Indicia and method for identifying telecommunications components

Abstract

A telecommunications component includes an outer housing that includes a badge holder. The badge holder is configured to receive a badge. The badge is configured to be inserted into the badge holder. The badge includes a feature that is identifying of the source of the telecommunications component and the feature is at least one of a logo, a specific color, text information, a barcode, a QR code, and a RFID tag. The badge includes a pair of arms extending from opposing sides to engage with the badge holder of outer housing. The badge includes a securing feature that is configured to secure the badge within the badge holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telecommunications component comprising:
 an outer housing including a badge holder, the badge holder including a recess, wherein the badge holder is configured to receive a badge in the recess;   a badge configured to be inserted into the recess of the badge holder, the badge including:
 a feature that is identifying of the source of the telecommunications component, wherein the feature is at least one of a logo, a specific color, text information, a barcode, and a QR code; 
 a pair of arms extending from opposing sides to engage with the badge holder of the outer housing; and 
 a securing feature that is configured to secure the badge within the badge holder; 
   wherein the recess and the badge are both configured such that the feature is visible at least   
       when the badge is completely inserted into and retained with the badge holder. 
     
     
         2 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the specific color is different from a non-indicative base color of the telecommunications component. 
     
     
         3 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the badge includes a pair of arms each having a holder engaging feature, wherein each holder engaging feature is configured to mate with a corresponding badge engaging feature of the badge holder of the telecommunications component. 
     
     
         4 . The telecommunications component of  claim 3 , wherein the badge engaging feature is a projection including at least one ramped side and at least one non-ramped side, and wherein the holder engaging feature of the badge is a rectangular channel. 
     
     
         5 . The telecommunications system of  claim 1 , wherein the badge holder engaging feature of the badge includes at least one ramped surface outside of the rectangular channel. 
     
     
         6 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the badge holder of the telecommunications component is integral with the telecommunications component, and wherein the badge holder includes a pair of channels to secure the pair of arms of the badge therewithin. 
     
     
         7 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the securing feature is a projection including at least one ramped side and at least one non-ramped side. 
     
     
         8 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the securing feature includes at least one of a projection and a recess separate from the pair of arms, wherein the at least one of the projection and the recess mate with a corresponding other of the projection and the recess disposed within the badge holder. 
     
     
         9 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the securing feature is positioned between the pair of arms. 
     
     
         10 . The telecommunications component of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the projection and the recess have a dovetail construction. 
     
     
         11 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing includes a plurality of ports, wherein the badge holder is immediately adjacent at least one port of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
         12 . The telecommunications component of  claim 11 , wherein the badge includes indicia relating to an identity of at least one port of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
         13 . The telecommunications component of  claim 11 , wherein the badge includes indicia relating to an identity of more than one port of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
         14 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the badge holder is disposed on a cover of the outer housing. 
     
     
         15 . The telecommunications component of  claim 14 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of badge holders. 
     
     
         16 . The telecommunications component of  claim 13 , wherein the badge is positioned immediately adjacent a substantially similar second indicia element within the badge holder. 
     
     
         17 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein the badge includes a recess at a rear side configured to receive an RFID tag therein. 
     
     
         18 . The telecommunications component of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of arms of the badge is configured to be irreparably damaged if tampered with. 
     
     
         19 . A method of identifying network connection components comprising:
 installing a portion of a network using at least one telecommunications component having a non-indicative base color, wherein the telecommunications component includes an outer housing including a badge holder with a recess, wherein the badge holder is configured to receive a badge in the recess;   installing a badge within the recess of the badge holder of the at least one telecommunications component to indicate a feature of the telecommunications component, wherein the badge includes:
 a feature that is identifying of the source of the telecommunications component, wherein the feature is at least one of a logo, a specific color, text information, a barcode, and a QR code; 
 a pair of arms extending from opposing sides to engage with the holder of outer housing; and 
 a securing feature that is configured to secure the badge within the badge holder; 
   wherein the recess and the badge are both configured such that the feature is visible at least when the badge is completely inserted into and retained with the badge holder.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pair of arms each have a holder engaging feature, wherein each holder engaging feature is configured to mate with a corresponding badge engaging feature of the badge holder. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the outer housing includes a plurality of ports, wherein the badge holder is immediately adjacent at least one port of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the badge includes indicia relating to an identity of at least one port of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the badge includes indicia relating to an identity of more than one port of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the badge holder is disposed on a cover of the outer housing. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of badge holders. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising positioning the badge immediately adjacent a substantially similar second badge within the badge holder.