U.S. patent application number 11/837537 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for offset brackets for expanding electronic equipment cabinets.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHATSWORTH PRODUCTS, INC.. Invention is credited to Richard Evans II LEWIS.
Application Number | 20080035810 11/837537 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39083013 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080035810 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEWIS; Richard Evans II |
February 14, 2008 |
OFFSET BRACKETS FOR EXPANDING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT CABINETS
Abstract
An offset bracket adapted to mount two oversized enclosure
panels on a frame structure for supporting electronic equipment
includes a first portion, having a first mounting element adapted
to connect to the frame structure, and a second portion, having a
second mounting element adapted to connect to a first oversized
enclosure panel and a third mounting element adapted to connect to
a second oversized enclosure panel such that the first and second
oversized enclosure panels are supported by the frame structure and
held at right angles to each other. The offset bracket includes
first and second arms, a curved spine, or any of a variety of
alternative configurations.
Inventors: |
LEWIS; Richard Evans II;
(Austin, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TILLMAN WRIGHT, PLLC
PO BOX 471581
CHARLOTTE
NC
28247
US
|
Assignee: |
CHATSWORTH PRODUCTS, INC.
31425 Agoura Road
Westlake Village
CA
91361-4614
|
Family ID: |
39083013 |
Appl. No.: |
11/837537 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60822234 |
Aug 12, 2006 |
|
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|
60938702 |
May 18, 2007 |
|
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|
60939049 |
May 19, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/183 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/200 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06 |
Claims
1. An offset bracket adapted to mount two oversized enclosure
panels on a frame structure for supporting electronic equipment,
comprising (a) a first portion having a first mounting element
adapted to connect to the frame structure; and (b) a second portion
having a second mounting element adapted to connect to a first
oversized enclosure panel and a third mounting element adapted to
connect to a second oversized enclosure panel such that the first
and second oversized enclosure panels are supported by the frame
structure and held at right angles to each other.
2. The offset bracket of claim 1, wherein: (c) the first mounting
element includes a first planar element, having at least one
aperture penetrating therethrough, that is adapted to abut a planar
surface of the frame structure; (d) the second mounting element
includes a second planar element, having at least one aperture
penetrating therethrough, that is parallel to the first planar
element; and (e) the third mounting element includes a third planar
element, having at least one aperture penetrating therethrough,
that is perpendicular to the first planar element.
3. The offset bracket of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a
frame attachment end and the second portion is an expansion
attachment end, and wherein the frame attachment end and the
expansion attachment end are connected by a curved spine
member.
4. The offset bracket of claim 3, wherein the expansion attachment
end is oriented at a right angle relative to the frame attachment
end.
5. The offset bracket of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a
first arm having opposing ends and a rectilinear form, and wherein
the second portion is a second arm, having opposing ends and a
rectilinear form, that is fixedly connected at one end to the first
arm such that the second arm forms an angle relative to the first
arm.
6. The offset bracket of claim 5, wherein the angle formed between
the first and second arms is a right angle.
7. The offset bracket of claim 1, wherein the second portion is an
arm, and wherein the second mounting element includes a planar
flange extending from the end of the arm.
8. The offset bracket of claim 7, wherein the first mounting
element includes a first planar element and wherein the planar
flange extends at a right angle from the end of the arm and is
perpendicular to the first planar element.
9. An offset bracket adapted to support an oversized enclosure
panel at a laterally-displaced distance from a frame structure for
supporting electronic equipment, comprising: (a) a frame attachment
end having a first mounting element adapted to connect to the frame
structure, the first mounting element including a first planar
element, having at least one aperture penetrating therethrough,
that is adapted to abut a planar surface of the frame structure;
(b) a curved spine member adapted to extend laterally away from the
frame structure when the frame attachment end is connected to the
frame structure; and (c) an expansion attachment end having a
second mounting element for mounting the oversized enclosure panel
thereon such that the panel is supported at a laterally-displaced
distance from the frame structure, wherein the second mounting
element includes a second planar element, having at least one
aperture penetrating therethrough, that is perpendicular to the
first planar element.
10. The offset bracket of claim 9, wherein the second mounting
element is a planar flange extending from the end of the expansion
attachment end.
11. The offset bracket of claim 10, wherein the planar flange
extends at a right angle from the expansion attachment end of the
offset bracket and is perpendicular to the first planar
element.
12. The offset bracket of claim 9, wherein the curvature of the
curved spine member occurs within a horizontal plane.
13. The offset bracket of claim 9, wherein the curvature of the
curved spine member is generally uniform.
14. An offset bracket adapted to support an oversized enclosure
panel at a laterally-displaced distance from a frame structure for
supporting electronic equipment, comprising: (a) a first arm having
proximal and distal ends and a rectilinear form, the first arm
adapted to connect at the proximal end to the frame structure; and
(b) a second arm having proximal and distal ends and a rectilinear
form, wherein the proximal end of the second arm is fixedly
connected to the distal end of the first arm such that the second
arm forms an angle relative to the first arm, and wherein the
distal end of the second arm is adapted for mounting the oversized
enclosure panel thereon such that the panel is supported at a
laterally-displaced distance from, and at right angles to, the
frame structure.
15. The offset bracket of claim 14, wherein the angle formed
between the first and second arms is a right angle.
16. The offset bracket of claim 14, wherein the first and second
arms are oriented at right angles to the frame structure.
17. The offset bracket of claim 14, wherein the proximal end of the
first arm includes a first mounting element adapted to connect to
the frame structure, and wherein the distal end of the second arm
includes a second mounting element for mounting the oversized
enclosure panel thereon such that the panel is supported at a
laterally-displaced distance from the frame structure.
18. The offset bracket of claim 17, wherein the second mounting
element includes a planar flange extending from the end of the
second arm.
19. The offset bracket of claim 18, wherein the first mounting
element includes a first planar element, and wherein the planar
flange extends at a right angle from the end of the second arm and
is perpendicular to the first planar element.
20. The offset bracket of claim 17, wherein the first mounting
element includes a first planar element, having at least one
aperture penetrating therethrough, that is adapted to abut a planar
surface of the frame structure, and wherein the second mounting
element includes a second planar element, having at least one
aperture penetrating therethrough, that is perpendicular to the
first planar element.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] For purposes of the United States, the present application
is a U.S. nonprovisional patent application of, and claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) to, U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/822,234, filed Aug. 12, 2006, U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/938,702, filed May 18,
2007, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/939,049,
filed May 19, 2007, each of which is incorporated by reference
herein.
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
[0002] All of the material in this patent document is subject to
copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States
and of other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the
facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the
patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office
patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights
whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Present Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to the field of
cabinets for mounting and storing electronic components, and, more
particularly, to expansion kits for expanding the available volume
of a cabinet.
[0005] 1. Background
[0006] Frames and cabinets for mounting and storing electronic
components have been well known for many years. Frames are
typically simple rectangular frameworks on which electronic
components may be mounted, or on which other mounting members, such
as shelves or brackets, may be mounted which in turn may support
the electronic components. Cabinets are typically frames on which
panels or doors, or both, are hung to provide aesthetic
improvement, to protect the components from external influences, to
provide security for the components stored inside, or for other
reasons.
[0007] Frames and cabinets (sometimes collectively referred to
hereinafter as "enclosures") have been built in many different
sizes and with many different proportions in order to best
accommodate the components which they are designed to store. Large
enclosures have been created to hold large components or to hold
multiple components. Smaller enclosures are more commonly utilized
for smaller components.
[0008] Components stored in these enclosures may include audio and
video equipment and the like, but quite frequently include computer
equipment and related peripheral devices. Regardless of the
component type, each component typically requires an external power
supply and a plurality of input and output cables, wires and the
like (generally referred to hereinafter as "cables"). Some of these
wires and cable are connected to other components in the same
enclosure, and some of which extend out of the enclosure to either
an adjacent enclosure or to a remote location, typically using
either an overhead cabling system or an under-floor cabling
system.
[0009] Apparatuses for routing cables and wires to and from that
equipment are also well known. In particular, a wide variety of
raceways are available for routing cables vertically through or
adjacent to equipment enclosures. Such raceways may be used to
route cables vertically to equipment mounted or otherwise supported
in an enclosure from other equipment on the same enclosure, from an
adjacent enclosure, from overhead or underfloor raceway, or the
like. These cables are generally routed in the vertical direction
to a point adjacent to the desired equipment and then routed in the
horizontal direction to the desired equipment.
[0010] A particular problem inherent in the use of enclosures of
all kinds is the issue of how to route and otherwise manage the
large quantities of cables that are often necessary for a
particular enclosure. Previously known enclosures utilize vertical
cable raceways, ducts, and other enclosed or semi-enclosed
structures to guide cables or bundles of cables upward and
downward. Unfortunately, such structures provide very little
flexibility in how cables or cable bundles are routed. Further,
once cables or cable bundles are installed in such structures, it
is relatively difficult to adjust the positions of the cables.
[0011] An additional problem is finding space within an enclosure
to contain the large quantities of cables associated with the
equipment being housed in the enclosure. Traditionally, enclosures
are available in standard sizes, which are known and used
throughout the enclosure industry. Further, control rooms are
generally sized to contain and computer and electronic equipment
generally fit within standard sized enclosures. Therefore, it is
generally not realistically feasible to resize standard sized
enclosures to accommodate cables. Accordingly, a standard sized
enclosure that provides spacing to accommodate the large quantities
of cables associated with electronic equipment stored therein is
needed.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0012] Broadly defined, the present invention according to one
aspect is an offset bracket adapted to mount two oversized
enclosure panels on a frame structure for supporting electronic
equipment, including: a first portion having a first mounting
element adapted to connect to the frame structure; and a second
portion having a second mounting element adapted to connect to a
first oversized enclosure panel and a third mounting element
adapted to connect to a second oversized enclosure panel such that
the first and second oversized enclosure panels are supported by
the frame structure and held at right angles to each other.
[0013] In a feature of this aspect, the first mounting element
includes a first planar element, having at least one aperture
penetrating therethrough, that is adapted to abut a planar surface
of the frame structure; the second mounting element includes a
second planar element, having at least one aperture penetrating
therethrough, that is parallel to the first planar element; and the
third mounting element includes a third planar element, having at
least one aperture penetrating therethrough, that is perpendicular
to the first planar element.
[0014] In other features of this aspect, the first portion is a
frame attachment end and the second portion is an expansion
attachment end, and wherein the frame attachment end and the
expansion attachment end are connected by a curved spine member;
and the expansion attachment end is oriented at a right angle
relative to the frame attachment end.
[0015] In other features of this aspect, the first portion is a
first arm having opposing ends and a rectilinear form, and the
second portion is a second arm, having opposing ends and a
rectilinear form, that is fixedly connected at one end to the first
arm such that the second arm forms an angle relative to the first
arm; and the angle formed between the first and second arms is a
right angle.
[0016] In other features of this aspect, the second portion is an
arm, and the second mounting element includes a planar flange
extending from the end of the arm; and the first mounting element
includes a first planar element and the planar flange extends at a
right angle from the end of the arm and is perpendicular to the
first planar element.
[0017] Broadly defined, the present invention according to another
aspect is an offset bracket adapted to support an oversized
enclosure panel at a laterally-displaced distance from a frame
structure for supporting electronic equipment, including: a frame
attachment end having a first mounting element adapted to connect
to the frame structure, the first mounting element including a
first planar element, having at least one aperture penetrating
therethrough, that is adapted to abut a planar surface of the frame
structure; a curved spine member adapted to extend laterally away
from the frame structure when the frame attachment end is connected
to the frame structure; and an expansion attachment end having a
second mounting element for mounting the oversized enclosure panel
thereon such that the panel is supported at a laterally-displaced
distance from the frame structure, wherein the second mounting
element includes a second planar element, having at least one
aperture penetrating therethrough, that is perpendicular to the
first planar element.
[0018] In features of this aspect, the second mounting element is a
planar flange extending from the end of the expansion attachment
end; and the planar flange extends at a right angle from the
expansion attachment end of the offset bracket and is perpendicular
to the first planar element.
[0019] In other features of this aspect, the curvature of the
curved spine member occurs within a horizontal plane; and/or the
curvature of the curved spine member is generally uniform.
[0020] Broadly defined, the present invention according to another
aspect is an offset bracket adapted to support an oversized
enclosure panel at a laterally-displaced distance from a frame
structure for supporting electronic equipment, including: a first
arm having proximal and distal ends and a rectilinear form, the
first arm adapted to connect at the proximal end to the frame
structure; and a second arm having proximal and distal ends and a
rectilinear form, wherein the proximal end of the second arm is
fixedly connected to the distal end of the first arm such that the
second arm forms an angle relative to the first arm, and wherein
the distal end of the second arm is adapted for mounting the
oversized enclosure panel thereon such that the panel is supported
at a laterally-displaced distance from, and at right angles to, the
frame structure.
[0021] In a feature of this aspect, the angle formed between the
first and second arms is a right angle.
[0022] In another feature of this aspect, the first and second arms
are oriented at right angles to the frame structure.
[0023] In other features of this aspect, the proximal end of the
first arm includes a first mounting element adapted to connect to
the frame structure, and the distal end of the second arm includes
a second mounting element for mounting the oversized enclosure
panel thereon such that the panel is supported at a
laterally-displaced distance from the frame structure; the first
mounting element includes a first planar element, and the second
mounting element includes a planar flange extending from the end of
the second arm; and the planar flange extends at a right angle from
the end of the second arm and is perpendicular to the first planar
element.
[0024] In another feature of this aspect, the first mounting
element includes a first planar element, having at least one
aperture penetrating therethrough, that is adapted to abut a planar
surface of the frame structure, and the second mounting element
includes a second planar element, having at least one aperture
penetrating therethrough, that is perpendicular to the first planar
element.
[0025] Broadly defined, the present invention according to another
aspect is an expanded electronic equipment cabinet, including: a
frame structure for supporting electronic equipment; and a cabinet
expansion kit, having a panel and a plurality of offset brackets;
wherein a first end of each offset bracket of the plurality of
offset brackets is connected to, and extends laterally from, the
frame structure and wherein the panel is connected to a second end
of each offset bracket of the plurality of offset brackets such
that the panel is supported by the offset brackets at a
laterally-displaced distance from, and at right angles to, the
frame structure.
[0026] In features of this aspect, the panel is a first panel and
the cabinet expansion kit further includes a second panel that is
connected to the second end of each offset bracket of the plurality
of offset brackets such that the second panel is supported by the
offset brackets at a laterally-displaced distance from, and at
right angles to, the frame structure; and the first and second
panels are a door and a side panel, respectively, that are arranged
at right angles to each other.
[0027] In another feature of this aspect, a space is created
between the panel and the frame structure to accommodate
accessories connected to the electronic equipment supported by the
frame structure.
[0028] In another feature of this aspect, each offset bracket
includes a curved spine extending laterally away from the frame
structure.
[0029] In alternative features, each offset bracket includes first
and second arms, each having proximal and distal ends and a
rectilinear form, wherein the proximal end of the second arm is
fixedly connected to the distal end of the first arm such that the
second arm forms an angle relative to the first arm; the angle
formed between the first and second arms is a right angle; and the
first and second arms are oriented at right angles to the frame
structure.
[0030] In other features of this aspect, the frame structure
includes at least four vertical members, each having at least two
of the plurality of offset brackets attached thereto and extending
laterally therefrom, and the cabinet expansion kit includes at
least four panels, each of which is supported at each of its four
corners by an offset bracket; the at least four panels are each
displaced an equal distance from the frame structure; a first of
the at least four panels is a front panel, a second of the at least
four panels is a rear panel, a third of the at least four panels is
a left side panel, and a fourth of the at least four panels is a
right side panel, wherein the front and rear panels are displaced a
first distance from the frame structure and the left and right side
panels are displaced a second distance from the frame structure,
and the first and second distances are unequal; each of the at
least four panels has a respective width, each of the at least four
panels is adjacent a respective pair of vertical members, and at
least two of the at least four panels are oversized panels that are
each wider than the distance between the two vertical members of
the pair of vertical members to which the respective panel is
adjacent; and alternatively, four of the at least four panels are
oversized panels that are each wider than the distance between the
two vertical members of the pair of vertical members to which the
respective panel is adjacent.
[0031] In other features of this aspect, the cabinet further
includes a top panel extension that extends laterally and outwardly
from a top of the frame structure by an amount equal to the
laterally-displaced distance; the cabinet further includes a top
panel disposed on the top of the frame structure, and the top panel
extension fits around the top panel; and one or more cable openings
are arranged in the top panel extension.
[0032] In another feature of this aspect, the second end of each
offset bracket includes a planar flange extending therefrom.
[0033] In another feature of this aspect, the first end has a first
mounting element adapted to connect to the frame structure, the
first mounting element including a first planar element, having at
least one aperture penetrating therethrough, that is adapted to
abut a planar surface of the frame structure, and the second end
has a second mounting element for mounting the panel thereon such
that the panel is supported at a laterally-displaced distance from
the frame structure, wherein the second mounting element includes a
second planar element, having at least one aperture penetrating
therethrough, that is perpendicular to the first planar
element.
[0034] Broadly defined, the present invention according to another
aspect is a method of expanding an electronic equipment cabinet
having a frame structure for supporting electronic equipment,
including: providing a first enclosure for supporting electronic
equipment, the first enclosure including at least one panel mounted
on a frame structure formed from a plurality of frame members,
including a plurality of vertical members; removing a first panel,
of the at least one panel, from a face of the frame structure;
attaching a plurality of offset brackets to vertical members of the
frame structure, each offset bracket extending laterally from the
frame structure and including a mounting element for supporting a
panel; and attaching a second panel to the mounting element on the
offset bracket, thereby creating a second enclosure formed from the
frame structure and the second panel; wherein additional space is
enclosed within the second enclosure, between the second panel and
the frame structure, as compared to the space enclosed within the
first enclosure.
[0035] In a feature of this aspect, the first and second panels are
the same width.
[0036] In another feature of this aspect, the first and second
panels are different panels and wherein the second panel is wider
than the first panel.
[0037] In another feature of this aspect, each offset bracket
includes first and second arms, each having proximal and distal
ends and a rectilinear form, wherein the proximal end of the second
arm is fixedly connected to the distal end of the first arm such
that the second arm forms a right angle relative to the first arm.
Alternatively, each offset bracket includes a curved spine
member.
[0038] Broadly defined, the present invention according to another
aspect is a method of expanding an electronic equipment cabinet
having a frame structure for supporting electronic equipment,
including: providing a first enclosure for supporting electronic
equipment, the first enclosure including a first front panel, a
first left side panel, a first rear panel and a first right side
panel, all mounted on a frame structure formed from a plurality of
frame members, including four vertical post members; removing the
first front, left side, rear and right side panels from the frame
structure; attaching an offset bracket to each of the four vertical
post members of the frame structure, each offset bracket extending
laterally from the frame structure and including at least two
mounting elements, each mounting element for supporting a panel; a
second front panel to a mounting element on a first offset bracket,
a second left side panel to a mounting element on the first offset
bracket and to a mounting element on a second offset bracket, a
second rear panel to a mounting element on the second offset
bracket and to a mounting element on a third offset bracket, a
second right side panel to a mounting element on the third offset
bracket and to a mounting element on a fourth offset bracket, and
the second front panel to a mounting element on the fourth offset
bracket, thereby creating a second enclosure formed from the frame
structure and the second front, left side, rear and right side
panels; wherein additional space is enclosed within the second
enclosure, between the second front, left side, rear and right side
panels and the frame structure, as compared to the space enclosed
within the first enclosure.
[0039] In a feature of this aspect, each offset bracket includes
first and second arms, each having proximal and distal ends and a
rectilinear form, wherein the proximal end of the second arm is
fixedly connected to the distal end of the first arm such that the
second arm forms a right angle relative to the first arm.
Alternatively, each offset bracket includes a curved spine
member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] Further aspects, features, embodiments, and advantages of
the present invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein:
[0041] FIG. 1A is a shaded orthogonal view of the top and left side
of an expanded electronic equipment cabinet in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 1B is an orthogonal view of top and right side of the
cabinet of FIG. 1A;
[0043] FIG. 1C is a shaded orthogonal view of the bottom and left
side of the cabinet of FIG. 1A;
[0044] FIG. 1D is a shaded orthogonal view of the rear of the
cabinet of FIG. 1A;
[0045] FIG. 1E is a shaded orthogonal view of the bottom of the
cabinet of FIG. 1A;
[0046] FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of one of the offset brackets
of FIG. 1A;
[0047] FIG. 3 is an exploded orthogonal view of the cabinet of FIG.
1B.
[0048] FIG. 4A is a shaded orthogonal view of the front, top, and
right side of an alternative embodiment of an expanded electronic
equipment cabinet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0049] FIG. 4B is a shaded orthogonal view of the cabinet of FIG.
4A with a side panel removed;
[0050] FIG. 5 is an orthogonal view of the four post frame
structure of FIG. 4B; and
[0051] FIG. 6 is a view of one of the offset brackets of FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by
one having ordinary skill in the relevant art ("Ordinary Artisan")
that the present invention has broad utility and application.
Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being
"preferred" is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated
for carrying out the present invention. Other embodiments also may
be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a
full and enabling disclosure of the present invention. Moreover,
many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications,
and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the
embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the
present invention.
[0053] Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein
in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be
understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of
the present invention, and is made merely for the purposes of
providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention.
The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not
intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent
protection afforded the present invention, which scope is to be
defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not
intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present
invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found
herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
[0054] Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of
steps of various processes or methods that are described herein are
illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be
understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may
be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order,
the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being
carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an
indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or
methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences
and orders while still falling within the scope of the present
invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent
protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by the
appended claims rather than the description set forth herein.
[0055] Additionally, it is important to note that each term used
herein refers to that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand
such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein.
To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein-as understood
by the Ordinary Artisan based on the contextual use of such
term-differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition
of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as
understood by the Ordinary Artisan should prevail.
[0056] Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein,
"a" and "an" each generally denotes "at least one," but does not
exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise.
Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having an apple" describes "a
picnic basket having at least one apple" as well as "a picnic
basket having apples." In contrast, reference to "a picnic basket
having a single apple" describes "a picnic basket having only one
apple."
[0057] When used herein to join a list of items, "or" denotes "at
least one of the items," but does not exclude a plurality of items
of the list. Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having cheese or
crackers" describes "a picnic basket having cheese without
crackers", "a picnic basket having crackers without cheese", and "a
picnic basket having both cheese and crackers." Finally, when used
herein to join a list of items, "and" denotes "all of the items of
the list." Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having cheese and
crackers" describes "a picnic basket having cheese, wherein the
picnic basket further has crackers," as well as describes "a picnic
basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basket further has
cheese."
[0058] Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals
represent like components throughout the several views, the
preferred embodiments of the present invention are next described.
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely
exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its application, or uses.
[0059] FIGS. 1A-1E are various orthogonal views of an expanded
electronic equipment cabinet 10 in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the expanded
cabinet 10 includes an interior four post frame structure 14 and a
cabinet expansion kit, wherein the cabinet expansion kit may
include a plurality of offset brackets 12, one or more center
support brackets 13, an oversized front door 16, an oversized back
panel 18 and a top panel extension 22. As also shown, the cabinet
expansion kit may also include an oversized side panel 20 on either
the left side or the right side of the cabinet 10, but it will be
recognized that in alternative embodiments a second side panel 20
may likewise be included, on the opposite side of the first, or the
side panels may be omitted altogether. The purpose of the various
implementations is discussed elsewhere hereinbelow.
[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, the back panel 18 is actually
a pair of hinged doors. In this regard, it will be apparent that
various replacement components may be substituted for the
components of the expansion kit, without departing from the scope
of the present invention, so long as the general approach of
expanding the interior volume of a four post frame structure with
some sort of brackets is utilized.
[0061] The interior four post frame structure 14 may be of
conventional design and construction, and in fact the present
invention is perhaps most applicable to, and useful with,
conventional four post frame structures. As shown and described,
the four post frame structure 14 is formed from a plurality of
frame members including four vertical members 27, upper and lower
front cross members 29, upper and lower rear cross members 31 and
two pairs of upper and lower side cross members 33. Each vertical
member 27 includes a plurality of cross member attachment apertures
at each end. Two of the vertical members 27 are connected together
at their upper and lower ends by the upper and lower front cross
members 29, respectively, and the other two vertical members 27 are
connected together at their upper and lower ends by the upper and
lower rear cross members 31, respectively. The front cross members
29 and their respective vertical members 27 thus define a front
frame, and the rear cross members 31 and their respective vertical
members 27 define a rear frame. The front and rear frames may then
be connected together at their respective corners by the upper and
lower side cross members 33.
[0062] Any known connection means may be used to join the various
members together. Although not illustrated herein, at least one
example of conventional connection means is described in
commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,098, the entirety of which is
incorporated herein by reference. Although likewise not illustrated
herein, the precision and the stability of each of the corners of
at least some types of four post frame structures may be enhanced
by utilizing a self-squaring corner attachment bracket such as that
disclosed by the commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,117 entitled
"RACK FRAME CABINET," the entirety of which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
[0063] The four post frame structure 14 may further comprise four
horizontal mounting rails 35. Each horizontal mounting rail 35
includes two rows of mounting apertures extending along its entire
length. Optionally, vertical mounting rails (not shown) may be
mounted to the horizontal mounting rails 35. Each vertical mounting
rail preferably includes a series of evenly-spaced, threaded
mounting apertures, extending along substantially its entire
length, for use in mounting electronic components, peripheral
devices, cable brackets, additional mounting members, or the like
thereto.
[0064] FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of one of the offset brackets
of FIG. 1A. The bracket 12 includes a first arm 24, a second arm 26
and a side panel mounting element 28. The first and second arms
24,26 each include a proximal end 30,34 and a distal end 32,36. A
mounting surface, not shown in FIG. 2 but visible on some of the
offset brackets 12 illustrated in FIG. 3, is located at the
proximal end 30 of the first arm 24 and includes a plurality of
mounting apertures penetrating therethrough. The distal end 32 of
the first arm 24 is fixedly connected to a proximal end 34 of the
second arm 26, with the arms 24,26 preferably being connected at a
90 degree angle relative to one another, i.e., the first arm 24 and
second arm 26 connect to form an L-shaped bracket. The side panel
mounting element 28, which in at least some embodiments is a
generally planar plate-like structure, is fixedly connected to the
distal end 36 of the second arm 26. An additional pair of mounting
holes 38 are disposed adjacent the distal end 36 of the second arm
26. Such holes 38 may be used to mount hinges, bumpers, a door
strike, a latch point and the like.
[0065] In use, each offset bracket 12 may be mounted to the front-
or rear-facing surface of a vertical member 27, as appropriate,
such that it extends outwardly, away from the interior frame
structure 14. Each offset bracket 12 may be attached to its
respective vertical member 27 using the apertures in the mounting
surface located at the proximal end 30 of the first arm 24. Each
offset bracket 12 is arranged so that its second arm 26 is oriented
to point outwardly from the side of the interior frame structure 14
as shown in FIGS. 1A-1E. As illustrated therein, a first offset
bracket 12 is disposed near the top of each vertical member 27 and
a second offset bracket 12 is disposed near the bottom of each
vertical member 27. Each lateral side or face of the interior frame
structure 14 (front, left side, rear, right side) thus has four
mounting points for mounting a respective panel.
[0066] The offset brackets 12 provide versatility for a traditional
frame structure by providing a means to support the various front,
rear and side panels 16,18,20 away from the frame structure 14.
Because the various panels 16,18,20 are thus located farther away
from the equipment mounted in the interior of the frame structure
14 than panels mounted directly to the frame structure 14 would be,
additional space is thus provided for cables, internal ducts, or
other accessories. More particularly, the offset brackets 12 and
center support bracket 13 adapt a conventional frame structure 14
to hold larger doors and side panels than could be accommodated by
the interior frame structure 14 by itself, thereby increasing the
area available for cable management and/or thermal management in
the side space and front and back space of a data center cabinet
while creating minimal impediment to cables entering through a
raised floor tile or cabinet top panel.
[0067] In order to provide greater support for any of the panels
16,18,20, and particularly to provide a door stop for the free ends
of a pair of doors such as the pair of doors comprising the rear
panel 18 in the illustrated embodiment, a center support bracket 13
may be provided at the top or bottom of the front, rear, left or
right side of the interior frame structure 14. As perhaps best
illustrated in FIG. 1E, such a center support bracket 13 may
include two extension arms connected at their distal ends by a
single cross arm. Each extension arm is attached to the lower rear
cross member 31 using a respective mounting tab. Such a structure
may be formed by bending or angling a single member along four
lines to produce the extension arms, cross arm, and mounting
tabs.
[0068] For a panel comprising a single door, such as the front door
16 illustrated herein, one of the offset brackets 12 may be
modified by applying an additional door stop arm 15 thereto. As
perhaps best shown in FIG. 1D, the door stop arm 15 includes an
L-shaped arm mounted to the second arm 26 of the selected offset
bracket 12. At the distal end of the L-shaped arm is a flange
arranged to contact the bottom corner of the front door 16 when the
door is swung closed against the rest of the cabinet 10. Although
not illustrated, a door stop arm 15 may likewise be attached to the
offset bracket 12 disposed at the upper corner of the front door 16
to provide similar functionality with regard to the top corner of
the door 16.
[0069] FIG. 3 is an exploded orthogonal view of the cabinet of FIG.
1B, more particularly illustrating the use of the offset brackets
12. As shown therein, the offset brackets are mounted to the
interior frame structure 14 using apertures 40 in the various
members of the frame structure 14. If the interior frame structure
14 is to be produced in conjunction with the cabinet expansion kit,
then the apertures 40 may be created in any desired location.
However, in many cases, the cabinet expansion kit will be
retrofitted to an existing interior frame structure 14. In this
case, the offset brackets 12 may be installed in preexisting
mounting apertures 40 found in the vertical members 27 of most
conventional interior frame structures 14. These apertures 40 are
often normally used to mount hinges and other support hardware for
doors or other panels, or in some cases are used to support
equipment in the frame structure 14. Typically, these apertures 40
are located generally near a top and a bottom of the vertical
members 27 so as to provide sufficient stability for the doors,
panels or other apparatuses mounted thereon while still providing
ready access thereto.
[0070] The various components of the cabinet expansion kit may be
connected to the interior frame structure 14 as follows. First, the
offset brackets 12 may be mounted by connecting the proximal end 30
of the first arm 24 of each offset bracket 12 to the set of
apertures 40 of the frame structure 14 using any known fasteners of
suitable size and construction. As described previously, each
offset bracket 12 is installed so that it extends outwardly from
the front or rear of the interior frame structure 14, as
appropriate, and so that the bottom of the L-shape (i.e., the
second arm 26) is oriented to extend outwardly from the respective
side of the interior frame structure 14. In this arrangement, the
mounting holes 38 in each offset bracket 12 are oriented to face in
the same direction as the mounting apertures 40 to which the offset
bracket 12 itself is mounted, but are shifted forward or rearward,
as appropriate, and to the side, relative to the mounting apertures
40. In this sense, because the mounting holes 38 in the offset
bracket 12 are often intended to serve the same purpose as the
mounting apertures 40 (supporting panels, and particularly,
providing an attachment point for a hinge used to support a door
panel), the mounting holes 38 may be said to be "offset" from the
original mounting apertures 40.
[0071] With the offset brackets 12 in place, the displaced hinges,
and therefore oversized front and rear door panels 16,18, may be
attached to the mounting holes 38 of the offset brackets 12.
Further, oversized side panels 20 may be attached to the side panel
mounting elements 28 of the offset brackets 12. Any suitable
mounting or attachment means may be used to provide these various
connections. Optionally, additional mounting apertures (not shown)
may be provided in the side panel mounting elements 28 or elsewhere
in the second arm 26 of each offset bracket 12 in order to
facilitate such connections.
[0072] As shown, an oversized front door 16, an oversized back
panel 18 and one oversized side panel 20 are used in association
with the offset brackets 12 of the invention. As will be apparent
to the Ordinary Artisan, a variety of panels may be substituted for
each of the doors and other panels, or omitted entirely in some
applications. For example, the single side panel 20 shown in the
drawings may be omitted entirely if the cabinet 10 is intended to
be used as a middle one of a row of cabinets lined up side by side.
The illustrated cabinet 10 (i.e., a cabinet 10 with only a single
side panel 20) may be appropriate for the end cabinet in a row of
cabinets. For a standalone cabinet, or to provide increased
security or to improve the appearance of a cabinet, a second side
panel 20, identical in design and construction to the first (or in
some embodiments, the mirror image of the first), may be installed
on the opposite side. Likewise, doors may be included on the front,
rear, both the front and the rear or neither the front nor the rear
of the cabinet 10, all as desired for the particular application.
Solid panels useful for covering the front or rear will be known to
the Ordinary Artisan. One type of door may also be replaced by
another; for example, the single front door 16 illustrated herein
may be replaced by the two-door door panel 18 shown at the rear of
the cabinet 10, and vice versa. Preferably, a wide variety of
interchangeable doors and panels may be made available as options
to provide the user with a substantial degree of flexibility in
selecting the doors and other panels to be used with the expanded
electronic equipment cabinet 10.
[0073] Additional flexibility may be provided with regard to the
top of the cabinet 10. Although not shown, conventional enclosures,
such as are conventionally used with the interior frame structure
14 illustrated herein, commonly include a top panel covering a
substantial portion of the top of the frame structure 14. Such top
panels typically include openings for venting hot air from the
interior of the frame structure 14, for routing cables from the
interior of the frame structure 14 through the top to overhead
cable raceways or the like located above, or for both.
[0074] To complement such existing top panels, the cabinet
expansion kit of the present invention includes a top panel
extension 22 that fits around the existing top panel to fully cover
the top of the expanded cabinet 10. The top panel extension 22
itself is perhaps best seen in FIG. 3 and comprises a generally
planar frame sized to fit around the outside of the interior frame
structure 14. The frame of the extension 22 is formed from two end
members 42 and two side members 44, each of which includes a
plurality of generally evenly-spaced cable openings 23 and a
mounting flange 25 to facilitate connection of the extension 22 to
the frame structure 14. The dimensions of the extension 22 are
selected to correspond to the size of the offset brackets 12. More
specifically, the end members 42 for the ends of the top panel
extension 22 that extend to the front door 16 and the back panel 18
are substantially the same width as the first arm 24 of each offset
bracket 12, and the side members 44 for the sides of the top panel
extension 22 that extend to the side panels 20 are substantially
the same width as the second arm 26 of each offset bracket 12.
These widths allow the top panel extension 22 to fit neatly
adjacent the oversized door 16, back panel 18 and side panel
20.
[0075] Alternatively, an existing top panel may be removed entirely
and replaced with an integrated top panel (not shown) that includes
the functionality of both the existing top panel and the top panel
extension 22 described and illustrated herein, or with any other
functionality desired.
[0076] In use, the expanded cabinet 10 provides substantially more
space for cables and cable routing apparatuses than were possible
in the interior frame structure 14 by itself. With the cabinet
expansion kit in place, cables may be routed outside the boundaries
of the original frame structure 14 in the space created by
expanding the front, rear and sides of the cabinet. Conventional
cable routing structures, such as raceways and the like, may be
used to assist this process. In at least some embodiments, existing
cable routing structures may be utilized, while in others, new
cable routing structures may be developed. Also, cables may be
routed through the top panel extension 22 using the cable openings
23, using any cable openings that may exist in the existing top
panel, or both.
[0077] Advantageously, use of the cabinet expansion kit permits a
user to expand the volume of a frame structure 14 without having to
replace the various members 27,29,31,33 of the frame structure 14,
thus providing considerable cost savings. Expanding an existing
frame structure 14, rather than replacing it, may also result in
considerable labor savings, because electronic equipment mounted
therein, and some or all of the cables connected to such equipment,
may not need to be moved during the expansion process, and thus the
frame structure 14 may be expanded without disturbing the
installation therein.
[0078] In another advantage of the present invention, the offset
brackets 12 and the various doors and other panels 16,18,20,22 may
be dimensioned so as to form an expanded cabinet 10 that is the
same in one or more dimensions as a larger frame structure (not
shown). In other words, frame structures 14 of different sizes
could be provided such that installing a cabinet expansion kit on a
smaller frame structure 14 could produce an enclosure that is the
same size as the larger frame structure. In conjunction with this
approach, various doors and other panels 16,18,20 could be designed
to mount either on the smaller frame structure 14, via the offset
brackets 12, or on the larger frame structure (not shown) via
direction connection. A product line built around this approach
could provide even greater flexibility to users by offering
multiple upgrade options to the user.
[0079] Further, alternate cabinet configurations could allow for
the space added by the offset brackets to be asymmetrically biased.
In other words, the additional volume created by the offset
brackets 12 may be added more to the front or rear of the cabinet
10 and/or more to one side of the cabinet 10 or the other by adding
offset brackets (not shown) with unequal first or second arm
lengths, as appropriate. Such an embodiment would provide
flexibility and customizability. For example, offset brackets of
varying lengths could be used in a situation wherein large cable
access requirements are only present on the frontward or rearward
face of the equipment. Of course, to achieve such an arrangement,
the same front, rear and side panels could be utilized, but
different offset brackets and a different top panel or top panel
extension may be required.
[0080] FIGS. 4A-4B are various orthogonal views of an expanded
electronic equipment cabinet 100 in accordance with another
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The expanded
electronic equipment cabinet 100 in FIG. 4A is shown fully
enclosed, while in FIG. 4B, a side panel 106 has been removed to
better show an interior of the cabinet 100. The expanded cabinet
100 includes an interior four post frame structure 110 and a
cabinet expansion kit, wherein the cabinet expansion kit may
include a plurality of offset brackets 112, one or more center
support brackets 113, an oversized front door 102, an oversized
back panel 104, a pair of oversized side panels 106 and a top
extension panel 108.
[0081] With particular reference to the four post frame structure
110, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the four post frame structure
110. The four post frame structure 110 may be of conventional
design and construction, and in fact the present invention is
perhaps most applicable to, and useful with, conventional four post
frame structures. As shown and described, the four post frame
structure 110 includes four vertical members 114, upper and lower
front cross members 116, upper and lower rear cross members 118 and
two pairs of upper and lower side cross members 120,122. Each
vertical member 114 includes a plurality of cross member attachment
apertures at each end. Two of the vertical members 114 are
connected together at their upper and lower ends by the upper and
lower front cross members 116, respectively, and the other two
vertical members 114 are connected together at their upper and
lower ends by the upper and lower rear cross members 118,
respectively. The front cross members 116 and their respective
vertical members 114 thus define a front frame 124, and the rear
cross members 118 and their respective vertical members 114 define
a rear frame 126. The front and rear frames 124,126 may then be
connected together at their respective corners by the upper and
lower side cross members 120,122.
[0082] Any known connection means may be used to join the various
members together. Although not illustrated herein, at least one
example of conventional connection means is described in the
aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,098. Although likewise not
illustrated herein, the precision and the stability of each of the
corners of at least some types of four post frame structures may be
enhanced by utilizing a self-squaring corner attachment bracket
such as that disclosed by the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.
5,997,117.
[0083] Though not shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B or 5, the four post frame
structure 110 may further comprise four horizontal mounting rails
135. Each horizontal mounting rail 135 includes two rows of
mounting apertures extending along its entire length. Optionally,
vertical mounting rails (not shown) may be mounted to the
horizontal mounting rails 135. Each vertical mounting rail
preferably includes a series of evenly-spaced, threaded mounting
apertures, extending along substantially its entire length, for use
in mounting electronic components, peripheral devices, cable
brackets, additional mounting members, or the like thereto.
[0084] FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view of one of the offset brackets
112 of FIG. 5. The bracket 112 includes a frame attachment end 132
and an expansion attachment end 134 connected by a curved spine
member 130. The expansion attachment end 134 is oriented at a 90
degree angle relative to the frame attachment end 132. The frame
attachment end 132 includes a pair of apertures 136 disposed
therethrough for attachment of the bracket 112 to the front frame
124 and rear frame 126 of the four post frame structure 110. The
expansion attachment end 134 includes a side panel mounting element
138. The side panel mounting element 138, which is preferably a
generally planar plate-like structure, is fixedly connected to the
expansion attachment end 134 of the bracket 112 and includes a
plurality of attachment apertures 140 for connection with side
panels of the expansion kit. An additional pair of mounting holes
142 are disposed adjacent the expansion attachment end 134 of the
bracket 112 and orthogonal to the side panel mounting element 138.
Such holes 142 may be used to mount hinges, bumpers, a door strike,
a latch point and the like.
[0085] In use, each offset bracket 112 may be mounted to the front-
or rear-facing surface of a vertical member 114, as appropriate,
such that it extends outwardly, away from the interior frame
structure. Each offset bracket 112 may be attached to its
respective vertical member 114 using the apertures 136 in the
mounting surface located at the frame attachment end 132 of the
bracket 112. Each offset bracket 112 is arranged so that its
expansion attachment end 134 is oriented to point outwardly away
from the side of the interior frame structure 110 as shown in FIG.
4. The idea is to avoid impeding any space created by the brackets
112 between sides of the frame structure 110 and side panels of the
expansion kit. As illustrated, a first offset bracket 112 is
disposed near the top of each vertical member 114 and a second
offset bracket 112 is disposed near the bottom of each vertical
member 114. Each lateral side of the interior frame structure 110
(front, left side, rear, right side) thus has four mounting points
for mounting a respective panel.
[0086] The offset bracket 112 shown in FIG. 5 is an alternative
embodiment of the offset bracket 12 shown in FIG. 2. Both serve to
create space between a four post frame structure and panels of an
expansion kit thereby forming an expanded equipment cabinet. It
will be understood that although two mounting bracket embodiments
12,112 are shown herein, there are numerous additional mounting
bracket embodiments that may be used to form an expanded equipment
cabinet using a four post frame structure and panels of an
expansion kit. Such additional embodiments although not explicitly
shown herein are within the scope of the present invention.
[0087] As with the offset bracket 12 of FIG. 2, the offset brackets
112 provide versatility for a traditional frame structure 110 by
providing a means to support various front, rear and side panels
102,104,106 away from the frame structure 110. Because the various
panels 102,104,106 are thus located farther away from the equipment
mounted in the interior of the frame structure 110 than panels
mounted directly to the frame structure 110 would be, additional
space is thus provided for cables, internal ducts, or other
accessories. More particularly, the offset brackets 112 and center
support bracket 113 adapt a conventional frame structure 110 to
hold larger doors and side panels than could be accommodated by the
interior frame structure 110 by itself, thereby increasing the area
available for cable management and/or thermal management in the
side space and front and back space of a data center cabinet while
creating minimal impediment to cables entering through a raised
floor tile or cabinet top panel.
[0088] In order to provide greater support for any of the panels
102,104,106, and particularly to provide a door stop for the free
ends of a pair of doors such as a pair of doors comprising the rear
panel 104 in the illustrated embodiment, a center support bracket
113 may be provided at the top or bottom of the front, rear, left
or right side of the interior frame structure 110. As perhaps best
illustrated in FIG. 5, such a center support bracket 113 may
include two extension arms connected at their distal ends by a
single cross arm. Each extension arm is attached to the lower rear
cross member 118 using a respective mounting tab. Such a structure
may be formed by bending or angling a single member along four
lines to produce the extension arms, cross arm, and mounting
tabs.
[0089] For a panel comprising a single door, such as the front door
102 illustrated herein, one of the offset brackets 112 may be
modified by applying an additional door stop arm 144 thereto. As
shown in FIG. 5, the door stop arm 144 includes an L-shaped arm
mounted to the expansion attachment end 134 of the selected offset
bracket 112. At the distal end of the L-shaped arm is a flange
arranged to contact the bottom corner of the front door 102 when
the door is swung closed against the rest of the cabinet 100.
Although not illustrated, a door stop arm 144 may likewise be
attached to the offset bracket 112 disposed at the upper corner of
the front door 102 to provide similar functionality with regard to
the top corner of the door 102.
[0090] The offset brackets 112 are mounted to the interior frame
structure 110 using apertures 146 in the various members of the
frame structure 110. If the interior frame structure 110 is to be
produced in conjunction with the cabinet expansion kit, then the
apertures 146 may be created in any desired location. However, in
many cases, the cabinet expansion kit will be retrofitted to an
existing interior frame structure 110. In this case, the offset
brackets 112 may be installed in preexisting mounting apertures
found in the vertical members 114 of most conventional interior
frame structures 110. These apertures are often normally used to
mount hinges and other support hardware for doors or other panels,
or in some cases are used to support equipment in the frame
structure 110. Typically, these apertures are located generally
near a top and a bottom of the vertical members 114 so as to
provide sufficient stability for the doors or other apparatuses
mounted thereon while still providing ready access thereto.
[0091] The various components of the cabinet expansion kit may be
connected to the interior frame structure 110 as follows. First,
the offset brackets 112 may be mounted by connecting the frame
attachment end 132 of each offset bracket 112 to a set of apertures
146 of the frame structure 110 using any known fasteners of
suitable size and construction. As described previously, each
offset bracket 112 is installed so that it extends outwardly from
the front or rear of the interior frame structure 110, as
appropriate, and so that the curved spine member 130 is oriented to
extend outwardly from the respective side of the interior frame
structure 110. In this arrangement, the mounting holes 142 in each
offset bracket 112 are oriented to face in the same direction as
the mounting apertures 146 to which the offset bracket 112 itself
is mounted, but are shifted forward or rearward, as appropriate,
and to the side, relative to the mounting apertures 146. In this
sense, because the mounting holes 142 in the offset bracket 112 are
often intended to serve the same purpose as the mounting apertures
146 (supporting panels, and particularly, providing an attachment
point for a hinge used to support a door panel), the mounting holes
142 may be said to be "offset" from the original mounting apertures
146.
[0092] With the offset brackets 146 in place, displaced hinges, and
therefore oversized front and rear door panels 102,104, may be
attached to the mounting holes 142 of the offset brackets 112.
Further, side panels may be attached to the side panel mounting
elements 138 of the offset brackets 112. Any suitable mounting or
attachment means may be used to provide these various connections.
Optionally, additional mounting apertures 140 may be provided in
the side panel mounting elements 138 or elsewhere in the offset
bracket 112 in order to facilitate such connections.
[0093] As will be apparent to the Ordinary Artisan, flexibility is
offered in a variety of ways, many of which were discussed
previously with regard to the expanded electronic equipment cabinet
10 of FIGS. 1A-1E, 2 and 3. One additional variation is illustrated
in FIGS. 4A and 4B, wherein the top panel extension 22 of the first
embodiment is replaced with an alternative top panel extension 108
which is similar to the first top panel extension 22 but may not
include cable openings therethrough.
[0094] In use, the expanded cabinet provides substantially more
space for cables and cable routing apparatuses than were possible
in the interior frame structure 110 by itself. With the cabinet
expansion kit in place, cables may be routed outside the boundaries
of the original frame structure in the space created by expanding
the front, rear and sides of the cabinet. Conventional cable
routing structures, such as raceways and the like, may be used to
assist this process. As noted previously, in at least some
embodiments, existing cable routing structures may be utilized,
while in others, new cable routing structures may be developed.
[0095] Advantageously, use of the cabinet expansion kit permits a
user to expand the volume of a frame structure 110 without having
to replace the various members 114,116,118,120,122 of the frame
structure 110, thus providing considerable cost savings. Expanding
an existing frame structure 110, rather than replacing it, may also
result in considerable labor savings, because electronic equipment
mounted therein, and some or all of the cables connected to such
equipment, may not need to be moved during the expansion process,
and thus the frame structure 110 may be expanded without disturbing
the installation therein.
[0096] As with the first embodiment, the offset brackets 112 and
the various doors and other panels 102,104,106,108 may be
dimensioned so as to form an expanded cabinet 100 that is the same
in one or more dimensions as a larger frame structure (not shown).
In other words, frame structures of different sizes could be
provided such that installing a cabinet expansion kit on a smaller
frame structure could produce an enclosure that is the same size as
the larger frame structure. In conjunction with this approach,
various doors and other panels 102,104,106,108 could be designed to
mount either on the smaller frame structure 110, via the offset
brackets 112, or on the larger frame structure (not shown) via
direction connection. A product line built around this approach
could provide even greater flexibility to users by offering
multiple upgrade options to the user.
[0097] Also as with the first embodiment, further alternate cabinet
configurations could allow for the space added by the offset
brackets 112 to be asymmetrically biased. In other words, the
additional volume created by the offset brackets 112 may be added
more to the front or rear of the cabinet and/or more to one side of
the cabinet or the other by adding offset brackets (not shown) with
lengths, as appropriate. Such an embodiment would provide
flexibility and customizability. For example, offset brackets 112
of varying lengths could be used in a situation wherein large cable
access requirements are only present on the forward or rearward
face of the equipment. Of course, to achieve such an arrangement,
the same front, rear and side panels could be utilized, but
different offset brackets and a different top panel or top panel
extension may be required.
[0098] According to the foregoing teachings, an existing enclosure
(not shown herein but illustrated in commonly-assigned U.S. Design
Patent Application Serial No. 29,248,104, the entirety of which is
incorporated herein by reference) may be converted to an expanded
electronic equipment cabinet 10,100 by removing one or more of the
front, left side, rear and right side panels, installing offset
brackets as described herein, and mounting oversized front, left
side, rear and right side panels thereon to create the expanded
electronic equipment cabinet 10,100. By using different
combinations of panels and offset brackets, original panels may be
retained and reused, or replaced, as desired, and differently-sized
expanded electronic equipment cabinets 10,100 may be formed,
wherein additional space is enclosed within the second enclosure,
between the panels and the frame structure, as compared to the
space enclosed within the first enclosure.
[0099] Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily
understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present
invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many
embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than
those specifically described herein, as well as many variations,
modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from
or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing
descriptions thereof, without departing from the substance or scope
of the present invention.
[0100] Accordingly, while the present invention has been described
herein in detail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments,
it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative
and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for the
purpose of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the
invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed
to limit the present invention or otherwise exclude any such other
embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalent
arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the
claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *