Modular distribution frames and assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11083102-B1
Application number	US-201916709203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2019
Priority date	Dec 10, 2019
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

Cable housing assemblies include frames and cable carriers slidably mounted to channels provided at edges of the frames. The cable carriers may house or support male or female connectors to the cables, which may be power or communications cables (e.g., Ethernet cables) that extend from the connectors within the cable carriers into the channels, and through voids within the frames to power sources or communications systems. The cable carriers are releasably inserted into channels at edges of the frames, and permitted to slide in either direction (e.g., up or down) to various positions within such channels, in order to make power or communications services available at such positions. When installed in association with a shelving unit, e.g., between a backerboard and shelves, the cable carriers may be used to provide power or communications services available to such shelves provided at any height within the shelving unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular distribution assembly comprising:
a first frame defining a first cavity at least in part, wherein the first frame comprises:
a first side panel having a first opening and a second opening;
a second side panel, wherein the second side panel is aligned substantially parallel to the first side panel, and wherein the second side panel and the first side panel have a common length;
a first end door joined to one of the first side panel or the second side panel by at least a first hinge; and
a second end door joined to one of the first side panel or the second side panel by at least a second hinge, wherein the second end door is aligned substantially parallel to the first end door, wherein the second end door and the first end door have a common length, wherein the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end door and the second end door have a common height, and wherein the first cavity has a substantially rectangular cross-section defined at least in part by the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end door and the second end door;

a first access box having a first access door, wherein a third side panel of the first access box is mounted to the first side panel over the first opening, wherein the third side panel comprises a third opening aligned with the first opening, and wherein the first access door is joined to the first access box by at least a third hinge;
a first cable extending between at least the first access box and the cavity through the first opening and the third opening, wherein a first end of the first cable is coupled to a component within the cavity, and wherein the component comprises at least one of a router, a modem, a transformer, a patch panel, or a network switch;
a second access box having a second access door, wherein a fourth side panel of the second access box is mounted to the first side panel over the second opening, wherein the fourth side panel comprises a fourth opening aligned with the second opening, and wherein the second access door is joined to the second access box by at least a fourth hinge;
a second cable extending between at least the second access box and the cavity through the second opening and the fourth opening, wherein a second end of the second cable is coupled to the component within the cavity;
a top panel joined to the first frame, wherein the top panel comprises a third opening, wherein the top panel has a length not less than the common length of the second side panel and the first side panel, and wherein the top panel has a width not less than the common length of the first end door and the second end door; and
a plinth provided below the first frame, wherein the plinth rests on a ground surface.

2. The modular distribution assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first cable carries current at a first voltage level,
wherein the second cable carries current at a second voltage level, and
wherein the first voltage level exceeds the second voltage level.

3. The modular distribution assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end door, the second end door, the top panel, the first access box and the second access box is formed at least in part from steel having a thickness between approximately 0.050 inches and approximately 0.100 inches.

4. The modular distribution assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second frame disposed between the first frame and the plinth,
wherein the second frame defines the first cavity at least in part, and
wherein the second frame further comprises:
a fifth side panel having a fifth opening;
a sixth side panel, wherein the sixth side panel is aligned substantially parallel to the fifth side panel, and wherein the fifth side panel and the sixth side panel have the common length of the first side panel and the second side panel;
a third end door joined to one of the fifth side panel or the sixth side panel by at least a fifth hinge; and
a fourth end door joined to one of the fifth side panel or the sixth side panel by at least a sixth hinge, wherein the fourth end door is aligned substantially parallel to the third end door, wherein the fourth end door and the third end door have the common length of the first end door and the second end door, and wherein the fifth side panel, the sixth side panel, the third end door and the fourth end door have the common height of the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end door and the second end door.

5. An assembly comprising:
a first frame comprising:
a first panel having a first length and a first height, wherein the first panel comprises a first opening and a second opening extending therethrough;
a second panel having the first length and the first height, wherein the second panel is aligned parallel to the first panel;
a first door rotatably mounted to at least one of the first panel or the second panel by at least a first hinge, wherein the first door has a second length and the first height, wherein the second length is less than the first length, and wherein the first door is perpendicular to each of the first panel and the second panel; and
a second door rotatably mounted to at least one of the first panel or the second panel by at least a second hinge, wherein the second door has the second length and the first height, wherein the second door is perpendicular to each of the first panel and the second panel, and wherein the first panel, the second panel, the first door and the second door define at least a portion of a first cavity;

a third panel provided atop the first frame, wherein the third panel has a length not less than a distance between the first door and the second door and a width not less than a distance between the first panel and the second panel;
a first access box comprising a third door, wherein the first access box is mounted to the first panel over the first opening, wherein the first access box defines a second cavity at least in part, and wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are connected via the first opening and a third opening in the first access box; and
a second access box comprising a fourth door, wherein the second access box is mounted to the first panel over the second opening, wherein the second access box defines a third cavity at least in part, and wherein the first cavity and the third cavity are connected via the second opening and a fourth opening in the second access box; and
at least one connector having a first end within an interior of the first cavity and a second end external to the first cavity,
wherein the at least one connector extends from the interior of the first cavity into the first access box via the first opening and the third opening.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second frame comprising:
a fourth panel having the first length and the first height, wherein the fourth panel comprises a fifth opening extending therethrough;
a fifth panel having the first length and the first height, wherein the fifth panel is aligned parallel to the fourth panel;
a fifth door rotatably mounted to at least one of the fourth panel or the fifth panel, wherein the fifth door has the second length and the first height, and wherein the fifth door is perpendicular to each of the fourth panel and the fifth panel; and
a sixth door rotatably mounted to at least one of the fourth panel or the fifth panel, wherein the sixth door has the second length and the first height, wherein the sixth door is perpendicular to each of the fourth panel and the fifth panel, and wherein the fourth panel, the fifth panel, the fifth door and the sixth door define at least a portion of the first cavity; and

a third access box comprising a seventh door, wherein the third access box is

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Darche Randall
• Jackson Zachary
• Long Jason Michael
• Murphy Tom
• Whitford Dana

Classifications

• H05K5/30 Primary

  Side-by-side or stacked arrangements · CPC title

• H05K7/1485

  Servers; Data center rooms, e.g. 19-inch computer racks · CPC title

• H02B1/013

  Profiles for cabinet frames · CPC title

• H02B1/565

  for cabinets · CPC title

• H05K7/023 Primary

  Stackable modules · CPC title