US5011257A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fiber patch panel
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
•
Filing: 1989-06-27
•
Granted: 1991-04-30
•
Expires: 2009-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A patching panel (4) for housing multiple connections in an optical communication system. The panel is corrugated to define alternately disposed angled faces and apertures are provided on alternate faces (6) on each side of a central line parallel to the corrugations so that the ends of terminal connectors mounted in the patch panel are angled away from the center of the panel in a direction towards the nearest side of the panel. Preferably the angle progressively decreases towards the side. A flange extends from a frame supporting the patch panel on each side to prevent direct line of sight into a supported connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F. Wettengel
- 👤 Kevin M. Bishop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/444; G02B6/4453; G02B6/4454; G02B6/4452; G02B6/44524; G02B6/44528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and in which to each side of a central line on the patching panel parallel to the corrugations alternate faces are provided with apertures for receiving line connectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and in which to each side of a central line on the patching panel parallel to the corrugations alternate faces are provided with apertures for receiving line connectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and in which the patching panel is disposed so that the ends of terminal connectors mounted in the panel are angled away from the centre of the panel in a direction towards the nearest side of the panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and in which the patching panel is disposed so that the ends of terminal connectors mounted in the panel are angled away from the centre of the panel in a direction towards the nearest side of the panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and in which the individual corrugations are asymmetric.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and in which the individual corrugations are asymmetric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and in which the corrugations are of progressively shallower angle from the centre towards the sides of the patch panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and in which the corrugations are of progressively shallower angle from the centre towards the sides of the patch panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and further comprising a frame for the patch panel, the frame being provided with means for inhibiting direct line of sight into the connector terminals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces, and further comprising a frame for the patch panel, the frame being provided with means for inhibiting direct line of sight into the connector terminals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A patch panel for effecting removable multiple optical signal line connections in an optical communication system comprising: a panel for supporting multiple optical signal line connectors disposed within an operator access frame aperture having side walls; said panel including faces for installation of said line connectors; and said faces being oriented in at least two different directions relative to said panel to cause optical signals exiting from any open connector to be intercepted by different portions of the panel structure and thus not projected into the eyes of a patch panel operator during normal patch panel use.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A patch panel for effecting removable multiple optical signal line connections in an optical communication system comprising: a panel for supporting multiple optical signal line connectors disposed within an operator access frame aperture having side walls; said panel including faces for installation of said line connectors; and said faces being oriented in at least two different directions relative to said panel to cause optical signals exiting from any open connector to be intercepted by different portions of the panel structure and thus not projected into the eyes of a patch panel operator during normal patch panel use.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A patch panel as in claim 6 wherein said faces are disposed to cause optical signals exiting from an open connector to be intercepted by said side walls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A patch panel as in claim 6 wherein said faces are disposed on one portion of the panel to angle toward one of said side walls and on another portion of the panel to angle toward another of said side walls.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A patch panel as in claim 6 wherein at least some of said faces are disposed at different angles than others.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A patch panel as in claim 6 wherein, to each side of a central line on the panel said faces are disposed on alternate sides of corrugations and include apertures for receiving said line connectors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A patch panel as in claim 6 in which said faces are angled away from the center of the panel in a direction toward the nearest side of the panel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A patch panel as in claim 6 wherein said faces are included in asymmetric corrugations formed in the panel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A patch panel as in claim 12 wherein the corrugations are of progressively shallower angle from the centre toward the sides of the patch panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4673246A
Cited
FR2570196A1
Cited
GB2166262A
Cited
US4792203A
Cited
US4728171A
Cited
US4818054A
Cited
US4748540A
Cited
EP0293183A2
Cited
US4824196A
Cited
US4962989A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-29 | 1994-10-29 | 1995-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-29 | 1998-10-29 | 1999-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-29 | 2002-10-29 | 2003-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |