NZ556111A

NZ556111A - Cable management device

Info

Publication number: NZ556111A
Application number: NZ556111A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: David John Sims
Original assignee: Modempak Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-22
Filing date: 2007-06-22
Publication date: 2010-02-26
Also published as: AU2007254638A1; AU2010246577A1; AU2007254638B2

Abstract

A cable finger assembly for use in a modular cable management system. The cable finger assembly comprises a cable finger and a cable flipper. The cable finger comprises a main body with an inner end including an attachment mechanism and an outer end including a cable flipper connector portion. The cable flipper has a first end adapted for connecting the flipper to the cable finger. The connection between the connector portion and the flipper first end is adapted to allow the cable flipper to be rotated relative to the main body, around an axis of rotation, by the application of an external force. The cable finger assembly includes a return mechanism which acts on the cable flipper when it is rotated away from the rest position to return the cable flipper to the rest position when the external force ceases to act on the flipper. A modular cable management system is also disclosed.

Description

556111 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION CABLE MANAGEMENT DEVICE We, MODEMPAK LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 417A Church Street, Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare this invention to be described in the following statement: RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111_ 2 Field of Invention This invention relates to a cable management system.

Description of the Prior Art In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other 5 external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Modern communications and IT systems generally require many interconnections to be made between physically separated devices. For example, in companies that rely heavily on IT for their business to function, a server computer (server) will be used as a hub for the IT network. Usually, servers are housed in a dedicated location such as a server room. Depending on the size and complexity of the overall network, it is common for the server system to be 15 assembled from multiple interconnected components or modules, with additional parts being added or removed as required. The modules are usually interconnected by cabling, and depending on the server structure, room layout, etc, the modules are stacked on a server rack or racks. Interconnection cables usually come in standard lengths — e.g. 1 metre, 2 metres, 5 metres, etc. Because the cables come in standard lengths, there is usually some slack or spare length 20 between the two ends of the cable, once the required connections have been made. Also, interconnections are generally made and un-made as required over extended time periods as the network requirements change — that is, with no detailed overall plan. It can therefore be difficult to keep server rooms or other similar areas tidy and organised, with the cable routing orderly, tidy and organised. Examples of disorderly routing of multiple cables between multiple connection 25 points are shown in Figures la and lb. This disorderly cable routing can make server maintenance difficult, and can add to the difficulty of tracing module interconnections.

This is a known problem in the art, and there are several systems that are intended to go some way towards overcoming this problem. One example of a system that is intended to aid with this problem is ADC KRONE'S Glide Cable Management System, examples of which are 30 shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4. This system works by managing excess lengths of cable through a series of vertical spools called 'slack managers'. Each vertical channel also has a 'rib cage', or set of horizontally aligned members, which act as cable managers. The 'rib cages' are designed to accommodate patch cords at the front of the rack and terminated solid cables at the rear of the rack. This provides greater access for technicians when maintenance is required, and helps to 35 keep cables organised and out of the immediate working area.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 ^ Other examples of cable management systems that are designed to address this problem are disclosed in US 6,614,978, where a number of horizontal ribs or spools are aligned in a vertical row along a frame to receive slack cable.

A cable management ring for use as part of a cable management system is disclosed in US 6,427,952. This ring is formed from two arms intended to form a closed loop in use, with at least one of the arms designed to be rotatably flexed to open the loop so that a user can carry out cable re-routing, or other maintenance work requiring the removal or addition of cable loops from the cable management ring.

Other similar cable management systems are also known in the art, such as those produced by Panduit and also those produced by Chatsworth.

Generally, server systems and similar systems are becoming more modular, with units added and removed as the system is upgraded, or as the focus of the company's IT or business shifts. There is therefore a need for a cable management and tacking system that is modular, and which can be easily assembled or disassembled, and which can be configured as required by a user for different sizes of cables or cable bundles, and for different sizes and types of modular component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable management system which goes some way towards overcoming the problems outlined above, or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a modular cable management system comprising: at least one central frame, adapted to freestand, at least one cable channel, said cable channel including a central cable routing passage adapted for routing multiple patch-type cablcs or similar, said central frame and said cable channel mutually adapted so that said at least one cable channel can be fastened to at least one of the sides of said central frame, said cable routing passage substantially vertically aligned when said at least one cable channel is fastened to said side of said centra] frame, at least one of said central frame and said cable channel including a plurality of attachment points, RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 ^ a plurality of cable finger assemblies, adapted for removable attachment to said attachment points, said cable finger assemblies extending outwards generally horizontally from said frame and channel when attached, each of said cable finger assemblies comprising a cable finger and a cable flipper, said cable finger having a main body with an inner end and an outer end, said inner end including an attachment mechanism adapted to allow said cable finger to be removably attached to said attachment point in use, said outer end including a cable flipper connector portion, said flipper having a first end adapted for connecting said flipper to said cable finger via said cable flipper connector portion, said connection between said connector portion and said flipper first end adapted to allow said cable flipper to be rotated relative to said main body by the application of an external force to said flipper, said flipper having a rest position where the body of said flipper is aligned at an angle to said main body when said flipper is connected to said cable finger, and a return mechanism which acts on said cable flipper when it is rotated away from said rest position, and returns it to said rest position when said external force ceases to act on said flipper.

In a second aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system, comprising: a cable finger, said cable finger having a main body with an inner end and an outer end, said inner end including an attachment mechanism adapted to allow said cable finger to be removably attached to an attachment point on said cable management system in use, said outer end including a cable flipper connector portion, a cable flipper, having a first end adapted for connecting said flipper to said cable finger via said cable flipper connector portion, and an elongate body portion extending from said first end, said first end and said connector portion mutually adapted to connect said flipper to said cable finer in use in such a manner that said flipper can be rotated relative to said main body about an axis of rotation by the application of an external force, said flipper having a rest position where the body of said flipper is aligned at an angle to said main body, and said flipper includes an attachment projection formed from a resilient material and extending generally along said axis of rotation, said attachment projection having a free end, said connector portion further including an attachment aperture, said free end in use engaging with said aperture in such a manner that said free end is held in position, and in use when said flipper is rotated away from said rest position said attachment RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 projection twists, said attachment projection untwisting when said flipper is released to return said flipper to said rest position In a third aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system, comprising: a cable finger, said cable finger having a main body with an inner end and an outer end, said inner end including an attachment mechanism adapted to allow said cable finger to be removably attached to an attachment point on said cable management system in use, said outer end including a cable flipper connector portion, a cable flipper, having a first end adapted for connecting said flipper to said cable finger 10 via said cable flipper connector portion, and an elongate body portion extending from said first end,said connector portion further includes a connector portion aperture and said flipper includes a flipper first end aperture, said cable finger assembly further including a resilient spring member located within said connector portion, said resilient spring member having a first end and a second end, at least part 15 of said spring member first end locating into said connector portion aperture and held in position relative to said connector portion in use, said spring member second end locating into said flipper first end aperture and held in position relative to said flipper in use, said resilient spring member twisting as said flipper is rotated, and untwisting when said external force no longer acts on said flipper so that said flipper is returned to said rest position.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figures la and lb show disorderly cable routing which is a known problem in the prior 30 art, which the present invention is intended to go at least some way towards solving.

Figure 2 shows a side front view of a prior art racking system produced by ADC Krone, showing detail of a pair of floorstanding frames, a ribbed central cable routing unit, and a pair of ribbed side cable routing units.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the prior art racking system of Figure 2.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 ^ Figure 4 shows a side view of the ribbed central cable routing unit of Figures 2 and 3, with detail of the unit shown.

Figure 5 shows the components that make up the cable management system of the present invention, configured in this example with a central frame having a pair of cable troughs 5 connected one on each side, and a number of cable finger assemblies attached to the inner sides of the vertically aligned cable troughs to form a vertical row.

Figure 6 shows a number of central frames and cable troughs alternately connected at each side.

Figures 7a and 7b shows a number of cable finger assemblies aligned adjacent to one 10 another in a vertical row, as they would be in use, each cable finger assembly formed from a flipper portion and a substantially horizontal cable management finger, the flipper portion in use connected at the outer end of the cable management finger, and shown upright or substantially vertical.

Figure 7c shows the flippers of Figure 7b rotated inwards, opening a gap between 15 adjacent cable fingers, which in use allows cable to be removed or added to the space between adjacent fingers.

Figure 8 shows detail of the flipper portion of the cable finger assembly of Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows detail of the outer end of the cable finger assembly, with the cable flipper connected at the outer end of the cable management finger.

Figure 10 shows a cross-section of the outer end of the cable finger assembly, showing the cable flipper in position on the outer end of the cable finger assembly.

Figure 11 shows a top or plan view of the example configuration of Figure 5.

Figure 12 shows an exploded view of alternative construction or configuration of a cable finger and flipper, including a spring member that forms part of a return mechanism to return the 25 flipper to a rest position when it is rotated away from this position by the application of an external force.

Figure 13 shows the alternative construction of Figure 12 from a different angle.

Figure 14 shows a cutaway end view of the alternative construction of Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 shows detail of the spring member and the cable flipper of the alternative 30 construction of Figures 12, 13 and 14.

Figure 16 shows a cutaway view of the end of the alternative construction, assembled.

Figure 17 shows a cutaway end view of the alternative construction of Figures 12 to 16, assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 rj While the invention is susceptible to embodiment in different forms, specific embodiments are shown in the drawings, and described in detail. The present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.

The cable management system of the present invention is formed from two main structural components — a central open rectangular frame 3 and a vertical cable trough 4. Examples of open frame single rack assemblies 1 and 2 formed from these two components are shown in Figures 5 and 6. The rack assemblies 1 and 2 can freestand on the floor of a room — e.g. a server room. If required, they can be connected to the floor of a room by their bases, or to 10 the walls of a room by their sides, for stability.

A number of the modular components can be joined to form a multiple rack such as the rack assembly 2 shown in Figure 6. Multiple rack assemblies are formed by alternately connecting frames 3 and channels 4.

CENTRAL FRAME The central open rectangular frame 3 is formed from steel sheet or similar, bent into an open rectangle, with flat side walls 12, top 13 and base 14. The base 14 can include stabiliser elements 15 to help prevent the frame tipping over in use, so the frame can freestand. Each side of the frame 3 is identical to the other side. However, the frame 3 can be considered to have a 'front' side, and a 'rear' or 'back' side. It is preferred that the side walls of the frame 3 include 20 flanges or lips 70, bent inwards towards the open centre, and aligned perpendicular to the side walls 12 (parallel with the front or rear). There are lips 70 on both sides of the frame 3 (front and rear). Each of the Hps 70 include a row of frame attachment apertures 16 or attachment points 16 exit out of the hp, the frame attachment apertures 17 running the length of the lips 70. The apertures 17 form a substantially vertical front row and a substantially vertical rear row of 25 attachment points on the front and rear of the frame 3, on each side (left and right) of the frame 3. In use, server computer modules or other similar modular units, are stacked in racks attached in the hollow central portion of the frame 3.

SIDE CABLE TROUGH The preferred form of the side cable trough 4 is a U-channel, with a flat base 5, and two 30 trough side walls 6 aligned parallel to one another and perpendicular to the base 5. One of the trough side walls 6 is co-located with one of the frame side walls 12 in use, so that the 'U' of the channel is aligned vertically. The connection between the side wall 6 and the frame wall 12 can be achieved by any suitable mechanism that is known in the art, such as bolting the two together through apertures in the frame side walls 12 and the trough side walls 6, or by using 35 complimentary clips and recesses pressed out from the trough side wall 6 and the frame side wall RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 8 - 12, or by any other suitable means. The U-channel in use is substantially vertically aligned when connected to the side of the central frame 3, and the U-channel forms a central cable routing passage along which cables or cable bundles can be routed. The open 'top' of the U-channel faces towards (and effectively defines) the 'front' of the assembly. It is preferred that the U-5 channels all face in the same direction, so that an assembly made up of multiple channels and frames can be located up against the wall of a room, for example, and technicians or other similar can easily access cables routed along the U-channel assemblies. In the preferred embodiment, the trough base 5 includes a number of large apertures 7, spaced at intervals along the length of the base 5. The cables or cable bundles can be routed through these apertures 7 if required. 10 These apertures 7 also make the U-channel lighter. The base 5 also includes two parallel rows of trough base connector apertures 8 at the sides of the base 5, aligned with, and next to, the side walls 6. The trough base connector apertures 8 are smaller than the base apertures 7, and in the preferred embodiment are the same size and shape as the frame attachment apertures 17. This allows the use of a single tool to form both apertures 8 and 17. Both the frame attachment 15 apertures 17 and the trough base connector apertures 8 can be used for connecting additional items such as cable management fingers 20, which will be described in greater detail below. The single size of the apertures 8 and 17 allows connection of elements such as a cable finger 20 to both the frame 3 and the trough 4.

The top edges of the side walls 6 of the trough 4 include lips 9, turned inward towards 20 each other, and aligned perpendicular to the side walls 6 and parallel to the base 5 (it should be noted that 'top' is not in this instance used to indicate spatial alignment — it is used to indicate that part of the trough side walls 6 furthest from the base). Each of the lips 9 includc a row of trough hp connector apertures 16, running the length of the channel. In the preferred embodiment, these are the same size and shape as the apertures 8 and 17, and when the frame 3 25 and the trough 4 are connected, the apertures 16 on the hps 9 align with the adjacent apertures 17 on the frame 3, and also with the apertures 8 on the base. The apertures 16 are the same size as the apertures 8 and 16 described above.

In the most preferred form, the base of the trough 4 includes a row of apertures 50, the same size and shape as apertures 8, 16 and 17, but rotated through 90 degrees, and at the centre 30 of the base, not the sides. These allow the attachment of one or more cable fingers 20 (the structure of which is described in more detail below) to act as slack management spools in the cable channel.

CABLE FINGER ASSEMBLY RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 g The cables — e.g. patch cables which are managed by the cable management system — are routed around the frame 3 and trough 4 by finger assemblies, which in the preferred form are made up of a cable finger 20 and a cable flipper 30, which are described in detail below.

CABLE FINGER Preferred forms of cable fingers 20 are shown in Figures 7a — 7c. In Figure 7a, three separate cable fingers 20 of one preferred form are shown aligned one above the other in a row (in the preferred form, the row would aligned vertically in use). In Figures 7b and 7c, a second preferred form of cable finger assembly, with a different flipper attachment mechanism, is shown. These will be described in greater detail below. Each cable finger 20 is formed as a 10 single item, from a resilient material that can be at least partially elastically deformed. Each cable finger 20 has a main body 21. The main body 21 is an elongate element, which in the preferred embodiment has a semi-circular cross section. One end (the inner end - aligned towards the frame 3 or trough 4 in use) of the body 21 terminates in a flange portion 72. The other end (the outer end) of the body 21 terminates in a flipper connector portion 22, to which a cable flipper 15 30 is connected in use. The cable flipper 30 will be described in more detail below. The flange portion 72 includes a connector structure 23, adapted to connect with either the frame 3 or the cable trough 4 via the apertures 8, 16, or 17, which act as attachment points. The preferred form of the connector structure 23 is a pair of notched lugs 24, attached one each towards the top and bottom of the base of the flange portion 72. Each of the lugs 24 has a notch 25 close to the base 20 and facing outwards (that is, away from the other one of the pair, either upwards or downwards). To attach the cable finger 20 to the frame 3 or trough 4, a user forces or pushes the pair of lugs 24 either into one of the apertures (8, 16, 17), or one each of the pair into adjacent apertures (8, 16, 17), depending on how the apertures and the lugs 24 have been sized. In the preferred form, the lugs 24 and apertures 8, 16, 17 are sized relative to one another so that the pair of lugs 24 will 25 fit into a single one of the apertures. As the lugs are pushed into the aperture, they are squeezed slightly towards one another. When the pair of lugs 24 have been pressed fully into the aperture, they move apart from one another, returning to their original, undeformed positions. The notches 25 catch on the edges of the aperture, holding the cable finger 20 in position on either the frame 3 or the trough 4. When attached, the cable fingers 20 extend outwards from the front 30 or the rear (depending on where they are attached) of the frame 3 and trough assembly 4. In the preferred form, the cable fingers 20 extend substantially perpendicularly from the front or rear, but if required, the cable fingers could be adapted to extend at an angle.

A number of cable fingers 20 can be added in this manner to the frame 3 or the trough 4, as many as ate required in the positions required, to assist in the management of cables running 35 between modules on the racks, or other locations. For example, if required, and as shown in RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 jq Figures 5 and 6, cable fingers can be added in all the apertures to create a 'ribcage' on the frame 3 or the trough 4, through which cables can be threaded in use, with cable also routed along the U-channels. Also as shown in Figures 5 and 6, cable fingers 20 can be added to one side or both sides (front and rear) of the frame 3 and trough 4.

As already referred to above, the outer end of the body 21 of the cable finger 20 includes a flipper connector 22, to which a cable flipper 30 is attached in use. The flipper connector 22 is a cylindrical projection that is an extension of the main body 21, and which is aligned perpendicular to the body 21. When the finger 20 is connected to the frame 3 or the trough 4 via apertures 8, 16, or 17, the cylindrical body of the connector 22 will be aligned horizontally, parallel with the floor. One end 25 of the cylindrical projection that forms the flipper connector 22 is open, and is sized so that it has a diameter generally the same as the diameter of the semicircular main body 21, with the open end flush with the main body 21. The other end 26 is closed, and extends slighdy outwards from the body 21.

The structure of the flipper connector 22 has another advantage when the cable fingers 20 are used as slack management spools in the cable channel. The flipper connectors 22 extend outwards slighdy from the main body of the cable finger 20, as described above. When the cable fingers are attached to the attachment points 50 in the centre of the U-channel, they can be aligned so that they face upwards — that is, with the cylindrical connector 22 extending upwards. The connector 22 therefor acts as a stop, and prevents cable loops slipping off the spool. The cable fingers 20 could also be connected via the points 50 with the connector portion 22 facing downwards, but it would not be as useful in this alignment.

A top or plan view of the frame 3, with a trough 4 attached on either side, and the top ones of a number of vertical columns of cable fingers 20, is shown in Figure 11. Also shown are the top ones of cable fingers 20 connected to the base of the trough 4 to act as slack management spools.

CABLE FLIPPER The preferred form of cable flipper 30 is shown in Figure 8. The overall form of the flipper 30 is an elongate member, with a first end of substantially greater width than the other. The first end comprises a circular or hemispherical body 31, with a rim 33 extending outwards from just inside the edge of the hemispherical body. The rim 33 is sized to match the internal diameter of the open end 25 of the connector 22, so that in use the rim 33 just fits within the open end 25 and the flipper 30 can freely rotate relative to the finger 20.

A flipper wing 35 extends outwardly from the hemispherical body 31. The two sides of the wing 35 are tangential to the edges of the hemispherical body, and are angled towards one another, coming together at a rounded point or tip 38.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111^ The flipper 30 is attached to the outer end of the cable finger 20, via connector portion 22, in use. As can be seen in Figures 7a and 7b, the flippers 30, cable fingers 20 and the attachment points 8, 16, 17 are si2ed and positioned so that when the cable fingers are connected in a row, in adjacent apertures (e.g. adjacent apertures 16) with the flippers 30 in an upright 5 position, the top tip 38 of the flipper will be just underneath the cable finger 20 immediately above. A closed slot is therefore formed between adjacent cable finger assemblies. Cables can be routed through these slots, and will be prevented from sliding out of the slot by the upright flipper 30 at the outer end of the slot. It should also be noted that a single finger 20 with a single flipper wing 35 aligned facing upwards will prevent cable slippage off the end of the finger 20). It 10 should further be noted that in the preferred form, the flipper 30 is aligned perpendicular to the main body of the finger 20. However, the advantages of the present invention would still be realised if the flipper was aligned at a shallower angle - e.g. 45 degrees, 30 degrees, etc.

However, if cable fingers are located adjacent to one another, if a user wishes to remove or add cabling to a particular slot, they need to move the flipper out of position, rotating it either 15 towards or away from the trough 4 or frame 3 — inwards or outwards. An example of this is shown in Figure 7c, where the flippers 30 are rotated towards the attachment points — i.e. towards the trough 4 or frame 3. It can be seen that some form of attachment between the flippers 30 and the fingers 20 is required that allows the flippers to be rotated out of an upright position blocking the slots, and then allows them to be returned to an upright position. There 20 are several ways that this can be achieved. Two preferred forms are described below.

CABLE FINGER AND FLIPPER CONNECTION In use, the rim 33 of the flipper 30 is located into the circular open end 25. The flipper 30 rotates around an axis of rotation that is at the centre of these two portions.

It is preferred that a mechanism is included in the connection between the flipper 30 and 25 the cable finger 20 that will automatically return the flipper 30 to the position that it was in before it was rotated — its rest position or equilibrium position. In the preferred embodiment, this position is with the flipper 30 facing direcdy upwards to close the slot. Although this automatic return mechanism can be achieved in a number of ways, two preferred forms are described below.

In the first preferred form, as shown in Figure 8, the flipper 30 includes an attachment projection 32. In this embodiment, end 26 of the flipper connector portion 22 includes a central indentation, at the centre of which is a slit or slot 27, substantially vertically aligned. The free end 36 of the attachment projection 32 is sized with the slit 27, and passes into and through the slit 27, the slit 27 acting as an attachment aperture for the attachment projection 32. The RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 12 arrangement described above, with the rim 33 fitting into the open end 25, and the end 36 passing through the slit 27, is shown in Figure 9, and is shown in cross-section in Figure 10.

The attachment projection 32 extends from the centre of the inner part of the hemispherical body 31. The attachment projection 32 is rectangular in cross-section, with the 5 longer sides aligned with the wing 35, so that when the wing 35 points upwards, the longer sides of the projection 32 are also vertical. When the flipper 30 is rotated away from the vertical, the projection 32 is twisted. The projection 32 therefore exerts a reaction force on the main body of the flipper 30, so that when a user is no longer rotating the flipper 30, it will rotate back into position to close the gap the user created by rotating it away from the vertical. 10 In the second preferred form, a resilient spring member is used to exert the necessary reaction force to return the flipper 30 to the rest position.

The preferred form of resilient spring member 60, and the construction of the flipper 30 and the connector portion 22 is shown in Figures 12 to 17, and described below.

In a similar manner to the first preferred form, the rim 33 of the flipper 30 is located into 15 the circular open end 25, with an axis of rotation around the centre of the circular open end. A spring member 60 is inserted into the hollow connector portion 22. The spring member 60 has a central body portion 61 that in use is generally aligned along the axis of rotation. The spring member has a first end and a second end. The central body portion has a connector at each end — first connector 62 at the first end, and second connector 63 at the second end. In the preferred 20 form, the first and second connectors 62, 63 are split/squeeze connectors of a type well-known in the art, operating as follows. The central body 61 is partially split along its length from each of the ends, with a gap between the split halves allowing the two split halves at each end to be pressed together, the halves springing apart when no external force is exerted on them. Each half of each split end includes a barbed protrusion. In this form of the mechanism, end 26 of the 25 flipper connector portion 22 includes a central aperture 64, and the flipper 30 includes an aperture 65 in the centre of the hemispherical body 31. The ends of the central body 61 are pushed into the apertures 64, 65 from the inside, with the barbed ends passing through the apertures, and the barbs catching on the outside of the apertures 64, 65 to hold the spring member 60 in position.

The spring member 60 also includes spring arms 66, 67, attached to and aligned in parallel with the main body 61, and substantially the same length as the main body 61. The ends of the spring arms 66, 67 locate into apertures 68 on the inner surfaces of the connector portion 22 and the hemispherical body 31. The apertures 68 are close to the circumferences of the cylindrical connector portion 22 and the hemispherical body 31. As the flipper 30 is rotated in 35 use, the ends of the spring arms 66, 67 are held in the apertures 68, and the spring member 60 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 ^ becomes twisted. When the external (i.e. user-generated) force is removed from the flipper, the stored energy from the twisted spring member 60 is released, and it returns to an untwisted position, rotating the flipper 30 back to its rest or equilibrium position.

It can be seen that by creating flippers 30 with flipper wings 35 of different lengths, the 5 size of the slot or gap between adjacent fingers or 'ribs' of the ribcage can be altered, without requiring the replacement of the fingers 20. The size of the slot or gap can also be altered by altering the lengths of the fingers 20, or the lengths of the flippers 30. For example, 'double length' flippers could be fitted to a number of fingers 20, which would be fitted in every second slot rather than every slot, to create a wider gap, allowing more or thicker cables to be routed 10 through that slot.

It can therefore be seen that the frame 3, the troughs 4, the fingers 20 and the flippers 30 are all parts of a modular cable management system that can be configured exactly to a users specification from just these parts. If a change in the size of the gap between the fingers 20 is required, then the fingers 20 can be connected in different, non-adjacent apertures — a user is not 15 required to remove every second finger in a pre-formed assembly to create wider gaps between adjacent cable fingers. It is preferred that the length of the flipper body is substantially the same as the spacing between attachment points, so that there is no gap between the slots. If a user wishes to have an assembly that includes a fully closed gap between the outer ends of adjacent fingers 20, they only need to replace the flipper 30 with a flipper of a different length; they are 20 not required to replace the entire finger assembly. A cable management assembly can be created without using any flippers 30 — just using the fingers 20 — if necessary or required, although this will leave a gap or opening at the front of the assembly, between adjacent fingers 20. It should be noted that where reference is made to cable finger assemblies in this specification, this can be taken to mean an assembly with or without the flipper 30 attached.

If 'ribs' are only required at one position on the frame and trough assembly, this can easily be achieved by adding (or removing) finger assemblies where required. A frame and trough assembly of the required size can be created by adding additional adjacent frames 3 and troughs 4.

It should also be noted that as described above, the flipper 30 points upwards. The 30 fitting of the flipper 30 could be reversed, with the flipper 30 fitted to the end of the cable finger 20 pointing downwards, if this was required.

It should also be noted that a double-ended flipper could be created if required, with a pair of wings 35 extending from the hemispherical body 31. This alternative arrangement would mean that a double flipper could be fitted to every second finger only. This could be 35 advantageous in certain situations.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 _

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. A modular cable management system comprising: at least one central frame, adapted to freestand, 5 at least one cable channel, said cable channel including a central cable routing passage adapted for routing multiple patch-type cables or similar, a plurality of cable finger assemblies, said central frame and said cable channel mutually adapted so that said cable channel can be removably fastened to the side of said central frame, in such a manner that said cable routing 10 passage is in use substantially vertically aligned, at least one of said central frame and said cable channel including a plurality of attachment points adapted to receive said cable finger assemblies, each of said cable finger assemblies comprising a cable finger and a cable flipper, said cable finger comprising a main body with an inner end and an outer end, said inner 15 end including an attachment mechanism adapted to allow said cable finger to be removably attached to an attachment point in use so that the attached cable finger assemblies extending outwards generally horizontally, said outer end including a cable flipper connector portion, said cable flipper having a first end adapted for connecting said flipper to said cable finger via said cable flipper connector portion, 20 said connection between said connector portion and said flipper first end adapted to allow said cable flipper to be rotated relative to said main body, around an axis of rotation, by the application of an external force, in use said flipper having a rest position where the body of said flipper is aligned at an angle to said cable finger main body, said cable finger assembly including a return mechanism which acts on said cable flipper when it is rotated away from said rest position 25 to return said cable flipper to said rest position when said external force ceases to act on said flipper.

2. A modular cable management system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flipper body is aligned substantially perpendicular to said main body when in said rest position. 30

3. A modular cable management system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said flipper points upwards in said rest position.

4. A modular cable management system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said flipper 35 points downwards in said rest position. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 15 .

5. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said flipper includes an attachment projection formed from a resilient material and which extends generally along said axis of rotation, said attachment projection having a free end, 5 said connector portion further including an attachment aperture, said free end in use engaging with said aperture in such a manner that said free end is held in position, and in use when said flipper is rotated away from said test position said attachment projection twists, said attachment projection untwisting when said flipper is released to return said flipper to said rest position. 10

6. A modular cable management system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said attachment projection is congruent with said axis of rotation, and said attachment aperture is a slit in said closed end, said free end of said attachment projection locating into said slit in use. 15

7. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a pair of notched lugs on said inner end, said notched lugs adapted for insertion into said attachment points in use.

8. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said 20 axis of rotation of said cable flipper is aligned substantially perpendicular to both said main body and said flipper body when said flipper is in said rest position.

9. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said connector portion is cylindrical and substantially hollow, having a closed end and an open end, 25 the central axis of said cylindrical portion congruent with said axis of rotation, at least part of said flipper first end locating into said open end in use.

10. A modular cable management system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said flipper first end includes a rim that locates into said open end in use. 30

11. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said flipper body is substantially the same length as the spacing between said attachment points. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 _

12. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said connector portion further includes a connector portion aperture and said flipper includes a flipper first end aperture, said cable finger assembly further including a resilient spring member located within said 5 connector portion, said resilient spring member having a first end and a second end, at least part of said spring member first end locating into said connector portion aperture and held in position relative to said connector portion in use, said spring member second end locating into said flipper first end aperture and held in position relative to said flipper in use, said resilient spring member twisting as said flipper is rotated, and untwisting when said external force no longer acts on said 10 flipper so that said flipper is returned to said rest position.

13. A modular cable management system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said resilient spring member comprises a central body, a first spring arm and a second spring arm, said central body substantially congruent with said axis of rotation in use, said first and second spring arms parallel 15 with said axis of rotation, and substantially the same length as said central body portion, said connector portion and said flipper first end further including spring arm apertures adapted to hold each end of each of said spring arms in position relative to said connector portion and said flipper in use. 20

14. A modular cable management system as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein said connector portion and said flipper first end include central body apertures, and each end of said central body includes a split/squeeze connector adapted to locate into said apertures.

15. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein 25 said attachment mechanism comprises a pair of notched lugs on said inner end, said notched lugs adapted for insertion into said attachment points in use.

16. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein said axis of rotation of said cable flipper is aligned substantially perpendicular to both said main 30 body and said flipper body when said flipper is in said rest position.

17. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein said connector portion is cylindrical and substantially hollow, having a closed end and an open end, the central axis of said cylindrical portion congruent with said axis of rotation, at least part 35 of said flipper first end locating into said open end in use. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111

18. A modular cable management system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said flipper first end includes a rim that locates into said open end in use. 5

19. A modular cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18 wherein said flipper body is substantially the same length as the spacing between said attachment points.

20. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system, comprising: a cable finger, said cable finger having a main body with an inner end and an outer end, 10 said inner end including an attachment mechanism adapted to allow said cable finger to be removably attached to an attachment point in use, said outer end including a connector portion, a cable flipper, having a first end and an elongate body portion that extends from said first end, said first end and said connector portion mutually adapted to connect said flipper to said cable finger in use in such a manner that said flipper can be rotated relative to said main 15 body about an axis of rotation by the application of an external force, said flipper having a rest position where the body of said flipper is aligned at an angle to said main body, and said flipper includes an attachment projection formed from a resilient material and extending generally along said axis of rotation, said attachment projection having a free end, said connector portion further including an attachment aperture, 20 said free end in use engaging with said aperture in such a manner that said free end is held in position, and in use when said flipper is rotated away from said rest position said attachment projection twists, said attachment projection untwisting when said flipper is released to return said flipper to said rest position. 25

21. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said flipper body is aligned substantially perpendicular to said main body when in said rest position. 30

22. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said attachment projection is congruent with said axis of rotation, and said attachment aperture is a slit in said closed end, said free end of said attachment projection 35 locating into said slit in use. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 ' 18

23. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a pair of notched lugs on said inner end. 5

24. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24 wherein said axis of rotation of said cable flipper is aligned substantially perpendicular to both said main body and said flipper body when said flipper is in said rest position. 10

25. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25 wherein said connector portion is cylindrical and substantially hollow, having a closed end and an open end, the central axis of said cylindrical portion congruent with said axis of rotation, at least part of said flipper first end locating into said open end in use. 15

26. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said flipper first end includes a lim that locates into said open end in use.

27. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system comprising: 20 a cable finger, said cable finger having a main body with an inner end and an outer end, said inner end including an attachment mechanism adapted to allow said cable finger to be removably attached to an attachment point in use, said outer end including a connector portion, a cable flipper, having a first end and an elongate body portion that extends from said first end, said first end and said connector portion mutually adapted to connect said flipper to 25 said cable finger in use in such a manner that said flipper can be rotated relative to said main body about an axis of rotation by the application of an external force, said flipper having a rest position where the body of said flipper is aligned at an angle to said main body, said connector portion further having a connector portion aperture and said flipper further having a flipper first end aperture, 30 said cable finger assembly further including a resilient spring member located within said connector portion, said resilient spring member having a first end and a second end, at least part of said spring member first end locating into said connector portion aperture and held in position relative to said connector portion in use, said spring member second end locating into said flipper first end aperture and held in position relative to said flipper in use, said resilient spring member RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 ^ twisting as said flipper is rotated, and untwisting when said external force no longer acts on said flipper so that said flipper is returned to said rest position.

28. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in claim 5 27 wherein said resilient spring member comprises a central body, a first spring arm and a second spring arm, said central body substantially congruent with said axis of rotation in use, said first and second spring arms parallel with said axis of rotation, and substantially the same length as said central body portion, said connector portion and said flipper first end further including spring arm apertures 10 adapted to hold each end of each of said spring arms in position relative to said connector portion and said flipper in use.

29. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in claim 27 or claim 28 wherein said connector portion and said flipper first end include central body 15 apertures, and each end of said central body includes a split/squeeze connector adapted to locate into said apertures.

30. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 29 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a pair of notched lugs on 20 said inner end.

31. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 30 wherein said axis of rotation of said cable flipper is aligned substantially perpendicular to both said main body and said flipper body when said flipper is in said rest 25 position.

32. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 31 wherein said connector portion is cylindrical and substantially hollow, having a closed end and an open end, the central axis of said cylindrical portion congruent with 30 said axis of rotation, at least part of said flipper first end locating into said open end in use.

33. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system as claimed in claim 32 wherein said flipper first end includes a rim that locates into said open end in use. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 04 Decemer 2009 556111 2Q

34. A cable management system substantially as herein described with respect to any one of figures 5-7c.

35. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system substantially as 5 herein described with respect to any one of figures 8-10.

36. A cable finger assembly for use as part of a cable management system substantially as herein described with respect to any one of figures 12-17.