Rack cover assembly and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10206306-B2
Application number	US-201715791682-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2017
Priority date	Nov 9, 2016
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

A rack cover assembly including a first side cover and a second side cover. The first side cover may include a first tensioner and a first flexible rectangular sheet. The first tensioner may be coupled to the first flexible rectangular sheet at or near a first lateral edge. The first tensioner may include a first tensioner height that is less than a first sheet height between the first top edge and the first bottom edge. The second cover may include a second tensioner and a second flexible rectangular sheet configured to couple with the first flexible rectangular sheet. The second tensioner may be coupled to the second flexible rectangular sheet at or near a second lateral edge. The second tensioner may include a second tensioner height that is less than a second sheet height between the second top edge and the second bottom edge.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rack cover assembly comprising:
a first side cover comprising a first tensioner and a first flexible rectangular sheet comprising a first lateral edge, a first medial edge opposite the first lateral edge, a first top edge, and a first bottom edge opposite the first top edge and adjacent the first lateral edge and the first medial edge, the first medial edge comprising a first fastener, the first tensioner coupled to the first flexible rectangular sheet at or near the first lateral edge, the first tensioner comprising a first tensioner height that is less than a first sheet height between the first top edge and the first bottom edge; and
a second side cover comprising a second tensioner and a second flexible rectangular sheet comprising a second lateral edge, a second medial edge opposite the second lateral edge, a second top edge, and a second bottom edge opposite the second top edge and adjacent the second lateral edge and the second medial edge, the second medial edge comprising a second fastener configured to couple with the first fastener, the second tensioner coupled to the second flexible rectangular sheet at or near the second lateral edge, the second tensioner comprising a second tensioner height that is less than a second sheet height between the second top edge and the second bottom edge, wherein the first side cover and the second side cover are configured to be used in conjunction with one another to cover an empty slot in a rack situated in a data center thereby blocking airflow through the empty slot,
wherein the first top edge is foldable along a first top fold line extending a first length of the first flexible rectangular sheet, the first bottom edge is foldable along a first bottom fold line extending the first length, a first distance between the first top fold line and the first bottom fold line being substantially equal to the first tensioner height, and wherein the second top edge is foldable along a second top fold line extending a second length of the second flexible rectangular sheet, the second bottom edge is foldable along a second bottom fold line extending the second length, a second distance between the second top fold line and the second bottom fold line being substantially equal to the second tensioner height.

2. The rack cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible rectangular sheet further comprises a first top fastener and a first bottom fastener, the first top fastener positioned above the first top fold line, the first bottom fastener positioned above the first bottom fold line, and wherein the second flexible rectangular sheet further comprises a second top fastener and a second bottom fastener, the second top fastener positioned above the second top fold line, the second bottom fastener positioned above the second bottom fold line.

3. The rack cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible rectangular sheet further comprises a first top fastener and a first bottom fastener, the first top fastener positioned below the first top fold line, the first bottom fastener positioned below the first bottom fold line, and wherein the second flexible rectangular sheet further comprises a second top fastener and a second bottom fastener, the second top fastener positioned below the second top fold line, the second bottom fastener positioned below the second bottom fold line.

4. The rack cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first tensioner height is equal to the second tensioner height, and the first sheet height is equal to the second sheet height.

5. The rack cover assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first sheet height and the second sheet height are at least 1.75 inches.

6. The rack cover assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first sheet height and the second sheet height are about 2.0 inches.

7. The rack cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener and the second fastener comprise a complementary hook and loop closure system.

8. The rack cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a tensioner bracket or a shaft for coupling the first and second side covers to a rack.

9. A kit comprising at least one of the rack cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising packaging materials to package the at least one of the rack cover assembly.

10. The kit of claim 9 , further comprising at least one tensioner bracket for coupling the rack cover assembly to a rack.

11. The kit of claim 9 , further comprising at least one shaft for vertically orienting the at least one of the rack cover assembly relative to a rack.

12. A rack cover assembly comprising:
a first side cover comprising a first tensioner and a first flexible rectangular sheet comprising a first lateral edge, a first medial edge opposite the first lateral edge, a first top edge, and a first bottom edge opposite the first top edge and adjacent the first lateral edge and the first medial edge, the first medial edge comprising a first fastener, the first tensioner coupled to the first flexible rectangular sheet at or near the first lateral edge, the first tensioner comprising a first tensioner height that is less than a first sheet height between the first top edge and the first bottom edge; and
a second side cover comprising a second tensioner and a second flexible rectangular sheet comprising a second lateral edge, a second medial edge opposite the second lateral edge, a second top edge, and a second bottom edge opposite the second top edge and adjacent the second lateral edge and the second medial edge, the second medial edge comprising a second fastener configured to couple with the first fastener, the second tensioner coupled to the second flexible rectangular sheet at or near the second lateral edge, the second tensioner comprising a second tensioner height that is less than a second sheet height between the second top edge and the second bottom edge, wherein the first side cover and the second side cover are configured to be used in conjunction with one another to cover an empty slot in a rack situated in a data center thereby blocking airflow through the empty slot,
wherein the first tensioner is configured to be coupled to a first vertical mounting post of the rack, and the second tensioner is configured to be coupled to a second vertical mounting post of the rack that is opposite the first vertical mounting post, the first flexible rectangular sheet is configured to unfurl from first tensioner and the second flexible rectangular sheet is configured to unfurl from the second tensioner such that the first and second fasteners are fastened together at about a midpoint between the first and second vertical mounting posts of the rack.

13. The rack cover assembly of claim 12 , wherein, when the first and second fasteners are fastened together, the first and second side covers combine to cover a slot in the rack.

14. The rack cover assembly of claim 13 , wherein the slot is 1 RU in height.

15. The rack cover assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first tensioner comprises a first spool, the second tensioner comprises a second spool, and wherein, in a furled state, the first flexible rectangular sheet is configured to furl on the first spool of the first tensioner, and the second flexible rectangular sheet is configured to furl on a second spool of the second tensioner, the first and second flexible rectangular sheets do not cover the slot in the rack in the furled state.

Assignees

• Level 3 Communications Llc

Inventors

• Drake Steven E
• Peake Eric R

Classifications

• H05K7/20536

  for racks or cabinets of standardised dimensions, e.g. electronic racks for aircraft or telecommunication equipment · CPC title

• H05K7/20736 Primary

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title

• H05K7/18 Primary

  Construction of rack or frame · CPC title

• H05K7/1488

  Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures · CPC title

• A47B96/20

  Furniture panels or like furniture elements · CPC title