Supports – Article carried – Stand – foot or prop
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-02
2001-02-27
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Article carried
Stand, foot or prop
C248S917000, C248S188800, C248S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193208
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to stabilizing apparatus for securing and stabilizing tower type computer system units.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is desirable, in certain instances, to mount computer system units, such as hard disk drive array systems or tower units, in a vertical orientation, mainly due to space constraints. Pedestals are used to allow the tower unit to be mounted in a vertical position and still pass required standard tip tests for computer system units. The primary design goal of a pedestal is to expand the effective foot print of a given tower unit so that it requires a greater force to tip it over. Another important design consideration for pedestals is integration with and between other tower units and pedestals. If a user has multiple tower units mounted in vertical positions and wants to mount them as close to one another as possible, the minimum distance that two adjacent tower units can be stationed is dictated by how far the tower unit's pedestal extends out from the base, e.g. if the tower unit's pedestal extends out two inches and it is stationed next to a similar tower unit such that the front of the systems are aligned with respect to each other, the minimum distance between the two tower units would be four inches.
There are several commercial and private pedestals on the market that are used to provide stability for tower and mini-tower type computer system units. These are intended for stand alone systems and are not designed to allow two systems to stand closely together side by side. These pedestals typically mount to a system tower unit by enveloping the sides of the system tower unit. Therefore, a pedestal is needed which satisfies the necessary tip/push test requirements and still allows two or more like system tower units to be stationed next to one another as close as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the stabilizing apparatus of the present invention has the advantages of allowing the computer system tower units to be positioned in close proximity with respect to each other while providing stability for a single or multiple tower units. The present invention provides a stabilizing apparatus for a computer system having one or more tower units with a generally narrow width base with respect to the depth and height of each tower unit. At least one pedestal spans the base of the tower unit in a direction transverse to the depth of the tower unit. The pedestal of the present invention is a single bar having two ends which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the tower unit for preventing the tower unit from overturning. Alternatively, the ends are angled downwardly for raising the base of the tower unit. Screws are used, for instance, to attach the pedestal to the tower unit. The pedestal of one tower unit is capable of interlacing with the pedestal of another tower unit allowing the tower units to be positioned in close proximity with respect to each other.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, the ends of each pedestal are angled generally in an S-shape in opposite directions from each other and when two or more tower units are positioned adjacent each other having the front of the tower units aligned with respect to each other, one end of the pedestal on one tower unit is interlaced with one end of the pedestal on the adjacent tower unit.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, one end of the pedestal is a double end and the other end is a single end and when two or more tower units are positioned adjacent each other having the front of the tower units aligned with respect to each other, the single end of the pedestal on one tower unit is interlaced with the double end of the pedestal on the adjacent tower unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4238101 (1980-12-01), Kay
patent: 4368867 (1983-01-01), Fendleton et al.
patent: 5020768 (1991-06-01), Hardt et al.
patent: 5263668 (1993-11-01), Reitue
patent: 5388792 (1995-02-01), Hastings et al.
patent: 5397081 (1995-03-01), Landry et al.
patent: 5457602 (1995-10-01), Kimura et al.
patent: 5462350 (1995-10-01), Brightman et al.
patent: 5584431 (1996-12-01), Clement
patent: 5749637 (1998-05-01), McMahan et al.
Schmitt Ty R.
Wilks Andrew W.
Braun Leslie A.
Dell U.S.A. L.P.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
Terrile Stephen A.
Wood Kimberly
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