Center pivot swing-out wall rack

Embodiments of the invention provide a swing-out wall rack for mounting electrical equipment. The swing-out wall rack can include a frame configured to couple to a wall and a rack. The frame can include a vertical member and a horizontal arm. The rack can extend a width and a height. The rack can include a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite from the first side. The rack can further include a mid-point, the mid-point being approximately equidistant from the first side and the second side. The rack can be rotatably coupled to the horizontal arm of the frame substantially about the mid-point of the rack.

BACKGROUND

Swing-out racks are used for supporting and organizing a variety of electronic equipment and associated wiring. For example, telecommunications and computer network equipment are commonly housed in a network room that includes several racks for mounting such equipment. The swing-out wall racks provide access to the back side of the electronic equipment for activities including, but not limited to, repair, modification, or upgrades. Often several racks are housed in a network room, where space can be limited. Prior wall racks were often cumbersome and not easily manipulated for different conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention provides a swing-out wall rack for mounting electrical equipment. The swing-out wall rack can include a frame configured to couple to a wall and a rack. The rack can extend a width and a height and can have a first side and a second side. The second side can be opposite from the first side. The rack can further include a mid-point that is approximately equidistant from the first side and the second side. The rack can be rotatably coupled to the frame substantially about the mid-point of the rack.

In another form, the invention provides a swing-out wall rack for mounting electrical equipment. The swing-out wall rack can include a frame configured to couple to a wall and a rack. The rack can include a top side, a bottom side, a first side, and a second side. The top side can be opposite from the bottom side and the first side can be opposite from the second side. The rack can be rotatably coupled to the frame and lockable at more than one rotatable orientation with respect to the frame.

In yet another form, the invention provides for a method of mounting a wall rack to the wall. The method can include providing a mounting hook, the mounting hook including a back surface and a hook portion. The method can further include coupling the mounting hook to the wall in a desired location for the mounting of electrical equipment. Additionally, the method can include providing a wall rack. The wall rack can include a frame configured for mounting to the wall and a rack coupled to the frame. The method can also include mounting the frame of the wall rack on the mounting hook, leveling the wall rack, and coupling the frame to the wall to mount the wall rack to the wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-6illustrate a swing-out wall rack10configured to be coupled to a wall12. The swing out wall rack10can include a frame14and a rack16. The frame14can include a vertical member18, a first horizontal arm20, and a second horizontal arm22. The vertical member18can be configured to be coupled to a wall12or other feature. For example, the vertical member18can include several fastener openings24through which fasteners (not shown) can couple the frame14to the wall12. As shown inFIG. 1, the first horizontal arm20can be spaced apart from the second horizontal arm22and substantially parallel to the second horizontal arm22. The first horizontal arm20can include a proximal end26and a distal end28. Similarly, the second horizontal arm22can include a proximal end30and a distal end32. The proximal ends26,30can be coupled to the vertical member18.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, the rack16can include a top side34, a bottom side36, a first side38, and a second side40. The second side40can be opposite from the first side38. The distance between the top side34and the bottom side36can define a height of the rack16and the distance between the first side38and the second side40can define a width of the rack16. The rack16can provide mounting locations for electronic equipment (not shown).

The rack16can be coupled to the frame14. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-3, the rack16is coupled to the first horizontal arm20and the second horizontal arm22. The top side34of the rack16can receive a fastener42to couple to the distal end28of the first horizontal arm20. The bottom side36of the rack16can receive a fastener42to couple to the distal end32of the second horizontal arm22. It is contemplated that the rack16need not be coupled to both the first horizontal arm20and the second horizontal arm22. Additionally, it is also contemplated that the rack16could be modified to be coupled to the frame14at the first side38and/or the second side40.

The rack16can include a mid-point44that is equidistant from the first side38and the second side40. The mid-point44can be located on the top side34and/or bottom side36. The mid-point44can define the point at which the rack16is rotatably coupled to the frame14. As shown inFIGS. 1-3, the rack16can rotate about the mid-point44in either a clock-wise or counter-clockwise direction. Advantageously, rotating the rack16about the midpoint44allows equal access to any side34,36,38,40of the rack16. As shown inFIGS. 1-3, the first horizontal arm20and the second horizontal arm22are long enough such that the rack16can rotate about the first horizontal arm20and the second horizontal arm22at the distal ends28,32a full 360° with respect to the frame14.

As best shown inFIGS. 4-6, the swing-out wall rack10can also include a locking pin45. The locking pin45allows the rack16to be locked in multiple rotatable orientations with respect to the frame14. The locking pin45can pass through a clearance hole46in the first horizontal arm20of the frame14. The top side34of the rack16can include a plurality of locking holes48configured in an annular path50. The clearance hole46and the locking pin45can be located along the annular path50such that as the rack16rotates with respect to the frame14, the locking pin45selectively engage one of the plurality of locking holes48to lock the rack16with respect to the frame14.

As shown inFIG. 6, the locking pin45can include a detent52as is known in the art that can engage the selected locking hole48when the locking pin45is released by the user. To unlock the swing-out wall rack10, the user merely pulls up on the locking pin45to release the detent52and engagement between the locking pin45and the selected locking hole48, allowing the rack16to be rotated again with respect to the frame14. Although there are eight locking holes48arranged in the annular path50in the top side34of the rack16, it is contemplated that other amounts of locking holes48could be used. Furthermore, it is contemplated that other sides36,38,40of the rack16can include locking holes48depending on the orientation and desired rotation of the rack16with respect to the frame14. For example, the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-6has locking holes48configured in an annular path50on the bottom side36of the rack16. If desired, more than one locking pin45could be used with the swing-out wall rack10.

The swing-out wall rack10can also include a mounting hook54. The mounting hook54can allow a single user to couple the frame14to the wall. As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting hook54can include a hook portion56and a mounting portion58. The mounting portion58can include mounting holes60to fasten the mounting hook54to the wall12. Thus, before installing the swing-out wall rack10to the wall12, the user can fasten the mounting hook54to the wall12.

The frame14of the swing-out wall rack10can include a mounting passage62to engage the mounting hook54. The mounting passage62can be located on the vertical member18of the frame14. Once the mounting hook54is coupled to the wall12, the user can mount the frame14of the swing-out wall rack10on the mounting hook54by inserting the hook portion56through the mounting passage62. The user can level the frame14of the swing out wall rack10and couple the frame14to the wall12with fasteners through the fastener openings24. Thus, a user can single handedly mount the frame14and rack16of the swing-out wall rack10to the wall12by themselves with the use of the mounting hook54.

FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate a second embodiment of a swing-out wall rack110. The swing-out wall rack110is generally constructed the same as the swing-out wall rack10described above, so only the differences in the swing-out wall rack110will be explained. The swing-out wall rack can include a frame114, a rack116, a vertical member118, a first horizontal arm120, and a second horizontal arm122. The rack116can be rotatably coupled to the first horizontal member120and the second horizontal member with fasteners142about a mid-point144of the rack116. The rack116is coupled to first horizontal arm120substantially near a mid-point164between the proximal end126and the distal end128of the first horizontal arm120. Similarly, the rack116is coupled to the second horizontal arm122substantially near a mid-point164between the proximal end130and the distal end132of the second horizontal arm122. As shown inFIG. 8, such a coupling of the rack116and frame114allows the rack116to be rotated approximately 90° with respect to the frame114into a compact size. For example, the first side138of the rack does not extend beyond the distal ends128,132of the first and second horizontal arms120,122. Additionally, the swing-out wall rack110can be completely assembled when shipped, reducing the time for installation at the desired location. The rack116can also be locked in more than one rotatable orientation with respect to the frame, as discussed above with respect to swing-out wall rack10, by including a locking pin145and associated locking holes148. The swing-out wall rack110can also include a mounting hook154. The mounting hook154can include a hook portion and a mounting portion.

The center pivot swing-out wall rack10,110provides several advantages due to its center pivot structure. For example, by rotatably coupling the rack16,116to the frame14,114substantially about a mid-point44,144of the rack16,116, the moment arm on the rack16,116generated from the weight of electronic equipment (not shown) attached to the rack16,116can be virtually eliminated. Additionally, the moment arm on the first and second horizontal arms20,120,22,122can also virtually be eliminated for the same principle. Furthermore, the first and second horizontal arms20,120,22,122can each carry a portion of the weight of the electronic equipment (not shown) on the racks16,116.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10Billustrate a third embodiment of a swing-out wall rack210. The swing-out wall rack210is generally constructed the same as the swing-out wall rack10described above, so only the differences in the swing-out wall rack210will be explained. The swing-out wall rack can include a frame214, a rack216, a vertical member218, a first horizontal fixed arm220, a first horizontal telescoping arm221, a second horizontal fixed arm222, and a second horizontal telescoping arm223. The horizontal fixed arms220,222and the horizontal telescoping arms221,223cooperate as nested telescoping arms which allow for movement of the telescoping arms221,223in the horizontal direction. The rack216can be rotatably coupled to the first horizontal telescoping arm221and the second horizontal telescoping arm223with fasteners242. The top side234of the rack216can receive a fastener242to couple to the distal end228of the first horizontal telescoping arm221. The bottom side236of the rack216can receive a fastener242to couple to the distal end232of the second horizontal arm222. It is contemplated that the rack216need not be coupled to both the first horizontal telescoping arm221and the second horizontal telescoping arm223. Additionally, it is also contemplated that the rack216could be modified to be coupled to the frame214at the first side238and/or the second side240.

Electronic equipment (not shown) can be coupled to the rack216as is known in the art. Cables (not shown) connecting to the electronic equipment on the rack216can be managed via openings or cutouts260in the first horizontal fixed arm220, the first horizontal telescoping arm221, the second horizontal fixed arm222, and/or the second horizontal telescoping arm223. These cutouts260are pass-through openings for electrical cables or wires when are then run within the arms220,221,222,223as needed for cable management. There can be one or more cutouts260in each of the arms220,221,222,223. Further, the cutouts260in the telescoping arms221,223are substantially the same size as corresponding openings in the fixed arms220,222to allow the cutouts260in the respective arms220,221,222,223to align and allow for cables to pass through.FIGS. 9A and 9Bshow a perspective view and top view respectively of this embodiment of the swing-out wall rack where the telescoping arms221,223are in a retracted position with respect to the fixed horizontal arms220,222.FIGS. 10A and 10Bshow a perspective view and top view respectively of this embodiment of the swing-out wall rack where the telescoping arms221,223are in an extended position with respect to the fixed horizontal arms220,222.

The center pivot swing-out wall rack210provides several advantages due to its cable management system. For example, having the cable management in the center of the rack210rather than running the wiring along the side of the rack210provides an advantage for organization of the wiring. Also, there are no additional parts or accessories needed for cable management because the interior space of the arms220,221,222,223is used. Further, in an embodiment where the frame214can be telescoping, a user can have infinite adjustment of where the rack216is rotatably coupled to the frame214. While the above description andFIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10Bshow an embodiment including both the telescoping arm feature and the cable management feature, it is understood that either one or both of these features can be implemented in a single embodiment of the center pivot swing-out wall rack.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the invention has been described above in connection with particular embodiments and examples, the invention is not necessarily so limited, and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications and departures from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.