Abstract:
An external power supply housing configured for multiple mounting options. In one or more embodiments, the housing of the invention comprises channels configured to accept straps for mounting said housing to a support structure by means of those straps. In one or more embodiments, the housing of the invention comprises threaded inserts configured to mount said housing to a support structure by means of threaded fasteners. In one or more embodiments, the housing of the invention comprises a snap engagement portion configured to snap engage a mating power supply caddy for mounting the housing to the caddy.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/888,346 filed Jul. 31, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to equipment support systems. More specifically, the invention relates to an external power supply support system and method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     External power supplies have traditionally been fastened to support structures using Velcro®-type straps or double-sided tape. These types of fasteners, however, become unreliable over extended periods of time as heat emanated from the power supply during operation tends to weaken the adhesive or gripping power of the fasteners. The end result is inevitably an external power supply hanging from its own power cables. This may result in accidental or undesirable interruption in the operation of electronic equipment being powered by conventionally mounted external power supplies. Such unwarranted interruption may result in loss of valuable data and/or embarrassment to the user during a presentation before an audience. 
     Moreover, traditional means to mount external power supplies do not provide mounting capability to all types of support structures, such as inside a podium. The need exists, therefore, to mount an external power supply in a more secure and reliable manner to a variety of support structures so as to avoid any interruption in the operation of equipment powered by the external supply. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Some embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to a power supply support system. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the power supply support system comprises a caddy configured for secure mounting to at least one support surface, and a power supply enclosure releasably engaged by the securely mounted caddy. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the power supply support system comprises an enclosure for an external power supply. The power supply enclosure includes at least one indentation spanning its top and side surfaces in a substantially horizontal fashion. 
     The power supply support system also comprises a caddy with a shell-like body configured to engage at least a portion of the power supply enclosure. The shell-like body of the caddy is provided with a plurality of mounting apertures spaced according to standard rack rail aperture spacing. The mounting apertures emanate from a series of integral structures bulging from the bottom surface of the shell-like body. The bulging aperture structures in combination with a plurality of integral structural ribs are configured collectively to provide a substantially flat and elevated interface suitable for mounting the caddy to a support surface. 
     Other embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to a power supply support method. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the power supply support method comprises the steps of: 
     providing an enclosure for an external power supply; 
     indenting the external power supply enclosure across its top and side surfaces in a substantially horizontal fashion; 
     configuring a caddy to releasably engage at least a portion of the indented power supply enclosure; 
     providing the caddy with a plurality of mounting aperture structures spaced according to standard rack rail aperture spacing; and 
     utilizing the mounting aperture structures to provide a substantially flat and elevated interface suitable for mounting the caddy to a support surface. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a review of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is generally shown by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an external power supply support system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a side elevation of the external power supply support system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1C  is a side elevation of one component of the external power supply support system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1D  is a bottom elevation of the external power supply support system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1E  is a front elevation of the external power supply support system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1F  is a top elevation of the external power supply support system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1G  is a side elevation of another component of the external power supply support system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view a rack-mountable enclosure for an external power supply in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view a pole-mountable enclosure for an external power supply in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a surface-mountable support system for an external power supply in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a rack-mountable support system for an external power supply in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a cable strain relief assembly for use with the external power supply support system of  FIG. 1A ; and 
         FIG. 6B  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cable strain relief assembly of  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of illustrated exemplary embodiments and is not intended to represent the only forms in which these embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequence of steps for constructing and operating the present invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and/or sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an external power supply support system and method, as generally depicted in reference to  FIGS. 1-6B . Additional embodiments, features and/or advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned by practicing the invention. In the attached figures, the various drawings are not to scale with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an external power supply support system  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Support system  10  includes a generally box-like enclosure  12  for an external power supply which may be used to power various electronic components. For example, enclosure  12  may be configured to house a 9V, 12V or 15V external power supply, as needed. Power supply enclosure  12  may be made of plastic and/or other suitable material(s). 
     In one embodiment, external power supply enclosure  12  is provided with two generally parallel channels or indentations  14 ,  16  ( FIGS. 1A-1B ,  1 F- 1 G) which accommodate straps  18 ,  20  for securely fastening enclosure  12  to an elongated member  22 , as generally illustrated in reference to  FIG. 3 . Elongated member  22  may be a pole, a table leg, a stand leg or any other suitable support structure. In this case, secured enclosure  12  houses an external power supply  13 . Pole  22  may be coupled to the underside of an electronic device  15  ( FIG. 3 ). Straps  18 ,  20  may be configured as plastic zip ties, tie wraps or any other suitable fastener, as needed. 
     Indentations  14 ,  16  span the top and side surfaces  24 ,  26  and  28 , respectively, of power supply enclosure  12  in a generally horizontal fashion, as generally illustrated in reference to  FIGS. 1A-1B ,  1 F- 1 G,  3 . Indentations  14 ,  16  are strategically spaced apart to allow secure fastening of the top and bottom portions of enclosure  12  to pole  22 . Other indentation configurations may be utilized, as desired, provided there is no departure from the intended scope of the present invention. For example, external power supply enclosure  12  may be provided with more than two strap channels or with just one centrally disposed channel. Top surface  24  of power supply enclosure  12  may also include a portion  30  which is suitable for application of logo or other insignia, as generally shown in reference to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 F,  2 - 3 ,  6 A. 
     In another embodiment, external power supply enclosure  12  is provided with two female-threaded metal inserts  32 ,  34  which are embedded in a bottom portion  36  of power supply enclosure  12 , as generally depicted in reference to  FIG. 4 . Metal inserts  32 ,  34  ( FIG. 4 ) may be used to securely mount power supply enclosure  12  directly to a rack shelf  38  via male-threaded fasteners, such as screw  40 , as generally shown in  FIG. 2 . The number of embedded inserts may be varied, as needed. Embedded inserts  32 ,  34  ( FIG. 4 ) may be manufactured of any suitable material or combination of materials. 
     In yet another embodiment, enclosure  12  may be securely mounted to a support surface  42  via an appropriately configured power supply caddy  44 , as generally illustrated in reference to  FIG. 4 . Particularly, power supply caddy  44  is provided with a plurality of apertures  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  ( FIGS. 1D ,  4 ) to accommodate fasteners (such as screws, bolts or the like)  54 ,  56  ( FIG. 4 ) which are used to mount caddy  44  to support surface  42 . A person skilled in the art would appreciate that the number of apertures and/or fasteners used may be varied, as needed. Power supply caddy  44  may be made of plastic and/or other suitable material(s). 
     Apertures  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  emanate from a series of respective symmetrically spaced integral structures bulging from bottom surface  58  of caddy  44 . Bulging aperture structures in combination with a plurality of integral structural ribs are configured collectively to provide a generally flat and elevated interface  59  ( FIGS. 1A-1E ,  4 ) suitable for mounting caddy  44  to support surface  42  ( FIG. 4 ). Other aperture configurations may be used in accordance with the general principles of the present invention. In one embodiment, caddy apertures  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  are spaced according to standard rack rail aperture spacing to allow problem-free mounting of caddy  44  to rear rack rail  45  via one or more fasteners (screws, bolts or the like), such as fastener  47 , as generally illustrated in reference to  FIG. 5 . This setup would be convenient whenever there is no room in the front to accommodate a rack shelf for mounting power supply enclosure  12 . 
     Top portion  60  ( FIG. 5 ) of power supply caddy  44  has a shell-like configuration adapted to frictionally engage bottom portion  36  of enclosure  12 , as generally shown by directional arrow  62  in  FIG. 4 . In one embodiment, bottom portion  36  of enclosure  12  is securely retained within shell-like top portion  60  ( FIG. 5 ) of power supply caddy  44  via snap action. In this case, power supply caddy  44  would have already been securely mounted to surface  42  via fasteners  54 ,  56  ( FIG. 4 ). Power supply enclosure  12  may be disengaged from shell-like top portion  60  ( FIG. 5 ) of caddy  44  by the user pressing down (away from retained bottom portion  36  of enclosure  12 ) on integral caddy tab  64  ( FIG. 4 ). Tab  64  has a generally tongue-like body  66  which is disposed between apertures  48 ,  50  and separated on each side from the rest of the shell-like structure of top caddy portion  60  by symmetrically spaced cutouts  68 ,  70 , as generally depicted in reference to  FIG. 1D . Tongue-like tab  64  is adapted to flex away from bottom portion  36  of enclosure  12  via an integral crosswise structural rib  72  ( FIGS. 1D ,  4 ). In this regard, tab  64  is advantageously disposed at higher elevation than aperture interface  59  ( FIGS. 1A-1E ,  4 ) to allow sufficient flexing clearance when power supply caddy  44  is mounted to support surface  42  ( FIG. 4 ). Crosswise structural rib  72  is part of aperture interface  59  ( FIG. 1D ). 
     On the opposite side, another pair of symmetrically spaced cutouts  74 ,  76  outline a generally T-shaped integral member  78  of shell-like top portion  60  ( FIG. 5 ) of caddy  44 . T-shaped member  78  is configured to flex on a respective integral crosswise structural rib  80  ( FIGS. 1D ,  4 ). Crosswise structural rib  80  is substantially parallel to crosswise structural rib  72 , as generally depicted in reference to  FIGS. 1D and 4 . Crosswise structural rib  80  is also part of aperture interface  59  ( FIG. 1D ). T-shaped member  78  facilitates disengagement of power supply enclosure  12  from caddy  44  by flexing, as needed, when tab  64  is pressed down by the user. Tab  64  and T-shaped member  78  also facilitate engagement of bottom portion  36  of power supply enclosure  12  by flexing accordingly as bottom enclosure portion  36  snaps into shell-like top caddy portion  60  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     With power supply enclosure  12  securely snapped into shell-like top portion  60  of caddy  44 , the user may utilize tie wrap or zip tie  82  ( FIG. 6B ) or other suitable strapping, as needed, to secure power supply cabling  84  ( FIG. 6A ) to one side of caddy  44  through one or more integral cutouts, such as cutout  86  in  FIG. 6B , on an outer edge  88  of caddy  44 . Cabling  84  may include AC and DC power cables from the external power supply housed in enclosure  12 . Each outer edge cutout on caddy  44  is configured to line up with a corresponding surface indentation on enclosure  12 . In this regard,  FIG. 6B  depicts cutout  86  generally coinciding with enclosure indentation  14  to allow the threading of zip tie  82 . A person skilled in the art would readily recognize that the present invention provides a multifunctional, interchangeably-mountable power supply support system. Particularly, the provision of caddy  44  for external power supply enclosure  12  allows easy and reliable mounting of the power supply to surfaces where there would normally be no other reliable means of mounting. The conventional use of Velcro®-type straps or double-sided tape (which become unreliable over extended periods of time) as mounting means is advantageously avoided. The external power supply support system of the present invention may be easily mounted inside a podium or to any other structure, as needed. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, external power supply enclosure  12  is configured as a rack-mountable unit of 1 U height and ⅛ rack width. “U” is a standard unit of measure for designating vertical usable space such as height of racks. This unit of measurement refers to the space between shelves on a rack. 1 U equals 1.75 inches. Other suitable power supply enclosure configurations may be employed, as desired. 
     A person skilled in the art would also recognize that the various embodiments described hereinabove are merely illustrative of the general principles of the present invention. Various design or system modifications may be utilized as long as such modifications reside within the scope of the invention. For example, the power supply caddy of the present invention may be readily modified for use with a variety of other equipment. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, various alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof. 
     Moreover, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. 
     Thus, it is intended that the invention cover all embodiments and variations thereof as long as such embodiments and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.