Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-24
2001-01-30
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S724000, C361S726000, C361S801000, C292S114000, C292S228000, C312S223200, C312S223300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181549
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rack for housing electronic equipment, and more specifically to a chassis retaining system for a rack housing electronic equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronics rack is an apparatus used to house electronic equipment including telephone equipment and computer systems. One standard for governing the dimensions of an electronics rack and the enclosures for the equipment stored in the rack is the EIA (Electronic Industries Association) standard. These standards allow for electronic equipment to be stored in an efficient and orderly manner.
Electronic equipment is mounted or enclosed in a chassis with attached side rails that allow the chassis to slide into the EIA rack on rails attached to the rack. Fasteners, such as thumb screws (see
FIG. 1
, item
145
), which are accessible from the front of the chassis, are used to secure the chassis to the rack once the chassis is slid into a secured position. Before removing the chassis from the rack, a user first has to unscrew the thumb screws. Consequently, the use of thumb screws adds to the inconvenience of securing and removing the chassis to and from the rack. What is needed is a more convenient way to secure a chassis to an electronics rack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been discovered that providing a securing device and a user interface device coupled to a handle of a chassis mounted in an electronics rack advantageously provides a more convenient apparatus for securing the chassis to the electronics rack and for removing a secured chassis from the electronics rack.
More specifically, in one aspect of the present invention, a chassis retaining system for an electronics rack includes a handle and a securing device with a retaining surface. The securing device is coupled to the handle, and the retaining surface is movable with respect to the handle. The chassis retaining system further includes a user interface device coupled to the handle and to the securing device. The user interface device is movable with respect to the handle. The user interface device engageable by a user to move the retaining surface from a first position with respect to the handle wherein a surface of the electronics rack in which a chassis is mounted retains the retaining surface, to a second position wherein the surface of the electronics rack does not retain the retaining surface.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for housing electronic equipment includes a chassis supporting the electronic equipment and a rack. The chassis is mounted in the rack. The chassis is moveable with respect to the rack. The rack has a first surface. The apparatus further includes a handle fixably coupled to the chassis and a securing device with a retaining surface. The securing device is coupled to the handle. The retaining surface is movable with respect to the handle. The apparatus further includes a user interface device coupled to the handle and to the securing device. The user interface device is movable with respect to the handle. The user interface device is engageable by a user to move the retaining surface from a first position with respect to the handle wherein the first surface of the rack retains the retaining surface to secure the chassis to the rack in a secured position with respect to the rack, to a second position wherein the first surface does not retain the retaining surface.
In another aspect of the invention, a computer system includes a processor, a memory electrically coupled to the processor, a chassis supporting the processor and the memory, and a rack. The chassis is mounted in the rack. The chassis is moveable with respect to the rack. The rack has a first surface. The computer system also includes a handle fixably coupled to the chassis and a securing device with a retaining surface. The securing device is coupled to the handle. The retaining surface is movable with respect to the handle. The computer system further includes a user interface device coupled to the handle and to the securing device. The user interface device is movable with respect to the handle. The user interface device is engageable by a user to move the retaining surface from a first position with respect to the handle wherein the first surface of the rack retains the retaining surface to secure the chassis to the rack in a secured position with respect to the rack, to a second position wherein the first surface does not retain the retaining surface.
The present invention eliminates the need for chassis securing devices such as thumb screws, machine screws, or latching slides.
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Mills R. Steven
Sands Steven L.
Dell Products L.P.
Dolezal David G.
Lea-Edmonds Lisa
Picard Leo P.
Skjerven, Morrill, MacPherson L.L.P.
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