Supports: racks – Special article – Electrically powered
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-21
2002-07-23
Gibson, Jr., Robert W. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Electrically powered
C211S191000, C211S175000, C211S192000, C312S223200, C312S265400, C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06422399
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates in general to the field of A electronics and more specifically relates to a rack system and method having a tool-less releasable arm assembly.
BACKGROUND
Electronic devices such as computer components are often stored in an electronic rack system, sometimes referred to as a rack system or rack, to conserve floor space. A variety of different computer components including servers, computers, storage devices such as disk drives, tape drives, and RAID drives, as well as other electrical devices can be housed in rack systems. Standards such as the Electronics Industry Association (EIA) RS-310 19″ rack standard have been developed to standardize the height and width of electronic rack systems to facilitate effective use of the space within rack systems.
The vertical space within a rack system is generally defined in vertical mounting unit increments, often referred to as “U's”. A mounting unit or U is typically 1.75 inches. Interior rails of rack systems often have three mounting slots selectively spaced within each U of vertical space for attaching components. Rack systems and components are typically sized in mounting unit increments. For example,“2U” components are sized to fit within a 2U vertical space.“48U” and “72U” racks are sized to have 48U and 72U, respectively, of usable vertical space.
Access to components is often provided by a slideable shelf, slideable arms, or other support structures attached to interior rails of the rack system. These structures allow the associated components to slide forward for maintenance, repair, or installation.
A common problem with such support structures is that assembly of the arms within the rack is often difficult, confusing, and time consuming. Typically, arms and shelves that support components are secured to interior rails of the rack system using loose connectors such as screws, nuts, washers, and bolts, that often require the use of specialized tools. Assembly using loose connectors is often further complicated by the limited work space within rack systems that house multiple components and a complex assortment of cabling. In addition to often being a frustrating exercise, installing traditional support structures can consume a significant amount of the scarce and valuable time of skilled technicians.
After a support structure has been installed within a rack, removal of the support structure often proves to be a daunting task as well. Gaining access to the connectors and manipulating tools for removing a support structure from a rack can prove difficult because of the close confines of typical rack systems, components, and associated cabling. These difficulties discourage rearranging support structures within rack systems to manage rack space to meet changing space and component requirements.
SUMMARY
In accordance with teachings of the present disclosure, a system and method having a tool-less releasable arm assembly are described for installing support structures within rack systems for supporting components.
In one aspect, a rack system is disclosed that includes a rack with a plurality of rails that each have a standard interface portion. The system also includes an arm with a front end, a rear end, a front rail interface, and a rear rail interface. The front rail interface may be disposed at the front end of the arm and is formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the first end of the arm to the standard interface portion of a rail. The rear rail interface may be disposed at the rear end of the arm formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the second end of the arm to the standard interface portion of a rail. More specifically, the front and rear rail interface portions may include hooks extending from the front rail interface and the rear rail interface, having a downward facing L-shaped configuration.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for installing an arm assembly within a rack system is disclosed that includes aligning a rail interface with the interface portion of a rail within a rack system. The arm assembly is then tool-lessly and releasably secured to the interface portions of the rack system. The method then includes repeating these steps for a secured rail. More specifically, the method includes aligning the arm assembly hooks with the desired interface portion of the rack rails such that a latch assembly moves to a first or catch position that secures the arm assembly to the rack rail.
The present disclosure provides a number of important technical advantages. One advantage is providing an arm assembly that may be tool-lessly and releasably secured to a rack. Accordingly, the arm assembly may be secured to a desired rack rail without the use of specialized tools or loose connectors. The arm assembly further facilitates the removal of the arm assembly from a rack or for repositioning within a rack system.
Further technical advantages are demonstrated by the claims, figures, and detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3133768 (1964-05-01), Klakovich
patent: 3680711 (1972-08-01), Brucker
patent: 3697034 (1972-10-01), Shell
patent: 4184726 (1980-01-01), Cox
patent: 4406374 (1983-09-01), Yedor
patent: 4931907 (1990-06-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 5460441 (1995-10-01), Hastings et al.
patent: 5505533 (1996-04-01), Kammersqard et al.
patent: 5546277 (1996-08-01), Zandbergen
patent: 5571256 (1996-11-01), Good et al.
patent: 5791498 (1998-08-01), Mills
patent: 5833337 (1998-11-01), Kofstad
patent: 5850925 (1998-12-01), Gandre
patent: 5941621 (1999-08-01), Boulay et al.
patent: 6011701 (2000-01-01), Kopp et al.
patent: 6021047 (2000-02-01), Lopez et al.
patent: 6021909 (2000-02-01), Tang et al.
patent: 6070742 (2000-06-01), McAnally et al.
patent: 6070841 (2000-06-01), Robinson
patent: 6070957 (2000-06-01), Zachvai
patent: 6095345 (2000-08-01), Gibbons
patent: 6142590 (2000-11-01), Harwell
patent: 6181549 (2001-01-01), Mills et al.
patent: 6185092 (2001-02-01), Landrum et al.
patent: 6223908 (2001-05-01), Kurtsman
patent: 6230903 (2001-05-01), Abbott
patent: 6273534 (2001-08-01), Bueley et al.
U.S. Pending Patent Appl. Ser. No. 09/489,409 entitled “Apparatus for Providing Displacement to A Slide Mounted Chassis in a Rack” by Johnson, et al., assigned to Dell USA L.P. (Atty's Dkt 016295.0545 (DC-02146), Filed Jan. 21, 2000.
U.S.Pending Patent Appl. Ser. No. 09/518,841 entitled “Rack Mount Slide System Enabling Front, Top and Rear Access to a Rack Mounted Device” by Baddour et al., assigned to Dell Products L..P. (Atty's Dkt 016295.0571 (DC-02172), Filed Mar. 3, 2000.
U.S. Patent Patent Appl. Ser. No. 08/881,289 entitled “Chassis Retaining for an Electronics Rack” by Mills et al., assigned to Dell USA L.P. (Client No. DC-01275), Filed Jun. 24, 1997.
U.S. Pending Patent Appl. Ser. No. 09/470,280 entitled “Connector Arrangement and Connecting Method for Cable Management Arms”, assigned to Dell USA L.P. (Client No. DC-02095), Filed Dec. 22, 1999.
Castillo Henry
Gandre Jerry D.
Gray Randolph D.
Neville, Jr. Robert J.
Williams Tiffany J.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Dell Products L.P.
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
LandOfFree
Rack system and method having tool-less releasable arm assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Rack system and method having tool-less releasable arm assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Rack system and method having tool-less releasable arm assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2821184