Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus comprising a zip-locker receiver. The zip-locker receiver is configured to ratchetably receive a zip-locker and comprises an aperture and a pawl disposed within the aperture configured to complement and cooperate with the ratchet teeth of the zip-locker to prevent removal of the zip-locker from the aperture of the zip-locker receiver at times the pawl of the zip-locker receiver is engaged with the ratchet teeth of the zip-locker.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a system comprising a zip-locker and a zip-locker receiver. The zip-locker comprises a first portion and a second portion configured to fasten to an interconnect, at least one of the first portion and the second portion having ratchet teeth formed and extending longitudinally on an outer surface thereof. The zip-locker receiver is configured to ratchetably receive the zip-locker and comprises an aperture and a pawl disposed within the aperture configured to complement and cooperate with the ratchet teeth of the zip-locker to prevent removal of the zip-locker from the aperture of the zip-locker receiver at times the pawl of the zip-locker receiver is engaged with the ratchet teeth of the zip-locker.

Abstract: A gangable conduit management device includes a body for housing a conduit, the body having an interior portion for receiving the conduit, an exterior portion having a first connection device on a first side thereof and a second connection device on a second side thereof and retention means for retaining the conduit within the body. The first connection device includes a male connector portion and the second connection device includes a female connector portion.

Abstract: A cabinet having a pair of vertically stacked chassis separated by a central, vertically extending region. A pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending panels is disposed in the central region, the panels forming: a pair of outer compartments for receiving air exiting a corresponding one of the pair of laterally spaced vertically stacked chassis; and an inner compartment for receiving air exiting the pair of vertically stacked chassis. The panels have therein an array of openings in a lower portion thereof for passing portions of air in the outer compartments into the inner compartment. An upper portion of the panels inhibits portions of air in the outer compartments from passing into the inner compartment. The openings extend in rows horizontally across the panel. The number of opening in lower ones of the rows is greater than the number of opening in upper ones of the rows.

Abstract: A modular patch panel for interconnecting a data storage system controller to data storage enclosures is provided. The modular patch panel includes a chassis and modular interface circuitry. The chassis has a front end and a back end, the front end and the back end being horizontally opposed, the back end attaching to a panel portion of a rack system, the panel portion electrically connecting to the data storage enclosures over a set of point-to-point connections. The modular interface circuitry has (a) a data storage interface portion electrically connected to the set of point-to-point connections through the panel and (b) a controller interface portion electrically connecting to the data storage system controller through the front end. The modular interface circuitry is interchangeable through an opening in the front end.

Abstract: A cable assembly has an electronic cable (e.g., a data communications cable, a power cable, a fiber optic cable, a cable concurrently providing both data and power, etc.), a label to provide identification to the electronic cable, and a label supporter. The label supporter includes a cable section arranged to attach to the electronic cable, and a label section coupled to the cable section. The label section defines a rigid label surface which concurrently (i) overlays a portion of an outer surface of the electronic cable at a predefined distance from the outer surface of the electronic cable and (ii) supports the label at the predefined distance from the outer surface of the electronic cable when the cable section attaches to the electronic cable.

Abstract: A bezel has a locking mechanism that allows bezel designs to locate the bezel lock anywhere along the length of the bezel. The bezel includes a bezel frame, a first plunger mechanism, and a second plunger mechanism. Each plunger mechanism is moveably coupled to the bezel frame at opposite ends of the bezel frame and is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A first rod is attached to the first plunger mechanism and a second rod is attached to the second plunger mechanism. A cam lock is positioned between the first rod and the second rod. The cam lock is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the cam lock restricts movement of both rods sufficiently to stop the plunger mechanisms from moving from the latched position to the unlatched position when the cam lock is in the locked position.

Abstract: Described is a data storage system having a rack with opposing sidewalls, an open front side, an open rear side, front compartments for holding chassis received through the front side, and rear compartments for holding chassis received through the rear side. A first conduit is mounted vertically to one of the sidewalls of the rack between the front and rear compartments. A second conduit mounted vertically to the other of the sidewalls of the rack between the front and rear compartments. A first chassis and second chassis each houses disk drives and electrically connects to the first and second conduits. The first chassis residing in a front compartment of the rack with a front side of the first chassis facing the front side of the rack. The second chassis resides in a rear compartment of the rack with a front side of the second chassis facing the rear side of the rack.

Abstract: Described is a disk drive assembly and method for constructing same. The disk drive assembly includes a carrier-less disk drive having opposite sides, each with at least one hole. A carrier holds the disk drive. The carrier includes a frame around three sides of the disk drive. The frame has a base and opposing sidewalls. Each sidewall has an integrally formed pin that enters a corresponding hole in a side of the disk drive to position the disk drive within the frame. Coupled to the frame where each sidewall terminates is a clip. The clip provides a fourth side to the frame opposite the base and causes the sidewalls to hold the disk drive tightly therebetween. An injector-ejector mechanism can be rotatably coupled to the clip for pivotal movement between open and closed positions. Such movement urges the disk drive assembly out of and into a chassis bay.

Abstract: Described are seismic-resistant equipment cabinets and door latches for enabling a hinged door to remain attached to the cabinet during a seismic event of a particular intensity. The door has a latch disposed along one edge of the door. The latch includes a latch-keeper receptacle and a latching bolt disposed in the latch-keeper receptacle. The latching bolt is slideable between a latched and an unlatched position. The frame has a latch keeper assembly attached to an edge thereof. The latch keeper assembly is positioned to enter the latch-keeper receptacle when the door latches to the frame. The latch keeper assembly includes a protruding member having a tapered edge and a latching-bolt aperture to receive the latching bolt when in the latched position. The tapered edge establishes a close fit by the latch keeper assembly within the latch receptacle to limit relative motion therebetween during a seismic event.

Abstract: Described is a label cassette for mounting to the front side of an enclosure and for holding and displaying a label used to identify a configuration of that enclosure. The label cassette includes a transparent cover, a tray, and a hinge mechanism. The tray has a pair of guide rails for engaging respective guide structures on the enclosure to align the label cassette for attachment to the enclosure, a capture mechanism to secure the label cassette to the enclosure, and a label surface to hold a label. The hinge mechanism attaches the transparent cover to the tray and permits rotation about an axis parallel to the back edge of the transparent cover. Mounted to a ledge that extends from the front of the enclosure, the label cassette does not occupy vertical space or interfere with connectors, cables, or airflow vents on the front of the enclosure.

Abstract: A chassis housing disk drives has an electrical plug and an electrical signal connector at its back end. A rack has a compartment for receiving the chassis. A cable conduit mounted to a rack sidewall adjacent the compartment abuts the back end of the chassis. A first cable assembly coupled to the cable conduit includes an electrical plug receptacle and a first cable extending through the cable conduit for conducting power to the electrical plug receptacle. A second cable assembly coupled to the cable conduit includes a data signal connector and a second cable extending through the cable conduit for conducting data signals to and from the data signal connector. The electrical plug receptacle receives the electrical plug and the data signal connector receives the electrical signal connector of the chassis, concurrently, when the chassis slides into the compartment fully, to supply power to and establish communications with the chassis.

Abstract: This invention is a support carrier for attaching a smaller format disk drive into a chassis bay sized for receiving a larger disk drive, the support carrier includes a heat-sink surface with pin fins for conducting and removing heat from the smaller disk drive.

Abstract: A device fastens a plug of a power cord to a frame which is configured to support a power supply. The device includes a body configured to attach to an installation location of the frame and substantially hold the plug at the installation location of the frame when the power supply connects with and disconnects from the plug. The body includes a first end wall, a second end wall, and lateral walls which connect the first end wall and the second end wall together. When the body substantially holds the plug at the installation location of the frame and when the body is attached to the installation location of the frame, the walls operate to reliably hold the plug in place to enable robust blind mating of the plug with the power supply.

Abstract: Described is a data storage system having a rack with opposing sidewalls, an open front side, an open rear side, front compartments for holding chassis received through the front side, and rear compartments for holding chassis received through the rear side. A first conduit is mounted vertically to one of the sidewalls of the rack between the front and rear compartments. A second conduit mounted vertically to the other of the sidewalls of the rack between the front and rear compartments. A first chassis and second chassis each houses disk drives and electrically connects to the first and second conduits. The first chassis residing in a front compartment of the rack with a front side of the first chassis facing the front side of the rack. The second chassis resides in a rear compartment of the rack with a front side of the second chassis facing the rear side of the rack.

Abstract: An improved front panel assembly is capable of being used with an electronic equipment rack. The improved front panel assembly includes a cover, an attachment subassembly configured to attach the cover to the electronic equipment rack, and a metallic EMI shield. The cover includes (i) a central portion configured to separate an external space in front of the electronic equipment rack and an internal space within the electronic equipment rack, and (ii) side portions which extend around a periphery of the metallic EMI shield. The side portions are configured to elevate and support the central portion from the metallic EMI shield. The central portion and the side portions define a top slot which extends horizontally along a top outer edge of the central portion and a bottom slot which extends horizontally along a bottom outer edge of the central portion.

Abstract: Described is a bezel for an electronics enclosure. The bezel frame includes a frame, first and second plunger mechanisms, a shuttle, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a cam disposed in a path of lateral movement of the first plunger mechanism. The cam is located between that plunger mechanism and a tab of the shuttle. The orientation of the cam determines the extent of lateral movement of the plunger mechanisms. In one orientation, the cam restricts the lateral movement of the first plunger mechanism and urges the shuttle into a position that restricts the lateral movement of the second plunger mechanism. Consequently, neither plunger mechanism is able to move far enough laterally to disengage from a mounting structure.

Abstract: A front panel assembly is capable of being used with an electronic equipment rack configured to support electronic circuitry having multiple LEDs (e.g., a rack mount data storage system having a row of disk drives). The front panel assembly includes a cover portion configured to separate an external space in front of the electronic equipment rack and an internal space within the electronic equipment rack. The front panel assembly further includes an attachment portion configured to attach to the electronic equipment rack, and a reflective member configured to reflect light from the multiple LEDs simultaneously in a direction toward the external space.

Abstract: Described is an adaptable electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI) shield adapted to reduce unwanted EMI/RFI at an electrically conductive equipment panel having an elongated aperture. The aperture provides external access to a mounting bracket of an expansion board assembly. The mounting bracket (e.g., for a PCI expansion board) abuts an interior surface of the equipment panel at the elongated aperture and includes an angled flange extending through the elongated aperture. The EMI/RFI shield includes an electrically conductive shield extension slidable between open and closed positions. The shield extension includes a flange receptacle for receiving the angled flange of the mounting bracket and a shielding plate. The shielding plate overlaps an adjustable portion of the elongated aperture such that in a closed position the shielding plate together with the mounting bracket cover substantially the entire elongated aperture.