Cable pass-through panel for electronic equipment enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9055677-B2
Application number	US-201414157349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2014
Priority date	Sep 10, 2010
Publication date	Jun 9, 2015
Grant date	Jun 9, 2015

Abstract

An electronic equipment enclosure includes a frame structure and at least one panel secured to the frame structure. The at least one panel includes one or more panel knockouts arranged therein. Each panel knockout is configured to be removable from the at least one panel to provide a pass-through opening for a cable. The at least one panel further includes a split brush assembly seated in place of a removed one of the one or more panel knockouts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic equipment enclosure comprising:
(a) a frame structure comprising:
(i) a pair of front vertical support posts connected together by a plurality of front cross members to define a front frame;
(ii) a pair of rear vertical support posts connected together by a plurality of rear cross members to define a rear frame; and
(iii) a plurality of side cross members connecting the front frame to the rear frame;

(b) a top panel for securement over an opening in the frame structure defined by an upper one of the plurality of front cross members, an upper one of the plurality of rear cross members, and upper ones of the plurality of side cross members, the top panel including:
(i) one or more panel knockouts arranged therein and being permanently removable therefrom by punching the one or more panel knockouts from the top panel to provide a pass-through opening for a cable;
(ii) an offset edge at one end of the top panel; and
(iii) an end flange adjacent an opposite end of the top panel, inset from an edge of the top panel and disposed along an interior-facing side of the top panel, the end flange including an aperture therein; and

(c) at least one spring pin anchored to at least one of the upper front and rear cross members, the spring pin including a deflectable free end;
(d) wherein the top panel is adapted to be secured atop the frame structure with the offset edge positioned beneath one of the upper front and rear cross members and the end flange positioned adjacent the other of the upper front and rear cross members such that the deflectable free end of the at least one spring pin extends through the aperture in the end flange, thereby securing the top panel.

2. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more panel knockouts includes a central portion having curved lateral edges.

3. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more panel knockouts includes a central portion having stair-stepped lateral edges.

4. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more panel knockouts includes a central portion having chamfered lateral edges.

5. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more panel knockouts includes a vent.

6. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein a split brush assembly is seated in place of a removed one of the one or more panel knockouts.

7. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6 , wherein the split brush assembly includes alignment pins inserted within apertures in the top panel.

8. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein one or more panel sub-knockouts are arranged in each of the one or more panel knockouts and configured to be removable therefrom to provide a pass-through opening for a cable.

9. An electronic equipment enclosure comprising:
(a) a frame structure comprising:
(i) a pair of front vertical support posts connected together by a plurality of front cross members to define a front frame;
(ii) a pair of rear vertical support posts connected together by a plurality of rear cross members to define a rear frame; and
(iii) a plurality of side cross members connecting the front frame to the rear frame; and

(b) a top panel for securement over an opening in the frame structure defined by an upper one of the plurality of front cross members, an upper one of the plurality of rear cross members, and upper ones of the plurality of side cross members, the top panel including:
(i) a generally planar sheet composed of a metal-based material, the generally planar sheet including an interior edge that defines an opening, the interior edge including at least one notch disposed therealong;
(ii) a first panel knockout arranged in the generally planar sheet and configured to be removable therefrom; and
(iii) a split brush assembly seated in the opening for snugly accommodating a cable passing through the opening, the split brush assembly including at least one snap pin;
(iv) wherein the opening is formed by removal of a second panel knockout;
(v) wherein a shape of the interior edge, including the at least one notch, corresponds to a shape of the second panel knockout; and
(vi) wherein the at least one snap pin is snap fitted into the at least one notch of the interior edge to fasten the split brush assembly to the generally planar sheet.

10. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the split brush assembly includes alignment pins inserted within apertures in the generally flat sheet.

11. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the split brush assembly includes at least two separate frame members, each separately attached to the generally planar sheet.

12. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the split brush assembly includes a unitary structure attached to the generally planar sheet.

Assignees

• Chatsworth Prod Inc

Inventors

• Garza Jr Jose Arturo
• Lewis Ii Richard Evans

Classifications

• Y10T29/49817

  with other than ancillary treating or assembling · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• H05K5/0247 Primary

  Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring · CPC title

• H05K7/1488 Primary

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