Equipment rack having mounting brackets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017223863-A1
Application number	US-201715418072-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 27, 2017
Priority date	Jan 30, 2016
Publication date	Aug 3, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An equipment rack, mounting break thereof, and associated methods. The bracket is secured to a frame assembly of the equipment rack by a releasable snap-fit connection. The snap-fit connection can maintain engagement of the bracket with abutments of the frame assembly and/or maintain mated connections of the bracket with the frame assembly. The brackets can be used to mount electrical power distribution units, cable baskets, or other equipment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An equipment rack comprising:
a frame assembly having a plurality of predetermined mounting locations each configured for securing a bracket to the frame assembly, a bracket secured to the frame assembly at one of the predetermined mounting locations, the bracket including
a mounting section including at least one connector for mounting equipment on the bracket, and
a snap-fit connector forming a releasable snap-fit connection with the frame assembly.

2 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bracket further includes a first mating connector forming a first mated connection with the frame assembly different than the snap-fit connection, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the first mated connection.

3 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 2 , wherein the bracket includes a second mating connector forming a second mated connection with the frame assembly different than the snap-fit connection, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the second mated connection.

4 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 3 , wherein the first mated connection is offset to a first side of the snap-fit connection, and the second mated connection is offset to an opposite side of the snap-fit connection.

5 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 3 , wherein the bracket includes a third mating connector forming a third mated connection with the frame assembly different than the snap-fit connection, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the third mated connection.

6 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 5 , wherein the first and second mated connections are offset to opposite sides of the snap-fit connection, and the first and third mated connections are offset to opposite sides of the snap-fit connection.

7 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 6 , wherein the first and second mated connections are offset to respective front and back sides of the snap-fit connection, and the first and third mated connections are offset to upper and lower sides of the snap-fit connection.

8 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly includes at least one abutment and the bracket is engaged with said at least one abutment, the engagement of the bracket with the at least one abutment substantially inhibiting rotation of the bracket with respect to the frame assembly, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the bracket in engagement with said at least one abutment.

9 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly includes a first abutment, the bracket being engaged with the first abutment, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the bracket in engagement with the first abutment.

10 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 9 , wherein the frame assembly includes a second abutment, the bracket being engaged with the second abutment, the first abutment being offset to a first side of the snap-fit connection, the second abutment being offset to a second side of the snap fit connection different than the first side, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the bracket in engagement with the first and second abutments.

11 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 10 , wherein the bracket includes a first mating connector firming a first mated connection with the first abutment, the first mated connection being different than the snap-fit connection, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the first mated connection.

12 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 11 , wherein the bracket includes a second mating connector forming a second mated connection with the second abutment, the second mated connection being different than the snap-fit connection, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the second mated connection.

13 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 12 , wherein the bracket includes a third mating connector forming a third mated connection with the second abutment, the third mated connection being different than the snap-fit connection, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the third mated connection.

14 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a first mating connector forming a first mated connection with the frame assembly different than the snap-fit connection, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the first mated connection,
wherein the frame assembly defines a mating recess and the first mating connector comprises a protrusion received in the mating recess of the frame assembly for forming the first mated connection, wherein the bracket has a gap at least partially defined by the protrusion, the frame assembly being received in said gap.

15 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly includes an upright, the upright having the plurality of mounting locations spaced along a height of the upright, the bracket being secured to the upright at said one of the predetermined mounting locations.

16 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mounting section includes at least one key slot for mounting a power distribution unit on the bracket.

17 . The equipment rack set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bracket is a first bracket and the equipment rack comprises a second bracket and a basket, the second bracket having a snap-fit connection with the frame at another of said predetermined mounting locations, the tray having first and second portions secured to the first and second brackets.

18 . A method of assembling an equipment rack, the method comprising:
arranging a bracket in registration with a predetermined mounting location of a frame assembly, moving the bracket with respect to the frame assembly to engage the bracket with the frame assembly at the predetermined mounting location, and forming a snap-fit connection of the bracket and frame assembly at the predetermined mounting location to releasably maintain the bracket in engagement with the frame assembly.

19 . The method set forth in claim 18 , wherein engaging the bracket with the frame assembly comprises forming at least one mated connection of the bracket with the frame assembly, the mated connection being different than the snap-fit connection, the snap-fit connection releasably maintaining the mated connection.

20 . The method set forth in claim 19 , wherein moving the bracket with respect to the frame assembly comprises moving the bracket along a straight movement axis to form the mated connection and form the snap-fit connection.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Jost Henry D
• Latino Richard M
• Sandoval Lorena E
• Rau Joseph

Classifications

• B62B3/005

  Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks · CPC title

• B62B2301/05

  Details of the attachment of the wheel assembly to the chassis · CPC title

• A47B96/20

  Furniture panels or like furniture elements · CPC title

• A47B57/545

  clamped in discrete positions, e.g. on tubes with grooves or holes (shelf supports being cantilever brackets A47B57/562) · CPC title

• B62B2205/006

  dismountable · CPC title