RACK DOOR TRANSITION KIT WITH UNIVERSAL BRACKET

Abstract

A door transition kit for mounting a cooling door to an electronics equipment rack comprises vertically extending frame members and horizontally extending frame members defining a rectangular frame. The vertically extending frame members have cooling door mounting holes which align with the cooling door attachment points, and respective first and second flanges each having an elongated slot. Universal mounting brackets interconnect the frame to the mounting posts located within the rack and each comprises a first bracket part having an end with a mounting member removably mounted to a mounting hole in the mounting posts, and a second bracket part having a mounting member removably mounted to the elongated slot of a respective flange. The bracket parts are adapted to cooperatively engage with one another to allow selective, lateral adjustment toward and away from each other to selectively adjust the distance between the rectangular frame and the mounting posts.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rack door transition kit with universal bracket for connecting a cooling door to different rack configurations.

It is generally well known that electronic devices such as computers generate heat when they are running, and that the device can be damaged should the temperature of the device be allowed to rise above a certain threshold. It is therefore important to ensure the device has a way of dissipating the generated heat so as to prevent overheating thereof.

Many of today's industries and businesses require a host of computer servers and electrical equipment that is located in what is referred to as a server room or telecommunication equipment room. Individual servers or other electronic devices may be arranged in a server rack which typically comprises a frame having a plurality of shelves arranged in vertically spaced relationship with each server or other electronic device positioned upon a respective shelf. The shelves are vertically spaced from each other to allow air to circulate between each server in a rack.

Manufacturers of the servers or other electronic devices make the housing with openings allowing air to travel through the device. In this way, heated air generated from the electronic components located within the housing is allowed to escape through the openings in the housing. Some electronic device manufacturers further incorporate fans near the housing openings to actively draw the heated air out of the housing. Other heat management strategies may be utilized on or adjacent the housing such as fins or the like which act as heat sinks to help dissipate heat from the device.

The problem of electronic device heat management becomes more troublesome and acute when dealing with very large dedicated server rooms or rooms with a high density of equipment which generate significant amounts of heat. In these settings, auxiliary heat management tactics are required such as using evaporator/condenser type air conditioning units to cool the air within the server room. Such air conditioning units are referred to in the industry as “CRAC” units, which stands for “Computer Room Air Conditioning”. While CRAC units may do the job of keeping the servers at a safe operating temperature, they are not very efficient in that they require high amounts of electricity to keep the entire volume of air within the server room cool. Maintaining the cool air in a large server room can thus be a significant, ongoing cost which can increase exponentially as more server racks are added to the room, rack densities are increased and/or the room size is expanded. For industries such as telecommunication companies which require expansive server rooms, sometimes approaching the size of football fields, the operational costs of running CRAC units becomes financially unworkable and alternative, cheaper cooling strategies are necessary.

In response to the need for more efficient cooling strategies, cooling units and assemblies have been proposed which are placed in close proximity to the individual servers. In this strategy, the heated air being ejected from the device housing is cooled prior to it being allowed to mix with the ambient air in the room. Examples of such units and assemblies may be seen in the following patents:

• U.S. Pat. No. 7,385,810 issued to Chu et al on Jun. 10, 2008
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,830,657 issued to Chu et al on Nov. 9, 2010
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,905,105 issued to Fair et al on Mar. 15, 2011

The auxiliary cooling unit may be incorporated into a door located at what is considered the rear of the server rack (the side that the rear of the electronic components face). Such a cooling unit is typically referred to as a “cooling door”. Such a cooling door may be seen in commonly owned pending patent application Ser. Nos. 61/649,577 and 13/666,437, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. These cooling doors are preferably mounted onto the server rack using a hinged connection. Thus, when an operator needs to gain access to the rear of a server, the cooling door can simply be hinged open thereby obviating the need to physically remove the cooling door from the rack.

One problem with mounting of the cooling doors to server racks, however is that, since there is no standard in the industry regarding hinge hole location, size and type (threaded/non-threaded, etc.) on server racks, one must develop a custom cooling door attachment solution for reach different type of server rack. There therefore exists a need for a universal cooling door to server mounting kit which allows for quick and easy connection of a cooling door to most server rack configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above need by providing a rack door transition kit with universal bracket for connecting a cooling door to a server rack.

In a first embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for mounting a cooling door having predefined cooling door attachment points to any one of a variety of electronics equipment racks having an enclosure with first and second equipment mounting posts located within the enclosure with the mounting posts having a plurality of longitudinally spaced equipment mounting holes formed therethrough. The apparatus comprises a rack door transition kit for mounting the cooling door to the enclosure, the kit comprising a preferably (but not necessarily) rectangular frame having first and second spaced, vertically extending frame members each having a top and bottom end and, in a first embodiment, first and second spaced, horizontally extending frame members each having a right and left end interconnecting the first and second vertically extending frame members at the top and bottom ends thereof, respectively, and thereby defining the rectangular frame member.

The first and second vertically extending frame members have cooling door mounting holes formed therethrough at locations which may align with the cooling door attachment points. First and second flanges are attached to a respective one of the first and second vertically extending frame members and each of the flanges have an elongated slot extending in spaced, parallel relation to its respective vertically extending frame member. The flanges may be integrally formed with the vertically extended frame members or may each be formed as a separate component which is secured to the frame members by a removable fastener or a fixed joint such as a weld. Alternatively, rather than being formed in a flange, the slots may be formed directly in the frame member.

First and second universal mounting brackets interconnect the rectangular frame, which is located outside the equipment rack enclosure, to the first and second equipment mounting posts which are located within the equipment rack enclosure. The first and second universal mounting brackets each comprise a first bracket part having opposite first and second ends, the first end having at least one mounting member adapted to removably mount to a selected one or more of the equipment mounting holes in the first and second equipment mounting posts, respectively, and a second bracket part having opposite first and second ends, the first end having at least one mounting member adapted to removably mount to a respective flange at a selected point along the length of the elongated slot thereof.

The first and second bracket parts are adapted to cooperatively engage with one another in a manner allowing selective adjustment of the first and second bracket parts toward and away from each other to selectively adjust the length of the bracket which, in turn, dictates the distance between the rectangular frame and the first and second equipment mounting posts.

In another embodiment, third and fourth flanges, each also having an elongated slot, are attached to the second vertically extending frame member proximate the top end of a respective vertical frame member. Each of the elongated slots extends in spaced, parallel relation to its respective vertically extending frame member. Third and fourth universal mounting brackets, the same or similar to the first and second mounting brackets which are located adjacent the bottom ends of the vertical frame members, interconnect the frame members to the equipment mounting posts.

In yet a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method for mounting a cooling door having predefined cooling door attachment points to any one of a variety of electronics equipment racks having an enclosure with first and second equipment mounting posts located within the enclosure. The mounting posts have a plurality of longitudinally spaced equipment mounting holes formed therethrough. The method comprises the steps of securing a first and second mounting bracket to the first and second mounting posts, respectively; securing a first and second vertically extending frame member to the first and second mounting brackets, respectively, wherein the first and second vertically extending frame members have cooling door mounting holes formed therethrough; and mounting the cooling door to at least one of the vertically extending frame members wherein the cooling door attachment points align with the cooling door mounting holes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the door transition kit of the present invention mounted onto an exemplary equipment rack;

FIG. 2 is detailed view of an embodiment of a universal mounting bracket and frame mounted onto an exemplary equipment rack according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a universal mounting bracket of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4G are side elevational views of additional embodiments of a universal mounting bracket according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a front elevational view of an exemplary cooling door; and

FIG. 5B is a rear elevational view of the door seen in FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, there is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 an embodiment 20 of a door transition kit of the present invention mounted to an exemplary server rack 10. Server rack 10 includes a generally rectangular framework having opposite side walls 10a, 10b defining a rear opening 10c and a front opening 10d. In an effort to standardize housing servers from various manufacturers, a standardizing body known as the Electronic Industries Alliance (“EIA”) has developed a standard for a 19 inch wide rack having an external distance between side walls 10a and 10b measuring 19 inches with a nominal front opening 10d of 17.75 inches. Electronics equipment such as computer servers 18 may be mounted for operation inside rack 10. Electronics equipment is generally loaded from the front through front opening 10d. In this regard, most ETA server racks, regardless of their dimensions, have four server mounting posts, two adjacent the front rack opening 10d and two adjacent the rear rack opening 10c. Stationary shelves or sliding rails are then mounted onto the mounting posts with the electronics equipment (e.g., server) supported on the shelf or a pair of rails.

Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, an opposing pair of ETA mounting posts 12 and 14 extends vertically along sides 10a and 10b, respectively and each is physically mounted to the internal surface of the sides by suitable fasteners known in the art. The current ETA-310-D standard for 19 inch racks includes mounting posts having vertically spaced holes (14a) along their lengths which are standardized in their spacing. The spacing generates a repeating set of three openings with center-to-center openings of 0.5 inch, 0.625 inch, 0.625 inch yielding a total repeat unit of 1.75 inches. Rails (not shown) or shelves 16 are removably mounted to the post openings at the desired location within the rack through fasteners 16a. Examples of fasteners 16a include, but are not limited to, removable fasteners such as screws, bolts, cotter pins, or spring-loaded tabs, as well as non-removable fasteners such as welds, brazes or rivets. While the EIA standard dictates the overall external rack width, front opening 10d width, and mount hole spacing, the standard does not specify a standard depth of the rack (i.e. depth of sides 10a and 10b), nor does it standardize the location of the rear pair of mounting posts with regard to the rear edge of opening 10d of the server rack. Additionally, the EIA standard is silent as to the placement of mounting holes along the rear edges of sides 10a and 10b such that mounting of a cooling door to the back of a server rack requires the manufacture of numerous cooling door designs or requires additional on-site machining (i.e. drilling holes) to properly mount the cooling door. Thus, material costs and installation times are increased while also introducing the potential for damaging the electronics equipment (e.g., servers) due to exposure to metal shavings and dust from any additional machining. However, since the position of mounting holes within the mounting posts are standardized by EIA and are found in most of the available rack configurations on the market today, the present invention utilizes these EIA standardized posts to mount the cooling door to the rack. In some embodiments of the present invention, since the cooling door is attached to the rear rack opening, which itself varies widely among different rack manufacturers, the present invention provides an apparatus which allows the cooling door to easily attach to any rack configuration which has EIA mounting posts therein (which, as noted above, most racks do).

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a door transition kit for mounting a cooling door to an electronics rack defining an enclosure envisioned by the present invention is shown generally as reference elements 20 (frame unit) and 30 (universal mounting bracket). Frame unit 20 is generally rectangular and comprises two vertically extending frame members 20a and 20b interconnected at respective top and bottom ends by horizontally extending frame members 20c and 20d, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, vertically extending frame members 20a and 20b are mounted to the side walls of the server rack without the provision of a top and/or bottom horizontally extending frame member. The face of each vertically extending frame member 20a, 20b is configured with cooling door mounting holes 22 located proximate the top and bottom ends of the members. Cooling door mounting holes 22 are positioned at the same location for all frames such that mating cooling door attachment points, such as hinges 52 (see FIGS. 5a and 5b) situated on a cooling door (see reference 50, FIGS. 5a and 5b) mate with the vertical frame members without requiring on-site manipulation or machining of the cooling door or its hardware. Cooling door mounting holes 22 are situated on each vertical member thereby enabling left-hand or right-hand opening of the cooling door, as dictated by the server rack's location.

The face of each vertically extending frame member 20a, 20b may further include a cutout 23 for mating with an associated latch or handle (see FIGS. 5a and 5b, reference 53) on a cooling door. The latch or handle prevents unwanted opening of the cooling door when mounted onto the frame and server rack. Optional adjustable feet 26 may be attached to the bottom ends of first and second vertically extending frame members 20a, 20b. The adjustable feet 26 allow the frame to rest upon the floor regardless of the relative positioning of the frame with respect to side walls of the server rack or rear opening. Thus, the frame has a load bearing capability which is independent of the server rack. Adjustable feet 26 may be any suitable feet such as, but not limited to threaded feet, pneumatic feet, spring mounted feet and the like.

Adverting now to FIGS. 2 and 3, an embodiment of a universal mounting bracket according to the present invention is enumerated as reference numeral 30. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, universal mounting bracket 30 comprises a first bracket part 30a and a second bracket part 30b having respective overlapping bracket bodies 36a and 36b which slideably mate with one another. In a preferred embodiment, bracket body 36a includes a fixedly attached locking element 34a which extends inwardly (away from a sidewall when mounted in place) and engages a channel 38b situated within bracket body 36b. Preferably, locking element 34a is a threaded connector adapted to snuggly pass through channel 38b where a nut 35, along with a washer 37, is threaded onto locking element 34a. In this manner, bracket bodies 36a and 36b can be horizontally adjusted depending upon the distance between the mounting posts within the server rack and the frame members of the door transition kit. Once a proper distance has been selected, tightening nut 35 on locking element 34a prevents unwanted horizontal movement of the bracket bodies.

In a preferred embodiment, one or both of bracket bodies 36a and 36b are manufactured to have a generally U-shaped cross-section with one bracket body resting completely within the second bracket body. The generally U-shaped cross-section prevents pivoting of the bracket bodies about locking element 34a by constraining one bracket body within the parallel arms of the second bracket body. While shown and described as bracket body 36a being equipped with locking element 34a engaged with channel 38b of bracket body 36b, it is also envision that these elements may be reversed such that bracket body 36a incorporates a channel while bracket body 36b has an attached locking element. As shown in FIG. 2, one or both bracket bodies may be further equipped with a stabilizing element such as set screw 39. This stabilizing element further prevents torsion of the bracket when mounting the vertical frame member to the mounting post and when opening and closing the cooling door during service or maintenance. This stabilization is of greater importance within kits which do not provide for top and bottom horizontal frame members.

To adjustably secure vertical frame members 20a and 20b to server rack side walls 10a and 10b, respectively, bracket body 36a of first bracket part 30a has a mounting member 32a located at a first end for removably mounting the first bracket part to the mounting post within the server rack. In this particular embodiment, mounting member 32a has a flange with integrated mounting element 33a. Mounting element 33a may be one or more recesses that are sized and positioned to mate with mounting post holes (14a) within a mounting post (14), with mounting member 32a (and by extension first bracket part 30a) secured to the mounting post by fasteners 16a. Ideally, fasteners 16a simultaneously secure shelf 16 and mounting member 32a, however, it is further envisioned that mounting member 32a and shelf 16 may be secured with respective, dedicated fasteners. While shown and described as a recess, additional mounting elements are envisioned and are to be considered within the scope of the present invention. Additional mounting elements may include, but are not limited to, through-holes of various geometries, including holes with internal threads.

To removably secure the universal mounting bracket to the vertical frame member, second bracket part 30b includes a mounting member 32b at a first end that is adapted to removably attach second bracket part 30b to flange 24 located on a vertical frame member (20b) by way of mounting element 33b. In a preferred embodiment, mounting element 33b is a threaded member adapted to snuggly pass through a portion of elongated slot 24a within flange 24. A nut 35, along with a washer 37, is threaded onto locking element 33b thereby removably affixing second bracket part 30b to flange 24, and therefore to the vertical frame member 10a or 10b. Elongated slot 24a allows for vertical position adjustment of mounting member 32b, and by extension bracket body 36b and bracket body 36a, along the vertical frame element depending upon the placement of mounting member 32a and fasteners 16a on the mounting post within the server rack so that the universal mounting bracket is generally parallel with the plane of the server rack base or floor. In a preferred embodiment, door frame 20 is secured to server rack 10 through two universal mounting brackets, one along each side wall mounted onto a respective mounting post, and more preferably toward the bottom end of each respective vertical frame member. In an alternative embodiment, such as one which utilizes vertical extending frame members 20a and 20b but not horizontal members 20c and 20d, four universal mounting brackets are utilized with two mounting brackets mounted along each side wall on a respective post. Preferably, each side wall has one mounting bracket located proximate the bottom end of its respective vertical frame member with the second mounting bracket located proximate the top end of the vertical frame member.

As illustrated by FIG. 4, alternative universal mounting brackets 30′ may be constructed as a turnbuckle having interchangeable terminals operating as mounting members 32a′ and 32b′. For instance, when using a turnbuckle, mounting member 32a′/32b′ of first and second bracket parts 30a′ and 30b′, respectively, may be selected from any suitable terminal such as, but not limited to, an eyelet (turnbuckle A), hook (turnbuckle B), jaw (turnbuckle C), unthreaded stub (turnbuckle D) or threaded stud (turnbuckle E). Indeed, as shown by turnbuckles (F) and (G) in FIG. 4, the terminal selected to operate as mounting member 32a′ may be a different terminal than that used as mounting member 32b′. For instance and by way of example such that the present invention is not limited solely thereto, mounting member 32a′ may be removably secured to mounting post 14 through post holes 14a through a hook sized such that the pointed end of the hood is inserted into, and is secured within, a hole 14a. The second end of first bracket part 32a′ has a threaded bracket body 36a′ which extends rearwardly when the first bracket part is secured to mounting post 14. Turning now to the second bracket part 30b′, mounting member 32b′ located at a first end of bracket part 30b′ may be a threaded stud which is adapted to extend through slot 24a on flange 24 where the protruding stud end can then be secured by a mating washer and nut. In this embodiment, flange 24 may need to have an extended width such that the assembled and mounted turnbuckle has a final position which is generally parallel with the plane created by side wall 10a or 10b when the vertical frame member is secured to the mounting posts. The second end of second bracket part 30b′ comprises a threaded bracket body 36b′. Threaded bracket body 36a′ and threaded bracket body 36b′ are threaded into respective threaded turnbuckle ends 36c′ of turnbuckle body 36′. Rotation of turnbuckle body 36′ in one direction causes mounting members 32a′ and 32b′ to expand while reverse rotation causes the mounting members to contract. Importantly, rotation of the turnbuckle body 36′ does not cause torque to, or rotation of, the mounting members. In this manner, the lateral displacement of the first and second bracket parts is selectively adjusted depending upon the distance between the mounting posts within the server rack and the vertical frame of the door transition kit so that, preferably, the vertical frame members abut to the rear edge of side walls 10a and 10b of the server rack.

While this method and apparatus has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting a cooling door having predefined cooling door attachment points to any one of a variety of electronics equipment racks having an enclosure with first and second equipment mounting posts located within said enclosure, said mounting posts having a plurality of longitudinally spaced equipment mounting holes formed therethrough, said apparatus comprising a door transition kit for mounting said cooling door to said enclosure, said kit comprising:

a) a rectangular frame having first and second spaced, vertically extending frame members each having a top and bottom end, and first and second spaced, horizontally extending frame members each having a right and left end interconnecting said first and second vertically extending frame members at said top and bottom ends thereof, respectively, and thereby defining said rectangular frame member, said first and second vertically extending frame members having cooling door mounting holes formed therethrough at locations which may align with said cooling door attachment points;

b) first and second flanges each having an elongated slot, said first and second flanges attached to a respective one of said first and second vertically extending frame members with said elongated slot extending in spaced, parallel relation to its respective vertically extending frame member; and

c) first and second universal mounting brackets for interconnecting said rectangular frame which is located outside said enclosure to said first and second equipment mounting posts which are located within said enclosure, said first and second universal mounting brackets each comprising: i) a first bracket part having opposite first and second ends, said first end having at least one mounting member adapted to removably mount to a selected one or more of said equipment mounting holes in said first and second equipment mounting posts, respectively; ii) a second bracket part having opposite first and second ends, said first end having at least one mounting member adapted to removably mount to a respective flange at a selected point along the length of said elongated slot thereof; wherein said first and second bracket parts are adapted to cooperatively engage with one another in a manner allowing selective, lateral adjustment of said first and second bracket parts toward and away from each other to selectively adjust the distance between said rectangular frame and said first and second equipment mounting posts.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

d) first and second adjustable feet attached to said bottom ends of said first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively, said feet allowing said rectangular frame to rest upon the floor regardless of the relative positioning of said rectangular frame with respect to said enclosure, said rectangular frame thereby having a load bearing capability which is independent of said enclosure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

d) a locking element attached to at least one of said first and second bracket parts, said locking element operable to releasably fix the selected relative positioning of said first and second bracket parts.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

d) third and fourth flanges each having an elongated slot, said third and fourth flanges attached to a respective one of said first and second vertically extending frame members with said elongated slot extending in spaced, parallel relation to its respective vertically extending frame member; and

e) third and fourth universal mounting brackets for interconnecting said rectangular frame to said first and second equipment mounting posts;

whereby said first and second elongated slots and respective first and second universal mounting brackets are located adjacent said bottom ends of said first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively, and said third and fourth elongated slots and respective third and fourth universal mounting brackets are located adjacent said top ends of said first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second bracket parts include mating sliding elements extending between respective first and second ends thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said universal mounting brackets include a turnbuckle comprising said first bracket part, said second bracket part and a turnbuckle body.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of said at least one mounting members on each of said first and second bracket parts is selected from the list consisting of an eyelet, a hook, a jaw, a non-threaded stub and a threaded stud.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

d) a stabilizing element attached to said universal mounting bracket proximate said flange, said stabilizing element operable to reduce torsion of said universal mounting bracket.

9. Apparatus for mounting a cooling door having predefined cooling door attachment points to any one of a variety of electronics equipment racks having an enclosure with first and second equipment mounting posts located within said enclosure, said mounting posts having a plurality of longitudinally spaced equipment mounting holes formed therethrough, said apparatus comprising a door transition kit for mounting said cooling door to said enclosure, said kit comprising:

a) first and second spaced, vertically extending frame members each having a top and bottom end, said first and second vertically extending frame members having cooling door mounting holes formed therethrough at locations which may align with said cooling door attachment points, wherein each of said vertically extending frame members which is located outside said enclosure;

b) first and second flanges each having an elongated slot, said first and second flanges attached to said first vertically extending frame member proximate said top and bottom end, respectively, and third and fourth flanges each having an elongated slot, said third and fourth flanges attached to said second vertically extending frame member proximate said top and bottom end, respectively, with each of said elongated slots extending in spaced, parallel relation to its respective vertically extending frame member;

c) first and second universal mounting brackets for interconnecting said first vertically extending frame member to said first equipment mounting post, and third and fourth universal mounting brackets for interconnecting said second vertically extending frame member to said second equipment mounting post, said first, second, third and fourth universal mounting brackets each comprising: i) a first bracket part having opposite first and second ends, said first end having at least one mounting member adapted to removably mount to a selected one or more of said equipment mounting holes in said first and second equipment mounting posts, respectively; and ii) a second bracket part having opposite first and second ends, said first end having at least one mounting member adapted to removably mount to a respective flange at a selected point along the length of said elongated slot thereof; wherein said first and second bracket parts are adapted to cooperatively engage with one another in a manner allowing selective, lateral adjustment of said first and second bracket parts toward and away from each other to selectively adjust the distance between said first and second vertically extending frame members and said first and second equipment mounting posts, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, and further comprising:

d) first and second adjustable feet attached to said bottom ends of said first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively, said feet allowing said frame members to rest upon the floor regardless of the relative positioning of said frame members with respect to said enclosure, said frame members thereby having a load bearing capability which is independent of said enclosure.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, and further comprising:

d) a locking element attached to at least one of said first and second bracket parts, said locking element operable to releasably fix the selected relative positioning of said first and second bracket parts.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first and second bracket parts include mating sliding elements extending between respective first and second ends thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said universal mounting brackets include a turnbuckle comprising said first bracket part, said second bracket part and a turnbuckle body.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of said at least one mounting members on each of said first and second bracket parts is selected from the list consisting of an eyelet, a hook, a jaw, a non-threaded stub and a threaded stud.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, and further comprising:

d) a stabilizing element attached to said universal mounting bracket proximate said flange, said stabilizing element operable to reduce torsion of said universal mounting bracket.

16. A method for mounting a cooling door having predefined cooling door attachment points to any one of a variety of electronics equipment racks having an enclosure with first and second equipment mounting posts located within said enclosure, said mounting posts having a plurality of longitudinally spaced equipment mounting holes formed therethrough, said method comprising the steps of:

a) securing a first and second mounting bracket to said first and second mounting posts, respectively;

b) securing a first and second vertically extending frame member to said first and second mounting brackets, respectively, wherein said first and second vertically extending frame members have cooling door mounting holes formed therethrough; and

c) mounting said cooling door to at least one of said vertically extending frame members wherein said cooling door attachment points substantially align with said cooling door mounting holes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each of said first and second mounting brackets comprises: wherein the method further comprises the step of:

i) a first bracket part having opposite first and second ends, said first end having at least one mounting member adapted to removably mount to a selected one or more of said equipment mounting holes in said first and second equipment mounting posts, respectively; and

ii) a second bracket part having opposite first and second ends, said first end having at least one mounting member adapted to removably mount to a respective first and second vertically extending frame member;

wherein said first and second bracket parts are adapted to cooperatively engage with one another in a manner,

d) selectively adjusting said first and second bracket parts toward and away from each other to selectively adjust the distance between said first and second vertically extending frame members and said first and second equipment mounting posts, respectively.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of said first and second vertically extending frame members further comprises first and second adjustable feet attached to a bottom end of said first and second vertically extending frame members, respectively, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

d) adjusting said feet to allow said frame members to rest upon the floor regardless of the relative positioning of said frame members with respect to said enclosure, said frame members thereby having a load bearing capability which is independent of said enclosure.