Supports: racks – Special article – Electrically powered
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-08-28
Gibson, Jr., Robert W. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Electrically powered
C211S182000, C211S189000, C312S265400, C312S223200, C361S829000, C411S046000, C411S048000, C411S015000, C411S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279754
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to the field of electronic equipment enclosures and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for releasably securing a computer system component within a housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer systems are becoming increasingly complex. It is not unusual for a single computer system to include a combination of several computer components. Though the components may include diverse types of equipment (e.g., telephonic equipment or computing equipment), system users usually prefer that the system be housed in a common enclosure. This preference influenced the development of rack storage devices (Racks). Racks are standard in the computer industry and allow components to be placed within them in a modular fashion such that various combinations of components can be integrated into a single system.
A number of vendors sell standard EIA (Electronics Industries Association) racks, which comply with EIA specifications including size limitations. Many of these racks employ a fairly simple slide device for securing the system components within the rack. The slide device extends from the rack cabinet to facilitate the accessing of the component and retracts into the cabinet to allow for the in-place securing of the component. The slide device is not, however, essential.
Whether a rack employs the slide device or some other component mounting device, the component, itself, must be connected to the rack in a secure manner. Conventionally, this secure connection is provided with a series of male and female threaded devices. In these conventional systems, the threaded devices connect the component, or some part of it, to the housing. Additional threaded devices may also be used to mount pull handles onto the component. These pull handles allow the component to be pulled from the rack once the component is no longer secured in place.
There are several disadvantages associated with the conventional approach's reliance on threaded devices. For example, the conventional system requires the use of a significant number of parts at each secure connection point (e.g., a bolt, a washer and a nut). This in turn creates at least two complications. First, the conventional system creates alignment issues (i.e., the nut, which is secured to the rack cabinet and is intended to receive the bolt, must be correctly located relative to the bolt). And second, the combination of numerous parts and manufacturing challenges (e.g., alignment problems), necessarily increases manufacturing costs.
An additional problem arises when a user seeks to un-secure and/or re-secure a component within the rack. The un-secure/re-secure procedure is unduly time consuming and complicated as a result of the many threaded parts. Frequently, a component will be secured in place at four or more connection points. As a result, the user must unthread at least four bolts from their associated receiving nuts and keep track of these four bolts while the component is in an unsecured state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with teachings of the present invention, a method and apparatus for releasably securing a computer system component within a housing are disclosed that provide significant advantages over prior technologies.
According to one aspect of the present invention a releasable latching apparatus for securing a component of a computer system to a computer housing is disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a casing and a shaft integrated with the casing such that the shaft is operable to move relative to the casing. This movement could be rotational. It could also be, among other alternatives, linear along the shaft. Coupled to the shaft is an actuator, which could include a handle. It could also include a keyed mechanism for key actuation. Incorporated into the latching apparatus is a collet that extends along the shaft. The collet includes a locking portion, which can releasably secure a computer component to a housing by extending away from the shaft and capturing an element of the computer housing. In one embodiment, the collet includes a projecting finger, and the captured element of the computer housing includes a hole that extends through an EIA rail, which is secured to the rack housing. In another embodiment, the collet includes a spring finger that is operable to flex and extend away from the shaft. A variety of mechanisms can be used to cause the collet to extend away from the shaft. For example, the shaft could include a tapered end with a varying cross sectional area. As the shaft is moved and a portion of the shaft having a larger cross sectional area is brought into contact with an inner surface of the collet, the collet will extend outward and capture an element of the computer housing. In another embodiment, the shaft could include a cam having at least one lobe. As the shaft is rotated, the cam lobe is brought into contact with the inner surface of the collet and forces the collet to extend outward and capture an element of the computer housing.
A technical advantage of the present invention is a reduction in the number of total parts and, resultantly, a reduction in manufacturing time and cost. The above described apparatus could be a single part that directly couples to a component face plate. This coupling could be accomplished in a number of ways (e.g., a locking clip attached to the apparatus on the back side of the face plate). Moreover, the apparatus could include a handle coupled to the actuator. Because the apparatus is securely attached to the component, this coupled handle eliminates the need for additional pull handles, which are necessary in conventional systems.
Another technical advantage of the present invention is ease of alignment. For example, one embodiment of the apparatus is operable to engage and capture a hole in an EIA rail, which is fixed to the housing. A typical EIA rail has holes displaced incrementally along its length. As such, there is no requirement for the accurate placing of a specific receiving device.
Additionally, the latching apparatus of the present invention could be manufactured to have quarter turn actuation. A latching apparatus that is securely attached, for example, to the face plate of a component and operates with quarter turn actuation would greatly reduce the effort required to un-secure and/or re-secure a component within the rack.
Other technical advantages should be apparent to one of skill in the art from the following description, drawings and claims.
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“EIA Standard: Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment”, Electronic Industries Association (Engineering Department): EIA-310-D; pp. 1-18, Sep. 1992.
Dearborn Timothy C.
Hoss Shawn P.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Dell USA L.P.
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
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