Strengthening electronic equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9538682-B1
Application number	US-201514865294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

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 a first releasable coupler of the at least one releasable coupler comprises a first flexing member disposed on an inner side of the first releasable coupler, the first flexing member coupled to a first barbed protrusion member that protrudes outwardly through a slot in the first releasable coupler; and
wherein the first releasable coupler comprises a first aperture that aligns with a first release aperture disposed on the strengthening bracket.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the strengthening bracket comprises a first end and a second end.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first releasable coupler is disposed at the first end of the strengthening bracket, and a second releasable coupler of the at least one releasable coupler is disposed at the second end of the strengthening bracket.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second releasable coupler comprises a second flexing member disposed on an inner side of the second releasable coupler, the second flexing member coupled to a second barbed protrusion member that protrudes outwardly through a slot in the second releasable coupler.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first end and the second end of the strengthening bracket each comprise a slot for receiving the first barbed protrusion member and the second barbed protrusion member respectively.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first releasable coupler and the second releasable coupler are each physically coupled to the equipment case via one or more fasteners.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture and the first release aperture enable a user to insert a digit through the first releasable coupler and press against the first flexing member and thereby release the first releasable coupler.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the strengthening bracket comprises a meshed metal material.

9. A method comprising:
providing an equipment case configured to hold equipment;
providing a strengthening bracket;
providing at least one releasable coupler configured to physically coupled to the equipment case and release-ably couple to the strengthening bracket, wherein a first releasable coupler of the at least one releasable coupler comprises a first flexing member disposed on an inner side of the releasable coupler, the first flexing member coupled to a first barbed protrusion member that protrudes outwardly through a slot in the first releasable coupler, and wherein the first releasable coupler comprises a first aperture that aligns with a first release aperture disposed on the strengthening bracket; and
coupling the strengthening bracket to the equipment case with the at least one releasable coupler.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising releasing the strengthening bracket from the equipment case with the first releasable coupler.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising servicing the equipment.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the strengthening bracket comprises a first end and a second end.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first releasable coupler is disposed at the first end of the strengthening bracket, and a second releasable coupler of the at least one releasable coupler is disposed at the second end of the strengthening bracket.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second releasable coupler comprises a second flexing member disposed on an inner side of the second releasable coupler, the second flexing member coupled to a second barbed protrusion member that protrudes outwardly through a slot in the second releasable coupler.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first end and the second end of the strengthening bracket each comprise a slot for receiving the first barbed protrusion member and the second barbed protrusion member respectively.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first releasable coupler and the second releasable coupler are each physically coupled to the equipment case via one or more fasteners.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the strengthening bracket comprises an access aperture.

18. The method of claim 9 , 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

  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

• H05K7/14 Primary

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

• H05K7/1487 Primary

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

• F16B5/07

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