Strengthening electronic equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9532478-B1
Application number	US-201514982620-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 29, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A system includes an equipment case configured to hold equipment, a strengthening bracket, and one or more releasable couplers physically coupled to the equipment case and the strengthening bracket. The releasable couplers may be configured to release the strengthening bracket from the equipment case without requiring a tool. In some embodiments, the strengthening bracket comprises a first end and a second end, and one of the releasable couplers are coupled to each end of the strengthening bracket. In some embodiments, the releasable couplers each comprise a flexing member and a protrusion member coupled to the flexing member and the first end and the second end of the strengthening bracket each comprise a slot for receiving the protrusion member of a corresponding coupling member. A corresponding method includes coupling the strengthening bracket to the equipment case with the at least one releasable coupler.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an equipment case configured to hold equipment;
a strengthening bracket;
at least one releasable coupler physically coupled to the equipment case and the strengthening bracket, the at least one releasable coupler configured to release the strengthening bracket from the equipment case without requiring a tool;
wherein the strengthening bracket comprises a first end and a second end;
wherein the at least one releasable coupler comprises a first and a second releasable coupler for release-ably coupling to the first end and the second end respectively;
wherein the first and second releasable couplers each comprise a flexing member disposed on an inner side of the respective releasable coupler and provided with a barbed protrusion member that protrudes through a slot in the respective releasable coupler;
wherein the first end and the second end of the strengthening bracket each comprise a slot for receiving the respective barbed protrusion member;
wherein the first and second releasable couplers each comprise apertures that align with release apertures disposed at each end of the strengthening bracket;
wherein the apertures and the release apertures enable a user to insert a digit through the respective releasable coupler and press against the flexing member disposed on the inner side of the respective releasable coupler;
wherein the at least one releasable coupler is physically coupled to the equipment case via one or more fasteners;
wherein the strengthening bracket comprises an access aperture for installing cable connections to the equipment; and
wherein the strengthening bracket comprises a meshed metal material.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Good Michael S
• Harris John R
• Laning Ray C
• Larsen Curtis E
• Sandusky Mark A

Classifications

• H05K7/1401 Primary

  comprising clamping or extracting means (H05K7/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B5/0607

  joining sheets or plates to each other (F16B5/0692, F16B21/082 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/1487 Primary

  Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade · CPC title

• H05K7/14 Primary

  Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack · CPC title

• F16B5/07

  by means of multiple interengaging protrusions on the surfaces, e.g. hooks, coils, · CPC title