Supports: cabinet structure – Components spaced from bottom wall
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-11
2001-04-10
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Supports: cabinet structure
Components spaced from bottom wall
C312S223200, C411S107000, C411S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213578
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a mounting assembly for an enclosure for housing electronic equipment.
BACKGROUND
A mounting assembly is used to mount electronic modules, back-planes, shelves, circuit boards, or other electronic equipment in an enclosure. A mounting assembly sometimes compromises the environmental integrity of an enclosure, particularly where the mounting assembly engages a bore in the enclosure. The bore may provide a path for the ingress of water, dust, or other contaminants.
In the past, an elastomeric seal (e.g., silicone or rubber o-ring) was associated with the bore and the mounting assembly to weather-proof the enclosure. However, elastomeric seals used to seal such bores were susceptible to leakage and mechanical failure over time. For example, such elastomeric seals were damaged during installation when the mounting assembly required deformation to be secured to the bore.
If an exterior of the enclosure is exposed to rain, snow, ice or other sources of water, the water may penetrate the elastomeric seal. Upon exposure to the intruding water, the electronic modules within the enclosure may be damaged through one or more short-circuits created by conductive impurities (e.g., mineral salts) dispersed in the intruding water. In the context of an enclosure for wireless communications equipment, damage to an electronic module may lead to down-time of a wireless communications system or a portion thereof.
In general, an enclosure for housing communications equipment must meet various technical standards to be technically competitive and commercially marketable. For example, enclosures may be tested for salt-fog resistance and resistance to wind-driven rain at a certain rate over a certain duration and wind speed. One current technical standard involves rain testing as specified in paragraph 30 of the Underwriter's Laboratories specification UL 50 regarding “Enclosures for Electronic Equipment”. Thus, the need exists for a mounting assembly and an enclosure that is sufficiently weather-tight to reduce or eliminate damage to electronic equipment housed in the enclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a mounting assembly includes a metallic base member, such as a wall of an enclosure. A threaded stud is fused to the base member. A threaded collar engages the threaded stud and provides a threaded recess for receiving a mounting fastener. The mounting assembly is well-suited for supporting an electronic item within an enclosure in a weather-tight or water-proof manner because the mounting assembly requires no seals for an environmental barrier. Further, the mounting assembly facilitates the use of threaded metallic materials that are resistant to galling and binding upon thread engagement.
In one aspect of the invention, one or more mounting assemblies are incorporated into an enclosure assembly. Accordingly, the enclosure assembly includes a metallic enclosure having an interior and an exterior. Threaded studs are fused to the interior. Threaded collars engage the corresponding threaded studs and provide threaded recesses. Mounting fasteners engage the threaded recesses for affixing one or more electronic or electrical items to the metallic enclosure. Advantageously, the mounting assemblies facilitate a barrier to water transfer between the interior and the exterior because the mounting assemblies provide reliable mechanical connection (and optionally electrical connections) to the enclosure without requiring holes in the enclosure or associated seals.
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LaGrotta James T.
LaGrotta Richard Thomas
Orellana Manuel G.
Cuomo Peter M.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Tran Hanh V.
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