the cassette and the second lamp disengages the second latch from the cassette.

[0008] In a third exemplary embodiment, the patch panel defines a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a longitudinal direction, which are perpendicular to each other. The patch panel includes a tray having a plurality of cassette mounting bays. The tray includes a first cassette support and a second cassette support. The first cassette support and the second cassette support are positioned on opposite sides of one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays along the lateral direction. The first cassette support has a first latch and a second latch respectively positioned at opposite ends of the first cassette support along the transverse direction. A cassette extends between a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction. The first side portion of the cassette is receivable by the first cassette support and the second side portion of the tray is receivable by the second cassette support such that the cassette is slidable along the transverse direction on the first cassette support and the second cassette support. The first latch and the second latch are configured to engage the cassette to prevent movement of the cassette along the transverse direction when the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays. The cassette includes means for simultaneously disengaging the first latch and the second latch from the cassette when the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays such that the cassette is slidable from one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays at both the front and rear of the tray.

[0009] In a fourth exemplary embodiment, the cassette defines a lateral direction and a transverse direction that are perpendicular. The cassette includes a cassette body portion that extends between a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction and between a front portion and a rear portion along the transverse direction. The cassette body portion defines a release slide slot at a first side portion of the cassette body portion. The release slide slot extends longitudinally between the front portion and the rear portion of the cassette body portion along the transverse direction. The release slide is positioned within the release slide slot at the first side portion of the cassette body portion. The release slide is movable within the release slide slot between a neutral position and a release position along the transverse direction. The release slide extends between a first end portion and a second end portion along the transverse direction. The release slide has a first lamp and a second lamp. The first lamp is positioned near the first end portion of the release slide, and the second lamp is positioned near the second end portion of the release slide.

[0010] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0011] A complete and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the accompanying figures. [Appended Item 1] A patch panel defining a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a longitudinal direction that are perpendicular to each other, A first tray support portion having a pair of slide rails spaced apart along the longitudinal direction, the first tray support portion defining a first detent and a second detent spaced apart along the transverse direction and positioned between the pair of slide rails of the first tray support portion along the longitudinal direction, A second tray support portion having a pair of slide rails arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction, the second tray support portion being arranged at intervals along the transverse direction, defining a first detent and a second detent positioned between the pair of slide rails of the second tray support portion along the longitudinal direction, and the second tray support portion being arranged at intervals from the first tray support portion along the transverse direction, the second tray support portion, A tray having a plurality of cassette mounting bays, the tray having a first pair of detent followers and a second pair of detent followers, the detent followers of the first pair of detent followers being arranged at intervals along the transverse direction and positioned on a first side portion of the tray, and the detent followers of the second pair of detent followers being arranged at intervals along the transverse direction and positioned on a second side portion of the tray, the tray, comprising, The first side portion of the tray is receivable between the pair of slide rails of the first tray support portion, and the second side portion of the tray is receivable between the pair of slide rails of the second tray support portion, such that the tray is slidable along the transverse direction between a retracted position and an extended position on the first tray support portion and the second tray support portion, One of the first pair of detent followers is received in the first detent of the first tray support portion, and one of the second pair of detent followers is received in the first detent of the second tray support portion at the extended position of the tray, Each of the first pair of detent followers is received in each of the first detent and the second detent of the first tray support portion, and each of the second pair of detent followers is received in each of the first detent and the second detent of the second tray support portion at the retracted position of the tray, a patch panel. [Additional Item 2] The first tray support portion includes a tray release lever having a locking tab, the tray defines a tray locking slot at a first side portion of the tray, and the locking tab of the tray release lever is received within the tray locking slot at the extended position of the tray, and the locking tab of the tray release lever selectively holds the tray at the extended position of the tray. The patch panel according to claim 1. [Additional Claim 3] The tray release lever is configured to bend along the longitudinal direction when the tray shifts between the extended position and the retracted position of the tray. The patch panel according to claim 2. [Additional Claim 4] The first pair and the second pair of detent followers are configured to curve along the transverse direction when the tray shifts between the extended position and the retracted position of the tray. The patch panel according to claim 3. [Additional Claim 5] When the locking tab of the tray release lever is lifted from the tray locking slot, the tray release lever is operable to slide the tray from the extended position to the retracted position of the tray. The patch panel according to claim 2. [Additional Claim 6] The bottom slide rails of the pair of slide rails of the first tray support portion define a support surface and an inclined surface. The inclined surface extends between a top and a bottom along a transverse direction. The bottom of the inclined surface is positioned on the support surface, and the top of the inclined surface is positioned near the tray release lever. The inclined surface extends upward along the longitudinal direction from the support surface toward the tray release lever. The patch panel according to claim 2. [Additional Claim 7] The inclined surface forms an angle with the support surface within a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction. The angle is less than 180 degrees and greater than 175 degrees. The patch panel according to claim 6. [Additional Claim 8] A patch panel defining a transverse direction, a transverse cross direction, and a longitudinal direction that are perpendicular to each other, A tray having a plurality of cassette mounting bays, the tray comprising a first cassette support and a second cassette support, the first cassette support and the second cassette support being positioned on opposite sides of one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays along the transverse direction, the first cassette support having a first latch and a second latch each positioned at respective opposite ends of the first cassette support along the transverse direction, a tray; A cassette having a release slide positioned on a first side of the cassette, the release slide having a first lamp and a second lamp each positioned at respective opposite ends of the release slide along the transverse direction, the release slide being movable between a neutral position and a release position, a cassette; The first side of the cassette is receivable by the first cassette support and the second side of the tray is receivable by the second cassette support such that the cassette is slidable along the transverse direction on the first cassette support and the second cassette support; The first latch and the second latch engage the cassette when the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays and the release slide is in the neutral position; A patch panel in which when the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays and the release slide is in the release position, the first lamp disengages the first latch from the cassette and the second lamp disengages the second latch from the cassette. [Additional item 9] The patch panel according to additional item 8, wherein the cassette is slidable into the first cassette support and the second cassette support from the front and rear of the tray. [Additional item 10] The release slide extends between a first end and a second end along the transverse direction, the release slide has a first handle at the first end of the release slide and a second handle at the second end of the release slide, and the release slide is manually shiftable between the neutral position and the release position by the first handle and the second handle. The patch panel according to appended claim 8. [Appended claim 11] The first cassette support portion and the second cassette support portion are attached to the tray with an adhesive tape. The patch panel according to appended claim 8. [Appended claim 12] The first cassette support portion and the second cassette support portion are attached to the tray without using screws. The patch panel according to appended claim 11. [Appended claim 13] A first tray support portion having a pair of slide rails spaced apart along the longitudinal direction, the first tray support portion being spaced apart along the transverse direction and defining a first detent and a second detent positioned between the pair of slide rails of the first tray support portion along the longitudinal direction. The first tray support portion. A second tray support portion having a pair of slide rails spaced apart along the longitudinal direction, the second tray support portion being spaced apart along the transverse direction and defining a first detent and a second detent positioned between the pair of slide rails of the second tray support portion along the longitudinal direction, and the second tray support portion being spaced apart from the first tray support portion along the transverse direction. The second tray support portion. Further comprising The tray has a first pair of detent followers and a second pair of detent followers, the detent followers of the first pair of detent followers being spaced apart along the transverse direction and positioned on a first side portion of the tray, and the detent followers of the second pair of detent followers being spaced apart along the transverse direction and positioned on a second side portion of the tray. The first side of the tray is receivable between a pair of slide rails of the first tray support portion, and the second side of the tray is receivable between a pair of slide rails of the second tray support portion, such that the tray is slidable along the transverse direction between a retracted position and an extended position on the first tray support portion and the second tray support portion. One of the first pair of detent followers is received within the first detent of the first tray support portion, and one of the second pair of detent followers is received within the first detent of the second tray support portion at the extended position of the tray. The patch panel according to appended claim 8, wherein each of the first pair of detent followers is received within each of the first detent and the second detent of the first tray support portion, and each of the second pair of detent followers is received within each of the first detent and the second detent of the second tray support portion at the retracted position of the tray. [Appended claim 14] The first tray support portion includes a tray release lever having a locking tab, the tray defines a tray locking slot at the first side of the tray, and the locking tab of the tray release lever is received within the tray locking slot at the extended position of the tray to selectively hold the tray at the extended position of the tray, the patch panel according to appended claim 13. [Appended claim 15] The bottom slide rails of the pair of slide rails of the first tray support portion define a support surface and an inclined surface, the inclined surface extends between a top and a bottom along the transverse direction, the bottom of the inclined surface is positioned on the support surface, and the top of the inclined surface is positioned near the tray release lever, such that the inclined surface extends upward along the longitudinal direction from the support surface toward the tray release lever, the patch panel according to appended claim 14. [Appended claim 16] A patch panel defining a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a longitudinal direction that are mutually perpendicular, A tray having a plurality of cassette mounting bays, the tray comprising a first cassette support and a second cassette support, the first cassette support and the second cassette support being positioned on opposite sides of one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays along the lateral direction, the first cassette support having a first latch and a second latch each positioned at respective opposite ends of the first cassette support along the transverse direction, a tray; A cassette extending between a first side and a second side along the lateral direction, the first side of the cassette being receivable by the first cassette support and the second side of the tray being receivable by the second cassette support such that the cassette is slidable along the transverse direction on the first cassette support and the second cassette support, a cassette; and a cassette, wherein the first latch and the second latch are configured to engage the cassette to prevent movement of the cassette along the transverse direction when the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays; comprising; The first latch and the second latch are configured to engage the cassette to prevent movement of the cassette along the transverse direction when the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays. The cassette is provided with means for simultaneously disengaging the first latch and the second latch from the cassette when the cassette is positioned in one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays such that the cassette is slidable from one of the plurality of cassette mounting bays at both the front and rear of the tray. A patch panel. [Appended Claim 17] A cassette defining a lateral direction and a transverse direction that are perpendicular, A cassette body portion extending between a first side portion and a second side portion along the transverse direction and between a front portion and a rear portion along the transverse direction, wherein the cassette body portion defines a release slide slot on the first side portion of the cassette body portion, and the release slide slot extends longitudinally between the front portion and the rear portion of the cassette body portion along the transverse direction, the cassette body portion, A release slide positioned within the release slide slot at the first side portion of the cassette body portion, wherein the release slide is movable within the release slide slot between a neutral position and a release position along the transverse direction, the release slide extends between a first end portion and a second end portion along the transverse direction, the release slide has a first lamp and a second lamp, the first lamp is positioned near the first end portion of the release slide, and the second lamp is positioned near the second end portion of the release slide, the release slide, A cassette comprising. [Appended Claim 18] The cassette according to appended claim 17, wherein the cassette body portion further defines a first lamp slot and a second lamp slot on the first side portion of the cassette body portion, the first lamp slot is positioned at the front portion of the cassette body portion, the second lamp slot is positioned at the rear portion of the cassette body portion, the first lamp is received within the first lamp slot when the release slide is in the release position, and the second lamp is received within the second lamp slot when the release slide is in the release position. [Appended Claim 19] The cassette according to appended claim 17, wherein each of the first lamp and the second lamp has an inclined surface, and the inclined surface of the first lamp faces the inclined surface of the second lamp along the transverse direction. [Appended Claim 20] The release slide has a first handle at the first end of the release slide and a second handle at the second end of the release slide, and the release slide is manually shiftable between the neutral position and the release position by the first handle and the second handle. The cassette according to appended claim 17.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Next, reference is made to the details of the embodiments of the present invention in which one or more examples are shown in the drawings. Each example is provided for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, but without limiting the present invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to create further embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to include modifications and variations such as those within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a patch panel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the subject matter of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may also refer to the patch panel 100 as a "patch enclosure". As can be seen in FIG. 1, the patch panel 100 includes an enclosure 110, a pair of tray supports 120, a plurality of trays 130, a plurality of cassette supports 140, and a plurality of cassettes 150. The patch panel 100 may generally be referred to as a "rack-mounted high-density connectivity platform". The cassettes 150 are modular and may be suitable for patch, patch & splice, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), and splitter applications. Thus, for example, each cassette 150 may be provided with connectors (such as LC connectors, MPO connectors, etc.) at the front and rear of the cassette 150, and the fibers within the cassette 150 may extend between various connectors at the front and rear of the cassette 150. As will be described in more detail below, the patch panel 100 includes features for adjusting the movement of the trays 130 on the tray supports 120 and / or features for adjusting the movement of the cassettes 150 on the cassette supports 140. Such features facilitate access to the cassettes 150, thereby assisting the user in connecting optical fibers to the cassettes 150. The cassettes 150 are provided with ports at the front and rear of the cassettes 150, and the optical fibers within the cassettes 150 connect to the ports at the front and rear of the cassettes 150.

[0015] The patch panel 100 defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T. The vertical direction V, the lateral direction L, and the transverse direction T are perpendicular to each other and form an orthogonal direction system. The trays 130 may be mounted on the tray supports 120 within the enclosure 110 such that the trays 130 are slidable along the transverse direction T with respect to the tray supports 120. Similarly, the cassettes 150 may be mounted on the cassette supports 140 within the enclosure 110 such that the cassettes 150 are slidable along the transverse direction T with respect to the cassette supports 140 and / or the trays 130.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the tray support portions 120, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the trays 130. In FIG. 2, only one of the tray support portions 120 is shown. The patch panel 100 may well include another tray support portion on the opposite side of the enclosure 110 along the lateral direction L, and it will be understood that the other tray support portion may be formed in the same or similar manner as the tray support portion 120 shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the patch panel 100 may well include two tray support portions 120 on the opposite side of the enclosure 110 along the lateral direction L. The tray support portions 120 may also be stacked along the vertical direction V, thereby forming a 2RU panel / enclosure, a 3RU panel / enclosure, etc. The tray support portion 120 may be mounted to the enclosure 110 with an adhesive, tape, and / or fasteners. In particular, the tray support base 128 of the tray support portion 120 may be attached to the enclosure 110 by an adhesive, tape, and / or fasteners.

[0017] The tray support portion 120 has a pair of slide rails 122. The slide rails 122 may be mounted to the tray support base 128 such that the slide rails 122 extend from the tray support base 128, for example, along the lateral direction L, or may be formed together with the tray support base 128. The slide rails 122 are spaced apart along the vertical direction V. In particular, the slide rails 122 may be spaced apart along the vertical direction V such that the tray 130 is slidable between the slide rails 122. Thus, the slide rails 122 may support the tray 130 such that the tray 130 is movable on the tray support portion 120 with respect to the enclosure 110. As shown in FIG. 2, the tray support portion 120 may include a plurality of pairs of slide rails 122 such that a plurality of trays 130 may be mounted to the tray support portion 120. Thus, although described in more detail below in the context of a single pair of slide rails 122 and one tray 130, in an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of trays 130 may be mounted to the tray support portion 120.

[0018] The tray support portion 120 also defines a first detent 124 and a second detent 126. The first detent 124 and the second detent 126 may be formed in the tray support base 128 such that the first detent 124 and the second detent 126 penetrate or pass through the tray support base 128, for example, along the lateral direction L. The first detent 124 and the second detent 126 are spaced apart and arranged, for example, along the transverse direction T. In addition, the first detent 124 and the second detent 126 may be positioned between the slide rails 122, for example, along the longitudinal direction V.

[0019] Referring next to FIG. 3, the tray 130 includes a slide 132 together with a pair of detent followers 134. Only one side of the tray 130 is shown in FIG. 3. The tray 130 may well include another slide along the opposite side of the tray 130 along the lateral direction L, and it will be understood that the other slide may be formed in the same or a similar manner as the slide 132 shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the tray 130 may well include two slides 132 along the opposite side of the tray 130 along the lateral direction L. In particular, the tray 130 may extend between a first side portion 137 and a second side portion 139 along the lateral direction L. One of the slides 132 may be attached to the tray body portion 131 at the first side portion 137 of the tray body portion 131, and the other of the slides 132 may be attached to the tray body portion 131 at the second side portion 139 of the tray body portion 131. The slide 132 may be attached to the tray body portion 131 by a mounting tab 133 formed together with the tray body portion 131 and / or a fastener 135 passing through the tray body portion 131 and the slide 132.

[0020] As noted above, the slide rails 122 may be arranged spaced apart along the longitudinal direction V such that the tray 130 is slidable between the slide rails 122. In particular, the slides 132 of the tray 130 may be positioned between the slide rails 122 of the tray support 120 for slidably mounting the tray 130 to the tray support 120. The detent followers 134 can engage the first detent 124 and the second detent 126 to hold the tray 130 in either the extended position (Figs. 5, 6, and 7) or the retracted position (Fig. 4). In particular, one of the detent followers 134 is received within the first detent 124 of the tray support 120 when the tray 130 is in the extended position. When the tray 130 is in the extended position, the other of the detent followers 134 is not received within the second detent 126 of the tray support 120 and may be removed from between the slide rails 122 of the tray support 120. In contrast, each of the detent followers 134 is received within one of each of the first detent 124 and the second detent 126 when the tray 130 is in the retracted position.

[0021] The detent follower 134 may be formed on a fixed beam or a cantilever beam, and the elastic deformation of the beam enables the detent follower 134 to translate in the lateral direction L. Such movement of the detent follower 134 allows the detent follower 134 to penetrate into and retract from the first detent 124 and the second detent 126 when the user slides the tray 130 with respect to the tray support 120. In particular, the detent follower 134 may bend along the lateral direction L when the tray 130 shifts between the extended position and the retracted position. In addition to holding the tray 130 in either the retracted position or the extended position, the detent follower 134 may, together with the first detent 124 and the second detent 126, provide haptic feedback to the user regarding the position of the tray 130 on the tray support 120. In particular, the user can sense when the detent follower 134 enters the first detent 124 and the second detent 126 when the user adjusts the tray 130 to the retracted position, and the user can sense when the detent follower 134 exits the first detent 124 and the second detent 126 when the user adjusts the tray 130 from the retracted position. Such haptic feedback can inform the user when to stop pushing or pulling the tray 130.

[0022] As can be seen from the above description, the tray support 120 may cooperate with the tray 130 to enable the tray 130 to slide along the transverse direction T with respect to the tray support 120. Generally, the slide tray mechanism functions as follows. The tray 130 is attached with a slide 132 that enables the tray 130 to slide within the slide rail 122 mounted inside the enclosure 110. The slide rail 122 includes two detents. In the home position or the retracted position, both detents are engaged, and only the front detent is utilized in the extended position. When the tray 130 is pulled forward from the retracted position, the detent follower bends inward, and the rear detent follower aligns with the front detent in the extended position and receives a certain level of resistance with a margin until it locks in place.

[0023] The patch panel 100 also includes a feature for preventing or avoiding excessive extension of the tray 130 from the tray support portion 120. As shown in FIG. 2, the tray support portion 120 includes a tray release lever 125 having a locking tab 127. The tray release lever 125 may be mounted on the tray support base 128 or formed together with the tray support base 128. In particular, the tray release lever 125 may extend along the transverse direction T from the tray support base 128, and / or the distal end of the tray release lever 125 may be cantilevered from the tray support base 128 so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction V with respect to the tray support base 128. Thus, the tray release lever 125 can bend along the longitudinal direction V when the tray 130 shifts between the extended position and the retracted position. In particular, the tray release lever 125 may be automatically bent upward along the longitudinal direction V when the locking tab 127 of the tray release lever 125 (for example) slides along the extended position ramp 171 at the front portion of the slide 132. The tray release lever 125 engages with the tray 130 at the extended position of the tray 130 to prevent the tray 130 from extending excessively from the tray support portion 120. In particular, the tray 130 (for example, the slide 132 of the tray 130) defines a tray locking slot 138. The locking tab 127 of the tray release lever 125 is received within the tray locking slot 138 when the tray 130 is in the extended position. Thus, the locking tab 127 of the tray release lever 125 selectively holds the tray 130 in the extended position.

[0024] The tray release lever 125 can prevent the tray 130 from being accidentally removed or pulled beyond the extended position. Generally, the tray locking slot 138 on the tray 130 and the locking tab 127 on the tray release lever 125 interact and cooperate to prevent the tray 130 from being accidentally removed or pulled beyond the extended position. This is achieved when the slide 132 of the tray 130 automatically lifts the tray release lever 125 when the tray 130 is pulled forward from the retracted position until the locking tab 127 aligns with the tray locking slot 138 and drops into place to lock the tray 130 in the extended position. If tray removal is desired, the tray release lever 125 can be manually lifted to release the locking tab 127 from the tray locking slot 138. While in the extended position, the tray 130 can move, add, and / or change with the front side patch cords or provide access for removing the cassette 150.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 15, the tray locking slot 138 may include an inclined surface 139, for example, at the rear of the tray locking slot 138. The tray release lever 125 may be configured to automatically bend upward along the vertical direction V when the tray release lever 125 (e.g., the locking tab 127) slides along the inclined surface 139 of the tray locking slot 138. Thus, the slide 132 of the tray 130 may be configured to automatically lift the tray release lever 125 from the tray locking slot 138 when the tray 130 is pushed and retracted from the extended position to the retracted position. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, after being locked in the extended position, the tray release lever 125 may be manually lifted to allow the tray 130 to slide back to the retracted position.

[0026] As can be seen by looking at FIG. 14, the bottom slide rail 121 of the slide rail 122 defines a support surface 170 and an inclined surface 172. The inclined surface 172 extends between a top 174 and a bottom 176 along a transverse direction T. The top 174 of the inclined surface 172 is also positioned higher or above the bottom 176 of the inclined surface 172 along a longitudinal direction V. Thus, the top 174 and the bottom 176 of the inclined surface 172 are spaced apart and arranged along the longitudinal direction V and the transverse direction T. The bottom 176 of the inclined surface 172 is positioned on the support surface 170, and the top 174 of the inclined surface 172 is positioned near the tray release lever 125. Thus, the inclined surface 172 extends upward from the support surface 170 toward the tray release lever 125 along the longitudinal direction V.

[0027] The slide 132 of the tray 130 rests on the bottom slide rail 121 when the tray 130 is in the retracted position, and the slide 132 of the tray 130 slides on the bottom slide rail 121 when the user adjusts the tray 130 from the retracted position toward the extended position. The support surface 170 is generally flat and can be oriented in a horizontal direction. Thus, when the tray 130 rests or slides on the support surface 170, the tray 130 can slide horizontally. In contrast, the tray 130 can move upward along the longitudinal direction V when the tray 130 slides on the inclined surface 172. By biasing the tray 130 upward along the longitudinal direction V, the inclined surface 172 can facilitate the engagement between the tray locking slot 138 on the tray 130 and the locking tab 127 on the tray release lever 125. In particular, when the tray 130 is in the extended position, the degree to which the distal end of the tray 130 can curve or pivot downward along the longitudinal direction V is smaller compared to when the bottom slide rail 121 comprises only the horizontal support surface 170.

[0028] The position and / or angle of the inclined surface 172 can be selected to smooth the engagement between the tray release lever 125 and the slide 122, for example, without interfering with the sliding of the tray 130 on the tray support 120. For example, the distance between the top 174 of the inclined surface 172 and the uppermost rail of the slide rail 122 may be smaller than the distance between the bottom 176 of the inclined surface 172 and the uppermost rail of the slide rail 122. As a more specific example, the inclined surface 172 can define an angle α in a plane perpendicular to the support surface 170 and, for example, in the lateral direction L. The angle α may be less than 180 degrees and greater than 175 degrees. As another example, the top 174 of the inclined surface 172 may be arranged at an interval of 1 micrometer or more and 1 millimeter or less from the bottom 176 of the inclined surface 172 along the vertical direction V. The length of the inclined surface 172 along the transverse direction T between the top 174 and the bottom 176 of the inclined surface 172 may be 5 millimeters or more and 50 millimeters or less in some exemplary embodiments.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the cassettes 150, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one of the cassette supports 140. In FIG. 11, only one of the cassette supports 140 is shown. The patch panel 100 may well be provided with a plurality of additional cassette supports in various arrangements on the tray 130, and it will be understood that the other cassette supports may be formed in the same or a similar manner as the cassette support 140 shown in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the tray 130 includes a plurality of cassette mounting bays 160, and the cassette support 140 is mounted on the tray 130 at the cassette mounting bays 160, thereby providing a mounting structure for the cassette 150 within the cassette mounting bays 160. Thus, the patch panel 100 may well be provided with cassette supports 140 on the opposite sides of each cassette mounting bay 160 along the lateral direction L. The cassette support 140 may be mounted to the tray 130 by heat staking, ultrasonic welding, adhesives, tapes, and / or fasteners. In some exemplary embodiments, the cassette support 140 may be mounted to the tray 130 without fasteners such as screws. One lateral side of each cassette 150 may well be mounted to the respective cassette support 140 by a latch as will be described in more detail below, and the opposite lateral side of each cassette 150 may be slidably mounted to the respective cassette support 140, for example, by slide rails on the cassette 150 received within slots on the respective cassette support 140 or by sliding the cassette 150 between slide rails on the respective cassette support 140.

[0030] Referring again to FIG. 11, the cassette support portion 140 may include a pair of slide rails 141. The slide rails 141 are spaced apart and arranged along the vertical direction V. In particular, the slide rails 141 may be spaced apart along the vertical direction V such that the cassette 150 is slidable between the slide rails 141. Thus, the slide rails 141 may support the cassette 150 such that the cassette 150 is movable on the cassette support portion 140 with respect to the tray 130. The cassette support portion 140 also has a first latch 142 and a second latch 144. The first latch 142 and the second latch 144 are respectively positioned at opposite ends of the cassette support portion 140 along the transverse direction T. Thus, for example, the cassette support portion 140 may extend between a front portion 146 and a rear portion 148 along the transverse direction T. The first latch 142 may be positioned at the front portion 146 of the cassette support portion 140, and the second latch 144 may be positioned at the rear portion 148 of the cassette support portion 140. The slide rails 141 may be positioned between the first latch 142 and the second latch 144, for example, along the transverse direction T. The first latch 142 and the second latch 144 may be configured to allow the cassette 150 to be inserted into the cassette mounting bay 160 from the front portion 180 or the rear portion 182 of the tray 130.

[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 may be constructed in the same or a similar manner as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, the first latch 142 may be constructed according to the description presented below for the second latch 144. As shown in FIG. 11, the second latch 144 is supported by a cantilever beam such that the arm 162 is elastically deformable and the catch 164 is movable along the lateral direction L on the arm 162. The catch 164 may include an inclined surface 166 facing a surface and a locking surface 168 along the transverse direction T.

[0032] The inclined surfaces 166 of the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 may assist in moving the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 so that the cassette 150 can be inserted into the cassette mounting bay 160. The locking surfaces 168 of the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 may assist in holding the cassette 150 within the cassette mounting bay 160. Thus, when the cassette 150 is positioned within the cassette mounting bay 160, the locking surface 168 of the first latch 142 may engage the front portion of the cassette 150, and the locking surface 168 of the second latch 144 may engage the rear portion of the cassette 150. In such a manner, the cassette 150 may be positioned between the locking surfaces 168 of the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 along the transverse direction T when the cassette 150 is positioned within the cassette mounting bay 160, and the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 may prevent movement of the cassette 150 from the cassette mounting bay 160.

[0033] When the user inserts the cassette 150 from the front portion 180 of the tray 130 into the cassette mounting bay 160, the cassette 150 can first impact the inclined surface 166 of the first latch 142, and the cassette 150 can slide along the inclined surface 166 of the first latch 142 such that the catch 164 of the first latch 142 moves outwardly along the lateral direction L on the arm 162 of the first latch 142. Next, the cassette 150 can slide between the slide rails 141 until the cassette 150 fits snugly within the cassette mounting bay 160 at a position where the catch 164 of the first latch 142 moves inwardly along the lateral direction L on the arm 162 of the first latch 142. The locking surface 168 of the first latch 142 faces and can engage the cassette 150 when the cassette 150 is within the cassette mounting bay 160.

[0034] Similarly, when the user inserts the cassette 150 from the rear portion 182 of the tray 130 into the cassette mounting bay 160, the cassette 150 can first impact the inclined surface 166 of the second latch 144, and the cassette 150 can slide along the inclined surface 166 of the second latch 144 such that the catch 164 of the second latch 144 moves outward along the lateral direction L on the arm 162 of the second latch 144. Then, the cassette 150 can slide between the slide rails 141 until the cassette 150 fits snugly within the cassette mounting bay 160 at a position where the catch 164 of the second latch 144 moves inward along the lateral direction L on the arm 162 of the second latch 144. The locking surface 168 of the second latch 144 faces and can engage the cassette 150 when the cassette 150 is within the cassette mounting bay 160.

[0035] The cassette 150 includes features for enabling removal of the cassette 150 from the cassette mounting bay 160, for example, by disengaging the first latch 142 and the second latch 144. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the cassette 150 includes a release slide 159. For example, the cassette body portion 151 of the cassette 150 can extend between a first side portion 152 and a second side portion 154 along the lateral direction L. The cassette body portion 151 can also extend between a front portion 153 and a rear portion 155 along the transverse direction T. The cassette body portion 151 can define a release slide slot 156 at the first side portion 152 of the cassette body portion 151. The release slide slot 156 can extend longitudinally between the front portion 153 and the rear portion 155 of the cassette body portion 151 along the transverse direction T. The release slide 159 is movable between a neutral (or locked) position and a release position within the release slide slot 156.

[0036] The release slide 159 has a first lamp 157 and a second lamp 158. The first lamp 157 and the second lamp 158 are each positioned at opposite respective ends of the release slide 159 along the transverse direction T. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the release slide 159 may extend between a first end 178 and a second end 179 along the transverse direction T. The first lamp 157 may be positioned near the first end 178 of the release slide 159, and the second lamp 158 may be positioned near the second end 179 of the release slide 159.

[0037] The first lamp 157 and the second lamp 158 may assist in actuating the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 so that the cassette 150 can be removed from the cassette mounting bay 160. As shown in FIG. 12, the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 engage the cassette 150 when the cassette 150 is positioned within the cassette mounting bay 160 and the release slide 159 is in the neutral position. In contrast, when the user shifts the release slide 159 to the release position, the first lamp 157 may hit and slide against the first latch 142 to disengage the first latch 142 from the cassette 150, and / or the second lamp 158 may hit and slide against the second latch 144 to disengage the second latch 144 from the cassette 150. In particular, the inclined surfaces of the first lamp 157 and the second lamp 158 may hit and slide against the catches 164 of the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 so that the catches 164 of the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 move outward along the lateral direction L from the cassette 150 and lift. Thus, the user may slide the release slide 159 from the neutral position to the release position to simultaneously disengage the first latch 142 and the second latch 144 from the cassette 150 and enable the cassette 150 to be removed from the cassette mounting bay 160 either at the front portion 180 of the tray 130 or the rear portion 182 of the tray 130.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, cassette body 151 defines a first lamp slot 190 and a second lamp slot 192 at a first side portion 152 of the cassette body 151. The first lamp slot 190 may be positioned at a front portion 153 of the cassette body 151, and the second lamp slot 192 may be positioned at a rear portion 155 of the cassette body 151. The first lamp 157 is slidable within and out of the first lamp slot 190. When the release slide 159 is in the neutral position, the first lamp 157 is disposed within the first lamp slot 190 such that, for example, the first lamp 157 does not engage the first latch 142. In contrast, when the release slide 159 shifts from the neutral position to the release position, the first lamp 157 slides out of the first lamp slot 190 and engages the first latch 142 in the manner described above. The second lamp 158 is slidable within and out of the second lamp slot 192. When the release slide 159 is in the neutral position, the second lamp 158 is disposed outside the second lamp slot 192 such that, for example, the second lamp 158 does not engage the second latch 144. In contrast, at least a portion of the second lamp 158 is received within the second lamp slot 192 when the release slide 159 is in the release position. When the release slide 159 shifts from the neutral position to the release position, the second lamp 158 slides into the second lamp slot 192 and engages the second latch 144 in the manner described above.

[0039] The release slide 159 may have a first handle 184 and a second handle 186. The first handle 184 is positioned at the first end 178 of the release slide 159, and the second handle 186 is positioned at the second end 179 of the release slide 159. The release slide 159 can be manually shifted between a locking position and a release position by the first handle 184 and the second handle 186. Therefore, the user may shift the release slide 159 between the locking position and the release position from the front portion 180 of the tray 130 by the first handle 184 and from the rear portion 182 of the tray 130 by the second handle 186. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the first handle 184 may be a pull handle, and the second handle 186 may be a push handle. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the release slide 159 can be inverted on the cassette 150 such that the positions of the first lamp 157 and the second lamp 158 are switched. In such an exemplary embodiment, the first handle 184 may be a push handle, and the second handle 186 may be a pull handle.

[0040] As can be seen from the above description, the cassette support 140 may cooperate with the cassette 150 and enable the sliding of the cassette 150 along the transverse direction T with respect to the cassette support 140. Generally, the cassette sliding mechanism functions as follows. The cassette 150 has integral slides on both sides of the cassette 150 that are received between the slide rails 141 of the cassette support 140. The side portion of the cassette 150 provided with the locking mechanism may be sized large enough to accommodate the release stride 159. The cassette support 140 may only enable the linear translation of the cassette 150 along the transverse direction T (for example, from front to back and from back to front).

[0041] As shown in FIG. 16, the release slide 159 has a protrusion 188, for example, near the middle portion of the release slide 159. The protrusion 188 is engageable with one or more lip portions (not shown) on the cassette body portion 151 within the release slide slot 156. For example, the protrusion 188 can contact one or more lip portions on the cassette body portion 151 such that the interference between the protrusion 188 and the one or more lip portions on the cassette body portion 151 prevents the release slide 159 from accidentally shifting between the neutral position and the release position. Thus, the protrusion 188 can assist in holding the release slide 159 in its current position out of the neutral position and the release position.

[0042] The subject matter of the present invention has a number of advantages over known high-density optical fiber patch panels for pre-terminated cassette modules. For example, the cassette 150 may be attachable and removable with one hand for both front and rear attachment / release scenarios. In addition, by using adhesive tape and / or heat staking to attach the tray support 120 and / or the cassette support 140, conventional fasteners are not required, resulting in space and assembly time savings.

[0043] In this specification, several examples are used to disclose the present invention, including the best mode, whereby one of ordinary skill in the art can practice the present invention, including making, using, and implementing the incorporated methods for a device or system. The patentable scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if these examples include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims or if these examples include equivalent structural elements with only minor differences from the literal language of the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0044] 100 Patch Panel 110 Enclosure 120 Tray Support 121 Bottom slide rail 122 Slide rail 124 First detent 125 Tray release lever 126 Second detent 127 Locking tab 128 Tray support base 130 Tray 131 Tray body part 132 Slide 133 Mounting tab 134 Detent follower 135 Fastener 137 First side part 138 Tray locking slot 139 Second side part 139 Inclined surface 140 Cassette support part 141 Slide rail 142 First latch 144 Second latch 146 Front part 148 Rear part 150 Cassette 151 Cassette body part 152 First side part 153 Front part 154 Second side part 155 Rear part 156 Release slide slot 157 First lamp 158 Second lamp 159 Release slide 160 Cassette mounting bay 162 Arm 164 Catch 166 Inclined surface 168 Locking surface 170 Support surface 171 Extended position lamp 172 Inclined surface 174 Top 176 Bottom 178 First end 179 Second end 180 Front part 182 Rear part 184 First handle 186 Second handle 188 Protrusion 190 First lamp slot 192 Second lamp slot

Claims

1. A cassette defining a horizontal direction and a transverse direction that are perpendicular, the cassette comprising: The cassette includes: A cassette body portion extending between a first side portion and a second side portion along the horizontal direction and between a front portion and a rear portion along the transverse direction. The cassette body portion defines a release slide slot on the first side portion of the cassette body portion, and the release slide slot extends vertically between the front portion and the rear portion of the cassette body portion along the transverse direction. Cassette body portion; A release slide positioned within the release slide slot on the first side portion of the cassette body portion. The release slide is movable within the release slide slot between a neutral position and a release position along the transverse direction. The release slide extends between a first end portion and a second end portion along the transverse direction. The release slide has a first lamp and a second lamp. The first lamp is positioned near the first end portion of the release slide, and the second lamp is positioned near the second end portion of the release slide. Release slide; A cassette comprising: The cassette is insertable into a cassette mounting bay in a tray from a front end and a rear end of the tray. The first lamp and the second lamp interact to operate a first latch and a second latch of the tray so that the cassette can be removed from the cassette mounting bay. Cassette.

2. The cassette body portion further defines a first lamp slot and a second lamp slot on the first side portion of the cassette body portion. The first lamp slot is positioned at the front portion of the cassette body portion. The second lamp slot is positioned at the rear portion of the cassette body portion. The first lamp is received within the first lamp slot when the release slide is in the release position. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the second lamp is received within the second lamp slot when the release slide is in the release position.

3. Each of the first lamp and the second lamp has an inclined surface, and the inclined surface of the first lamp faces the inclined surface of the second lamp along the transverse direction. The cassette according to claim 1.

4. The release slide has a first handle at the first end of the release slide and a second handle at the second end of the release slide. The release slide is manually shiftable between the neutral position and the release position by the first handle and the second handle. The cassette according to claim 1.

5. The first handle is accessible from the front side of the cassette, and the second handle is accessible from the rear side of the cassette. The cassette according to claim 4.

6. One of the first handle and the second handle is a push handle, and the other of the first handle and the second handle is a pull handle. The cassette according to claim 4.

7. The release slide has a protrusion disposed near the middle portion of the release slide, and the protrusion is engageable with one or more lip portions on the cassette body within the release slide slot. The cassette according to claim 1.

8. The protrusion interferes with one or more of the lip portions so as to prevent the release slide from unintentionally shifting between the neutral position and the release position. The cassette according to claim 7.

9. A cassette defining a horizontal direction and a transverse direction that are perpendicular, The cassette is A cassette body portion extending between a first side portion and a second side portion along the horizontal direction and between a front portion and a rear portion along the transverse direction, A release slide disposed on the first side portion of the cassette main body and extending longitudinally along the transverse direction, the release slide being movable between a neutral position and a release position along the transverse direction, the release slide extending between a first end and a second end along the transverse direction, the release slide having a first lamp and a second lamp, the first lamp and the second lamp being configured to interact to actuate a first latch and a second latch of the tray so that the cassette can be removed from the tray, the first lamp being positioned near the first end of the release slide, and the second lamp being positioned near the second end of the release slide, a release slide, A cassette comprising the same. **Claim 10** The cassette main body further defines a first lamp slot and a second lamp slot at the first side portion of the cassette main body, The first lamp slot is positioned at the front portion of the cassette main body, The second lamp slot is positioned at the rear portion of the cassette main body, The first lamp is received within the first lamp slot when the release slide is in the release position, The cassette according to claim 9, wherein the second lamp is received within the second lamp slot when the release slide is in the release position. **Claim 11** The release slide has a first handle at the first end of the release slide and a second handle at the second end of the release slide, The cassette according to claim 10, wherein the release slide is manually shiftable between the neutral position and the release position by the first handle and the second handle. **Claim 12** The cassette according to claim 11, wherein the first handle is accessible from the front side of the cassette and the second handle is accessible from the rear side of the cassette. **Claim 13** The cassette according to claim 11, wherein one of the first handle and the second handle is a push handle and the other of the first handle and the second handle is a pull handle. **Claim 14** The release slide has a protrusion disposed near the middle portion of the release slide, and the protrusion is engageable with one or more lip portions on the cassette body. The cassette according to claim 9.

15. The protrusion interferes with one or more of the lip portions so as to prevent the release slide from unintentionally shifting between the neutral position and the release position. The cassette according to claim 14.

16. The cassette is insertable into a cassette mounting bay in a tray from a front end and a rear end of the tray. The first lamp and the second lamp interact to operate a first latch and a second latch of the tray so that the cassette can be removed from the cassette mounting bay. The cassette according to claim 9.

17. A cassette defining a lateral direction and a transverse direction that are perpendicular. The cassette includes A release slide disposed on a first side of the cassette and extending longitudinally along the transverse direction. The release slide is movable between a neutral position and a release position along the transverse direction. The release slide extends between a first end and a second end along the transverse direction. The release slide has a first lamp and a second lamp. The first lamp and the second lamp are configured to interact to operate a first latch and a second latch of the tray so that the cassette can be removed from the tray. The first lamp is positioned near the first end of the release slide, and the second lamp is positioned near the second end of the release slide. Release slide A cassette comprising.

18. The release slide has a first handle at the first end of the release slide and a second handle at the second end of the release slide. The release slide is manually shiftable between the neutral position and the release position by the first handle and the second handle. The first handle is accessible from the front side of the cassette, and the second handle is accessible from the rear side of the cassette. The cassette according to claim 17.

Images