The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 20, 1996
Grant Joseph Kruse, Huntsville, AL (US);
James Brian Coker, Huntsville, AL (US);
Jacob Daniel McCleary, Huntsville, AL (US);
Adtran, Inc., Huntsville, AL (US);
Abstract
A blank, or dummy, face plate element engages top and bottom edges of a cabinet frame, directly behind a front panel card insertion opening that provides access to multiple card slots of an electronic equipment rack. The dummy face plate includes a rearwardly projecting, upper lip, that is located adjacent to a top edge of the face plate, and has a notch immediately adjacent to the rear surface of the face plate. The notch fits within and is captured by an upper edge of the cabinet frame. A rearwardly projecting, generally U-shaped, flexible lower lip is provided adjacent to a lower edge of the face plate and includes a pair of finger grips. The flexible lower lip has a ridge that becomes aligned with the lower edge of the faceplate when the lower lip is flexed upwardly toward the first lip, and a notch adjacent to the ridge that is captured by the cabinet frame. Card-simulating wall portions extend from the face plate alongside the upper and lower lips and are sized and shaped to fit within and slidably engage upper and lower card insertion tracks of an empty card slot, as the dummy face plate is installed.