U.S. patent application number 11/737082 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-23 for equipment rack support bracket for power distribution units.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.. Invention is credited to Kenneth Brown, Antonio S. Smith.
Application Number | 20080258026 11/737082 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39855402 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080258026 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Antonio S. ; et
al. |
October 23, 2008 |
EQUIPMENT RACK SUPPORT BRACKET FOR POWER DISTRIBUTION UNITS
Abstract
A bracket shaped to support and position equipment such as an
exemplary power distribution unit in various orientations in an
equipment rack. The bracket has a number of slots to receive
mounting screws for coupling the bracket to the equipment rack and
to the equipment.
Inventors: |
Smith; Antonio S.; (Chula
Vista, CA) ; Brown; Kenneth; (Chula Vista,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP/Leviton
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 2200
Seattle
WA
98101
US
|
Assignee: |
LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO.,
INC.
Little Neck
NY
|
Family ID: |
39855402 |
Appl. No.: |
11/737082 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/218.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 3/126 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/218.4 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06 |
Claims
1. A bracket comprising: a plate portion having a first end and a
second end, the plate portion having: an elongated first opening
having a first width and positioned near and extending along the
first end, an elongated second opening having a second width and
extending along the elongated first opening, an elongated third
opening having the second width and extending along the elongated
second opening, and a fourth opening coupled with the elongated
second opening and the elongated third opening and transversely
extending from the elongated second opening to the elongated third
opening, the fourth opening having a first portion with the second
width adjacent the elongated second opening, having a second
portion with the second width adjacent the elongated third opening,
and a third portion wider than the second width and extending
between the first portion and the second portion of the fourth
opening.
2. The bracket of claim 1 further including a second plate portion
extending from the second end of the first plate portion at an
angle greater than zero and less then 180 degrees, the second plate
portion having a free end and an elongated opening extending along
the free end.
3. The bracket of claim 2 wherein the second plate portion extends
from the first plate portion at an angle of substantially 90
degrees.
4. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the plate portion has an
elongated fifth opening having the second width and extending
substantially along the elongated third opening, and the plate
portion has a sixth opening coupled with the elongated third
opening and the elongated fifth opening and transversely extending
from the third elongated opening to the elongated fifth opening,
the sixth opening having a first portion with the second width
adjacent the elongated third opening, a second portion having the
second width adjacent the elongated fifth opening, and a third
portion wider than the second width and extending between the first
portion and the second portion of the sixth opening.
5. A bracket comprising: a first plate portion having a first end
and a second end, the first plate portion having: an elongated
first opening having a first width and positioned near and
extending along the first end, an elongated second opening having
the first width and extending along the elongated first opening, a
third opening coupled with the elongated first opening and the
elongated second opening and transversely extending from the
elongated first opening to the elongated second opening, the third
opening having a first portion with the first width adjacent the
elongated first opening, a second portion with the first width
adjacent the elongated second opening, and a third portion wider
than the first width and extending between the first portion and
the second portion of the third opening; and a second plate portion
extending at an angle greater than zero and less than 180 degrees
from the second end of the first plate portion, the second plate
portion having a free end and having an elongated opening extending
along the free end, the elongated opening having a second
width.
6. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the second plate portion extends
from the first plate portion at an angle of substantially 90
degrees.
7. The bracket of claim 6 wherein the first plate portion is larger
than the second plate portion to form an "L" shape.
8. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the first plate portion has an
elongated fourth opening extending along the first end, at a
position between the elongated first opening and the first end, the
elongated fourth opening having the second width.
9. A system for an equipment rack having elongated members with
rack holes for coupling with equipment, the system comprising: an
equipment attachment member having a stem portion and an enlarged
head portion; a rack attachment member having a stem portion sized
to extend through a rack hole and an enlarged head portion; an
equipment having a side, the side having a hole sized and shaped to
receive the stem portion of the equipment attachment member; a
plate portion having a first end and a second end, the plate
portion having: a elongated first opening having a first width and
positioned near and extending along the first end, the first width
sized to allow the stem portion of the rack attachment member to
extend through the elongated first opening and prevent the head
portion of the rack attachment member from passing through the
elongated first opening, an elongated second opening with a second
width and extending substantially along the elongated first
opening, the second width sized to allow the stem portion of the
equipment attachment portion to extend through the elongated second
opening and prevent the head portion of the equipment attachment
member from passing through the elongated second opening; an
elongated third opening having the second width and extending
substantially along the elongated second opening, and a fourth
opening coupled with the elongated second opening and the elongated
third opening and extending from the elongated second opening to
the elongated third opening, the fourth opening having a first
portion with the second width adjacent the elongated second
opening, a second portion with the second width adjacent the
elongated third opening, and a third portion wider than the second
width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment attachment
member to pass through the third portion, the third portion
extending between the first portion and the second portion of the
fourth opening.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the head portion of the rack
attachment member is fixedly attached to the stem portion of the
rack attachment member
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the head portion of the equipment
attachment member is fixedly attached to the stem portion of the
equipment attachment member.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein the equipment is a power
distribution unit.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein equipment attachment member is a
thumbscrew and the rack attachment member is a bolt.
14. The bracket of claim 9 further including a second plate portion
extending from the second end of the first plate portion in a
non-planar arrangement, the second plate portion having a free end
and an elongated opening extending along the free end.
15. The bracket of claim 14 wherein the second plate portion
extends from the first plate portion at substantially a 90 degree
angle.
16. The bracket of claim 9 wherein the plate portion has an
elongated fifth opening with the second width and extending along
the elongated third opening, and the plate portion has a sixth
opening coupled with the elongated third opening and the elongated
fifth opening and transversely extending from the elongated third
opening to the elongated fifth opening, the sixth opening having a
first portion with the second width adjacent the elongated third
opening, a second portion having the second width adjacent the
elongated fifth opening, and a third portion wider than the second
width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment attachment
member to pass through the third portion, the third portion
extending between the first portion and the second portion of the
sixth opening.
17. A system for an equipment rack having elongated members with
rack holes for coupling with equipment, the system comprising: an
equipment attachment member having a stem portion and an enlarged
head portion; a rack attachment member having a stem portion sized
to extend through a rack hole and an enlarged head portion; an
equipment having a side, the side having a hole sized and shaped to
receive the stem portion of the equipment attachment member; a
first plate portion having a first end and a second end, the plate
portion having: an elongated first opening having a first width and
positioned near and extending along the first end, the first width
sized to allow the stem portion of the equipment attachment member
to extend through the elongated first opening and prevent the head
portion of the equipment attachment member from passing through the
elongated first opening, an elongated second opening having the
first width and extending along the first elongated opening, a
third opening coupled with the elongated first opening and the
elongated second opening and extending from the elongated first
opening to the elongated second opening, the third opening having a
first portion with the first width adjacent the elongated first
opening, a second portion having the first width adjacent the
elongated second opening, and a third portion wider than the first
width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment attachment
member to pass through the third portion, the third portion
extending between the first portion and the second portion of the
third opening; and a second plate portion extending in a non-planar
arrangement from the second end of the first plate portion, the
second plate portion having a free end and having an elongated
fourth opening extending along the free end, the elongated fourth
opening having a second width, the second width sized to allow the
stem portion of the rack attachment member to extent through the
elongated opening and prevent the head portion of the rack
attachment member from passing through the elongated fourth
opening.
18. The bracket of claim 17 wherein the second plate portion
extends from the first plate portion at substantially a 90 degree
angle.
19. The bracket of claim 17 wherein the first plate portion has an
elongated fifth opening having the second width and extending along
the elongated second opening, and the first plate portion has an
elongated fifth opening coupled with the elongated second opening
and the elongated fourth opening and extending from the elongated
second opening to the elongated fourth opening, the fifth opening
having a first portion with the second width adjacent the elongated
second opening, a second portion with the second width adjacent the
elongated fourth opening, and a third portion wider than the second
width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment attachment
member to pass through the third portion, the third portion
extending between the first portion and the second portion of the
elongated fifth opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is directed generally to equipment
racks.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Equipment racks support various types of equipment and patch
panels. The equipment typically can have power cords that are each
plugged into an electrical power outlet to receive electrical power
from the power outlet. Power distribution units having electrical
power outlets can be used in conjunction with equipment in racks to
furnish electrical power to the equipment by having the power cords
of the equipment plugged into the electrical outlets of the power
distribution units.
[0005] Power distribution units are manufactured in various shapes
and sizes and occupy space that may otherwise be used for equipment
and patch panels in an equipment rack or may block access to
equipment and patch panels that are positioned in an equipment
rack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an equipment rack
support bracket for a power distribution unit.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the bracket of FIG.
1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1
along with fragmentary perspective views of an equipment rack and a
rear side of a power distribution unit in a first stage of assembly
of a first attachment orientation.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a front face perspective view of the bracket of
FIG. 1 along with fragmentary perspective views of the equipment
rack and the rear side of the power distribution unit of FIG. 3 in
a second stage of assembly of the first attachment orientation.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the power distribution
unit with two of the brackets of FIG. 1 connected to the power
distribution unit in the first attachment orientation.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the power distribution
unit coupled to the equipment rack by the two brackets in the first
attachment orientation.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit
coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in the first
attachment orientation shown in FIG. 6.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit
coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a second
attachment orientation.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit
coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a third
attachment orientation.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit
coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a fourth
attachment orientation.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit
coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket FIG. 1 in a fifth
attachment orientation.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit
coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a sixth
attachment orientation.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit
coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a seventh
attachment orientation.
[0019] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit
coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a eighth
attachment orientation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] As described herein a bracket is so shaped to support and
position equipment such as an exemplary power distribution unit in
various orientations in an equipment rack. The bracket has a number
of slots to receive mounting screws to be coupled to the equipment
rack.
[0021] An exemplary implementation of a bracket 100 is shown from a
front perspective view in FIG. 1 as having a first plate portion
102 and a second plate portion 104 rigidly connected together. The
first plate portion 102 has a free first end 106, a second end 108,
a first side 110, and a second side 112 (shown in FIG. 2). Further
shown in FIG. 1, the first plate portion 102 has a first elongated
opening or slot 114 positioned near and extending substantially
parallel to the first end 106, a second slot 116 extending
substantially parallel with the first slot, and between the first
slot and the second end 108 a third slot 118 extending
substantially parallel with the second slot and between the second
slots and the second end, and a fourth slot 120 extending
substantially parallel with the third slot and between the second
slot and the second end and positioned near the second end. A fifth
slot 122 transversely extends from the second slot 116 to the
fourth slot 120 and intersects the third slot 118 positioned
therebetween. The fifth slot 122 includes an enlarged opening 124
positioned between the second slot 116 and the third slot 118 and
an enlarged opening 126 positioned between the third slot 118 and
the fourth slot 120.
[0022] The second plate portion 104 shares the second end 108 of
the first plate portion 102 and extends from the second end
substantially transverse to the first plate portion to
substantially form an "L" shape for the bracket 100. In other
implementations, the second plate portion 104 may extend from the
first plate portion 102 at other angles. In other implementations,
the second plate portion 104 may be absent from the bracket 100 as
discussed further below. The second plate portion 104 includes a
first side 128 and a second side 130. The second plate portion 104
also includes a free second end 132, and a first slot 134 extending
substantially parallel to and near the second end.
[0023] In a first attachment orientation shown in FIG. 3, the
second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100
is placed adjacent with an exterior side 136 of a forward extending
portion 138 of an equipment rack support wall 140 so at least part
of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket is parallel to and in
juxtaposition with an interior laterally extending portion 142 of
the support wall. The forward extending portion 138 of the support
wall 140 has holes 144 to receive bolts or screws or other rack
attachment members that are positioned through the first slot 134
of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 and subsequently
secured in the holes. In the first attachment orientation, the
elongated nature of the first slot 134 of the second plate portion
104 allows for adjustment of the position of the bracket 100 along
the longitudinal dimension 148 of the support wall 140.
[0024] A power distribution unit 150 is further shown in FIG. 3 as
having a rear side 152 with a hole 154 fashioned to receive an
equipment attachment member, such as a thumb screw 156 having a
head 158, for mounting the power distribution unit to the bracket
100. The enlarged opening 124 and the enlarged opening 126 of the
fifth slot 122 are sized larger than the head 158 to receive the
head 158 when the screw 156 is threadably coupled with the hole 154
to facilitate mounting of the power distribution unit 150 to the
bracket 100 as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly
process of the power distribution unit 150 and the bracket 100.
[0025] The power distribution unit 150 is shown in FIG. 5 coupled
with the bracket 100 having the screw 156 positioned with the third
slot 118 of the first plate portion 102. The screw 156 could
alternatively be positioned in the first slot 114 or the second
slot 116 depending on the attachment orientation desired. The first
slot 114, the second slot 116, and the third slot 118 have an
elongated shape with a width smaller than the head 158 to provide
adjustment of the positioning of the power distribution unit 150
along the longitudinal dimension 148 of the support wall 140 when
the screw 156 is positioned in the slot.
[0026] The power distribution unit 150, having outlets 161, is
shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 as coupled to an equipment rack 160
having the support wall 140 with the forward extending portion 138
and the interior laterally extending portion 142. The second side
130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent
the exterior side 136 of the forward extending portion 138 of the
wall. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is
adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the
bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit
in front of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing
forward away from the equipment rack. Also shown in FIG. 7 is an
interior side 162 of the forward extending portion 138, a forward
side 164 of the interior laterally extending portion 142 and a
rearward side 166 of the interior laterally extending portion.
[0027] A second attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 8 with the
second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 attached to the forward
extending portion 138 of the equipment rack 160. The second side
130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent
the interior side 162 of the forward extending portion 142 of the
support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. The rear side 152 of
the power distribution unit 1 50 is adjacent the first side 110 of
the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently
positions the power distribution unit generally laterally outward
of and to a side of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161
facing forward away from the equipment rack.
[0028] A third attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 9 with the
second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 attached to the
interior laterally extending portion 142 of the equipment rack 160.
The second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket
100 is adjacent the forward side 164 of the interior laterally
extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack
160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is
adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the
bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit
inside of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing
laterally inward away from the support wall 140.
[0029] A fourth attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 10 with the
second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 attached to the
interior laterally extending portion 142 of the equipment rack 160.
The first side 128 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket
100 is adjacent the forward side 164 of the interior laterally
extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack
160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is
adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the
bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit
generally in front of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161
facing laterally inward away from the support wall 140.
[0030] In the following attachment orientations described below the
screws 146 are positioned through the first slot 114 of the first
plate portion 102 of the bracket 100. A fifth attachment
orientation is shown in FIG. 11 with the first plate portion 102 of
the bracket 100 attached to the forward extending portion 138 of
the equipment rack 160. The second side 112 of the first plate
portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the exterior side 136 of
the forward extending portion 138 of the support wall 140 of the
equipment rack 160. In attachment orientations, such as the fifth
attachment orientation, some implementations of the bracket 100 may
not have the second plate portion 104 since the second plate
portion is not being used. The rear side 152 of the power
distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first
plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the
power distribution unit generally laterally outward of and to a
side of the equipment rack 160 and forward of the equipment rack,
with the outlets 161 facing laterally away from the support wall
140.
[0031] A sixth attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 12 with the
first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 attached to the forward
extending portion 138 of the equipment rack 160. The second side
112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent
the interior side 162 of the forward extending portion 138 of the
support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. The rear side 152 of
the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of
the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently
positions the power distribution unit generally laterally inward
and forward of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing
laterally forward away from the support wall 140.
[0032] A seventh attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 13 with
the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 attached to the
interior laterally extending portion 142 of the equipment rack 160.
The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket
100 is adjacent the forward side 164 of the interior laterally
extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack
160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is
adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the
bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit
generally in front of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161
facing forward away from the equipment rack.
[0033] An eighth attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 14 with
the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 attached to the
interior laterally extending portion 142 of the equipment rack 160.
The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket
100 is adjacent the rearward side 166 of the interior laterally
extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack
160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is
adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the
bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit
inside of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing
rearward.
[0034] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although
specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended
claims.
* * * * *