Pro Bracket for mounting a Mac Pro computer

Abstract

A Pro Bracket for use in mounting a Mac Pro computer having a cylindrical surface with a diameter of 2R and a length L to a cabinet includes two retaining straps, a mount and a chassis mechanically coupled to the cabinet. Each retaining strap has a radius of curvature of R and a first end and a second end. A first connecting mechanism is at the first end and a second connecting mechanism is at the second end. The mount is a rectangular sheet of metal and has a cutout with a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge each of which has a length of L. The cutoff is of a width of less than 2R such that the Mac Pro computer rests within the cutout. The two retaining straps are placed around the cylindrical surface of the Mac Pro computer and secured by the first and second connecting mechanisms to the mount adjacent to the first and second longitudinal edges. The mount is slidably coupled to the chassis.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to mounted computer and particularly to a Pro Bracket for either rack-mounting or flat surface mounting a Mac Pro computer on either a side of a desk or a wall.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The Mac Pro computer is designed to operate in an upright position but one can also use it on its side. The Mac Pro computer has a fan system which is capable of cooling the Mac Pro computer in a vertical or horizontal orientation as long as one follows the guidelines of providing enough space at each end of the Mac Pro computer for unrestricted airflow into the base and out the exhaust at the top, making sure that the air intake and exhaust ports are not covered, when using multiple Mac Pro computers, not directing the exhaust at the top of one Mac Pro computer towards the intake of another Mac Pro computer, placing the Mac Pro computers side by side with a gap of at least several inches between them and when on its side, securing the Mac Pro computer to be sure that it doesn't roll. One should also place the Mac Pro computer on a protective surface that will not scratch or damage the enclosure and orient the Mac Pro computer so that the Input/Output (I/O) panel remains accessible during use.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,441 teaches a rack mounted computer which has a vertically elongated cabinet structure in which a specially designed server unit is mounted. The server unit includes a slide-out outer drawer having a power supply box mounted in a lower interior portion thereof. An inner tray is slidably mounted in an upper interior portion of the outer drawer, over the power supply box, and has a system planar board and associated riser cards mounted on its top side. When the outer drawer is pulled out service access is provided to the circuit board apparatus on the inner tray. Access is provided to the power supply box by simply sliding the inner tray rearwardly relative to the opened outer drawer to expose the power supply box. Cooling fans are carried on the inner tray and within the outer drawer to cool the various computer components mounted within the server unit by flowing cooling air generally horizontally therethrough. The cabinet structure is provided with a front access door and a rear panel having ventilation openings therein. During operation of the server unit cooling fans, ambient air is sequentially drawn inwardly through the front access door ventilation openings, horizontally flowed through the server unit, and then horizontally discharged through the ventilation openings in the rear panel of the cabinet structure. In the interest of installation floor space economy main portions of high capacity computers are often mounted in rack structures that typically include vertically elongated, floor mounted cabinet assemblies of standard sizes. The cabinet assembly conventionally used for this purpose typically includes a rectangular internal frame structure externally covered by removable panels. A front access door is pivotally mounted on the front side of cabinet assembly and is typically made of glass to expose various interior components of the overall rack-mounted computer, such as monitors and various indicating lights, to view without the necessity of opening the access door. One of the subsystems conventionally incorporated in a rack-mounted computer of this type is a central server which is basically a high capacity computer operatively coupled to remotely located computer work stations. To provide access to the server components they are typically mounted in a server drawer structure slidably supported in the internal frame portion of the rack cabinet for movement relative thereto between a forwardly extended component access position, and a rearwardly retracted operating position. As in the case of other types of computers, a server unit has certain operating components with a relatively low service access frequency requirement, and other operating components with a higher service access frequency requirement. For example, the power supply box in the typical server unit does not need to be accessed for service purposes nearly as often as the system planar board and associated riser cards in the overall server unit. In relatively low capacity server units this variance in the service access frequency requirements among the various computer components within the server drawer is of little consequence since the components can be mounted within the server drawer in a generally side-by-side orientation in a manner such that essentially all of the components are exposed when the drawer is opened. However, in the case of high capacity server units many of the internal components become large enough in horizontal directions to require that they be vertically stacked within the drawer which, due to the standard horizontal width and depth of the rack cabinet within which the drawer is slidably mounted, has a maximum horizontal width and depth. This vertical stacking of the various server components within their associated slide-out rack cabinet drawer structure conventionally requires that each time a component within a lower section of the drawer needs to be serviced the computer components above it need to be laboriously removed to permit access to the lower components, and then re-installed after the servicing of the lower components is completed. Another problem typically present in computer rack units of conventional construction has to do with the requirement of ventilating the rack cabinet interior for the purpose of dissipating operating heat generated therein by the various computer components. The traditional method of providing this needed cabinet ventilation is to continuously force a suitable quantity of cooling air from an external source thereof upwardly through the rack cabinet, from a lower end portion thereof, and discharge the cooling air from a top end portion of the cabinet. However, since the server portions of many conventional rack-mounted computers are basically high capacity personal computers, their components are typically arranged (like their desktop counterparts) in a manner such that they may be most efficiently cooled using a horizontal flow of cooling air passed through the interior of the server unit. Thus, the traditional approach of forcing cooling air vertically through the rack cabinet may provide less than ideal cooling of the one or more server units in the overall rack-mounted computer.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,358,502 teaches a rack kit which places an electronic device into a rack. The rack kit includes depth-adjustable fixed rails to attach to the rack and a tray to receive the electronic device. The tray is slidably fitted with the rails and has a latch to engage the rails. The rack kit includes an interchangeable adapter bracket that couples to the tray and mates with the electronic device. A computer (e.g., server, workstation, etc.) may be installed in a rack framework. The rack generally has multiple mounting slots or bays to hold a hardware unit having the computer secured in place (e.g., with screws) in the rack. The rack computer or server typically has a low-profile enclosure, in contrast to a tower server, for example, which is typically built into an upright, standalone cabinet. A single rack can contain multiple computers stacked one above the other, consolidating network resources and reducing the required floor space. The rack computer configuration also generally facilitates cabling among network components, for example.

US Patent Application No. 2013/0068706 teaches a mounting structure for mounting two pieces of equipment to a U shaped support arm structure of an equipment rack. The mounting structure includes an affixing structure supported by the support arm structure and a positioning structure affixed to the affixing structure at an adjustable position to define an adjustable size of the mounting structure. The first piece of equipment (e.g. a monitor) is mounted on the support arm structure, and is fixedly connected to one end of the mounting structure. The second piece of equipment (e.g. a KVM switch) is supported by the affixing structure. The positioning structure is fixedly connecting to the second piece of equipment near the other end of the mounting structure. Horizontal and vertical calibration devices help align the two pieces of equipment to enable two connectors of the two pieces of equipment to directly connect with each other without using a cable. With the increased reliance on computer equipment, the requirements for server equipment and their computing and storage capabilities are increasing. This increases the demand for efficiently accommodate the computer equipment in offices, manufacturing locations, etc. Due to the functional requirements and reliability requirements, servers typically are larger than desktop computers. Management and space allocation for servers, including wiring arrangement, are therefore important. A typical company will have anywhere from a few to thousands of servers. Thus, management and efficient space utilization will become more and more important as the number of servers increases.

US Patent Application No. 2013/0087518 teaches a server rack which includes a side plate and a tray. A pin is secured on the side plate. A tray includes a sidewall. A slit is defined in the sidewall. A locking member is pivotally mounted on the sidewall. The locking member includes a locking protrusion which is adapted to be slide in the slit to abut the pin. An elastic piece is secured on the sidewall. The locking member is pressed by the elastic piece. The locking member rotates on the sidewall to have the locking protrusion sliding out of the slit and moving away from the pin. The elastic piece is elastically deformed by the locking member when the locking member rotates on the sidewall, rebounds to rotate the locking member backward to have the locking protrusion sliding in the slit and abutting the shaft portion. Computer networks include many separate computer units or servers which are positioned and stacked relative to each other in a rack. The rack includes a plurality of trays, where each computer or server is secured to one tray. The tray can be pulled away from the front of the rack so that each separate computer unit or server can be serviced by technicians for various reasons, such as maintenance, replacement of computer cards, etc., while the server is still in operation. The tray is secured on the rack via screws. When the tray is pulled away from the rack, the screws need to be detached one by one, which is time-consuming.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,665,590 teaches a server rack which includes a rack body and fan modules. The rack body has front and back surfaces. Server units are disposed in the rack body. The fan modules are arranged on the back side along a vertical direction. Each fan module corresponds to several server units and includes a fan case and fan units. The fan case assembled to the back side is independently electrically connected to the rack body and suitable for being independently detached from the rack body. The fan units are detachably assembled to the fan case and arranged on the fan case along a horizontal direction. Each fan unit is independently electrically connected to the fan case and suitable for being independently detached from the fan case along a first direction perpendicular to the back surface or independently assembled to the fan case along a second direction opposite to the first direction. A server is a core computer in a network used for serving various computers, which can provide functions such as storage and print service for network users, and provide clients to share various resources within the network environment. A basic structure of the server is approximately the same to a general personal computer, which is composed of a central processing unit (CPU), a memory and an input/output (I/O) device, etc., and the devices are connected through a bus. A north bridge chip is used to connect the CPU and the memory, and the I/O device is connected through a south bridge chip. A chassis structure of the server has three evolution stages from earlier tower chassis to rack mount chassis stressing centrality, and then blade servers of high-density calculation. Taking a rack mount server as an example, the rack mount server is a server with an appearance designed according to uniform standards, which is used in collaboration with a cabinet. The rack mount server can be regarded as a tower server with an optimized structure, and a design principle thereof is to reduce a space occupation of the server as far as possible. Many professional network devices apply the rack mount structure, and have a flat shape as that of a drawer, for example, switches, routers and hardware firewalls, etc. A width of the rack mount server is 19 inches, and a height thereof applies a unit of U (1 U=1.75 inches=44.45 mm), and the servers generally comply with standards of 1 U, 2 U, 3 U, 4 U, 5 U or 7 U. The size of the cabinet also complies with a common industrial standard, which is generally between 22 U and 42 U. The cabinet includes a detachable sliding rack according to the height thereof, and the user can flexibly adjust the height according to a height of the server, so as to store network devices such as a server, a hub and a disk array, etc. After the server is settled, the I/O lines thereof are all led out from the rear of the cabinet (all interfaces of the rack mount server are also located at the rear of the cabinet), and are uniformly disposed in a cable slot of the cabinet, and are attached with labels to facilitate management. Generally, fans of the conventional rack mount server are not independently assembled to a rack respectively, which is of no avail for quick detaching and maintenance. Moreover, the fans of the conventional rack mount server are not electrically connected to the rack independently, and independent hot-plug thereof cannot be implemented, so that when a single fan is repaired, the other fans are all stopped, which causes inconvenience.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,616,382 teaches a server rack which includes a rectangular rack frame, and two mounting brackets. The rack frame includes four support posts. Each post includes a side attachment flange parallel to a lengthwise direction of the rack frame, and an end attachment flange parallel to a transverse direction of the rack frame. The rack frame defines an access in a front of the rack frame for a server unit sliding into or out of the rack frame. Each of the mounting brackets can be selectively fixed between the side attachment flanges of the corresponding support posts to support the server unit, or between the end attachment flanges of the corresponding support posts to shield the access, thereby preventing air from flowing through the access to decrease heat dissipation efficiency. Rack-mount servers include a server rack and a plurality of server units received in the server rack. Each of the server units is mounted to the server rack with a pair of mounting brackets respectively fixed to the insides of opposite sidewalls of the server rack. When a server unit is removed from the server rack to leave a space in the server rack, an air blocking cover has to be prepared to cover an opening in an access of the server rack communicating with the hollow space, for preventing air flowing through the hollow space and decrease heat dissipation efficiency. In the other hand, the mounting brackets corresponding to the removed server unit are idle, and cannot be made full use of.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,605,440 teaches a server rack assembly which includes a rack, a chassis, and a locking device. The rack has two side plates each defining a receiving slot. The chassis receives an electronic component, and is received between the side walls. The locking device includes a bracket, a locker, and two elastic members. The bracket is positioned at an end of the chassis and adjacent to the receiving slot. The locker is fixed to the center of the bracket. The two elastic members are fixed to two opposite ends of the bracket. Each elastic member includes a protrusion and a locking piece at two opposite ends thereof. The elastic member is capable of rotating between a first position where the locker locks the locking piece and the protrusion is received in the receiving slot, and a second position where the locker unlocks the locking piece and the protrusion is released from the receiving slot. Servers usually include a server rack assembly and a number of rack-mount computers. The rack assembly generally includes a rack and a number of removable chassis for receiving the rack-mount computers. In assembly, the chassis is housed in the rack and is fixed to the rack with a locking device. However, electrical connections between the rack-mount computers received in the chassis and connection ports of the rack may not be properly established due to improper assembly or vibrations after the assembly. As a result, the server may not work properly.

The inventor hereby incorporates the above-referenced patent into his specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is Pro Bracket for use in mounting a Mac Pro computer having a cylindrical surface with a diameter of 2 R and a length L to a cabinet and a chassis mechanically coupled to the cabinet.

In a first aspect of the present invention the Pro Bracket includes two retaining straps. Each retaining strap has a radius of curvature of R and a first end and a second end. A first connecting mechanism is at the first end and a second connecting mechanism is at the second end.

In a second aspect of the present invention the Pro Bracket includes a mount which is a rectangular sheet of metal and which has a cutout with a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge each of which has a length of L. The cutoff is of a width of less than 2 R such that the Mac Pro computer rests within the cutout. The two retaining straps are placed around the cylindrical surface of the Mac Pro computer and secured by the first and second connecting mechanisms to the mount adjacent to the first and second longitudinal edges. The mount is slidably coupled to the chassis.

Other aspects and many of the attendant advantages will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference symbols designate like parts throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first perspective drawing of a Mac Pro computer according to the ornamental design of U.S. Pat. No. D694,746.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective drawing of the MAC Pro computer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing of a retaining strap of a Pro Bracket for use with the MAC Pro computer of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the retaining strap of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a right side elevation of the retaining strap of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a left side elevation of the retaining strap of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top elevation of the retaining strap of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective drawing of a first cabinet with a first sidewall and a second sidewall and two first chases of two first Pro Brackets each of which is fixedly coupled to the first and second sidewalls, respectively, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing of the first cabinet and two first chasses of FIG. 8, two pairs of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, two Mac Pro computers of FIG. 1 and two first mounts of the two first Pro Brackets in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective drawing of the first cabinet and the left side first chassis of FIG. 8, one pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, one Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the left side first mount of the first Pro Bracket of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective drawing of the first cabinet and the right side first chassis of FIG. 8, one pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, one Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the right side first mount of the first Pro Bracket of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the first mount of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a front elevation of the first mount of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a left side elevation of the first mount of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a right side elevation of the first mount of FIG. 9.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective drawing of a pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, the Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the first mount of FIG. 9.

FIG. 17 is a perspective drawing of a pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, the Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the first mount of FIG. 9.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1, the first mount of the first Pro Bracket of FIG. 9 and the first chassis of FIG. 8 fixedly coupled to a sidewall of a desk in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragment of the exploded perspective view of the Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1, the first mount of the first Pro Bracket of FIG. 9 and the first chassis of FIG. 8 fixedly coupled to a sidewall of a desk in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective drawing of a second cabinet with a first sidewall and a second sidewall and two second chases of two second Pro Brackets each of which is fixedly coupled to the first and second sidewalls, respectively, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective drawing of the second cabinet and two second chasses of FIG. 20, two pairs of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, two Mac Pro computers of FIG. 1 and two second mounts of the two second Pro Brackets in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective drawing of the second cabinet and the left side second chassis of FIG. 20, one pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, one Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the left side second mount of the second Pro Bracket of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective drawing of the second cabinet and the right side second chassis of FIG. 20, one pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, one Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the right side second mount of the second Pro Bracket of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the first mount of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a left side elevation of the first mount of FIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a front elevation of the first mount of FIG. 21.

FIG. 27 is a right side elevation of the first mount of FIG. 21.

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective drawing of a pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, the Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the second mount of FIG. 21.

FIG. 29 is a perspective drawing of a pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, the Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the second mount of FIG. 21.

FIG. 30 is a perspective drawing of the second cabinet and two second chasses of FIG. 20, two pairs of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, two Mac Pro computers of FIG. 1 and two second mounts of the two second Pro Brackets of FIG. 21 with a first cover plate and a second cover plate, respectively, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a perspective drawing of the second cabinet and the left side second chassis of FIG. 20, one pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, one Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the left side second mount with the first cover plate of the second Pro Bracket of FIG. 21.

FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective drawing of the second cabinet and the right side second chassis of FIG. 20, one pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, one Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the right side second mount with the second cover plate of the second Pro Bracket of FIG. 21.

FIG. 33 is a perspective drawing of the cover plate of FIG. 30.

FIG. 34 is a front elevation of the cover plate of FIG. 30.

FIG. 35 is a right side elevation of the cover plate of FIG. 30.

FIG. 36 is a top plan view of the cover plate of FIG. 30.

FIG. 37 is a left side elevation of the cover plate of FIG. 30.

FIG. 38 is an exploded perspective drawing of a pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, the Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the second mount of FIG. 21 with the first cover plate of FIG. 30.

FIG. 39 is a perspective drawing of a pair of the retaining straps of FIG. 3, the Mac Pro computer of FIG. 1 and the second mount of FIG. 21 with the second cover plate of FIG. 30.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2 a Mac Pro computer 101 has a unique ornamental design being in the shape of a cylinder of a length of L and having a cylindrical surface 102 having a radius of R. U.S. Pat. No. D694,746 teaches the ornamental design of the Mac Pro computer 101. The Mac Pro computer 101 has a control panel 103 and an electrical connection 104 disposed on its cylindrical surface 102.

Referring to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 4 a retaining strap 110 is a U-shaped band having a width of W and a radius of curvature of R so that the U-shaped band 111 of the retaining strap 110 engages the cylindrical surface 102 of the Mac Pro computer 101. The U-shaped band of the retaining strap 110 has a first end 111 and a second end 112. The retaining strap 110 has an L-shaped tab 113 at the first end 111 and a flat tab 114 with a threaded hole 115 at the second end 112. A mounting screw 116 is threadedly coupled into the threaded hole 115. The retaining strap 110 is either made of either rubber or a rubber like material or made of either metal or plastic. If the retaining strap 110 is made of a metal it will have a rubberized coating in order to protect the cylindrical surface 102 of the Mac Pro computer 101.

Referring to FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 the retaining strap 110 can be seen in a number of views.

Referring to FIG. 8 a first cabinet 200 has a first sidewall 201 with a first plurality of serially and vertically disposed holes 202 and a second sidewall 203 with a second plurality of serially and vertically disposed holes 204.

Referring to FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 a first Pro Bracket 210 is used to mount a Mac Pro computer 101 to the first sidewall 201 of the first cabinet 200 and another first Pro Bracket 210 is used to mount another Mac Pro computer 101 to the second sidewall 203 of the first cabinet 200. Each first Pro Bracket 210 includes two straps 110, a first mount 211 and a first chassis 212. The first mount 211 of each first Pro Bracket 210 is slidably coupled to one of the first chasses 212.

Referring to FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIG. 8, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 the first chassis 212 of each first Pro Bracket 210 is mechanically coupled to one of the first and second sidewalls 201 and 203 of the first cabinet 200.

Referring to FIG. 12 in conjunction with FIG. 9, FIG. 13, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 the first mount 211 includes a rectangular member 220 of a length greater than L and a width greater than 2 R. The first mount 211 has a first longitudinal edge 221 and a second longitudinal edge 222. The first mount 211 has two slots 223 serially disposed along the first longitudinal edge 221 and two tabs 224 serially disposed along the second longitudinal edge 222 with a hole 225. The rectangular member 220 also has a first cutout 226 of a length equal to L and a width less than 2 R so that the Mac Pro computer 101 rests within the first cutout 226. The first mount 211 further has a front end 227 and a rear end 228. There is a front plate 229 with a plurality of ventilation holes 230 at the front end 227 and a relief tab 231 with a finger-pull stopper 232 at the rear end 228.

Referring to FIG. 16 in conjunction with FIG. 3, FIG. 9, FIG. 12 and FIG. 17 a Mac Pro computer 101 is placed in the first cutout 223. Each of two retaining straps 110 engages the cylindrical surface 102 of the Mac Pro computer 101. The L-shaped tab 113 of each retaining strap 110 is aligned and insertedly coupled to one of the two slots 223. The flat tab 114 of each retaining strap 110 with the threaded hole 115 is aligned and mechanically coupled to one of the two tabs 224 at the second end 112. The mounting screw 116 threadedly couples each tab 224 to one of the two flat tabs 114 of each retaining strap 110 through the hole 225 of each tab 224 and the threaded hole 114 of one of the two flat taps 114, respectively.

Referring again to FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIG. 8 the first chassis 212 of the first Pro Bracket 210 has a first pair of mounting holes 241 and a second pair of mounting holes 242 each of which is aligned with one of the vertically disposed threaded holes 202 and 204 of the first and second sidewall 201 and 202, respectively. Each of a plurality of mounting screws 243 is inserted through one of the mounting holes 241 and 242 and threadedly coupled to one of the vertically disposed threaded holes 202 and 204 of the first and second sidewalls 201 and 203 of the first cabinet 200. The first chassis 212 has a stopper tab 244, a first mounting tab 245 and a second mounting tab 246. The first and second mounting tabs 245 and 246 have a first threaded hole 247 and a second threaded hole 248.

Referring still again to FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIG. 8 each of the two first chasses 212 of the two first Pro Brackets 210 is rack-mounted to one of the left and right vertical support rails of the first cabinet 200 for vertical orientation of the two Mac Pro computers 101. Each of the two first chasses 212 of the first Pro Bracket 210 has exposed mounting holes in four places on its outside surface with universal key slots that will accommodate using ordinary screws inserted into either a desk pedestal or a wall or any appropriate surface. The user installs the four screws per a pattern provided by the first chassis 212. The user “hangs” each of the two first chasses 212 on those screws and then tighten the screws to secure each of the two first chasses 212 in much in the same way many kitchen, bathroom and entertainment products are “wall mounted” thereby demonstrating the universality of the design and that the Mac Pro computer 101 may be installed vertically or horizontally in a “slide mount bracket” in a rack cabinet, and the very same Pro Bracket 210 may be used to firmly affix the Pro computer to any compatible vertical surface such as a desk-side or a wall without a rack cabinet being required.

Referring to FIG. 18 in conjunction with FIG. 17 and FIG. 19 a desk 310 has a sidewall 311. The first chassis 212 of the first Pro Bracket 210 is mechanically coupled to the sidewall 311 of the desk 310. The Mac Pro computer 101 is mechanically coupled to the mount 211. The two retaining straps 110 secure the Mac Pro computer 101 to the first mount 211. The first chassis 212 of the first Pro Bracket 210 may also be mechanically coupled to a wall. The exposed mounting holes in the horizontally oriented-design are in the “receiver tray” chassis 212 of FIG. 19.

Referring to FIG. 20 a second cabinet 400 has a first sidewall 401 with a first plurality of serially and vertically disposed holes 402 and a second sidewall 403 with a second plurality of serially and vertically disposed holes 404.

Referring to FIG. 21 in conjunction with FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 a second Pro Bracket 410 is used to mount a Mac Pro computer 101 to the first sidewall 401 of the second cabinet 400 and another second Pro Bracket 410 is used to mount another Mac Pro computer 101 to the second sidewall 403 of the second cabinet 400. Each second Pro Bracket 410 includes two retaining straps 110, a second mount 411 and a second chassis 412. The second mount 411 of each of the second Pro Brackets 410 is slidably coupled to one of the second chasses 412

Referring to FIG. 21 in conjunction with FIG. 20, FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 the second chassis 412 of each second Pro Bracket 410 is mechanically coupled to one of the first and second sidewalls 401 and 403 of the second cabinet 400.

Referring to FIG. 24 in conjunction with FIG. 21, FIG. 25, FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 the second mount 411 includes a rectangular member 420 of a width of L and a length greater than 2 R. The second mount 411 has a first longitudinal edge 421 and a second longitudinal edge 422. The second mount 411 has two slots 423 serially disposed along the first longitudinal edge 421 and two tabs 424 serially disposed along the second longitudinal edge 422 with a hole 425. The rectangular member 420 also has a second cutout 426 of a length equal to L and a width less than 2 R so that the Mac Pro computer 101 rests within the second cutout 426. The second mount 411 further has a front end 427 and a rear end 428. There is a front plate 429 at the front end 427. There is a plurality of ventilation holes 430 on each of the first and second longitudinal edges 421 and 422. There is a relief tab 431 with a finger-pull stopper 432 at the rear end 428.

Referring to FIG. 28 in conjunction with FIG. 3, FIG. 21, FIG. 24 and FIG. 29 a Mac Pro computer 101 is placed in the second cutout 423. Each of two retaining straps 110 engages the cylindrical surface 102 of the Mac Pro computer 101. The L-shaped tab 113 of each retaining strap 110 is aligned and insertedly coupled to one of the two slots 423. The flat tab 114 of each retaining strap 110 with the threaded hole 115 is aligned and mechanically coupled to one of the two tabs 424 at the front end 427. The mounting screw 116 threadedly couples each tab 424 to one of the two flat tabs 114 of each retaining strap 110 through the hole 425 of each tab 424 and the threaded hole 114 of one of the two flat taps 114, respectively.

Referring again to FIG. 21 in conjunction with FIG. 20 the second chassis 412 of the second Pro Bracket 410 has a first pair of mounting holes 441 and a second pair of mounting holes 442 each of which is aligned with one of the vertically disposed threaded holes 402 and 404 of the first and second sidewall 401 and 402, respectively. Each of a plurality of mounting screws 443 is inserted through one of the mounting holes 441 and 442 and threadedly coupled to one of the vertically disposed threaded holes 402 and 404 of the first and second sidewalls 401 and 403 of the second cabinet 400. The second chassis 412 has a stopper tab 444, a first mounting tab 445 and a second mounting tab 446. The first and second mounting tabs 445 and 446 have a first threaded hole 447 and a second threaded hole 448.

Referring still again to FIG. 21 in conjunction with FIG. 20 each of the two second chassis 412 of the two second Pro Brackets 410 is rack-mounted to one of the left and right vertical support rails of the second cabinet 400 for vertical orientation of the two Mac Pro computers 101. Each of the two second chasses 412 of the two second Pro Brackets 410 has exposed mounting holes in four places on its outside surface with universal key slots that will accommodate using ordinary screws inserted into either a desk pedestal or a wall or any appropriate surface. The user installs the four screws per a pattern provided by the second chassis 412. The user “hangs” each of the two second chasses 412 on those screws and then tighten the screws to secure each of the two second chasses 412 in much in the same way many kitchen, bathroom and entertainment products are “wall mounted.”

Referring to FIG. 30 in conjunction with FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 a third Pro Bracket 510 is used to mount a Mac Pro computer 101 to the first sidewall 401 of the third cabinet 400 and another third Pro Bracket 410 is used to mount another Mac Pro computer 101 to the second sidewall 403 of the third cabinet 400. Each third Pro Bracket 410 includes two straps 110, a third mount 411 and a third chassis 412. The third mount 411 of each of the third Pro Brackets 510 is slidably coupled to one of the third chasses 412. The third Pro Bracket 510 includes a front plate 511 with a plurality of ventilation holes 512 and a third cutout 513 for viewing the control panel 103 of the Mac Pro computer 101.

Referring to FIG. 30 in conjunction with FIG. 20, FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 the third chassis 412 of each third Pro Bracket 510 is mechanically coupled to one of the first and second sidewalls 401 and 403 of the third cabinet 400.

Referring to FIG. 33 in conjunction with FIG. 30, FIG. 34, FIG. 35, FIG. 36 and FIG. 37 the front plate 511 can be seen in a number of views.

Referring to FIG. 38 in conjunction with FIG. 30, FIG. 33 and FIG. 39 a Mac Pro computer 101 is placed in the third cutout 423. Each of two retaining straps 110 engages the cylindrical surface 102 of the Mac Pro computer 101. The L-shaped tab 113 of each retaining strap 110 is aligned and insertedly coupled to one of the two slots 423. The flat tab 114 of each retaining strap 110 with the threaded hole 115 is aligned and mechanically coupled to one of the two tabs 424 at the second end 412. The mounting screw 116 threadedly couples each tab 424 to one of the two flat tabs 114 of each retaining strap 110 through the hole 425 of each tab 424 and the threaded hole 114 of one of the two flat taps 114, respectively. The front plate 433 is mounted adjacent to the cylindrical surface 102 of the Mac Pro computer 101. The front plate 511 of the third Pro Bracket 510 provides cooling air through the plurality of ventilation holes 512 and the third cutout 513 allows the control panel 103 of the Mac Pro computer 101 to be viewed therethrough.

An advantage to the Pro Bracket is that it uses a removable mount (sled bracket) containing the Mac Pro computer and a fixed chassis (“receiving” bracket) that the removable mount slides into and secures so that a user can have a Pro Mac computer installed in a mount (sled bracket) alongside his desk, then just pull the mount (sled bracket) to remove the Mac Pro computer and slide it into a different chassis (receiving bracket) at another location, or into a rack cabinet, while he keeps working with the same Mac Pro computer at a new location and without having to “unstrap” and “re-strap” the Mac Pro computer into its mount (sled bracket). The mount (sled bracket) would go with the Mac Pro computer so that he would only need multiples (as few as two) of the stationary chassis (receiving bracket) that actually “mounts” to something.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a Pro Bracket for mounting a Mac Pro computer has been described. It should be noted that the sketches are not drawn to scale and that distances of and between the figures are not to be considered significant.

Accordingly it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and showing made in the drawing shall be considered only as an illustration of the principle of the present invention.

Claims

1. A first Pro Bracket for use in rack-mounting a Mac Pro computer having a cylindrical surface with a diameter of 2 R and a length L to a cabinet, said first Pro Bracket comprising:

a. two retaining straps each of which having a radius of curvature of R and each having a first end and a second end wherein a first connecting mechanism is at said first end and a second connecting mechanism is at said second end;

b. a first mount being a rectangular sheet of metal and having a first cutout with a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge each of which having a length of L with said cutoff being of a width of less than 2 R such that the Mac Pro computer rests within said first cutout wherein said two retaining straps are placed around the cylindrical surface of the Mac Pro computer and secured by said first and second connecting mechanisms to said first mount adjacent to said first and second longitudinal edges; and a

c. a first chassis being slidably coupled to said first mount chassis.

2. A second Pro Bracket for use in rack-mounting two Mac Pro computers each of having having a cylindrical surface with a diameter of 2 R and a length L to a cabinet, said second Pro Bracket comprising:

a. two pairs of retaining straps each of which having a radius of curvature of R and each having a first end and a second end wherein a first connecting mechanism is at said first end and a second connecting mechanism is at said second end;

b. a second mount being a rectangular sheet of metal and having a first cutout with a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge each of which having a length of L with said cutoff being of a width of less than 2 R such that the first of the two Mac Pro computers rests within said first cutout and a second cutout, which is disposed adjacent and parallel to said first cutout, with a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge each of which having a length of L with said second cutoff being of a width of less than 2 R such that the second of the two Mac Pro computers rests within said second cutout wherein said two retaining straps are placed around the cylindrical surface of each of the two Mac Pro computers and secured by said first and second connecting mechanisms to said second mount adjacent to said first and second longitudinal edges of said first and second cutouts, respectively; and

c. a second chassis being slidably coupled to said second mount.