Collapsible enclosure cover for facilitating air flow for an enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9668368-B2
Application number	US-201414277900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2014
Priority date	May 15, 2014
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

A collapsible enclosure cover for facilitating air flow for an enclosure having a collapsible frame with a first guide rail having a mounting bracket and an elongated member. The collapsible frame also has a second guide rail having a mounting bracket and an elongated member. The collapsible frame also has a plurality of poles extending from the first guide rail to the second guide rail that swivel around the elongated members. The collapsible enclosure cover also has a fabric portion connected to and disposed over the plurality of poles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for facilitating air flow, the system comprising:
an electronic enclosure including:
at least one module storage location, and
at least one cooling system storage location;

a first collapsible frame including:
a first mounting bracket having a first end designed to attach to a top of an opening of the electronic enclosure and having a second end with a first hole,
a first elongated member having a first end through the first hole,
a second mounting bracket, opposite the first mounting bracket, having a first end designed to attach to a bottom of the opening of the electronic enclosure and having a second end with a second hole,
a second elongated member having a first end through the second hole and extending toward the first mounting bracket and having a same axis as the first elongated member, and
a first plurality of poles extending from the first mounting bracket to the second mounting bracket, having first ends attached to the first elongated member and designed to swivel around the first elongated member and having second ends attached to the second elongated member and designed to swivel around the second elongated member;

a second collapsible frame, the second collapsible frame on the opposite side of the enclosure from the first collapsible frame, including:
a third mounting bracket having a first end designed to attach to a top of a second opening of the enclosure and having a second end with a third hole, and
a third elongated member having a first end through the third hole,
a fourth mounting bracket, opposite the third mounting bracket, having a first end designed to attach to a bottom of the second opening of the enclosure and having a second end with a fourth hole,
a fourth elongated member having a first end through the fourth hole and extending toward the third mounting bracket and having a same axis as the third elongated member, and
a second plurality of poles extending from the third mounting bracket to the fourth mounting bracket, having first ends attached to the third elongated member and designed to swivel around the third elongated member and having second ends attached to the fourth elongated member and designed to swivel around the fourth elongated member;

a fabric portion connected to and disposed over the first plurality of poles and, when in the installed position, designed to guide air to move between the at least one module storage location and the at least one cooling system storage location; and
a second fabric portion connected to and disposed over the second plurality of poles and, when in the installed position, designed to guide air to move between the at least one cooling system storage location and the at least one module storage location.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of poles includes:
at least two poles, when in the installed position, designed to fit adjacently to a perimeter of the opening of the electronic enclosure such that the air can not substantially escape through cracks between the at least two poles and the electronic enclosure and further designed to support the first collapsible frame such that the first collapsible frame can not pull away from the electronic enclosure; and
a set of bent poles, when in the installed position, designed to create a pathway, between the enclosure and the fabric portion, for the air to move between the at least one module storage location and the at least one cooling system storage location and further designed to prevent the fabric portion from collapsing inward or bulging outward excessively.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible frame can open, exposing the at least one cooling system storage location with a first pole from the first plurality of poles attached to a first part of a perimeter of the opening of the electronic enclosure and can further open, exposing the at least one module storage location with a second pole from the first plurality of poles attached to a second part of the perimeter of the opening of the electronic enclosure.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fabric portion is air tight and designed to stop air from flowing through the first collapsible frame.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fabric portion is coated with a metallic material to fulfill electromagnetic control and electrostatic discharge requirements.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fabric portion is in a shape and size that substantially conforms to one or more surfaces defined by the first collapsible frame.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible frame hinges at least 180 degrees.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when in the installed position, warm air is guided via the first collapsible frame from the at least one module storage location to the at least one cooling system storage location and cool air is guided via the second collapsible frame from the at least one cooling system storage location to the at least one module storage location.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible frame attaches to the enclosure using a magnet.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Cox Aaron R
• Sassano Camillo
• Saylor Joni E
• Schultz Kevin L

Classifications

• H05K7/20745 Primary

  within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device · CPC title

• H05K7/20145

  Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides · CPC title

• H05K5/03 Primary

  Covers · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

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