JP4214920B2 - Patch panel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a patch panel used in an information wiring system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information wiring systems using twisted pair cables have been widely used in offices and factories to transmit various information such as audio signals, digital signals such as LAN, and image signals. In such an information wiring system, a relay terminal board for supporting network wiring work called a patch panel is used in case the information wiring needs to be changed for reasons such as office layout change. .

  As such a patch panel, as shown in FIG. 8, a modular jack 110 to which a modular plug (not shown) is detachably connected, and a panel 130 that holds a plurality of (for example, six) modular jacks 110 in a line. And a plurality of (for example, four) panels 130 are attached in a line and are configured with a frame 150 attached to a fixed part such as an information rack (see Patent Document 1).

  The panel 130 to which the plurality of modular jacks 110 are attached is composed of a synthetic resin molded product having insulation properties. The front surface of the panel 130 has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and six openings 131 that expose the front surfaces of the respective modular jacks 110 are provided in a row. Support pieces (not shown) for supporting the left and right side surfaces of each modular jack 110 are formed on the back surface of the panel 130. Each support piece is formed with a protrusion that engages with the engagement groove 119 of the modular jack 110 and a step that abuts against the front edge of the protrusion 118.

  Also, on the back surface of the panel 130, contact pieces 134 and 135 that contact the upper and lower surfaces of each modular jack 110 are provided. Further, a pair of locking pieces 140 projecting from the upper end of the back surface of the panel 130 to the back side are formed integrally with the panel 130. A pair of fitting claws 141 are provided on both sides of the front end of each locking piece 140 so as to be concavo-convexly fitted with the opening edge 155 of the window hole 152 formed in the frame 150. A tapered surface 142 is formed at the tip. One contact piece 135 has a protrusion 135a protruding downward.

  A frame 150 attached to a fixed part such as an information rack has a substantially rectangular front surface, and the frame 150 is screwed to a fixed part such as an information rack at both ends of the front surface of the frame 150 in the longitudinal direction. A pair of long holes 151 are formed as fixing means for inserting a mounting screw therefor. The front surface of the frame 150 is formed with four substantially rectangular window holes 152 sized so that at least the modular jack 110 can be inserted, and each window hole 152 is blocked by the panel 130. It is.

  A lever release preventing piece 153 that protrudes from the lower opening edge of each window hole 152 protrudes toward the back side. A through hole 153 a is formed in a portion of the lever release preventing piece 153 corresponding to the protrusion 135 a provided on the panel 130. On the other hand, a recessed portion 154 is provided at the opening edge portion on the upper side of each window hole 152 corresponding to the portion between the fitting claws 141 in the locking piece 140 provided on the panel 130, and the opening edges on both sides of the recessed portion 154 are provided. A tapered surface 156 is formed on the front side of 155.

  Further, a substantially U-shaped cable fixing piece 157 protruding from the lower edge of the frame 150 to the back side is formed integrally with the frame 150. The cable fixing piece 157 includes a central piece 157a and connecting pieces 157b that connect both ends of the central piece 157a to the frame 150, respectively. A cable connected to the modular jack 110 is connected to the central piece 157a and the connecting piece 157b. A plurality of insertion holes (not shown) through which a binding band for binding is inserted are formed. Thus, the cable connected to the modular jack 110 can be fixed to the frame 150 by the binding band inserted through the insertion hole.

  Here, a procedure for attaching the panel 130 to which the modular jack 110 is attached to the frame 150 will be briefly described. First, the panel 130 is inclined and inserted into the window hole 152 of the frame 150 from the front side, and the protrusion 135a protruding from the contact piece 135 of the panel 130 is inserted into the through hole 153a of the frame 150. The opening edge of the through-hole 153a is sandwiched between the grooves 135b between the holes 135a. Thereafter, when the upper part of the panel 130 is inserted into the window hole 152 of the frame 150 with the opening edge of the through hole 153a as an axis, the fitting claw 141 projecting from the locking piece 140 of the panel 130 and the opening edge 155 of the frame 150 , The locking piece 140 is pushed and bent downward, the fitting claw 141 gets over the opening edge 155 and locks with the back side of the opening edge 155, and is attached to the window hole 152 of the frame 150.

On the other hand, when removing the panel 130 from the frame 150, the tip of a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver is inserted between the tool insertion groove 143 formed on the front surface of the panel 130 and the recess 154 provided in the frame 150. By applying a downward force to 140, the fitting state between the fitting claw 141 and the opening edge 155 is released, and the panel 130 can be detached from the frame 150. As described above, the concave portion 154 is formed on the front surface of the frame 150 and the tool insertion groove 143 is formed on the front surface of the panel 130. Therefore, the tool is inserted from the front surface side and the fitting claw 141 and the opening edge 155 are connected. The fitting state can be released, and the panel 130 to which the modular jack 110 is attached can be removed from the front side of the frame 150.
Japanese Patent No. 3482907

  However, in the above-described conventional example, it is necessary to use a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver when removing the panel 130 from the frame 150, so that it is difficult to remove the panel 130.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a patch panel having improved workability when removing the panel from the frame.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a modular jack to which a modular plug is detachably connected, a panel holding a plurality of modular jacks, and a fixing means for fixing to a fixed site. And a frame to which one or more panels are detachably attached, and one or more window holes into which the panel is fitted are opened on the front surface of the frame, and provided in one of the panel and the frame in a state of being fitted into the window hole. provided with an engaging portion engaged with the engaged portion that is the other of the panel and the frame, the engaging surface of the other in at least one of the engaging portion and the engaged portion, the engaging portion and the A guide portion that guides the engaging portion in a direction in which the engagement is released is provided.

  According to this invention, if the panel is fitted in the window hole and the engagement portion is engaged with the engaged portion, the panel is attached to the frame and moved in the direction in which the panel is pulled out from the window hole. Since the engaging portion and the engaged portion are guided in the direction in which the engagement is released by the guide portion, the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released, and the panel can be removed from the frame. Compared with the conventional example which needed to be improved, the workability when removing the panel from the frame can be improved.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 , an operation knob is provided on the front surface of the panel to be operated when the panel is moved in a direction to be pulled out from the window hole.

  According to the present invention, if the operation knob provided on the front face of the panel is pulled, the panel can be easily moved, and the workability when removing the panel can be further improved.

According to the present invention, if the panel is fitted in the window hole and the engagement portion is engaged with the engaged portion, the panel is attached to the frame and moved in the direction in which the panel is pulled out from the window hole. Since the engaging portion and the engaged portion are guided in the direction in which the engagement is released by the guide portion, the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released, and the panel can be removed from the frame. Compared to the conventional example which required the above, there is an effect that workability when removing the panel from the frame can be improved.

Before describing an embodiment of the present invention, a reference example having the same basic configuration as the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the patch panel of this reference example includes a modular jack 1 to which a modular plug (not shown) is detachably connected and a plurality (six in this reference example ) of modular jacks 1. A panel 10 to be held and a frame 20 to which a plurality of (four in this reference example ) panels 10 are detachably attached and fixed to a fixed part such as an information rack are configured.

  The modular jack 1 has a conventionally well-known configuration, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a plug insertion port 3 into which a modular plug is inserted on the front surface of a housing 2 made of a synthetic resin molded product having insulation properties. A plurality of contacts 4 that open and elastically contact the modular plug contacts are disposed in the plug insertion opening 3. In addition, a cable introduction port 5 for introducing a cable (for example, a twisted pair cable) is opened on the rear surface of the housing 2, and each line of the cable introduced from the cable introduction port 5 is electrically connected to each contact 4. Connected to terminal 6. Further, a pair of protrusions 7 projecting sideways are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the housing 2 (see FIG. 4), and a locking recess 8 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 2 in FIG.

  A panel 10 to which a plurality of modular jacks 1 are attached is formed in a flat rectangular plate shape by an insulating synthetic resin material, and the front end portion of the modular jack 1 (housing 2) is fitted to move the plug insertion port 3 forward. Six exposed openings 11 are provided in a zigzag manner when viewed from the front. Further, on the back surface of the panel 10, a pair of sandwiching pieces 12, 13 projecting rearward from the modular jack 1 fitted in each opening 11, abutting and sandwiching from the top and bottom. Of the two holding pieces 12, the upper holding piece 12 that is in contact with the upper surface of the housing 2 in FIG. 5 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and a latch piece 14 that is swingable in the vertical direction is formed at the tip. ing. A projection 14a that protrudes downward and engages with the locking recess 8 of the housing 2 is formed at the tip of the latch piece 14, and the latch piece 14 swings by pushing the rear end of the latch piece 14 downward. The projection 14a moves upward to release the engagement with the locking recess 8. A pair of projecting pieces 15 projecting rearward are formed from the left and right sides of the opening 11 on the back surface of the panel 10 (see FIG. 4).

  Thus, to attach the modular jack 1 to the panel 10, the front end portion of the modular jack 1 may be inserted into the opening 11 from the back surface of the panel 10. When the modular jack 1 is inserted into the opening 11, the protrusion 14 a comes into contact with the upper surface of the housing 2, so that the latch piece 14 swings. When the protrusion 14 a is fitted into the locking recess 8, the latch piece 14 is moved. Return to the original state. At this time, the modular jack 1 is prevented from coming off in the anti-insertion direction by the protrusion 14a engaging with the locking recess 8. Further, among the pair of protrusions 7 formed on both side surfaces of the housing 2, the upper protrusion 7 abuts on the back surface of the panel 10 and the lower protrusion 7 abuts on the projecting piece 15 of the panel 10. 1 is regulated, and the modular jack 1 is attached to the opening 11 of the panel 10 in a state where the front surface of the modular jack 1 and the front surface of the panel 10 are flush with each other. The modular jack 1 can be removed from the panel 10 by pulling the housing 2 rearward while pushing the rear end of the latch piece 14 downward to release the engagement between the projection 14a and the locking recess 8. Can do.

  The frame 20 is made of metal, and four window holes 21 into which the panel 10 is fitted are opened on the front surface formed in a narrow rectangular shape, and an information rack or the like is covered at both longitudinal ends of the front surface. A pair of long hole-shaped screw insertion holes 22 through which screws for fixing to the fixing portion are inserted are vertically arranged. The window hole 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with the upper right corner cut out when viewed from the front, and the panel 10 is inserted through the rear end of the modular jack 1 projecting rearward or the holding pieces 12 and 13. It is inserted and closed. A positioning hole 23 is perforated in the vicinity of the cut-out corner of the window hole 21 on the front surface of the frame 20, and positioning ribs 16 (see FIG. 4) protruding rearward from one end portion on the back surface of the panel 10 are positioned. By passing through the hole 23, the mounting direction and mounting position of the panel 10 are regulated.

  In addition, a pair of engaged portions 24 formed by bending a metal plate constituting the frame 20 upward is provided in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the window hole 21 at the lower opening edge of each window hole 21 on the front surface of the frame 20. It has been. Since the front surface of the frame 20 is a flat surface, an upward bent portion 25 is also formed at the lower opening edge of the center of the window hole 21 sandwiched between the pair of engaged portions 24.

  Further, a flat connecting piece 26 protrudes rearward from the lower edge of the frame 20, and a hook-shaped cable fixing piece 27 protrudes rearward from the tip of the connecting piece 26. The connecting piece 26 and the cable fixing piece 27 are It is formed integrally with the frame 20. The cable fixing piece 27 has a plurality of insertion holes 28 through which a binding band for binding cables connected to the modular jack 1 is inserted. Therefore, the cable connected to the modular jack 1 can be fixed to the frame 20 by the binding band inserted through the insertion hole 28. Since the plurality of insertion holes 28 are formed side by side in both the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the frame 20, the cable can be drawn out in either the longitudinal direction or the short direction of the frame 20.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, narrow slits 29 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the frame 20 at both ends in the longitudinal direction at the connecting portion between the connecting piece 26 and the cable fixing piece 27. That is, the weight of the cable fixed to the cable fixing piece 27 is easily applied to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the frame 20 fixed to the fixed part, and is easily deformed. On the other hand, the stress applied to the frame 20 can be dispersed, and the deformation at both ends in the longitudinal direction fixed to the fixed portion can be reduced. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 30 denotes a protective sheet made of synthetic resin, which is affixed to the projecting pieces 26a protruding upward from both longitudinal ends of the connecting piece 26, and is located at both longitudinal ends of the frame 20. The side surface is covered and protected (see FIG. 2D).

Next, a description structure for attaching panels 10 and the frame 20.

  As shown in FIG. 6, three locking pieces (not shown) projecting rearward are provided at the upper end of the rear surface of the panel 10 so as to protrude at substantially equal intervals. An engaging claw 17 that projects into the opening edge 21a of the upper portion of the window hole 21 is provided.

  Further, at the lower end of the panel 10 in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction, a substantially U-shaped release piece 18 supported at the one end in a swingable manner and provided with an operation portion 18a at the other end protrudes backward. Thus, it is formed integrally with the panel 10. In the pair of release pieces 18, a pair between the one end supported by the panel 10 and the other end provided with the operation portion 18 a is provided with a pair of openings provided on the lower opening edge of the window hole 21 on the front surface of the frame 20. A pair of engaging portions 18b that respectively engage with the engaged portions 24 are integrally formed (see FIG. 4). In addition, a pair of concave grooves 19 in which the operation portion 18a of the release piece 18 is accommodated are formed at the lower end portion of the panel 10, and the operation portion 18a can be pushed upward in the concave groove 19 (see FIG. 3).

  Next, a procedure for attaching the panel 10 to the frame 20 will be described. First, the panel 10 is tilted and inserted into the window hole 21 of the frame 20 from the front side, and the engaging claw 17 of the locking piece protruding from the upper end of the back of the panel 10 is placed on the opening edge 21 a at the upper part of the window hole 21. Then, when the lower portion of the panel 10 is inserted into the window hole 21 of the frame 20 with the engaging claw 17 as a starting point, the pair of engaging portions 18b provided on the release piece 18 become the engaged portions 24 of the frame 20. The release piece 18 is pushed and deflected by contact, and the engaging portion 18 b gets over the engaged portion 24 and engages with the engaged portion 24, and the panel 10 is attached to the window hole 21 of the frame 20. Here, since the rear end surface of the engaging portion 18b that contacts the engaged portion 24 is an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the front, the lower portion of the panel 10 is simply engaged with the window hole 21 to be engaged. The release piece 18 is smoothly pushed and bent by the inclined surface of the portion 18b, and the panel 10 can be attached to the frame 20 with one touch without using a separate tool (see FIG. 6).

On the other hand, the operating portion 18a disposed in the concave groove 19 is pushed upward to bend and release the release piece 18, whereby the engaging portion 18b is displaced upward to engage the engaged portion 24. If released, the panel 10 can be pulled out forward of the window hole 21 and removed from the frame 20. That is, in the conventional example, a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver is required to remove the panel 130 from the frame 150. However, in this reference example , the panel 10 can be easily removed simply by pressing the operation portion 18a with a hand. The workability at the time of removing the panel 10 from the frame 20 can be improved. Further, in this reference example , since the release piece 18 is formed in a substantially U shape and its bending is utilized, there is an advantage that the durability of the release piece 18 can be improved. Further, since the engaged portion 24 is formed by bending a portion of the metal frame 20 that faces the window hole 21, there is a range in which the engaged portion 24 engages with the engaging portion 18 b (starting margin). There is also an advantage that the engagement strength between the engaging portion 18b and the engaged portion 24 can be improved. In this reference example , the engaging portion is provided on the panel 10 and the engaged portion is provided on the frame 20. However, the engaging portion may be provided on the frame 20 and the engaged portion may be provided on the panel 10. . Further, a release means for releasing the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion may be provided on the frame 20 instead of the panel 10.

(Embodiment )
In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 18b ′ and the guide portion 18c ′ for guiding the engaged portion 24 in the direction in which the engagement is released are provided on the engaging surface of the engaging portion 18b ′ with the engaged portion 24. There is a feature in the provided point. Accordingly, since the structure of the frame 20 and the basic structure of the panel 10 are common to those of the reference example , common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the release piece 18 ′ in the present embodiment is formed in a flat shape that protrudes rearward from the lower end portion of the back surface of the panel 10, and an engaging portion 18 b ′ protrudes downward at the tip portion. ing. The engaging portion 18b ′ is not only an inclined surface whose rear end surface is inclined downward toward the front, but is also forward upward on the front end surface which is an engaging surface with the engaged portion 24. A guide portion 18c ′ made of an inclined surface inclined toward the center is provided and formed in a mountain shape as a whole. Further, a flat operation piece 31 is projected forward on the lower front portion of the panel 10, and the operation piece 31 can be easily moved in a direction to pull out the panel 10 from the window hole 21 by holding the operation piece 31 by hand and pulling it forward. It can be made to.

  Next, a procedure for attaching the panel 10 to the frame 20 will be described. First, the panel 10 is inclined and inserted into the window hole 21 of the frame 20 from the front side, and the engaging claw 17 of the locking piece projecting from the upper end of the rear surface of the panel 10 is engaged with the opening edge 21 a of the window hole 21. Then, when the lower portion of the panel 10 is inserted into the window hole 21 of the frame 20 with the engaging claw 17 as a starting point, the pair of engaging portions 18b ′ provided on the release piece 18 ′ are inclined at the rear end side on the frame 20 The release piece 18 'is pressed and bent by abutting against the engaged portion 24, and the engaging portion 18b' gets over the engaged portion 24 and engages with the engaged portion 24 at the guide portion 18c '. 10 is attached to the window hole 21 of the frame 20.

  On the other hand, if the operation piece 31 protruding from the front surface of the panel 10 is held by hand and pulled forward, the engaging portion 18b ′ and the engaged portion are engaged by the guide portion 18c ′ provided on the front end surface of the engaging portion 18b ′. The release piece 18 'is pushed and deflected by guiding the part 24 in the direction to release the engagement, and the engagement part 18b' gets over the engaged part 24 and the engagement with the engaged part 24 is released. The panel 10 can be pulled out forward of the window hole 21 and removed from the frame 20. That is, also in this embodiment, the panel 10 can be easily removed simply by pulling the operation piece 31 by hand, and workability when removing the panel 10 from the frame 20 can be improved. In this embodiment, the guide portion is provided in the engaging portion 18b ′. However, the same effect can be obtained by providing guide portions in the engaged portion 24 or both the engaging portion 18b ′ and the engaged portion 24. It is clear to play.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the reference example of this invention. 2A is a front view, FIG. 2B is a top view, FIG. 3C is a bottom view, and FIG. It is a front view of the panel of the state which attached the modular jack in the same as the above. It is the perspective view which looked at the panel of the state which attached the modular jack in the same as the above from the back. It is sectional drawing of the panel of the state which attached the modular jack in the same as the above. It is sectional drawing same as the above. Is a sectional view showing an embodiment form status of the present invention. A prior art example is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a sectional view.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Modular jack 10 Panel 18 Release | release piece 18a Operation part 18b Engagement part 20 Frame 21 Window hole 24 Locked part

Claims (2)

A modular jack to which a modular plug is detachably connected, a panel for holding a plurality of modular jacks, and a frame having fixing means for fixing to a fixed part and one or more panels being detachably attached. The panel includes an engaging portion that opens to the front surface of the frame and that engages with an engaged portion provided on one of the panel and the frame while being fitted in the window hole. And a guide that is provided on the other side of the frame and guides the engaging portion and the engaged portion to the engagement surface with the other of at least one of the engaging portion and the engaged portion in a direction in which the engagement is released. A patch panel characterized by providing a section . 2. The patch panel according to claim 1, wherein an operation knob that is operated when the panel is moved in a direction to be pulled out from the window hole is provided on the front surface of the panel .

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