Stackable rack for electronic products

Abstract

A stackable rack device for receiving an electronic product comprises a first clamping member, a second clamping member and a connection member, wherein each of the clamping members includes at least one positioning members and snapping members distal from a housing of the electronic product being stacked and the connection member is coupled to the corresponding ends of the clamping members to form a U-shaped trough for securing to one side of the housing and allowing it be stably stacked with other electronic products through the engagement of the positioning members and snapping members.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to racks and more particularly to an improved stackable rack for electronic products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, a variety of network products, for example hubs, switches, modems, printer servers, gateways, and integrated service digital networks (ISDNS) each has a predetermined shape (i.e., defined by housing). As such, a considerable space is required if two or more of above network products are used in a network application. Further, such stacked network products may be messy because network products cannot be orderly stacked due to various housing specifications. This is inconvenient for management and detection.

[0003] For eliminating above drawback, a conventional stackable rack having a parallelepiped shape for network products is devised as shown in FIG. 1. One rack frame 80 comprises an arcuate member 81 on the front side being spaced from either side by a predetermined distance, an engagement member (e.g., tab) 82 formed on either side of arcuate member 81, i.e., at the joining of arcuate member 81 and rack frame 80, and a plurality of grooves 83 formed on the top of arcuate member 81. The other mating rack frame 80 comprises two seats 84 on opposed sides corresponding to arcuate members 81, two mating engagement members 85 on seats 84 facing each other, and a rib 86 between seats 84 corresponding to one of grooves 83. With above configuration, two rack frames 80 can be fastened together (as indicated by dashed lines) to form a rack.

[0004] But this is unsatisfactory for the purpose for which the invention is concerned because the number of components is relatively high, resulting in an increase of manufacturing cost. In view of the trend of providing cost effective, high quality products for achieving the goal of easy management, such is not desirable.

[0005] Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved stackable rack for electronic products in order to overcome the above drawbacks of prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stackable rack for an electronic products comprising a first clamping member, a second clamping member corresponding to the first clamping member, a connection member coupled to one ends of the first and the second clamping members, and a trough defined by the first and the second clamping members and the connection member for securing to one side of a housing of the electronic product. The rack further comprises at least one first positioning member opposite to the first clamping member on the housing and a second positioning member mated with the first positioning member on the second clamping member distal from the housing. Hence, the first positioning member on one rack is engageable with the second positioning member on the other rack. Alternatively, the second positioning member on one rack is engageable with the first positioning member on the rack. In such a manner, a plurality of racks with held electronic products are stably stacked.

[0007] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional stackable rack for electronic products;

[0009] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a portion of rack frame of a first preferred embodiment of stackable rack for electronic products according to the invention;

[0010] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a portion of mating rack frame of the rack of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing an engagement of rack and electronic product;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing several stacked racks; and

[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of rack of a second preferred embodiment according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, there is shown a first embodiment of stackable rack for electronic products in accordance with the invention. One rack frame 10 comprises a first clamping member 20, a second clamping member 21 corresponding to first clamping member 20, a connection member 23 coupled to one ends of first clamping member 20 and second clamping member 21, and a U-shaped trough 24 defined by first clamping member 20, second clamping member 21, and connection member 23 for securing to one side of housing 2 of electronic product. Rack frame 10 further comprises at least one first positioning member 25 opposite to first clamping member 20 on housing 2. On the other second clamping member 21 distal from housing 2, there is provided a second positioning member 26 mated with first positioning member 25 so as to be capable of assembling together. Alternatively, second positioning member 26 and first positioning member 25 of the other rack frame 11 may be assembled together. In such a manner, a plurality of racks 2, 3, 4, and 5 with held electronic products are stably stacked.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3 specifically, on first clamping member 20 of rack frame 10 distal from housing 2, there is provided at least one first snapping member 27. Correspondingly, on the other second clamping member 21 distal from housing 2, there is provided a second snapping member 28.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3 specifically, there is provided at least one first engagement member 29 on second clamping member 21 being engageable with second engagement member 30 on housing 2. A groove 31 is provided on one side of second clamping member 21 adjacent housing 2 in communication with first engagement member 29. Hence, first engagement member 29 may be guided along groove 31 to engage with second engagement member 30. With such engagement, rack frame 10 and housing 2 may be stably secured together. One of the first and second clamping members 20, 21 is slanted toward the other clamping member so as to be at an oblique angle about connection member 23. Hence, width of trough 24 is smaller than that of connection member 23. As a result, rack frame 11 may be mounted on one side of housing 2.

[0017] In the invention, first snapping member 27 is implemented as a slot while second snapping member 28 is implemented as an L-shaped tab on second clamping member 21 engageable with the slot. Also, there is provided at least one projection 32 on first clamping member 20 (having slot thereon) adjacent housing 2. With the projection 32, first clamping member 20 (having slot thereon) is maintained at a predetermined distance in mounting an electronic product on rack frame 10. As an end, the other tab of rack frame 11 is facilitated to engage with the slot. Also, there is at least one hole 33 on connection member 23 for ventilating heat generated by electronics in electronic product or for passing power cord. Further, a latch 34 is provided on a side of connection member 23 for permitting cord to wrap around the electronic product by passing through the latch 34.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention. The characteristics thereof are detailed below. Rack frame 10 comprises a first clamping member 20, a second clamping member 21 corresponding to first clamping member 20, a connection member 23 coupled to one ends of first clamping member 20 and second clamping member 21, and a U-shaped trough 24 defined by first clamping member 20, second clamping member 21, and connection member 23 for securing to one side of housing 2 of electronic product. Rack frame 10 further comprises at least one first snapping member 27 on first clamping member 20 and a second snapping member 28 mating with first snapping member 27 on second clamping member 21 distal from housing 2. With the engagement of first snapping member 27 and second snapping member 28, a plurality of racks 2, 3, 4, and 5 with held electronic products are stably stacked (see FIG. 4).

[0019] While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A stackable rack device for receiving an electronic product comprising:

a first clamping member, the first clamping member includes at least one first positioning member distal from the surface of a housing of the electronic product being stacked;

a second clamping member corresponding to the first clamping member, wherein the second clamping member includes a second positioning member opposite to the first positioning member being distal from the surface of the housing of the electronic product being stacked;

a connection member coupled to one ends of the first and the second clamping members; and

a U-shaped trough formed by the first and the second clamping members and the connection member for securing to one side of the housing of the electronic product.

2. The rack device of claim 1, further comprising at least one first snapping member and a second snapping member opposite to the first snapping member being distal from the surface of the housing of the electronic product being stacked.

3. The rack device of claim 1, wherein the second clamping member comprises at least one engagement member engageable with an engagement member on the housing.

4. The rack device of claim 1, further comprising a groove on one side of the second clamping members adjacent to the housing of the electronic product being stacked in communication with the engagement member thereof.

5. The rack device of claim 1, further comprising at least one projection on each of the clamping members adjacent to the housing of the electronic product being stacked.

6. The rack device of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises at least one opening.

7. The rack device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and the second clamping members is slanted toward the other one of the first and the second clamping members so as to be at an oblique angle about the connection member for causing a width of the trough to be smaller than that of the connection member.

8. The rack device of claim 1, wherein the connection member further comprises a side latch.