U.S. patent application number 10/024663 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-24 for storage rack for electronic components.
Invention is credited to Robideau, Thomas J..
Application Number | 20020153335 10/024663 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27362373 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020153335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robideau, Thomas J. |
October 24, 2002 |
Storage rack for electronic components
Abstract
A storage rack for electronic components that includes a front
rectangular upright component and a rear upright component which
are removably mounted on a pair of supporting feet. Each foot has a
rear portion and a forward portion. The rear portion has a rear
vertical post and a forwardly facing extender that has a plurality
of threaded holes. The forward portion has a forward vertical post
and a rearwardly facing socket for receiving the extender in
telescoping fashion. Each of the front and rear upright components
has a pair of vertical rails fixed to upper and lower cross bars.
Each vertical rail has a plurality of threaded apertures for
enabling electronic components to be fastened to the rails and an
aperture at the bottom end of the rail for receiving one of the
vertical posts. The upper ends of the front and rear upright
components is stabilized by adjustable braces which are removably
attachable to the sides of the front and rear vertical
components.
Inventors: |
Robideau, Thomas J.;
(Paxton, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLODGETT BLODGETT
43 HIGHLAND STREET
WORCESTER
MA
016092797
|
Family ID: |
27362373 |
Appl. No.: |
10/024663 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60256899 |
Dec 19, 2000 |
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60256815 |
Dec 19, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/26 ; 211/175;
211/189 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/26 ; 211/175;
211/189 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A rack for storing electronic components comprising: (a) a
rectangular front frame having a vertical left front rail, a
vertical right front rail, an upper cross bar and a lower cross
bar, each of said front rails having an upper end and a lower end;
(b) a rectangular rear frame spaced from said front frame, said
rectangular rear frame having vertical left rear rail, a vertical
right rear rail, an upper cross bar and a lower cross bar, each of
said rear rails having an upper end and a lower end; (c) a
horizontal left brace connected to said left front rail and to said
left rear rail, said left brace being adjustable in length; (d) a
horizontal right brace connected to said right front rail and to
said right rear rail, said right brace being adjustable in length;
(e) a horizontal left supporting foot connected to the lower ends
of said left front rail and said left rear rail, said left
supporting foot being adjustable in length; and (f) a horizontal
right supporting foot connected to the lower ends of said right
front rail and said right rear rail, said right supporting foot
being adjustable in length.
2. A rack as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said vertical
rails has a plurality of apertures.
3. A rack as recited in claim 2, wherein all of said apertures face
forwardly.
4. A rack as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said left brace
and said right brace comprises: (a) a forward bar having a forward
end connected to a corresponding one of said front rails and a free
rearward end, said forward bar having a plurality of apertures; (b)
a rearward bar having a rearward end fixedly connected to a
corresponding one of said front rails and a free forward end that
overlaps the rearward end of said forward bar, said rearward bar
having a plurality of horizontal apertures which are adapted to be
horizontally aligned with the apertures of said forward bar; and
(c) at least one fastener for extending through aligned apertures
of said forward and rearward bars and securing said forward bar to
said rearward bar.
5. A rack as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said left
supporting foot and said right supporting foot comprises: (a) a
forward portion having a forward end connected to a corresponding
one of said front rails and a free rearward portion; and (b) a
rearward portion having a rearward end connected to a corresponding
one of said front rails and a free forward portion telescopingly
connected to the rearward end of said forward portion.
6. A rack as recited in claim 5, wherein the forward end of each of
said forward portions has a vertical post which abuts and is
connected to the corresponding one of said front rails.
7. A rack as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said vertical
posts has a horizontal aperture and each front rail has a
horizontal aperture which are horizontally aligned with respective
horizontal apertures of said vertical posts, said rack further
comprising fasteners for extending through the aligned horizontal
apertures of said vertical posts and said front rails for securing
the front rails to said vertical posts.
8. A rack as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said vertical
posts has a rectangular cross section and the lower end of each of
said front rails has a rectangular vertical socket groove for
receiving a corresponding one of said vertical posts in a snug
fit.
9. A rack as recited in claim 5, wherein the rearward end of each
of said rearward portions has a vertical post which abuts and is
fixedly connected to the corresponding one of said rear rails.
10. A rack as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said vertical
posts has a horizontal aperture and each rear rail has a horizontal
aperture which is horizontally aligned with a respective horizontal
aperture of said vertical posts, said rack further comprising
fasteners for extending through the aligned horizontal apertures of
said vertical posts and said rear rails for securing the rear rails
to said vertical posts.
11. A rack as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said vertical
posts has a rectangular cross section and each of said rear rails
has a rectangular vertical socket for receiving a corresponding one
of said vertical posts in a snug fit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of prior U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/256,899
filed Dec. 19. 2000 and Application No. 60/256.815 filed Dec. 19.
2000; which are hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] This invention has been created without the sponsorship or
funding of any federally sponsored research or development
program.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This present invention is directed to a supporting apparatus
for holding and storing a large number of electronic components of
the type generally referred to as "rack mounted". These electronic
components which typically include computers, network servers,
electronic network components, such as routers, bridges, switches
and hubs, and computer storage devices, are generally configured so
that numerous of the components can be stored in a common storage
system. The electronic components have flanges extending to the
right and left of the front face of the component so that the
component can be bolted to the supporting apparatus to locate the
device in the component within the supporting apparatus.
[0004] A typical supporting apparatus for holding and storing
electronic components is a vertically extending rectangular frame
into which the individual electronic components can be bolted. The
frame is supported by two horizontal feet which extends forward and
rearward of the frame.
[0005] A variation of the basic frame for supporting and storing
electronic components is referred to in the trade as a
"double-sided component rack". In the storage rack version of the
storage frame, a second rectangular frame component is positioned
parallel to and rearwardly of the first frame. This enables the
back ends of the electronic components to be held in position to
provide a more stable system for storing the components. Also, the
rear frame is adjustable relative to the front frame to selectively
change the distance between the two frame components.
[0006] The traditional form of supporting apparatus for holding
electronic components was designed to minimize the cost of shipping
in the so-called "knocked down" condition, that is, the supporting
apparatus was manufactured in a totally disassembled state, shipped
to the site of use, and then assembled on the site. The
reasonableness of the traditional designs for the supporting
apparatus, which were primarily "bolt-together" designs, was that
the cost of shipping was relatively high, and the availability of
low cost assembly personnel at the installation site was assumed
and typical. Furthermore, the dynamics of the installation process
and facilities were such that the time required to construct the
storage systems at the installation site did not interfere with
other scheduling.
[0007] One of the things that has happened in recent times in
connection with the market for electronic component storage is that
the market has become dominated by large component facilities which
typically represent the computer equipment facility for a large
computer network, or sometimes represent worldwide global network
servers for providing web page service. Another major application
is large computer data storage warehouses which are facilities
filled with electronic computer storage devices which can be
accessed using networks. These type of facilities typically involve
huge numbers of electronic components all of which have to be
appropriately supported and wired together. The process of
assembling the supporting apparatus and securing the electronic
components typically involves relatively highly paid technicians
who are primarily involved in the installation of the electronic
computer network equipment and are, therefore, relatively expensive
sources of assembly labor. Furthermore, the time table for
installing these types of facilities is often very short and the
time taken to conduct bolt-together assemblies is sometimes a
serious problem. In addition, the clearance in the untapped or
unthreaded holes for the bolts very often causes the frame to be
out of square when the supporting apparatus is assembled.
[0008] These and other difficulties experienced in the prior art
supporting apparatus for holding and storing electronic components
have been obviated by the invention.
[0009] It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to
provide a storage rack for holding and storing electronic component
which can be shipped in a relatively low volume condition, but
which can be very easily and quickly assembled at the assembly
site.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In general, the invention consists of a storage rack for
electronic components that includes a front rectangular upright
component and a rear upright component which are removably mounted
on a pair of supporting feet. More specifically, each foot has a
rear portion and a forward portion. The rear portion has a rear
vertical post and a forwardly facing extender that has a plurality
of threaded holes. The forward portion has a forward vertical post
and a rearwardly facing socket for receiving the extender in
telescoping fashion. Each of the front and rear upright components
has a pair of vertical rails fixed to upper and lower cross bars.
Each vertical rail has a plurality of threaded apertures for
enabling electronic components to be fastened to the rails and an
aperture at the bottom end of the rail for receiving one of the
vertical posts. The upper ends of the front and rear upright
components is stabilized by adjustable braces which are removably
attachable to the sides of the front and rear vertical
components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The character of the invention, however, may be best
understood by reference to one of its structural forms, as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a storage rack for electronic
components embodying the principles of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one of the upright
components of the storage rack;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the upright component of
FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the right hand end of FIG. 3
on an enlarged scale;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the forward portion of the left
hand foot component of the storage rack;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the left hand forward
portion;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the left hand forward
portion looking in the direction of arrow 7 of FIG. 6;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the forward portion of the
right hand foot component of the storage rack;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the right hand forward
portion;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the right hand forward
portion, looking in the direction of arrow 10;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the rearward portion of the
left hand foot component;
[0023] FIG. 12. is a front elevational view of the left hand
rearward portion;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the left hand rearward
portion, looking in the direction of arrow 13 of FIG. 12;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the rearward portion of the
right hand foot component;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the right hand
rearward portion;
[0027] FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the right hand
rearward portion, looking in the direction of arrow 16 of FIG. 15;
and
[0028] FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of one of the brace
components of the storage rack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Referring to the drawings, the storage rack of the present
invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and
comprises a rectangular front vertical component or frame,
generally indicated by the reference numeral 12, a rectangular rear
vertical component, generally indicated by the reference numeral
14, a pair of braces, generally indicated by the reference numeral
50, and a pair of supporting feet, generally indicated by the
reference numerals 15 and 16. The vertical components 12 and 14 are
identical so that only one of the components is shown in FIGS.
2-4.
[0030] Each of the front and rear vertical components 12 and 14
comprises a pair of vertical C-channel rails 18 fixed at their
upper ends, i.e. by welding, to an upper cross bar 20 and fixed at
their lower ends, i.e. by welding, to a lower cross bar 22. Each of
the vertical rails 18 has a plurality of forwardly facing surface
apertures 23 for enabling electronic components to be connected to
the rails so that the electronic components can extend between the
rails.
[0031] The lower cross member 22 for each vertical component 12 and
14 is positioned within the rails 18 as shown in FIG. 4 to form a
rectangular socket 27 at the bottom of each rail.
[0032] Each support foot 15 and 16 has a rearward portion,
generally indicated by the reference numeral 24, and a forward
portion, generally indicated by the reference numeral 26.
[0033] Referring particularly to FIGS. 5-10, the forward portion 26
of each foot 15 and 16 consists of a tubular horizontal bar 29 and
a vertical post 34. Each side wall of the bar 29 has an aperture
36. The top wall of the bar 29 has a vertical aperture 33 at each
end of the bar and a vertical aperture 35 at a shortened bottom
wall portion 41 of the bar. The post 34 has a horizontal aperture
37.
[0034] Referring particularly to FIGS. 11-16, each rearward portion
24 consists of a tubular horizontal bar 38 which has welded thereto
a forwardly extending tubular extender 30. A vertical post 28 is
welded to the rearward part of bar 38. The post 28 has a horizontal
aperture 40. The extender 30 has a plurality of horizontal
apertures 32.
[0035] The upper wall of the bar 38 has a vertical aperture 39 and
a vertical aperture 42 at a shortened bottom wall portion 43 of the
bar.
[0036] Each brace 50 consists of a pair of elongated flat bars 52,
one of which is shown in FIG. 17. Each bar 52 has a plurality of
apertures 54.
[0037] The apertures 39 and 42 as well as the apertures 33 and 35
enable castors to be applied to the supporting feet. If desired,
the apertures 39 and 42 and 33 and 35 enable the supporting feet to
be fixed, by means of fasteners, to a platform or other supporting
base.
[0038] After the feet 15 and 16 have been assembled, the front
vertical posts 34 are inserted into the sockets 27 of the vertical
rails 18 of the front vertical component 12. The vertical posts 28
of the rearward bars 24 inserted into the socket 27 of the rear
vertical component 14. One end of one of the braces 50 is
positioned on the outside wall of each of the rails 18 so that one
of the apertures 54 is horizontally aligned with an aperture at the
upper end of the rail 18 and secured thereto by a nut and a bolt.
At each side of the rack 10 a bar 50 from the forward vertical
component 12 is overlapped with a bar 52 from the rearward vertical
component 14 so that the holes 54 of one bar 52 are aligned with
the holes 54 of the other brace 50. The overlapping bars 52 or each
brace 50 are secured to each other by at least two bolts.
[0039] All of the modular components of the storage frame 10 can be
enclosed in a relatively small container for shipment to a
customers site. The components of the storage rack can be assembled
by first assembly the support feet 15 and 16. Each foot 15 and 16
is assembled by inserting the forwardly facing extender 30 into the
open rearwardly facing ends of the bars 29 so that one of the
apertures 32 is horizontally aligned with the aperture 36 at the
rearward end of the forward portion 26. The rearward portion 24 is
secured to the forward portion 26 by extending a bolt through the
aperture 32 which is aligned with the aperture 36 and applying a
nut thereto. Now that the rack 10 has been assembled, electrical
components can be attached to the rack by utilizing the apertures
23 in a conventional manner.
[0040] This enables the vertical components 12 and 14 to be fully
supported on the foot components 15 and 16 without the need of
fasteners. The apertures 25 of the rails 18 are horizontally
aligned with the apertures 37 of the posts 37 and apertures 40 of
the posts 28, thereby enabling the upright components 12 to be
bolted to the posts 18, if desired.
* * * * *