UNIVERSAL RACK-MOUNTABLE SHELF
A support and method for supporting equipment within a rack system regardless of its design is disclosed. The base of the support includes a surface capable of supporting the equipment reducing unintended movement of the equipment. Brackets capable of being securely attached to the rack system, regardless of whether it is two-post or four-post in design, are associated with the base of the support. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of selecting a design of rack system, attaching the support of the present system, and placement of the equipment to be supported.
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This application is related to co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/365,228, filed Mar. 14, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to a support rack, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for supporting equipment, such as electronic equipment.
BACKGROUNDThe physical support of objects or devices (e.g., electronic equipment) on a horizontal plane presents a number of related issues. For purposes of this application, the term “equipment” shall be used to include, without limitation, computers (of all designs, including desktop and tower), computer components, tape backups, hubs, switches, power supplies, audio/visual components, and the like.
It is generally desirable to support equipment in a manner that facilitates their operation, if applicable. For example, such support should orient the equipment in proper or recommended spatial orientation. Other orientation may be dictated by the function (e.g., placement of cooling fan) or other consideration. Next, support should be accomplished in a manner that consumes the smallest amount of space, but still provides the user with a desired level of access. Such access may be necessary to monitor and/or maintain the equipment being supported. With modern office and storage space at a premium, the development of racks and other stacking devices for such equipment has occurred.
Existing shelf designs are typically made by rack manufacturers and are limited to coupling with the respective manufacturer's two- or four-post rack design, and few, if any, others. Many manufacturers provide two- or four-post racks designed to support equipment, such as servers and the like, for being supported on shelves that are respectively coupled to the two- or four-post rack systems. However, there is a need for a universal rack mountable shelf that is adapted to attach to substantially all two- or four-post rack systems, regardless of manufacturer. In addition, because space is a premium concern for users of two- or four-post rack systems, there is a need for multiple mounting orientations of shelves in the two- or four-post rack system.
SUMMARYThe present invention is an apparatus and method for supporting equipment on a horizontal surface or shelf, which may be secured to a two- or four-post rack having various configurations known in the art. According to the principles of the present invention, a universal rack mountable shelf is designed to mount in substantially all two- and four-post racks, regardless of mounting depth, rack-post style, and manufacturer. The shelf of the present invention may be mounted right-side-up or in a reverse configuration, depending on the requirements of the user.
In general, the principles of the present invention provide for a fixed, rack mountable shelf that couples to a two- or four-post rack and supports electrical equipment such as computer components, servers or the like. The apparatus of the present invention includes a base portion having a support surface adapted to support various types of equipment. Slots or holes may be provided on the support surface to serve several functions. First, the slots or holes reduce the overall weight of the shelf. Second, the slots may be orientated in a right-to-left or left-to-right direction, which increases the front-to-back friction between the shelf and the rubber feet of the equipment supported thereon. The orientation of the slots serves to reduce the likelihood of equipment inadvertently sliding off of the shelf. Third, the slots may be oriented in a front-to-back direction to allow equipment to be coupled to the shelf via straps or other coupling mechanisms. The coupling of equipment to the shelf may be desirable in regions prone to structural shifting and the like.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSThe FIGURES outlined below further illustrate the apparatus and method of the present invention. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
Various embodiments of the principles of the present invention are shown in
Now referring to
Preferably, the shelf 10 is composed of a durable, relatively lightweight material, such as aluminum or the like metal, but can be composed of any suitable material or combination of materials desired. For heavier equipment to be supported, steel or other heavier construction materials may be employed.
Two flanges 50 are provided on opposing ends of the base 30. The flanges 50 may have a plurality of front fixed bracket mounting holes 60 proximal a front portion for coupling a front fixed bracket 70 thereto. The plurality of front fixed bracket mounting holes 60 may, in some embodiments, be aligned vertically or in any other desired configuration. The number and location of the front fixed bracket mounting holes 60 may be adjusted depending on the rack depth and the requirements of the user. A plurality of rear sliding bracket mounting holes 80 may also be provided on the flanges 50 for coupling a rear sliding bracket 90 thereto. The number and location of rear sliding bracket mounting holes 80 may be adjusted depending on the rack depth and the requirements of the user. The rear sliding mounting holes 80 may, in certain embodiments, be aligned horizontally or in any other desired configuration. A plurality of openings 95 may be provided on the flanges 50 to allow wires to pass therethrough for guiding and coupling, and to reduce the weight of the shelf 10. A location 97 (
Now referring to
As illustrated in
As can be appreciated from the description herein and from
Now referring to
It is to be appreciated that the shelf 10 may couple to substantially any existing two- or four-post rack system and support loads accordingly. It is to be further appreciated that the universal rack mountable shelf 10 of the present invention provides numerous configurations for supporting a variety of loads, depending on the requirements and desires of the user.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A support for supporting a load in a rack system of either a two-post or four-post design, said support comprising:
- a base;
- said base having an upper surface capable of supporting the load and having at least two longitudinal flanges extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal dimension of the base including a first longitudinal flange adjacent to a first lateral edge of the base and a second longitudinal flange adjacent to a second lateral edge of the base; and
- at least one means, for each longitudinal flange, for securely attaching the base to the rack system, the means for securely attaching adapted to enable attaching the base to rack systems having at least two different designs, wherein each different design is associated with at least one different location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for attaching the base using the longitudinal flange.
22. The support of claim 21, wherein at least one of the brackets is adapted to securely attach the base to at least one of the rack systems in an inverted position, wherein the base further comprises a lower surface capable of supporting equipment when the base is inverted, and wherein attaching the base in the inverted position accommodates equipment having at least one dimension that cannot be accommodated when the base is in an upright position.
23. The support of claim 21, wherein at least one of the brackets is adapted to attach to a first bracket at one or more fixed locations along the longitudinal dimension of the base.
24. The support of claim 21, wherein the at least one different location of each different design relates to at least two different designs selected from the group consisting of:
- a two-post design including a first location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for a first attachment of the base to the rack system;
- a two-post design including a second location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for the first attachment, wherein the second location differs from the first location;
- a two-post design including a third location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for a second attachment of the base to the rack system, wherein the second attachment differs from the first attachment;
- a two-post design including a fourth location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for the second attachment, wherein the fourth location differs from the third location;
- a four-post design having a first horizontal dimension along the longitudinal dimension of the base between attachments of the base to the rack system; and
- a four-post design having a second horizontal dimension along the longitudinal dimension of the base between attachments of the base to the rack system, wherein the second horizontal dimension differs from the first horizontal dimension.
25. The support of claim 21, wherein at least two of the two longitudinal flanges are disposed on different lateral sides of the upper surface of the base.
26. An apparatus configured to support equipment comprising:
- a base comprising: an upper surface capable of supporting equipment; and at least two longitudinal flanges extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal dimension of the base; and
- one or more brackets for each longitudinal flange configured to enable the base to be coupled to rack systems having at least two different designs such that at least one post of each different design can couple to the base using the one or more brackets at one or more different locations along the longitudinal flange.
27. The support of claim 26, wherein the upper surface of the base is adapted to support computers, electrical components, servers, hubs, switches, or combinations thereof.
28. The support of claim 26, wherein the upper surface includes a material, one or more openings, a roughened layer, and or combinations thereof for increasing horizontal friction produced between the upper surface and the equipment thereon.
29. The support of claim 26, wherein at least one of the brackets is adapted to attach to at least one fixed location on at least one of the longitudinal flanges.
30. The support of claim 26, wherein the bracket comprises:
- a first flange adapted to attach to at least one of the longitudinal flanges; and
- a second flange adapted to attach to at least one post of at least one of the rack systems.
31. The support of claim 26, wherein at least one of the brackets is adapted to slidably engage at least one of the longitudinal flanges.
32. The support of claim 26, wherein at least one of the brackets comprises:
- a flange adapted to attach to at least one post of at least one of the rack systems; and
- a portion adapted to slidably engage a longitudinal flange.
33. The support of claim 26, wherein:
- the portion of the bracket comprises an adjustment slot adapted to receive a fastener for mating with at least one hole in at least one of the longitudinal flanges; and
- the flange of the bracket comprises at least one hole adapted to mate with at least one hole in at least one of the posts.
34. A shelf of a rack system comprising:
- a base comprising: an upper surface capable of supporting equipment; and at least two longitudinal flanges extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal dimension of the base; wherein one or more of the longitudinal flanges are configured to be capable of coupling to two or more rack systems designs including at least a two-post design and a four-post design, and wherein at least one of the longitudinal flanges is further configured to enable at least one post of at least one of the rack system designs to couple to the longitudinal flange at a different location along the longitudinal flange than at least one post of a different rack system design.
35. The shelf of claim 34, wherein the upper surface of the base is adapted to support computers, electrical components, servers, hubs, switches, or combinations thereof.
36. The shelf of claim 34, wherein the upper surface includes a material, one or more openings, a roughened layer, and or combinations thereof for increasing horizontal friction produced between the upper surface and the equipment thereon.
37. The shelf of claim 34, wherein at least one of the longitudinal flanges comprises at least one hole adapted to receive a fastener for mating with at least one hole in a bracket configured to enable the base to be coupled to two or more rack systems comprising at least two different designs.
38. The shelf of claim 34, wherein at least one of the longitudinal flanges comprises:
- at least one hole at each of a plurality of locations comprising fixed locations to enable attachment with one or more brackets configured to enable the base to be coupled to two or more rack systems; and
- at least one hole along the longitudinal dimension of the base comprising an adjustment slot to enable slidable engagement with one or more of the brackets.
39. The support of claim 34, wherein the at least one different location of each different design relates to at least two different designs selected from the group consisting of:
- a two-post design including a first location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for a first attachment of the base to the rack system;
- a two-post design including a second location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for the first attachment, wherein the second location differs from the first location;
- a two-post design including a third location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for a second attachment of the base to the rack system, wherein the second attachment differs from the first attachment;
- a two-post design including a fourth location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for the second attachment, wherein the fourth location differs from the third location;
- a four-post design having a first horizontal dimension along the longitudinal dimension of the base between attachments of the base to the rack system; and
- a four-post design having a second horizontal dimension along the longitudinal dimension of the base between attachments of the base to the rack system, wherein the second horizontal dimension differs from the first horizontal dimension.
40. The support of claim 34, wherein at least two of the two longitudinal flanges are disposed on different lateral sides of the upper surface of the base.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 12, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: Robert Mimlitch (Rowlett, TX), David Norman (Greenville, TX)
Application Number: 11/549,060
International Classification: A47F 7/00 (20060101);