High-density cable distribution frame

Abstract

A fiber distribution frame includes a fixture having a plurality of modules mounted side-by-side within said fixture with each of the modules being individually mounted in a line of travel. Each of the modules can be locked in any one of a plurality of discrete positions within the line of travel. Each of the modules contains a plurality of adapters for receiving and retaining fiber optic connectors. Further, the fixture may be tilted downwardly to provide access to the rear of the fixture.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       a fixture;  
       a plurality of modules mounted on said fixture with each of said modules movably mounted on said fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of said modules including a plurality of adaptor means for holding a fiber optic connector, each one of said adaptor means movable with said one of said modules along said line of travel;  
       releasable lock means for releasably locking each of said modules in any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said line of travel;  
       means for connecting a first signal transmission cable at a rear side of said module with a second signal transmission cable connected at a front side of said module.  
     
     
       2. A system according to  claim 1  wherein said modules each have a longitudinal axis; said modules mounted on said fixture in side-by-side relation with said longitudinal axes generally parallel to said line of travel, said plurality of adaptor means linearly disposed along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       3. A system according to  claim 1  wherein said fixture includes a plurality of spaced-apart walls, opposing pairs of said walls, defining a plurality of channels, each of said modules being disposed within a respective channel, cooperating guide means for each of said modules and said walls for attaching said modules to said walls and accommodating movement of each of said modules along said line of travel. 
     
     
       4. A system according to  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of fixed positions includes a first, second and third position, each linearly separated along said line of travel. 
     
     
       5. A system according to  claim 1  comprising a frame having mounting means for mounting said fixture in said frame: 
       said mounting means including a pivot attachment for said fixture to pivot relative to said frame about said pivot axis.  
     
     
       6. A system according to  claim 5  wherein said pivot axis is generally perpendicular to said line of travel. 
     
     
       7. A system according to  claim 5  wherein said mounting means further includes a frame lock for releasably locking said fixture in any one of a plurality of a pivoted positions about said pivot axis. 
     
     
       8. A system according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of mating elements secured to each of said modules, said mating elements each including means for connection of said front side, respectively, with said first and second cables optically coupled. 
     
     
       9. A system according to  claim 8  wherein said mating elements are mounted in a linear array defining a longitudinal axis for each of said modules, said modules mounted on said fixture in side-by-side relation with said longitudinal axes generally parallel to said line of travel. 
     
     
       10. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       a fixture;  
       a plurality of modules mounted on said fixture with each of said modules movably mounted on said fixture for movement along a line of travel;  
       releasably lock means for releasably locking each of said modules in any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said line of travel, each of said plurality of fixed positions including a first, second and third position, each linearly separated along said line of travel;  
       means for connecting a first signal transmission cable at a rear side of said module with a second signal transmission cable connected at a front side of said module;  
       a forward wall disposed, spaced from and opposing said front sides of said modules said modules shielded by said forward wall when said one of said modules is in said first position and with a first upper portion of said one of said modules exposed above an upper edge of said forward wall when said one is in said second position and with a second portion of said one exposed below a lower edge of said forward wall when said one is in said third position.  
     
     
       11. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       a fixture;  
       a plurality of modules mounted on said fixture with each of said modules movably mounted on said fixture for movement along a line of travel;  
       releasable lock means for releasably locking each of said modules in any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said line of travel;  
       means for connecting a first signal transmission cable at a rear side of said module with a second signal transmission cable connected at a front side of said module;  
       said fixture including a plurality of spaced-apart walls, opposing pairs of said walls, defining a plurality of channels, each of said modules being disposed within a respective channel, cooperating guide means for each of said modules and said walls for attaching said modules to said walls and accommodating movement of each of said modules along said line of travel;  
       said lock means including a locking member on each of said modules, said locking member moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; said walls and said locking member including cooperating elements for restraining said modules for movement along said line of travel at each of said plurality of fixed positions when said locking member is in said locked position and accommodating movement of said module along said line of travel when said locked member is in said unlocked position.  
     
     
       12. A system according to  claim 11  wherein said cooperating elements includes a detent formed in said walls and corresponding with said plurality of fixed positions, said locked member including an edge sized to be received within said detent when said lock member is in said locked position and said edge removed form said detent when said lock member is in said unlocked position. 
     
     
       13. A system according to  claim 12  wherein said lock member is biased toward said locked position. 
     
     
       14. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       a fixture;  
       a plurality of modules mounted on said fixture with each of said modules movably mounted on said fixture for movement along a line of travel;  
       releasable lock means for releasbly locking each of said modules in any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said line of travel;  
       means for connecting a first signal transmission cable at a rear side of said module with a second signal transmission cable connected at a front side of said module;  
       said fixture including a plurality of spaced-apart walls, opposing pairs of said walls, defining a plurality of channels, each of said modules being disposed within a respective channel, cooperating guide means for each of said modules and said walls for attaching said modules to said walls and accommodating movement of each of said modules along said line of travel;  
       said cooperating guide means including a rail on each of said modules and a mating groove on at least one of said walls opposing each of said channels with said rails slidable received within said groove and with said rails sliding within said groove along said line of travel.  
     
     
       15. In a signal transmission cable management system having a fixture including a plurality of spaced apart walls defining a plurality of parallel spaced apart cavities, said walls including first and second parallel and opposing recesses; an optic module for mounting in said cavities, said module comprising: 
       a body sized to be slidably received within said cavity for movement along a line of travel, said body having first and second parallel rails, said rails sized to be slidably received within said recesses;  
       said body including a plurality of adaptor means for connecting a plurality of fiber optic cables to said body, said plurality of adaptor means linearly aligned along said line of travel;  
       said body including latch means for securing said body to said fixture in any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said line of travel.  
     
     
       16. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       
         a fixture; and  
       
       
         a plurality of modules mounted on said fixture with each of said modules movably mounted on said fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of said modules including a plurality of adaptor means for holding a fiber optic connector, each adaptor means having opposite ends for coupling to a fiber optic cable connector, each one of said adaptor means movable with said one of said modules along said line of travel, said plurality of adaptor means linearly disposed along said line of travel for each of said modules. 
       
     
     
       17. A system according to  claim 16  wherein each of said plurality of adaptor means couples first and second SC fiber optic cable connectors. 
     
     
       18. A system according to  claim 16  wherein said modules each have a longitudinal axis, said modules mounted on said fixture in side- by - side relation with said longitudinal axes generally parallel to said line of travel, said plurality of adaptor means linearly disposed along said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       19. A system according to  claim 16  wherein said fixture defines a plurality of channels, each of said modules being disposed within a respective channel, and further comprising cooperating guides on each of said modules and within said channels accommodating movement of each of said modules along said line of travel. 
     
     
       20. A system according to  claim 19  further including a plurality of spaced- apart walls, opposing pairs of said walls defining said plurality of channels, each of said modules being disposed within a respective channel, and wherein said cooperating guides are on each of said walls for attaching said modules to said walls.   
     
     
       21. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       
         a fixture;  
       
       
         a plurality of modules mounted on said fixture with each of said modules movably mounted on said fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of said modules including a plurality of adaptor means for holding a fiber optic connector, each adaptor means mountable to a fiber optic cable connector, each one of said adaptor means movable with said one of said modules along said line of travel; and  
       
       
         a releasable lock for locking each module to said fixture in a first position, each of said locks being releasable to allow movement of each of said modules to a second position along said line of travel. 
       
     
     
       22. A system according to  claim 21  wherein each of said plurality of adaptor means is mountable to an SC fiber optic cable connector. 
     
     
       23. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       
         a fixture; and  
       
         a plurality of modules movably mounted on said fixture with each of said modules individually movable relative to said fixture, each one of said modules including a plurality of adaptor means for holding a fiber optic connector, each adaptor means mountable to a fiber optic cable connector, each one of said adaptor means movable with said one of said modules, wherein said modules each have a longitudinal axis, said modules mounted on said fixture in side - by - side relation with said longitudinal axes generally parallel to one another, said plurality of adaptor means linearly disposed along said longitudinal axis, each of said modules movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of each module.   
     
     
       24. A system according to  claim 23  wherein each of said plurality of adaptor means is mountable to an SC fiber optic cable connector. 
     
     
       25. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       
         a fixture; and  
       
         a plurality of modules mounted on said fixture with each of said modules movably mounted on said fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of said modules including a plurality of adaptor means for holding a fiber optic connector, each adaptor means mountable to a fiber optic cable connector, each one of said adaptor means movable with said one of said modules along said line of travel, wherein said fixture includes a plurality of a spaced - apart walls, opposing pairs of said walls defining a plurality of channels, each of said modules being disposed within a respective channel, and further comprising cooperating guides on each of said modules and said walls for attaching said modules to said walls and accommodating movement of each of said modules along said line of travel.   
     
     
       26. A system according to  claim 25  wherein each of said plurality of adaptor means is mountable to an SC fiber optic cable connector. 
     
     
       27. A signal transmission cable management system comprising: 
       
         a fixture;  
       
       
         a plurality of modules mounted on said fixture with each of said modules movably mounted on said fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of said modules including a plurality of adaptor means for holding a fiber optic connector, each adaptor means for connecting first and second fiber optic cable connectors, each one of said adaptor means movable with said one of said modules along said line of travel, said plurality of adaptor means linearly disposed along said line of travel for each of said modules; and  
       
       
         a hinged locking tab at an end of each module for selectively locking each module to said fixture. 
       
     
     
       28. In a signal transmission cable management system having a fixture including a plurality of spaced apart walls defining a plurality of parallel spaced apart cavities, said walls including first and second parallel and opposing recesses; a module for mounting in said cavities, said module comprising: 
       
         a body sized to be slidably received within said cavity for movement along a line of travel, said body having first and second parallel rails, said rails sized to be slidably received within said recesses; and  
       
       
         said body including a plurality of adaptor means for connecting a plurality of fiber optic cables to said body, said plurality of adaptor means linearly aligned along said line of travel. 
       
     
     
       29. A module according to  claim 28  wherein each of said plurality of adaptor means couples first and second SC fiber optic cable connectors. 
     
     
       30. A module according to  claim 28  comprising a latch for securing said body to said fixture in a first position.