Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2001-10-02
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S724000, C361S725000, C361S732000, C361S740000, C361S747000, C312S215000, C312S222000, C312S350000, C248S535000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297962
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to rack mounted computer systems and, more particularly, to an apparatus which allows displacement of computer components attached to a slide mounted chassis in a rack.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As various electronic components used to make computer systems and peripherals have gotten increasingly smaller, so have the chassis in which they are placed. The most significant size decreases have been seen in more powerful computer designs such as servers.
Servers are now produced such that their chassis will fit into what is known as a hardware storage system or rack. These racks are employed to store computer systems with greater amounts of computing power while requiring a relatively small footprint. As a result of placing this computing power into racks, many peripherals commonly used in conjunction with servers have also been made to fit into racks.
To increase the effectiveness of the migration to rack mounted computer systems, standardization of chassis size and rack size has been implemented. The capacity of racks is often measured in height by the number of ‘U’s, where each ‘U’ is generally equivalent to 1.75 inches. The standard internal height for “Tall” racks is typically 42U or 73.5 inches; “Short” racks are typically 24U or 42.0 inches in height. As computer and peripheral chassis are manufactured, their height dimensions are designed to occupy rack space in multiples of ‘U’, ranging upwards from 1U.
Each chassis in a rack is usually mounted onto a pair of slide assemblies allowing the components to be moved either forwards or backwards relative to the rack. Chassis displacement or movement relative to the rack is provided to allow the components to be replaced, inspected, maintained, or otherwise accessed. Chassis displacement is usually accomplished from the front of a rack by engaging the associated chassis and pulling the chassis forward. Rear displacement, however, has been performed in a variety of ways including engaging and pulling on the chassis's cabling or pulling on the chassis itself when accessible.
As anyone who has assembled a computer system or has seen the backside of a computer system can attest, access to the rear of a computer system is typically not obstacle free. Along with a myriad of cables plugging into the back of nearly all computer systems and peripherals, particularly rack mounted computer systems, the crowded nature of the rack contributes additional roadblocks to access and rearward displacement of rack mounted computer components.
SUMMARY
In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a removable apparatus for providing displacement to a chassis on a slide rail coupled to a rack mounted computer system is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus enabling displacement of a chassis coupled to a slide rail is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated member having respective first and second ends and respective first and second surfaces. A handle is preferably coupled proximate the first end of the elongated member. The apparatus may further include a releasable latch preferably coupled proximate the second end of the elongated member and configured to engage a releasable latch aperture in the slide rail. Additionally, at least one locking member is preferably coupled to the first surface of the elongated member and is operable to engage the slide rail.
In another embodiment, an apparatus enabling displacement of at least one component of a rack mounted computer system is provided, the component having a slide mounted chassis. The apparatus includes an elongated member with respective first and second surfaces and respective first and second ends. The apparatus further includes a handle preferably coupled proximate the first end of the elongated member and a plurality of ‘T’-shaped locking members preferably coupled to the first surface of the elongated member. The ‘T’-shaped locking members are preferably operable to engage notches in the slide rail. The apparatus may include a spring biased releasable latch having at least one grasping member preferably coupled proximate the second end of the second surface of the elongated member. The grasping member is preferably operable to engage a releasable latch aperture on the slide rail while the spring biased releasable latch is preferably operable to draw the grasping member towards the ‘T’-shaped locking members.
In yet another embodiment, a computer system including a rack having respective left and right slide rails and respective front and back sides is provided. The slide rails have at least one locking member notch and at least one releasable latch aperture contained therein. A computer component having at least one processor, memory operably associated with the processor and a chassis housing the memory and the processor are also included with the computer system. The chassis is preferably coupled to the left and right slide rails. A displacement apparatus is included which is removably coupled to at least one slide rail and is constructed with an elongated member having respective first and second surfaces and respective first and second ends. A handle is preferably coupled proximate the first end of the elongated member and a releasable latch is coupled proximate the second end of the elongated member. The releasable latch is preferably operable to engage the releasable latch aperture on the slide rails. The displacement apparatus further includes at least one locking member coupled to the second surface of the elongated member which is configured to engage at least one locking member notch on the slide.
A technical advantage provided by the present disclosure lies in its ability to grant a user access to a 1U component of a computer system from the rear of a rack.
Another technical advantage provided by the present disclosure is the ability to draw a component out of a rack from the rear without pulling on the component's cabling.
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U.S. Pending patent application Ser. No. 09/181,289 entitled “Multi-Segmented, Nesting, Low Profile Cable Management Arm” by Beall, et al.; Dell USA, L.P., filed Oct. 28, 1998.
Baddour Alfred Rafi
Johnson Chris Stephen
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Dell USA L.P.
Foster David
Picard Leo P.
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