Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
DOOR ASSEMBLIES AND COMMUNICATIONS CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME |
| Document Number: |
20070175654 |
| Publication Date: |
August 2, 2007 |
| Appl. No: |
11/668885 |
| Application Filed: |
January 30, 2007 |
| Abstract: |
A communications cable management system includes a support structure and a door assembly. The support structure defines a cable trough and includes at least two first mount structures and at least two second mount structures spaced apart from the at least two first mount structures. The door assembly includes a door body, first and second latch mechanisms, and first and second actuators. The door body has first and second opposed side edges. The first latch mechanism includes at least two first latch structures each selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the first latch structure engages a respective one of the first mount structures to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a first pivot axis proximate the first side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the first latch structure is disengaged from the first mount structure to permit the first side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure. The second latch mechanism includes at least two second latch structures each selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the second latch structure engages a respective one of the second mount structures to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a second pivot axis proximate the second side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the second latch structure is disengaged from the second mount structure to permit the second side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure. The first actuator is operable by a user to selectively move each of the first latch structures as a group from their latched positions to their unlatched positions. The second actuator is operable by a user to selectively move each of the second latch structures as a group from their latched positions to their unlatched positions. When the first and second latch structures are in their latched positions, the door body is secured in a closed position on the support structure. When the first and second latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be removed from the support structure. When the first latch structures are in their latched positions and the second latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be pivoted open about the first pivot axis. When the second latch structures are in their latched positions and the first latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be pivoted open about the second pivot axis. |
| Inventors: |
Keith, Scott Martin (Plano, TX, US); Choudhury, Golam Mabud (Warren, NJ, US); Checketts, Gus Arthur (Elkhorn, NE, US); Choi-Feng, Chin (Dallas, TX, US); Conorich, Theodore Alan (Lake Hiawatha, NJ, US); Cronin, Tim (Austin, TX, US); Lapetina, John (San Francisco, CA, US); Riccomini, Roy (Saratoga, CA, US); Logan, Andy (Redwood City, CA, US); Eubanks, Cormac (San Francisco, CA, US); Krynock, Mike (Sunnyvale, CA, US); Millie, William Alexander (San Francisco, CA, US) |
| Claim: |
1. A communications cable management system comprising: a support structure defining a cable trough and including at least two first mount structures and at least two second mount structures spaced apart from the at least two first mount structures; and a door assembly including: a door body having first and second opposed side edges; a first latch mechanism including at least two first latch structures each selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the first latch structure engages a respective one of the first mount structures to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a first pivot axis proximate the first side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the first latch structure is disengaged from the first mount structure to permit the first side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure; a second latch mechanism including at least two second latch structures each selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the second latch structure engages a respective one of the second mount structures to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a second pivot axis proximate the second side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the second latch structure is disengaged from the second mount structure to permit the second side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure; a first actuator operable by a user to selectively move each of the first latch structures as a group from their latched positions to their unlatched positions; and a second actuator operable by a user to selectively move each of the second latch structures as a group from their latched positions to their unlatched positions; wherein: when the first and second latch structures are in their latched positions, the door body is secured in a closed position on the support structure; when the first and second latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be removed from the support structure; when the first latch structures are in their latched positions and the second latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be pivoted open about the first pivot axis; and when the second latch structures are in their latched positions and the first latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be pivoted open about the second pivot axis. |
| Claim: |
2. The communications cable management system of claim 1 wherein: the first and second mount structures each define a pin slot; the first and second latch structures each include a pin; the first actuator is operable to slide the pins of the first latch structures out of the respective pin slots of the first mount structures along a first slide axis that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis; and the second actuator is operable to slide the pins of the second latch structures out of the respective pin slots of the second mount structures along a second slide axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis. |
| Claim: |
3. The communications cable management system of claim 2 wherein the first and second slide axes extend substantially vertically. |
| Claim: |
4. The communications cable management system of claim 1 including an automatic retention mechanism adapted to automatically hold the first latch structures in their unlatched positions when the first actuator is operated to move the first latch structures from their latched positions to their unlatched positions and the door body is opened about the second pivot axis or removed from the support structure. |
| Claim: |
5. The communications cable management system of claim 4 including an automatic release mechanism adapted to automatically return the first latch structures to their latched positions when the door assembly is returned to a closed position while the first latch structures are being held in their unlatched positions by the automatic retention mechanism. |
| Claim: |
6. The communications cable management system of claim 1 wherein the door body includes a handle recess, and the first actuator includes a handle that is at least partially received in the handle recess. |
| Claim: |
7. The communications cable management system of claim 1 wherein the first actuator includes a first handle, the second actuator includes a second handle, and the first and second actuators are operable by rotating the first and second handles in opposite directions to move the first and second latch structures from their latched positions to their unlatched positions. |
| Claim: |
8. The communications cable management system of claim 1 including at least one subframe member mounted on the door body, wherein the first and second latch mechanisms and the first and second actuators are coupled to the door body by the at least one subframe. |
| Claim: |
9. The communications cable management system of claim 8 including first and second separate subframe members mounted on the door body, wherein the first latch mechanism and the first actuator are coupled to the door body by the first subframe, and the second latch mechanism and the second actuator are coupled to the door body by the second subframe. |
| Claim: |
10. The communications cable management system of claim 1 wherein the first actuator includes a rotatable handle and a cam configured to convert rotational movement of the handle to translational movement of the first latch structures to move the first latch structures from their latched positions to their unlatched positions. |
| Claim: |
11. The communications cable management system of claim 10 wherein the first actuator further includes a stop structure to limit rotation of the handle. |
| Claim: |
12. The communications cable management system of claim 1 wherein the door assembly includes locator features to guide the door assembly into a prescribed mating position with the first and second mount structures wherein the first and second latch structures are positioned adjacent the respective ones of the first and second mount structures. |
| Claim: |
13. The communications cable management system of claim 1 wherein the support structure includes a communications back panel assembly. |
| Claim: |
14. The communications cable management system of claim 13 wherein the support structure includes a terminal block panel assembly defining a trough adapted to receive communications cables and including mounting structures configured to support communications connecting blocks. |
| Claim: |
15. The communications cable management system of claim 13 wherein the support structure includes a spacer bracket assembly configured to be mounted between a pair of terminal block panel assemblies. |
| Claim: |
16. The communications cable management system of claim 1 wherein the support structure includes a pair of spaced apart communications racks. |
| Claim: |
17. A door assembly for a communications cable management system including a support structure defining a cable and including at least two first mount structures and at least two second mount structures spaced apart from the at least two first mount structures, the door assembly comprising: a door body having first and second opposed side edges; a first latch mechanism including at least two first latch structures each selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the first latch structure engages a respective one of the first mount structures to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a first pivot axis proximate the first side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the first latch structure is disengaged from the first mount structure to permit the first side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure; a second latch mechanism including at least two second latch structures each selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the second latch structure engages a respective one of the second mount structures to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a second pivot axis proximate the second side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the second latch structure is disengaged from the second mount structure to permit the second side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure; a first actuator operable by a user to selectively move each of the first latch structures as a group from their latched positions to their unlatched positions; and a second actuator operable by a user to selectively move each of the second latch structures as a group from their latched positions to their unlatched positions; wherein: when the first and second latch structures are in their latched positions, the door body is secured in a closed position on the support structure; when the first and second latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be removed from the support structure; when the first latch structures are in their latched positions and the second latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be pivoted open about the first pivot axis; and when the second latch structures are in their latched positions and the first latch structures are in their unlatched positions, the door body can be pivoted open about the second pivot axis. |
| Claim: |
18. A communications cable management system comprising: a support structure defining a cable trough and including a first mount structure and a second mount structure spaced apart from the first mount structure, the first and second mount structures defining first and second pin slots, respectively; and a door assembly including: a door body having first and second opposed side edges; a first latch pin selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the first latch pin engages the first pin slot to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a first pivot axis proximate the first side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the first latch pin is disengaged from the first pin slot to permit the first side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure; a second latch pin selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the second latch pin engages the second pin slot to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a second pivot axis proximate the second side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the second latch pin is disengaged from the second pin slot to permit the second side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure; and at least one actuator operable to: selectively slide the first latch pin from its latched position to its unlatched position along a first slide axis that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis; and selectively slide the second latch pin from its latched position to its unlatched position along a second slide axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis. |
| Claim: |
19. The communications cable management system of claim 18 wherein the first and second slide axes extend substantially vertically. |
| Claim: |
20. A communications cable management system comprising: a support structure defining a cable trough and including a first mount structure and a second mount structure spaced apart from the first mount structure; and a door assembly including: a door body having first and second opposed side edges; a first latch mechanism including a first latch structure selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the first latch structure engages the first mount structure to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a first pivot axis proximate the first side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the first latch structure is disengaged from the first mount structure to permit the first side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure; a second latch mechanism including a second latch structure selectively positionable between a latched position, wherein the second latch structures engages the second mount structure to secure the door body to the support structure for pivotal movement therebetween about a second pivot axis proximate the second side edge of the door body, and an unlatched position, wherein the second latch structure is disengaged from the second mount structure to permit the second side edge of the door to be separated from the support structure; at least one actuator operable by a user to selectively move the first and second latch structures from their latched positions to their unlatched positions; and an automatic retention mechanism adapted to automatically hold the first latch structure in its unlatched position when the at least one actuator is operated to move the first latch structure from its latched position to its unlatched position and the first side edge of the door body is separated from the support structure. |
| Claim: |
21. The communications cable management system of claim 20 including a second automatic retention mechanism adapted to automatically hold the second latch structure in its unlatched position when the at least one actuator is operated to move the second latch structure from its latched position to its unlatched position and the second side edge the door body is separated from the support structure. |
| Claim: |
22. The communications cable management system of claim 20 including an automatic release mechanism adapted to automatically return the first latch structure to its latched position when the door assembly is returned to a closed position while the first latch structure is being held in its unlatched position by the automatic retention mechanism. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
174135/000 |
| Current International Class: |
01 |
| Accession Number: |
edspap.20070175654 |
| Database: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
