Wall-Mounted Patch Panel Support Assembly with Pivoting Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable management systems for patch panels in communication cabinets and racks occupy significant space and lack efficient solutions for mounting and cable guidance, especially in limited spaces.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly that includes hingedly coupled support arms and anchor members for mounting patch panels to walls or under floors, allowing for rotational pivoting between storage and access positions, with features like foldable brackets and scissor lifts to optimize space usage and cable management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If patch panels are mounted in communication cabinets and racks with cable guides, then cable management is improved, but the space occupied by the rack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable management function from the traditional rack-mounted system and relocates it to a wall-mounted patch panel. The cable guide is detached from the rack and repositioned on the wall near the patch panel, allowing cable management to occur outside the rack's footprint while maintaining effective cable organization and routing.
2Ease of operation
If cable guides are mounted to rack sidewalls, then cable routing is facilitated, but the rack occupies more area
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide is extracted from the rack structure and repositioned on the wall. This allows the cable guide to maintain its cable routing function while being located outside the rack's footprint, thereby facilitating cable routing without increasing the rack's occupied area.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall acts as an intermediary structure between the patch panel and the cable routing path. By mounting the cable guide to the wall rather than the rack, the system uses the wall as a mediator to achieve efficient cable routing while preserving rack space.
3Ease of operation
If patch panels are mounted on racks, then cable connections are organized, but space efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patch panel mounting system is extracted from the rack and relocated to the wall. This allows cable connection organization to be maintained through proper wall mounting and cable guide integration, while eliminating the need for rack space to accommodate the patch panel itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a horizontal rack-mounted configuration to a vertical wall-mounted configuration. By utilizing the wall surface area rather than rack shelf space, the patch panel achieves organized cable connections while improving space efficiency in the rack environment.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable management unit including a support assembly for mounting a patch panel, such as to a wall. The support assembly may include first and second anchor members adapted to be anchored to the wall, and first and second support arms hingedly coupled to the first and second anchor members at first and second hinge points, respectively. The first and second support arms may be adapted to be coupled to the patch panel. A chassis the patch panel may be supported by the first and second support arms. The first and second support arms may be configured to pivot about the first and second hinge points respectively between storage and access positions. The first and second support arms may extend outward from the wall in the access position and may be substantially parallel to the wall in the storage position.