MX2008005050A

MX2008005050A - Equipment rack support bracket for power distribution units.

Info

Publication number: MX2008005050A
Application number: MX2008005050A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Antonio S Smith; Kenneth Brown
Original assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 2007-04-18
Filing date: 2008-04-17
Publication date: 2009-03-02
Also published as: US20080258026A1; CA2623620A1

Abstract

A bracket shaped to support and position equipment such as an exemplary power distribution unit in various orientations in an equipment rack. The bracket has a number of slots to receive mounting screws for coupling the bracket to the equipment rack and to the equipment.

Description

MENSULA Db SUPPORT FOR EQUIPMENT SHELF FOR ENERGY DISTRIBUTION UNITS Field of the Invention The present invention is directed generally to equipment shelves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Equipment shelves support several different types of equipment and patch panels. Typically, the equipment may have wires that connect within the electrical power outlet to receive electrical power from the power outlet. Power distribution units that have electrical power outlets can be used in conjunction with rack equipment to adapt the electrical power to the equipment by having the equipment power cables connected to the outputs of the power distribution units. Power distribution units are manufactured in various shapes, sizes, and occupy space that can otherwise be used for equipment and patch panels in a rack of equipment or can block access to equipment and patch panels that are placed in the equipment shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a support bracket for equipment rack for a power distribution unit. Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1, together with fragmented perspective views of an equipment shelf and a rear side of an energy distribution unit in a first stage of assembling a first coupling orientation. Figure 4 is a front side perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1 together with the fragmented perspective views of the equipment shelf and the rear side of the power distribution unit of Figure 3 in a second stage of assembly of the first coupling orientation. Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the energy distribution unit with two brackets of Figure 1 connected to the power distribution unit in the first coupling orientation. Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the energy distribution unit coupled to the equipment shelf by two brackets in the first coupling orientation.

Figure 7 is a top perspective view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment shelf by the bracket of Figure 1 in the first coupling orientation shown in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a top perspective view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment shelf by the bracket of Figure 1 in a second coupling orientation.

Figure 9 is a top perspective view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment shelf by the bracket of Figure 1 in the third coupling orientation. Figure 10 is a top perspective view of the distribution unit of energy coupled with the equipment shelf by the bracket of Figure 1 in the fourth coupling orientation. Figure 11 is a top perspective view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment shelf by the bracket of Figure 1 in the fifth coupling orientation. Figure 12 is a top perspective view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment shelf by the bracket of Figure 1 in the sixth coupling orientation. Figure 13 is a top perspective view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment shelf by the bracket of Figure 1 in the seventh coupling orientation. Figure 14 is a top perspective view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment shelf by the bracket of Figure 1 in the eighth coupling orientation.

Detailed Description of the Invention As described herein, a bracket has a way to support and position equipment, such as an exemplary power distribution unit in various orientations of an equipment shelf. The bracket has a number of slots to receive mounting screws to be coupled with the equipment shelf. An implementation of the bracket 100 is shown in the front perspective view of Figure 1 as with a first plate portion 102 and a second plate portion 104 rigidly connected together. The first plate portion 102 has a first free end 106, a second end 108, a first side 110 and a second side 112 (shown in Figure 2). Also shown in Figure 1, the first plate portion 102 has a first elongated slot or opening 114 positioned and extended essentially parallel to the first end 106, a second slot 116 extended substantially parallel to the first slot and between the first slot and the second slot. end 108, a third groove 118 extended essentially parallel to the second groove and between the second grooves and the second end and a fourth groove 120, extended essentially parallel to the third groove and between the second groove and the second groove and placed close to the second groove extreme. A fifth slot 122 extends transverse from the second slot 116 to the fourth slot 120 and intersects the third. slot 118 placed between them. The fifth slot 122 includes an elongated opening 124 positioned between the second slot 116 and the third slot 118 and an elongated opening 126 positioned between the third slot and the fourth slot 120. The second plate portion 104 shares the second end 108 of the first plate portion 102 and extends from the second end, essentially transverse to the first plate portion to essentially form an "L" shape for the bracket 100. In other implementations, the second plate portion 104 I0 may extend from the first plate portion 102 at other angles. In other implementations, the second plate portion 104 may be absent from the bracket 100, as described below. The second plate portion 104 includes a first side 128, and a second side 130. The second plate portion 104 I5 also includes a second free end 132 and first slot 134 extended essentially parallel to and near the second end. In the first orientation shown in Figure 3, the second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is positioned adjacent an outer side 136 of the extended portion 138 20 forward of the equipment shelf support wall 140, so that at least part of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket is parallel and juxtaposed with a portion 142 extended laterally, inside the support wall. The forwardly extending portion 138 of the support wall 140 has holes 25 144 to receive bolts or screws or other coupling member of shelf that is placed through the first slot 134 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 and subsequently secured in the holes. In the first engagement orientation, the elongated nature of the first slot 134 of the second plate portion 104 allows adjustment of the position of the bracket 100 along the longitudinal dimension 148 of the support wall 140. Figure 3 also shows an energy distribution unit 150 as with a rear side 152 with an orifice I0 154 adapted to receive a coupling member of the equipment, such as a hand screw 156 having a head 158 for mounting the power distribution unit with the bracket 100. The elongated opening 124 and the elongated opening 126 of the fifth slot 122 have a larger size than the head 158 to receive the head I5 158 when the screw 156 engages in a threaded manner with the hole 154 to facilitate mounting of the power distribution unit 150 with the bracket 100, as shown in Figure 5. Figure 4 illustrates the assembly process of the power distribution unit 150 and bracket 100. 20 Power distribution unit 150 is shown in the Figure 5 coupled with the bracket 100, which has a screw 156 placed in the third groove 118 of the first plate portion 102. The screw 156 can, alternatively, be placed in the first slot 114 or in the second slot 116, according to the desired coupling orientation 5. The first slot 114, the second slot 116, and the third slot 118 have an elongated shape with a smaller width than the head 158 to provide position adjustment of the power distribution unit 150 along the longitudinal dimension 148 of the support wall 140 when the screw 156 is placed in the slot. The power distribution unit 150 has outputs 161, and is shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7 as coupled with a rack 160 of equipment having the support wall 140 with the portion 138 extended forward and the portion 142 extended in lateral form, interior. The second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent to the outer side 136 of the forwardly extending portion 138 of the wall. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent to the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and accordingly, places the power distribution unit in front of the equipment shelf 160 with the outlets 161 facing forward away from the equipment shelf. As also shown in Figure 7, there is an inner side 162 of the forwardly extended portion 138, a forward side 164 of the inner side portion 142 and the rear side 166 of the inner side extended portion. A second coupling orientation is shown in Figure 8, with the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 coupled with the forwardly extending portion 138 of the equipment shelf 160. The second side 130 of the second portion 104 of The plate of the bracket 100 is adjacent to the inner side 162 of the portion 142 extended forwardly of the support wall 140 of the equipment shelf 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent to the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently, places the power distribution unit generally laterally outwardly from and made a side of the equipment shelf 160 with the outlets 161 facing forward away from the equipment shelf.

A third coupling orientation is shown in Figure 9, with the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 coupled with the portion 142 extended laterally, inside the equipment shelf 160. The second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the front side 164 of the portion 152 extended in the inner side of the support wall 140 of the equipment shelf 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent to the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and accordingly, places the power distribution unit inside the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161. confronted laterally inward away from the support wall 140. A fourth coupling orientation is shown in Figure 10, with the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 coupled with the portion 142 extended in the inner side of the equipment rack 160. The first side 128 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent to the front side 164 of the portion 142 extended in inner side form of the support wall 140 of the equipment shelf 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent to the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and accordingly, places the power distribution unit generally opposite the equipment rack 160 with the outputs 161 confronted laterally inwardly away from the support wall 140. In the following coupling orientations described below, the screws 146 are placed through the first slot 114 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100. A fifth coupling orientation is shown in Figure 11 with the first portion 102 of plate of the bracket 100 coupled with the portion 138 extended forward of the equipment shelf 160. The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the outer side 136 of the forwardly extending portion 138 of the support wall 140 of the equipment shelf 160. In the coupling orientations, such as the fifth coupling orientation, certain implementations of the bracket 100 may not have the second plate portion 104, since the second plate portion is not used. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent to the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently, places the power distribution unit generally outwardly in a lateral fashion. and to the side of the shelf 160 of equipment and in front of the equipment shelf, with the outlets 161 facing laterally away from the support wall 140. A sixth coupling orientation is shown in Figure 12, with the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 coupled with the portion 138 extended forward of the equipment rack 160. The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the inner side 162 of the forwardly extending portion 138 of the support wall 140 of the equipment shelf 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent to the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently, places the power distribution unit usually laterally inwardly and forwardly. of the equipment shelf 160 with the outlets 161 facing laterally away from the support wall 140. A seventh coupling orientation is shown in Figure 13, with the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 coupled with the portion 142 extended in the inner side of the equipment rack 160. The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the front side 164 of the portion 142 extended in an inner lateral form of the support wall 140 of the equipment shelf 160. The rear side 152 of the energy distribution unit 150 is adjacent to the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently, places the power distribution unit at the same time.

General, in front of the equipment shelf 160 with the outlets 161 facing forward away from the equipment shelf. An eighth coupling orientation is shown in Figure 14, with the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 coupled with the portion 142 extended laterally, inside the equipment shelf 160. The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the back side 166 of the portion 142 extended in an inner lateral form of the support wall 140 of the equipment shelf 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent to the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and accordingly, places the power distribution unit generally inside the rack 160 of equipment with the 161 exits facing backwards.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, for the purpose of illustration, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A bracket characterized in that it comprises: a plate portion having a first end and a second end, the plate portion having: a first elongated opening having a first width and placed close and extended along the first end; a second elongated opening having a second width and extending along the first elongated opening; a third elongated opening having a second width and extending along the second elongated opening; and a fourth opening coupled with the second elongated opening and the third elongated and extending opening extending from the second elongated opening to the third elongated opening, the fourth opening has a first portion with a second width adjacent to the second elongated opening, has a second portion with the second width adjacent to the third elongated opening, and a third portion wider than the second width and extended between the first portion and the second portion of the fourth opening. The bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that it also includes a second plate portion extended from the second end of the first plate portion at an angle greater than zero and less than 180 degrees, the second plate portion has a free end and an elongated opening extended along the free end. The bracket according to claim 2, characterized in that the second plate portion extends from the first plate portion at an angle of essentially 90 degrees. 4. The bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate portion has a fifth elongated opening having the second width and extending essentially along the third elongated opening; and the plate portion has a sixth opening coupled with the third elongated opening and the fifth elongated opening, and traversing extended from the third elongated opening to the fifth elongated opening, the sixth opening has a first portion with the second width adjacent to the third. elongated opening, the second portion has a second width adjacent to the fifth elongated opening and the third portion is wider than the second width and extends between the first portion and the second portion of the sixth opening. 5. The bracket characterized in that it comprises: a first portion of plate having a first end and a second end, the first portion of plate having: a first elongated opening having a first width and placed close and extended along the length of the first extreme; a second elongated opening having a first width and extending along the first elongated opening; a third opening coupled with the first elongated opening and the second elongated and extending opening extending from the first elongated opening to the second elongated opening, the third opening having a first portion with the first width adjacent to the first elongated opening, a second portion with the first width adjacent the second elongated opening and a third portion wider than the first width and extended between the first portion and the second portion of the third opening; and a second plate portion extended at an angle greater than zero and less than 180 degrees from the second end of the first plate portion, the second plate portion has a free end and has an elongated opening extended along the free end. , the elongated opening has a second width. The bracket according to claim 5, characterized in that the second plate portion extends from the first plate portion at an angle of essentially 90 degrees. 7. The bracket according to claim 6, characterized in that the first plate portion is larger than the second plate portion to form an "L" shape. The bracket according to claim 5, characterized in that the first plate portion has a fourth elongated opening extended along the first end, in a position between the first elongated opening and the first end, the fourth elongated opening has a second width. 9. A system for an equipment shelf having elongated members with shelf holes for coupling with the equipment, the system is characterized in that it comprises: a device coupling member having a shank portion and an elongated head portion; a shelf coupling member having a shank portion sized to extend through the shelf orifice and an elongated head portion; an equipment having one side, the side having a hole with the size and shape for receiving the stem portion of the equipment coupling member; a portion of plate having a first end and a second end, the plate portion has: a first elongated opening having a first width and placed near and extended along the first end, the first width having the size to allow the shank portion of the shelf coupling member extends through the first elongated opening and prevents the head portion of the shelf coupling member from passing through the first elongated opening; a second elongated opening with a second width and extending essentially along the first elongated opening, the second width having the size to allow the shank portion of the coupling portion of the equipment to extend through the second elongated opening and prevents the portion of head of the equipment coupling member pass through the second elongated opening; a third elongated opening having a second width and extending essentially along the second elongated opening; and a fourth opening coupled with the second elongated opening and the third elongated and extended opening from the second elongated opening to the third elongated opening, the fourth opening having a first portion with the second width adjacent to the second elongated opening, a second portion with the second width adjacent to the third elongated opening and a third portion wider than the second width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment coupling member to pass through the third portion, the third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion of the fourth opening. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the head portion of the shelf coupling member is fixedly coupled with the shank portion of the shelf coupling member. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the head portion of the equipment coupling member is fixedly engaged with the stem portion of the equipment coupling member. 12. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the equipment is an energy distribution unit. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the equipment coupling member is a hand screw and the shelf coupling member is a pin. 14. The bracket according to claim 9, characterized in that it also includes a second plate portion. I0 extended from the second end of the first plate portion in a non-flat arrangement, the second plate portion has a free end and an elongated opening extended along the free end. 15. The bracket according to claim 9, characterized in that the second plate portion extends from I5 the first plate portion at an essentially 90 degree angle. The bracket according to claim 9, characterized in that the plate portion has a fifth elongated opening with the second width and extends along the third elongated opening; and the plate portion has a sixth opening coupled with the third elongated opening and the fifth elongated opening and traversing extended from the third elongated opening to the fifth elongated opening, the sixth opening having a first portion with the second width adjacent to the third. elongated opening, a second portion 25 has a second width adjacent to the fifth elongated opening and a third portion wider than the second width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment coupling member to pass through the third portion, the third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion of the sixth opening. 17. A system for an equipment shelf having elongated members with shelf holes for coupling with the equipment, the system is characterized in that it comprises: a device coupling member having a shank portion and an elongated head portion; I0 a shelf coupling member having a shank portion sized to extend through the shelf orifice and an elongated head portion; an equipment having a side, the side having a hole with the size and shape for receiving the stem portion of the I5 member coupling the equipment; a first plate portion having a first end and a second end, the plate portion has: a first elongated opening having a first width and positioned close and extended along the first end, the first width having the size to allow the shank portion of the shelf coupling member to extend through the first elongated opening and prevent the head portion of the shelf coupling member from passing through the first elongated opening; a second elongated opening having the first width and extending essentially along the first elongated opening; a third opening coupled with the first elongated opening and the second opening elongated and extended from the first elongated opening to the second elongated opening, the third opening having a first portion with the first width adjacent to the first elongated opening, a second portion with the first width adjacent to the second elongated opening and a third portion wider than the first width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment coupling member to pass through the third portion, the third portion extends between the first portion and the first portion. second portion of the third opening; and the second plate portion extends in a non-planar array from the second end of the first plate portion, the second plate portion has a free end and has a fourth elongated opening extended along the free end, the fourth opening elongate has a second width, the second width is sized to allow the rod portion of the shelf coupling member to extend through the elongated opening and prevent the head portion of the shelf coupling member from passing through. the fourth elongated opening. The bracket according to claim 17, characterized in that the second plate portion extends from the first plate portion to essentially a 90 degree angle. 19. The bracket according to claim 17, characterized in that the first plate portion has a fifth elongated opening having a second width and extended along the second elongated opening; and the first plate portion has a fifth elongated opening coupled with the second elongated opening and the fourth elongated opening extending from the second elongated opening to the fourth elongated opening, the fifth opening having a first portion with the second width adjacent to the second opening. second opening I0 elongated, a second portion with the second width adjacent to the fourth elongated opening, and a third portion wider than the second width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment coupling member to pass through the third portion, the third portion extends between the first portion and the second portion I5 portion of the fifth elongated opening.