Apparatus and system for multifunction camming support shelf

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9629263-B2
Application number	US-201514822786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2015
Priority date	Aug 10, 2015
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus includes a multifunction shelf rotatably coupled to a chassis at one or more pivot points. The chassis includes a sub-chassis mounted in a first end of the chassis and connected to one or more connectors within the chassis. The multifunction shelf includes one or more first lever arms extending away from a pivot point. The multifunction shelf also includes one or more second lever arms, each second lever arm connecting to a first lever arm and extends in a direction at a first angle to the connected first lever arm. The multifunction shelf also includes one or more camming features each coupled to a second lever arm and the sub-chassis. Rotating the one or more first lever arms away from the chassis applies a force through each corresponding camming feature to the sub-chassis to disconnect the sub-chassis from the chassis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a multifunction shelf rotatably coupled to a chassis at one or more pivot points, the chassis sized for a computer rack and to hold one or more electronic components, the chassis comprising a sub-chassis mounted in a first end of the chassis, the sub-chassis connected to one or more connectors within the chassis, the multifunction shelf comprising:
one or more first lever arms, each first lever arm extending away from a pivot point of the one or more pivot points, wherein each first lever arm comprises a slide surface and wherein a final position of the one or more first lever arms comprises a position where the one or more slide surfaces are substantially planar with a bottom of the sub-chassis such that as the sub-chassis moves away from the chassis, the sub-chassis slides along the slide surface of each first lever arm;
one or more second lever arms, each second lever arm connected to a first lever arm of the one or more first lever arms and extending in a direction at a first angle to the connected first lever arm; and
one or more camming features, each camming feature coupled to a second lever arm of the one or more second lever arms and the sub-chassis, wherein rotating the one or more first lever arms away from the chassis applies a force through each corresponding second lever arm and camming feature to the sub-chassis to disconnect the sub-chassis from the chassis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more camming features engage the sub-chassis for a portion of movement of the first lever arm and allow movement of the sub-chassis without further movement of the first lever arm when the first lever arm is in a final position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more camming features comprise a channel and a protrusion that fits in the channel, wherein the channel is shaped so that the protrusion applies a force to a wall of the channel to apply the force to disconnect the sub-chassis during movement of the first lever arm and wherein the channel is shaped to allow the sub-chassis to move without further movement of the first lever arm when the first lever arm is in a final position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the protrusion is coupled to the second lever arm and the channel is in the sub-chassis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first lever arms further comprise:
two first lever arms disposed on each side of the first end of the chassis; and
one or more connecting members disposed between the two first lever arms and connected to the two first lever arms.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each first lever arm further comprises a guide wall, the guide wall connected to an edge portion of the first lever arm and extending in a direction substantially planar to sides of the sub-chassis, wherein the guide wall of each lever arm limits movement of the sub-chassis after each first lever arm is in a final position to a desired direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each first lever arm further comprises a hard stop on each first lever arm located distal to the pivot of the first lever arm, the hard stop positioned to inhibit movement of the sub-chassis along the first lever arm beyond the hard stop.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more support links, each support link coupled to the multifunction shelf and the chassis, each support link comprising a stop that prevents each first lever arm from rotating beyond a final position, the one more support links providing support such that the one or more first lever arms support a weight of the sub-chassis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each second lever arm direction extending at a first angle to the connected first lever arm comprises each second lever arm extending in a direction different from the connected first lever arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each support link for a first lever arm of the one or more first lever arms further comprises:
a first bar coupled to the second lever arm that is connected to the first lever arm;
a second bar coupled to the chassis; and
a pivot connecting the first bar and the second bar.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , where each support link for a first lever arm of the one or more first lever arms comprises:
a curved bar connected to the first lever arm; and
a stop piece connected to the chassis that stops movement of the support link and the first lever arm in response to the first lever arm rotating away from the chassis to a final position.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each first lever arms comprises a retention feature that connects the first lever arm to the chassis after the first lever arm is in a position adjacent to the chassis, wherein the retention feature provides support in limiting movement of the sub-chassis away from the chassis.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multifunction shelf further comprises one or more support frames, each support frame connected to the first end of the chassis, wherein each support frame couples to one or more pivot points and each support frame comprises one or more support links coupled to the multifunction shelf, wherein each support link comprises a stop that prevents the one or more first lever arm from rotating beyond a final position, wherein the stop engages the support frame at the final position.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each first lever arm further comprises one or more arm extensions, each arm extension lengthening the first lever arm connected to the arm extension.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first lever arms further comprise one or more bezel retention features, each bezel retention feature comprising a receiving area that receives a connection portion of a bezel.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein rotating the one or more first lever arms toward the chassis applies a force through each corresponding second lever arm and camming feature to the sub-chassis to connect the sub-chassis to the chassis.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein rotating the one or more first lever arms away from the chassis moves the sub-chassis away from the chassis.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each second lever arm connected to a first lever arm extends in a direction perpendicular to the connected first lever arm.

19. A system comprising:
a chassis sized for a computer rack and to hold one or more electronic components;
a sub-chassis mounted in a first end of the chassis, the sub-chassis connected to one or more connectors within the chassis; and
a multifunction shelf rotatably coupled to the chassis at one or more pivot points, the multifunction shelf comprising:
one or more first lever arms, each first lever arm extending away from a pivot point of the one or more pivot points, wherein each first lever arm comprises a slide surface and wherein a final position of the one or more first lever arms comprises a position where the one or more slide surfaces are substantially planar with a bottom of the sub-chassis such that as the sub-chassis moves away from the chassis, the sub-chassis slides along the slide surface of each first lever arm;
one or more second lever arms, each second lever arm connected to a first lever arm of the one or more first lever arms and extending in a direction at a first angle to the connected first lever arm; and
one or more camming features, each camming feature coupled to a second lever arm of the one or more second lever arms and the sub-chassis, wher

Assignees

• Lenovo Entpr Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Katsaros Anthony F
• Kerrigan Brian M
• Meserth Timothy A

Classifications

• H05K7/16

  on hinges or pivots · CPC title

• H05K7/1489

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/188

  Mounting of power supply units · CPC title

• H05K7/1411 Primary

  for securing or extracting box-type drawers · CPC title

• H05K5/0204 Primary

  Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings · CPC title