Patent ID: 8297450
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: H02B,H05K

Abstract:
1. A modular rack for mounting avionics equipment, comprising: an upper rectangular frame; a lower rectangular frame; and a plurality of struts interconnecting the upper rectangular frame and the lower rectangular frame, each strut being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive carbon fiber composite material and each strut including at least one flange extending substantially orthogonal to that strut, the flange including a plurality of mounting holes to allow avionics equipment to be directly mounted to the rack; wherein at each corners of the at least one of the upper and lower rectangular frames includes an inner cavity enclosed within a tubular cross-section thereof, and the modular rack includes one retractable lifting handle at each of said corners, each of the lifting handles being separately and substantially retracted into the inner cavity of a respective one of the corners of the at least one of the upper and lower rectangular frames when the lifting handle is in a stowed position, and each of the lifting handles extending laterally from at least one of the upper and lower rectangular frames when the lifting handle is in a deployed position.