U.S. patent application number 10/403794 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-14 for universal computer enclosure.
Invention is credited to Davis, Brooks.
Application Number | 20040201335 10/403794 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32990036 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040201335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis, Brooks |
October 14, 2004 |
Universal computer enclosure
Abstract
The invention provides a cabinet for storing computer devices
with from various device vendors. This allows one cabinet to be
used for multiple brands of computer devices, rather than requiring
a separate type of cabinet for each brand of computer device. There
are several cabinet features that add flexibility to the cabinet.
One or more of these features can be incorporated in a cabinet to
increase the flexibility of the cabinet for storing different
brands of computer devices with different storage requirements.
Inventors: |
Davis, Brooks; (San Jose,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FENWICK & WEST LLP
SILICON VALLEY CENTER
801 CALIFORNIA STREET
MOUNTAIN VIEW
CA
94041
US
|
Family ID: |
32990036 |
Appl. No.: |
10/403794 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/265.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1425 20130101;
H05K 7/1489 20130101; G06F 1/181 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/265.3 |
International
Class: |
A47G 029/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A storage cabinet adapted to mount and store computer devices
from different vendors and having different sizes, comprising: a
frame; an enclosure including a front door connected to the frame,
a top panel connected to the frame, a right side panel connected to
the frame, a left side panel connected to the frame, and a rear
door connected to the frame; a left bottom track connected to the
frame; a right bottom track connected to the frame; a left top
track connected to the frame; a right top track connected to the
frame; a left front device support structure slidably connected to
the left top track and the left bottom track to allow positioning
of the left front device support structure at a desired position
within the cabinet, including an interior surface substantially
parallel to the left and right side panels and further including a
rail with an inside edge and with a plurality of substantially
square holes having sides of approximately 0.38 inches for being
connected to a computer device intended to be mounted to a square
hole and for being connected to an adapter to change the dimensions
of the hole to connect a computer device intended to be mounted in
a hole of different dimensions than the substantially square hole;
a right front device support structure slidably connected to the
right top track and the right bottom track to allow positioning of
the right front device support structure at a desired position
within the cabinet, including an interior surface substantially
parallel to the left and right side panels and spaced approximately
19.76 inches from the interior surface of the left front device
support structure and further including a rail with an inside edge
spaced approximately 17.81 inches from the inside edge of the rail
of the left front device support structure and with a plurality of
substantially square holes having sides of approximately 0.38
inches for being connected to a computer device intended to be
mounted to a square hole and for being connected to an adapter to
change the dimensions of the hole to connect a computer device
intended to be mounted in a hole of different dimensions than the
substantially square hole; a left rear device support structure
including an interior surface substantially parallel to the left
and right side panels and further including a rail with an inside
edge and with a plurality of substantially square holes having
sides of approximately 0.38 inches and being slidably connected to
the left top track and the left bottom track to allow positioning
of the left rear device support structure at a desired position
within the cabinet, and wherein the left rear device support
structure is positioned with the rail of the left rear device
support structure being approximately 29.13 inches from the rail of
the left front device structure; a right rear device support
structure including an interior surface substantially parallel to
the left and right side panels and spaced approximately 19.76
inches from the interior surface of the left rear device support
structure and further including a rail with an inside edge spaced
approximately 17.81 inches from the inside edge of the rail of the
left rear device support structure and with a plurality of
substantially square holes having sides of approximately 0.38
inches, and being slidably connected to the left top track and the
left bottom track to allow positioning of the right rear device
support structure at a desired position within the cabinet, and
wherein the right rear device support structure is positioned with
the rail of the right rear device support structure being
approximately 29.13 inches from the rail of the right front device
structure; and a plurality of narrowing adapters for being
connected to the device support structures to make the width
between the interior surfaces of the left and right support
structures approximately 18.80 inches for connecting to computer
devices intended to be mounted in racks with a width between
interior surfaces of left and right support structures of
approximately 18.80 inches rather than approximately 19.76 inches.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to computer-related device storage,
and more particularly to a universal computer enclosure design that
can accept and support computing devices of various sizes and
shapes, and with different spacing requirements.
[0003] 2. Background of the Invention
[0004] Modern businesses make increasing use of multiple computer
devices and equipment, such as servers. This computer equipment is
typically placed in specialized cabinets for use and storage. The
Electronic Industries Association has produced a standard,
EIA-310-D, for these specialized cabinets. The cabinets have rails
on the left and right sides near the front of the cabinet with
holes that are used to attach the computer equipment. The EIA-310-D
standard defines the distance between the left and right rails, as
well as the spacing of the holes in the rails. Many large computer
device and server manufacturers conform to this standard.
[0005] However, the EIA-310-D standard leaves many aspects of the
cabinet unspecified. For example, the holes in the rails may be
square or circular. While the distance between the left and right
side rails is specified, creating a specified width of an opening
between the rails, the standard does not specify the width
available within the cabinet behind the rails. Further, the depth
of the cabinet, as well as various other aspects, are not
specified.
[0006] Thus, many computer component and server vendors sell
products that conform to the EIA-310-D specification, but have
different mounting and spacing requirements. Formerly, specialized
cabinets were designed to hold the equipment from a single vendor.
Typically, a business would purchase computer devices from a single
vendor to perform a task or set of tasks and store those devices
together in the cabinet designed for that vendor. Devices that
perform another task or set of tasks would be purchased from
another vendor and stored in another cabinet designed for that
second vendor.
[0007] However, businesses have increasingly consolidated
operations so that, rather than segregating different computer
equipment, the businesses wish to store all their equipment
together, regardless of the task being performed or the vendor from
which the device was purchased. This poses a problem, since a
computer cabinet specifically designed to allow mounting and
storage of equipment from one vendor will often not work with
equipment from other vendors, even if all of the equipment conforms
to a standard, such as the EIA-310-D specification.
[0008] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a flexible computer
equipment cabinet that allows mounting and storage of equipment
from several different vendors with different physical mounting
mechanisms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention provides a computer device cabinet that has
one or more features that give the cabinet flexibility for storing
computer devices from multiple different vendors and having
different cabinet requirements. In one embodiment of the present
invention, this allows storage of different computer devices from
different vendors with different cabinet requirements in a single
cabinet. Alternatively, multiple units of the same flexible cabinet
may be purchased and each used with a different type of computer
device from a vendor. In either case, purchasing cabinets for
storage of computer devices is made simpler for customers.
[0010] One feature that adds flexibility to the cabinet is mounting
holes that will work with many different computer devices with
different requirements for sizes and/or shapes of the mounting
hole. Adapters are used with the mounting holes to allow the
different computer devices to be mounted to the same set of
mounting holes.
[0011] Another feature is a set of device support structures that
may be positioned freely at desired depths within the cabinet. This
allows optimal positioning of the computer devices within the
cabinet to ensure door clearance and proper cooling space.
Additionally, it allows computer devices of varying depths to be
mounted in the cabinet, optionally with the use of adapters.
[0012] Yet another feature is an interior width that is wide enough
to fit a large variety of computer devices. Adapters are used to
narrow the width and allow mounting and storage of computer devices
that require a narrower width.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front, top, and right
side of an improved computer cabinet according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear, top, and right
side of the improved computer cabinet according to one embodiment
of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3a is a front view that illustrates the left and right
front device support structures to which computer devices are
attached according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3b is a rear view that illustrates the left and right
rear device support structures to which computer devices are
attached according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3c is a close up perspective view that illustrates a
computer device mounted within the cabinet according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 4a-4c are perspective views of adapters hat are used
with holes to attach different computer devices to the cabinet
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the right front
rail, holes within the right front rail, and the use of an adapter
from FIG. 4a with the rail according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a top view that illustrates the left and right
front device support structures as well as the left and right rear
device support structures according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a narrowing adapter bracket
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a side view that illustrates the left front device
support structure according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view that illustrates how a
narrowing adapter bracket is attached to a device support structure
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a top view that illustrates four device support
structures with the narrowing adapter brackets installed according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 11a is a perspective view illustrating how the device
support structures are positioned within the cabinet along the
tracks according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 11b is a close up perspective view showing more detail
of the track and how the device support structures are set in
position along the track according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front, top, and right
side of an improved computer cabinet 100 that provides added
flexibility for allowing the mounting of computer devices from
several different vendors with different mounting requirements.
This additional flexibility provides the advantage of allowing use
of just one cabinet 100 to contain equipment from several different
computer device vendors, rather than purchasing several
cabinets.
[0028] Alternatively, the additional flexibility may provide the
advantage of allowing the cabinet 100 to conform to any one set of
mounting requirements for computer devices. This type of
flexibility provides the advantage of purchasing just one type of
cabinet 100 for different mounting requirements, rather than
purchasing multiple different types of vendor specific cabinets
100.
[0029] In one embodiment, the computer cabinet 100 conforms to the
EIA-310-D standard, and also conforms to requirements set by
various computer equipment vendors. In one embodiment, the vendors
include International Business Machines Corporation of Armonk,
N.Y., Dell Computer Corporation of Austin, Tex., Sun Microsystems,
Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., and Compaq and Hewlett-Packard, both
owned by Hewlett-Packard, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. In other
embodiments, the computer cabinet 100 may conform to another
standard, or not conform to any particular standard, but simply
include features providing extra flexibility so that many different
computer devices from different vendors may be stored in the
cabinet.
[0030] In the description below, a cabinet 100 is described that
includes multiple different features. Each feature increases
cabinet 100 flexibility. While it may be desirable to include all
of the features that increase flexibility in a cabinet 100, the
cabinet 100 may also include just one of the features, or just a
few of the features, depending on which flexibility improvements
are desired. Some of the cabinet 100 features include:
[0031] (1) Mounting holes that allow direct mounting of some
computer devices and/or that accept adapters for mounting other
computer devices.
[0032] (2) An effective interior width of the cabinet 100 large
enough for mounting the widest computer device desired to be
mounted in the cabinet 100. Adapters may be used for narrowing the
effective width of the cabinet 100 for computer devices that
require a narrower width or that require a varying width.
[0033] (3) Structures to which the computer devices are mounted and
which support the computer devices that may be variably positioned
within the cabinet 100. This allows computer devices to be
positioned forward or back within the cabinet 100 as desired.
[0034] (4) The distance between front and rear support structures
may be chosen using variable positioning. A single distance may be
chosen that is appropriate for use with several types of computer
devices. Alternatively, the support structures may be placed far
enough apart for computer devices with large depth, and adapters
used to decrease the depth for attaching computer devices that
require smaller depths.
[0035] (5) An overall cabinet 100 depth the meets the minimum
requirements of several different types of computer devices.
[0036] (6) Cooling features sufficient for many types of computer
devices; the cooling can include free space within the cabinet 100
and vents in the cabinet 100 enclosure.
[0037] As seen in FIG. 1, the cabinet 100 includes a left front
device support structure 102 and a right front device support
structure 104. The computer devices are mounted in the cabinet 100
by attaching the devices to the left and right front device support
structures 102, 104, as well as to left and right rear device
support structures (not shown in FIG. 1). The left and right front
device support structures 102, 104 are connected to tracks 114
within the cabinet 100 in one embodiment. There are upper and lower
left side tracks 114 and upper and lower right side tracks 114
(only the lower left side track 114 is shown in FIG. 1). The tracks
114 are connected to a cabinet frame 120. The cabinet 100 also
includes a door 106, a top panel 108, a right panel 110, and a left
panel 112, each of which are connected to the cabinet frame 120. A
rear door (not shown in FIG. 1) may also be included. In other
embodiments, the device support structures 102, 104 may be
connected directly to the frame 120, the side panels 110, 112, or
to other parts of the cabinet 100, rather than to the tracks 114.
Note that while the term "cabinet" is used, the present invention
may lack one or more of the enclosing panels. The cabinet 100 may
have one or more sides open to the environment, rather than be
enclosed on all sides.
[0038] In one embodiment, the cabinet 100 has exterior dimensions
of a width 116 of approximately 24 inches and a depth 118 of
approximately 46.6 inches. Typically, the cabinets 100 are placed
in data centers, which have square floor tiles 24 inches on a side.
In such a data center, the cabinet 100 fits on two floor tiles,
which eases acquisition of data center space and allows for easy
connection of wires from below the data center floor to the
cabinets 100: since the cabinet 100 can be placed on a space one
square wide, adjacent squares may be lifted to access wiring
beneath the floor square. This embodiment has an interior depth
within the cabinet 100 and available for use by computer devices of
approximately 44 inches, which allows mounting and storage of many
brands of computer devices within the cabinet 100, including IBM,
Dell, Sun, Hewlett Packard, and Compaq.
[0039] In one alternative embodiment, the cabinet has an interior
depth within the cabinet 100 of approximately 34 inches. The
exterior depth 118 of this embodiment is approximately 36 inches,
which allows this cabinet 100 to fit in a space in a data center
that is one and a half floor tiles deep. Other exterior depths 118
and widths 116 and interior depths and widths may also be chosen,
depending on what size computer devices are to be stored within the
cabinet. One way to determine the interior depth and width desired
is to determine the largest interior depth required by the computer
devices to be stored in the cabinet 100 and ensure that the
interior depth is at least that large. In one embodiment, the
interior depth of the cabinet 100 is at least 36 inches, which is
deep enough for the computer device (28 inches) and cooling
requirement (at least 8 inches of free space behind the computer
device and in front of the rear door) of an IBM computer
device.
[0040] The cabinet 100 also has cooling features sufficient to meet
the most stringent cooling requirements of the computer devices to
be mounted in the cabinet 100. For example, in one embodiment, the
front door 106 has greater than 19 square inches of open cooling
vent area per rack unit in the front device support structures 102,
104. The rear door has more than 25 square inches of open cooling
vent area per rack unit in the front device support structures 102,
104. This is enough venting area for the computer devices to be
mounted in the cabinet 100. In other embodiments, the cooling area
of the cabinet 100 may be greater if required by the computer
devices that are to be mounted in that cabinet.
[0041] Many computer devices also specify requirements for the
amount of load a cabinet 100 can bear per rack unit in the front
device support structures 102, 104. The cabinet 100 is designed so
that it may bear the amount of load specified by the computer
device with the largest load bearing requirement. In one
embodiment, the cabinet 100 designed to bear more than 35 pounds
per rack unit in the front device support structures 102, 104. In
this embodiment, there are 42 rack units in the front device
support structures 102, 104, so the cabinet 100 is capable of
bearing at least 1470 pounds.
[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear, top, and right
side of the computer cabinet 100. The cabinet 100 includes a left
rear device support structure 202 and a right rear device support
structure 204 (not shown in FIG. 2). When the computer devices are
mounted in the cabinet 100, the devices are typically attached to
the rear device support structures 202, 204 in addition to the
front device support structures 102, 104. The left and right rear
device support structures 202, 204 are also connected to tracks 114
on the upper and lower left and right sides within the cabinet
100.
[0043] FIG. 3a is a front view that illustrates the left and right
front device support structures 102 and 104 to which computer
devices are attached according to one embodiment of the present
invention. The left and right device support structures 102 and 104
each include a rail 328, 330 with a surface parallel to the front
of the cabinet 100 and perpendicular to the right and left panels
110, 112. Each of the left and right front device support
structures 102, 104 has mounting holes 304 spaced along the rail
328, 330. Typically, the computer equipment is mounted to the
device support structures 102 and 104 by attaching to the holes 304
in the rails 328, 330. The holes 304 are spaced according to the
EIA-310-D standard in one embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] Under the EIA-310-D standard, there are multiple rack units
308 along each device support structure 102, 104. Each rack unit
308 has three mounting holes 304. The distances 312, 314
center-to-center of the holes 304 within a rack unit 308 are
approximately 0.625 inches. The distance 310 center-to-center
between the last hole 304 of one rack unit 308 and the first hole
304 of another rack unit 308 is approximately 0.50 inches. This
means that each rack unit 308 extends approximately 1.75 inches
along the rails 328, 330. In other embodiments, the holes 304 can
be sized and spaced appropriately according to a different
standard, or simply sized and spaced to allow attachment of various
non-standard computer devices.
[0045] While the EIA-310-D standard specifies the spacing of the
holes 304, it does not specify the size or shape of the holes. In
one embodiment of the present invention, the holes 304 are
substantially square. The holes 304 have a width 316 of
approximately 0.38 inches, and a height 318 of approximately 0.38
inches. This size is large enough to accept the mounting hardware
of computer devices from many different vendors, and to accept
adapters that make the holes compatible with computer devices that
require different sized or shaped holes 304.
[0046] So that devices conforming to the EIA-310-D standard will
fit correctly when attaching them to the left and right front
device support structures 102 and 104, the distance 302 between the
inside edges of the left and right front rails 328, 330 is
approximately 17.81 inches, and the center-to-center distance 306
between holes 304 in the left rail 102 and holes 304 in the right
rail 104 is approximately 18.31 inches, which is consistent with
the EIA-310-D standard and the requirements of multiple computer
device manufacturers. In other embodiments, the distances between
the rails 328, 330 and holes 304 can be different to comply with a
different standard or with various non-standard computer
devices.
[0047] FIG. 3b is a rear view that illustrates the left and right
rear device support structures 202 and 204 to which computer
devices are attached. (Note that since this is a rear view, the
left rear device support structure 202 appears on the right of FIG.
3b, and the right rear device structure 204 appears on the left of
FIG. 3b.) The left and right rear device support structures 202,
204 are configured similarly to the front device support structures
102, 104. Each of the left and right rear device support structures
202, 204 has a rail 332, 334. The distance 302 between the rear
rails 332, 334 and the center-to-center distance 306 between holes
304 in the right rail 334 and the holes 304 in the left rail 332
are substantially the same as the distances 302, 306 described
above with respect to the left and right front device support
structures. The rear rails 332, 334 have holes 304, which have
placements, spacings, and sizes substantially the same as for the
holes 304 in the front rails 328, 330.
[0048] In some embodiments of the present invention, additional top
and bottom side brackets 320, 322 are also attached to the left and
right rear device support structures 202, 204. In the illustrated
embodiment, the side brackets 320, 322 include three holes 304
spaced as in a rack unit 308. Additionally, the distance 324
between the top and bottom side brackets 320, 322 is substantially
the same as the distance 302 between the left and right rails 328,
330, and the center-to-center distance 326 between a hole 304 in a
top side bracket 320 and a hole 304 in a bottom side bracket 322 is
substantially the same as the center-to-center distance 306 between
holes 304 in the left rail 328 and holes 304 in the right rail 104.
This allows mounting of a computer device that takes up one rack
unit 308 on each side of the cabinet 100, in addition to installing
computer devices between the rails 102, 104 in the cabinet 100. In
alternative embodiments, such additional top and bottom side
brackets 320, 322 are also attached to the left and right front
device support structures 102, 104.
[0049] FIG. 3c is a close up perspective view that illustrates a
computer device 350 mounted within the cabinet 100. In the
illustrated embodiment, the computer device 350 is mounted to the
front device support structures 102, 104 in the cabinet 100 by four
attachment devices 352 that attach the computer device 350 to four
holes 304 in the front rails 328, 330. The attachment devices 352
may be straight edged hooks that hook over the edge of the square
holes 304, screws that are screwed into round threaded adapters in
the holes 304, or other attachment devices 352. Typically, the
computer device 350 will be similarly attached to the rear rails
332, 334 and/or rear device support structures 202, 204.
Alternatively, the holes 304 could simply be used as positioning
reference devices with pins on the computer device 350 for
positioning the computer device 350 correctly in the cabinet 100
without attaching the computer device 350 to the cabinet 100.
[0050] The computer device 350 in FIG. 3c also has a faceplate 354.
This faceplate 354 may extend beyond the device support structures
102, 104 to an extent that the device support structures 102, 104
should be positioned back within the cabinet 100 to allow the door
106 to close. Also, the computer device 350 may have a cooling
requirement of free space between the faceplate 354 and the door
106 that may require proper positioning of the device support
structures 102, 104 away from the door 106.
[0051] FIGS. 4a-4c are perspective views of adapters 402, 404, 406
that are used with the holes 304 when a computer device 350 from a
vendor is to be attached to rails 328, 330, 332, 334 with holes of
a different shape or size than the actual holes 304 in the rails
328, 330, 332, 334. This allows mounting of computer devices 350
with different mounting requirements on the same rails 328, 330,
332, 334 within the cabinet 100 and increases the flexibility of
what computer devices 350 may be used with the cabinet 100. The
adapters 402, 404, 406 may also be used with holes 304 in the
device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204, to attach the
computer device 350 to the device support structures 102, 104, 202,
204 in addition to the rails 328, 330, 332, 334, or in place of
attaching the computer device 350 to the rails 328, 330, 332,
334.
[0052] The adapters 402, 404, 406 are inserted in the hole 304 in
the rail 328, 330, 332, 334 to effectively change the size and/or
shape of the hole 304. Each of the adapters 402, 404, 406 shown in
FIGS. 4a-4c changes the effective shape of the hole 304 to a round
hole because the adapter 402, 404, 406 itself includes a round hole
408. This round hole 408 may be of various sizes, and may be
threaded or non-threaded, depending on the requirements of the
computer device 350 to be attached using the adapter 402, 404, 406.
Additionally, other adapters can change the shape of the hole 304
to a smaller square hole, to a rectangular hole, or to a hole of a
different shape. An adapter may even completely block the hole 304
and replace the hole with a mounting hook or other device.
[0053] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the right front
rail 330, holes 304 within the right front rail 330, and the use of
adapter 402 from FIG. 4a with the rail 330. In the illustrated
embodiment, a tool 502 is used to compress flanges 410 of adapter
402 illustrated from FIG. 4a so that the adapter 402 may be
inserted into the hole 304 and be firmly connected with the rail
330. The other two adapters 402 in FIG. 5 have already been
installed in the holes 304 of the rail 330 and are ready for use to
attach a computer device 350 to the rail 330.
[0054] FIG. 6 is a top view that illustrates the left and right
front device support structures 102, 104 as well as the left and
right rear device support structures 202, 204 according to one
embodiment of the present invention. As described above with
respect to FIG. 3a, the inside edges of the front left and right
rails 328, 330 are separated by a distance 302 of approximately
17.81 inches. Similarly, the rear left and right rails 332, 334 are
also separated by the distance 302 of approximately 17.81
inches.
[0055] The device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 are mounted
to the rails 114 within the cabinet 100 so that the front rails
328, 330 have a depth distance 604 of approximately 29.13 inches
from the rear rails 332, 334 in one embodiment. As will be
described more fully below, the rails 114 allow the depth distance
604 between the front rails 328, 330 and the rear rails 332, 334 to
be varied by a user. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the
depth distance 604 of 29.13 inches is chosen because it is
compatible with the requirements of the EIA-310-D standard as well
as the requirements of a wide range of computer devices 350 from
several different vendors. In one embodiment, this distance 604 of
29.13 inches is chosen because it is the distance 604 specified for
use with one of the multiple computer devices 350 with which the
cabinet 100 is to be used and falls within an allowable range of
distances 604 specified by the rest of the multiple computer
devices 350 with which the cabinet 100 is to be used.
[0056] Between the rails 328, 330, 332, 334, the width 602 between
interior surfaces 606 of the left and right rear device support
structures 202, 204 is approximately 19.76 inches. Similarly,
between the rails 328, 330, 332, 334, the width 602 between
interior surfaces 606 of the left and right front device support
structures 102, 104 is also approximately 19.76 inches. These
interior surfaces 606 are a surface of the device support
structures 102, 104, 202, 204 that are parallel to the left and
right side panels 110, 112, and toward the inside of the cabinet
100 interior, away from the side panels 110, 112. This width 602 is
chosen to be great enough so that computer devices 350 from many
different vendors will fit between the device support structures
102, 104, 202, 204. In the illustrated embodiment, the width 602 is
chosen as approximately 19.76 inches to be compatible with the
EIA-310-D standard, as well as with the widest requirements of
computer devices 350 from Dell, Sun, Hewlett Packard, and Compaq.
In different embodiments, different widths are used.
[0057] The width 602 of FIG. 6 is chosen so that the width 602 will
be large enough for computer devices 350 from many different
vendors. However, some computer devices 350 may require a width of
less than the width 602. In such a case, a narrowing adapter
bracket may be used.
[0058] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of such a narrowing adapter
bracket 702. A narrowing adapter bracket 702 increases the
flexibility of the cabinet 100 and allows the use of the cabinet
100 with a wider range of computer devices 350 with different width
requirements. Some computer devices 350 may be attached to the
narrowing adapter bracket 702 or to a non-rail portion of the
device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 in addition to
attaching the computer devices 350 to the rails 328, 330, 332, 334,
or in place of attaching the computer devices 350 to the rails 328,
330, 332, 334. The narrowing adapter bracket 702 has attachment
holes 704 for attaching the narrowing adapter bracket 702 to the
device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204. The narrowing adapter
bracket 702 also includes device holes 706 for use in attaching the
computer device 350 to the adapter bracket 702. In the illustrated
embodiment, these device holes 706 are round and are spaced as in a
rack unit with the same distances between holes 706 as described
above with respect to the holes 304 of the rails 328, 330, 332,
334. In another embodiment, holes 706 of different shapes, and with
different positioning schemes may also be used. Alternatively, the
narrowing adapter bracket 702 may not require holes 704, 706 at
all, but may use other structures to attach the bracket 702 to the
device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 and/or attach the
computer device 350 to the narrowing adapter bracket 702.
[0059] FIG. 8 is a side view that illustrates the left front device
support structure 102 in more detail. Note that while FIG. 8 and
the accompanying description illustrates the left front device
support structure 102, the other device support structures 104,
202, 204 are typically configured in the same way as the left front
device support structure 102. Thus, the description and
illustration of the left front device support structure 102 is
typically equally applicable to the right front device support
structure 104, and the right and left rear device support
structures 202, 204.
[0060] The left front device support structure 102 has adapter
attachment holes 802 positioned to line up with the attachment
holes 704 of the narrowing adapter bracket 702 to allow attaching
the narrowing adapter bracket 702 to the left front device support
structure 102. Various types of narrowing adapter brackets 702 may
be attached at various vertical positions along the device support
structure 102 to allow the attachment of computer devices 350 of
varying widths within the same cabinet 100.
[0061] Also illustrated in FIG. 8, the side wall of the device
support structure 102 includes holes 304. In one embodiment, these
holes 304 follow the same pattern, are the same shape and size, and
are spaced apart from each other in the same way as the holes 304
in the rails 328, 330, 332, 334. In other embodiments, the holes
304 may have a different shape or size, be positioned differently,
or even be absent from the device support structure 102. A computer
device 350 may be attached to these holes 304 on the device support
structure 102, 104, 202, 204, rather than, or in addition to being
attached to the holes 304 in the rails 328, 330, 332, 334.
[0062] FIG. 9 is a perspective view that illustrates how a
narrowing adapter bracket 702 is attached to a device support
structure 102 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Screws 902 go through the attachment holes 704 of the narrowing
adapter bracket 702 and are fastened to the adapter attachment
holes 802 of the device support structure 102. By attaching the
narrowing adapter bracket 702 in such a way, the effective width
602 between front left and right device support structures 102, 104
or between the rear left and right device support structures 202,
204 is narrowed, allowing attachment of computer devices 350 that
require narrower widths 602.
[0063] Returning to FIG. 6, in other embodiments, the distance 604
between the left front and left rear rails 328 and 332 or right
front and right rear rails 330, 334 may be chosen so that the
distance 604 is at least as large as the greatest distance required
by the computer devices 350 that will be stored in the cabinet 100.
Adapter brackets may be connected to the device support structures
102, 104, 202, 204 to selectively reduce the distance 604 to allow
installation of computer devices 350 that require a smaller
distance 604. This can be done by using adapter brackets similar to
the narrowing adapter brackets 702 described above. Computer
devices 350 that require a smaller depth distance 604 would then be
attached to the adapter brackets, increasing the flexibility of the
cabinet 100 and allowing the cabinet 100 to store many different
types of computer devices 350 that require different depth
distances 604.
[0064] FIG. 10 is a top view that illustrates four device support
structures 102, 104, 202, 204 with the narrowing adapter brackets
702 installed. As seen in FIG. 10, the depth distance 604 between
the front rails 328, 330 and the rear rails 332, 334 remains the
same as shown in FIG. 6: approximately 29.13 inches. The front left
and right rails 328, 330 and rear left and right rails 332, 334 are
separated by a distance 302 of approximately 17.81 inches. The
width 602 between the left and right rear device support structures
202, 204 and between the left and right front device support
structures 102, 104 is approximately 19.76 inches. However, because
the narrowing adapter brackets 702 have been installed, the
effective width 1002 between the left and right rear device support
structures 202, 204 and between the left and right front device
support structures 102, 104 is narrower, approximately 18.80
inches. This allows installation of computer devices 350 that
require a narrower effective width 1002 than the larger width
602.
[0065] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the narrowing
adapter brackets 702 also provide a modified depth distance 1004.
The computer device 350 for which the narrowing adapter brackets
702 are installed may require this modified depth distance 1004. In
FIG. 10, this modified depth distance is approximately 24 inches.
Other computer devices 350 may require narrowing adapter brackets
702 that provide different modified depth distances 1004 that can
be accommodated using appropriate narrowing adapter brackets
702.
[0066] FIG. 11a is a perspective view illustrating how the device
support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 are positioned within the
cabinet 100 along the tracks 114. FIG. 11b is a close up
perspective view showing more detail of the track 114 and how the
device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 are set in position
along the track 114. While FIGS. 11a-11b only show some of the
device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204, the rest of the
device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 may be similarly
positioned within the cabinet 100 along the tracks 114.
[0067] The device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 can be
positioned at any point along the tracks 114. As shown in FIG. 11a,
both the front and the rear device support structures 102, 202 may
be independently moved forward or back along the tracks 114 and
fixed in the desired position. In an alternative embodiment, the
distance between the front and rear device support structures 102,
202 is fixed, but the device support structures 102, 202 may be
moved as a unit forward or back along the tracks 114 to a desired
position.
[0068] As seen in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11b, a
positioning screw 1102 is tightened to set the device support
structure 202 in a desired position and prevent it from moving, or
loosened to free the device support structure 202 and allow it to
be repositioned. The positioning screw 1102 is threaded into a nut
(not shown) that is located within the track 114. As the
positioning screw 1102 is tightened into the nut, the screw 1102
forces the device support structure 202, as well as the nut,
against the track 114. Friction between the nut and the track and
the device support structure 202 and the track then prevents the
device support structure 202 from moving away from the set
position.
[0069] To change the position of the device support structure 202,
the screw 1102 is loosened, releasing the force holding the device
support structure 202 against the track 114. After the screw 1102
is loosened, both the device support structure 202 and the nut are
able to slide forward or back along the track 114 so that the
device support structure 202 may be positioned at any location
along the track 114. After the device support structure 202 has
been placed in a desired position, the screw 1102 is then
retightened, so that the device support structure 202 is again set
in place.
[0070] In alternative embodiments, a cam or other mechanism may
replace the screw 1102 for setting the device support structures
102, 104, 202, 204 in place and preventing them from moving.
Alternatively, rather than the continuously variable positioning
allowed by the illustrated embodiment, there may be predetermined
set locations at which the device support structures 102, 104, 202,
204 may be positioned. Finally, in some embodiments, the device
support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 may have a single set
position.
[0071] Because the device support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 may
be independently positioned along the tracks 114 within the cabinet
100, the depth distance 604 may be altered by the user. As
discussed above with respect to FIG. 6, in one embodiment the depth
distance 604 of 29.13 inches is chosen because it is compatible
with the requirements of a wide range of computer devices 350 from
several different vendors. However, the cabinet 100 of the present
invention is flexible enough to allow different depth distances 604
if required by devices from different vendors.
[0072] Additionally, even if the depth distance 604 is kept at
29.13 inches, the variable positions allowed by the cabinet 100
with its tracks 114 for the device support structures 102, 104,
202, 204 allow a user to select whether a computer device 350 will
be positioned closer to the front of the cabinet 100 or closer to
the rear of the cabinet 100. This feature provides additional
flexibility to the cabinet 100 because different computer devices
350 may be optimally positioned closer to the front of the cabinet
100 or closer to the back of the cabinet 100. For example, some
computer devices 350 may have a large faceplate 354 that would
prevent the door 106 of the cabinet 100 from closing if the device
support structures 102, 104, 202, 204 were positioned too far
forward. The variable positions allowed by the cabinet 100 mean
that such a computer device 350 can be positioned further back in
the cabinet 100, and allow the door 106 to close properly.
Similarly, some computer devices 350 require a set amount of free
space behind the computer device 350 and in front of the rear of
the cabinet 100, to ensure proper airflow for cooling the computer
device 350. The variable positions allowed by the cabinet 100 mean
that the computer device 350 can be correctly positioned in the
cabinet 100 to ensure proper airflow for this computer device
350.
[0073] The foregoing description of the embodiments of the
invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the
relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations
are possible in light of the above teaching. Persons skilled in the
art will recognize various equivalent combinations and
substitutions for various components shown in the figures. It is
therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not
by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended
hereto.
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