Vertical cable management system

Abstract

A cable management assembly for managing wires having a rack with a plurality of mounted channel members. The channel members each comprise a left, right, and middle member which form a Z-shaped cross section and define first and second receiving areas for holding a plurality of wires. The middle member further includes apertures such that a wire can be received concurrently in both receiving areas. The channel members are mounted on the rack by integrals clips that extend from each channel member and engage mating holes located on the rack. A second embodiment channel member includes a first member and an opposing second member each having integral clips extending therefrom for mounting the channel members on the rack. The channel member further has a middle member connecting the first and second members which form a C-shaped cross-section and define a receiving area for holding a plurality of wires.

1. A channel member for managing wires, comprising:
 a first member having a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of first fastening elements; 
 an opposing, second member having a third surface, a fourth surface, and a plurality of second fastening elements, said third surface of said second member being planar with said first surface of said first member, and said fourth surface of said second member being planar with said second surface of said first member; and 
 a middle member connecting said second surface of said first member to said third surface of said second member forming a Z-shaped section transverse to a longitudinal axis of said first and second members, said middle member defining first and second receiving areas between said first and second members and having an aperture for providing access between said first and second receiving areas, whereby a wire can be received concurrently in both said first and second receiving areas. 
 
     
     
       2. A channel member according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said first member a one-piece, unitary member and said first fastening elements include an integral clip extending from said first member. 
 
     
     
       3. A channel member according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second member a one-piece, unitary member and said second fastening elements include a mating hole on said second member. 
 
     
     
       4. A channel member according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said first fastening elements include a plurality of first and second slots located on said first and second surfaces and said second fastening elements include a plurality of first and second slots located on said third and fourth surfaces. 
 
     
     
       5. A channel member according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second surface of said first member includes a hanging element for storing a bracket. 
 
     
     
       6. A channel member according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said third surface include a hanging element. 
 
     
     
       7. A channel member according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said middle member includes a plurality of apertures. 
 
     
     
       8. A channel member according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said middle member includes a plurality of elongated slots for receiving straps. 
 
     
     
       9. A rack assembly, comprising:
 a channel member for managing wires having, a one-piece first member with a first surface, a second surface, and an integral fastening element, an opposing, second member with a third surface and a fourth surface, said third surface of said second member being planar with said first surface of said first member, and said fourth surface of said second member being planar with said second surface of said first member, and a middle member connecting said first member to said second member forming first and second receiving areas between said first and second members; and 
 a frame for supporting said channel member, said frame having a support element engaging said integral fastening element of said first member to support said channel member adjacent said frame. 
 
     
     
       10. A rack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein
 said middle member connects said second surface of said first member to said third surface of said second member forming a Z-shaped section transverse to a longitudinal axis of said first and second members. 
 
     
     
       11. A rack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein
 said middle member includes an aperture providing access between said first and second receiving areas, whereby a wire can be received concurrently in both said first and second receiving areas. 
 
     
     
       12. A rack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein
 said integral fastening member of said first member is a clip extending from said first member and said support element of said frame is a mating hole receiving said clip. 
 
     
     
       13. A rack assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein
 said first member includes a plurality of clips and said frame includes a plurality of mating holes. 
 
     
     
       14. A rack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said second member is a one-piece, unitary member and includes an integral fastening element. 
     
     
       15. A rack assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein
 said integral fastening element of said second member is a mating hole. 
 
     
     
       16. A rack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein
 each of said first surface of said first member and said third surface of said second member include a slot for receiving a bracket. 
 
     
     
       17. A rack assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a bracket with opposing ends, said ends engaging said slots of said first and third surfaces. 
 
     
     
       18. A rack assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein
 said bracket includes a cover receiving element for supporting a cover. 
 
     
     
       19. A rack assembly according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a cover for covering wires within said channel member, said cover having a mounting element, said mounting element engaging said cover receiving element of said bracket to position said cover adjacent said bracket. 
 
     
     
       20. A rack assembly, comprising:
 a first channel member for managing wires having, a one-piece first member with a first surface, a second surface, and an integral first fastening element extending from said first member, an opposing, second member with a third surface, a fourth surface, and a second fastening element for engaging a cooperating first fastening element of a second channel member, said third surface of said second member being planar with said first surface of said first member, and said fourth surface of said second member being planar with said second surface of said first member, and a middle member connecting said first member to said second member forming first and second receiving areas between said first and second members, and having an aperture for providing access between said first and second receiving areas; and 
 a frame for supporting said first channel member, said frame having a support element engaging said first integral fastening element of said first member to support said first channel member adjacent said frame,
 whereby a wire can be received concurrently in both said first and second receiving areas of said first channel member. 
 
 
     
     
       21. A rack assembly according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a second channel member having a first fastening element and said second fastening element of said first channel member engages said first fastening element of said second channel member whereby said second channel member is positioned adjacent to and supported by said first channel member. 
 
     
     
       22. A rack assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein
 said support element of said frame is a first hole, said integral first fastening element of said first channel member is a clip extending into said first hole, said second fastening element of said first channel member is a second hole, and said first fastening element of said second channel member is a clip extending into said second hole. 
 
     
     
       23. A rack assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein
 said first and second channel members are substantially identical. 
 
     
     
       24. A method for managing wires, comprising the steps of:
 providing a bracket having opposing ends and a hanging element, and a channel member having an area for holding wires, fastening elements for receiving the ends of the bracket, and an engaging element for receiving the hanging element of the bracket; 
 storing the bracket on the channel member in a stored position such that the hanging element of the bracket is coupled to the engaging element of the channel member; 
 accessing the area for holding wires in the channel member; 
 removing the bracket from the stored position; and 
 placing the bracket back on the channel member to hold the wires in the channel member such that the ends of the bracket are engaged with the fastening elements of the channel member. 
 
     
     
       25. A method for managing wires according to  claim 24 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing the bracket from the channel member by disengaging the ends of the bracket from the fasteners of the channel member; 
 storing the bracket on the channel member in the stored position; 
 accessing the area for holding wires in the channel member; 
 removing the bracket from the stored position; and 
 placing the bracket back on the channel member to hold the wires in the channel member such that the ends of the bracket are engaged with the fasteners of the channel member. 
 
     
     
       26. The method for managing wires according to  claim 25 , wherein
 the step of accessing the area for holding the wires in the channel member includes loading wires into to the area. 
 
     
     
       27. The method for managing wires according to  claim 25 , wherein the step of accessing the area for holding the wires in the channel member includes rearranging wires in the area. 
     
     
       28. A channel member for managing wires, comprising:
 a first member having opposing inner and outer surfaces and a plurality of first fastening elements extending from said outer surface of said first member and connectable to a first frame, and a first wall extending from said first member;   a second member having opposing inner and outer surfaces and a plurality of second fastening elements located on said outer surface and connectable to a second frame, said inner surface of said second member facing said inner surface of said first member, and a second wall extending from said second member; and   a middle member connecting said first and second members and forming a receiving area between said first and second members for receiving the wires;   said first wall extending from said first member in a direction toward said second member and said second wall extending from said second member toward said first member, said first wall and second wall defining an opening providing access to said receiving area.   
     
     
       29. A channel member for managing wires according to claim 28, wherein
 each of said first and second members is a substantially planar wall; and   said middle member is a substantially planar wall.   
     
     
       30. A channel member for managing wires according to claim 28, wherein
 said first fastening element is a clip.   
     
     
       31. A channel member for managing wires according to claim 28, wherein
 each of said first and second walls includes third and fourth fastening elements, respectively, that receive a bracket.   
     
     
       32. A channel member for managing wires according to claim 31, wherein
 each of said third and fourth fastening elements is a slot.   
     
     
       33. A rack assembly, comprising:
 a first channel member including,
 a first member having opposing inner and outer surfaces and a first fastening element extending from said outer surface of said first member, 
 a second member having opposing inner and outer surfaces and a second fastening element located on said outer surface, said inner surface of said second member facing said inner surface of said first member, and 
 a middle member connecting said first and second members and forming a receiving area between said first and second members for receiving wires; 
   a second channel member including a first member having opposing inner and outer surfaces and at least one fastening element extending from said outer surface of said first member, and said fastening element of said second channel member being engagable with said second fastening element of said first channel; and   a frame supporting said first channel member, said frame having a support element engagable with said first fastening element of said first member to support said first channel member adjacent said frame.   
     
     
       34. A rack assembly according to claim 33, wherein
 said fastening element of said second channel member is substantially the same as the first fastening element of said first fastening element of said first channel member.   
     
     
       35. A rack assembly according to claim 34, wherein
 each of said first fastening element of said first channel member and said fastening element of said second channel member, respectively, is a clip.   
     
     
       36. A rack assembly according to claim 35, wherein
 said second fastening element of said first channel member is a hole; and   said clip of said second channel member is received in said hole of said first channel member.   
     
     
       37. A rack assembly according to claim 36, wherein
 said frame includes a hole; and   said clip of said first channel member is received in said hole of said frame.   
     
     
       38. A rack assembly, comprising:
 a channel member for managing wires having,
 a first member and an opposing second member, each of said first and second members, respectively, having a plurality of fastening elements extending therefrom, 
 a first wall extending from said first member toward said second member; 
 a second wall extending from said second member toward said first member and forming a front surface, and 
 a middle member connecting said first member to said second member, and 
 said middle, first, and second members and said first and second walls defining a receiving area for holding wires and an opening for accessing said receiving area; and 
   a frame for supporting said channel member, said frame having a support element engaging said fastening element of said first member to support said channel member adjacent said frame.   
     
     
       39. A rack assembly according to claim 38, wherein
 said support element engages said fastening element of said first member in a first position of said channel member and said support element engages said fastening element of said second member in a second position of said channel member.   
     
     
       40. A rack assembly according to claim 38, wherein
 said fastening elements are clips integral with each of said first and second members, respectively, and extending therefrom; and   said support element is a mating hole.   
     
     
       41. A rack assembly according to claim 38, wherein
 each of said front surfaces of said first and second members include a slot for receiving a bracket as well as a hanging element for storing a bracket.   
     
     
       42. A channel member according to claim 38, wherein
 said middle member is substantially perpendicular to said first member and said second member.   
     
     
       43. A channel member according to claim 38, wherein
 said first member has a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, and   said second member has a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge.   
     
     
       44. A channel member according to claim 43, wherein
 said first longitudinal side edge of said first member and said second member define a front edge of said first member and said second member respectively.   
     
     
       45. A channel member according to claim 43, wherein
 said middle member extends between said first longitudinal side edge of said first member and said second longitudinal side edge of said second member.   
     
     
       46. A channel member according to claim 43, wherein
 said middle member extends between said first longitudinal side edge of said first member and said first longitudinal side edge of said second member.   
     
     
       47. A channel member according to claim 43, wherein
 said middle member extends between said first wall of said first member and said first wall of said second member.   
     
     
       48. A rack assembly according to claim 33, wherein
 said middle member is substantially perpendicular to said first member and said second member.   
     
     
       49. A rack assembly according to claim 33, wherein
 said first member has a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, and   said second member has a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge.   
     
     
       50. A rack assembly according to claim 49, wherein
 said middle member extends between said first longitudinal side edge of said first member and said second longitudinal side edge of said second member.   
     
     
       51. A rack assembly according to claim 49, wherein
 said middle member extends between said first longitudinal side edge of said first member and said first longitudinal side edge of said second member.   
     
     
       52. A rack assembly according to claim 49, wherein
 said first member includes a front wall forming said first longitudinal side edge and a rear wall forming said second longitudinal side edge;   said second member includes a front wall forming said first longitudinal side edge and a rear wall forming said second longitudinal side edge, and   said middle member extends between said front wall of said first member and said rear wall of said second member.   
     
     
       53. A rack assembly according to claim 49, wherein
 said first member includes a front wall at said first longitudinal side edge;   said second member includes a front wall at said first longitudinal side edge; and   said middle member extends between said second longitudinal side edge of said first member and said second longitudinal side edge of said second member.